Chapter 6

General Randall seemed to have known Que Rong would contact him. He answered very quickly, and a white-haired old man with a beaming smile appeared in the center of the deep-blue floating screen. "Long time no see. Congratulations first of all."

"Long time no see, Teacher," Que Rong said. "Thank you very much for your help."

"What I did was only icing on the cake. If you hadn't had the ability, the young male master wouldn't have wanted you." Behind Randall was a study. "I heard you fought Bin this afternoon and got him disciplined?"

Que Rong quietly told his mentor about his private calculations. He had researched in advance and learned that Xie Yanxing valued a guard's fighting ability, so he had deliberately blocked the route Xie Yanxing had to take, provoked Bin into starting a group fight to display his own combat strength, and found a way to remove himself from the charge of fighting and causing trouble. He had also deliberately taken Bin's punch to demonstrate his obedience...

"You thought Xie Yanxing would not see through that? He is the most perceptive male insect I have ever met." The general sighed. "He discovered what you were doing, knew all of it was deliberately displayed for him, and felt your mind was too full of schemes, making you seem dangerous. That is why he asked you to prove your professional integrity at the end."

"Thank you for sending someone to speak for me."

"Don't thank me. That was a bad move, and I nearly made things worse. How could Xie Yanxing fail to guess that I sent that insect? If I had not once... helped him, so that he barely trusts me, your chances might have fallen through because of me."

Que Rong furrowed his brow. "Teacher, what exactly are you two—"

"Que Rong." Xie Yanxing's voice suddenly came from farther down the hall and drew closer. Que Rong hurriedly asked General Randall to wait, turned the floating screen toward the wall, stood, and opened the door. "Young Male Master Xie Yanxing, what can I do for you?"

"You don't have to keep using honorifics with me," Xie Yanxing said with a smile.

"Fine. Got it." Que Rong had never been a conventionally gentle, respectful female. Since the male insect himself said he did not need formal speech, Que Rong naturally accepted at once. "What do you need me to do?"

"I want to book a car to Central Insectfolk Hospital tomorrow morning, but I don't know how. Can you help me?"

"...Huh?" Que Rong took the terminal's floating interface that Xie Yanxing held out, confused to find that it really was just booking a car, something even a five-year-old could do.

"Nine tomorrow morning." Xie Yanxing carefully memorized Que Rong's operating steps at his side while explaining his requirements. "Any type of car is fine, but the driver must be a married female insect... And please download two movies for me while you're at it—just the newest and most popular ones."

When Que Rong had deftly finished, Xie Yanxing said with feeling, "Actually, when I was looking for a bodyguard before, I wanted a married female insect. But the person in charge at MIPA said that in my situation, I needed to hire at least a high-ranking female insect. And married high-ranking females are all watched very closely by their male masters. If they ate and lived with me for two months, their male masters would definitely come over with knives to slaughter me."

"..." More than slaughter you—they'd chop you up and feed you to dogs. Que Rong thought, You should never even have had the idea of having a married high-ranking female serve as your close protection.

"A few days ago, I also wanted to go to the hospital for a follow-up." Xie Yanxing put away the floating screen. "But I didn't know how to book a car on the wrist-terminal, so I had to walk out and hail one on the street... Then several female insects drugged me and carried me into an unlicensed car."

"..." Que Rong did not know what to say and could only remain silent.

"Oh, right. Remember to put your male-pheromone blocking mask beside the bed tonight. If anything unusual happens, put it on right away, because it seems my male pheromone is least controllable while I sleep."

Que Rong nodded. "Then lock your door."

"Okay." Satisfied, Xie Yanxing stepped back to leave, but then turned around and came back. "But what if a female insect climbs in through the window and attacks me in the middle of the night? I once saw someone across the street watching me with binoculars... If I lock the door, how will you get in to protect me?"

"I can break down the door," Que Rong said as a matter of course. "A door like the one to your bedroom? I can kick it open in one blow."

Xie Yanxing: "..."

Que Rong, belatedly: "..."

After they stared at each other for three seconds, Xie Yanxing laughed. "Then I won't lock it after all. Since I can't keep you out anyway, I'd rather focus on keeping out the people outside. Good night."

"...Good night." Que Rong quietly shut the door, then appeared in front of General Randall's screen with a whoosh. Like water coming to a boil, he poured out a string of questions in a bubbling rush: "Why can't he even book a car or download movies? Where did he live before? Teacher, how did you meet him? Why is he still single? How can a male insect his age not have any consorts? Why won't he marry consorts? He said he's going to the hospital tomorrow—is it to treat that strange male-pheromone dysregulation? He only wants me to protect him for two months. Is he certain his illness will be better in two months, or will he marry consorts after two months?"

