FT DR Chapter 127: The Queen is Hard to Chase

Chapter 127: The Queen is Hard to Chase

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Karai

 

In the Dean’s dormitory at Aston Medical College, Mu stood stiffly by the window, his breathing only calming down after a while.

The feverish anger in his brain gradually cooled down, and suddenly he felt like what had just happened was like a dream. Those sharp dialogues, the relentless interrogations, everything seemed clear yet surreal. He closed the terminal, trying to calm himself down, but he couldn’t suppress the trembling that overtook his whole body. It took him a while to move to the sofa by the window, supporting his forehead in distress.

“What did I say?” Mu ruminated on his conversation with Jin Zhe just now in a mess. He had been too angry, too excited, his emotions completely out of control, and the words just poured out of his mouth. As he painstakingly recalled the chaotic pieces, he realized the magnitude of his mistake—he had been cursing at the president for a full fifteen minutes, not giving him a moment to defend himself, and then hung up on him!

“Conspirator,” “idiot,” “filthy politician,” “pitiful donor”… Mu chewed on each word of his accusations against the president, feeling his body’s hairs stand on end. Yes, he was a bit sharp-tongued usually, liked to jab at people’s lungs with his words, but it was always limited to students he favored, like Wu Chenghe. Faced with superiors, especially someone of the president’s caliber, he had always been elegant and tactful.

What had come over him today to unabashedly insult the president like that, even threatening to apply for a restraining order? Heaven, that’s the president, the most cunning politician in the entire federation! If Jin Zhe got offended by him and revealed his identity, forget about a restraining order, he would immediately lose custody of his daughter. Once Jin Zhe applied, he could just take the child away!

Guides was naturally kind and timid, even Mu’s character couldn’t defy the cowardice ingrained in his nature. Before, fueled by anger, he had cursed Jin Zhe upside down, but now that anger was gone, replaced by intense fear: it was over. Jin Zhe wouldn’t let it slide, he was the president, he knew his identity, he said he loved him… whether it was for him or for the child, Jin Zhe would unhesitatingly expose him and send him to Tungusic!

If Zhuang Zhuang fell into Jin Zhe’s hands, he wouldn’t be able to bear it. He would compromise, obey, willingly be marked, become Jin Zhe’s slave!

Mu wasn’t a coward, his whole life had been spent in fear and trepidation, he had the richest experience in dealing with fear, but Jin Zhe’s pressure was too much for him. That sturdy, fierce man, who concealed his immense ambition with elegance, had left an indelible impression on him with just a brief encounter two years ago in St. Martin. It wasn’t just pheromones and bonding heat, but also that quiet control over everything, that made him shiver.

As anger subsided, self-blame and remorse gradually engulfed Mu’s heart. He began to regret his decisive attitude just now. If he had been a bit more rational, a bit more humble, there might have been room for maneuver. Jin Zhe had endured for two years, showing that he still didn’t want to expose his identity. Mu could have used this to delay things, sought help from Teacher Sienna, or simply fled with his daughter… but now it was too late. He vividly remembered Jin Zhe’s expression when he hung up, the suppressed gasps, the fierce gaze, and the faint red mist in his eyes—Heaven, his words alone triggered the president’s mania!

But the child was his bottom line. He couldn’t tolerate anyone using his treasure to blackmail him, couldn’t tolerate anyone coveting custody of Zhuang Zhuang. When it came to his child, he completely lost control of himself!

Mu covered his face in agony, feeling like he had committed the most unforgivable mistake in fifty years. He couldn’t predict what Jin Zhe would do next, whether he would expose him, seek other ways to blackmail him, or simply mark him— their compatibility was too high, once Jin Zhe forcibly appeared around him, he had no confidence to resist that instinct to destroy everything!

In short, he was completely powerless against this sentinel with such a crazy imagination.

The whole day, Mu sat by the window like a statue, without eating, without drinking, barely moving, until the president’s security knocked on his door, he suddenly woke up, rushed to the door in three steps, and opened it.

