AHDIBCB Chapter 33

Marshal Jian ultimately agreed to Yuan Yi’s request, but he instructed Dr. Luo’s team to ensure safety measures were fully in place.

The pressure on Dr. Luo was immense. However, an outstanding doctor must possess a certain degree of courage and a spirit of exploration. If one only aims to operate within the boundaries of a comfort zone, then medicine would never advance rapidly. Every leap forward inevitably carries some risk—this is an undeniable truth.

Two days later, Dr. Luo selected the option deemed the safest and most feasible among several proposed plans, then personally extracted a small amount of fat from Yuan Yi.

It was a very small quantity. Once taken out, it was divided into two portions and placed into separate incubators for cultivation. After just half a day, both fat masses grew to about the size of an egg yolk. These “yolks” were then “grafted” onto Yuan Yi’s arm.

One was cultured with a skin layer, and the other with a fat layer. One was high-density fat, while the other was high-density fat with an added alpha soft crystalline body.

After the surgery was successfully completed, Yuan Yi waited quietly for the masses to develop properly, while also hoping the Aminanka would be lured away. His condition now resembled how he felt on the first day after absorbing Li Heng’s primary pheromones. Though it wasn’t as agonizing as a full-blown heat cycle, it was still far from comfortable.

He sweated profusely every day, which would inevitably affect the growth of his children—this was what pained him the most.

Right now, he desperately hoped those two fat masses would quickly lure the Aminanka away in one go.

Meanwhile, the people Li Heng had sent out arrived in Brute Star.

To save time and ensure secrecy, the people sent weren’t from the Sirius Fleet, but from the Scarlet Snake unit, which had just completed a “mission” in the Fourth Defense Zone. Scarlet Snake was closer to Brute Star, and more importantly, no one knew of their association. That way, they wouldn’t draw attention or be easily obstructed upon arrival.

However, the people of Brute Star were no fools either. Anticipating the possibility that outsiders they couldn’t identify might be sent, they had already destroyed all the wild Isocyclic incense with drugs ahead of time. They also released an official warning: anyone who even mentioned Isocyclic incense, let alone attempted to trade it, would be charged with treason if discovered.

For a time, the mere mention of Isocyclic incense became taboo in Brute Star. Even Scarlet Snake couldn’t get their hands on it right away.

But he and Snow Wolf managed to uncover something else. He told Li Heng, “Back then, Zhou Tandai had a fiancée, but he suddenly became infatuated with Fang Jing. It’s very likely that Isocyclic incense played a role in that. There used to be someone at the bar where Fang Jing worked who had been a back-alley doctor in Brute Star. After getting into trouble, he went into hiding and became a server at the bar. This person was very close with someone named ‘Aina,’ and this Aina is even more interesting—she was like a sister to Fang Jing. Now she goes by the name ‘Ivana’ and runs a restaurant at Nanhua Hospital.”

Li Heng asked, “Where’s Fang Jing now?”

Scarlet Snake replied, “Still in the Fourth Defense Zone. After hearing that Zhou Tandai had a mistress, she quietly came over with her son not long afterward. But it looks like they’re trying to investigate on their own in secret—they haven’t gone to see Zhou Tandai. Zhou Tandai doesn’t even know they’re in his territory.”

Li Heng chuckled. “How can that be? She’s the legitimate wife of Commander Zhou, after all. At the very least, don’t you think it’s time to deliver the news to dear old Commander Zhou?”

Scarlet Snake asked, “You’re not going to let Fang Jing catch him cheating herself?”

Li Heng had originally considered letting Fang Jing catch Zhou Tandai in the act, but on second thought, that might just end up benefiting Fang Jing and Zhou Xingran—and that was the last thing he wanted. So he said instead, “Just make sure Zhou Tandai hears that Yuan Yi ended up hospitalized again—because of Fang Jing and Zhou Xingran.”

Right now, the two people Li Heng was least inclined to tolerate were precisely Fang Jing and Zhou Xingran. This time, he was determined to teach the mother and son a proper lesson.

So, not long after, the news of Yuan Yi’s latest hospitalization finally made its belated way to Zhou Tandai’s ears. To be fair, he had heard something earlier, but since Yuan Yi and Zhou Xingran had just gotten into a fight recently that led to a hospital visit, he’d assumed this was just more of the same—Yuan Yi faking discomfort to get him to punish Zhou Xingran. He never imagined it was anything else.

Like most others, Zhou Tandai asked in confusion, “How is it even possible to go into heat while pregnant?”

