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

The Cute Zerg (Triple Release)

“Mm, I heard that place is covered in pink muhly grass, and from a distance, it looks like a pink ocean. Very beautiful.” The male Zerg swiped to the video he had saved earlier and pressed play.

“Look at this, isn’t it beautiful?”

The female lowered his gaze and hesitated. “But… that place is also the site of an ancient Zerg war, and a popular tourist attraction. No matter when we go, it’ll be crowded. Master, you wouldn’t like it.” Even though they hadn’t spent much time together, he knew the male Zerg liked peace and quiet and was more of a homebody. Unlike other males on Pasor, who loved to socialize.

He Yi said calmly, “It’s fine. No matter how crowded a place is, there are always quiet corners. Since it’s a trip, being in a lively place isn’t a bad thing.”

“Besides—”

He dragged out his words, “It’s said there’s an interstellar meteor grotto there. If you’re lucky enough to see a shooting star, you’ll receive the blessing of the Zerg god.” He hadn’t believed in fate before, but after getting a second chance at life, he held a certain reverence for it now.

“Honestly, do you want to go?” He Yi tilted his head and asked.

The female was silent for a moment, then finally nodded, “I do.”

Pink Dusk Planet was a love sanctuary in the hearts of every female Zerg. He longed to walk every inch of that land with his master.

The male Zerg let out a soft laugh. “You hesitated just now!”

“Ah Zhao, you’re being naughty again, trying to trick me?”

The proud male Zerg moved closer, pinching the female’s soft cheeks and pulling them outward, raising his voice, “Tell me! How do you want your master to punish you?”

The female understood now. So this is what he had been waiting for.

The glint of mischief that had flashed in the male’s eyes earlier had been real—he hadn’t imagined it. The master had clearly been stirred up by improper thoughts, yet still acted like they were discussing something serious… Was it all just to have a legitimate excuse to “punish” him?

A cunning light flashed in the female’s blue eyes. Through gritted teeth, he forced out two broken and unclear words, “Do (Whatever) you want.”

The two snowy white bunny ears on top of his head twitched and shook uncontrollably, reacting to his emotions.

Now came the true test of his acting skills! How would he manage to maintain a pained expression while feeling excited and joyful so that his master could enjoy the thrill of punishment?

The male Zerg lifted his hand to remove the troublesome bunny-eared hood, revealing a head of soft, tousled golden hair. Because the movement was so abrupt, the hair became even messier, and the mischievous male couldn’t resist ruffling it further.

It became even more chaotic.

The female’s hands wrapped around the male’s waist from behind, and he lowered his head slightly, nestling into the warm, broad chest. His golden hair shifted and moved like a clueless little goldfish swimming through the vast ocean.

He Yi thought to himself: If he keeps rubbing against me, he’s going to wear himself out.

He placed his left hand on the female’s restless head, while his right hand absentmindedly stroked the soft material of the fluffy outfit on the female’s back. A smile played on his lips—though it looked like a mischievous smirk, it was filled with tenderness. “Ah Zhao, since you’ve ignited the flame, you should be prepared to put it out, right?”

The female Zerg stiffened all over, holding the male even tighter.

The male lifted the frozen female with ease.

And thus, the punishment began.

The male: A gentle storm, waves crashing in spasms.

The female: Blushed pale white under the tide, drifting as the sea rested into the dark shore.

The tide kneaded the night into a rumpled, twisted blanket.

There was rain, and the night stretched endlessly.

—

By the early morning, the skies had cleared.

The honeymoon flew by in a blink, and the admiral returned to his daily routine of clocking in at the military headquarters. When He Yi finally got out of bed after sleeping in, the female Zerg was long gone.

After enjoying the breakfast thoughtfully prepared by the admiral, He Yi slouched lazily on the sofa, his long legs resting at an angle. His arms stretched out comfortably, draped over the sofa’s back. With his eyes half-closed, memories of the admiral’s graceful figure from the night before flashed before him.

He sighed lightly: Turns out, I was too naïve.

How could a military female who climbed to the rank of admiral from a humble background be clueless? The pitiful act, the seemingly clueless demeanor, the delicate persona—none of it was real!

