Picking Up An Alpha On Garbage Star - Chapter 64

The news of the press conference held by the Lyte Independent Army in the Gallia Star System quickly spread throughout the Lyte Empire, including the ten star systems occupied by the rebels. Along with the news, the full video of the press conference and various media reports were also disseminated, creating a huge stir in the occupied star systems. Resistance activities against the rebel rule emerged rapidly, and countless dedicated individuals joined the fight against the rebels.

 

At the same time, the release of the press conference greatly boosted the morale of the Lyte Empire’s citizens. Many organizations and people started collecting money and supplies to send to the frontline. With this substantial support, the defensive line, originally based in the Gallia Star System, rapidly expanded. From a single point to a line, it formed a vast frontline defense, effectively isolating the rebel forces from the safe zones.

 

Everything was developing positively, except that Xie Yu and Gu Fan, who attended the press conference, were labeled as traitors by some people on the Central Star. Some even questioned Xie Rao and Gu Yuan Yang in the name of the Empire.

 

In response, Xie Rao simply retorted, “Then go recapture the ten star systems occupied by the rebels.”

 

Gu Yuan Yang directly copied Xie Rao’s response, using the same line to push back against anyone who questioned them, avoiding any other discussion.

 

The Emperor was very angry about Xie Rao and Gu Yuan Yang’s attitude and summoned them to the palace, intending to reprimand them. He criticized them for their actions, stating that their sons, as imperial commanders, should obey the Empire’s directives rather than acting independently and creating the so-called Lyte Independent Army.

 

Then, Xie Rao and Gu Yuan Yang ended up beating the Emperor.

 

Xie Rao rolled up his sleeves, revealing his well-toned muscles, and placed his hands on his hips. “I’ve been tolerant towards you because of your father. Do you really think I’m afraid of you?”

 

Gu Yuan Yang also lost his temper, shoving the Emperor into a sofa and holding onto his collar. “I was originally a lone fighter. If I hadn’t accepted your father’s offer, I wouldn’t have become the commander of the First Corps. But you need to understand, you are not your father.”

 

How wise and capable was the late Emperor? If he hadn’t been injured in the war and died young, he would have dealt with the old aristocrats who flaunted their power day in and day out. The current situation, where the Emperor was treated as an invisible puppet, would never have occurred.

 

“You dare to strike me! You’re truly rebelling!” the Emperor roared in anger.

 

Xie Rao and Gu Yuan Yang were indifferent. Some people, who had been living in luxury for years, had forgotten how the Lyte Empire was established.

 

Indeed, it was now the world of the young, but the old generation that had fought through the chaos had not yet died out. Some people couldn’t act recklessly.

 

If it weren’t for the consideration of the difficulty in establishing the Lyte Empire and not wanting the people to fall into war again, with the Emperor’s personality, they would have raised an army sooner or later.

 

However, there were others who were much braver, taking action without hesitation.

 

Pei An’s attendance at the press conference as the Secretary-General of the Lyte Independent Military Affairs Office meant that his presence would be exposed to the Mondrei family. To be precise, not only the Mondrei family but also many people with various connections to the Bright Goddess would surface.

 

Of course, Pei An wasn’t afraid of what might happen to him. Even if there were people who wanted to harm him, they would need the ability to do so. Currently, aside from a few people, no one knew how capable he truly was. If someone came to their death, it would be their own fault.

 

A few days after the press conference, Pei An was visited by friends he hadn’t seen for months—Li Chengrui, Xiao Xue, Yan Yue, and others—who had brought their entire team.

 

“Why didn’t Sisi come?” Pei An hugged Xiao Xue and asked.

 

“Sisi went directly to oversee the energy production line at the factory,” Xiao Xue said, touching Pei An’s face. He had lost weight, likely due to the Anmo Star incident.

 

“I’ll arrange accommodation for you first. It’s still quite busy right now, so we’ll have the welcome banquet at a later time,” Pei An said, leading them to the temporary living quarters. He and Xie Yu, along with some officers and key staff, were staying there.

 

The Gallia Star System had treated them well. Although the planet’s conditions were harsh, they were willing to send whatever good things they had. Local residents also occasionally provided food to the soldiers coming from the battlefield, creating a very harmonious atmosphere.

