Chapter 274: Extra (11)
In the eyes of their teammates, Ika, who was steadily evolving into a “demon king,” still revealed a soft and adorable side whenever he was around Rong Heng.
This wasn’t just due to their long-established dynamic. Rong Heng’s calm and cautious nature rarely put Ika in situations that made him anxious or frustrated.
Moreover, despite their five-year age difference in appearance, Rong Heng had always looked after him like an older brother.
As time passed and through intense training, Rong Heng had grown physically stronger, surpassing Ika in height and build. However, traces of youthful innocence still lingered on his face.
Seated at the table, Ika rested his chin on his hands, elbows propped up, and gazed at Rong Heng with a cheerful smile.
“Time to eat.” Rong Heng handed him a pair of chopsticks.
Instead of taking them, Ika leaned forward slightly and said, “I want you to feed me.”
Rong Heng sighed in mild exasperation but didn’t refuse. “What do you want to eat?”
“The garlic shrimp balls,” Ika said, glancing at the dishes.
Rong Heng picked one up and brought it to Ika’s lips.
“So delicious,” Ika said, clearly satisfied. “It reminds me of Earth.”
Hearing this, Rong Heng couldn’t help but feel a pang of sadness.
It had been a long time since they’d had a peaceful meal together like this. When they first arrived at the interstellar frontline, there was still some downtime, and Ika even had occasional opportunities to go swimming.
But as the war intensified, those moments became increasingly rare. In the past six months, they’d practically lived on the battlefield.
Thankfully, now that the war was nearing its end, the Earth Squad had been granted a brief reprieve—a chance to catch their breath.
“Are you finished with your work?” Rong Heng asked.
Ika, as the squad’s healer, was responsible for his teammates during missions. Back at the medical unit, he often took on additional patients when necessary. His innate talent in healing had made him an exceptional combat medic.
“Finished,” Ika replied.
“Then let’s go swimming tonight,” Rong Heng said. “I reserved a pool for us.”
Ika’s eyes lit up. “Just the two of us?”
“Yep.”
Rong Heng nodded. Ika preferred transforming into his merfolk form while swimming, and a private pool would be much more comfortable for that. With his military accolades and wealth, booking an entire pool wasn’t a problem for Rong Heng.
“Great!”
Ika’s stunning blue eyes curved into crescents as he smiled. It was clear how happy he was. “I’m going to swim to my heart’s content tonight!”
Seeing his joy, Rong Heng couldn’t help but feel delighted as well.
“Then let’s finish eating quickly so we can head out.”
“Alright!”
After dinner, the two left the medical unit and took a hovercar to a nearby club. The facility, established by the Star Alliance for its warriors, was designed to help soldiers relax and recuperate during their downtime.
Upon arriving at the pool, Ika, who hadn’t had the chance to swim or even take a proper bath in ages, wasted no time stripping off his clothes.
Under Rong Heng’s watchful gaze, Ika’s slender, fair figure leapt gracefully into the water. With a splash, a beautiful blue tail broke the surface, creating an elegant arc before disappearing beneath the waves.
The dazzling merfolk swam freely, his movements both fluid and captivating. After a couple of laps, he surfaced again with a splash.
Water droplets glistened on his blue hair, which was usually tied into a casual ponytail but now hung loose over his shoulders. The water trickled from his hair, down his flawless, pale skin, and back into the pool.
The soft lighting of the swimming hall cast a gentle glow over him, enhancing his ethereal beauty.
Even Rong Heng, who had seen Ika swim countless times, found his breath catching. He quickly averted his gaze and sat by the pool’s edge.
Ika loved swimming, but Rong Heng was more of a land-dweller.
This was likely due to the influence of his red-tailed lion bloodline. Over the years, the two bloodlines within him—red-tailed lion and eastern sea falcon—had achieved a delicate balance.
Though his falcon bloodline remained dominant, the lion bloodline had not been completely purified.
This unique combination had granted Rong Heng immense physical strength and spiritual power, sharpening his combat skills and swordsmanship through relentless practice on the battlefield.
Unlike on Earth, the interstellar battlefield offered no safety nets. They no longer had the powerful Su Ci to shield them.
For now, Rong Heng had swapped into swim trunks but was content to sit at the pool’s edge, dipping his legs into the water.