His mental strength never lied, and after several tests throughout the night, he finally accepted the cold, hard truth. The submissiveness and gentleness the admiral had displayed—none of it was genuine. He confirmed this over and over, only to finally admit it with tears in his heart.

The admiral had worn a blue mushroom (sad, pitiful) expression on the surface, but inside, he had been secretly amused the whole time.

He must’ve been laughing at me!

He Yi absentmindedly rotated the silver ring on his left ring finger. Ah, love truly is blind. The ancients didn’t lie.

And yet, even now, recalling the admiral’s alluring glances, the sensation of smooth skin under his touch, and the fiery passion of the night, his heart couldn’t help but stir again. How embarrassing… How did I let myself fall for that trickster of a female?

But it didn’t matter. He had a thick skin, and whatever face he lost, he could recover slowly.

Besides, now that the “enemy” was out in the open and he was hidden in the shadows, he could sit back and quietly watch that trickster admiral’s next performance.

Whatever tricks you’ve got, bring them on!

To be honest… it was kind of thrilling.

—

Time always slips by like sand through one’s fingers. Before he knew it, evening arrived.

Having fully embraced his homebody lifestyle, He Yi spent the entire day lazing around the villa. As dusk approached, he received a gaming invite from Cape, whose message read: Bro! Come quick! There’s a new game out, and it’s insanely fun!

Maybe remembering how He Yi had trashed his last game recommendation, Cape added, If you don’t like it, I’ll buy you a gaming pod—the latest collector’s edition from A-Company!

He Yi chuckled when he saw the message. How could a life of leisure be complete without games? And it was a new full-dive VR game, something he had never tried before.

In his mind, every game was fun—even bad ones. Last time, he’d only criticized the game to tease Cape, but the guy had taken it seriously.

Naïve Sweetheart, Confirmed.

After glancing at the overtime message from the general once more, He Yi stood up and made his way to the game room on the second floor.

As he pushed the door open, the lights flickered on in response. He descended the steps slowly and pressed a direct-access button on one of the decorative sculpted pillars along the edge of the circular hall. In the blink of an eye, he found himself standing less than half a meter from the gaming pod in the center of the room.

The walls of the game room were painted in a soft sky-blue, like the sky after a rain, with a few light, fluffy clouds floating on the ceiling. These luminous clouds served as the room’s light source.

Basking in the warm breeze circulating through the hall, He Yi marveled once again at the advanced technology of the Zerg race.

The gaming pods were universal and compatible with almost every game. They only required a chip link to function, and every Zerg had a subcutaneous chip implanted in their left arm to connect to their personal AI system. He Yi had his chip implanted during his health check on the first day he arrived on the Zerg star.

After downloading the new game, he removed the AI device from his wrist and placed it into one of the curved slots on the left side of the gaming pod. Then, he lay down slowly inside the deep-blue couple’s edition pod.

Yes, the pod was a couple’s version—rare and exorbitantly expensive—but, unfortunately, he had never had the chance to use the couple’s mode. So far, he had only ever used the solo mode.

The moment his subcutaneous chip connected to the virtual world, he was transported into a multidimensional space, the login hub of the holographic world, where players could access different games.

This time, Cape had recommended a game called Zerg Planet Wars, which was still in its open beta phase. As the name suggested, it was a combat-based game focused on leveling up. Each level took place on a different planet with its own unique background. The first level was set on a planet called Doom Star, where players had to fight strange, ugly, and powerful beasts.

As soon as they landed on Doom Star, Cape, using his freshly customized avatar, poked He Yi.

[“Hey, bro, let’s compete!”]

He Yi raised an eyebrow. [“Compete in what?”]

Cape grinned. [“Let’s see who can kill the most beasts!”]

He Yi glanced at Cape’s slimmed-down figure, nodding to himself. Not bad—the guy actually looked pretty good now. It seemed every overweight person was just a hidden potential waiting to be unleashed. But Cape’s competitive streak was still as strong as ever.

He Yi gave a nonchalant nod. [“Fine, whatever.”]

Cape’s eyes gleamed with excitement. [“The bet’s a gaming pod from A-Brand. And no backing out, got it?”]

He Yi glanced down at the starting weapon in his hand—a large axe—and replied indifferently: [“Sure.”]

