FT DR Chapter 157: Which Teenage Boy Isn’t Lovesick? [END]

Chapter 157: Which Teenage Boy Isn’t Lovesick? [END]

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Karai

In the year 1027 of the Ephemeris, on September 22nd, aboard the 433th experimental vessel of the ‘Permian’ fleet.

On the 118th day of traveling at a speed of a billion Mach, with no discoveries made during the second cruise, this emerging cosmos has not yielded the new substances we anticipated, nor have we found the individuals we’ve been searching for. The fleet commander issued the order to return early this morning. Half an hour from now, I’ll be heading back to the Dunkirk Federation along with the ‘Permian.’

This will be my last trip before adulthood. After returning, I won’t be able to leave the guide school for a short while unless they find a suitable sentinel for me.

Growing up is truly detestable.

The experiments remain unchanged. Specimens Z are stable to the point of absurdity, as if no environment can coax them into germination. If only I were as stable as them, then I’d never have to worry about estrus periods.”

Chen Sheng placed the final period in his logbook and closed it shut. In this day and age, few people still used the cumbersome medium of paper for recording, but he maintained this peculiar habit. So much so that on his last birthday, his older brother gifted him a box of bamboo slips, suggesting he inscribe his diary on them to appear more sophisticated.

Of course, Chen Sheng wasn’t trying to appear sophisticated. He simply enjoyed the scratchy sound of ink pens on paper, indescribable though it may be.

“Beep, beep—” The timer chimed, signaling twenty more minutes until the fleet departed for the Dunkirk Federation. He had to complete the final status check within the next ten minutes.

This experimental vessel belonged to the ‘Permian’ fleet. The ‘Permian’ was the second cosmic expeditionary fleet of the federation, the first being the ‘Quadrant,’ which had accidentally strayed away during the Gabriel rebellion one hundred and sixty-seven years ago. Therefore, besides cosmic exploration, the ‘Permian’ also bore the mission of locating the ‘Quadrant.’

Searching for a fleet among countless unknown universes was akin to finding a needle in a haystack. Chen Sheng personally didn’t believe this endeavor would succeed, but his revered great-grandfather clearly thought otherwise. Forty years ago, when the federation launched the “Cosmic Expedition” project, he was so excited that he nearly suffered a stroke. Ignoring all objections, he sold half of their family’s fortune, known as “Chen’s Sign of Good Fortune,” to fund the “Cosmic Expedition” project.

So, the entire fleet was named according to his wishes. Initially, everyone thought the fleet would be named “Chen’s Sign of Good Fortune,” or perhaps “Chen Miaomiao” (his great-grandfather’s nickname), but without batting an eyelid, he said, “Let’s call it ‘Permian.'”

According to the third grandson of his paternal aunt from his maternal grandmother’s family, ‘Permian’ was the name of his great-grandfather’s elementary school baseball team, well-known to all. His great-grandfather was a baseball enthusiast who even played in youth tournaments.

However, according to the granddaughter of his uncle from his paternal grandfather’s family, his great-grandfather was merely a substitute player at an amateur level and didn’t have the qualifications to join a prestigious professional team like the ‘Permian.’ The real star of the team should have been his best friend—Marlow Simpson.

The name Marlow Simpson was renowned in the Dunkirk Federation. Chen Sheng, as a guide scout, grew up listening to stories about him from his great-grandfather. He was the one who led the first cosmic expeditionary fleet, the ‘Quadrant,’ out of the mother universe one hundred and sixty-seven years ago. He was also the youngest General in the history of Dunkirk, as well as the youngest fleet commander.

He was also the son of the first separatist in Dunkirk’s history, Hannibal Simpson. However, his mother was the first female general in the federation’s history to receive the “Golden Magnolia” medal, Lilith Lancer.

In addition to this, his maternal grandfather was a traitor, his older brother was the most powerful guide in history, and his best friend was the richest man in the federation… In short, his circle of relatives and friends was a mixture of infamy and respect. Most people living in such a complex environment would probably have lost their minds long ago, but he persevered and ultimately became one of the most extraordinary individuals among them.

Heroes are heroes, it’s rare for ordinary people to handle such impressive positions.

For example, Chen Sheng was the epitome of conventionality. Born into the wealthiest family in the federation, “Chen’s Sign of Good Fortune,” his grandparents and parents were all senior military officers, and his siblings were all outstanding. Even his great-grandfather, who used to squander the family fortune recklessly, was known as the “King of Tungusic” in his day, overseeing the most prestigious guide school in the federation for nearly forty years.

As for him personally, he’s exceptionally intelligent and has a cheerful personality. The only unfortunate thing about him is that he was discovered to have guide traits at the age of six, forcing him to leave his family and enter the Soros Guide School. However, compared to the plight of guides over a century ago, things have improved significantly, especially before reaching adulthood. Since they don’t experience estrus before adulthood, they’re allowed to participate in some relatively safe social activities and can join guide scouts, where they learn and work alongside sentinel soldiers under certain supervision.

Due to his good stability and outstanding performance, Chen Sheng was selected to participate in this “Permian” interdimensional expedition before reaching adulthood. This is also his last major social activity before adulthood—according to the “Guide Protection Law,” guides must stay in guide schools after reaching adulthood until they are bonded with a compatible sentinel and can continue their careers with the mate’s permission.

“I hope I can meet a reliable female sentinel soon.” While doing the status check, Chen Sheng spoke to his quantum beast—a light-yellow hummingbird. “But I’ve heard that the sentinels eligible for selection aren’t too young. God forbid I meet a forty or fifty-year-old lady.”

“Forty or fifty isn’t old; they’re just middle-aged. Plus, you’re not a Christian, so what’s the use of praying to God?” the hummingbird said solemnly.

Chen Sheng had long been accustomed to his meticulously serious quantum beast and continued to grumble to himself, “The personality test says I have bisexual tendencies. Maybe I’ll end up liking a man… But is it too early for me to think about these things? After all, I won’t reach adulthood for another year.”

“That’s normal; you’re almost seventeen, and an increase in hormone levels is natural,” the hummingbird said earnestly, as if to prove that it also had a bit of sophistication, then added, “Which teenage boy isn’t lovesick?”

Chen Sheng “tsk”ed at it in disdain and headed to the main cabin, closing the experimental chamber.

