Chapter 46: The young lover’s quarrel

Translator: Abo Dammen

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Case Three: Nucheng’s Past Events

The fire hadn’t just destroyed all the experimental subjects; it had also devoured the wallet Xu Pei kept in his office drawer. His citizen ID card and bank cards urgently needed reporting lost, his phone had to be repurchased, and He Yixun’s personal items also needed buying. The to-do list was piling up like a mountain.

Prioritizing by distance and urgency, Xu Pei first went to report the loss of his citizen ID card, bought two new phones both linked to his own spending account, and then took He Yixun to the most prosperous shopping mall in Nucheng.

When a “guest” comes to one’s turf, anyone would want to show off a bit. 

Nucheng’s development was no worse than Binshi. In comparison, Nucheng had more stable public security. One didn’t need to worry about sudden incidents in public places. It had more beautiful greenery, with garden walkways and waterfall features even inside the mall.

Even on a weekday, the mall was still bustling with people, the marble floors perpetually clean and mirror-like. From luxury brands down to affordable small shops, everyone could find their target market here.

Xu Pei liked buying clothes at a certain fast-fashion store. Not only were the designs nice and the prices moderate, but the range was also complete, offering everything from underwear to formal wear. He had He Yixun hold the shopping basket while he, acting like a big spender, tossed underwear and socks into the basket without even looking at the prices.

After selecting undergarments, and thinking about how He Yixun preferred wearing suits, Xu Pei picked out several shirts as well. The shopping basket was soon piled up like a small hill. Just as Xu Pei spotted a retro jacket and reached to take it down for He Yixun to try on, He Yixun stopped him. “Xu Pei.” 

Xu Pei’s gaze lingered on the sample, his hand still outstretched. “Hmm?”

“Have you forgotten that I’ll leave when the next thunderstorm comes?”

The shopping enthusiasm was doused with a bucket of cold water. Nothing could be more of a mood-killer.

Xu Pei withdrew his hand and started going through the clothes in the basket one by one, muttering, “It doesn’t seem like that much, really.” 

Actually, it was quite a lot. Hung up, they could occupy a quarter of Xu Pei’s wardrobe.

“It’s enough to wear,” He Yixun responded.

The weather forecast showed clear skies for the next two weeks, but extending the time range, thunderstorms were expected after the second weekend.

In other words, He Yixun would only be here for two weeks. The clothes in the shopping basket were more than sufficient. 

The retro jacket hanging on the rack was a deep brown color. Xu Pei hadn’t seen He Yixun wear this color before, but he had a feeling He Yixun would look really good in it.

He couldn’t resist asking, “Have you thought about staying here a bit longer? Since time doesn’t pass over there for you, any extra day you stay here is a gain.”

“Why?” He Yixun asked.

“What do you mean why?” 

“I mean, what’s the point?”

“The point is…” Xu Pei moved his lips, suddenly realizing that from their morning outings until now, he had been constantly feeding He Yixun the concepts that Nucheng had great food, pleasant weather, and convenient living—all in the unrealistic hope that after comparing, He Yixun would find Nucheng more livable than Binshi.

And then develop the idea of staying in Nucheng.

Thinking about it now, this approach was actually quite laughable. Who would abandon their existing life circle just because they found another city more livable during a trip? 

Someone nearing retirement might, but the highly successful Officer He definitely would not.

“It really doesn’t have much point, huh,” Xu Pei forced a dry laugh. “You, the workaholic, must be eager to get back to work as soon as possible.”

“Mm. The perpetrator in the Zhen Li case hasn’t been found yet, and all sorts of matters at the police station are waiting for me to handle.” He Yixun paused here, then said, “But you can come back with me.”

Xu Pei’s heart skipped a beat, only to hear He Yixun add, “I wouldn’t mind providing for you for a lifetime.” 

“I’m not going.” Xu Pei hated this kind of chauvinistic remark. He faced the shelves, acting like he didn’t want to pay He Yixun any attention. “What’s so good about your side? People die left and right, even guns and drugs are easy to get. I’ve never seen a place with worse public security, and you even got promoted to Superintendent? Even a blind man could see my side is better.”

This round of disparagement was somewhat emotional. Xu Pei specifically targeted the most severe public security issues in Binshi, but actually, from other perspectives, Binshi wasn’t as bad as he made it out to be.

For one thing, they had cucumber-flavored chips and tofu milk tea; the variety of delicious food was much greater than in Nucheng.

Also, unlike the severe discrimination in ABO society, although gender inequality existed there too, looking at the professions women could engage in, they at least had much broader options than omegas and betas. 

Relatively laxer laws also brought a higher degree of freedom; one didn’t have to worry about accidentally dropping litter on the street and incurring a huge fine.

