NOVEL NEXT 16
Chapter 16: You didn’t tell me he was your master…
After dinner, Ke Lisi’s public apology letter was posted on the star network. Every point emphasized by Qi Yao was clearly explained in the apology letter by Ke Lisi.
After a brief read, Qi Yao happily showed the letter to Yi Er. Yi Er glanced at it and casually commented, “Looks like he cares quite a bit about his noble status.”
Of course, Yi Er’s words had quite an impact. When Yi Er mentioned the possibility of requesting the emperor to revoke Ke Lisi’s noble status, Ke Lisi turned pale. How could he not apologize sincerely?
“Male zergs prioritize their noble status above all else. As long as they can maintain that status, they’re willing to do anything reluctantly,” Yi Er said indifferently.
Qi Yao understood, “It’s all about mate selection rights. Remember when we met? It was only after you finished meeting with noble male zergs that it was my turn.”
Thinking back to those matchmaking scenes, Yi Er was utterly disgusted. “Those noble sons, they either make me recite the ‘Rules of the Female Slave’ as soon as we meet, or they indirectly inquire about my assets. They never lower their heads to look at themselves. Greasy-faced and physically weak, I could easily crush their necks with a little force. Are they worthy of the three mouthfuls of rice they eat? And they dare to try to bind me with contracts?”
Qi Yao: “…”
Was Yi Er subtly mocking him?
Yi Er probably realized that his words inadvertently offended the zergs nearby and quickly tried to clarify, “I wasn’t talking about you.”
Qi Yao dryly responded, “Uh, I know you weren’t.”
“Speaking of which, in that long passage you just said, there was a condition at the beginning: noble male zergs.”
While Yi Er said that, Qi Yao suddenly remembered that during the afternoon tea session, when they were talking about Lai An, Ke Lisi mentioned that after marriage, female zergs were supposed to hand over all their assets to male zergs.
In contrast, between him and Yi Er, apart from the hundred thousand star coins Yi Er casually gave him to prevent him from going hungry before marriage, Yi Er had never mentioned handing over assets.
Of course, he didn’t actually want Yi Er’s assets. He just felt that Yi Er could bring up the topic so he could tell Yi Er, “I don’t want your money. I have hands. I can create value through labor. If you’re willing to help me create a job opportunity…”
“Um… Yi Er…” Qi Yao hesitated, unsure how to continue the conversation that abruptly ended on their way home.
Yi Er’s silent reaction at the time forcefully interrupted the topic of discussing work, leaving Qi Yao feeling uncertain now. He didn’t dare to bring it up again.
“What’s wrong? Continue your sentence,” Yi Er sat on the sofa, buried in his terminal, without lifting his eyelids.
Qi Yao moved closer to Yi Er, trying to articulate his thoughts, “It’s about what I mentioned on the way home…”
This time, Yi Er looked up, his blue eyes soft as he gazed at Qi Yao, “Are you short of money?”
“No…” Qi Yao was caught off guard by the question, responding reflexively.
With a hundred thousand star coins in his account, he wasn’t exactly short of money, but he didn’t want to touch that sum. He had to change his statement, albeit reluctantly, “Well, yes, I am.”
Being short of money meant that only work could fill the gap.
“Soon you won’t be short anymore,” Yi Er said.
“Huh? Why?” Qi Yao was puzzled. Did he already have a job?
Yi Er withdrew his gaze, tapping on his terminal again. Soon, Qi Yao’s terminal chimed with a notification.
Yi Er stood up from the sofa, facing away from Qi Yao, and spoke softly, “I’ve been doing asset clearance these past few days, and I’ve just finished. All my money has been transferred to your name, so…”
He turned around, his eyes devoid of any expression as he continued, “Master, you’re not short of money now.”
“!!!”
Qi Yao glanced down and saw a substantial amount of money suddenly added to his account. The initial digit ‘1’ of the hundred thousand star coins was now followed by a long string of zeros.
Qi Yao was utterly shocked. This wasn’t right. He wasn’t looking for a job to indirectly ask Yi Er for money. How could Yi Er misunderstand like this?
The expression Yi Er had just now seemed to say: “See? You’re just like those noble male zergs. What’s with the pretense of innocence, cookies, job hunting, and sweet talk? It’s all fake, all for my property!”
Qi Yao suddenly felt scared, looking at that substantial sum of money as if he was seeing his affection points plummeting to the center of the earth.
His fragile heart couldn’t bear such a blow. Qi Yao wiped away a cold sweat and hurriedly summoned the system. After the system checked, it reassured Qi Yao that his affection level remained stable at 2.3, neither dropping nor rising.
Only then did Qi Yao feel relieved. He grabbed his terminal and went to find Yi Er.
Yi Er had already gone upstairs to rest.
Qi Yao hurriedly took three steps and reached Yi Er’s room before he could open the door. He stretched out his long arm and pressed Yi Er against the wall.
Yi Er was bewildered, glancing at the arm on his shoulder. Although the male zerg wasn’t short, he was still a bit shorter compared to Yi Er, making the posture somewhat awkward.
