I Flirted with the General in the Zerg Empire [Interstellar]

The Delicate Male

As their gazes met, the ice-blue eyes of the female Zerg shimmered with faint moisture. At such close proximity, He Yì saw everything clearly, and his heart ached even more.

He felt deeply upset.

So upset that the two milky-white antennae drooping at the back of his head gradually lost their color, becoming pale and translucent.

His partner was lying to him—choosing to deceive him rather than speak the truth.

If he didn’t like it, why not just say so? Oh right, Ah Zhao was afraid of angering him, his “master.” He wasn’t treating him as a partner but a master! Ah Zhao had always treaded carefully around him, fearful of upsetting him. Now, he didn’t even dare to be honest. This was no way to treat a mate.

Had Ah Zhao never liked him at all?

Sadness and rage surged within He Yì, like a fire growing stronger and fiercer. His fists clenched tightly, and it felt like a lump of iron blocked his throat, making it hard to breathe.

Even if Ah Zhao didn’t like him, he would never let him go!

In fact, a twisted thought crept into his mind—if Ah Zhao dared to run away, then… he’d… punish him. No, he couldn’t bear to hurt him.

A hurricane of powerful spiritual energy burst from He Yì, sweeping through the room. Bowls, dishes, the dining table, chairs, cabinets—everything in the dining room, save for the walls, was instantly reduced to dust in the spiritual storm. Only the two Zergs at the storm’s center, locked in a deep gaze, remained unharmed.

Unbeknownst to He Yì, the white antennae on his head began to swell. The larger they grew, the more transparent they became.

Ah Zhao’s heart pounded furiously, and his forehead burned as if on fire.

Because of the mark left by his mate, the same burning sensation had occurred when He Yì underwent his third-stage evolution. Ah Zhao’s gaze locked onto the increasingly transparent antennae behind He Yì’s head—so transparent they seemed ready to disappear.

Pop! Pop!

With two soft bursts, the swollen antennae exploded like balloons, leaving only specks of powder floating in the air.

The antennae had shed, marking the formal activation of He Yì’s atavistic bloodline.

Awakening from the chaotic storm within him, He Yì felt an overwhelming surge of power throughout his body. He instinctively touched the top of his head and confirmed the antennae were gone.

The side effects of his bloodline awakening had vanished.

He glanced around the empty room in panic. “Ah Zhao? Are you okay?” he asked anxiously. Everything around them had been destroyed—he worried that the female Zerg might have been harmed.

Ah Zhao shook his head, his blue eyes sparkling. “I’m fine, my lord. Congratulations on your full awakening!”

“I just…” He Yì trailed off, realizing how close he had come to losing control. The empty dining room filled him with fear. Without thinking, he pulled Ah Zhao into his arms and held him tightly, resting his chin on the female Zerg’s strong, graceful shoulder.

“Thank goodness you’re okay.”

After holding his mate for a moment, He Yì’s expression hardened, and he abruptly pushed the female Zerg away. “Why did you lie? Why did you deceive me?!” He hadn’t forgotten what just happened—there was no way he was letting this slide.

The female Zerg staggered from the push, his heart racing. Had his performance last night not been convincing enough, leading to his slip-up?

Before he could think of how to respond, the male’s cold voice struck again. “If you didn’t like the lemon fruit, you could’ve just thrown it away! But no, you said you liked it while looking on the verge of tears. Do you take me for a fool?”

The female Zerg couldn’t help but laugh through his frustration. “My lord, I was moved to tears.”

“I really liked it. I wasn’t lying to you.” His blue eyes sparkled with sincerity.

He Yì: …

How had he not considered that? There was such a thing as tears of joy!

How foolish.

A blush crept across his cold face. Feeling awkward, he averted his gaze and stubbornly added, “R-really? Next time, even if you’re moved, no crying allowed!”

“It’s all your fault. Now the lemon fruit is gone, and even if you liked it, it’s too late!” He shamelessly shifted the blame. Then again, when done right, shamelessness could be rebranded as mental fortitude.

What could Ah Zhao do? He had no choice but to play dumb.

“Yes, yes, it’s all my fault. I ruined your kind gesture.”

“Hmph.”

—

Military Zergs only get a three-day honeymoon leave.

For newlyweds hoping for a honeymoon, three days were far too short. Fortunately, most military Zergs accumulated annual leave before their weddings. General Zhao was no exception—he had saved up decades of leave, enough for multiple honeymoons.

He Yì planned to spend these three days at home, cuddling with his beloved while planning the perfect honeymoon—a trip that would be sweet, heartwarming, and unforgettable. As an open-minded male, he wanted to make the plans together with his mate. However, Ah Zhao’s responses were always the same:

“I’ll leave it to you.”

“I have no opinion.”

“Whatever you decide is fine, my lord.”

He Yì was stunned. Huh? You’re just dropping this responsibility on me? On the journey of love, his mate had abandoned the task, leaving He Yì to shoulder the burden all alone!

But since he was a good husband, he would bear the weight with pride.

Lying happily on his mate’s broad, steady chest, He Yì lounged on the couch. His soft, white feet—clad in blue cartoon slippers—lazily dangled over the armrest, swaying now and then. Fully absorbed, he scrolled through options on the screen before him.

“Ah Zhao, what do you think of this planet? You can even hunt snails there!”