His adjutant replied, “We haven’t figured that out yet either. I tried calling Madam and Young Master Xingran to see if they had any idea what happened, but neither of them picked up. I had no choice but to call the student affairs office at Ji Hua University. They were surprisingly straightforward and confirmed it was true. They said Yuan Yi is still hospitalized, but it’s unclear when he’ll be discharged. So… do you think we should get in touch with the Li family? People online are saying all sorts of things, and with Madam and Young Master still unreachable, I’m honestly getting worried…”

Zhou Tandai felt his vision darken and quickly dialed Marshal Jian’s communicator.

Usually, he would never dare to call without a reason, but at this moment, he was truly anxious. Yuan Yi had already married, and there was still no news about his promotion. If Yuan Yi’s child were to be lost again, and it was still because of Fang Jing and Zhou Xingran, his promotion would become the most difficult problem he would ever face in his life.

Zhou Tandai lowered his tail, speaking respectfully and cautiously: “Commander, this is Zhou Tandai. I heard that Yuan Yi is hospitalized again?”

Li Heng used a voice modulator, speaking in an old tone: “So it’s you, Tandai. I was just about to find you. How could you do something like this at such a critical time?”

Zhou Tandai was a bit stunned. “I—I haven’t done anything, Commander. I’ve been investigating the missing persons in the garrison area recently.”

“Marshal Jian” seemed even more displeased upon hearing this. “Do you need to bring your wife and children along to investigate missing persons? Zhou Tandai, as an alpha, there’s nothing wrong with caring for your wife and children, but if you’re covering up their mistakes, that’s completely unacceptable. Especially with how morally corrupt they are, it’s only a matter of time before they cause you trouble.”

The more Zhou Tandai listened, the more confused he became. “No, Commander, I didn’t bring them to the garrison. Who told you this nonsense? This is pure slander! Last time when Zhou Xingran and Yuan Yi fought, I disciplined Zhou Xingran. How could I possibly bring them to the garrison? You must investigate this thoroughly, Commander.”

“Marshal Jian” said unhappily, “Do you think I’m fabricating things? Zhou Tandai, I originally thought you deserved a promotion. But now it seems, I was thinking too much. It ends here.”

The communicator was hung up.

Zhou Tandai replayed the last few sentences in his mind, and his brain buzzed. He quickly called his adjutant to investigate the situation.

It was only after checking that he realized his wife and son were indeed at his garrison! And they had been there for quite some time! Almost arriving right after him! No wonder Jian Qingchuan said that!

He angrily said, “What were they doing here! Are they trying to ruin me on purpose?”

The adjutant stammered for a while. “Commander, they… seem to have heard somewhere that you have a family here, so…”

Zhou Tandai narrowed his eyes immediately upon hearing this. “Are you sure?”

The adjutant said, “Our people found Madam and the young master at a small inn. Both of them had disguised themselves, so they weren’t easily recognized. And indeed, after Madam arrived, she kept secretly investigating your whereabouts and who you were often with. She didn’t directly ask but would casually chat with people to gather information about you. She made herself look younger, so the people down there…”

Zhou Tandai gave a heavy “hmph” sound. Leaving aside other matters, he knew very well that the people he chose had some good looks and knew how to do certain things, so hearing this made him especially irritated. The thought that Jian Qingchuan had misunderstood him because of these two people made his teeth itch with anger.

But at the same time, he also thought that Jian Qingchuan shouldn’t be holding a grudge over the fight between the two children. No matter how he thought about it, it seemed like there was something else going on.

After thinking for a while, he felt something was wrong, so he said, “Go, bring the young master to me.”

The soldier was stunned. “Commander, bring…?”

Zhou Tandai said, “What, is my order not clear enough?! Bring him here! Don’t let him know who’s behind this.”

The soldier took the order and quickly left. It didn’t take long before Zhou Xingran was brought in. He was really bound.

Zhou Xingran had a black hood placed over his head, his mouth covered, and his arms were tied up. He still didn’t know what was going on and was filled with fear.

And the soldier had already left, leaving only Zhou Tandai, who had used a hidden blocking agent, and another alpha in the room.

Zhou Tandai used a voice changer and asked Zhou Xingran why he had suddenly come to the Fourth Defense Zone. Although Zhou Xingran couldn’t detect his father’s scent, he felt the oppressive presence of an alpha and the surrounding bloody smell. He shivered and said, “I came to find my dad. He is the Commanding Officer of the Fourth Defense Zone. If you know what’s good for you, you’d better let me go.”

Zhou Tandai said, “The Commanding Officer’s son is staying in a small inn? Li Xing, he doesn’t tell the truth, so I’ll reward him to you.”

The alpha approached Zhou Xingran, grabbed his clothes, and forcefully ripped them apart without saying a word. Zhou Xingran had never encountered such a situation. Immediately, he screamed in terror, “Ah, ah, ah, I’ll talk, I’ll talk!”

