Chapter 4

Of the three female insects, one was a Navy officer in a light-blue uniform, one belonged to the Space Force in dark navy, and the last was an ordinary civilian whose rolled-up pant leg had not even been pulled back down properly: Que Rong.

Xie Yanxing walked up to them, stopping a meter away. Slowly, his gaze traveled from head to toe over each insect's condition. The two military females were visibly bulging; only Que Rong was still relatively smooth. Xie Yanxing could not help giving him an extra look.

That single glance made a slight bulge appear on Que Rong under his scrutiny. Xie Yanxing, puzzled, glanced over again with a frown, and the bulge grew a little more.

By the time Xie Yanxing had looked at him three times, Que Rong was in exactly the same state as the other two female insects. No amount of pretending to be calm could help.

There was nothing shameful about it, though. It was perfectly normal. A faint flush surfaced beneath Que Rong's eyes, but he still met Xie Yanxing's gaze openly.

As a young, single female insect, he could take it. Lieutenant Colonel Luke, on the other hand, was in far worse shape. He clutched his mask with difficulty, sprawled in his chair and nearly rolling his eyes back. Afraid that at this rate he would lose his chastity in his old age, he hurriedly asked, "Young male master, Young Male Master Xie Yanxing—have these three passed?"

"Mm..." Xie Yanxing suddenly stopped in front of the third candidate, the Space Force female. Gently, he said, "You may go back."

"Why?" The female insect snapped his head up. The challenge left his mouth before he realized his breach of etiquette. He immediately bowed. "I apologize, young male master, but I would like a reason for being eliminated."

"..." Xie Yanxing smiled helplessly. Beneath the female insect's persistent, burning stare, he asked softly, "Do you really want me to say it outright?"

The female's entire face instantly turned red-purple with unbearable embarrassment. Stammering, he swore, "I-I am... but I would never... go against your wishes..."

Xie Yanxing said nothing. He merely looked at him quietly.

"Young male master..."

The military female almost pleaded aloud, but when he met Xie Yanxing's eyes, he knew nothing he said could make a difference. Those black eyes were full of understanding. They had surely seen through both his ambition to rise in status and his wishful thinking. His goal in competing here had never been to become a guard; it was to become this male insect's primary consort. He clenched his teeth unwillingly, but in the end gave a military salute and left in dejection.

With that, Xie Yanxing put his pheromone-suppressant patch back on and returned to his earlier seat. One Confidentiality Bureau employee immediately opened the window for ventilation; the other selected the remaining candidates' files and laid them on the table.

The instant the overwhelming male pheromone disappeared, the two female insects who had endured that tremendous ordeal began gulping breaths. Forget breathing normally—they had wanted to rip out their tracheas, lungs, and pheromone glands together and live by photosynthesis from then on.

If it had to be described, it was like a desert traveler dehydrated for days suddenly finding a clear, icy spring. The parched traveler kept telling himself the water was poisoned, that he could not drink it, while already struggling desperately to endure it—and then the spring started moving on its own, splashing water wildly all over him. They had to resist their instincts not to throw themselves directly into that icy pool while also dodging the splashing water with every last ounce of agility... Double the suffering. Suffering squared.

"Go take care of yourselves," said the director of the Military Affairs Office, waving them off.

As if granted amnesty, the female insects spun around and rushed out.

Xie Yanxing smiled, rather amused, then lowered his eyes to quickly compare the two candidates' evaluation sheets.

At a glance, the stronger of the two was obvious. The Navy female truly was an outstanding student, capable of earning an A in every category, and he had even received an A+ in male-pheromone tolerance. Unfortunately, the insect being compared with him was Que Rong—a genuine genius. Rows of S grades crushed the outstanding student next door into nothing.

Moreover, in the area Xie Yanxing cared about most—the round-robin combat results on the evaluation form—the Navy female ranked only eighth overall. There were nine candidates total, putting him second from last. Que Rong, meanwhile, was overwhelmingly first: no losses at all, an eye-catching perfect score.

A female insect at Que Rong's level should never have been applying to become his guard. Even if Que Rong strongly wished to lower himself into taking the position, the Military Command ought to have pressured the government directly, then forcibly dropped him beside Xie Yanxing that very day without consulting anyone...

When something was abnormal, there had to be a reason.

"Young male master." The MIPA vice president pointed at the Navy female's evaluation form. "I think this military female is quite good."

The moment he said it, nearly everyone looked at him as if to ask, What exactly is good about him? Even Lieutenant Colonel Luke, who stood on the same side as him, could hardly bring himself to praise the Navy female as better than Que Rong.

"How about..." Luke abruptly came up with a terrible idea. "Young male master, take both of them. They're bodyguards; two is hardly too many."

Xie Yanxing smiled and shook his head. "No. I don't have the authority to be assigned two high-ranking female-insect guards. Given my current circumstances, even one is an exceptional approval from the Military Command and MIPA."

"Why?" Luke was astonished. He had found this assignment strange from the start. In all his life, this was the first time he had heard of a male insect needing a guard because he could not withstand female-insect harassment. What were his primary and secondary consorts doing, eating shit? They could not even protect their own male master?

Since this male insect was so attractive that out-of-control female insects could kidnap him on the street, the consorts he could have should only be stronger, never weaker, and they ought to guard their male master even more closely. No matter how Luke considered it, the logic made no sense.

Then the MIPA vice president complained in a tone of exasperated disappointment, "Young Male Master Xie Yanxing refuses to marry any female insect. He is unwilling to fulfill the duties male insects ought to fulfill, so naturally he cannot enjoy a male insect's rights. One military-female bodyguard is already the limit. If he wants more, we can only ask the young male master to change that peculiar conviction of his."

Luke's voice rose even louder, almost horrified. "Why?!"