 

Li Chengrui had also brought Joshua to the frontline. He and his wife lived together, while Xiao Xue and Yan Yue lived next door to each other as neighbors.

 

Li Chengrui couldn’t help but sigh. “A few months ago, I was hoping Xiao Xue and Yan Yue would return to DS009, so I could lighten my workload. But I didn’t expect that instead of waiting for you two to return to DS009, we would leave the Morlan Star System ahead of time.”

 

Joshua smiled and scratched Li Chengrui’s palm, which Li Chengrui grasped with his other hand.

 

“Rest for now. I’ll organize a short meeting tomorrow to introduce you to everyone,” Pei An said, taking them to their accommodation before hastily leaving. He had been away for a short time, and his smart brain was already bombarded with messages.

 

Pei An returned to his temporary office, where he met with Xie Yu and Gu Fan.

 

“What’s going on? Why the urgency to call me for a discussion?” Xie Yu and Gu Fan wouldn’t bother him with trivial matters. If even they needed to consult him, it must be a major issue.

 

Xie Yu projected the recently received message onto the screen. “Let’s take a look.”

 

Pei An sat down, leaning back in his chair, while Xie Yu started the video.

 

The video showed a tall man with gray curly hair in a brown military uniform delivering a speech with a script.

 

“This person is currently the only high-ranking official of the rebels who has officially appeared, the General Commander of the Rebel Army, Shelly Joyce,” Xie Yu said.

 

Pei An snorted. “The rebel army’s uniforms are as unsightly as their tactics—utterly awful.”

 

Gu Fan clapped in agreement. “You’re right, I concur.”

 

While the rebel army’s uniforms weren’t necessarily ugly, no one appreciated their design as they were associated with the rebels.

 

In the video, Shelly Joyce was delivering a passionate speech.

 

“Without a doubt, the Free Empire is a great empire. All the people within the territory of the Free Empire will enjoy supreme, spiritual freedom under its rule! This is a momentous event worth witnessing. To commemorate the founding of the Free Empire, His Majesty the Emperor has decided to hold the national founding ceremony on the 30th of this month, in the capital, Golden Leaf Star!”

 

Pei An’s expression grew increasingly serious. He irritably tugged at his clothing. “The rebels have declared they will take the Gallia Star System, but we’ve managed to block them outside the system. We’ve won several battles, and our defensive line is well-established. Now, they are trying to hold a national founding ceremony, attempting to shake our military and public morale through propaganda.”

 

It had to be admitted that this method was quite despicable, yet very effective. No matter how many successful battles they fought on the frontline, it did not change the fact that the ten star systems were still occupied by the rebels.

 

“We can’t let them smoothly carry out their founding ceremony,” Pei An decided decisively. “Immediately gather everyone for a meeting.”

 

He also sent a message to Li Chengrui and the others. Originally, he intended to have them make a formal appearance the next day, but given the urgency, he had to bring them in for work right away.

 

Pei An’s notice was promptly sent out. Half an hour later, all participants had arrived at the designated conference room.

 

The conference room was large and equipped with the most advanced facilities, specially set up for large meetings.

 

Pei An took the podium and maintained his calm demeanor. “I apologize for suddenly calling everyone in for a meeting. The situation is urgent.”

 

He first played the video that Xie Yu had shown him. After watching it, everyone’s faces darkened, and those with quick tempers couldn’t help but pound their fists on the conference table.

 

“These shameless robbers!”

 

“What are they thinking? They dare to hold a founding ceremony?”

 

Pei An raised his hand to signal for silence, and everyone promptly fell quiet out of respect.

 

“The rebels are holding a founding ceremony to undermine our morale. Therefore, we must not let them succeed. Please discuss how we can best sabotage the rebels’ plans.”

 

Undoubtedly, the ideal solution would be to completely eliminate the rebels and reclaim the ten star systems, solving the problem at its root. However, the likelihood of this happening was almost zero, so they had to consider other options.

 

“Secretary-General, let’s have a major offensive against the rebels! Let’s recapture a few of the planets that belong to us and crush the rebels’ arrogance!” One officer, feeling very frustrated, wanted to take back the planets.

 

“Not feasible. The rebels are different from us. In desperation, they would use civilians as targets. If we can’t guarantee a decisive blow and end up dragging things out without successfully taking the target planets, the civilians on those planets will suffer.” Gu Fan immediately dismissed the proposal.