“Daddy!” Zhuang Zhuang happily shouted and threw herself into his arms. She had been missing Daddy, no matter how happy she was playing at the president’s mansion, only where Daddy was, was her home.

Mu held his daughter, feeling as if five or six days had passed like a lifetime, it took him half a day to barely suppress the anger choking his throat, and smiled gently, “Has Zhuang Zhuang been good? Were you naughty at little Uncle’s house?”

“I’m super good!” Zhuang Zhuang’s chubby arms hung around his neck, she shook her head and asked him, “Was Daddy good? Were you naughty on your business trip?”

“Daddy was also very good.” Mu kissed his daughter’s cheek and thanked the security waiting outside, “Thank you for bringing her back all the way.”

“Don’t mention it, Dean.” The security smiled and pushed Zhuang Zhuang’s suitcase into the foyer, and put down a big bag, “This is a gift from President and Colonel Jin for Miss Yan, Mr. Wu drank too much, he hasn’t woken up yet. He’ll probably bring the twins to see you in a couple of days.”

“It’s too extravagant. Please thank the President and Colonel Jin for me,” Mu said calmly. The security briefed him on Zhuang Zhuang’s situation over the past two days and then left. Mu carried his daughter into the living room. As soon as Zhuang Zhuang touched the ground, she twirled around. “Daddy, am I pretty? Is my new dress beautiful?”

Mu then noticed that his daughter was wearing a light green chiffon dress, not the clothes he had prepared earlier. He guessed it was bought by Jin Zhe, so he smiled and nodded, “Very beautiful. Have you thanked Uncle President?”

“Yes, I have.” Zhuang Zhuang proudly spun around, touching her own hair. “The new hairpin was also given to me by the president.”

She had a green gem heart-shaped hairpin on her head, surrounded by transparent diamonds, very delicate and beautiful, matching her dress perfectly. Mu felt uncomfortable as if a fishbone was stuck in his throat, but he couldn’t show any dissatisfaction in front of his daughter—after all, Jin Zhe was her biological father. No matter how harsh his words had been before, he still had to leave a line between them as father and daughter. Just in case he was… Zhuang Zhuang might still end up living with Jin Zhe.

“They are all beautiful,” Mu forced a smile, touched her head. Zhuang Zhuang’s hair was intricately braided, the same hairstyle as before when he sent her to the president’s mansion. It was probably also Jin Zhe’s doing. Wu Chenghe wouldn’t be so thoughtful, at most, he would tie her hair in a ponytail.

Anyway, Jin Zhe’s love for Zhuang Zhuang was genuine. Mu comforted himself this way and said to Zhuang Zhuang, “Alright, help Daddy drag your luggage to the room, let’s tidy up together, and your new toys, we need to organize them properly.”

“Daddy, take a break.” Zhuang Zhuang pulled his hand and made him sit on the sofa. “Are you tired? Business trips are so hard, your face is so pale, and you have dark circles under your eyes.”

“Really?” Mu touched his face. He hadn’t eaten or drunk anything all day since he came back and immediately called Jin Zhe. His complexion wouldn’t get better anytime soon. He nodded and said, “I am indeed tired, but seeing you makes me completely not tired at all.”

“Hehe, I’m a cute and obedient little baby.” Zhuang Zhuang nestled in his arms, rubbing against him, wrinkling his shirt. Her chubby hands hugged his neck and rubbed her face against his. “Dean, let me shave you. I’m good at shaving, the president even praised me.”

Mu’s expression froze for a moment. He sighed imperceptibly and smiled. “Okay, after I take a shower, you can shave Daddy.”

Father and daughter snuggled for a while, then dragged the suitcase to the children’s room to pack clothes. Mu hung Zhuang Zhuang’s dresses neatly, organized the new toys, and Zhuang Zhuang suddenly said, “Daddy, can I have a puppy?”

“Hmm?” Mu was surprised. “A puppy?”

