After Rebirth, Married to a Deadly Enemy - Chapter 23

When Shi Zhen woke up, it was already 2 AM. His head felt slightly throbbing, but aside from that, he had no other discomfort.

 

His psychic energy had already calmed down?

 

Shi Zhen was somewhat surprised. This time, when they went to find energy essences, he took three squad members with him. They spent three days on the desolate planet searching for the essences, and luckily, they found three. However, their search also attracted the attention of three ferocious native creatures. These creatures were exceptionally aggressive, and with their not-so-advanced armor, they struggled to fend off the creatures. Shi Zhen had no choice but to use his psychic energy to temporarily subdue the creatures, allowing them a chance to escape onto their spaceship and leave the desolate planet.

 

As they boarded the spaceship, he sensed that something was amiss with his own condition. If it were only his psychic energy being unstable, it wouldn’t be too concerning, given the exertion he had gone through. It would mostly affect himself without causing major harm to others. Yet, Shi Zhen had another issue to consider. He had used his psychic energy to control the creatures and had also released his pheromones to maintain control.

 

His pheromones had a burning attribute, and the hierarchy of Alphas in play, which meant that if they went out of control while aboard the spaceship, it would be catastrophic. As soon as they boarded, he had to administer three consecutive doses of pheromone suppressants to prevent this. The use of these suppressants, particularly in excessive amounts, had side effects. He had expected to be unconscious for at least a week, and he was prepared for that.

 

Now, Shi Zhen was startled to wake up and feel quite fine. Could he have been unconscious for several days?

 

Wait, several days?

 

That’s a problem. He had promised Bai Xiangxing to pay the money within ten days. Anxious, he attempted to get up, but when he made a move, he suddenly felt pressure as if something was weighing down on him.

 

Was there someone in the room?

 

Shi Zhen turned his head to look, and he was left stunned.

 

Bai Xiangxing?

 

It was only at this moment that Shi Zhen belatedly noticed a faint hint of a sea breeze in the air. This fragrance was one he had only smelled on one person, Bai Xiangxing’s pheromones.

 

Strangely, when he used to be an Alpha, the same scent would irritate him for no apparent reason. It would make the molten energy within him rage like a volcano about to erupt. But now, when he smelled it, he felt it was familiar and comforting.

 

Wait, comforting?

 

Shi Zhen’s eyes subtly changed. To confirm his suspicions, he carefully lifted the corner of the blanket and got out of bed. The hospital had prepared slippers for him on the other side of the bed, but Shi Zhen had to walk barefoot. He carefully walked around half of the bed and approached Bai Xiangxing’s side. His movements were light, and the whole time, Bai Xiangxing remained deep in slumber.

 

Bai Xiangxing had buried his head in his arms, and his soft hair half-covered his gland. Shi Zhen couldn’t see clearly but gently used a finger to move the hair, revealing a pale blue pain relief patch underneath.

 

There was a complex emotion in Shi Zhen’s eyes. He had suspected the situation, but if it turned out to be true, he didn’t know how to handle it.

 

Taking a sample from his gland was excruciating, and on top of that, it was for his own medication.

 

Shi Zhen stood there, lost in thought, not sure what he was thinking. When Bai Xiangxing mumbled and stirred in discomfort, he made a restless arm movement.

 

Was he having an uncomfortable sleep?

 

Shi Zhen came to his senses and almost instinctively bent down to lift Bai Xiangxing from the bed. At the moment Bai Xiangxing was being carried, he stirred again but remained asleep, exhausted from the late hour.

 

Shi Zhen breathed a sigh of relief. After gently placing Bai Xiangxing back in his own bed and covering him with the blanket, he, now wearing slippers, left the hospital room.

 

His first act was to check the date. He discovered he had only been unconscious for seven or eight hours, which meant the ten-day deadline hadn’t come yet, and he was relieved. Then he called Liang Chen.

 

“Captain, you’re awake?” Liang Chen’s voice was full of surprise.

 

“Yeah,” Shi Zhen replied in a soft tone.

 

“So, you woke up so quickly. The medication prepared with Bai Xiangxing’s pheromones must have worked so well; your compatibility must be very high,” Liang Chen speculated casually.