 

Fighting the rebels was frustrating, but it was a necessary consideration. If they didn’t have to worry about civilians, fighting the rebels wouldn’t be so difficult.

 

But this was what set them apart from the rebels.

 

“I believe we should send people to infiltrate Golden Leaf Star and sabotage the rebels’ founding ceremony,” a lieutenant colonel suggested. “If we can cause disruption on Golden Leaf Star and turn their founding ceremony into a farce, it would not only damage the enemy’s morale but also boost our own.”

 

Pei An nodded slightly. What the lieutenant colonel suggested was indeed a good idea.

 

“That said, Lieutenant Colonel Li, our people would have to traverse several star systems to reach Golden Leaf Star and find a way to blend in. Isn’t that too difficult?”

 

The lieutenant colonel, referred to as “Li,” replied seriously, “No matter how difficult it is, we must try. Only by trying can we have a chance of success. If we don’t try, we will never have a chance.”

 

“Infiltration is possible.” Xiao Xue stood up. She had just arrived and hadn’t had time to create her ID badge, so apart from Pei An and Xie Yu, others were curious about her background.

 

Pei An took this opportunity to introduce her to everyone. “Everyone, let me introduce Xiao Xue. Her expertise is in the operation systems of warships and spacecraft. The person to her right is Yan Yue, specializing in space navigation, and to her left is Li Chengrui, focusing on information technology and communication functions.”

 

The attendees of the meeting, all high-ranking or with significant positions, immediately recognized the importance of these three simply dressed young people.

 

For the officers, their eyes lit up at the sight of technical experts, as if a wolf had spotted its prey and wanted to bring it back to its den.

 

“Xiao Xue, please continue,” Pei An said.

 

Xiao Xue nodded and continued from where she left off. “Our personnel will need to penetrate the areas occupied by the rebels. The biggest concern is the risk of being detected by the rebels, which could jeopardize the mission. However, as we all know, current detection systems can only track stable trajectories of movement. This means that if a spacecraft suddenly appears, it can’t be detected in advance.”

 

Gu Fan leaned slightly towards Xie Yu and asked in a low voice, “Did you understand what that means?”

 

Xie Yu shook his head. This was something the children of the Empire’s Academy of Sciences had been exposed to since they were young, and after the incident with the Bright Goddess, they had studied all the experimental data from the ship. Despite being of similar age, their research capabilities were far superior to many tech universities and research institutes.

 

Xiao Xue took a brief pause and continued, “We have developed a small spacecraft capable of high-load continuous jumps. During these jumps, it won’t be detected and can travel directly from here to Golden Leaf Star.”

 

The room erupted in amazement.

 

Continuous jumps were typically possible only with main ships, so achieving this technology in a small spacecraft was truly impressive.

 

A usually commanding general raised his hand like a student in class. “Ms. Xiao, I have a question.”

 

Xiao Xue raised her hand slightly. “Please go ahead.”

 

“In the course of the jump, it won’t be detected. But what about after the jump is completed?”

 

Xiao Xue smiled slightly. “That’s a question for someone else to answer.”

 

She sat down, and Li Chengrui stood up.

 

“I have installed a new anti-detection device on this small spacecraft, which is my proud creation,” Li Chengrui said, his aura changing significantly when discussing his work. “Unlike traditional models, this anti-detection device has added functions. It can simulate electronic signals and mimic various natural signals in space according to different needs. As long as you don’t get too close to the detection systems, it can successfully camouflage.”

 

Would anyone care about a few floating rocks in space? No.

 

“This small spacecraft we are using to come to the Gallia Star System was tested successfully.”

 

The crowd was again amazed: So this is the world of experts?

 

More important than designing such a small spacecraft was that, after mastering the relevant technology, they could eventually have a second, third, or even a full squadron of such ships.

 

Lieutenant Colonel Li’s eyes were full of joy. “It seems we can attempt to infiltrate Golden Leaf Star and sabotage the rebels’ founding ceremony.”

 

Pei An supported the idea. Lieutenant Colonel Li came from an intelligence background and was promoted by Gu Yuanyang. Under Gu Yuanyang’s leadership, she trained many intelligence professionals and intercepted numerous battle reports from the rebels. Pei An believed that if Lieutenant Colonel Li arranged the infiltration, it would be flawless.

