The Males Were Reborn After The Female Ruler Was Scumbed [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 24

In that instant, countless thoughts flashed through Lu Qing’s mind: shock, heartache, confusion, suspicion…

But in the end, with thousands of words clogging up, his language function crashed yet again.

Lu Qing took a deep breath, struggled to sit up. Lying down for too long had deprived his brain of oxygen, leaving him a bit unsure what to say.

Lan Xi was already secretly observing Lu Qing. Seeing this, he subconsciously reached out to help him.

Lu Qing avoided his hand and steadied himself against the headboard.

Lan Xi’s outstretched hand froze in mid-air. After a long moment, he slowly retracted it.

The male Zerg’s reaction made him feel uncertain. Lan Xi pursed his lips. Had he gone too far this time?

“Lan Xi, I don’t understand.” Lu Qing stared steadily at him, genuinely confused. “You did all this…”

“Was it truly for me…”

Lu Qing said expressionlessly, “Or are you using me as a cover to hide your real motive?”

Lan Xi: “…………”

Lan Xi was silent for a moment, then gave a somewhat helpless smile, as if sighing. “You guessed it, huh?”

Lu Qing: “…There’s nothing to guess.”

Lu Qing admitted that he was shocked when Chu Ran first told him the news.

For a moment, Lu Qing had suspected that Lan Xi had genuinely and inexplicably fallen for him and was plotting against him.

But when Lan Xi mentioned 60% control of the crystal ore mines, Lu Qing quickly realized that this was impossible.

Lu Qing smiled meaningfully, as if he had realized something. “You are the leader of the Adeli family. 60% control of the crystal ore mines… such an immense wealth held in the hands of others would pose a threat to your family.”

“How could you do something that harms the family’s interests for an insignificant male Zerg like me?”

Lan Xi’s curved lips flattened. “Lu Qing, I said it before, you are not an insignificant Zerg. You are my…”

“Alright, alright.” Lu Qing casually hummed and hawed, making a gesture to stop him from continuing. “I know, we are friends.”

To hell with your friend.

“Hear me out. Chu Ran… oh, that’s my friend, told me that if you personally came forward and negotiated this matter with the Male Zerg Rescue Association, things would become very complicated.”

“But you still personally showed up.”

And you did it in the name of the Adeli family.

It’s as if you were deliberately afraid the Nicous family wouldn’t know your identity and wouldn’t come to you for profit.

Lu Qing said, “With your capabilities, there are clearly many ways to resolve this matter.”

Even Lu Qing, a person who is not good at using his brain, could think of it. He has so many subordinates, friends… just pass it through a few hands, and who could trace it back to Lan Xi?

Getting anyone else to resolve it would not result in a situation worse than the current one.

Yet, he chose the most thankless option.

To take a step back, even if Lan Xi didn’t consider anything else and genuinely wanted to help him, he wouldn’t use this method.

Lu Qing understood Lan Xi. He was accustomed to weighing the pros and cons and seeking the maximum benefit.

As Chu Ran said, Lan Xi never does a loss-making business.

His agreement to this matter indicates that he didn’t lose anything.

“You are using this matter to deal with the Nicous family, aren’t you?”

Lan Xi adjusted his glasses and slowly said, “In the past, although the two major families were reluctant to submit to each other, they were far from the current hostility—a life-or-death situation.”

“Starting with my mother, the Adeli family gradually grew stronger. Both families belong to the political arena, and as one rises, the other is bound to decline.”

“No one is willing to be replaced. Over the years, their actions targeting us have also been frequent.”

“A few years ago, I was exiled, and the family fell into the hands of that idiot, Seth, causing us to lose our advantage when facing the Nicous family.”

Lan Xi quietly looked at Lu Qing. “I must do something to break the deadlock.”

Otherwise, the Adeli family would sooner or later be destroyed by their alliance with other forces.

The previous incident with General Wales is the best example.

“About half a month ago, I received news that Nicous’s energy mine on Theta Star had been depleted after hundreds of years of mining. They urgently needed new funds to operate.”

“And the crystal ore is the Trojan horse I’m sending them. Even if they know it’s a trap, they will swallow it.”

Lan Xi stared intently at Lu Qing, his expression unreadable. “Before that, I needed an excuse…”

Without waiting for Lu Qing to react, Lan Xi continued, “Lu Qing, are you satisfied with this explanation?”

Lu Qing: “…”

Satisfied is a stretch. Being used still makes him a bit uncomfortable.

But Lu Qing was very worried that Lan Xi had ulterior motives for him, afraid that he couldn’t give what he wanted.

After the person who raised Lu Qing died, Lu Qing drifted for a long time.

In his long drifting, he constantly met with setbacks and experienced the cold reality of human nature. He only loved himself because he only had himself.

No one cared about him, and no one loved him… Lu Qing also never hoped for those elusive things.

Lu Qing felt that all relationships in this world were less pure and simple than relationships based on mutual benefit.

You use me, and I gain benefits from you. What a mutually beneficial arrangement.

Everyone can profit without psychological pressure, just like now.

Lan Xi used him to conceal his true purpose, and he himself, without losing anything, got his life back from the Male Zerg Rescue Association.

If anything, he came out ahead.