“Here is the 433rd experimental vessel, transmitting status check results to the flagship,” Chen Sheng uploaded the form to the flagship. A few seconds later, the flagship replied, “Status check received. The 433rd experimental vessel is ready to set sail with the fleet. Countdown, four minutes and fifty-seven seconds, four minutes and fifty-six seconds…”

“Going home,” Chen Sheng stretched lazily and walked towards the hibernation chamber with his hummingbird. Just then, the experimental chamber suddenly sounded an alarm, “Alert! Anomalies detected in chamber 121, manual emergency handling required!”

Chen Sheng was startled and immediately turned around, rushing to chamber 121. There were only four minutes left until they returned. The cosmic portal of the “Permian” had already opened, and they couldn’t afford any mishaps at this moment!

“System, detailed report!” Chen Sheng stood at the door of the experimental chamber, checking the internal situation through the intelligent system. “Have you found the cause of the anomaly?”

“Specimen ‘Z’ activated inexplicably and is growing at an uncontrollable rate! Chamber 121 has been destroyed, and it is spreading to adjacent chambers 120, 122, 154, etc.,” the system reported.

Chen Sheng was stunned. The specimen ‘Z,’ which he had described as “stable to the point of absurdity” in his diary, had unexpectedly activated at this critical moment and was growing wildly!

“Should we destroy the out-of-control specimen immediately?” the system asked. “Calculations show that it will fill the entire experimental chamber within half an hour and take over the control room within an hour!”

“Destroy it immediately!” Chen Sheng decisively issued the order. Red lights illuminated on the chamber door, and through the observation window on the door, he saw a faint yellow fog quickly rising in the chamber, with the pressure gauge index skyrocketing!

“Toxin dispersed; medication is taking effect. Pressure is decreasing, and specimen ‘Z’ has temporarily stopped growing,” the system reported.

Chen Sheng breathed a sigh of relief. However, before he could gather his thoughts, the alarm sounded again, “Specimen ‘Z’ has regained activity; the number of cells is increasing exponentially… It has begun to accelerate its growth!”

“God!” Chen Sheng stepped back, realizing that he was already drenched in cold sweat. Specimen ‘Z’ had gone out of control, the neurotoxin was ineffective, and the experimental chamber was being rapidly occupied. Next would be the control room, the living quarters… Soon, the entire ship would become its territory!

“The situation is worse than previously anticipated,” the system’s prompt sounded again, adding insult to injury to Chen Sheng’s fragile nerves. “The destruction rate of the chambers has exceeded 50%, the airtightness of the experimental chamber is decreasing, and the out-of-control creature is about to break through the isolation door. It is recommended to report to the flagship immediately!”

“… Okay,” Chen Sheng said with difficulty, sweat dripping down his forehead. “Connect to the flagship.”

“This is the ‘Permian’ flagship, responding to 433 experimental vessel.” The familiar voice of the flagship came through, but Chen Sheng could no longer maintain his previous calmness. “Reporting to the flagship, the 433 experimental vessel has encountered an emergency contamination, level six.”

“Please report the cause of contamination.”

“Specimen ‘Z’ has grown out of control, now occupying 60% of the experimental chamber space. The neurotoxin is ineffective, and the isolation door is about to be breached.” Chen Sheng tried to make his voice sound calmer, but he was still trembling with panic.

There was a brief silence from the flagship, then it spoke in a solemn tone, “The cosmic portal has been opened, and the dark matter engine is operating at full capacity. The flagship cannot halt this transmission, or we will be permanently stranded in this universe. Guide scout Chen Sheng, please withdraw the 433 experimental vessel from the return convoy immediately.”

That meant abandoning the ship… Chen Sheng said helplessly, “Yes.”

“Please complete the evacuation within one minute and transfer to shuttle 410 after self-cleaning.” The flagship continued, “Countdown, fifty-nine seconds, fifty-eight seconds…”

Chen Sheng rushed into the control room, adjusting the direction to steer the experimental vessel out of the designated course. Setting the coordinates took half a minute. When he rushed into the decontamination chamber, the countdown had reached “eighteen.”

The pungent spray slowly rose, and Chen Sheng felt his heart beating faster than the hummingbird’s wings. The rushing sound of blood in his ears was like an urgent drumbeat, making his eardrums numb.

But today was destined to be his unlucky day. Just as the green light came on, indicating the completion of self-cleaning, the system sounded another alarm, “The experimental chamber has ruptured, specimen ‘Z’ has broken through the isolation door and is spreading to the control room. The contamination level of the entire ship has reached nine!”

It was over! Chen Sheng’s mind went blank. With the contamination level of the entire ship exceeding nine, it meant that the entire ship had to be isolated, including him as an experimenter. Otherwise, he might bring unsafe factors to other vessels!

There was no time. He couldn’t fly to shuttle 410 like this. If his body had already been infected by specimen ‘Z,’ he would bring the same misfortune to the crew on shuttle 410.

“433 experimental vessel, you are overdue. Please, transfer to shuttle 410 immediately!” The flagship’s countdown ended, urging, “The fleet is about to complete the transmission. We cannot wait for shuttle 410 for too long!”

Chen Sheng began to tremble, but he knew he had to make the right decision. “The contamination level of the 433 experimental vessel has exceeded nine degrees. I request full ship isolation. Flagship, I cannot transfer. Please, let shuttle 410 depart according to the plan.”

Silence. Chen Sheng swallowed hard, trembling but firm, “Goodbye, flagship. Please, tell my parents I love them, and my brother…” With that, he resolutely closed the communication system.

There was no salvation. The shuttle countdown had only three seconds left. This was the final transmission of their journey. The flagship didn’t have enough energy to open another portal. If he gave up the return for himself, the entire fleet would be stranded in this unfamiliar universe.

Before embarking on this expedition, he and all the crew members had sworn to prioritize collective interests over personal life and death. He couldn’t endanger the entire fleet for his sake. This was the highest principle of the guide scouts, and also his principle of being a person.

Although he was not yet seventeen, strictly speaking, he was not even considered an adult.

“They’re gone,” the hummingbird’s voice sounded in his mind, waking Chen Sheng up. Stepping out of the decontamination chamber, he heard alarms blaring in the cabin, the out-of-control specimen ‘Z’ was growing wildly, the control room had been occupied, and only the living area was temporarily safe.

The system prompted that the fleet had all evacuated. Now, the entire universe was left with only this ship.

“Are we going to die?” the hummingbird hesitated to ask.

“Yes,” Chen Sheng’s legs felt weak. He stood still for a moment, then walked towards the living area. “Specimen ‘Z’ is out of control. My body may have been infected… You’re right, we’re about to die.” As he said the word “die,” he suddenly felt like crying, but he held it back and entered the rest cabin.