So, to be fair, Xu Pei’s view was biased. Both worlds had their pros and cons, it just depended on personal opinions.

He Yixun listened quietly as Xu Pei disparaged his city, then spoke in an even tone, “I don’t like it here.”

Xu Pei instantly went into combat mode. What, are we starting to diss each other now? 

Fine, bring it on.

The little figure in Xu Pei’s mind put on boxing gloves and threw a couple of practice punches, sou sou.

“I’m always very irritable here. I don’t like this state,” said He Yixun.

“Have you ever considered the possibility that your irritability isn’t due to the magnetic field change, but purely because you’re jealous?” Xu Pei threw a powerful straight punch. “You don’t like that I have a fiance, you don’t like me being close to other Alphas, so that’s why you feel irritable.” 

Xu Pei had always avoided thinking in this direction because it risked seeming presumptuous. But setting aside subjective feelings, objectively speaking, this possibility existed, right?

If this weren’t happening to him, and he were participating in a reality observation show, he would also objectively analyze that Male Guest A might just be in a bad mood, finding fault with everyone, or perhaps, he had developed feelings for Male Guest B without realizing it.

Unusually, He Yixun was stumped by Xu Pei’s question.

He lowered his head slightly, thought for a moment, and finally looked at Xu Pei and said, “Impossible.” 

Fine, make your move.

The little figure raised its elbows in front of its face, adopting a defensive posture, waiting intently for He Yixun’s next words.

“You said the marking doesn’t exist. This means there’s no connection between us. You are not special to me. Why would I care about you? As for last night, you were the one who wanted my semen for research. I happened to need to vent. It doesn’t mean anything either.”

Damn, what a brutal hit. Feels like a heavy punch straight to the heart. 

Xu Pei wiped away non-existent blood from the corner of his mouth and launched a strong counterattack, “But this still doesn’t negate the possibility I mentioned. You’re just interpreting it from a different angle.”

“Then let’s use an analogy,” He Yixun started. “When you first crossed over to my side, you were very dependent on my scent. If it weren’t for the environmental influence, could it be that you fell in love with me at first sight?”

Xu Pei: “………………”

His full fighting spirit deflated like a leaky balloon, all gone. 

Alright, fine. The robot wins big time.

If Xu Pei’s behavior on the other side was attributed to pheromonal imbalance, then attributing He Yixun’s actions here to ‘uncontrollable feelings’ would be blatant double standards.

The tottering Fighter Xu swallowed the blood in his mouth, making a last-ditch effort, “You just said you’d provide for me for a lifetime.”

“I have the financial means, and past experience shows I can provide for you very well. What’s the problem?” 

Wait, is that the point?

Before Xu Pei could untangle this, He Yixun delivered the final blow directly. “You’re so eager to prove I have special feelings for you. Does that mean you care a lot about my opinion of you?

“Are you in love with me, Xu Pei?”

The little figure surnamed Xu spat out a mouthful of blood and collapsed heavily. 

Damn robot, just rely on that broken programming for the rest of your life!

“You win, alright? Your irritability is all because of the magnetic field. You pull a long face even when no one provokes you.” Xu Pei rolled his eyes in exasperation and walked towards the checkout. “When it thunders, you can disappear right away.”

After a few steps, still feeling unsatisfied, Xu Pei went back to the rack, took down that retro jacket, and threw it into the shopping basket He Yixun was holding. “Since I’m providing your food and shelter, I’m the boss! You wear whatever I tell you to wear!”

He Yixun: “……” 

Xu Pei stomped off, fuming. He Yixun stood still, looking down at the clothes Xu Pei had picked for him, lost in thought.

He seemed to be getting stranger and stranger.

Why did he argue so seriously with Xu Pei about something like this?

It was almost as if he was afraid Xu Pei might be right. 

It was already late afternoon by the time they finished buying clothes. Only one item remained on the to-do list: the Central Bank.

In this cashless era, getting a replacement bank card would only mean letting it gather dust in a wallet. But not having the physical card in hand felt somewhat unsettling.

Along the way, Xu Pei focused on driving, treating He Yixun as if he were air. Initially, He Yixun asked what time the bank closed, but seeing Xu Pei ignoring him, he didn’t ask further. Thus, the two arrived at their destination in a cold war—a one-sided one from Xu Pei.

The grand and imposing building stood at the prime location on Finance Street. The granite exterior wall was split into light and dark halves by the setting sun. Two Roman pillars supported the majestic portico, with exquisite reliefs seemingly narrating the history of wealth. 

Entering the lobby through the quiet revolving door, despite being near closing time, this wealth center of Nucheng was still busy. Managers were surrounded by consulting customers and behind the bulletproof glass, tellers efficiently counted banknotes.