 

Shi Zhen’s expression shifted when he heard the word “compatibility,” but he quickly adjusted and asked, “Where are you?”

 

“I’m at home,” Liang Chen said.

 

“You left Bai Xiangxing alone in the hospital while you went back home?” Shi Zhen’s face turned sour.

 

“I didn’t want to leave, but Bai Xiangxing insisted I should. I couldn’t argue with him,” Liang Chen responded.

 

Shi Zhen felt awkward at the mention of Bai Xiangxing’s persuasive abilities. “Forget it; let’s not talk about this. I’ll go and submit the mission early in the morning.”

 

Bai Xiangxing should be delighted to know that the 10 million has already been deposited once he wakes up.

 

“The mission has already been submitted. After I brought you to the hospital, I had Liang Feng submit it. Otherwise, where would we get the money to cover your medical expenses?” Liang Chen explained.

 

Shi Zhen paused for a moment and said, “I’ll hang up.”

 

After hanging up the phone, Shi Zhen checked his account and noticed the remaining several million star coins. He paused for a moment and then checked the transfer details, realizing that Bai Xiangxing had transferred the money to him. He didn’t say anything and turned back into the room.

 

Bai Xiangxing was awakened by the phone call. He hadn’t been sleeping well, and after a pheromone sample was taken, there would be a period of exhaustion. His morning temper was at its peak. Without even looking at who was calling, he answered and immediately scolded, “Why are you calling so early?”

 

There was a brief silence on the other end before Wan Tong’s voice came through. “Mr. Bai, there’s a problem with that batch of equipment.”

 

Upon hearing the word “equipment,” Bai Xiangxing jolted out of bed. He was about to inquire further when he noticed Shi Zhen sitting in a hospital chair opposite his bed, wearing blue and white hospital attire.

 

It seemed that Shi Zhen had been awakened by his phone call. Shi Zhen’s right arm was still raised, pressed against his forehead.

 

Wait a minute, hadn’t Shi Zhen been admitted to the hospital?

 

Bai Xiangxing suddenly realized the situation as he looked around the room. Shi Zhen had woken up in the middle of the night and moved him onto the bed.

 

“Just wait for a moment; I’ll call you back soon.” Bai Xiangxing hung up and got out of bed. It was only then that he noticed he was wearing his shoes. “You… Why didn’t you help me take off my shoes?”

 

Shi Zhen’s expression turned somewhat odd, but he remained silent.

 

Bai Xiangxing felt that something wasn’t right with what he had said. He was a patient, and Shi Zhen had kindly let him have the bed. Why was he complaining that he hadn’t been pampered?

 

“Cough, that’s not what I meant,” Bai Xiangxing said awkwardly.

 

Shi Zhen nodded as if to indicate he understood. As for what Bai Xiangxing had meant by that, he didn’t ask.

 

“When did you wake up?” Bai Xiangxing asked.

 

“Three-thirty,” Shi Zhen replied.

 

Bai Xiangxing checked the time; it was seven o’clock. “Do you want to go back to sleep for a while?”

 

Shi Zhen shook his head and hesitated before saying, “Yesterday… Thank you.”

 

Thank you? Was he thanking himself for providing the pheromones? The moment this thought crossed Bai Xiangxing’s mind, he realized that Shi Zhen now had his pheromones inside him. It made him feel uncomfortable.

 

Wait, why was he feeling uncomfortable? He should be angry.

 

“Shi Zhen, are you out of your mind?!” Bai Xiangxing suddenly wore an angry expression, pointing at Shi Zhen and scolding him harshly.

 

Shi Zhen:…

 

“What kind of fool are you? I said I needed ten million, if you have it, fine, if not, that’s okay, I’ll figure something out. Did I ask you to stake your life? If you don’t value your own life, that’s your problem, but do you want to drag down your teammates too? Four of you, is your collective life worth only 10 million star coins?” Bai Xiangxing kept getting angrier as he thought about it. With this 10 million, he could instantly revitalize New Shi and maybe even turn a profit. But without this 10 million, he could make a fresh start within half a year, just as he had done when he started from scratch in his past life. Was it worth causing such a fuss over 10 million?