For him, fighting alien beasts was no different from fighting zombies. It was just slashing and hacking—there wasn’t much skill involved. Since the game was designed for the delicate male Zergs of the Zerg race, he didn’t have high expectations.

Their landing spot was a ruined city on Doom Star, where the main mission also took place. He Yi stepped through the city gates first, with Cape following closely behind. As soon as Cape crossed the threshold, the gates slowly closed behind them.

The ground beneath their feet was scorched black and full of craters. Everywhere they looked, there were collapsed ruins and broken walls.

A strange, eerie atmosphere spread through the area.

Cape leaned closer, clutching He Yi’s arm tightly. His voice trembled as he said, “Bro, this place… it’s so creepy. Don’t… don’t worry, I’ve got your back!”

He Yi: “…”

If Cape weren’t shaking so hard, that statement might have been a bit more convincing.

He Yi felt both helpless and amused. Although they were technically working as a team, Cape insisted on competing to see who could kill more monsters. When Cape inevitably started screaming in terror, would He Yi comfort him, or just laugh at him? With a sigh, He Yi tried to tug his sleeve loose.

Cape only held on tighter.

The game’s main selling point was its tagline: “The most thrilling and terrifying game ever.” For someone like Cape, an inexperienced male Zerg, the game was a mix of curiosity and fear. He was eager to explore but couldn’t help chickening out—like those people who love horror movies yet get scared out of their wits every time, only to come back for more.

Before long, the faint rustling of movement came from the distance.

The monsters had appeared. A puff of green smoke suddenly rose from the ground, slowly condensing into hideous beasts. They moved sluggishly at first, but as more and more of them emerged from all directions, they began converging toward He Yi and Cape.

Cape couldn’t hold back anymore. “Aaaahhhh!”

After screaming, he felt a bit embarrassed. He bent down to pick up the axe he had dropped in fear, slung it clumsily over his shoulder, and took a step forward to stand in front of He Yi. “If… if you’re scared, it’s not too late to back out. I-I’ll handle all these monsters!”

The first beast was closing in. Gritting his teeth, Cape dashed forward and swung the axe with all his might, eyes shut tight.

The axe slipped from his hands and flew far off into the distance.

With a dull thud, it hit the ground.

Cape opened his eyes, only to find himself face-to-face with a grotesque monster drooling foul slime from its mouth.

“Aaaaahhh! Aaaaaaahhhh!”

A blood-curdling scream pierced the air. Cape covered his eyes and ran blindly in panic.

He was so terrified that his brain stopped working, and he ended up running off in the wrong direction—right into another monster emerging from the ground. The creature’s slimy drool splattered all over Cape’s face.

Cape: “…”

A series of screams followed.

He Yi pressed a hand to his forehead.

This kid was beyond saving.

With an exasperated sigh, He Yi strode forward, grabbed Cape by the collar, and dragged him backward. At the same time, he swung his axe effortlessly, slicing through the monster’s neck.

Cape, still covering his face, thrashed and screamed hysterically.

He Yi snapped, “Shut up! Stop squirming!”

Hearing the familiar voice, Cape froze. Peeking through the gaps between his fingers, he caught sight of his stoic teammate—

And the severed monster head rolling across the ground!!

“Y-you…!”

“I-it…!”

He stood frozen in place, trembling as he pointed at the gruesome head on the ground that was slowly melting into a puddle of green slime, unable to utter a single complete sentence.

He Yi, with a look of disdain, released his hold on the foolish teammate’s collar and casually swung his axe, dispatching another monster that had gotten too close. He raised an eyebrow and said, “If you’re scared, it’s too late to back out now.”

Cape: “…”

Feeling embarrassed, he awkwardly scratched his nose: “What goes around comes around; who can escape the will of heaven?”

Perhaps realizing he was clinging to a powerful ally, Cape’s fear began to fade. Grabbing onto He Yi’s clothes, he cautiously followed behind, shouting encouragement: “Hurry! Bro, another one’s coming!”

With a swift swing, He Yi brought down his axe.

“Wow! Awesome!”

“Over there! Here it comes! It’s coming!!”

He Yi swept through the monsters like chopping through melons.

“Yay!”