“Yes.” Zhuang Zhuang opened her personal terminal and projected a holographic image of Jin San Pang. “The president gave me a puppy named Jin San Pang. I want to bring it home, but the president said I must have Daddy’s permission. Daddy, can I bring it home?”

Mu looked at the holographic image of the little Akita and squatted down to patiently explain to his daughter, “Zhuang Zhuang, raising a pet is a very serious matter. It has life, unlike your toys, you can’t play with it when you like and then put it in the box when you’re bored. If you raise it, you have to treat it like family, feed it, play with it, and be responsible for it for life. Daddy is busy with work, taking care of you alone is already very difficult, I don’t have the energy to take care of a dog. You go to kindergarten every day, the dog will be very lonely at home alone, we can’t take care of it well, so we can’t raise it, do you understand?”

Zhuang Zhuang looked at him blankly, with a disappointed expression on her face. Just when Mu thought she would cry and throw a tantrum as usual, he was surprised to see her nod, although she looked like she was about to cry, she didn’t cry. Pouting, she said, “I understand, Daddy is too busy, has to take care of Zhuang Zhuang, and has to make money, so I won’t bring the puppy home.”

“Good girl.” Mu felt sorry for her and touched her little cheek. “When you grow up a little more, and Daddy doesn’t have to be the Dean anymore, shall we raise a puppy like this one?”

“No need, I already have Jin San Pang.” Zhuang Zhuang shook her head. “The president has already given Jin San Pang to me. He said if Daddy doesn’t have time to raise him, he will help me take care of Jin San Pang. When I have a holiday, Uncle Security will take me to the president’s mansion to see him.”

“Oh.” Mu felt a bit uneasy. Jin Zhe had unknowingly built so many connections with Zhuang Zhuang, so many little secrets… After a pause, he asked, “Did the president say anything else?”

“He also said that Daddy works very hard and asked me to be good. He said I shouldn’t get angry because of the puppy, otherwise Jin San Pang won’t like me anymore,” Zhuang Zhuang wrinkled her nose. “But Jin San Pang won’t dislike me. I feed him big bones every day, and he loves licking my hand the most.”

“Yes, you are so good, Jin San Pang won’t dislike you,” Mu echoed his daughter, feeling both bitter and relieved. Zhuang Zhuang was becoming more sensible, more independent in her thoughts. Jin Zhe didn’t spoil her blindly but patiently educated her within certain limits, nurturing her. He was not only an excellent president but also possibly an excellent father.

However, he was definitely not a qualified mate. Mu clenched his fists, nails digging into his palms, causing a faint tingling sensation.

After the father and daughter finished packing, they clumsily made dinner together, took care of the plants after dinner, and played games for a while before washing up and going to bed. Mu changed his daughter into a soft nightgown, tucked her into bed, and placed her beloved Zombie King and Green Giant on each side of her pillow. “Daddy still has work to do. Will you sleep well, my dear?”

“Goodnight, Dean!” Zhuang Zhuang hugged her yellow cat and waved to Mu. “Taotao and I will be good.”

“Goodnight.” Mu kissed his daughter’s forehead, about to leave when Zhuang Zhuang stopped him.

 “Oh, I forgot. I have a gift from the president for you in my pocket. Remember to take it out, or else it might get ruined in the cleaning machine.”

“A gift?”

“Yes,” Zhuang Zhuang said, “He said I couldn’t look at it, only give it to you. Daddy’s good friends should know how to share, you know.”

Mu smiled heavily, “Daddy didn’t say you had to share your toys and new clothes with him.”

“Daddy is a boy, boys feel shy wearing skirts!” The savvy girl immediately changed the subject, cuddling her yellow cat and burrowing into the covers, not saying another word. She had a strong sense of territory over all her things, even her father couldn’t encroach upon them. This was the nature of a Barbary lion cub sentinel.

Mu dimmed the lights and left the children’s room. Zhuang Zhuang’s discarded clothes were piled in the laundry basket. He picked up the skirt and felt inside the small pocket, taking out a heavy little box.