“System, seal off the living area,” Chen Sheng commanded the main control system. “How long can we hold on?”

“The specimen is growing too fast. It can be contained for at most half an hour,” the system replied. “In half an hour, it will break through the isolation door and fill the entire experimental vessel.”

“So, we still have half an hour…” Chen Sheng closed the system, silenced all alarms, and finally his ears cleared, only hearing the rapid flapping of the hummingbird’s wings.

“What do we do now?” the hummingbird asked, a bit bewildered, perched on his shoulder. “Is there anything else we can do?”

Chen Sheng didn’t know how to answer it. After thinking for a moment, he said helplessly, “Wait for death… or we can give each other some end-of-life care.” He found it strange that he could still joke with his quantum beast at a time like this.

“Oh,” the hummingbird sighed mournfully, hopping off his shoulder and pacing back and forth on the table. “Don’t be sad. People are bound to die.”

“Yeah, we’re all going to die,” Chen Sheng chuckled bitterly. “But am I dying too fast? I thought my life would always be smooth sailing, especially since the first sixteen years were pretty good, right? Damn it, I’m still a virgin!”

“Me too,” the hummingbird sighed again. “Which teenage boy isn’t full of hormones?”

“What nonsense are you talking about?” Chen Sheng laughed at its words. “Instead of worrying about that, why don’t we think about what we can do before we die?”

“Give it a try,” the hummingbird suggested without hesitation.

“With myself?” Chen Sheng raised an eyebrow at it.

“Can’t be with me, right?” the hummingbird rolled its eyes. “You still have your right hand, don’t you?”

“Say something serious!” Chen Sheng couldn’t understand why his usually serious quantum beast suddenly seemed to have changed… no, it seemed to have turned into a bird.

“Fine,” the hummingbird fluttered its wings and flew back onto his head. “Since we’re going to die anyway, why not die with dignity? You wouldn’t want to die in a jumpsuit here, would you?”

Chen Sheng looked down and realized he didn’t look quite dignified. “You’re right. I should change into something decent for my funeral.” He opened the wardrobe, took out the guide scout uniform, and put it on. Looking in the mirror, he asked, “Is this more dignified?”

The person in the mirror had handsome features, with dark hair and fair skin. Although he was somewhat skinny, he had broad shoulders and a narrow waist, giving him a masculine air. The guide scout uniform in white and blue accentuated his fair skin and elegant demeanor… Oh, this funeral attire was quite good.

“Very dignified,” the hummingbird praised, pacing back and forth on his head. “You’re sacrificing yourself for the greater good. If we were on Federal soil, they’d cover your body with a national flag.”

“A flag? I don’t think I have one,” Chen Sheng felt like he must be going crazy. At the last moment of his life, he was calmly tidying up his “appearance.”

But considering the current situation, it seemed like he had nothing else to do.

He rummaged through the closet and found a guide scout flag, comparing it to his body. “It’ll do.”

“It’ll do,” the hummingbird echoed sympathetically.

Twenty minutes had unknowingly passed. Although the alarm sounds had been turned off, Chen Sheng could feel the presence of specimen ‘Z’ spreading towards the living area. A strange smell permeated the cabin; it was probably the tiny spores it released.

His skin tingled. Those spores must have entered his pores. With heavy steps, Chen Sheng walked to the bed, lay down, carefully smoothed out the wrinkles of his uniform, and then covered himself with the guide scout flag.

“That’s it,” his thoughts began to blur, and his vision became distorted. He could hardly see his hummingbird anymore. “Goodbye, buddy. I hope we can be partners again in the next life.”

The hummingbird’s voice echoed in his mind, with a strange distortion. “Science says that so-called ‘reincarnation’ doesn’t exist. But for your sake, maybe we can be together again in the next life.”

Chen Sheng’s consciousness began to fade, as if falling into an endless abyss, darker and darker… He knew he was heading towards death, fearful, yet calm…

Suddenly, his consciousness trembled, as if a powerful person was approaching his body, or rather, a powerful consciousness was approaching his mind.

“A human! Commander! There’s a human here!” a rough male voice faintly came through.

“Oh, it’s a boy… Is he still alive?” a clear, slightly roguish voice inquired.

“Yes, he still has a heartbeat, but he seems contaminated,” the rough male voice replied. “He’s not one of ours, Commander. Maybe we can extract some information from him before he dies, or even take out his brain while it’s still warm?”

“…At times like this, you should suggest I call for a doctor,” the man referred to as “Commander” replied displeasedly. “You’re my subordinate now, not a terrorist. Understand?”

“Yes, Commander, my apologies. Should we call for a doctor now?” the subordinate humbly corrected his mistake.

“We don’t have a doctor. But perhaps I can save him—he looks like he’s enchanted asleep. I heard a kiss from a Sleeping Beauty can wake someone up,” the Commander whistled nonchalantly. “Step aside, let this Commander give it a try.”

“He’s probably contaminated with spores, Commander, not enchanted. And you’re not a prince, he’s not a princess, he’s a boy, Commander,” the subordinate earnestly countered.

“You make a good point,” the Commander sighed. “I’m unable to argue against it.”

What kind of conversation is this? Chen Sheng couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. He wanted to lift his hand to shoo away these noisy and shameless conversations, but every part of his body refused to cooperate, not even his fingertips could move.

Just as he was tangled in his confusion, he felt a warm sensation on his lips. That person really kissed him.

“Oh! Commander, you can’t do this! He’s contaminated, you can’t touch him like this!” the subordinate exclaimed in shock.

“I’m just making a final effort under limited conditions. I thought he might wake up…” the Commander smiled insincerely. “Well, my efforts have failed. Get someone to take him away, send a message to headquarters, let them send a reliable doctor, and inform them that we have a spore-infected individual who needs ten days of isolation treatment.”

Headquarters, contamination, Commander… Was “Permia” back? No, wait… Chen Sheng was confused, but soon darkness enveloped him, and he lost consciousness once again.

His body ached, his skin felt like it was soaked in ice water, and his brain seemed to be cut open by a sharp blade, filled with scorching lava… Chen Sheng slowly woke up in chaos, feeling pain all over, even his consciousness was in turmoil.

Opening his eyes, the first thing he saw in the slowly clearing vision was the silver-gray ceiling, followed by the pure white walls. He struggled to turn his neck, realizing he was lying in a spacious and empty room, with a comfortable soft bed beneath him. On the bedside table, there was a fist-sized blue light ball flickering.