…

Before long, the first wave of monsters in the city had been completely wiped out. He Yi dropped the axe and raised his hand to rub his slightly numbed eardrums, which were still ringing from Cape’s overly enthusiastic screams.

“This is so boring. It’s not even as fun as hacking zombies in the apocalypse,” he thought. He hadn’t even used any powers and had just been relying on brute force.

“Bro, when did you become this strong?” Cape asked, grinning as he sidled up to He Yi. “Is there a secret? Share one with me!”

He Yi glanced at him with a half-smile. “Have you ever eaten the brain flower of a Dudu beast?”

Cape shook his head, looking confused.

He Yi smirked. “I recommend you try it; it’s very nourishing.”

Cape nodded seriously, giving He Yi a grateful handshake, “I’ll go try it out! Thanks, you’re such a good bro!”

“Let’s go, let’s go! Next level! This time, you protect me, and next time when I’ve had the brain flower, I’ll protect you!”

He Yi was speechless for a moment and didn’t respond.

Just as they were about to enter the next level, Cape suddenly paused, his expression going blank. A few seconds later, he excitedly said, “Lan’s back! I’m logging off now; see you, bro!”

“Let’s meet up next time~” His voice echoed, but he had already disappeared without a trace.

He Yi: “A traitor to friendship for the sake of romance!”

After mocking Cape, He Yi opened his backpack to check the loot from the recent monster kills. He found some item fragments, skill shards, and clothing pieces—scattered bits that couldn’t yet be combined into a decent item.

Suddenly, a system prompt sounded in his ear: “Beep! Another player has logged on.”

“System scanning…

“Gender: Female Zerg, Identity: Female attendant.”

“Activate couple mode?”

“Will automatically activate in three seconds. Please wait to confirm; cancel by popping the colorful balloons.” A cold, mechanical voice continued on.

He Yi watched as dozens of pink balloons floated around in his field of vision, and inexplicably, a silver machete appeared in his hand. The knife looked ugly, like a shovel. He ignored it.

“Beep! Couple mode has been activated.”

“At your service! Welcome, couple players, to the Doomsday Planet. The system will randomly distribute a large gift pack; please check your inventory!” The system’s voice instantly shifted to a soft tone, no longer cold and mechanical.

The silver machete in his hand transformed into a small, chestnut-colored hamster, which crawled out of his palm and floated before his eyes in the air.

“Master.” The little hamster squeaked softly.

Seeing this scene, He Yi’s pupils widened slightly. “Ah Zhao?!”

“How did you… how did you end up like this?!”

Although its appearance had changed and its voice was much more childish, it was undeniably his Ah Zhao. Only Ah Zhao could call him “Master.”

The little hamster crawled a few steps forward. “Master, this is a random gift pack provided by the system, valid for one star hour.”

He Yi stood there, stunned.

Ah Zhao thought the Master was angry and hurriedly explained in a small, soft voice, “I’m sorry, Master. I just wanted to come in and let you know that dinner is ready. I didn’t mean to disturb your game.”

He had lost his composure. The moment he opened the hall door and saw the couple game pod, he lost all his usual calmness and shamelessly thought that the other position in the pod was his. But he had forgotten that the Master had never mentioned anything about it, and it was clear that the spot was reserved for a future female attendant or consort.

He had deluded himself, fantasizing about something that did not belong to him.

The chestnut-colored hamster lay there, looking dejected, its bright fur seemingly losing its luster. “Master, I’ll leave right away.”

He Yi reached out and grabbed the little wife who was trying to sneak away. He placed the hamster in the palm of his other hand and gently poked its high, fluffy tail with a smile. “You little hypocrite.”

“That tail is quite honest, though.”

Ah Zhao awkwardly flicked its tail away from the Master’s teasing, its voice soft. “It tickles~”

Its round eyes sparkled. The Master didn’t seem to be angry, so that other position in the couple pod really was left for him!

Seeing Ah Zhao’s face turn red, He Yi reluctantly withdrew his finger. “It’s not very convenient for you to team up and fight monsters in this form. How about we go to the entertainment area and take a look?”

The chestnut-colored hamster nodded vigorously. “I’ll do whatever the Master says.”

Once again, it was the same phrase.