 

“In addition to infiltrating Golden Leaf Star to sabotage the founding ceremony, engaging in combat is also necessary,” Xie Yu added. “Victory in battle, combined with our sabotage of the ceremony, will deal a heavy blow to the enemy’s morale. Moreover, whichever side achieves better results will demonstrate our stance and serve as a warning to the rebels.”

 

Don’t think that because you’re shameless, we’re powerless against you. Those who are righteous receive help, while those who are unrighteous will find their support dwindling. The rebels will eventually be defeated.

 

During the meeting, everyone discussed the specific action plans in detail. Although the rebels’ founding ceremony would not be held until a month later, preparations had to start immediately, and the plans had to be continuously refined to avoid any mistakes.

 

The meeting lasted from the afternoon until the evening, taking up a good part of the day. After intense discussions, preliminary drafts for both the infiltration of Golden Leaf Star to sabotage the founding ceremony and attacking the occupied areas were prepared. These drafts needed further detailed refinement. Any mistakes could not only derail their plan to undermine the rebels’ arrogance but also cost many lives.

 

Therefore, whether infiltrating behind enemy lines or fighting on the front lines, they could not afford to lose, as there was no room for retreat.

 

After the meeting, Li Chengrui and his two colleagues were surrounded by people. Since they had just arrived at the frontlines and had barely had a chance to catch their breath before attending a long meeting, it was time for them to rest. However, the technology they brought was incredibly captivating, and it was hard for anyone to resist such advances, especially among the officers who were eager for talent.

 

Li Chengrui and his team were happy to discuss their research with these future colleagues, so they decided to go to the cafeteria to eat and chat.

 

Pei An saw that they were settling in well and decided not to intrude further. He quietly returned to his own residence.

 

As the Secretary-General of the Lyte Independent Army, Pei An enjoyed certain privileges. His and Xie Yu’s accommodation was a two-bedroom apartment with a kitchen. There were even some ingredients in the fridge. As night fell, Xie Yu put on an apron and started cooking.

 

It was the apron that Pei An had given him, decorated with white puppies and plum blossoms.

 

“Xie Yu,” Pei An said softly as he entered the kitchen, wrapping his arms around Xie Yu’s waist from behind and pressing his face against Xie Yu’s broad and dependable back.

 

“What’s wrong?” Xie Yu turned around after washing his hands and held Pei An close, allowing Pei An to rest against him.

 

“I want to go to Golden Leaf Star,” Pei An said gloomily.

 

As the Secretary-General, and one who had been publicly visible in news conferences, the safest place for Pei An was undoubtedly the command center, not venturing into enemy territory. If his identity were discovered, the consequences would be unimaginable, and the rebels would send countless people to capture him.

 

However, Xie Yu didn’t criticize the idea. He tightened his embrace, holding Pei An even more securely. “Alright, then I’ll go with you.” He wasn’t comfortable with the idea of Pei An going alone.

 

He understood Pei An’s feelings. As Pei An’s partner, he was willing to support his decisions.

 

Pei An’s past was tragic. He lost his family and friends in the apocalypse, and then, after being reborn, he encountered Pei Ruyu, who treated him like a child, only to lose him due to the machinations of Clovis Mondrei. The child who was his only blood relative also never survived to be born, and died indirectly because of the rebels.

 

To Pei An, the rebels were unrelenting enemies, and he was determined to dedicate all his energy to defeating them.

 

But Pei An was also a living person, not a puppet or a machine. His heart beat with every moment.

 

As a person, he was not invulnerable or invincible. He could endure the pain of losing a child and present a calm facade to the Independent Army and the people of the Lyte Empire, facing the flashing cameras with a serene expression, resolutely declaring his determination to resist the enemy.

 

He was still human, capable of feeling sadness and vulnerability.

 

“I often dream these days. In my dreams, my father talks to me, baking cookies and bread that I could never learn to make. I also dream of our child. In my dreams, he looks a lot like both of us, especially his eyes, which are exactly like yours.”

 

Xie Yu gently stroked Pei An’s back, offering silent comfort.