His shout nearly made the Navy female, who had just entered, retreat back outside. Que Rong poked his head curiously around the door. His short silver-gray hair and pale eyelashes were both damp; clearly he had not calmed down by ordinary means, but thoroughly chilled himself with ice water.

"I have my reasons." Xie Yanxing gave a meek little smile, though he did not look like someone burdened by any reasons at all.

He possessed male pheromones powerful enough to make nine military females disgrace themselves, yet refused to marry anyone... What a waste of heaven's gifts! Lieutenant Colonel Luke's teeth itched with frustration. Then he remembered that even if Xie Yanxing did marry, it would not be Luke's turn. Thinking that through, he felt relieved again...

The two candidates came back inside. Xie Yanxing naturally lowered his gaze to their ankles, but unfortunately Que Rong had already fixed his trousers, covering both legs completely.

Xie Yanxing already had a preference, but he had other considerations as well. After waiting a moment, he spoke calmly. "This time, I came looking for a bodyguard, so your fighting ability is naturally my primary concern. Judging by the scores on the evaluation forms, Que Rong better meets my needs..."

"Young male master," the Navy female suddenly interrupted, "I was slightly unwell during the test, which caused some unnecessary mistakes... Please believe me. I can do better."

His interruption offended the MIPA vice president on Xie Yanxing's behalf; it was clear he cared deeply about the authority of male insects. Xie Yanxing himself seemed entirely unconcerned. He only smiled and asked, "Then if I had you compete against Que Rong right now...?"

"..." The Navy female had not expected that question and fell dumbly silent. He glanced at Que Rong. The other's expression did not change, but the military female knew perfectly well that a serious Que Rong could beat his intestines out through his ass.

"However—" Xie Yanxing abruptly pivoted, his smile fading. "Because I experienced many terrible things over the past month, I am overly cautious now... I have a specific question for Que Rong. Your answer will determine my final decision."

At once, every eye in the room landed on Que Rong. The blond military female even nervously licked his lips for his "idol." Que Rong raised his eyes, one gold and one white, and calmly looked back at Xie Yanxing. "Please ask."

"Besides fighting ability, I have one clear requirement for a guard: trustworthiness." Xie Yanxing stood. "On the way here, the MIPA vice president and Lieutenant Colonel Luke repeatedly raised objections to you. I do not know the details and will not jump to conclusions, but I must consider your loyalty and obedience. So... I need you to prove your professional integrity to me. Prove that over the next two months, you will protect my physical safety with absolute loyalty."

Que Rong had plainly not expected such a question. First he froze; then, lips pressed tight, his mind began racing. Asking him to prove his trustworthiness in such a short time was simply asking the impossible. Before, he could solemnly swear upon the military insignia, and his brilliant Military Command record could prove his loyalty. But now he was merely an insect with a criminal record. All he could offer were empty words: I'm good, I'm excellent, you absolutely won't regret choosing me.

What was wrong with this male insect? Was he clever or foolish? In the first-floor lobby, when the director of the Military Affairs Office sternly ordered them to stop, Que Rong had deliberately stopped fighting at once. He had even taken Bin's punch in front of everyone, hoping to show how promptly he obeyed orders. He was sure the male insect had seen it. Had Xie Yanxing really formed no opinion from that at all?

What should he do?

Que Rong looked into Xie Yanxing's eyes again. The black depths were like an abyss; there was no way to know what the male insect truly thought.

"...Successfully completing your protection detail will earn me merit." With no other option, Que Rong lowered his eyes, suffocated by embarrassment as he revealed his selfish motive. "That will let me be rehired into the military. It is extremely, extremely important to me. If you choose me, I will do everything in my power to protect you over the next two months. I have no reason to do anything that would harm you."

Xie Yanxing lifted his water glass to hide the curl of his lips. He had expected Que Rong to say something hollow, such as, "I'm strong, I'm great; choose me and I will never disappoint you." Instead, the female insect's reason was unexpectedly sincere.

He remained silent, still considering. Then a Confidentiality Bureau employee who had barely made his presence known stepped forward half a pace and bent to whisper in Xie Yanxing's ear. "Young male master, he is a candidate recommended by General Randall."

Before the employee finished speaking, he felt a pair of black eyes cut toward him like blades. He had been asked to help and had intended to say a little more, but that look made him forget what he had been about to say.

He remembered General Randall's instructions before the trip: help Que Rong as circumstances allowed, but also that if he made any move, Xie Yanxing would certainly recognize Randall's involvement. Therefore, he should avoid intervening unless Que Rong's situation was truly dire.

He had followed those instructions faithfully and only could not resist offering a small assist at this final critical moment...

"General Randall..." Xie Yanxing repeated. He smiled thoughtfully. "So that's how it is... You should have said so earlier. On the Upper Planet, General Randall helped me a great deal. A female insect he recommends... is someone I can trust."

Que Rong was surprised. He had not known his mentor Randall was acquainted with the male insect before him. At the same time, he breathed a sigh of relief. From Xie Yanxing's relaxed tone, this job should now be securely his...

Where one insect rejoiced, another grieved. The Navy female's hopes were dashed, and he suddenly cried out, utterly unwilling, "But he, he... killed..." He stopped and started several times before ultimately closing his mouth, murmuring desolately, "Forget it. As a female insect, what right do I have to say such things?"

"Young male master, will you really not reconsider?" Lieutenant Colonel Luke was extremely displeased that Que Rong still had a chance to rise again. The MIPA vice president wore an expression that said, Good advice cannot save a fool determined to die; he had already resigned himself to letting Xie Yanxing have his way.

"Let's leave it at that." Xie Yanxing stood and asked with a smile, "Are there any other procedures? Any documents I need to sign?"