What was it? He took the box back to the bedroom, sat on the edge of the bed, and opened the electronic lock. The holographic projection of a simple numeric keypad appeared. He entered Zhuang Zhuang’s birthday, no, he tried the day Zhuang Zhuang entered the artificial womb, still wrong. Finally, he tried the date when he and Jin Zhe first met in Saint Martin, and this time it worked.

The box lid popped open, and on the black velvet pad lay an inconspicuous piece of shrapnel. Mu felt puzzled, picked up the shrapnel and looked at it, clueless about its meaning. Just as he was about to put it back, he suddenly felt an electric shock, and his right hand holding the shrapnel began to tremble uncontrollably.

No, this couldn’t be true! Mu murmured to himself, his pitch-black eyes flickering with shock. He stared at the piece of shrapnel in his hand as if it had sprouted something. After a moment of stiffness, he quickly put the shrapnel back into the box, tucked it into his pocket, didn’t even bother changing into his pajamas, threw on his coat, and ran to the parking lot.

It wasn’t until he sat in the hovercar that he remembered his child was still at home. He quickly activated the child lock on the room and opened the monitoring system in the children’s room. Seeing Zhuang Zhuang already asleep, he relaxed, started the engine, and flew to York City.

At one in the morning, Mu arrived at his home in York City. He opened the gate, rushed into the bedroom, moved the electronic photo frame blocking the magnetic levitation bowl, and gently took out the piece of shrapnel floating in the bowl.

Two pieces of shrapnel lay quietly in his palm. One was taken out of his body thirty-three years ago, and the other was handed to him by Zhuang Zhuang on behalf of Jin Zhe. Without any identification, Mu could be sure that these two pieces of shrapnel came from the same light grenade, one that exploded thirty-three years ago.

He wasn’t dead! Mu pinched the two fragments, his heart beating like a drum. For thirty-three years, he had been blaming himself for killing that sentinel, unable to forgive himself for the mistakes he had made. How many times had he secretly verified the identity of that person, how many times had he woken up from nightmares, when he just got into medical school, he couldn’t even face blood and corpses… He had always thought that person was dead, but he didn’t expect him to be alive, not only alive, but also rising to the top, becoming the President!

He finally understood why Jin Zhe said, “I am a man who has loved you for a very, very long time, so long that you can’t imagine.” Yes, thirty-three years, too long, so long that it was unimaginable, occupying two-thirds of their lives!

Mu held the shrapnel, slid down the wall, curled his thin body into a tight ball, first laughed softly, then couldn’t help but shed tears. He didn’t know whether he should be happy or sad. The innocent sentinel was still alive, the man who took the shrapnel for him was still alive, but that man was now his daughter’s other father. Just eighteen hours ago, he said “I love you” to him in person.

Mu covered his face and knelt on the ground, taking deep breaths to calm himself down. Involuntarily, his mind recalled yesterday morning’s conversation with Jin Zhe. He had been too nervous, too angry, resulting in a blank mind, unable to absorb Jin Zhe’s words. Now, upon careful consideration, he began to believe that what Jin Zhe said was true – Jin Zhe loved him, had loved him for a long time, waited for him for a long time.

But so what? Just because of this, could they be together? Jin Zhe was the president, bearing the future of the federation. It was impossible for him to secretly marry Mu. If they were together, it meant that Mu had to reveal his identity, leave Aston Medical College, and detach from the Free Guide Organization to become the president’s guide, the first mate of the federation.

Then what about his ideals, his values? He was the Dean of Aston Medical College, the head of the Free Guide Organization. Could he really abandon all this and become a puppet of a sentinel, like thousands of registered guides, stripped of their wings and become a domesticated pet?

Jin Zhe said he loved him, but what was love? Was it pheromones, bonding heat, or the animalistic fragments embedded in their genetic segments?

He wasn’t a seventeen or eighteen-year-old kid, willing to give up everything for a man who made him go into estrus, willingly becoming the other’s shadow! He was fifty-two years old, had gone through hardships to establish his career, and bore the responsibility of the Free Guide Organization. The embryo interference program he was responsible for had just started, and he had to pursue his lifelong ideals, continue to strive to change the living environment of guides!