Where am I? Am I still alive? Chen Sheng tried hard to prop himself up, but his strength failed him. At this moment, the light ball at the head of the bed flashed, and the ceiling suddenly lit up.

“Are you awake?” a strange male voice came.

Chen Sheng looked towards the source of the sound, only to see a tall man sitting on a chair in the corner of the room.

He was a human, wearing a dark green shirt and dark green trousers, with golden short hair shining in the light. His ice-blue eyes were calm and majestic, his slender hands clasped together against his thin lips. A sturdy caracal lay at his feet, its yellow-brown fur glossy, with three black stripes extending from its forehead to its tail, giving it a heroic appearance.

A quantum beast! He’s a sentinel! Chen Sheng’s pupils suddenly shrank.

“You’ve been contaminated by spores,” the man’s voice was clear and magnetic. “My people found you, and my doctor will treat you.”

“Your people?” Chen Sheng opened his mouth, finding his throat terribly hoarse. “Who are you?”

“I am your master,” the man’s lips curled slightly. “I am Captain Nicholas. You were discovered by my crew, so now you belong to me. Understand?”

“What…?” Chen Sheng’s brain was in chaos. “Captain? Belong? Who are you people?”

“We are Free Pirates,” the man who called himself “Captain Nicholas” raised an eyebrow. “According to the Universal Navigation Code—’Finder’s Keepers.’ Understand?”

“Wait a minute,” Chen Sheng looked at him in confusion. “You’re human? There are humans in this universe?”

Nicholas’s icy blue eyes narrowed slightly. “Seems like you haven’t grasped the crux of our conversation, darling. Whether I’m human or not doesn’t matter. What’s important for you to remember right now is that you belong to me, and that’s enough.”

He’s a human, yes, just like me! Chen Sheng’s mind gradually became clearer. He struggled to sit up. “You’re a Sentinel, are you… are you part of the Voyager Army of the universe? Descendants of the Quadrants?”

Captain Nicholas frowned. “What’s that? I’ve never heard of it. Oh darling, calm down, lie back… listen to me, unless you want me to help you lie back.”

A gentle threat, filled with chilling implications. Chen Sheng swallowed hard and obediently lay back. “My name is Chen Sheng, don’t address me like that.”

“Usually, masters give their slaves new names, but it doesn’t matter. I’m an easygoing person,” Captain Nicholas said, walking to the bedside and looking down at Chen Sheng. “Tell me, where are you from? Who do you belong to? The Crazy Alligator or Captain Hook? I guess you’re not a sailor; your waist isn’t even as thick as my thigh. You’re only fit to be a pet.”

“I’m from the Dunkirk Federation, I’m not anyone’s pet, I’m a soldier,” Chen Sheng said angrily, then added somewhat weakly, “a scout.”

The corner of Captain Nicholas’s mouth twitched, as if mocking. “What federation? I’ve never heard of it. To the point, Mr. Scout, regardless of whether you were a pet before, you are now. I’ve decided to domesticate you.”

“Wait a minute.” Chen Sheng finally grasped the crux of their conversation. “What are you talking about? What Crazy Alligator, what Captain Hook? I don’t know them, and I’m not your slave!”

“You are now,” Captain Nicholas said with a smile. “According to the Universal Navigation Code – ‘The fate of prisoners is decided by the captain.’ If you want to survive on my ship, you have to prove to me that you’re useful. But what can you do in your current state? I think being a pet suits you best.”

Are they really space pirates? Chen Sheng’s just-woken brain became confused again: they’re not the Voyager Army of the universe, federal troops wouldn’t domesticate slaves… so where are they from? Are there people other than the ‘Quadrants’ who transmigrate to other universes?

Things were too complicated, far beyond the imagination of a sixteen-year-old boy. Chen Sheng stared blankly at Captain Nicholas, gradually realizing that the other party wasn’t joking; he had indeed fallen into a pirate group, and because he seemed useless, he might become the plaything of the captain.

Oh God, something more terrifying than death has finally come.

“I… I can work,” Chen Sheng panicked, stuttering, “I can do biological experiments, and… and I can manufacture machinery, or do you need a navigator? I’m good at reading star maps, although I’m not familiar with this universe, I can quickly memorize all the galaxies and coordinates.”

Captain Nicholas’s gaze seemed somewhat complicated, as if brewing some dreadful conspiracy. Chen Sheng was overwhelmed by his intense aura of a villain, his voice becoming quieter and quieter. “I… I can also do odd jobs, like cleaning and running errands, I’ll be very diligent!”

“A capable little guy, seems like you’re quite versatile,” Captain Nicholas raised an eyebrow and reached out a big hand towards him. Chen Sheng trembled with fear, but the other party only patted his hair and pinched his chin, without any further action.

“Unfortunately, all the positions you mentioned are already filled,” Nicholas said, “the engine room needs someone, but it’s dirty and exhausting, there’s a lot of radiation, and you’ll have to deal with many tough guys…”

“I can do it,” Chen Sheng immediately said, “I’m willing to go to the engine room!”

Captain Nicholas’s lower eyelids twitched. “I forgot, that place seems to be full too.”

Are you kidding me? Chen Sheng was about to cry from frustration.

“Well, so now you only have two options,” Captain Nicholas said seriously, “either be the pet of all crew members, or be my personal pet.”

Is this even a choice? Chen Sheng felt like crying. “No, I don’t choose, I don’t need you to save me, just throw me back to your experimental ship!”

“Are you trying to commit suicide?” Captain Nicholas said, astonished. “Your courage truly impresses me, but unfortunately, your experimental ship now belongs to me as well. Remember, according to the Universal Navigation Code, ‘Finders, keepers.’ So even if you die, your body belongs to me. I quite like you, you know. If you die, I might just turn you into a specimen and display you in my bedroom.”

Chen Sheng shivered with fear, looking at the handsome and ruthless man in front of him. Yes, evil pirates were capable of anything, just like those cults and terrorists his brother often spoke about.

Compared to being turned into a specimen in the pirate captain’s bedroom, being a pet seemed like an acceptable option. Chen Sheng reluctantly considered for a moment before tentatively asking, “What does being your pet entail?”

A sly smile flickered in Captain Nicholas’s icy blue eyes as he crossed his arms and thought for a moment. “It’s nothing much, really. Eat well, drink well, gain some weight, tidy yourself up to look pleasing… basically, just please me.”