He wasn’t incapable of swimming, but he avoided it unless absolutely necessary.
Ika swam toward him and rested his arms on the pool’s edge.
Knowing Rong Heng’s preferences, Ika didn’t push him. As long as Rong Heng stayed nearby to keep him company, Ika was perfectly happy.
“Want some?”
Rong Heng pulled out a fruit platter from his storage pouch, the fruits pre-washed and neatly arranged.
Ika reached out, picked a grape, and carefully peeled it. Holding the peeled grape between his fingers, he brought it to Rong Heng’s lips with a cheerful smile.
“Here, you eat.”
His slender, fair fingers held the bright green grape, making his hand look like a delicate piece of art.
Rong Heng stared at him for a moment before leaning forward and accepting the grape.
The high-quality grape was plump and juicy, and as Ika pulled his fingers back after Rong Heng bit into the fruit, a bit of sticky juice clung to his fingertips. Without thinking, Ika brought his hand to his lips and licked his fingers clean.
“So sweet,” he said with a grin, tilting his head up at Rong Heng.
Rong Heng paused for a moment, his gaze lingering on Ika before he quickly looked away. “You eat,” he said, his voice calm but a bit distant.
With that, Rong Heng stretched out his long legs and slid into the water.
Ika blinked in surprise, watching Rong Heng swim away. Yang Yang’s in such a good mood today? He actually took the initiative to go swimming.
Curious and delighted, Ika popped another grape into his mouth before diving into the water, his tail flicking gracefully as he swam after Rong Heng.
It was a rare opportunity to see Rong Heng this relaxed, and Ika wasn’t about to let it slip by.
In the shimmering water of the pool, the two figures played and chased each other, Ika’s laughter ringing joyfully in the otherwise quiet swimming hall.
While Ika enjoyed his carefree time, Lang Ze, having left the medical unit, was feeling much less at ease.
First, he stopped by a familiar restaurant to pick up Zheng Xing’s favorite dishes before slowly making his way back to their shared dormitory. Along the way, he agonized over how to make amends.
This time, it was undeniably his own carelessness that led to the ambush. If not for Ika, he might not have survived.
He imagined how upset and angry Zheng Xing would be when he found out how serious his injuries had been.
What should I do? Lang Ze thought. I’ll have to admit my mistake right away, review the incident thoroughly, and sincerely reflect on my actions. Even Ika was angry—there’s no way Xing Xing will forgive me easily.
As he rehearsed his apology over and over, Lang Ze returned to the dormitory—only to find it empty.
“Could he have gone out?”
Lang Ze frowned. Zheng Xing rarely left the dorm unless necessary, preferring to send robots to handle errands. And it was late—what could he possibly need to do in person?
Feeling uneasy, Lang Ze sent a voice message to Zheng Xing.
But there was no response.
Now genuinely worried, Lang Ze called out, “Xiao Zhi, are you there?”
After a moment, a familiar electronic voice lazily responded, “I’m here.”
Even though they were no longer on Earth or at Base 24, the children had discovered that whenever they needed help, calling for Xiao Zhi would still summon its assistance.
“Do you know where Zheng Xing is?” Lang Ze asked.
“He’s at the research institute,” Xiao Zhi replied.
Lang Ze let out a sigh of relief, though a twinge of disappointment lingered.
That’s it? He’s just at work?
Lang Ze scratched his head, then brightened. It didn’t matter—as long as Zheng Xing wasn’t mad at him, that was the most important thing.
After leaving Zheng Xing’s dinner in the kitchen, Lang Ze devoured his own meal. He was ravenous—while the medical pod had healed his injuries, it left behind a debilitating weakness that only rest and proper nutrition could cure.
Once full, Lang Ze flopped onto the sofa to wait for Zheng Xing. Before long, he dozed off.
When he woke up the next morning and realized Zheng Xing still hadn’t returned, Lang Ze began to panic.
“Xiao Zhi, is Zheng Xing still at the research institute?”
“Yes.”
“Is he working on a task assigned by the Star Alliance?” Lang Ze asked cautiously.
“There have been no such notifications,” Xiao Zhi replied.
Lang Ze began pacing anxiously. He must be angry—so angry that he doesn’t even want to come home anymore!
Desperate, Lang Ze tried calling Zheng Xing again. To his surprise, this time, the call went through.
