Shi Qing played the role of a white lotus so naturally that it was astonishing. He buried his face in Yin Mingzheng's embrace, his body trembling slightly, like a frightened little animal. He pitifully asked the person holding him, "Mingzheng, didn't you promise me that you would stay with me all the time? Why am I awake, and you're gone?"
"Why am I awake, and you're gone?"
Yin Mingzheng's throat felt sour as he felt the trembling body of the young man in his arms, and he didn't know how to answer.
He had considered many possibilities. Shi Qing might send people to chase after him in anger, or he might think that Yin Mingzheng had betrayed him. But he never expected that Shi Qing would leave that spaceship and appear before him in such a pitiful state, having endured who knew how much suffering.
Even though Shi Qing was tens of thousands of years old, his entire life before this had been spent alone on the spaceship. Apart from the ability to adjust his weight at will, Yin Mingzheng had never seen Shi Qing display any kind of combat prowess. After all, the king of the mechanical race didn't need physical strength. As long as he stayed on the spaceship, countless machines would protect him and fulfill all his needs.
But now, he had left that spaceship for Yin Mingzheng. Overwhelming guilt and a sense of helplessness filled the man's heart. How should he answer?
Should he say that he had long planned to deceive Shi Qing by adding a weakness to himself? Yin Mingzheng didn't know how to respond, and Zhao Miaomiao, who was startled by this sudden turn of events, finally reacted. She didn't miss the careful and protective attitude of the man towards Shi Qing. Suppressing the darkness in her eyes, she approached Shi Qing with a friendly smile.
"Where did this child come from? He looks pitiful. Mingzheng, I have the best medical personnel. Why don't you bring him to me, and I'll have someone check him?"
Yin Mingzheng was also worried that Shi Qing might be injured somewhere now that he had human organs. He was not as invulnerable as the machines. Of course, seeking medical help from others was out of the question. Shi Qing was special, and he would naturally find a trusted medical practitioner.
With these thoughts in mind, the man lowered his head and said gently, "Shi Qing, come down first, and I'll take you to see a doctor."
Shi Qing was very uncooperative and hugged Yin Mingzheng's neck tightly. "I don't want to get down. I want you to carry me."
Zhao Miaomiao was taken aback by Shi Qing's presumptuousness in ordering Yin Mingzheng around, but she couldn't help feeling delighted. While Yin Mingzheng was at the base, she had been trying to win his favor, but he had always been distant towards her. She had spent a lot of effort to figure out why he acted this way. He had come from a harsh background and disliked pampered individuals the most. Zhao Miaomiao, a spoiled young lady who shopped and did beauty treatments every day even in such serious times, was not someone he would like.
After learning why Yin Mingzheng had no interest in her, Zhao Miaomiao had stopped mentioning new jewelry and clothes in front of him. She had even joined her father's medical team, albeit in name only, but at least she had started working.
Unfortunately, although Yin Mingzheng had not agreed to the arranged marriage, his attitude towards her had improved slightly. However, during a recent bug attack, Zhao Miaomiao had sustained a minor injury and had lashed out at the medical personnel taking care of her, spilling food on one of them. Yin Mingzheng had witnessed the incident, and instead of being moved, he had become even more distant from Zhao Miaomiao.
It was clear how much he disliked pampered individuals. Now, this wild boy, who had suddenly appeared from who knew where, was demanding that Yin Mingzheng carry him to dinner. Zhao Miaomiao's anger dissipated, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of schadenfreude.
She thought Yin Mingzheng would never agree. In the background, the supernatural beings who had hurried over to welcome their leader also heard Shi Qing's words.
They were all shocked, and their expressions were unbearable to look at. They had been with their leader through thick and thin, so they knew Yin Mingzheng better than Zhao Miaomiao did. He was strict with himself and demanded the same from others.
Everyone knew that Yin Mingzheng had no patience for people who were overly pampered and relied on others for everything. Because of his straightforward nature, he had a difficult time getting along with some of the privileged second-generation individuals at the base. When Yin Mingzheng had "volunteered" to go to certain death to save ordinary civilians, several wealthy second-generation individuals had even thrown a party to celebrate.
Now, this boy, whose origins were unknown, dared to nestle in their leader's arms and even give orders to their leader. The supernatural beings couldn't bear to look at it.
Could it be that their leader would just pick up this boy by the neck and throw him out?
However...
Yin Mingzheng, who was used to taking care of this eternal baby, not only didn't get angry but also showed a gentle smile in his expression as he spoke in a magnetic voice, soothing the young man in his arms with practiced tenderness.
"Good boy, you're a bit heavy. Can you come down for me?"
Zhao Miaomiao: "…"
Supernatural beings: "…"
It sounded as if the young man had actually become lighter. While they wore expressions of disbelief, Yin Mingzheng continued to speak softly, "Be good, I'll carry you to see the doctor."
A group of people: "…"
Was that really what he said?
It was as if the young man had actually become lighter. In their eyes, it seemed like a dream. In the meantime, Yin Mingzheng, who had grown accustomed to taking care of this eternal baby, didn't show any signs of anger. Instead, his expression became cold again, and he looked at them.
As they made eye contact with him, everyone instinctively stood up straight and looked ahead. Yin Mingzheng's gaze swept over them, and when he saw that none of the members of the supernatural team had been left behind, he felt relieved.