It didn’t sound too difficult… Chen Sheng felt deeply humiliated, but it seemed like he had no other choice for now — he had nothing, his body hadn’t recovered, and he could only endure and bide his time to figure out how to steal an escape pod or a small starship.

Well, a real man can bend as well as stand tall! Chen Sheng gritted his teeth. “Fine, I’ll be your pet.”

“Good boy,” Captain Nicholas said, smirking with satisfaction.

For the next two days, Chen Sheng remained bedridden, with Captain Nicholas administering a daily injection of a substance to cleanse contaminants from his body. Chen Sheng questioned why a doctor wasn’t brought in, to which Captain Nicholas simply replied, “You’re my pet, I don’t allow anyone else to touch you.”

Chen Sheng despised being called a “pet,” but since he had decided to endure and persevere, he silently accepted everything.

On the fourth day, he could finally get out of bed, no longer dependent on injections to survive. Nicholas brought him something that looked like a nutrient-rich meal. “You can eat now, but only a little. This will help you recover quickly, make your skin smooth, and your fur shiny. Hmm, I like my pets to look pretty.”

Chen Sheng was very resistant to this idea, but the food tasted good, with a hint of lemony freshness, his favorite flavor.

Unfortunately, its effects didn’t match its taste. Chen Sheng had only eaten half when his stomach began to ache like it was on fire, making it nearly impossible to stand up straight. Eventually, Nicholas had to carry him back to bed.

“I was careless. Your digestive system can’t handle our food,” Nicholas said after a brief examination, his expression somewhat sour. He quickly left and returned with some medication to soothe Chen Sheng’s stomach, then held him close, rubbing his belly. “Feeling better? Do you want to induce vomiting to get it all out?”

“N-no need,” Chen Sheng weakly replied, feeling like a real pet being cuddled like this.

But come to think of it, his body was indeed strong, his muscles lean and powerful, his palms warm, his fingers strong, giving a sense of security… Chen Sheng’s mind wandered a bit. Guides approaching adulthood often had some vulnerable thoughts, like fear of unfamiliar environments, and longing for the protection of a strong sentinel.

No, I can’t think like this. I have to be strong and find a way to escape from here! Chen Sheng immediately convinced himself to shake off this shameful instinct.

At lunchtime the next day, Nicholas brought him a lavish meal, not nutrient-rich, but a real feast — egg custard, soufflé cupcakes, and a small bowl of fragrant white congee topped with a sprinkle of golden shredded meat.

“For you,” Nicholas said with his usual devilish pirate face, “traditional food might help your stomach feel better.”

Chen Sheng could hardly believe that he, as a prisoner, could receive such treatment. He picked up a spoon and took a bite of the custard… oh, it was delicious!

Nicholas seemed to greatly enjoy his satisfied expression, sitting back in his chair with his long legs crossed, a satisfied smile playing on his lips.

His expression reminded Chen Sheng of his brother, who would exert so much effort to cook a big pot of cat food for their purebred Garfield when it would wear the same satisfied expression.

A typical cat servant face!

“Wait, I’m definitely not a cat!” Chen Sheng was extremely frustrated. 

His hummingbird suddenly popped out, hopping along his head, shoulders, and arms, until it reached the dining table—this little guy had been terrified of Nicholas, but had just started to calm down a bit yesterday. Chen Sheng followed its gaze and found it staring at Nicholas’s caracal, which was as usual crouching at its owner’s feet, its magnificent stripes exuding dominance under the lamplight. But today, its gaze was a bit off, staring fixedly at the dishes on the table as if it had spotted some treasures. Chen Sheng felt like it was about to drool. 

Nicholas noticed his gaze, glanced at his caracal, and with a twitch of his mouth, stood up. “Go ahead and eat, I have some business to attend to.” 

The caracal suddenly turned its head, looking at its owner incredulously, gradually revealing a look of sadness. Under the pressure from the other party, it reluctantly lifted its butt and followed him out, but the way it looked back three times, it was as if it wanted to stick its eyeballs to Chen Sheng’s plate. 

“Poor foodie,” the hummingbird, which had been silent for days, finally spoke. “The captain must be particularly restrained in terms of diet.” 

“He has a great physique,” Chen Sheng casually said, then felt the ambiguity of his words and blushed. “Maintaining a good physique often requires sacrificing a lot of delicious food, and he’s just like that.” 

“He’s much more handsome than your brother,” the hummingbird said without hesitation, fluttering its wings back to his shoulder. “He has blonde hair and blue eyes, so beautiful! He must be of English descent.” 

Chen Sheng bit his spoon with annoyance, suddenly feeling that the annoying bird was cuter when it was silent. 

For the next three days, Chen Sheng ate delicate traditional food. His body had almost recovered, his skin was no longer itchy, his legs had become strong, and his consciousness had stabilized. Nicholas didn’t allow him to leave the living room, but he came to accompany him every day, always making sure to avoid meal times. Chen Sheng found that Nicholas had no way to deal with his foodie caracal. It was like a hungry ghost reborn. As long as it saw food, its eyes would light up. If Nicholas didn’t indulge it with a little food, it would annoy him with pitiful eyes. 

However, as long as there was no temptation of food, the caracal would become very normal, elegant in posture, and aloof in expression. Nicholas was not a difficult “master.” When he stayed in Chen Sheng’s room, he didn’t need any attendance, just sat quietly in the chair reading documents or writing something. Chen Sheng found that he, like the people of Dunkirk, had a personal terminal implanted in his body, and he used the terminal in his left hand to handle these tasks. 

Was he really a descendant of the “Quadrants”? Or was he really a free pirate who accidentally wandered into this universe? Chen Sheng couldn’t figure it out no matter how hard he thought. After all, he was only sixteen years old, just a guide scout with no social experience. 

“Do you feel better today?” Nicholas closed the holographic screen, looking tired. 

“Much better.” Probably because of the food and the caracal, Chen Sheng unconsciously relaxed a bit when facing him, hesitated for a moment, and asked, “Do you… have any worries?” 

“Well, some miscellaneous matters, nothing serious.” Nicholas pinched his nose, his hand suddenly paused. “Hmm, are you concerned about me, little darling?” 

Chen Sheng wished he could chop off his own tongue—Too talkative, too talkative! 

“You finally realize your role as a pet, that’s good.” Nicholas’s annoyance disappeared in an instant, he said with interest, “Come here, let me teach you how to please your master.” 

Chen Sheng was shocked and retreated two steps suddenly, his back against the wall, too nervous to say a word. 