He Yi couldn’t help but chuckle silently. He tucked the little wife into his pocket and switched the map on the virtual control panel. In the next moment, he appeared in the initial hall of the entertainment area.

Although Zergoid Planet Wars was branded as a horror upgrade game designed specifically for male players, every male player usually brought along several or dozens of female players. So the correct way to play was for the females to work together: some responsible for fighting monsters, while others collected loot, with the males watching from the sidelines. This was already a significant challenge for the delicate males.

The teaming method of two males like Cape and He Yi was so unusual that even the programmers who created the game would never have imagined it. After all, males would always be accompanied by several females wherever they went, especially in a horror game.

It was well-known that wherever there were males, there would be spending. The savvy game developers were certainly not foolish enough to create only game zones and neglect the entertainment area, where they could earn more star coins.

Thus, the entertainment area of this game was quite luxurious.

After stepping out of the initial hall of the entertainment area, He Yi began to wander aimlessly. All around him were trading shops filled with a dazzling array of goods, and players were coming and going.

“Ah Zhao, can you eat anything like this now?” He Yi poked at the little wife in his pocket.

“Yes, Master.” The little hamster popped its fuzzy head out of the pocket.

“Anything at all?” He Yi asked in surprise.

The little hamster poked its two little paws out of the pocket, curiously looking around. “I can eat, but what I eat is actually just a string of virtual data. The taste and smell are transmitted to my senses through the chip, but it doesn’t affect the real body. Many females who get tired of nutrient liquids and energy blocks come to the game to try other foods.”

“Have you ever tried any?”

“No.”

He Yi suddenly got excited. “Then I’ll take you to try some today!”

He opened the map pop-up, selected “Food Street,” and reached out to tap the virtual guiding cursor in the bottom right corner of the pop-up. Following the direction indicated by the cursor, he strolled over.

As he walked, despite the bustling noise around him, he felt no impatience; instead, his mood brightened. In the past, he didn’t enjoy crowds, not because he disliked them, but because he had no one to share the experience with. Now, with a companion, he felt less lost and lonely in the midst of the excitement.

Upon reaching Food Street, he was greeted by a strange medley of enticing aromas wafting through the air. He Yi twitched his nose. “It smells so good! Ah Zhao, I want to eat too! I haven’t tried most of the food here.”

He sounded a bit resentful.

He had been on Zerg Planet for some time, but he hadn’t tried many foods. Firstly, he didn’t have a strong desire for food; during the most difficult times of the apocalypse, he had eaten anything and everything. So he hadn’t made any particular requests regarding food. Secondly, the dishes he sampled during meals were carefully recorded by the females and would reappear on the dining table after a day or a few days. As a result, the variety of foods he had tried was even fewer.

“It’s my fault for neglecting the Master.” A Zhao gently brushed its tiny lips against the warm fingertips that He Yi had tucked into his pocket.

He Yi smiled faintly. “Yes, it’s your fault. So today, I’m punishing you to accompany me and eat to your heart’s content!”

Thus, they began their “gathering fat project” of eating and eating.

“Come, try this skewer; it’s spicy… Wow, so hot!”

“Mmm.”

“And this one, it’s both sweet and sour—uh, it’s kind of strange.”

“Master, this is delicious!”

“Really? Then let’s buy more.”

“What is this? Why does it smell so awful?!”

“Master, I want to eat it~”

“Are you sure? It smells terrible! Even if it won’t upset your stomach, just the smell alone is unbearable…” He Yi frowned. The stench was worse than anything he’d ever encountered, even surpassing the infamous stinky tofu on Earth.

“Master~” A soft, sweet voice stretched out, full of playful longing.

The little hamster rolled around adorably in the not-so-spacious pocket of He Yi’s clothes, rubbing itself against his soft fingers. Its tiny furry paws clutched his hand, and its puffy cheek pouches occasionally nuzzled his fingertips. Fine, delicate whiskers brushed lightly against his skin, sending a tingling sensation through his entire body.

He Yi gave in instantly. “Fine, I’ll buy it for you! But only one box, no more.”

After all, he prided himself on being a Zerg with principles!

The little hamster, thrilled at its success, pecked playfully at the tip of He Yi’s soft, fair finger. Mission accomplished—yay!

