Mecha Chapter 42: Raised Hackles

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Sulo can’t — ┬─┬ノ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°ノ)

 

Yuan Xi was completely petrified. He stared at Luo XiaoLou until Luo XiaoLou realized something was wrong and started to back away. Then he grabbed Luo XiaoLou by the collar and growled, “What the hell did you just say?!”

Luo XiaoLou was choking on his collar. He had planned a circuitous and emotionally moving route! But he was also telling the truth! He couldn’t be blamed for that. It’s just that Yuan Xi gave him too much stimulation!

“You’re actually trying to undo the contract?!” Yuan Xi said gloomily. The anger in his eyes was mind-blowing. “You — you went to all this trouble to seduce me just to break the contract?”

Luo XiaoLou tried to shake his head. Stammering, he said, “No, no. I’m doing all this with all my heart. It’s your birthday. I also got you a present. I didn’t mean to confess. It was just a misunderstanding. I mean it. I mean, you see how close we’ve become. Why can’t you just be accommodating? After all, everyone loves freedom — Hey. Hey! If you don’t agree, forget it. Let’s talk about it…”

Jesus. Yuan Xi’s gonna kill him!

Yuan Xi pushed Luo XiaoLou against the wall with all his might. The expression on his face was so horrible that it made one’s soul tremble. He bellowed fiercely. “You’re delusional! I won’t allow it! No matter what you do, I won’t break the contract. And there’s no way to break it! If you really want to be free —”

Yuan Xi’s hand cupping Luo XiaoLou’s collar moved to his throat, the most vulnerable part of the human being. With just a little pressure, the man beneath his hands, who had made him so angry, would disappear.

Yuan Xi slowly started to apply pressure, and Luo XiaoLou’s face turned red. His eyes gradually started to roll back. It’s almost over! Yuan Xi’s mind flashed back to Luo XiaoLou’s busy body in the kitchen. The way he cowered in his arms on the bed. The way his face was red but still helping him… Yuan Xi’s movements suddenly stopped. The angry red that surged in his eyes also faded. There was more than a hint of confusion and bewilderment. 

Was I going to kill him?

This stupid, weak man. It wasn’t even worth being angry at him. Even spending a little bit of emotion — his family would have laughed him to death if they knew he owned such a disobedient and delusional slave who was determined to leave.

Rightfully so. And he didn’t deserve to get his hands dirty. Even if he lived, it wouldn’t affect him at all! He could only cook, do laundry, take care of the apartment, talk to him and sleep with him, care for him occasionally, buy him a cake for his birthday and so on. Nothing commendable at all…

But… he just damn well cared!! So much so that at one point, he was so hot-headed that he wanted to take this vile, filthy little man home and show him off!!

Yuan Xi found his rage unquenchable at the thought that Luo XiaoLou had only seduced him purposefully. He couldn’t control it himself. He gritted his teeth, clenched his fist that was still shaking then swung it out hard.

Luo XiaoLou, who had to face his anger head on, went blank for a moment. Then he heard a loud noise in his ears.

Luo XiaoLou trembled uncontrollably. At the same time, he was glad that he was still alive. For a moment, he knew that Yuan Xi was really planning to kill him.

Then Yuan Xi stared blankly at Luo XiaoLou. When Luo XiaoLou felt like it was almost a century, Yuan Xi icily said, “If there’s a next time, I’ll break the contract for you with my own hands. You’ll find your freedom in hell.” Then Yuan Xi slammed Luo XiaoLou away, turned his head and walked out the front door without looking back.

The door was slammed shut with great force. The living room that had just been so cozy was now a mess.

The angry Yuan Xi was terrifying, but the way he left made Luo XiaoLou feel like the proud and irritable man was hurt.

Why was that?

He was obviously trying to help Yuan Xi for his birthday. Even if it was a friend, he’d do his best. Not to mention that Yuan Xi was practically the first person he’d come to have a relationship with in the future world — someone who was like both a friend and a family member. Though with a forced nature, Yuan Xi wasn’t a bad person at heart, he could tell.

But now it was messed up. It was more than wrong for him to want to break the contract and be free. Maybe it was just his way of expressing himself and Yuan Xi’s inexplicable awkwardness.

Luo XiaoLou stood up slowly, ready to clean up the room. A shiver ran down his spine as he turned back. His fragile nerves were once again stimulated.

The wall of high-strength alloy was covered in dense cracks. If that punch hit him on the body, he really would have gone to hell for tea. Looked like he needed to get in touch with the renovation company again tomorrow.

Luo XiaoLou looked at the table full of food and that huge cake. Dejectedly, he started to clean up, not in the mood to eat.

“Is this domestic violence?” 125 asked in a trembling voice that came out of his pocket. It probably scanned the wall’s misery. It was silent for two seconds before sympathetically reassuring, “Don’t feel too bad about it. I’ve seen documentaries or movies or whatever on the internet that are much more miserable people than this. Usually the man is violent, and destroys things after beating his wife. Then he’ll carry his wife to bed — you know the drill.”