“Zheng Xing!” Lang Ze exclaimed, overjoyed. “I’m back! I’m at home now. We still have five days left of this short break. When will you come home?”
“Hmm,” Zheng Xing’s soft, gentle voice replied, “wait two more days.”
Lang Ze froze. This had never happened before. In the past, no matter how busy Zheng Xing was, he would always drop everything to meet Lang Ze as soon as he returned.
“Lang Ze, I’m busy right now. Let’s talk later,” Zheng Xing said, his tone calm but distant.
Before Lang Ze could say anything else, the line disconnected.
“Xing Xing, are you mad at me?” Lang Ze asked.
There was a brief silence before Zheng Xing replied, “No, I’m not mad. Let’s talk when I get back.”
Then, Zheng Xing ended the call.
Lang Ze stared blankly at the communicator, his heart sinking. A hollow, uneasy feeling spread through his chest, leaving him distressed.
After sitting in a daze for a while, he bolted out the door and ran next door to find Lu Jiao.
It was still early in the morning, and Lu Jiao was having breakfast when he saw Lang Ze rush in with a miserable expression.
“Youyou! Youyou! Something’s wrong!” Lang Ze cried.
Now 19 years old, Lu Jiao’s silver-white hair had grown slightly longer, and the years of scholarly study had imbued him with a calm, intellectual demeanor.
Hearing Lang Ze’s words, Lu Jiao blinked gently, unfazed. He handed him a glass of soy milk and said soothingly, “Don’t panic. Take your time and tell me what happened.”
Lang Ze gulped down the soy milk, calming himself slightly.
“Are you fully recovered? I was planning to check on you later,” Lu Jiao said, handing him a steamed bun.
Lang Ze, about to speak, took the bun and devoured it in a few bites. His cheeks puffed up as he mumbled, “I was already fine yesterday…”
Finally, now fully composed, Lang Ze told Lu Jiao about Zheng Xing.
“Do you think Xing Xing doesn’t want to talk to me anymore?” he asked pitifully.
Lu Jiao was puzzled but shook his head. “I don’t think so. He said he’d talk to you when he gets back, right? Maybe his project has reached a critical point, and he really can’t step away right now.”
“It’s like when you’re writing a song—when inspiration strikes, you want to finish it all in one go, don’t you?”
Lang Ze nodded, though something still felt off. However, Lu Jiao’s explanation made sense. “Maybe I’m just overthinking it?”
“Probably,” Lu Jiao affirmed. “You still have plenty of time during this break, so just wait for him.”
“Alright,” Lang Ze agreed.
“Your injuries were serious this time. How are you feeling now?” Lu Jiao asked with concern.
“I’m fine, just a bit weak.”
Although it had been his closest brush with death, Lang Ze spoke lightly, not wanting to worry his friend.
“Well, I’ll head off then. I need to prepare some good food for Xing Xing when he gets back, and I’ll play him a new song!” Lang Ze said with a bright smile. His near-death experience had given him a fresh perspective.
“Alright,” Lu Jiao replied, escorting him back to his dorm before leaving.
Over the next two days, Lang Ze stayed at the dorm to rest and compose music. He ordered all his supplies through delivery robots, keeping himself busy while waiting.
On the day Zheng Xing was supposed to return, Lang Ze went to the research institute early to wait for him.
Everyone at the institute knew about their close relationship, so Lang Ze was escorted straight to the lab where Zheng Xing was working.
Before leaving, the person guiding him said, “He’s been in there for almost a week, only sleeping two or three hours a day and surviving on nutrient fluids. If you can, try to convince him to take a break.”
The war was nearing its end, and such grueling work wasn’t necessary anymore. Everyone, especially the higher-ups in the Star Alliance, was worried about Zheng Xing’s health.
Lang Ze was taken aback. He nodded and waited for the person to leave before approaching the lab.
The door, which usually opened automatically for him, remained firmly shut this time. Lang Ze frowned deeply and called out softly, “Xiao Zhi.”
“I’m here,” the familiar voice replied.
“Open the door. I need to go in,” Lang Ze said firmly.
Zheng Xing could ignore him, even stay mad at him, but Lang Ze wouldn’t let him ruin his health.