Of course, these guys who had come to welcome him with joy but without any anger or resentment, clearly didn't know the truth about his betrayal back then. Since they didn't know, how could they bear to get rid of these powerful supernatural beings?
With a clear understanding of the current situation, the man's expression remained calm as he asked, "Where is Lao Huang?"
Lao Huang was the experienced medical practitioner he was familiar with, an uncommon healing ability user.
Zheng Liu, the most senior member of the supernatural team, stepped forward with his hands behind his back and saluted before responding, "He's currently treating injured soldiers in the third army unit within the base."
"I'll go find him. Do whatever you need to do, and come find me for a meeting tonight."
With that, the man, whose appearance was still frosty but whose posture remained upright, turned and entered the base while ignoring Zhao Miaomiao, who had been trying to strike up a conversation and had now lost her chance.
The team of supernaturals only relaxed after their leader left. Most of them were young and usually quite active. Now that their leader had miraculously returned from what was thought to be a sacrifice, their emotions were running high.
"Our leader is the best!! I knew he would be okay for sure!!"
"I think our leader looks even more formidable than before. Although I can't perceive his supernatural level, I can sense that he has advanced."
"Hey, guys, who do you think is the person our leader is holding? I've never seen our leader behave so well with anyone."
Someone firmly stated, "Who else could it be? His girlfriend, of course."
After the bug invasion, human casualties were devastating during the first wave of fleeing, with women who couldn't keep up with the men having the highest death rate. After settling down at the base, the skewed gender ratio led some men to explore same-sex relationships, something that had become acceptable among them.
But now, after their leader's return, they were playfully referring to Shi Qing as a potential sister-in-law, a title that Zhao Miaomiao had assumed.
Zhao Miaomiao's face turned ashen as she watched them happily talking about it, especially how they were referring to the wild boy as her future brother-in-law. She had plenty of opportunities now that Yin Mingzheng had returned!
After she left, the young supernaturals felt relieved. Before, Zhao Miaomiao had constantly claimed to like their leader. Although they didn't dare to play matchmaker, they had assumed Zhao Miaomiao would be their future sister-in-law. However, just one day after their leader was presumed dead, she had changed her target and started hanging out with someone their leader had never gotten along with. She not only showed no sadness but also celebrated, her attitude towards them becoming completely different. She used to be so gentle, but now she acted high and mighty, even suggesting that these supernatural beings, who went out to fight the bugs and protect the base, become bodyguards for the privileged second-generation individuals at the base.
Now that their leader had returned, she was putting on a caring facade for someone else.
"Ugh! She thinks she's worthy of daydreaming!" One of the supernatural beings snorted.
Another added, "I think the boy our leader brought back is not bad. Although he doesn't look like a supernatural and is a bit delicate, he's better than Zhao Miaomiao, the venomous snake."
"Yeah, I agree. I used to study psychology, and our leader is naturally dominant. The one who suits him best is someone fragile who he can completely control in a relationship. Isn't that boy just like that?"
Others nodded in agreement, while some expressed concern, "Although he seems a bit soft in character, how about this: if our leader really chooses him, let's all look out for him. When our leader is not around, we can take care of him to prevent him from being bullied."
Inside the base,
Shi Qing, who was considered "soft in character" and "completely controllable," was carried into a room by Yin Mingzheng. As soon as they entered, he jumped down to the ground and increased his weight, pushing Yin Mingzheng against the wall.
The young man with a delicate face didn't say much. He used one hand to hold onto Yin Mingzheng, while the other reached for the man's coat, which was forced against the wall.
"Shi Qing, wait..."
Yin Mingzheng's hurried attempt to stop him was directly suppressed by Shi Qing.
"Wait... Mm!"
"...Shi Qing, listen to me..."
One minute later, Yin Mingzheng gave up struggling and began to follow the laborious procedure of man and machine.
Five minutes later, Shi Qing, now behaving like a well-fed young animal, obediently leaned against the man in satisfaction. His long slender fingers rested under the man's coat, and his face was content.
Finally released from the wall, Yin Mingzheng gathered Shi Qing into his arms, as if a giant dragon had enclosed its precious treasure.
"I promise you, I'll make it better," Yin Mingzheng assured him, and his voice was filled with certainty.
[System, create a wound.]
The system, which was deeply immersed in reading the Tao Te Ching, calmly complied with the request and manufactured a wound.
Shi Qing raised his hand and showed Yin Mingzheng a thin scratch on the back of his hand that looked like it would heal quickly. He looked pitiful as he said, "Look, I'm injured."
Yin Mingzheng had suffered severe injuries, wounds on his back, and even near his heart, all of which were enough to bring him to the brink of death. But seeing the small wound that the young man had shown him now made him feel uncomfortable.
Shi Qing's eyes remained clear, and his expression of distress was purely because he couldn't find Yin Mingzheng, not because of his escape.
Yin Mingzheng's heart was filled with complexity, guilt, and tenderness as he lightly touched the small wound with his mechanical parts.
"I will heal it," he assured. Yin Mingzheng enveloped Shi Qing in his arms, like a dragon guarding his treasure.
"I promise you, it will get better."
[Ding! Yin Mingzheng's rejection level: 40/100]
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