 

He too was deeply saddened. The day he learned he and Pei An had a child was also the day he lost that child. His grief made him want to scream in anger, to lock himself in a training room and express his fury in isolation, like a primal alpha comforting himself in the most primitive way.

 

But he couldn’t do that. If he only focused on his own feelings, what would happen to Pei An? He still had his parents, but Pei An only had him.

 

Therefore, even if he felt unbearable pain, he had to control his emotions, hide all his negative feelings as best as he could, and stand together with Pei An.

 

The rebels had been operating for many years. Even though they had suffered severe blows from the Imperial Army in the past two months, it had not shaken their foundation. To continue their expansion, the rebels had audaciously seized the ten star systems belonging to the Lyte Empire and established their so-called Free Empire, treating countless civilians as slaves of their war and giving the Lyte Empire a severe blow.

 

The Lyte Empire’s royal family and council could no longer be compared to the original royal family and council established at the beginning of the Lyte Empire. The former emperor had passed away not long after the empire was founded, and the current emperor fancied himself the head of the nobility, dedicating himself to protecting their interests and allowing the old nobility to control the empire’s economy.

 

A weak emperor and an inept council meant that the Lyte Empire had no courage to confront the rebels head-on.

 

In such times, someone needed to step up and rally the nation’s people.

 

Pei An stepped up, even when physically and mentally exhausted.

 

He buried the pain of losing his child deep down, in a place where it was usually invisible, and hurried to the front lines as fast as he could, using his slender body to support a vast sky.

 

Before the military was restructured into the Lyte Independent Army, Pei An had told Xie Yu and Gu Fan, “Both of you are inheritors of the group army. Even if it’s for the common goal of resisting the enemy, not everyone is comfortable with handing over command of the army to you. There will be many who worry about you centralizing military power.”

 

So, Pei An took on the role of a buffer. He was chosen by many because he could indeed bring numerous benefits to the Independent Army, whether in terms of funding, military equipment, or talent. Moreover, Pei An was not a military person. The nature of the Independent Army required a non-military figure to serve as a high-ranking leader, controlling various powers.

 

Despite his deep personal grief, Pei An took on this challenging role, aware that if the Independent Army suffered defeat, he, as Secretary-General, would certainly face criticism.

 

Pei An was aware of all this but still took on the position of Secretary-General. Even though he could have appointed someone from the Stellar Organization to take the lead while he operated behind the scenes, which would have ensured his safety and avoided public scrutiny, he chose to face the storm directly and march forward against the wind.

 

Nevertheless, the pressures on his shoulders were undeniable, and Pei An also experienced negative emotions and a need to vent. These negative feelings had accumulated significantly, causing him to lose weight and further suffer from the heavy burden of work. Xie Yu could only feel heartache every time he touched Pei An’s skeletal frame. He tried various ways to make Pei An better, but nothing seemed to help; the stress of work consumed him.

 

Pei An desperately needed a thorough release of his emotions.

 

Even though Pei An’s actions seemed reckless—venturing into the strongest territory of the rebels, which appeared almost like a death wish—Xie Yu was still willing to accompany him to Golden Leaf Star.

 

He could protect Pei An, but it didn’t mean Pei An was merely a delicate flower needing protection. In fact, Xie Yu might not even be able to defeat Pei An if it came to a fight, given Pei An’s extraordinary mental strength.

 

To go to Golden Leaf Star, Pei An and Xie Yu were also preparing in secret, with crucial technical support from Li Chengrui.

 

“Pei An, even if you come back quickly, it will still take at least two or three days. Have you thought about what excuse to use to cover up your absence?” Li Chengrui asked with concern, handing over two tiny chips, each the size of a fingernail, to Pei An.

 

Pei An took the chips, attached one to himself and gave the other to Xie Yu, saying, “I’ve decided. I’ll say I’m on my period.”

 

In fact, his period was due around the time they would be at Golden Leaf Star.

 

Li Chengrui showed a disapproving expression. “You still want to go out during your period? Are you really courting death?”

 

An omega on their period in the dangerous territory of the rebels was extremely risky.

 

Pei An didn’t believe he had to hide just because of his period. He touched the barely noticeable chip on himself. “Xie Yu is with me; nothing will happen. I will also carry suppressants.”