In truth, Zhao didn’t care much about eating the smelly food. He was just acting spoiled. The forum threads had made it clear: “Spoiled females live the best lives.” And as long as he stayed in this cute hamster form, he knew he had the perfect shield. Even if he tested He Yi’s limits, there was no way he’d get annoyed.

After all, how could something so fluffy have any bad intentions?

Holding the box of stinky food, He Yi hesitated. This time, he didn’t dump it all into his pocket like before. Instead, he carefully pulled his wife out of his pocket and placed him on his left shoulder. “Eat it out here. The smell is too strong to keep in my pocket.”

As he spoke, he opened the box and skewered a piece with a toothpick, bringing it to Zhao’s mouth.

Suddenly enjoying a wider field of vision, the little hamster blinked for a moment in confusion before opening its mouth. With a soft nibble, it bit into the food He Yi offered. The moment its sharp little teeth touched the food, it began to dissolve, turning transparent and fading into virtual data that transferred directly to Zhao’s mind.

It was fragrant and sweet.

Zhao made a quick decision: This was now his favorite food!

He Yi had no idea what Zhao was thinking. Holding his breath, he quickly finished feeding the entire box and exhaled a long sigh of relief. He thought to himself: Who knew that coaxing a wife could be so exhausting?

It really took some lung capacity!

They continued wandering the streets, stopping to eat and drink along the way. Eventually, He Yi noticed something strange. “Ah Zhao, why are all the shop owners here male?”

It was really odd. From what he knew about the delicate males on Zerg Planet, they didn’t seem like the kind to lower themselves to set up stalls and do business. Even more surprising was how soft-spoken and polite they were when interacting with customers.

In the Zerg race, it’s true that a very small number of male Zergs work, but without exception, they come from low-ranking civilian backgrounds in remote star systems. Most take on administrative roles in the military, their only goal being to marry a few high-ranking females and climb into the nobility. Even then, though, their attitude is never so humble.

Take Major Zorn, for example. Even though he intends to live off others, his demeanor remains as arrogant as ever.

What’s even stranger is that there isn’t a single female running any of these businesses.

Zhao offered an explanation to his master: “Master, those are NPCs, not players.”

He sneakily crawled a bit closer to He Yi’s neck, quietly inhaling the intoxicating scent of his pheromones. Ah, he had really hit the jackpot this time.

“NPCs? They’re that realistic?” He Yi, a self-proclaimed outlander, widened his eyes in disbelief. How narrow-minded I was, he thought.

Zhao tentatively stretched out a little paw, lightly brushing against He Yi’s fair neck, while continuing to explain in his sweet voice: “Many female Zergs will never see a male in their lifetime, so almost all NPCs in the market’s games are male. Game companies know how obsessed unmarried females are with males, so they program the NPCs to be gentle and caring.”

He Yi scratched his itchy neck and sighed. “I see now. Just for the sake of those sweet NPCs, the females must be throwing tons of money into these games.”

“What a bunch of clever merchants!”

After a few more steps, He Yi suddenly stopped and spoke with a soft, probing tone: “A Zhao, be honest with me… Have you ever spent money on these NPCs?”

He reached over and plucked the sneaky little Zerg from his neck, cupping his now tiny and soft wife in his palm. He brought him up to his face, staring unblinkingly into those icy-blue eyes.

“No lying. I won’t get mad even if you have,” he coaxed gently.

In fact, with his photographic memory, he had already confirmed his suspicions. It didn’t make sense for a general to have less savings than a lieutenant general—unless the money had been spent elsewhere. For example, on those gentle NPC males!

He Yi’s chest tightened.

I’m not angry. I’m not angry. Just… feeling really jealous!

Zhao suddenly sat upright, leaning his tiny back against He Yi’s curled fingers, waving his front paws in protest. “I didn’t! Master, I really didn’t. Please believe me!”

He couldn’t understand why He Yi was so jealous.

But he felt so wronged.

Seeing his wife flailing around in an adorably silly way, He Yi couldn’t help but laugh. He gently ran his fingers along Zhao’s soft fur from head to tail, slow and tender. “Okay, okay, if you didn’t, then you didn’t. Why get so worked up?”