And the male zerg was still panting heavily after climbing the stairs. He was panting heavily after just a few steps.
Qi Yao adjusted his breathing and waited until it stabilized before questioning Yi Er, “Can’t you distinguish between sincerity and pretense?”
Yi Er: “?”
“Then how come you can’t tell whether I was sincere or not just now?” Qi Yao said indignantly, “And you even transferred all your property to me. Do you think I want your money?”
Yi Er looked at Qi Yao strangely, the male zerg’s absurd thoughts popping up again, “Isn’t handing over assets something female zergs should do? I just delayed the asset clearance for a while. I didn’t expect it to make you think you’re short of money.”
Qi Yao couldn’t contain his frustration and emphasized, “I wasn’t talking about that.”
He looked at Yi Er, “Don’t give me that strange look. I’m serious about the job.”
Yi Er indeed restrained his peculiar gaze, and his lips curved slightly upward. His blue eyes were smiling as he said, “So, does that mean you’re serious about me too?”
“Huh?” Qi Yao was staring intently into Yi Er’s blue eyes when he was suddenly asked this question. It was only then that he remembered the lie he casually made up on the way home to ask Yi Er for a job opportunity.
His ears gradually grew warm.
Half of those words were sincere, and half were insincere. They couldn’t be exposed by Yi Er.
Qi Yao lowered his head, awkwardly withdrew his arm, and walked straight to his room.
Yi Er called after him, “Where are you going at this late hour?”
“Back to my room,” Qi Yao continued walking, “Since you’re unwilling to arrange a job for me anyway.”
Leaning against the door of his own room, Yi Er casually spoke, “Didn’t you want to see me at night too? Why are you leaving so soon?”
Qi Yao paused.
“Or is it that all your thoughts about me are insincere?”
“…”
He dug the hole himself and had to jump into it. He acted in this drama, so he had to watch it himself.
Qi Yao took a deep breath. For the sake of world peace and a happy ending, he made a 180-degree turn and, under Yi Er’s smiling gaze, was pulled into the room.
—
The next morning, when Qi Yao received a video call from Yi Er, he was already downstairs eating the breakfast prepared by Dean.
After answering, Yi Er didn’t beat around the bush and directly placed a job invitation letter in virtual imaging in front of Qi Yao.
Qi Yao was puzzled at first, but when he focused and saw what it was, he swallowed his breakfast in one gulp and exclaimed, “Yi Er, is this real? Are you really giving me this opportunity?”
Yi Er suppressed a smile at the corner of his mouth, “Didn’t you want it? There happens to be a vacancy in the logistics mech department, so I recommended you.”
Qi Yao was ecstatic, “When can I start?”
Yi Er replied, “Whenever you want.”
“I want to start this afternoon. I’ll come to you, you give me the job invitation letter, and then I’ll go report for duty,” Qi Yao said eagerly.
“No need, I’ll come home at noon to pick you up,” Yi Er said.
Qi Yao couldn’t stop grinning with happiness.
After ending the call, Dean came to clean up the dishes, curious, “Did the general arrange a job for you?”
The enthusiasm of male zergs actively participating in work was extremely rare in the aristocratic circle. They were supported by female zergs, enjoying money and social benefits from them every day, without the need to consider their livelihoods.
Dean thought that Qi Yao, having attached himself to General Yi Er, would stay at home and be taken care of, but unexpectedly, on the third day of their marriage, he asked Yi Er to find him a job.
It was somewhat surprising.
Qi Yao, caught up in excitement, said, “Yeah, did you see? I’m going to work in the logistics mech department as a mech certification statistician!”
Dean was puzzled, “Mech certification statistician?”
Although he had also served in the military, he wasn’t as outstanding as Yi Er. However, he knew that the logistics mech department was only responsible for the usual tasks of mech design, storage, distribution, and maintenance. There was no such position as a mech certification statistician.
Seeing Dean’s confusion, Qi Yao asked, “What’s wrong?”
Dean put on a perfect smile, “Nothing, I’m just marveling at Mr. Qi’s uniqueness. With Marshal Yi Er, such a capable female consort, by your side, you still don’t forget to go out to work.”
Qi Yao sighed, “Well, as a female zerg, it’s too tiring for Yi Er to earn a living alone. Of course, I have to share some of the burden with him.”
At the same time, in the office of the second military region’s marshal, Minister Russell, who was in charge of the logistics mech design and maintenance department, pushed up his glasses and said solemnly, “General, you didn’t tell me that the zerg you introduced is your male lord.”
Yi Er leaned back in his chair, chin up, “Is there a problem?”
Russell frowned, “Of course, there’s a problem. The military region is full of female zergs, not a single male zerg. I’m afraid your master, he…”
Yi Er fell silent for a moment, “You don’t need to worry about that.”
Russell hesitated, “Then… what exactly does this mech certification statistician do?”
Yi Er replied, “You’re the head of the mech department. Isn’t this something you should be concerned about?”
Russell: “….?”