“That’s too dangerous, my lord,” Ah Zhao replied absentmindedly, sitting sideways on the couch with his hands loosely encircling the male’s soft waist.

He Yì tilted his head. “Didn’t you say you’d leave everything to me?”

Oh, females.

“While Snow Star has beautiful scenery, it’s also overrun with dangerous beasts. If you really want snail meat, I can catch some for you myself.”

Hearing this, the once-relaxed male Zerg kicked off his slippers in frustration. “Don’t think that just because you put it nicely, I don’t know what you mean! You’re saying I’m weak, aren’t you? Well, let me tell you—your lord is very strong!”

He wasn’t like those delicate male Zergs on Zerg Star, coddled like greenhouse flowers, wilting at the slightest hardship. He had fought zombies for decades, weathering endless blood and storms. He needed a thrilling honeymoon trip—how else would it be memorable?

“But it’s really dangerous…”

“I don’t care! I’m going!” The male shot up, pulling his feet off the armrest and sitting cross-legged on the couch. His deep black eyes, full of emotion, locked onto the female Zerg, both playful and annoyed.

A flicker of confusion flashed through the female Zerg’s calm, steady blue eyes: What do I do when my lord acts this way?

Help! Urgent!!

The two Zergs stared at each other, locked in a silent standoff.

Eventually, the male couldn’t hold back and burst into laughter, clutching his stomach with one hand and pounding the couch with the other. “Hahahaha! I was just messing with you! Fine, fine, we won’t go!”

“Do you think I’d really drag you along?”

The expression on the female Zerg’s face was just too funny!

He looked like a lost, clumsy little rabbit that had wandered into a wolf’s den—helpless, pitiful, and confused. If those critics on the StarNet who called General Zhao an emotionless robot could see him now, their jaws would drop wide enough to fit an ostrich egg.

Seeing that the male wasn’t angry over his objections but was instead laughing so heartily, the female Zerg’s perfectly shaped lips curled into a smile.

—

Unfortunately, the honeymoon plans were put on hold before they could even take shape.

That afternoon, He Yì received an invitation from the palace for a banquet celebrating the 900th birthday of the Zerg Emperor.

In Zerg society, a male’s social circle revolved around one thing—the Male Protection Association. The association was a tightly knit ecosystem, fiercely protective of its own, cold and mysterious to outsiders. It operated independently of the military, noble families, and the imperial family. Only males rated A-grade and above were eligible to join.

Yes, He Yì was a member too.

He had joined after advancing to a dual-S-grade male following his third-stage evolution. He was even given a vice president position—an honorary title with no real authority. As a recently-returned “lost” male, he had earned his place purely through strength.

There was no way Vice President He Yì and Third Legion Commander General Zhao could skip this banquet invitation.

—

The night was cool as water.

He Yì lay listlessly at the head of the bed, sighing for the 101st time. “Ah, my honeymoon… You came so quietly, and now you’ve slipped away unnoticed~”

The female Zerg quietly moved closer. “My lord, it’s actually not that long. Time will fly by, and we can leave for our trip right after the banquet.”

“Not long?” He Yì’s eyes widened as he furiously pounded the pillow. “It’s a whole half-month!”

“Every day will feel like a year—half a month is fifteen years!” As he kept venting, something suddenly felt off.

He shot up as if waking from a nightmare, panic flashing in his eyes.

“Be honest—are you not looking forward to our honeymoon at all?!”

That accusation stung deeply. the female Zerg lowered his thick, long lashes, casting shadows over his expression. His voice was soft with grievance. “I am not.” How could the lord think so little of him?

His golden head drooped.

Hearing the sadness and hurt hidden in the female Zerg’s tone, He Yì realized he’d gone too far, letting his imagination run wild. He lowered his head until their foreheads touched, their noses gently brushing, breaths mingling. In the growing warmth, the room fell into silence.

Before long, He Yì forgot all about his disappointment over the delayed honeymoon and focused on soothing his companion.

And how did he make amends? By turning off the lights and going to sleep, of course.

…

While the male Zerg was lost in sweet dreams, the seemingly slumbering companion slowly opened his eyes. Gently, he slipped from the warm embrace, careful not to disturb him.

He sat quietly in the darkness for a few moments, ensuring the male was sound asleep. Then, moving cautiously, he slid off the bed, felt his way to the nightstand, and pressed a hidden switch. Like a thief in the night, he slipped into the bathroom.

Without turning on the light, he activated his terminal. His fingers flew across the virtual screen, typing out a string of complex code. After a moment, the display turned stark white. Another line of code later, a deep-seated lock in the star network was released, revealing a pitch-black screen.

On it, the female Zerg wrote: “The plan has changed. Initiate Plan B.”

After a brief pause, a reply came through: “Are you sure? What about His Excellency He Yì…?”

The female Zerg hesitated before responding: “It’s been almost twenty years. The dawn is just ahead—do you think I’d give up now?”

The other side seemed convinced. “Alright, be careful.”

Green text glimmered faintly on the black screen, flickering on and off like an eerie light. In the darkness, the reflection in the female Zerg’s deep blue eyes looked even more cold and brooding.

Not wanting to linger too long, he swiftly restored the terminal to normal and returned to the bedroom. Slipping back under the covers, he carefully wrapped his arms around the male Zerg, pulling him gently into his embrace.

Breathing in the sweet, comforting scent of pheromones, he drifted off to sleep.