Zhao: “…”

It was obvious that the jealous one here was He Yi—those deep, dark eyes of his were practically dripping with envy. What could a poor, helpless little female servant like him do? Talk back to his master? Of course not.

He closed his eyes in comfort, savoring the tingling sensation as He Yi’s warm fingers stroked him. The ears on top of his head twitched slightly. “I really didn’t spend any money. And even if I did, it was for the Orphanage for Females.”

“The Orphanage for Females?” He Yi echoed, suddenly understanding.

So that’s how it was. It all made sense now. While there wasn’t much public information on the empire’s shining military star before he enlisted, there were mentions that Zhao was born an orphan. Before his first evolution at the age of eight, he had lived at the Orphanage for Females, growing up alongside others who shared the same fate, relying on the meager social assistance provided by the government.

Most of the female cubs in the Orphanage for Females are either orphaned due to the death of their female parent or left there because their families are unable to raise them. In some cases, the family environment may be so dire—with intense infighting in the male’s harem—that clever female parents find a legitimate excuse to secretly send their offspring to the orphanage, ensuring they grow up healthy. After all, as long as one stays alive, there is always hope.

However, life in the orphanage wasn’t particularly pleasant. Zhao spent his childhood there, and it’s only natural that he has deep emotional ties to the place. Once he became capable, he began donating part of his assets to help the young cubs there live more comfortably and securely.

This unexpected but reasonable revelation caused the jealousy in He Yi’s heart to dissipate instantly, replaced by a soft, lingering ache—a tenderness that filled every corner of his heart.

He adjusted his hand to make his wife sit more comfortably. In this relaxed position, they exchanged idle chatter for a while.

“Lord He Yi, what a coincidence.”

A gentle voice called from behind.

He Yi turned around, surprised to encounter a familiar face even in the game world. “Lord Hila, we meet again.”

The male Zerg Hila extended his right hand, and the two greeted each other with a friendly handshake.

Standing beside Hila was an eye-catching sub-female, with long, wine-red hair cascading down to his waist, swaying gracefully as he performed a polite bow.

“Good day, Your Excellency.”

His voice was crisp like a songbird in a secluded valley, yet soft like a bubbling stream, carrying a blend of elegance and charm with a hint of laziness.

“Luoluo?” He Yi’s expression flickered for a moment. Wasn’t this the lead character from the movie he had recently seen in the cinema? The entire film had left an impression on him because the protagonist spent most of it whining endlessly. The character’s name was Luoluo.

A flash of surprise crossed Hila’s eyes.

“You know him?” he asked, sensing the familiarity with which He Yi had addressed the sub-female.

He Yi shook his head. “Not personally. I just happened to watch one of his movies.”

“His acting is quite good.”

This habitual bit of polite flattery came across with a different meaning to the others present.

Zhao, who had remained silent until now, suddenly tensed, then leaped onto He Yi’s shoulder. Out of the male Zerg’s line of sight, he bared his teeth and glared fiercely at the overly beautiful sub-female. Get lost!

He then tapped He Yi’s shoulder a few times, marking his territory with an invisible line—Mine. Don’t even think about taking him!

The sub-female, Locke, cast a fleeting glance at the tiny creature on He Yi’s shoulder before withdrawing his gaze, a faint glimmer flickering in his violet eyes. He took a small step forward and, in a voice as soft as cotton candy, said, “I am honored that Your Excellency remembers my name.”

Hila chuckled teasingly from the side. “So, Your Excellency is a fan of Mr. Locke?”

Locke’s pale cheeks quickly flushed with a delicate red. “It is my honor to receive Your Excellency’s favor,” he said, his gaze flowing with tender affection. “To be honest, I’ve admired you for a long time.”

Hila’s smile stiffened, and a complex emotion flickered in his eyes—surfacing for a moment before sinking back down.

The situation had escalated far too quickly, turning ambiguous in the blink of an eye. He Yi hastily waved his hands. “No, no, you misunderstood! Luoluo is just the name of a character Mr. Locke played in a movie. I don’t actually know him and have no intention of becoming acquainted.” This was a major misunderstanding! His wife was right here, watching everything. This ambiguous relationship needed to be cleared up immediately!