 

Just thinking that the future number one force of the Alliance almost perished because of 10 million star coins made him feel like the Alliance wasn’t worth it.

 

“Sorry,” Shi Zhen had no response to Bai Xiangxing’s accusations. This time, he had overestimated his abilities when they went to the desolate planet. The exoskeleton of the alien creatures was harder than their armor could withstand.

 

Bai Xiangxing was originally furious, but he found himself unable to maintain his anger when Shi Zhen offered an apology. Had he just apologized so easily? This guy was as stubborn as an ox, wasn’t he? During their school days, they often argued, but Bai Xiangxing couldn’t recall a single instance when Shi Zhen had backed down.

 

“Okay… fine, we’ll let it go this time. I have work at my company, so I’ll leave first.” Bai Xiangxing glanced around and eventually found his car keys in his pocket. Without waiting for Shi Zhen to respond, he quickly left the room.

 

As soon as Bai Xiangxing left the room, Shi Zhen was about to get up and use the restroom when Bai Xiangxing rushed back into the room. He muttered a quick “thank you” to Shi Zhen and then dashed away. This time, he was in a hurry, and his footsteps echoed loudly through the hallway.

 

Shi Zhen was stunned by Bai Xiangxing’s abrupt return, but he smiled softly after Bai Xiangxing left.

 

Bai Xiangxing rushed out of the hospital, and the heat on his face gradually subsided as he got into his car. He opened his contact list and made a video call to Wan Tong. “What happened with the equipment?”

 

Wan Tong, with a worried expression, said, “Yesterday afternoon, I transferred the remaining 10 million star coins to the supplier and arranged for the equipment to be shipped as quickly as possible. They hired a small transport ship, which left with the cargo at ten o’clock last night. However, the transport ship was robbed by space pirates halfway through the journey.”

 

“What?! How is that possible? This is within the jurisdiction of the Capital Star. Where did these interstellar pirates come from?” Bai Xiangxing asked.

 

“I don’t know. We haven’t received confirmed information yet,” Wan Tong replied, having just learned about the incident.

 

“Did they take hostages?” Bai Xiangxing asked calmly.

 

“No, they only took the equipment and released our personnel,” Wan Tong answered.

 

“They only took the equipment and left the personnel, and it’s just two million. The Interstellar Management Bureau won’t consider it a high-priority case.” Although two million was a significant amount for New Shi, in the context of a space heist, it wasn’t much.

 

It was like losing one thousand dollars, which could be reported to the police, and they would open a case. However, they wouldn’t go all out to find it.

 

“What should we do? We’ve worked hard to gather the two million.” Not only had they worked hard, but Shi Zhen had nearly given his life for this equipment.

 

“First, let’s go to the company,” Bai Xiangxing decided. He ended the call and then slammed his fists into the car’s control console. He didn’t pay any mind to the piercing alarm that went off. He hammered it more than ten times before he finally stopped.

 

“Damn it! Damn it!”

 

This incident wouldn’t have made Bai Xiangxing so emotional if it weren’t for the fact that Shi Zhen had fought so hard to raise the money.

 

After venting his frustrations, Bai Xiangxing calmed himself and was about to start the car when another call came in.

 

The number looked somewhat familiar, like the office phone number of the company. Bai Xiangxing answered the call and was met with the face of a man covered in scars.

 

Bai Xiangxing raised an eyebrow, about to ask the caller’s identity, but the man spoke first. “I’m Du Pengjing, the captain of the New Shi Security Team.”

 

“Captain Du.”

 

“I heard our equipment was stolen?” Du Pengjing was a pragmatic person, straight to the point and without wasting time on pleasantries.

 

“Yes, when I return to the company, we’ll discuss the specific plan to address the situation,” Bai Xiangxing replied.

 

“Discuss? Aren’t we going to retrieve it?” Du Pengjing asked with a puzzled expression. Did they need to discuss this kind of situation?

 

“…Who, who’s going to retrieve it?” Bai Xiangxing asked subconsciously.

 

“The security team.”

 

“…” Bai Xiangxing.