General Randall maintained a smiling silence throughout, listening without missing a word but intending to answer none of them. Once Que Rong was done, he replied mysteriously with something unrelated: "Que Rong, this male insect is different."

Que Rong was somewhat helpless. "...Teacher, you've already said that to me once."

"Oh, then I'll say it again." General Randall smiled so broadly that even his beard trembled. "This male insect truly is very different."

"..." Que Rong was silent for a few seconds, but ultimately did not believe his mentor. "Who knows whether he is pretending? Teacher, deception is a male insect's natural gift. They are adept at acting pure and good, making a female insect think he is special, and that they themselves are the most special one in his heart."

"What male insect could fool your eyes? Que Rong, you were considered the academy's most difficult female insect. Too many male insects to count wanted you as their primary consort, but you did not like a single one..."

...

While Que Rong was catching up with Randall, Xie Yanxing in the master bedroom next door also received a communication request from MIPA. He accepted it curiously and saw a sweet-faced sub-female smiling at him from the center of the screen. "Good evening, Young Male Master Xie Yanxing."

"Good evening. What is it?"

"It is this: because matters related to your bodyguard are mainly handled by the Male Insect Protection Association, we will conduct regular follow-up calls. If Female Que Rong displays any unusual behavior or violent actions, you may report it to MIPA at any time, and we will take action immediately."

Xie Yanxing glanced at the movie on the wall, which had only just begun. "And by regular, you mean?"

"Every evening at eight thirty," the sub-female answered with a smile.

"...Isn't that frequency a bit excessive?"

"This is also for your safety." The sub-female's smile did not change. "Of course, if Que Rong has any unreasonably overbearing or terrible attitude, you can also report him. I am your twenty-four-hour dedicated agent."

Xie Yanxing did not reply immediately. He simply watched the screen silently with those deep, pitch-black eyes. Then he suddenly returned the smile. "No need. Tell your supervisor that everything is currently normal; there is no need to monitor us all the time."

The sub-female's smile visibly stiffened for an instant. His eyes darted toward somewhere off-screen, then quickly returned.

"If Que Rong does anything unusual, I will report him to you myself. Do not schedule regular follow-up calls." Then Xie Yanxing seemed to remember something. "More importantly, when will the household assistant you promised me be on the job? Though I can probably order delivery now that Que Rong is here, none of the takeout suits my taste. I need custom meals."

"Uh..." The sub-female hurriedly looked up the information. "Probably within the next day or two, young male master. Because your requirements are quite specialized, assistants who meet the conditions underwent emergency training and screening, which delayed things a little..."

"I understand. And thank you. Your work is hard... That hairstyle suits you very well."

Sub-females rarely received concern from male insects. This one immediately stammered in flustered delight, "I-it's not hard."

"Rest more. Goodbye."

"G-goodbye..."

Just as Xie Yanxing expected, the MIPA vice president was seated opposite the sub-female customer-service agent. Driven by a very complicated mindset, he had stayed up late to have his subordinate bad-mouth Que Rong to Xie Yanxing. Yet he had somehow been sarcastically jabbed through the network instead?

Looking at the young sub-female in front of him, cheeks flushed, mind wandering, endlessly fiddling with his bangs, the vice president was so angry he could barely contain himself. He walked away in bitter frustration.

The next morning, Xie Yanxing arrived at the hospital successfully before nine thirty and finally saw the doctor he had booked many days before.

He was still wrapped tightly from head to toe. Standing next to Que Rong, who wore only a hoodie, he looked like someone from an entirely different time and space.

In fact, an incident had happened at eight thirty that morning. Xie Yanxing was sitting at the table, drinking hot water and eating a boiled egg, when a knock came from outside. Then an unfamiliar voice said, "Hello, property management. A resident downstairs says your balcony is leaking. Please open the door so we can inspect it."

In Xie Yanxing's half month on the Third Planet, he had encountered so many similar scams that he could practically write a safety guide for male insects living alone.

Who knew why, in an insectfolk society that put male insects first, imposed harsh laws in other areas, and did not even permit female insects to own property after marriage, sexual harassment was regulated so loosely? Xie Yanxing had even learned that if a female insect forced him into sex, he was required to marry that female insect. After marriage, he could enslave, abuse, or coldly neglect her as much as he pleased. As long as mating training happened once every thirty days, the police generally did not concern themselves with anything else.

