Chapter 84: That Sound… Ah~
Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations
Editor: Karai
The Absolute Sea Exploration Corps, Command Room
“Mecha data collection? Does he really have to come himself?”
“Technically, no. He rarely comes to the frontline.”
“Then why did he suddenly show up…”
During a lull in the strategic briefing, the intelligence officer reported that an unexpected figure had appeared in the opposing fleet’s logistics corridor. The generals exchanged glances, murmuring among themselves. A major general couldn’t resist joining in. “Do you guys remember the snow leopard in Steel Titans?”
“Of course, he loved him—brought him to work all the time.”
“I heard that was brought back by General Zhou,” another general said, his tone full of implication.
“And?”
“So Zhou Yao’s child is benefiting from his father’s position… and now he’s about to be welcomed back into Lu’s palace!”
The room filled with groans and sighs. Another general shook his head, tears of frustration in his eyes. “Silver Halberd Fleet just deployed three thousand new mecha. With Lu making such a flashy show of force, wouldn’t he have to come see for himself if he’s won a smile from the beauty?!”
Lu Yao couldn’t tell if the “beauty” had smiled or not; in this pitch-black environment, it was impossible. But he knew he couldn’t smile at all. The faint release of omega pheromones landed like sparks, igniting the mountain of explosives stacked around the space. Zhou Yunchen’s self-control collapsed like a breached dam.
The soothing omega pheromones were thick and sweet, like honey swaying in a wooden spoon, trickling endlessly downward, while the catnip-like scent added a sharp, winey note deep in his nose.
Strong alpha hands clamped onto Lu Yao’s core, pinning him to the control panel. He had lost count of how many buttons and sliders he had been forced to press along the way; his skin stung painfully. “Zhou Yunchen, stop…”
Zhou Yunchen ignored him. The unusual stimuli during the rut shattered his reason. His arms trembled with the tangled desire, possession, and longing for the omega. Fortunately, Distant Star hadn’t been activated. No irreversible incidents—like the photon cannon firing—had occurred.
The struggle was entirely between Lu Yao and Zhou Yunchen. Darkness and silence made the space feel more enclosed, time seemed to stop. Lu Yao couldn’t escape, nor could he call for help.
Hot lips pressed against him. Zhou Yunchen couldn’t see anything, approaching Lu Yao like a wild animal, blind and frantic. He didn’t know whether his kisses landed on the smooth jawline, the rising throat, the collar, or the arms. It was pure ignition.
In the cramped space, the dense alpha pheromones left Lu Yao’s limbs weak. Zhou Yunchen’s sudden, aggressive movements caused his muscles to tense and twitch repeatedly. Blood rushed downward. Lu Yao thought he could hear the vessels expanding, the flow accelerating. Oxygen and blood drained from his brain, nearly whitening his thoughts.
He had assumed some embarrassment belonged only to alphas, but the overwhelming heat and urgency proved that humans in general harbored these impulses. Zhou Yunchen’s hand pinned him to the control panel. He could barely move, his knees the only functioning part. An instinctive, urgent motion triggered Zhou Yunchen’s nerves further.
Kisses grew wilder. Lu Yao couldn’t tell if the contact through his uniform was a kiss or a touch from Zhou Yunchen’s brow, nose, or shoulder.
Stop… you’re going to…!!! His mind buzzed, even the sound of tearing chains became distant. He had to verify over and over in his memory if it was real. The cold air and scorching contact left him trembling.
“Zhou Yunchen, you can’t do this…” His voice cracked with panic. He didn’t understand how it had come to this.
Zhou Yunchen didn’t answer; he had no time for words. Lu Yao gripped Zhou Yunchen’s hair, but it did nothing. The General didn’t budge, and Lu Yao only ended up hurting himself. General Zhou had never done this before. Sober, he would never have dared. But in this chaotic state, his instincts took over.