 

Chapter 23 Thank You

 

When Shi Zhen woke up, it was already 2 AM. His head felt slightly throbbing, but aside from that, he had no other discomfort.

 

His psychic energy had already calmed down?

 

Shi Zhen was somewhat surprised. This time, when they went to find energy essences, he took three squad members with him. They spent three days on the desolate planet searching for the essences, and luckily, they found three. However, their search also attracted the attention of three ferocious native creatures. These creatures were exceptionally aggressive, and with their not-so-advanced armor, they struggled to fend off the creatures. Shi Zhen had no choice but to use his psychic energy to temporarily subdue the creatures, allowing them a chance to escape onto their spaceship and leave the desolate planet.

 

As they boarded the spaceship, he sensed that something was amiss with his own condition. If it were only his psychic energy being unstable, it wouldn’t be too concerning, given the exertion he had gone through. It would mostly affect himself without causing major harm to others. Yet, Shi Zhen had another issue to consider. He had used his psychic energy to control the creatures and had also released his pheromones to maintain control.

 

His pheromones had a burning attribute, and the hierarchy of Alphas in play, which meant that if they went out of control while aboard the spaceship, it would be catastrophic. As soon as they boarded, he had to administer three consecutive doses of pheromone suppressants to prevent this. The use of these suppressants, particularly in excessive amounts, had side effects. He had expected to be unconscious for at least a week, and he was prepared for that.

 

Now, Shi Zhen was startled to wake up and feel quite fine. Could he have been unconscious for several days?

 

Wait, several days?

 

That’s a problem. He had promised Bai Xiangxing to pay the money within ten days. Anxious, he attempted to get up, but when he made a move, he suddenly felt pressure as if something was weighing down on him.

 

Was there someone in the room?

 

Shi Zhen turned his head to look, and he was left stunned.

 

Bai Xiangxing?

 

It was only at this moment that Shi Zhen belatedly noticed a faint hint of a sea breeze in the air. This fragrance was one he had only smelled on one person, Bai Xiangxing’s pheromones.

 

Strangely, when he used to be an Alpha, the same scent would irritate him for no apparent reason. It would make the molten energy within him rage like a volcano about to erupt. But now, when he smelled it, he felt it was familiar and comforting.

 

Wait, comforting?

 

Shi Zhen’s eyes subtly changed. To confirm his suspicions, he carefully lifted the corner of the blanket and got out of bed. The hospital had prepared slippers for him on the other side of the bed, but Shi Zhen had to walk barefoot. He carefully walked around half of the bed and approached Bai Xiangxing’s side. His movements were light, and the whole time, Bai Xiangxing remained deep in slumber.

 

Bai Xiangxing had buried his head in his arms, and his soft hair half-covered his gland. Shi Zhen couldn’t see clearly but gently used a finger to move the hair, revealing a pale blue pain relief patch underneath.

 

There was a complex emotion in Shi Zhen’s eyes. He had suspected the situation, but if it turned out to be true, he didn’t know how to handle it.

 

Taking a sample from his gland was excruciating, and on top of that, it was for his own medication.

 

Shi Zhen stood there, lost in thought, not sure what he was thinking. When Bai Xiangxing mumbled and stirred in discomfort, he made a restless arm movement.

 

Was he having an uncomfortable sleep?

 

Shi Zhen came to his senses and almost instinctively bent down to lift Bai Xiangxing from the bed. At the moment Bai Xiangxing was being carried, he stirred again but remained asleep, exhausted from the late hour.

 

Shi Zhen breathed a sigh of relief. After gently placing Bai Xiangxing back in his own bed and covering him with the blanket, he, now wearing slippers, left the hospital room.

 

His first act was to check the date. He discovered he had only been unconscious for seven or eight hours, which meant the ten-day deadline hadn’t come yet, and he was relieved. Then he called Liang Chen.

 

“Captain, you’re awake?” Liang Chen’s voice was full of surprise.

 

“Yeah,” Shi Zhen replied in a soft tone.

 

“So, you woke up so quickly. The medication prepared with Bai Xiangxing’s pheromones must have worked so well; your compatibility must be very high,” Liang Chen speculated casually.