Wasn’t Jin Zhe the same? To gain support from the Free Guide Organization, he endured the pain caused by manic episodes and allowed his guide to work for others. If it weren’t for Zhuang Zhuang, maybe he wouldn’t have told him the truth until the election, until the Voyager Army rebellion, until the Free Guide Organization completely returned to the federation.

Mu sat on the ground, hugged his knees, and laughed bitterly. The laughter was even more ugly than crying. He suddenly realized that he and Jin Zhe were the same kind of people. Their acquaintance was a mistake from the beginning, one almost losing his freedom, the other almost losing his life. They bore their own heavy destinies, and today they had lost the qualification to be themselves, all choices could only be the result of balance.

Mu suddenly envied Wu Chenghe and Jin Xuan. That was true love – young, impulsive, disregarding everything, ignoring the world and the law, all just to be with each other… Jin Xuan was lucky, he had Jin Zhe, no matter what outrageous things he did, Jin Zhe would lead him back to the right path and give him a bright future.

Thinking of this, a faint bitter smile appeared on Mu’s face: Unfortunately, he and Jin Zhe were not so lucky.

Mu sat in his home in York City until dawn, until the first ray of light rose from outside the floor-to-ceiling window, and then sent a message to Jin Zhe’s private line. The message consisted of only the words: I’m sorry.

After a moment, Jin Zhe called him. Mu hesitated for a moment, then answered. Jin Zhe didn’t open the video, only his voice came through, low and hoarse, “You don’t have to apologize to me. At that time, you were just trying to protect yourself. When I said I love you, it was true. I’ve been thinking about this for more than thirty years. You can trust my sincerity. When I said I wanted to be with you this morning, it may have been sudden, but I have thought it through. If you agree, I will let Sienna find someone else to take over the embryo interference project. Before the election at Aston Medical College, we still have enough time to transfer the procedures, prepare for the wedding, and as for Tungusic, I will…”

“I’m sorry.” Mu interrupted him, “I can’t accept your proposal.”

Jin Zhe fell silent for a moment, his voice hoarse, “I respect your decision, but I reserve the right to pursue you. Mu, I will wait for you, you don’t have to rush to refuse me. Before I die, you still have ten years to consider.”

Mu’s heart skipped a beat, remembering Jin Zhe’s faint red haze in his eyes yesterday morning. Jin Zhe was almost sixty years old, and normal sentinels would experience frequent manic episodes and die around seventy. As he said, there were still ten years…

“Please don’t answer me.” Jin Zhe said in a low voice, “Please let me take your silence as consent.”

His tone was extremely desolate, almost with a humble pleading meaning. Mu’s words choked in his throat, his eyes red with tears, he couldn’t say it after all, giving him the silence he wanted.

“Good morning, hurry back to Twin City, the child is about to wake up.” Jin Zhe said gently, “Goodbye, Mu.”

Communication disconnected, Mu buried his face in his knees and said hoarsely, “Goodbye, Jin Zhe.”

In the year Ephemeris 856, the dispute between the Voyager Army and the Navy over the Zhi Fu Chain Nebula was successfully resolved under the mediation of President Jin Zhe. A month later, the Independent Fleet of the Navy was officially established, and the former NTU Commander-in-Chief Yan was ordered to transfer to the fleet as a General, leading the Sixth and Seventh Fleets to be stationed at the Tianque Spaceport. Jin Xuan accompanied them as the fleet commander, while Wu Chenghe, as Jin Xuan’s full-time military doctor, went with their two children.

Two months later, the reorganization of the Independent Fleet’s three major fleets was successful. Colonel Jin Xuan led the “Tian Chai” Fleet to patrol the Zhi Fu Chain Nebula defense line, while Yan led the “Xing Chai” Fleet to remain at Tianque. In addition, the Indian-descendant female fleet captain of the former Second Army Group, Major General Latika, led the “Yue Chai” for interstellar patrol.

