NOVEL NEXT 37
Chapter 37
[Xia Baiyuan: Dad, I’ll come to see you this weekend.]
[Xia Ye: Didn’t you say you’re very busy lately? Don’t force yourself.]
[Xia Baiyuan: Half a day, it’s fine.]
[Xia Ye: Are you sure it’s really okay?]
[Xia Baiyuan: Yes.]
Xia Baiyuan continued typing…
But after a few minutes, there were still no messages from him.
[Xia Ye: Ah Yuan, is there something bothering you?]
The silver-haired female zerg sitting on the hospital bed looked thin. Xia Baiyuan and his female father were like carved out of the same mold.
Xia Ye used to be famous for his beauty, otherwise he wouldn’t have been married off as a female servant by a male zerg despite his low-caste status. Xia Baiyuan inherited all of his good qualities.
Unfortunately, years of wandering and illness made him slightly thinner than Xia Baiyuan, with undeniable signs of aging on his face.
[Xia Baiyuan: I made a friend recently.]
Xia Ye was taken aback, but quickly became happy.
He had never heard Xia Baiyuan mention having friends, he had been through too much. Xia Ye knew how expensive his illness was, but Xia Baiyuan stubbornly refused to give up treatment.
He said, “If Dad dies, then I won’t know what to do with my life.”
Female zergs weren’t good at expressing emotions, and at times like this, Xia Baiyuan could only say stiff words.
He was genuinely happy that Xia Baiyuan had made a friend.
[Xia Ye: Who is it?]
[Xia Baiyuan: You don’t know him, his name is Lu Xi, he’s a classmate of mine. He’s coming with me this afternoon to see you.]
He blurted it all out at once.
If Xia Ye could see Xia Baiyuan now, he would notice an unusual tension on his usually calm and composed face, with visible nervousness.
But he couldn’t see, so naturally, there was no suspicion.
[Xia Ye: No problem.]
After putting down the communication device, Xia Ye smiled apologetically at the female zerg who was accompanying him and said, “Could you help me put on some makeup?”
Looking at the increasingly withered complexion of Xia Ye, who looked like a rose bush on the verge of withering, he couldn’t help but say, “Aren’t you going to tell your child about what the doctor said?”
Xia Ye seemed rather relaxed instead. “Will things get better if I say it? Eli, mind your own business.”
Eli fell silent.
After accompanying him for so long, he was very familiar with Xia Ye’s condition. He had managed to hold on until now, thanks to the exorbitant medical expenses. It was hard to imagine how the little female managed to get so much money, but what was even stranger was, since he could get so much money, why didn’t he send it for treatment earlier?
But if it had been a few months earlier, they could have saved him. But once the illness entered its final stage, all efforts made were just barely prolonging it, and it would never get better.
“Hurry up and help me, time is running out.”
“Okay.”
——–
Xia Baiyuan put down his phone and saw his serious expression in the mirror.
This wouldn’t do, Lu Xi was already nervous enough.
He sat in the living room, hearing the sound of rummaging in Lu Xi’s room, wondering what he was doing.
Xia Baiyuan buried his face in his hands, rubbing away his expression forcefully, when he heard Lu Xi open the door and shout to him, “What color does your dad like?”
Xia Baiyuan: “…”
Lu Xi’s outfit could easily pass for a Legion Commander’s commendation ceremony.
The well-tailored robe outlined his elegant figure, making his handsome face even more radiant. Lu Xi hesitated with three colored neckties in his hand, “Black is more dignified, but red matches me better, and green is more elegant.”
He looked at Xia Baiyuan helplessly, stuttering, “W-what should I do?”
Xia Baiyuan: “Put all three on?”
There was a moment of blankness on Lu Xi’s face.
Xia Baiyuan covered his eyes. “No, I’m kidding.”
But obviously, he didn’t manage to reassure Lu Xi. Instead, Lu Xi became even more nervous.
He was torn between options, muttering, “All three? I’ve never heard of such a style. Can you really do that? After all, I don’t really know what’s in fashion nowadays…”
He looked at himself in the mirror, holding the three neckties against his slender neck, trying to imagine the effect.
But obviously, even with his swan-like neck, wearing three neckties seemed a bit crowded.
The corners of Xia Baiyuan’s mouth couldn’t help but twitch. He took one of the ribbons from Lu Xi’s hand, leaving only one. “We’re just going to see my dad, there’s no need to dress up so—”
Lu Xi looked down at himself, confused. “Is there something wrong with how I’m dressed?”
Xia Baiyuan pulled off his coat, and Lu Xi followed his lead, taking off his gorgeous outer robe.
Underneath was a brand new shirt, good in quality but suitable for everyday wear.
Lu Xi felt a bit uneasy. “Is this okay?”
He felt like a soldier about to go into battle, only to have his armor taken off. He felt insecure with nothing on.