He was even a little relieved, relieved that Lan Xi didn’t harbor any other thoughts toward him.

“You’re glad, aren’t you?”

Lu Qing subconsciously covered his mouth: “…”

…When did he blurt out what he was thinking?

Lan Xi almost laughed out of anger. He reached out, for the first time in his life disregarding his composure, wanting to grab someone’s collar.

But he found that the other person was entirely covered in bandages, making it somewhat impossible to start.

So, he angrily lifted the other person’s chin, forcing him to look directly at him.

“Lu Qing!!”

Lu Qing was caught off guard, meeting the angry eyes of the sub-female, and was stunned. “…Why are you angry, Lan Xi?”

Lan Xi: “…”

He wanted to say: Do you think if I also used you, you could feel at ease distancing yourself from me and successfully hide from me, as you wished?

But when he met those beautiful amber eyes, his temper suddenly deflated like a flat balloon, leaking all its air.

Lan Xi slowly released his hand a beat later, his voice barely audible. “I have selfish motives, Lu Qing.”

“You are so smart, why do you always play dumb with me?”

Lu Qing unconsciously curled his fingers. “You…”

Lan Xi looked at him and said softly, “You can think of so many ways I could have resolved the matter with the Male Zerg Rescue Association. Then why can’t you figure out why I had to use you as an excuse when I had so many other excuses I could use to send the crystal ore over?”

Lu Qing hadn’t figured it out yet and subconsciously said, “Why…”

Because you are my selfish motive.

It is because I wanted to help you, wanted to change our relationship, that I used your situation to send the crystal ore to the Nicous family.

It’s not because I wanted to deal with the Nicous family that I used you as an excuse…

It’s because I like you.

The words reached his lips, but Lan Xi stopped for some reason, shifting his gaze in a self-conscious manner. The silver strands of hair fell to his ear, making him appear somewhat cool and gloomy.

If someone had told Lan Xi three years ago that he would become infatuated with a male Zerg three years later, liking him after only a few days of interaction.

That he would use little tricks to get him to move into his home, find excuses to eat with him at a couple’s restaurant, and change his plans for him…

That he would care about a male Zerg like this.

Lan Xi would have definitely pressed the Zerg who said that into the crystal mine to dig.

But today, three years later, this happened unexpectedly.

Outside Lu Qing’s emergency room, Lan Xi’s hands were covered in his bl00d. The terror he felt at that moment made him realize this point with undeniable clarity.

He liked him very much.

He liked this male Zerg who only cared about himself and had no room for other Zerg in his heart.

He liked this male Zerg who was selfish but always loved to do good deeds.

He liked this male Zerg who loved money but only loved the money he earned himself…

But that male Zerg… liked him.

Yet for some reason, he kept avoiding him.

Although it didn’t show on the surface, Lan Xi could sense that he didn’t want any relationship with him.

So, he always rejected him, always avoided him.

Lan Xi wanted to break this deadlock and stimulate him, after all, the male Zerg loved money so much.

If the male Zerg felt distressed or touched, he would take advantage of the situation to show weakness. If the male Zerg felt apprehensive… then he could approach him more forcefully.

As long as he stopped being so eager to avoid him whenever he got close, everything could be resolved.

Lan Xi actually didn’t want the male Zerg to know his feelings right now because he felt the male Zerg would run.

But at this moment, the male Zerg was being stubborn and relentlessly asked, “Lan Xi, why…?”

Lan Xi seemed to recall something, meaningfully tugged at the corner of his lips, and slowly took off his glasses.

“Do you really want to know?”

Lu Qing: “…”

A second ago, Lu Qing did want to know, but with Lan Xi asking like this… he became a little hesitant again.

He felt like something was about to slip out of his control.

Lu Qing sheepishly rubbed his nose. “Well, maybe let’s forget it.”

“I’m not that curious.”

Lan Xi laughed, his voice shifting from muffled to hearty, laughing until tears came to his eyes.

Lu Qing: “…”

What’s wrong? Is he crazy?

Mama, I’m scared.

QAQ

“Lu Qing.” Lan Xi finished laughing and reached out to wipe the tears from the corners of his eyes. “Let me tell you a story.”

“Once, I met a little white cat. It was a stray.”

“It was very cute. I happened to see it twice and fell in love with it.”

“I wanted to stroke its fur, give it clean food and water, and give it a home, but the little white cat was very guarded. It would run away whenever I got close.”

“I originally planned to take it slow, thinking I should be patient… and gradually proceed.”

Lan Xi looked at Lu Qing with a half-smile. “But later, I found that the fellow got worse the more I indulged it, and you know… I’m not very patient.”

“Do you know what happened later?”

Lu Qing: “…”

He didn’t really want to know.

“I kidnapped it home.” Lan Xi said. “Now it lets me pet it, hug it, and kiss it at home.”

Lu Qing: “…”

Lan Xi tilted his head. “Actually, whether it’s a cat or a male Zerg, it’s all the same, isn’t it?”

Then, as Lu Qing’s pupils dilated in shock, the sub-female cupped his chin and heavily kissed him.

Lu Qing: “!!!”

Author’s Note:

Lan Xi: I’m coming clean, no more pretending.

Trust me, they’ll be sweet soon.