 

Shi Zhen’s expression shifted when he heard the word “compatibility,” but he quickly adjusted and asked, “Where are you?”

 

“I’m at home,” Liang Chen said.

 

“You left Bai Xiangxing alone in the hospital while you went back home?” Shi Zhen’s face turned sour.

 

“I didn’t want to leave, but Bai Xiangxing insisted I should. I couldn’t argue with him,” Liang Chen responded.

 

Shi Zhen felt awkward at the mention of Bai Xiangxing’s persuasive abilities. “Forget it; let’s not talk about this. I’ll go and submit the mission early in the morning.”

 

Bai Xiangxing should be delighted to know that the 10 million has already been deposited once he wakes up.

 

“The mission has already been submitted. After I brought you to the hospital, I had Liang Feng submit it. Otherwise, where would we get the money to cover your medical expenses?” Liang Chen explained.

 

Shi Zhen paused for a moment and said, “I’ll hang up.”

 

After hanging up the phone, Shi Zhen checked his account and noticed the remaining several million star coins. He paused for a moment and then checked the transfer details, realizing that Bai Xiangxing had transferred the money to him. He didn’t say anything and turned back into the room.

 

Bai Xiangxing was awakened by the phone call. He hadn’t been sleeping well, and after a pheromone sample was taken, there would be a period of exhaustion. His morning temper was at its peak. Without even looking at who was calling, he answered and immediately scolded, “Why are you calling so early?”

 

There was a brief silence on the other end before Wan Tong’s voice came through. “Mr. Bai, there’s a problem with that batch of equipment.”

 

Upon hearing the word “equipment,” Bai Xiangxing jolted out of bed. He was about to inquire further when he noticed Shi Zhen sitting in a hospital chair opposite his bed, wearing blue and white hospital attire.

 

It seemed that Shi Zhen had been awakened by his phone call. Shi Zhen’s right arm was still raised, pressed against his forehead.

 

Wait a minute, hadn’t Shi Zhen been admitted to the hospital?

 

Bai Xiangxing suddenly realized the situation as he looked around the room. Shi Zhen had woken up in the middle of the night and moved him onto the bed.

 

“Just wait for a moment; I’ll call you back soon.” Bai Xiangxing hung up and got out of bed. It was only then that he noticed he was wearing his shoes. “You… Why didn’t you help me take off my shoes?”

 

Shi Zhen’s expression turned somewhat odd, but he remained silent.

 

Bai Xiangxing felt that something wasn’t right with what he had said. He was a patient, and Shi Zhen had kindly let him have the bed. Why was he complaining that he hadn’t been pampered?

 

“Cough, that’s not what I meant,” Bai Xiangxing said awkwardly.

 

Shi Zhen nodded as if to indicate he understood. As for what Bai Xiangxing had meant by that, he didn’t ask.

 

“When did you wake up?” Bai Xiangxing asked.

 

“Three-thirty,” Shi Zhen replied.

 

Bai Xiangxing checked the time; it was seven o’clock. “Do you want to go back to sleep for a while?”

 

Shi Zhen shook his head and hesitated before saying, “Yesterday… Thank you.”

 

Thank you? Was he thanking himself for providing the pheromones? The moment this thought crossed Bai Xiangxing’s mind, he realized that Shi Zhen now had his pheromones inside him. It made him feel uncomfortable.

 

Wait, why was he feeling uncomfortable? He should be angry.

 

“Shi Zhen, are you out of your mind?!” Bai Xiangxing suddenly wore an angry expression, pointing at Shi Zhen and scolding him harshly.

 

Shi Zhen:…

 

“What kind of fool are you? I said I needed ten million, if you have it, fine, if not, that’s okay, I’ll figure something out. Did I ask you to stake your life? If you don’t value your own life, that’s your problem, but do you want to drag down your teammates too? Four of you, is your collective life worth only 10 million star coins?” Bai Xiangxing kept getting angrier as he thought about it. With this 10 million, he could instantly revitalize New Shi and maybe even turn a profit. But without this 10 million, he could make a fresh start within half a year, just as he had done when he started from scratch in his past life. Was it worth causing such a fuss over 10 million?