Xu Pei took a number from the machine. He Yixun glanced around casually and asked, “Don’t the security guards in your banks carry guns?”

Unlike questions about closing times, whether guards carry guns relates to the city’s context. Throughout the day, as the “host,” Xu Pei had consistently carried a sense of pride in his city and naturally wouldn’t ignore this question. “It’s very safe here. They don’t need to carry guns.”

“But the security guards don’t look trained,” said He Yixun. 

They were more than just untrained. Each one was thin and gaunt, clearly refined people who wouldn’t even know how to fight. They resembled high-end hotel greeters more than security guards.

“I told you, Nucheng is very safe,” Xu Pei stated. “Security tends to be service-oriented, usually done by betas—just directing customers and maintaining order. In some older residential complexes, the security guards are even 60-year-old uncles.”

“This is all thanks to Nucheng’s excellent public security environment.”

No sooner had Xu Pei finished speaking than a male alpha wearing black tactical gear and a rooster mask suddenly entered through the revolving door. 

The cosplay-like attire immediately attracted everyone’s attention. Although the alpha held an assault rifle, people who had rarely seen such things thought it was just a prop.

But Nucheng has strict controls on toy guns too? The thought flashed through Xu Pei’s mind.

You could easily get charged for a replica firearm, starting with five years in prison. Is it really okay to swagger down the street with something like that?

And coming to a bank dressed like that… 

Before Xu Pei could process it, under the gaze of everyone, some confused, some indifferent, the alpha suddenly raised the muzzle and fired several shots consecutively at the ceiling. The terrifying gunshots instantly reverberated throughout the lobby.

“Everyone, put your hands up!”

A bank robbery?

People accustomed to a peaceful environment had no concept of this. Stunned disbelief overshadowed panic. The employees behind the counter’s first reaction was curiously craning their necks to see what was happening outside. 

“I said put your hands up!!”

Another burst of gunfire. This time, the robber lowered the muzzle. Bullets whizzed over people’s heads, shattered the suggestion box on the wall, and smashed the potted plant on the service counter, creating a cacophony of noise.

This sound seemed more effective at eliciting a reaction.

Terrified screams rang out one after another. Some people crouched down covering their heads, others fled in all directions. The chaotic scene made Xu Pei hallucinate the central square where Lin Mei was shot when he first dimension-traveled. 

As early as when the robber first raised his muzzle, He Yixun had reacted swiftly, pressing Xu Pei’s back and pulling him behind a massive cylindrical pillar.

When the second round of gunfire sounded, bullets hit the pillar. Splintered stone fragments flew in all directions, scaring Xu Pei into curling up his legs and covering his ears.

He Yixun half-kneeled beside Xu Pei, pressing his head into his own shoulder. “Don’t be afraid.”

The juniper scent flooding his nostrils brought an immense sense of security. Xu Pei, who had been shaking like a sieve, immediately calmed down. 

Wait, I just finished emphasizing to He Yixun that Nucheng is a very safe place. Did I have to be proven wrong this quickly?

After the gunfire stopped, the robber again told everyone to raise their hands. However, the lobby manager not far away seemed to lack judgment of the danger—Xu Pei believed everyone here except He Yixun did—and blatantly lowered one hand to reach for the red alarm button under the service counter.

From Xu Pei and He Yixun’s perspective, they could clearly see the button being pressed. But the next moment, accompanied by gunshots, Xu Pei watched as this lobby manager was riddled with bullets.

Blood seeped from beneath the corpse, forming a pool that spread outwards along the beautiful marble veins.

The excessively gruesome scene stunned Xu Pei into a daze. Others in the lobby let out even more wretched screams.

“Trying to sound the alarm?” The robber let out a low, hoarse, strange laugh. “My companions have already cut the lines.”

Hearing the word “companions,” people’s hearts sank, and despair showed on their faces. 

The revolving door turned silently, as if the warm-up was over and the main show was just beginning. Four or five fully armed robbers walked in, wearing masks of pigs, cows, sheep, and the like. The docile domestic animals looked ferocious and hideous; the extreme contrast deepened the fear.

A horrifying sense of oppression appeared out of thin air, enveloping Xu Pei. He instantly found it hard to breathe, his whole body trembling. Looking around, everyone was like him, subjected to the top-tier alpha’s pheromonal suppression.

After these robbers entered, they consciously stood on both sides, as if welcoming the final Alpha to make his entrance.

It was an Alpha wearing a jester mask, with a prominent leader’s aura. The intense pressure originated from him. 

This level of pheromonal suppression…

Xu Pei was certain it was undoubtedly Zhan Yuan.

Author’s Feed:

The joker mask pays tribute to Batman 2.