“Come here.” Nicholas squinted and waved at him, “Do you want me to come over and help you?” 

“N-no, don’t.” Chen Sheng shook his head, staring at him nervously for a long time, and then, defeated, he crept up to him step by step. 

“Sit.” Nicholas said. Just as Chen Sheng was about to sit on the chair beside him, he patted his thigh. “Sit here.”

“…” Chen Sheng looked at the thigh that was rumored to be thicker than his waist and felt like vomiting blood. 

“Don’t like sitting here?” Nicholas chuckled. “Then I’ll call everyone on the ship over, and you can pick one by one whose thigh you like, and I’ll chop it off for you to use as a chair.” 

Chen Sheng imagined the bloody scene and had no choice but to sit on his thigh with a stiff head. 

“That’s obedient.” Nicholas said satisfiedly, suddenly grabbing his waist and lifting him up, sitting face to face on his lap. “Hmm, your eyes are very beautiful, like black sapphires.” 

Chen Sheng stiffened all over, his “black sapphire” eyes staring at Nicholas without blinking. He now regretted not committing suicide—keeping himself as a specimen in the bedroom would be better than sitting on his thigh like this! 

“Listen.” Nicholas hugged his waist. “The spore contamination in your body has been completely eliminated. The confinement will end tomorrow, and you will live with my crew on this ship.” 

Chen Sheng blankly said, “Oh.” Nicholas continued, “Then I’ll ask you again now, do you want to be my exclusive pet, belonging only to me?” 

In order to escape, Chen Sheng had to go against his heart and say, “I-I do.” 

“Very good.” Nicholas smiled like a fox, touched his hair, and whistled lightly to his hummingbird. “Let me mark you then!” 

What? Chen Sheng was stunned. Mark him? How could that be? Once marked, he would never be able to leave this villain for the rest of his life! 

“No, I can’t!” Chen Sheng said urgently, “I’m not of legal age yet, I-I won’t emit pheromones, maybe we’re not compatible at all!” 

“Shh…” Nicholas pressed his shoulder, imprisoning his trembling body in his arms due to anger and anxiety, “That’s not a problem at all. All you need to consider is whether you want me to mark you or not.” 

Chen Sheng shook his head in confusion. Being obedient and showing weakness were fine, but marking was not a joke; it was a matter of life and death. 

“Don’t rush to answer me.” Nicholas admired his confused look and sympathetically patted his head. “I’ll give you tonight to think about it, and I’ll come back for your answer tomorrow morning.” 

Nicholas’s ultimatum was like a guillotine hanging in mid-air. Chen Sheng spent the night lying under the blade, unable to close his eyes for a minute. 

What to do? Be marked by the villain and live as a pet by his side for a lifetime?  Or refuse him?  But could he really refuse? After refusing, would he let me go? Would he throw me out and hand me over to other pirates?  Was suicide still an option? The problem was how to commit suicide? Stop breathing? Oh, don’t be ridiculous, that’s not as good as biting off your tongue, but can biting off your tongue really kill you? Chen Sheng regretted not hiding the chopsticks during dinner; that way, he could at least try to stab himself to death with them. 

At six in the morning, Chen Sheng crawled into the bathroom with huge dark circles under his eyes, washed up, and changed into clean clothes. He made a decision. He couldn’t bear to live with a villain for the rest of his life. If Nicholas insisted on marking him, then he would confront him, even if it meant being killed. At least he wouldn’t have to agonize over how to commit suicide anymore. 

“Have you made up your mind?” Nicholas entered his room at some point, looked at his face, and asked knowingly, “Didn’t sleep well last night? Your complexion looks terrible.” 

“Listen.” Chen Sheng burned his bridges, no longer pretending to be obedient like the past few days, straightened his chest and said seriously, “I won’t allow you to mark me. I don’t want to be your pet!” 

“Uh…” Nicholas was choked by his words and took a while to ask, “Are you serious?” 

“Yes.” Chen Sheng said, “Just kill me!” 

“…” Nicholas rubbed his nose and said, “I won’t kill you. I’ll just hand you over to my subordinates.” 

Chen Sheng started to tremble, but still said firmly, “No one can mark me!”

“All right then.” Nicholas grabbed his wrist and dragged him towards the door. “I’ll take you out.”

Is… is that it? Chen Sheng stumbled to the door, his whole being shrouded in immense panic—this was it, he was going to be handed over to those pirates, why didn’t Nicholas just kill him outright…

“Swish—” With a light sound, the closed door finally opened after several days. Chen Sheng was blinded by the bright light outside the door, and suddenly heard a loud “pop” in his ears, like a champagne bottle being opened. Then, cool liquid began to rain down from above.

“Congratulations!” someone exclaimed loudly. “Congratulations on finally being released from quarantine!”

What’s going on? Chen Sheng’s head buzzed, still immersed in the fear of being thrown into the pirate group. Subconsciously, he licked the liquid at the corner of his mouth—oh, it was champagne!

As his vision gradually cleared, Chen Sheng looked around and found himself in a small foyer, filled with people dressed in dark green uniforms of the Voyager Army, with winged lion badges on their chests.

The Voyager Army?! What on earth is going on?! Chen Sheng was dumbfounded, standing there with his mouth open like an idiot.

“Hey, everyone calm down, you’ve scared our little friend!” Nicholas, usually the devilish and fierce pirate captain, wore a bright smile on his handsome face, clapped his hands, and said, “Let me introduce you all. This is the little friend who came from a distant mother universe, Mr. Chen Sheng, a guide scout from the Dunkirk Federation.”

The soldiers greeted Chen Sheng one after another, some even tried to shake his hand, but all were sternly blocked by Nicholas. “Stay still, no touching him, he’s a guide and he’s still a minor!”

“What… what’s going on here?” Chen Sheng finally found his voice again. “Who… who are you people?”

“We are the Voyager Army of the universe.” A burly man said loudly, “Descendants of the ‘Quadrants,’ oh, do you know what the ‘Quadrants’ are?”

“B-but aren’t you pirates?” Chen Sheng looked at Nicholas in confusion. “Aren’t you the pirate captain?”

“He’s our captain, but he’s not just any pirate captain. He’s Major General Nicholas Simpson of the Voyager Army in the universe.” The burly man said, “You were contaminated by spores, and the captain kissed you to save you, so you were quarantined together. Today the quarantine was lifted.”

Chen Sheng felt like the world had been turned upside down. So Nicholas wasn’t a pirate captain at all, and they weren’t pirates either… but descendants of the “Quadrants” that the Triassic had been searching for?!