 

Just thinking that the future number one force of the Alliance almost perished because of 10 million star coins made him feel like the Alliance wasn’t worth it.

 

“Sorry,” Shi Zhen had no response to Bai Xiangxing’s accusations. This time, he had overestimated his abilities when they went to the desolate planet. The exoskeleton of the alien creatures was harder than their armor could withstand.

 

Bai Xiangxing was originally furious, but he found himself unable to maintain his anger when Shi Zhen offered an apology. Had he just apologized so easily? This guy was as stubborn as an ox, wasn’t he? During their school days, they often argued, but Bai Xiangxing couldn’t recall a single instance when Shi Zhen had backed down.

 

“Okay… fine, we’ll let it go this time. I have work at my company, so I’ll leave first.” Bai Xiangxing glanced around and eventually found his car keys in his pocket. Without waiting for Shi Zhen to respond, he quickly left the room.

 

As soon as Bai Xiangxing left the room, Shi Zhen was about to get up and use the restroom when Bai Xiangxing rushed back into the room. He muttered a quick “thank you” to Shi Zhen and then dashed away. This time, he was in a hurry, and his footsteps echoed loudly through the hallway.

 

Shi Zhen was stunned by Bai Xiangxing’s abrupt return, but he smiled softly after Bai Xiangxing left.

 

Bai Xiangxing rushed out of the hospital, and the heat on his face gradually subsided as he got into his car. He opened his contact list and made a video call to Wan Tong. “What happened with the equipment?”

 

Wan Tong, with a worried expression, said, “Yesterday afternoon, I transferred the remaining 10 million star coins to the supplier and arranged for the equipment to be shipped as quickly as possible. They hired a small transport ship, which left with the cargo at ten o’clock last night. However, the transport ship was robbed by space pirates halfway through the journey.”

 

“What?! How is that possible? This is within the jurisdiction of the Capital Star. Where did these interstellar pirates come from?” Bai Xiangxing asked.

 

“I don’t know. We haven’t received confirmed information yet,” Wan Tong replied, having just learned about the incident.

 

“Did they take hostages?” Bai Xiangxing asked calmly.

 

“No, they only took the equipment and released our personnel,” Wan Tong answered.

 

“They only took the equipment and left the personnel, and it’s just two million. The Interstellar Management Bureau won’t consider it a high-priority case.” Although two million was a significant amount for New Shi, in the context of a space heist, it wasn’t much.

 

It was like losing one thousand dollars, which could be reported to the police, and they would open a case. However, they wouldn’t go all out to find it.

 

“What should we do? We’ve worked hard to gather the two million.” Not only had they worked hard, but Shi Zhen had nearly given his life for this equipment.

 

“First, let’s go to the company,” Bai Xiangxing decided. He ended the call and then slammed his fists into the car’s control console. He didn’t pay any mind to the piercing alarm that went off. He hammered it more than ten times before he finally stopped.

 

“Damn it! Damn it!”

 

This incident wouldn’t have made Bai Xiangxing so emotional if it weren’t for the fact that Shi Zhen had fought so hard to raise the money.

 

After venting his frustrations, Bai Xiangxing calmed himself and was about to start the car when another call came in.

 

The number looked somewhat familiar, like the office phone number of the company. Bai Xiangxing answered the call and was met with the face of a man covered in scars.

 

Bai Xiangxing raised an eyebrow, about to ask the caller’s identity, but the man spoke first. “I’m Du Pengjing, the captain of the New Shi Security Team.”

 

“Captain Du.”

 

“I heard our equipment was stolen?” Du Pengjing was a pragmatic person, straight to the point and without wasting time on pleasantries.

 

“Yes, when I return to the company, we’ll discuss the specific plan to address the situation,” Bai Xiangxing replied.

 

“Discuss? Aren’t we going to retrieve it?” Du Pengjing asked with a puzzled expression. Did they need to discuss this kind of situation?

 

“…Who, who’s going to retrieve it?” Bai Xiangxing asked subconsciously.

 

“The security team.”

 

“…” Bai Xiangxing.