“Um…”
Standing in front of Lu Xi, Xia Baiyuan tilted his head and assessed him. Then he took the red necktie from Lu Xi’s hand and wrapped it around his neck.
He wasn’t very skilled at this, his fingers fumbling at Lu Xi’s nape for a while before finally managing to fix the tie.
“That’s good.”
Stepping back, Xia Baiyuan was quite satisfied with his handiwork. “It’s so cold outside, just wear your uniform over it. My dad doesn’t mind these things.”
As he turned to fetch Lu Xi’s coat, the tall figure of the black-haired zerg behind him swayed slightly, muscles relaxing slowly.
It was like a slightly deflated balloon, becoming much softer.
Lu Xi covered his mouth, his face slightly red, eyes flickering.
Xia Baiyuan had actually tied the tie for him just like that.
This, this seemed just like how his female father usually treated his male father!!
【( 〃▽〃)】
“Oh, the coat is here.”
In the instant Xia Baiyuan turned around, Lu Xi immediately let go of his hand and stood up straight, his eyes sharp, showing no hint of anything unusual.
Xia Baiyuan: “Put this on and let’s go.”
Lu Xi didn’t move.
Xia Baiyuan looked at Lu Xi with questioning eyes, and Lu Xi coughed softly, raising his hand.
To have Xia Baiyuan dress him, just like his female father usually did.
The two stood there for a moment, and in Lu Xi’s increasingly hesitant gaze, Xia Baiyuan suddenly realized.
He grabbed Lu Xi’s hand and said, “I’ll tell my dad that we’re friends… Let’s take it slow.”
To Xia Baiyuan, all of Lu Xi’s behavior seemed like it stemmed from fear, fear of being discriminated against by the world, fear of being criticized by his lover’s female father, until he was too nervous to go out.
Being in a same-sex relationship was a shocking thing to the world, but to Xia Baiyuan, compared to the terrifying secret he carried, these things were nothing.
When Lu Xi proposed to him, Xia Baiyuan had already made up his mind.
No matter what society said, no matter what others thought, he wanted to be with Lu Xi.
Standing in this world, as long as he had Lu Xi, he wouldn’t feel lost anymore.
Yet, despite the intense feelings in his heart, like molten lava boiling and surging, Xia Baiyuan remained calm as usual.
“Lu Xi, you don’t have to be afraid.”
Lu Xi opened his mouth but couldn’t say anything.
It was at this moment that he gradually realized this fact.
No matter how he emphasized it, in the eyes of others, he was just a delusional female zerg.
Everything from the past came flooding back to him.
“I like you, it doesn’t matter what your gender is.”
“I like Lu Xi.”
…
“Okay, let’s get married.”
…
He was immersed in his helplessness, but he didn’t notice one thing.
What kind of feelings was Xia Baiyuan harboring in this era to speak so calmly?
Lu Xi gazed into those azure eyes. He used to think Xia Baiyuan’s eyes were like the clear sky over a snowy mountain, transparent and vast, but now he felt they resembled the color of the deep sea.
Profound, expansive.
Turbulent currents beneath a calm surface.
Xia Baiyuan took another step closer, looking at him with concern. “What’s wrong? You still feel um—”
Lu Xi suddenly grabbed Xia Baiyuan’s shoulder and kissed him.
In the scorching heat, mixed with Lu Xi’s breath, but different from the gentle and shy intensity before, Lu Xi hugged Xia Baiyuan tightly, his breath overflowing with urgency.
Xia Baiyuan was a bit dazed, but he still reached out and wrapped his arms around Lu Xi’s shoulders, obediently tilting his neck.
It wasn’t until several minutes later that they parted. Xia Baiyuan took a deep breath. “What’s wrong with you…”
Then he was met with Lu Xi’s sparkling eyes. Lu Xi took his hand, relaxed, and nestled his chin into Xia Baiyuan’s neck.
Xia Baiyuan heard his sigh-like voice. “What should I do, Xia Baiyuan, I’m falling more and more in love with you.”
Every day he thought he couldn’t love Xia Baiyuan more, but every day he found himself loving him deeper than the day before.
Xia Baiyuan: “…”
He had already noticed that when Lu Xi spoke these words, he did so without any reservation.
So straightforward, unlike a female zerg at all.
Holding him, Lu Xi waited for a response for a while, becoming a bit restless. “And you?”
Xia Baiyuan: “…”
Damn.
He mumbled, “Me? Me too.”
But such a response obviously didn’t satisfy Lu Xi. He raised his head, and though his expression fluctuated slightly, Xia Baiyuan could see his anticipation.
Lu Xi: “Can you say what you said last time again?”
Xia Baiyuan knew what Lu Xi was referring to.
But right now, he wished he could forget.
He looked away. “Last time? Which time? I don’t remember.”
But Lu Xi wouldn’t let it go. “It’s the one from last time in the locker room at the arena.”