Later, Xie Yanxing understood why. Insectfolk law made allowances for any behavior that could benefit reproduction.

Of course, domestic violence involving a female insect's life and safety would still draw fierce social condemnation, and the police and courts would make a token effort. But the outcomes rarely satisfied any insect, and male insects were very difficult to convict.

Before yesterday, Xie Yanxing would have needed to hurry and brace the door with cabinets and tables, quickly call the police and MIPA emergency lines, then fence verbally and strategically with the female insects outside.

But today, Xie Yanxing was no longer alone in the house. Hearing that insects had come to "repair the balcony," he sprang from the sofa, ran into the gym, dragged Que Rong away from the butterfly machine where he was sweating heavily, and pushed him toward the door.

Que Rong had already been in a poor mood because he could not go out for his morning run for two months while protecting a male insect. Now he was at the end of his workout, his whole body slick with sweat, pheromone pouring out like steam surging from boiling water. Xie Yanxing, wearing a suppressant patch, felt nothing. The two female insects outside with ill intent were caught completely off guard by the powerful scent of a high-ranking female insect. Every hair on their bodies stood up in fright.

Que Rong wiped the sweat from his forehead with the towel around his shoulders and asked viciously, "Where is the leak? Is the balcony leaking, or are you leaking?"

The female insects: "..."

They fled in panic.

Ten fifteen, Central Hospital examination room.

Looking at Xie Yanxing's various test results, the doctor said, "There is no significant change from the prior diagnosis. Your male-pheromone dysregulation is gradually stabilizing. You do not need medication; keep your mindset peaceful and your emotions stable, and it should be healed in about another half month. I will give you the specially made high-strength pheromone-suppressant patches you reserved in a moment."

"As for the various aftereffects you mentioned last time from the earthquake, they are also gradually improving following the previous restoration-pod treatment. Today you still need one hour of physical-function treatment in the restoration pod. After this, return to the hospital two months later for one final restoration, and you will be fully recovered."

"How amazing." Xie Yanxing could not help praising the insectfolk's advanced medical standards.

"Of course, if you later want to enter a restoration pod for further physical enhancement," the doctor added, "you will need to marry more primary and secondary consorts. Single male insects qualify for only three restoration-pod treatments every two years. Each additional consort under your name entitles you to one additional treatment."

"No, thank you." Xie Yanxing refused helplessly. Why did every insect he encountered urge him to marry more wives and have more children? The insectfolk's welfare policy was built entirely around having more children and more spouses. Someone like him, who planned to marry none at all, was practically the scum of insectfolk society, a disgrace to civilization.

At eleven thirty, Que Rong finally saw Xie Yanxing emerge from the restoration room. Before a strange female insect could approach Xie Yanxing, Que Rong snatched the bag of suppressant patches from the other's hand. Then he glared viciously at the stranger with his gray-white eyes. Only after the other female insect slunk away did he turn and ask, "Young male master, where are we going next?"

"You're so fierce, Major General Que Rong." Rarely able to go out for fresh air without worrying about stalkers and followers, Xie Yanxing was in an excellent mood. "Since we're out at last, shall we browse the mall and supermarket?"

Que Rong nodded, then shook his head. "I am no longer a major general. Please call me by my name."

"Okay. Was your right eye born like that, or was it injured somehow?" Xie Yanxing asked curiously. "Can it be treated?"

"...It was an acquired injury," Que Rong answered honestly. "It can be treated, but I don't want it treated."

"Okay." Xie Yanxing did not ask why. Instead, he eagerly began planning what they would buy next.

The arrival of a dependable guard meant he could stay in one place for a long time, and it had also brought him a substantial subsidy. Xie Yanxing therefore shopped with abandon and even went to a Third Planet vegetarian restaurant he had long been curious about. Que Rong had to carry his purchases while constantly driving away people coveting Xie Yanxing's "beauty" and trying to strike up conversations. He was busy without a moment to spare.

Halfway through, one audacious female insect was repeatedly driven away by Que Rong and clearly refused by Xie Yanxing. Unwilling and reluctant to lash out at a male insect, he could only take it out on Que Rong before leaving: "There isn't a trace of your scent on the young male master. What's the point of guarding him so closely? You're a useless fuck who hasn't been fucked by anyone."

Que Rong: "..."

Que Rong flew into a rage. "You're asking to die—"

"Hm?" Xie Yanxing caught the key point. "What do you mean, I don't have your scent on me?"