If she revealed it now, Luo Wenchuan would probably never want to see her again.
“Know what?” Luo Wenchuan frowned as he looked up at her.
“I didn’t realize your bond ran so deep,” the Queen said slowly, her voice laced with regret. “I owe you an apology and to Xingze too. Please believe me, his gland will recover.”
“Unnecessary.” Luo Wenchuan rose to his full height, his tall frame casting a striking silhouette under the lights. His unnaturally calm gaze met hers. “Whether he’s an Omega or a Beta, I’ll stay by his side. Nothing and no one can change that.”
The Queen stood frozen.
That resolute look in Luo Wenchuan’s eyes was identical to when they’d last spoken—when he’d told her Yun Xingze was the most important person in his life.
She’d underestimated the depth of his love.
A love that transcended pheromones.
“I’m sorry…” The Queen lowered her eyes, murmuring almost to herself, “Xiao Chuan, your mother failed you.”
Hospital staff kept their heads bowed, pretending not to witness the scene.
Luo Wenchuan took a deep breath. “I need some time alone. You may excuse yourself.” With that, he strode from the ward.
Watching his retreating figure, the Queen saw only loneliness in his bearing. Guilt crested within her.
Had she not interfered; this destined pair wouldn’t be in this situation. They could have been so happy.
Closing her eyes briefly, the Queen turned to the unconscious youth on the hospital bed. “Forgive me,” she whispered to Yun Xingze.
Moments later, her demeanor shifted as she addressed the director with imperial authority: “Ensure my instructions are carried out precisely. Contact the royal household immediately if complications arise.”
The staff nodded nervously.
“Furthermore, transfer him to the finest ward with the galaxy’s most advanced equipment.” Her tone brooked no argument. “Upon waking, he’s to receive meals prepared to imperial standards. In essence…”
“Treat him as your future crown princess.”
Doctors scrambled to record every directive. The Queen’s investment was clear. Failure to restore the gland might cost them their careers.
Exiting the ward, the Queen approached Luo Wenchuan. “Xiao Chuan, I’ll oversee Xingze’s treatment personally. You must return to the palace as heir, duties await. Your father is displeased with today’s events.”
Luo Wenchuan gazed out the window, his expression shifting from calm to something more deliberate. Something fundamental had changed in his eyes.
When he turned back, he retreated a step from light into shadow, his features now unreadable.
“Xiao Chuan, regardless of circumstances, you must fulfill your responsibilities as heir.” The Queen feared rebellion, that he might renounce succession. “Your capabilities are undeniable. Don’t let emotions—”
A voice, terrifying in its composure, interrupted:
“I will become the heir properly.”
The Queen stiffened.
Luo Wenchuan spoke with chilling detachment, as if the recent turmoil had never occurred.
Every emotion had been sealed away.
In the shadows, Luo Wenchuan slightly raised his eyes, seemingly already prepared for his role as heir. A trace of dark emotion flashed through his gaze but was quickly concealed with perfection.
Truth be told, the Queen could tell that Luo Wenchuan had undergone significant changes in personality after meeting Yun Xingze.
The man who once preferred to conceal himself had gradually become more prone to smiling and speaking, even learning how to care for others.
But at this moment, Luo Wenchuan reverted to the intimidating presence that even the King had to tread carefully around.
With unhurried steps, Luo Wenchuan walked toward the other end of the corridor. The Queen hurried after him and asked, “Xiao Chuan, you have many things to attend to next. ”
“No rush,” Luo Wenchuan replied, turning to look at her. “I will handle everything that needs to be done.”
A faint smirk tugged at his lips, but the coldness in his narrow eyes remained unyielding, sharp as ice.
The Queen involuntarily swallowed hard. Seeing Luo Wenchuan like this, she wasn’t sure whether to feel relieved or sorrowful.
After Luo Wenchuan and the Queen left, Yun Changsheng and Qin Shuang stayed behind to care for Yun Xingze.
The hospital director personally performed a minor surgery to treat the wound on Yun Xingze’s gland, but it still proved futile.
Everyone was as frantic as ants on a hot pan, desperately brainstorming solutions, researching, and holding emergency meetings.
Just as the entire hospital was bustling with activity.
Two spacecrafts from Noah Star arrived one after another at the Imperial Capital Star.
First came the members of the Starsea Academy team. The moment they disembarked, they rushed straight to the hospital.
None of them had even eaten dinner, their minds solely preoccupied with Yun Xingze’s condition.
Aside from Richard and the team members, the principal of Starsea Military Academy also arrived at the hospital.
Yun Changsheng, who had just bid farewell to the Queen, was startled by the sudden commotion and stammered, “Y-you all came for Xingze?”
The principal nodded solemnly. “We were deeply concerned upon hearing about Xingze’s condition. He is one of Starsea’s most outstanding competitors, we cannot afford to lose him.”
Yun Changsheng was momentarily stunned by the principal’s words.
Seeing the genuine worry on everyone’s faces as they eagerly entered the ward, Yun Changsheng muttered in disbelief, “Is it really that serious? Even the principal came…”
The team members were furious at Yun Changsheng’s actions upon seeing Yun Xingze unconscious. They itched to drag Chi Yu over and beat him senseless.
But given that this was a hospital, they restrained themselves.
“Xingze really drew the short straw with parents like these,” Ke Lei said indignantly.
Olly clenched his fists. “Brother Yun has won so many matches for our school, yet his own family.”
Just then, Yun Changsheng and Qin Shuang entered the room.
The young team members couldn’t hide their emotions, glaring at the pair with undisguised hostility.
The two flinched, momentarily feeling as if they were about to be attacked.
Yun Changsheng nervously asked, “W-what do you all want?”