“What nonsense did you tell him again, Simpson?” A civilian officer noticed Chen Sheng’s abnormal expression, frowned, and asked Nicholas. He was holding a large bottle of wine, the champagne that had just been sprayed out.

“Pirates, slaves, universal navigation rules, blablabla… you know.” Nicholas said with a tilt of his head.

The civilian officer had a constipated expression. “Can you be a bit more reliable, Major General? He’s still a child, scaring him like this is illegal, oh right, he’s a guide, this counts as sexual harassment, you know?”

“I know now, Mom!” Nicholas said earnestly to the civilian officer, “Are you going through menopause without taking your medicine these days? Why are you getting more and more nagging?” 

“… I knew I shouldn’t have come to welcome you. You damn rascal!” The civilian officer’s expression twisted as he yelled, “I regret joining your army, I’m going back to apply for a transfer!” With that, he threw the bottle of wine at Nicholas’s head and walked away angrily.

“I’ll miss you, darling!” Nicholas whistled at his back and caught the bottle, took a swig, burped, and handed it to Chen Sheng. “Want a sip?”

Chen Sheng mechanically took the bottle, finally beginning to understand what had happened in the past ten days—he had been played, played by an unruly soldier rascal!

No pirates, no “universal navigation rules,” no master and no slave. This bastard who called himself “Captain Nicholas” took advantage of the quarantine to play him like a fool!

And he even kissed him!

“Y-you!” Chen Sheng trembled with anger, pointing a finger at Nicholas. “I… I…”

“Oh, oh, don’t be like this, I was just joking, you know, quarantine life can be boring.” Nicholas grinned, raising his hands in surrender. “Can you forgive me? I’m sorry, darling, you’re just too cute, I just…”

“I’m going to kill you, you bastard!” Chen Sheng yelled suddenly, jumping up and throwing a punch at Nicholas’s straight nose.

A burst of bright red blood spurted out, and Nicholas wailed, covering his face and staggering back. “Ow! Stop being impulsive!”

“I’ll beat you to death!” Chen Sheng went berserk, kicking him in the stomach and then pounding his face, “You asshole!”

The onlookers were stunned, not understanding why the seemingly small and gentle scout suddenly went berserk. Despite Chen Sheng’s relentless beating, no one thought to intervene.

“Waaah!” Nicholas dared not fight back, only curling up and protecting his handsome face, crying out, “What are you all waiting for? Pull him away!”

“Just let him beat him for a while, he won’t kill him.” The civilian officer, who had returned at some point, said with schadenfreude, “He doesn’t have a gun, so he can’t kill you… Oh right, who’s going to throw a gun at that kid?”

“You shut up!” Nicholas yelled in frustration, “Hurry up and pull him away, if his hand gets injured, I’ll hold you all responsible! Anyone who wants to live with me next month just stand there and don’t move!”

The onlookers snapped out of their daze and rushed forward to intervene, saying things like, “Let’s talk things out, let’s be civilized and not resort to violence…” Eventually, Chen Sheng was pulled away from Nicholas and taken to a place far away from him.

Chen Sheng was exhausted and couldn’t speak, struggling to break free to attack again. However, he couldn’t escape the crowd’s blockade and could only give Nicholas the middle finger with his trembling right hand.

Nicholas, with blood streaming down his nose, got up and waved his hand in frustration. “Get a doctor, see if his finger is broken, and check his toes, knees, elbows, and everything else… Oh, and get me a piece of hemostatic plaster.”

What a mess. What was supposed to be a celebration of the end of quarantine turned into a duel. In the end, Chen Sheng was taken to the medical room, while Nicholas, injured, returned to the control room to resume his duties.

They met again three days later. After being comforted by the civilian officer and a psychologist, Chen Sheng’s deep-seated hatred towards Nicholas had diminished by half. Well, perhaps it was more accurate to say that, after learning about the experiences of other crew members who had been pranked by the captain, he had developed a strange psychological balance. In any case, when faced with Nicholas’s punchable handsome face, he could now sit calmly instead of rushing up to tear it apart.

From the civilian officer, he learned that this ship belonged to the “Quadrants,” but it wasn’t the one Marlow Simpson brought from the Dunkirk Federation; it was rebuilt after they arrived in this universe. And the captain of this ship, Nicholas Simpson, was Marlow’s direct descendant and the youngest Brigadier General of the “Quadrants”—although he had a twisted sense of humor and was outrageous, he was born with extraordinary combat power and beast-like intuition, making his troop always have the lowest casualty rate.

So although everyone abhorred his disgusting pranks, they were still willing to work with him.

This time they had left the headquarters of the “Quadrants” to search for new energy sources. They came rushing over after detecting massive energy fluctuations in the nearby galaxy (caused by the Triassic opening the universal teleportation channel), but they didn’t encounter the Triassic. Instead, they accidentally saved Chen Sheng.

As for why Nicholas ended up being quarantined with him and treated him like a monkey… no one could answer this profound scientific question because Captain Simpson was just born that way—a jerk.

“Aren’t you angry?” Nicholas grinned at Chen Sheng. Today, Nicholas Simpson was wearing a crisp Voyager Army Major General uniform, and his tall figure looked even more imposing, complemented by shiny blond hair and deep blue eyes. He was handsome to the extreme.

But in Chen Sheng’s eyes, he was just a black-hearted cotton pillow.

“We’re heading back to headquarters.” Facing the scout’s sour face, Nicholas remained cheerful. “We’ll be home in about a week, hehe, it’s a pity you’re an underage guide, or I would have wanted to keep you in my troop. We’re short on mechanics, navigators, and biologists like you. You’d be most welcome.”

His words stirred painful memories in Chen Sheng, and he suddenly wanted to rush up and beat him again.

“Oh, are you mad? Then let me apologize.” Nicholas laughed deviously. “The journey is boring, we need some fun.”

“Why don’t you find your own fun?” Chen Sheng couldn’t bear it anymore.

“Because you’re easy to bully,” Nicholas shamelessly declared. “Okay, I swear I won’t bully you anymore from now on, after all, you’re the first guide I’ve ever felt like marking.”

“…Damn it, are you bullying me with that statement?” Chen Sheng cursed inwardly.

“I’m serious,” Nicholas said, suppressing his smile. His mischievous handsome face even showed a hint of a strange shyness. “Um… hehe, I really like you, you know, when I saw you lying there with your face covered in the flag, I liked you. Um, can I confess to you?”