Under Lang Ze’s persistent request, the tightly sealed metal door finally opened. What Lang Ze saw inside made him freeze in place, his breath caught in his throat.
Zheng Xing, his thin frame trembling, was struggling to stand while using his hands to steady himself against nearby equipment.
Hearing the sound at the door, Zheng Xing turned his head. His pale, gaunt face came into view, startling Lang Ze.
Lang Ze felt a sharp pain in his chest and rushed forward, wrapping Zheng Xing in a protective hug.
“You’ve overexerted your mental energy again, haven’t you?” he said angrily.
Zheng Xing, initially startled, relaxed in Lang Ze’s familiar and comforting embrace. The tension left his body, replaced by deep exhaustion.
“Lang Ze…” he murmured softly before closing his eyes and fainting in Lang Ze’s arms.
When Zheng Xing woke up, he was back in their dorm, lying on the soft, familiar bed.
Everything around him was dark; his severely depleted mental energy hadn’t recovered enough to restore his vision. His head ached, his body felt weak, and hunger gnawed at him.
As he moved his fingers slightly, he felt something soft and furry beneath them.
“You’re awake?”
That soothing voice reached his ears, immediately calming him.
He knew exactly what he was touching—it was Lang Ze’s tail. Although Lang Ze had gained excellent control over his beastly traits as he grew older, he still let his ears and tail show whenever he was with Zheng Xing.
Zheng Xing wrapped his arms around the fluffy, large tail, holding it tightly as he nestled closer into Lang Ze’s embrace, rubbing against him with a sense of deep reliance.
Seeing this, Lang Ze felt both heartache and helplessness. The words of scolding he had intended to say turned into something much softer:
“I’ll make you something to eat. Do you want some porridge?”
He loosened his hold on Zheng Xing and was about to get up when the boy, following the trail of his tail, reached out and grabbed his hand.
“Lang Ze, wait.”
Lang Ze sat back down, watching Zheng Xing’s pale, thin face. He pressed his lips together before speaking. “Xing Xing, I’m sorry. I was too reckless this time. I shouldn’t have worried you…”
When he saw Zheng Xing in the lab, frail and overworked, he had been overcome with fear.
He couldn’t lose Zheng Xing. Just as Zheng Xing couldn’t lose him.
“Mm,” Zheng Xing responded softly, reaching up to touch Lang Ze’s cheek. After a gentle caress, he withdrew his hand and began feeling around his own body.
“What are you looking for?” Lang Ze asked.
“My pouch,” Zheng Xing replied.
Lang Ze fetched Zheng Xing’s storage pouch from the drawer, placed it in his hand, and said, “Here it is.”
Zheng Xing, too drained to open the pouch himself, instructed, “Take out what’s inside.”
Lang Ze opened the storage pouch and found only a necklace inside. “Is it this?”
He took out the necklace and placed it in Zheng Xing’s hand.
“Mm.”
Zheng Xing held the necklace carefully, then fumbled to clasp it around Lang Ze’s neck.
“This is for me?” Lang Ze asked, stunned.
Zheng Xing nodded softly, his slender fingers brushing over the metallic pendant. His weak voice carried a gentle warmth as he explained,
“This is a miniature mech. Its ability to detect danger has been enhanced to the highest level.”
“When it senses a threat, it will generate a protective shield in 0.01 seconds, and then transform into a miniature mech to protect your entire body.”
“It will take my place in protecting you.”
Lang Ze stared at Zheng Xing, at his frail and exhausted form. His voice trembled as he asked, “Have you been working on this all these days?”
Zheng Xing hesitated briefly before nodding.
“This mech isn’t perfect yet. I’ll keep improving it, but for now, you should use it.”
Lang Ze had always been adventurous, jumping from rooftops and soaring through the skies. Zheng Xing worried every time, but he couldn’t bring himself to stop him or clip his wings.
Lang Ze was like the wind—meant to live freely and joyfully.
The only thing Zheng Xing could do was provide him with protection, ensuring that his pursuit of freedom wouldn’t bring him harm.
“You have to wear it at all times. Never take it off,” Zheng Xing said firmly.
As soon as the words left his mouth, he was pulled into a pair of strong arms, enveloped in a solid, warm embrace.
“I won’t take it off… not ever…” Lang Ze’s voice was choked with emotion. “Not for the rest of my life.”