 

Li Chengrui knew he couldn’t dissuade Pei An and could only provide safety support. He sighed and said, “These chips will automatically adhere to your skin and can’t be removed unless programmed otherwise. They can blur your appearance and alter your voice, but they are single-use and only last for ten days.”

 

The ten-day validity was enough for their mission to Golden Leaf Star.

 

“The troops are ready. Let’s go,” Xie Yu said, holding Pei An’s hand and nodding to Li Chengrui.

 

Li Chengrui waved them off. “Go on, the sooner you leave, the sooner you’ll be back.”

 

To go to Golden Leaf Star, Pei An not only obtained the chips from Li Chengrui for camouflage but also changed his outfit. Some people had sharp eyes, and the rebels wouldn’t play by the rules, so it was possible to be recognized by physique alone.

 

To blend in better, Pei An had ordered a set of women’s clothing online. Golden Leaf Star’s weather was different, being deep autumn and approaching winter. He bought a dress consisting of a blouse and a long, ankle-length skirt. Under the skirt, Pei An hid many items and wore a small cloak over it, looking like a high-society lady.

 

In addition to changing into women’s clothing, Pei An had also attached long, wavy hair and applied makeup. To appear flawless, he had even shaved his eyebrows into a crescent shape.

 

With the help of Li Chengrui’s chips, and a changed voice, Pei An successfully transformed into a noble lady.

 

Xie Yu’s height and typical male alpha build made it impossible for him to disguise as a woman. Even female alphas couldn’t match his physique, so he remained in male attire, though his military uniform was replaced with a fashionable gentleman’s outfit, complete with a hat and a cane.

 

Together, they looked like a gentleman and a noble lady.

 

Gu Fan was left in charge of the military, and apart from Li Chengrui, he was the only one who knew about their infiltration into Golden Leaf Star. It was necessary to involve Gu Fan to ensure their cover worked effectively.

 

The small spacecraft departed alongside the attacking army, blending in with a large fleet of small ships. During the journey, they initiated a series of jumps, silently detaching from the main fleet and making consecutive jumps towards Golden Leaf Star.

 

The personnel stationed on Golden Leaf Star had already investigated the rebel’s reconnaissance methods and routines and had identified a docking location for the small spacecraft at a private spaceport.

 

This private spaceport was owned by an influential individual on Golden Leaf Star, someone with high status in civilian circles. To better control Golden Leaf Star, the rebels treated this individual well and did not inspect the private spaceport, making it a suitable location for docking the small spacecraft.

 

The small spacecraft reached the outer boundary of Golden Leaf Star, bypassing the rebel’s detection systems with advanced technology. Once they confirmed entry into Golden Leaf Star, the local personnel temporarily shut down the spaceport’s surveillance system and replaced it with a fake one.

 

Under the cover of the infiltrating personnel, the small spacecraft successfully landed on Golden Leaf Star and docked at the spaceport.

 

Since only a small spacecraft was used, and if Li Chengrui’s technology had been applied to a warship, their infiltration would have been impossible due to the large target a warship presents.

 

After landing, the teams dispersed, each with their own task and no knowledge of each other’s missions. Without communication, they would not contact other teams, and even those on the ground did not interact with anyone from the spacecraft. They controlled the spaceport’s surveillance and left behind usable hover cars but did not meet anyone from the spacecraft.

 

Pei An assigned himself the task closest to the Ginkgo Plaza, where the rebels were holding their founding ceremony. The goal was to sabotage the raising of the rebel flag.

 

The national flag was crucial; if it failed to be raised at the founding ceremony, it would symbolize the failure of the new regime. While not highly damaging, it would be extremely humiliating.

 

The rebels had put effort into their appearance and had invited notable families from the ten occupied star systems to attend the ceremony, whether willingly or not. Refusal could result in severe consequences.

 

Pei An used the identity of a noble couple from a certain planet as cover. After handing over their identities, the couple had safely relocated to a non-enemy-controlled area.

 

Ginkgo Plaza was the largest and most prestigious square on Golden Leaf Star, a key landmark. The name Golden Leaf Star was derived from the color of the ginkgo leaves. The entire planet was covered in ginkgo trees.

 

Near Ginkgo Plaza was the Ginkgo Hotel, the best hotel on Golden Leaf Star. All guests “invited” by the rebels stayed there, and the rebels had stationed troops at the hotel.