What? Chen Sheng stared at him with his mouth wide open, feeling like his 192 IQ wasn’t enough to deal with this jerk in front of him.

And didn’t you already confess?

“You don’t have to answer me now. I’ll apply to the ‘Guide Committee’ for permission to date you. According to bone density data, you still have one year and four months until adulthood, and my rank fully qualifies me to apply for a relationship with you,” Nicholas shamelessly continued. “Um, well, with the current technology of the ‘Quadrants,’ I’m afraid we won’t be able to send you back to the federation, so you’ll have to live with us. It’s not easy to leave your familiar environment, but I’ll try to make you happy.”

“What… did you say?” Chen Sheng asked laboriously. “You want to… date me?”

“Mm-hmm,” Nicholas finally blushed. “But you have to forgive me for my previous offenses.”

“N-no, w-way!” Chen Sheng stuttered, baffled.

“I’ll keep trying,” Nicholas scratched his head, saying, “I’ll definitely succeed.”

“Where do you get such confidence?” Chen Sheng was going crazy.

“Because everyone says I’m a cunning bastard,” Nicholas replied calmly.

“…I’m totally done with this jerk,” Chen Sheng concluded.

There was no reasoning with a lunatic. Thankfully, they would soon be parting ways. For the sake of his cardiovascular health, Chen Sheng decided not to delve deeper into the “dating” issue and pretended he hadn’t heard anything.

A week later, they arrived at the headquarters of the “Quadrants,” a massive space fortress. The starship landed in the military port, and Nicholas personally escorted Chen Sheng to report to the “Guide Committee” (an institution similar to a guide school).

“By the way, I still don’t know the name of this ship,” Chen Sheng asked as he left the port in a maglev car, watching the starship gradually shrink in the distance.

“It’s called the ‘Burning Fat Panda,'” Nicholas said. “My great-grandfather personally named it. It was the first batch of universe-class starships independently produced by the ‘Quadrants.'”

“It’s such a familiar name, I feel like I’ve heard it somewhere…” Chen Sheng hesitated for a moment before suddenly realizing, “I remember now, it’s my grandfather’s online alias! He used this name when he was a moderator on the school campus network!”

“Your grandfather?” Nicholas asked curiously. “Who’s that?”

“His name was Chen Miaomiao, and he was a good friend of your great-grandfather!” Chen Sheng felt like he had discovered some incredible secret and forgot all about the blood feud between him and Nicholas. “When he was in school, he managed a forum against your great-grandfather, called ‘Marlow Fans, Get Out of the School Network!'”

“I knew it!” Nicholas slapped his thigh. “I knew my great-grandfather was a sadist. Why else would he name my ship after your grandfather’s online alias—Burning Fat Panda! Burn your sister, even pandas! This is absurd!”

It was rare for him to still have deep affection for pandas. Chen Sheng twitched his mouth.

Nicholas sighed, “But your grandfather is also quite twisted. You said he came up with the name for the Permian Fleet? That’s the name of my great-grandfather’s youth baseball team.”

At this moment, the two of them shared a knowing look, and three words floated up in their minds simultaneously: Love and Hate.

“Too tragic and beautiful!” Nicholas murmured, lost in thought. “Mutual unrequited love, brotherly affection, the mole on the heart, unforgettable moonlight…” Clearly, he had already imagined a heart-wrenching romantic drama.

Meanwhile, Chen Sheng was utterly devoid of energy to retort.

Finally, they reached the Guide Committee, and Nicholas escorted Chen Sheng to the entrance, bidding farewell reluctantly. “Take care of yourself. If you feel bored, give me a call, and I’ll tell you some embarrassing stories about them. And after I’m done, I’ll make sure they create even more embarrassing stories for your entertainment…”

“You should accumulate some virtue,” Chen Sheng earnestly advised. “It’s not easy for them to follow you.”

Nicholas burst into laughter and playfully waved two fingers at his forehead. “Goodbye! I’ll wait for you to grow up. Remember our agreement—I’ll love you forever!”

What kind of agreement do we have? Chen Sheng wanted to hit him again.

Ignoring his outburst, Nicholas continued his heartfelt confession. “Don’t worry, I won’t let the tragedy that happened to your grandfather and my great-grandfather happen again!”

My grandfather and your great-grandfather were just good buddies; it’s not some tragic tale of star-crossed lovers! Chen Sheng waved his hand in frustration. “You can leave now!”

“Remember to think of me!” Nicholas blew him an affectionate kiss and walked backward, retreating. “Eat more and grow fat. Love you!”

Chen Sheng silently swallowed a mouthful of blood and turned to walk towards the committee.

[Actually, he’s not that bad, you know?] As he reached the elevator door, his hummingbird suddenly spoke. [You might consider him. He’s incredibly handsome and quite humorous.]

[Him, humorous? That’s just madness, not humor!] Chen Sheng couldn’t believe it.

[Tch!] The hummingbird scoffed. [Self-deception. One day, you’ll understand your true feelings for him.]

[Haha!] 

The elevator swiftly ascended, and Chen Sheng looked through the transparent walls at the plaza outside the committee. A familiar figure was striding confidently towards the parking lot—Nicholas’s tall and majestic silhouette exuded enviable strength.

Chen Sheng couldn’t help but recall the days he spent isolated with him—how he would carry him on his thigh, how he would hold him close and rub his belly, the way he would smirk at him… Each one was annoying yet strangely reassuring, making him feel safe.

He really… was strong and handsome… Chen Sheng’s face gradually flushed.

As if sensing his gaze, Nicholas suddenly turned back, flashing a sincere and unreserved smile in his direction. The regrets of their ancestors, perhaps… could find fulfillment in us… Chen Sheng’s mind was suddenly filled with this absurd thought. And then his face grew even redder.

The pale yellow hummingbird on his shoulder sighed wistfully. [Which teenage boy isn’t lovesick, huh?]

Author’s Note:

This is an independent story, written with great enthusiasm.

The setup of Chen Miaomiao vs. Marlow is inherently about “letting go.” Their relationship can be summarized in six words: “More than friends, less than lovers.” So there’s no need to feel sorry for them; they have their own lives.

This extra chapter is a small attempt at redemption.

“Full-time Doctor” has come to an end today, and I consider it completely finished. Thank you all for accompanying me through this serialization, for your subscriptions, tips, and comments. Without you, there would be no story. It’s impossible for me to sustain and write such a complete and exciting story alone (smug).

 

 

 

 

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