52 4.14

Another vigorous workout later, a sluggish Chen Yu was lifted up with a blanket wrapped around him from head to toe and carried to the space shuttle platform, where the rest of the twelfth-graders were already gathered. The instructors, who had barely been able to speak a word of congratulations to these two before they'd secluded themselves in a bedroom, shot disapproving glares at the couple, but in the end, they allowed them to board without a fuss, secretly deciding it was only appropriate for geniuses like them to be eccentric.

Unaware of this generous bias due to the hazy light from the waning moons, Chen Yu, who had been lifted onto Hou Yi's lap after takeoff, leaned bonelessly against his chest, simultaneously cursing the boy and listening to the chatter around them. Their blatant display of affection naturally drew the attention of many of the teenagers, but it seemed that there were too many other things happening to fixate on them. Since Chen Yu had spent most of the last two days in bed with brief interruptions to handle his targets, he was somewhat interested in what rumors were going around, he entertained himself by tuning in.

The most exciting piece of gossip was apparently that the battle between the Imperial and Federation soldiers had resulted in serious casualties on both sides, with most of the enemy starships ending up destroyed, fueling the public's protests against the military's neglect which could have destroyed an entire grade, hundreds of future elites. Everything from the weak planet shield to the delayed reaction of the soldiers was held up as proof that the military didn't value children's lives, risking them to sift out the individuals they deemed worthy.

Additionally, calls for General Hou to recognize Jin Yongguang's innocence had become even more intense, those students and adults who had harshly condemned the youth could only hope to hide their faces that had been torn off and completely trampled, while Jin Zhong had taken this chance to try to ride on his son's coattails, continually professing that he'd been wrongly accused as well.

Sneering, Chen Yu disregarded the scum and used his communicator to search for information on the original owner's younger brother as well as on the protagonist.

Since the attack on Planet Z83 had become such a critical issue, the military had been forced to investigate. Having no confidence that they would ever come to a conclusion unless he provided some clues, Chen Yu had hacked in to see their files a few days ago, and sure enough, they had still barely skimmed the surface, merely suspecting Jin Zhong's secretary after discovering records of his recent contact with Imperial officers. A few clicks later, he'd added on to their information, including a note on the communication between the secretary and someone in Murong Wen's hometown. That must have been enough to move things along, because, based on their progress, what was left of the protagonist would be found later today.

As for Jin Jia's sole heir, although he had managed to continue attending his private school by getting himself adopted into a distant side branch of the family, there wouldn't be enough funds for him there to create any trouble, Chen Yu indifferently closed the requests the boy had sent yesterday asking him to support their parents' claims.

He couldn't tell whether this sibling of his was oblivious or shameless.

For weeks, once Jin Zhong and his wife had figured out that their son had helped to put them on death row, their hatred for him had been unparalleled, they'd wasted their opportunities to use the military's communicator to send him numerous vicious recordings. Nevertheless, a couple days ago, hearing that Jin Yongguang's image had been washed clean, they had insisted that he uphold his filial duty to absolve his parents of blame, probably encouraging their younger son to persuade him as well.

It was unfortunate that Chen Yu was careless, he'd 'accidentally' released the whole series of messages to the network, provoking such fury that their date of execution was moved forward.

Hou Yi gazed on with a satisfied curve on his thin lips as Chen Yu's fingers flew over his personal terminal so quickly that he couldn't discern what he was doing. Of course he'd known that Ah Guang wasn't stupid, but watching him work so wholeheartedly, he couldn't help but feel that it was true that a man was the handsomest when he was focused.

Studying that bright, mesmerizing face, his blood began to heat up again, he raised the blanket wrapped around Ah Guang to cover both of them then turned the slim body so that he was being straddled, those tender hips sitting directly on top of his crotch.

Chen Yu didn't blush, he stared frankly at the other boy and murmured, "Ah Yi, you get hard at anything!"

Choking at the rather accurate statement, Hou Yi seductively squeezed Ah Guang's lean waist, subtly thrusting upwards. "It only happens when you're near me...Ah Guang, I've heard that holding it in isn't good for the health, it could cause lasting damage. You like sparring with me, so I have to maintain my condition, right?"