 

These rebels served both as protection and surveillance.

 

Pei An and Xie Yu entered the hotel, Pei An clutching Xie Yu’s arm with a look of fear, pressing closer to the alpha while whispering, “Darling, it’s so scary.”

 

Xie Yu was almost caught off guard by the term “darling,” as he and Pei An had never used such affectionate terms. However, Xie Yu quickly adjusted, opening his arms to pull Pei An into a protective embrace, wrapping his arms around him in a full protective stance.

 

“Don’t be afraid, darling.”

 

Xie Yu also feigned fear, swallowing nervously.

 

Though the rebels did not openly acknowledge it, their glances clearly conveyed: Look, here’s a coward pretending to be impressive.

 

However, the rebel assigned to guide them was far more professional than those in brown military uniforms. He completed their check-in and handed over the room card, saying, “Sir, your room is 8808. Here’s your room card.”

 

Xie Yu took the card with a slight tremor, pretending to be calm, and led Pei An towards the elevator.

 

They took the elevator to the eighth floor, where the hallway was also filled with rebels, with armed guards stationed every ten meters. However, in Xie Yu’s eyes, their military posture had many flaws.

 

Pei An continued to play the role of a frightened person, visibly shrinking his neck upon seeing so many rebels. “Why are there so many people…”

 

Xie Yu, holding Pei An closely, cautiously approached their room door, swiped the card to enter.

 

He inserted the card, closed the door, and locked it with a sense of urgency.

 

Once they were inside the room, they didn’t relax. Pei An lifted his skirt and retrieved a small shielding device from his leg—a piece of high-tech equipment created by Li Chengrui. No matter what was in the room, the device could block it out.

 

After placing the shielding device, they finally shed their fearful expressions and calmly moved to the sofa.

 

Pei An sat down and lifted his skirt to start using the helpful tool he had brought along.

 

Xie Yu went to wash a cup, as they still needed to drink water while they were there.

 

With the sound of running water, Pei An assembled a tiny detector. This device was very small, capable of securely attaching to surfaces or sliding into drains.

 

Once the tiny detector was set up, Pei An opened the room’s window and placed the device on the wall. The device immediately used its “simulation” function to hide itself, eliminating the possibility of detection.

 

After finishing, Pei An pretended to look out the window.

 

Their room had an excellent location, directly facing Ginkgo Plaza, where a tall flagpole stood. Tomorrow, the rebel flag would be raised there.

 

The rebels had seemingly no intention of concealing their origins, with the flag displaying a cross of a sword and a knife, topped with a skull—essentially a pirate flag. Their arrogance was so high they didn’t fear embarrassment.

 

Xie Yu meticulously washed the cup several times before drying and setting it down, then joined Pei An at the window.

 

He leaned against the window sill, enveloping Pei An with his body.

 

Xie Yu tilted his head and whispered to Pei An, “Did you detect any surveillance?”

 

Pei An gave a barely perceptible “mm” and turned his head to kiss Xie Yu.

 

If the rebels liked to monitor, then let them watch.

 

Pei An thought that if the rebels were perceptive, they might also engage in romance and marriage, and seeing this scene would surely make them envious.

 

After kissing for a while, Xie Yu glanced at the hidden surveillance and then picked Pei An up. The window was automated; they just needed to give a voice command for it to close and the curtains to draw.

 

Xie Yu did just that but, after placing Pei An on the bed, he did nothing else. He poured unopened bottled water into the cup and handed it to Pei An.

 

Pei An took a sip of water and pressed the back of his neck, saying, “Xie Yu, my heat is today.”

 

If the timing were different, the luxurious Ginkgo Hotel would have been perfect for a passionate heat.

 

“Then later, I’ll give you a temporary mark,” Xie Yu said, holding Pei An close in his arms. “For now, don’t think about anything else. Just treat it as a normal heat; you’re simply requesting pheromones from your alpha.”

 

The familiar scent of ice and snow pheromones filled the air, mingling with the floral aroma.

 

Pei An closed his eyes, leaning against Xie Yu, and inhaled his pheromones.

 

He thought that once they returned from Golden Leaf Star, he would undergo a complete marking with Xie Yu.

 

They could never leave each other and would never want to.