Twenty minutes later, Zhou Tandai left the interrogation room with a dark face.

Not long after, news spread in the Fourth Defense Zone that the Commanding Officer’s son was engaged. The person was a mid-ranking officer in the Fourth Defense Zone, with no family background, but had the advantage of being loyal and motivated.

Zhou Xingran was forced into his heat cycle by the alpha’s pheromones, just like how he had once made arrangements for Yuan Yi. The difference was that no one saved him, so he was completely marked.

He had always been proud and never wanted to marry a common alpha with no background. His feelings of frustration and despair were unimaginable.

When Fang Jing heard that her son had been permanently marked, she reacted even more violently, trembling with anger, “Zhou Tandai! He’s your biological son! How can you not stand to see him do well?! Don’t you know that being permanently marked will almost certainly cause an omega to get pregnant?!”

Zhou Tandai’s expression was cold, “If I don’t do this, how could he settle down? From now on, don’t meddle in his affairs. Li Xing may not have any family background, but at least he’s smart and won’t drag my legs like you two fools!”

Fang Jing was dissatisfied, “How did I drag your legs? I’ve already told you that Yuan Yi, that little bastard, won’t help you! He’s useless! Marshal Jian will never help you either! Yet you still placed your bets on them—who’s the real fool here?!”

Zhou Tandai grabbed Fang Jing by the neck, “So you want that woman named ‘Aina’ to harm Yuan Yi?! Do you know who she works for, and you still dare to get involved with her?! Do you want to kill me?!”

With a thud, Zhou Tandai slammed Fang Jing onto the table by her neck, “Let me tell you, Fang Jing, since you’re here, don’t ever think about going back. Let Xingran have the child and live an honest life. As for you—someone, take her away! No one is allowed to let the madam step out of the door without my order!”

Fang Jing, terrified, said, “Zhou Tandai, you can’t do this!”

Zhou Tandai’s face was cold, “Lock her up.”

Fang Jing immediately showed a wronged expression, “Hubby, hubby, you can’t treat me like this. Ran Ran and I were only trying to help you.”

Zhou Tandai gazed at that still alluring face, momentarily lost in thought. But as soon as he remembered the ways of these two women, he made a hand gesture, signaling his subordinates to take her away.

As for his wife and son, in the Fourth Defense Zone, he was the emperor Couldn’t he have them whenever he wanted? The most important thing was that he couldn’t lose his power.

Yuan Yi learned about Zhou Xingran’s engagement two months after the embryos had been successfully implanted. By this time, the transplanted fat had fully grown, and it had been several days.

Dr. Luo had scheduled the surgery for today to remove the two pieces of fat and check if they contained Aminanka.

To prevent the possibility of Aminanka escaping, the surgery was carried out with all medical staff fully equipped, in a locally sealed space, where the fat was carefully removed.

Afterward, Yuan Yi had his wound dressed and returned to his private ward, while the fat was taken by Dr. Luo for further examination.

To avoid any negative effects on the babies, Yuan Yi had only received a small dose of local anesthesia. Not long after the surgery, the anesthetic began to wear off, and the wound started to ache.

Without any completely safe pain relief options, he could only curl up in Li Heng’s blanket and wait for the results.

Dr. Luo took the two pieces of fat to conduct tests and returned about half an hour later with a special magnifying glass.

Under this magnifying glass, only moving objects would be enlarged. She asked Yuan Yi, “Do you want to see it?”

Yuan Yi, naturally curious, took the magnifying glass. He saw six tiny, quickly moving light spots inside a thumb-sized jar coated with oil.

“At least your suffering wasn’t for nothing,” Dr. Luo said. “How do you feel now? Has the discomfort eased?”

“It has eased, but it seems it hasn’t been completely eliminated. I’m not sure if something went wrong at some step,” Yuan Yi said. “Aunt Luo, do you think it’s possible that because I’m already pregnant with Li Heng’s child, Aminanka doesn’t fully recognize the soft crystals from other alphas?”

“There’s a possibility, but even if that’s the case, we can’t get Li Heng’s soft crystals.”

“Then what if we try injecting Li Heng’s pheromones into the fat layer?”

“But those are what you need to keep yourself alive right now.”

“If I don’t solve the Aminanka problem, I don’t know how long I can keep my life, so it’s better to seize the opportunity and try.”

Dr. Luo then submitted another report. After receiving approval, she didn’t proceed with the fat grafting but instead injected Li Heng’s primary pheromone directly into the incision where Yuan Yi had just had surgery.

Since both Yuan Yi and the baby needed this, the injection wouldn’t cause any harm to them, but Yuan Yi would feel pain.

However, the surprise happened at that moment.

Under the special magnifying glass, small light spots truly began to move quickly, crawling toward the wound!