This pervert...Despite rolling his eyes at this ridiculous pretence inside, Chen Yu couldn't go OOC by ignoring such bait, he sighed and wrapped his arms around Hou Yi's shoulders, grinding his butt against the scalding heat. "En, Ah Yi, I can help you release, but don't put it in, everyone will know."

At this mention of going all the way in public, Hou Yi leaned against his seat, one hand caressing Ah Guang's throat and the other slipping inside his pants to rub his front. While he hadn't intended to go so far, the idea of claiming him in front of everyone made him stiffen even more, as did the thought that perhaps Ah Guang had brought it up because he craved it. A few minutes later, gazing at the other boy's length that was already jerking and leaking pearly liquid down his thighs, Hou Yi couldn't hold back, he swiped his wet fingers inside him while shoving the other's neck down for a kiss to muffle his cries.

"Are you sure?" he whispered. "Really don't want it?"

Chen Yu gritted his teeth, panting out, "W-want it, but we can't..."

The moment he admitted his desire, Hou Yi push himself in, rasping out, "If you want it, then take it." Gasping at the tight fit, he moved in shallow strokes, persistently pressing against the spot that made the other boy shudder feverishly until Ah Guang couldn't hold back, slamming himself down over and over. Even when they finally finished, Hou Yi didn't withdraw, simply wiping Ah Guang up and holding him close.

---

Whereas a spring breeze was blowing around the couple, Murong Wen was lying on the ground, stuck forever with an expression of fear and shock on his face.

More than a week ago, he'd been watching the live streamed assessment, anticipating the moment Hou Yi was captured, how he would be humiliated, how the viewers would criticize him and so on, only to be struck senseless, first at the way a pair of outnumbered children had defeated experienced soldiers, then by the Empire's move to kill Hou Yi instead of abducting him.

When he returned to reality, his face blanched.

According to his plan, the Federation's military should have been too preoccupied with Hou Yi's hostage situation to pay attention to who had orchestrated the incident, but now, all the students had survived, there was popular demand for an investigation because of Jin Yongguang's newfound fame, there was no way this would pass without a convicted culprit.

Still, he didn't give up, he approached the Imperial contact he'd spoken with before, threatening to reveal the names of the remaining spies within the Federation who'd cooperated with him for this scheme if he wasn't escorted to the Empire within three days. The officer snorted silently, but he agreed, asking him to report to a certain alley on that day.

Thus, the Federation soldiers who'd been tracking the identification information of the personal terminal which had been used to conspire with Jin Zhong's secretary followed the communicator signals to the distant slums, where they located a rotting corpse. The body was confirmed to be that of Murong Wen, a commoner who had failed out of the academy.

While the protagonist had at least been killed in one strike, General Hou was hounded incessantly by the other generals and the common populace, with constant complaints and calls for his resignation. Even the politicians who had previously bowed and scraped to him disdained him openly now, spitting on the ground when they passed him.

Furthermore, those involved in the government who were more attuned to the trends had noticed the voters' increasing inclination toward demilitarization, so they prepared to pass such legislation, holding up Jin Yongguang as a poster boy of how the military's lack of transparency, checks and balances, and prioritization of human life could cause great damage to the Federation and to the people. Naturally, General Hou was, in turn, built up to be the enemy who had perpetrated such injustice, he was the representation of how the military had monopolized power and harmed civilians.

Scanning the news of what the general was suffering these days, Chen Yu curiously turned toward Hou Yi. "Ah Yi, do you blame me for what your dad is going through?"

Hou Yi raised the corners of his lips, a glint flitting through his eyes. "The general deserves everything he's gotten." The man dared to hurt Ah Guang, dared to endanger him, this was barely sufficient as punishment for his sins, nor was their familial relationship such that it compelled his absolute loyalty. Aware that he did have someone like that now, his voice warmed, nuzzling against Ah Guang's collarbone, he puffed hot breaths against the sensitive skin as he promised, "Besides, I wouldn't blame you for anything, Ah Guang, there's nothing you could destroy that would matter more than you do to me."

Chen Yu hummed, narrowing his eyes. He might have been moved if the boy hadn't hardened again inside of him. Shaking his head, he sighed. Teenagers were so difficult to deal with ah.