The blush on Locke’s cheeks faded slightly. “Oh? Is that so?” Intriguing. This was the first time a male had ever rejected him to his face. Could it be a game of cat and mouse? This male was certainly different, just as the intel suggested.

Sensing the tension, Hila stepped in to smooth things over. “Indeed, Mr. Locke is a galactic superstar. Not everyone can know him, nor is he someone you can easily befriend.”

He Yi eagerly nodded. “Well said, Lord Hila.” He made sure to show due respect, hoping this topic would be dropped.

However, Locke wasn’t about to let it go.

Biting his lip softly with teeth as white as snow, Locke’s voice remained as soft as ever. “Your Excellency He Yi, may I add you to my personal contact list?”

At these words, the small, chestnut-colored hamster on He Yi’s shoulder nearly shredded his clothes with its blunt little claws.

“No.” The noble male refused firmly, leaving no room for negotiation.

The little hamster’s tail drooped in relief. Crisis averted.

A flash of surprise crossed Locke’s eyes. How was he supposed to subtly prolong contact without exchanging information? Was this wild-star male playing another game altogether?

He cast a subtle glance at Hila.

Hila’s back stiffened, and he cursed silently to himself before offering an awkward laugh. “Surely, Your Excellency must be joking.”

“How could someone as refined and approachable as you reject a famous and stunning individual like Mr. Locke?”

Typically, a polite escape like this would give someone an easy way out. But He Yi had no interest in maintaining even a hint of ambiguity with anyone else. So, he left the offered olive branch hanging.

He Yi gave a polite but distant smile, his eyes cool and detached. “I’m sorry, but I’m not that approachable.”

The atmosphere grew tense.

It was in this awkward silence that Zhao reverted to his true form. Exactly one star-hour had passed, and the couple’s experience bundle had expired. The small, chestnut-colored hamster vanished from He Yi’s shoulder, replaced by a tall and handsome military officer clad in a navy-blue uniform.

“General Zhao?” Hila blinked in surprise.

“Your Excellency Hila.” Zhao gave a curt nod, his expression cool. He turned to He Yi, lowering his gaze respectfully. “It’s getting late, my lord. Let’s go. I have something to discuss with you later.”

Though He Yi had just rejected the advances of the sub-female celebrity, Zhao had no intention of letting things drag on. If his soft-hearted lord were to change his mind, it would be a disaster. Besides, Zhao did have an important matter to share—it wasn’t just an excuse to leave.

Without hesitation, He Yi wrapped his arm around his seemingly jealous spouse, muttered a brief goodbye, and logged out of the game before anyone could react further.

After they left, Locke smiled faintly, a trace of obsession flickering in his eyes. In a soft, almost whispering voice, he said, “Hila, this male is quite unique, isn’t he? What do you think—should I capture him and make him the new Commander of my Right Guard?”

Beneath that smile lurked a blade, sharp and icy to the core.

“What’s wrong? Are you jealous?” Locke’s scarlet-painted nails lightly brushed his lips, his tone drifting lazily through the air.

Hila’s composed expression cracked for a moment, and a bead of cold sweat trickled down his temple. Lowering his gaze, he responded hastily, “Please, Your Highness, calm your anger. By the will of ancestors, Hila will always remain loyal to you.”

His voice was low, cautious of the many eyes around them, but clear enough to be heard.

Locke’s smile deepened. “Good. I hope you two will get along peacefully in the future.”

He paused briefly before adding with a hint of warning, “While I’m still amused by him, you’d best keep your little tricks to yourself… We both know what happened to the former Commander of the Right Guard, and I have no intention of revisiting it.”

Locke’s sharp nails lingered on Hila’s handsome face, tracing lightly across his features. “After all, the dead… can never compare to someone as alive as you, can they?” he murmured, his lips brushing close to Hila’s ear.

He sounded just like an ordinary sub-female seducing a male for affection.

But Hila knew better—this stunning sub-female was laced with venom. He had once seen those brilliantly painted nails transform into razor-sharp icy blades, gleaming with a cold light, piercing through the hearts of countless Zergs without mercy.

The chill seeped into his very bones.

Humbled, Hila lowered his head, unable to hide his shame.

Author’s note:
The web of intrigue begins to unravel. The big villain has officially made their entrance~