Richard stepped forward, blocking the team members, and said to Yun Changsheng, “Mr. Yun Changsheng, do you truly not care about Yun Xingze at all?”
Yun Changsheng shifted uncomfortably. “W-well, that’s not exactly.”
“Are you aware that Xingze is the Omega who made history at Starsea Military Academy?” Richard frowned. “His abilities are undeniable, and his performance in the NCLM has amazed everyone. Yet you forced him into an engagement?”
Qin Shuang lowered her head in shame upon hearing this.
Yun Changsheng said in a daze, “No matter how impressive he is, doesn’t he still have to get married? It’s not like he can join the military, right?”
“You’re absolutely right,” the Starsea Academy principal said coldly to Yun Changsheng. “Several commanders from interstellar military districts have already inquired about Yun Xingze’s personal information. As long as he successfully completes NCLM, joining the military is just a matter of time.”
“W-what?! Is this true?!” Yun Changsheng widened his eyes in shock. “Him? An Omega? Actually, getting attention from military commanders?! How is that possible…”
The team members couldn’t hold back anymore:
“What’s wrong with being an Omega? Does that mean he’s not your son anymore?!”
“Xingze is incredibly talented. Just because you can’t see his worth doesn’t mean you get to deny his future!”
“If you look down on him now, don’t come crawling back when he joins the military.”
“His significance to Starsea Academy’s team has long transcended gender boundaries.”
The team was still relatively restrained in their emotions, but the hot-tempered Caleb couldn’t help but curse: “Fuck, are you even worthy of being his parents? I thought his amazing mecha skills came from family training, but turns out this is how you treat him normally. Xingze should just change his parents already; what a damn disgrace…”
If Richard hadn’t stopped him, Caleb probably would have torn them apart with his words.
Qin Shuang and Yun Changsheng, thoroughly scolded, slunk out of the hospital room in shame.
Richard looked at Yun Xingze lying on the hospital bed, pursed his lips, and frowned. “The tournament isn’t over yet, and we don’t know when Xingze will wake up. The next round is elimination, lose and you’re out. So we have to hold on until Xingze wakes up.”
At that moment, everyone reached a silent agreement.
Without Yun Xingze, even if Starsea Academy won the championship, it would only hold half its meaning.
Aixili nodded firmly. “Right, we can’t lose.”
“I still want Xingze to teach me mecha piloting,” Ouyang Rui said seriously. “There’s so much to learn from him. ”
“Without him, we might not have even made it past the qualifiers,” He Haoming said with a frown. “So we can’t let him down.”
Then, the team called Chi Yu.
They first gave him a thorough verbal lashing and threatened that if he lost the upcoming matches, there would be hell to pay.
Chi Yu didn’t dare say a word, trembling as he nodded in agreement. He even ventured, “Can I see Xingze?”
“Go to hell,” Caleb swung a fist at the holographic screen. “Do I look like Xingze to you?”
Chi Yu immediately shut up in fear.
After the Starsea Academy team left, a few people from the Research Institute discreetly entered the hospital.
Unlike the large Starsea group, the Research Institute only sent four or five people, but each carried an extraordinary presence. Though dressed casually, they immediately drew attention.
Seeing them, Richard froze, rubbing his eyes before turning to the principal. “Am I seeing things? Why is Cheng Yuan, the head of the Research Institute, here? And behind him is Jin Xuan, that professor who’s a legend in psychic energy research.”
“No idea. Are you sure it’s him?” The principal was equally stunned. “That guy is always busy. I haven’t seen him in years. Could he be here for Xingze?”
Richard exclaimed in surprise, “Cheng Yuan is a god in the mecha world. He’s completely devoted to his research. How would he know about Xingze?”
“You’re right…” The headmaster frowned slightly, his tone filled with puzzlement. “Tsk, maybe the royal family called them in to study how to restore glands?”
Richard shook his head and said, “The Mecha Research Institute mainly focuses on mechas. They probably wouldn’t be able to research gland-related matters that would require the Biological Research Institute. But personally, I don’t think it matters whether he becomes a Beta or not.”
The members of the Star Ocean Academy team all nodded in agreement with Richard’s words.
When Cheng Yuan arrived at the hospital, he first went to see the director to confirm Yun Xingze’s condition before heading to the ward.
The hospital director stared blankly at the group from the research institute, murmuring to himself:
“Yun Xingze just had his gland removed, yet it feels like he’s shaken the entire empire.”
As Cheng Yuan reached the door, he immediately spotted Yun Changsheng and Qin Shuang.
Noticing the extraordinary presence of these visitors, Yun Changsheng stood up and asked, “Who might you be?”
“We’re here to see Xingze,” Cheng Yuan replied calmly. “My name is Cheng Yuan.”
Yun Changsheng found the name familiar but couldn’t quite place it at first.
It wasn’t until Cheng Yuan and his group entered the ward that Yun Changsheng suddenly realized something. Turning to Qin Shuang, he said, “I think I’ve seen that man on a magazine cover before, along with the woman beside him.”
Qin Shuang had already been searching and quickly found the relevant magazines.
Over twenty magazine covers featured Cheng Yuan, while seven or eight showcased Jin Xuan.
The magazines bore titles such as:
“Empire Mecha Weekly”;
“Stellar Mecha Monthly”;
“Empire Era Figures”…
“H-he… he’s…” Qin Shuang gasped, covering her mouth in shock, barely containing her astonishment. “He’s the director of the Mecha Research Institute?!”
Yun Changsheng stared at the magazines as if witnessing the most improbable event in the world.
After a moment, his expression mirrored Qin Shuang’s disbelief as he exclaimed, “Since when did Xingze know someone from the Mecha Research Institute and someone at the director level, no less?!”
Qin Shuang murmured in a daze, “Could it be… has Xingze joined the Mecha Research Institute?!”