Xia Baiyuan felt his ears burning. He awkwardly tried to escape, but Lu Xi was particularly stubborn about this matter. He could argue with Di Yan, withstand the battles in the arena undefeated, but he couldn’t handle Lu Xi.
In the end, Lu Xi pinned him down on the sofa, repeating the words he said that day over and over again.
Wrapped in a blanket, Lu Xi sat cross-legged on the sofa, his eyes shining brightly at him.
Well, it wasn’t too bad, Xia Baiyuan thought helplessly.
———-
Because of Lu Xi’s antics, they arrived half an hour late than scheduled.
“My dad is in the special care unit on the twenty-fifth floor.”
Xia Baiyuan pressed the button for the fifth floor in the elevator, and the silver metal doors closed slowly in front of them. With a sense of weightlessness, they ascended.
There was no one else in the elevator except for them. This was an extremely expensive special area, with very few people coming and going.
Lu Xi was taken aback. “Special care unit?”
He remembered, the special care unit was where most of the hopeless cases resided…
Xia Baiyuan lowered his gaze. “Hmm.”
No wonder.
No wonder there were almost no records of Xia Baiyuan’s parents in history books. Since he rose to prominence, Xia Baiyuan seemed to be a lone figure.
At the same time, Lu Xi also thought of something.
The case of Xia Baiyuan had been studied over and over again by later generations, almost becoming common knowledge. While marveling at his genius, scholars always had a lingering doubt.
Xia Baiyuan’s tactics were terrifyingly radical. He often took risks alone. There was a case where he ventured alone into the enemy’s tunnel, beheaded the enemy commander in the core area, and the enemy didn’t even realize until dawn.
It was indeed an extremely brilliant tactical execution, the thrilling scenes of danger were like legendary tales from a novel.
But—
No matter how one deduced it, many times Xia Baiyuan clearly wasn’t in dire straits. He could have chosen safer and more stable methods instead of taking risks like this.
Although the results were excellent, often saving a lot of time and laying the foundation for the final great victory, at the time, it seemed unnecessary.
People marveled at Xia Baiyuan as a war god, foreseeing events like a deity. However, some believed that there were some unknown factors in Xia Baiyuan’s character that were pushing him towards destruction.
Like… being tired of this world, yet having nothing to hold him back.
Otherwise, with his top-notch physical condition, why did he fall ill and die at such a young age? With his reputation, countless top-tier male zergs would have relieved his illness for him.
Unless he refused.
No one could explain this problem, so it had to be shelved for now.
For some reason, at this moment, Lu Xi recalled the puzzle that had troubled the zerg race for many years.
Was it because of his identity… no, that wasn’t it.
Lu Xi looked at Xia Baiyuan’s profile. He never showed any signs of decay, like a flower blooming brightly on a cliff, though isolated, still striving to grow.
So, what was it—
The elevator door opened, and the two walked forward.
The scattered footsteps echoed in the empty corridor, sounding somewhat lonely.
Until the end of the corridor, Xia Baiyuan stopped in front of a door. “Here we are.”
Lu Xi nodded. “Okay.”
With a creak, the door slowly opened.
Lu Xi raised his eyes and looked into a pair of azure eyes that were identical to Xia Baiyuan’s.
“Hello.”
The female zerg nodded to him. “You must be Lu Xi, whom A Yuan mentioned?”
With mature features, a slender face, and an unmistakable melancholy in his eyes, the female zerg on the sickbed in the sunset looked almost like the Xia Baiyuan described in history books, on the brink of exhaustion.
Lu Xi’s heart clenched for a moment, causing him to involuntarily close his eyes.
Xia Baiyuan’s dad’s condition was so severe that just standing here, he could feel the almost collapsing mental state.
“Dad.”
Xia Baiyuan briskly entered the room, his footsteps light.
Lu Xi stood at the doorway, watching his back. Didn’t Xia Baiyuan notice his dad’s condition?
He was such a perceptive female zerg, could that be possible? Or was it that he simply didn’t want to think about it?
Seeing him standing still, Xia Ye asked strangely, “What’s wrong? Won’t you come in and sit?”
“…”
The black-haired zerg at the door stepped out of the shadow of the sunlight, his red eyes seeming to contain fine wine under the sunset.
He stood by the bed and said softly, “Hello, my name is Lu Xi, I’m a friend of Xia Baiyuan.”
As Lu Xi looked at Xia Ye, his heart pounded.
He felt as if he were standing in the pitch-black night, hearing the distant humming of a train. He saw the gradually approaching white headlights coming towards him.
And in front of him was a fork in the road, with him holding the switch.
He would decide where this train would go.
(T/N: I thought I should make it clear once again. XBY is a female zerg with patterns on his chest characteristic of sub-females but also has wings that only female zergs have.
On the other hand LX doesn’t have neither wings nor the sub-female patterns. We know he is a male but XBY thinks he has a defect(absence of wings) and is a female.)