The First Army Group split the original “Scout” Fleet, merging one-fifth of it with half of the “Scout” Fleet to form the new “Kill” Fleet. They were responsible for patrolling the other end of the Zhi Fu Chain Nebula, counterbalancing Jin Xuan’s “Tian Chai” Fleet. Thus, the military strength between the Voyager Army and the Federal Legion was evenly divided, with the Zhi Fu Chain Nebula as the boundary, and the confrontation became imminent.

During the autumn presidential election, Jin Zhe was re-elected with a large majority. The Congress, Supreme Court, and Department of Defense all highly praised his achievements during his tenure. Even the Commander of the Voyager Army gave him great affirmation. On a crisp autumn morning, the presidential inauguration speech was held in front of the “Iron Wing” building. Because he was single, the seat for the First Lady was empty. However, five minutes before the speech, his security detail placed a special guest in that seat.

It was Zhuang Zhuang’s first time attending such a high-profile meeting, feeling a bit nervous. She occasionally tugged at her skirt, wearing a navy blue suspender dress today, paired with a simple white shirt with light blue ruffles on the collar and cuffs, cute yet dignified.

“Don’t be nervous, dear,” Mr. Hobart sat beside her, winking playfully, “If you’re nervous, the president will be even more nervous.”

“I’m not nervous,” Zhuang Zhuang immediately put on a calm expression, but after a while, she nervously shifted her hips – she had just wet her diaper again.

The bell rang, and Jin Zhe strode up to the lectern. Today, he wore a dark gray suit with his usual blue diamond cufflinks, but with a navy blue tie to match Zhuang Zhuang’s attire. This second inaugural speech was already familiar to Jin Zhe, and he smoothly delivered the prepared speech.

There was warm applause from the audience, and Jin Zhe smiled and waited quietly for a moment, then gestured for silence with his hands. “As you all know, I have been single for many years. Today, I want to announce something.” The whole venue quieted down; this topic was too gossipy, and everyone waited quietly for him to continue. Jin Zhe paused and said, “I have decided to end my single life from today onwards.”

The whole venue was stunned, even Hobart was taken aback. At this moment, a journalist asked, “Are you announcing your engagement, Mr. President?”

“No,” Jin Zhe replied seriously, leaning on the table, “The person I love has not yet responded to my proposal.”

There was an uproar in the audience; everyone was stunned by this explosive news. The journalist excitedly asked, “Can you reveal the person’s name?”

“No,” Jin Zhe said, “I can only reveal his gender. He is a fertile male.”

“Since he hasn’t responded to your pursuit, why mention it today?”

“I want to confess to him at this significant moment for me,” Jin Zhe stood at the presidential podium, “I want to tell him here that in the past, I didn’t realize how important this feeling was to me. After years of contemplation, especially recently, I realized that in my heart, he is as important as my career.” Jin Zhe pointed to his own seat, “I want to tell him that, to me, he is as important as this seat.”

This live broadcast was transmitted via the internet to various corners of the Federation at the same time. Aston Medical College, Mu and his subordinates watched this speech together in the conference room. Mu’s hands were clasped together at his lips, his eyes deep, pondering.

A week later, a guardianship authorization document regarding Zhuang Zhuang was delivered to the presidential residence. Jin Zhe opened the express envelope and took out two thin sheets of paper, each signed with Mu’s name in elegant handwriting, just like the man himself.

 

The author has something to say: This chapter is a bit long, there’s a lot to cover. Well, let’s start brushing up on the map of the Zhi Fu Chain Nebula~

The president and Dean will be together, their identities destined to be more tortuous. The CP of the Jin brothers has been set like this from the beginning, with the key words being “growth” for one pair and “sacrifice” for the other.

However, the brainwaves of the Jin brothers are very similar. Jin Zhe’s two confessions have a similar effect to Jin Xuan’s, hehehe.

 

 

 

 

 

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