Lu Yao felt like he was trapped under a predator’s claws, about to be shredded, swallowed, and digested. He had never felt so ashamed, angry, and helpless—kicking, struggling against absolute force. Blood threatened to burst from his veins into Zhou Yunchen’s throat. Fingernails scraped the control panel, leaving sharp, metallic scratches that made his spine chill. His dulled awareness could barely react.
He didn’t know when he had passed out, or when he began to awaken. Dopamine and endorphin cycles no longer mattered—wild beasts didn’t care if blood returned to Lu Yao’s brain or pooled elsewhere. Muscle soreness made itself known when he tried to move his limbs. He could barely make any significant motions; Zhou Yunchen still held his arms tightly, pressing him against his chest.
Zhou Yunchen hadn’t fully woken, lying on his side with Lu Yao cradled in his arms. In the dark silence, Lu Yao’s head throbbed. Time passed—or hadn’t—but it couldn’t have been long; otherwise, Zhou Yunchen would have burned out from the prolonged heat.
The tall alpha, curled up and pressed against the control panel, still pressed his body against Lu Yao’s spine.
“Zhou Yunchen…” His dry voice startled even himself. Zhou Yunchen didn’t stir. When Lu Yao tried to get up, Zhou Yunchen yanked him back into his arms. “Let me get some water,” Lu Yao said. Zhou Yunchen ignored him, mumbling hoarsely into Lu Yao’s back, tightening his grip, curling his knees to make himself smaller.
“You…” Somehow, Lu Yao sensed Zhou Yunchen’s meaning from his ragged breathing. “Fine, I won’t leave. Just let me sit up—I don’t want to lie on the floor.”
Zhou Yunchen’s biceps and back relaxed slightly. Lu Yao slipped free and sat on the icy metal floor, still holding Zhou Yunchen’s hands in his own. His calloused palms scraped against Zhou Yunchen’s skin, burning from friction.
He lifted Zhou Yunchen’s head onto his lap. In the pitch-dark, he combed through his hair with unpracticed, gentle fingers. Zhou Yunchen’s usually immaculate black hair became a tangled mess, but the softness was soothing, like a calm, dark sea.
Zhou Yunchen’s body still radiated heat; sweat dampened the hair near the nape. In the cabin’s stable temperature, it wouldn’t make him sick, but the rut could raise body temperature due to hormonal shifts.
Lu Yao worried about him catching a chill, so he didn’t remove his jacket. He needed to calm Zhou Yunchen’s emotions first. So now… Lu Yao wasn’t sure what to do. Without natural dissipation, it could become tricky—but he had a solution.
Though he couldn’t see, he focused on the angle, imagining himself beneath a pine tree. Zhou Yunchen’s breathing was like mountain wind, brushing pine needles into Lu Yao’s collar, pricking his neck and making him restless.
It wasn’t inherently shameful, but even Lu Yao felt the subtle weight of social norms in this first cautious exploration. Now the subject wasn’t metal machinery, but a living, responsive person. A subtle shiver ran through him, heating his cheeks. He counted steps for this experiment but stalled at step three.
Zhou Yunchen’s head rested on Lu Yao’s shin. His muscles tensed briefly, his throat uttering garbled words, seemingly startled awake by Lu Yao’s bold action. Lu Yao’s own shoulder and back were nearly cramped from exertion.
“Lu Yao, you…” Zhou Yunchen moaned.
“Don’t move, don’t move,” Lu Yao interrupted, steadying him. “Stay still—I’m right here.”
“Lu Yao…” He tried to remove Lu Yao’s hand, but Lu Yao recalled the earlier forceful acts and slapped his hand away. The sound cracked sharply in the silent space, followed by a muffled pained cry from Zhou Yunchen. Lu Yao’s other hand had accidentally tensed.
“Zhou Yunchen, don’t move, understand?” His hoarse voice felt like a winter scarf brushing the face, carrying warmth and the cold wind of a winter night. Zhou Yunchen stayed still, his consciousness drifting in the fog of the sensitive period, unable to anticipate Lu Yao’s next move or emotion.
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