Domestic violence, my ass! Take him to bed with you!

Luo XiaoLou had the urge to turn his back on the sky. In fact, sometimes he thought that the life he was living now was quite cheerful or something like an illusion! 

Luo XiaoLou had thought that Yuan Xi would not come back. But Yuan Xi came back in the middle of the night, because the next morning, Luo XiaoLou saw that familiar face in his bed again. He was frowning slightly in his sleep and seemed to be expressing his dissatisfaction.

Luo XiaoLou felt inexplicably relieved. You can’t break the contract anyway. This life would be more acceptable than going back to the past.

While Luo XiaoLou was getting breakfast ready, Yuan Xi walked out of the bedroom with a cold face. He didn’t even look at Luo XiaoLou before sitting down at the table to eat his share of breakfast.

Luo XiaoLou thought about box number ten that he hadn’t had the chance to give since last night. He took it out and set it next to the cake before he spoke to Yuan Xi. Hesitantly, Luo XiaoLou asked, “Did you see that box yesterday — I, the one I gave you for your birthday?”

Yuan Xi immediately blew up. He raised his eyes coldly as he sarcastically asked, “What? Are you going to want it back again?”

Luo XiaoLou cried out, “Of course not. It is meant for you.” But at least give me a gesture! Wouldn’t the giver of the gift expect the recipient of the gift to feel the same way?!

But with Yuan Xi making it clear that he was not cooperating, there was no way to continue the conversation.

Since that day, Yuan Xi hadn’t spoken to him for three days. The Saturday that he was supposed to take off, the two of them just rested at home for the day. Even when Luo XiaoLou spoke, Yuan Xi would only make sarcastic remarks. Or just throw a tantrum.

Cats are cute. But they hold a grudge. This raised hackles and showing teeth when he got close was so disturbing!

Luo XiaoLou was drawing on his tablet while wondering about the latest trouble.

Although Yuan Xi was angry, they still ate together, went to school together, still shared the same bed, too. Even when he went to the bathroom in the middle of the night, Yuan Xi would stare at him with a cold face. Luo XiaoLou wouldn’t dare to suggest sleeping in a separate bed.

But… Thinking back to that day, Yuan Xi said he accepted his feelings. What did he mean by taking him home? And he’d even kissed him. Forgive him for ignoring the kiss that felt good because of the danger of life and death — God. What was he thinking?

Luo XiaoLou’s face turned green. It’d only been six months. Had he already changed his sexual orientation? But… Even if he had, what did Yuan Xi mean? He… he actually accepted it?

Luo XiaoLou suddenly felt that the arrogant cohabitant was a million times more innocent. Even if he gave a precious birthday gift, it was not a token of love! One thought of that twenty-two times energy circulation and Luo XiaoLou’s heart became even more torn.

“Hey! Why are you so glum? Did you hear? Our department will start training with the Mecha Department. In a month, we’re going to form a team. Damn it. If our class is left behind, then we’ll be assigned partners by the school. That would be too humiliating.” Tian Le said angrily beside him. As he spoke, he took out Luo XiaoLou’s tablet and started copying the classroom notes.

When Luo XiaoLou came in, he had a poor foundation like most people. However, over the past few months, he had clearly grown. Eventually, Tian Le had also improved a little. His father, who was busy with business, was very happy. Luo XiaoLou had even more room for all that ‘junk’ last time when he expanded his lab again.

“What training?” Luo XiaoLou frowned. The departments had already been training for the field assembly. It just didn’t occur to him that there would be coordination training as well.

“Hmm. I don’t know if we’ll be able to find anyone during the training.” Tian Le said again. Then he said, “Ah. Get that Yates kid to train with us.”

Speaking of Yates, Luo XiaoLou remembered another plan he had besides the energy box. He also wanted to help Yates build a mecha. But he should start preparing it first. If he couldn’t… If he couldn’t, he could think of something else.

It wasn’t that Luo XiaoLou hadn’t thought about the broken engine and the Grade 1 engine he’d bought himself. But one, making an engine was more complicated than the energy box. It might be better for Yates to apply for the school’s mecha.

The next day, the Mecha Manufacturing Department really started training with the Mecha Department.

Luo XiaoLou thought of the group of people who had sent Yuan Xi back last time.

That afternoon, after classes, a group of Mecha Manufacturing Department students entered the Mecha Department Training Center. Many of them were here for the first time and were curiously looking around.

Luo XiaoLou touched Yuan Xi’s card in his pocket. Despite the fight, Yuan Xi didn’t say anything about it either.

At that moment, the top ten of the Mecha Manufacturing Department separated from them and walked into the door on the inside. Many students watched with envious eyes. Even though many of them didn’t care about those proud and outstanding students, to be able to train with those excellent mecha warriors was still very desirable.

Luo XiaoLou looked at the girl, who had helped Yuan Xi several nights ago, who was second in line. 

There was a sudden discomfort in his heart.

 

The author has something to say:

 

Yuan Xi is an angry cat. But can’t help but be tempted by the food.