Before the patrol team even got close, Qi Jing had already noticed something. A moment later, Xia Ze also sensed something amiss and whispered, “Seems like someone’s coming.”
Qi Jing nodded. “It’s fine. Probably just routine patrols.”
Xia Ze relaxed at that. Over the past two years, the patrol teams had become increasingly diligent, and they had even helped him out when he ran into trouble before.
So, before the patrol arrived, the two of them continued mining.
Today’s progress was surprisingly fast, he’d be able to head back in less than a day!
Compared to attending Omega school every day, digging and planting suited him much better!
As patrol officer Gao Zhou approached, he immediately recognized Xia Ze that outfit was unmistakable. He grinned and called out, “Xia Ze, it’s you.”
But the moment he spoke, Gao Zhou noticed the sharp gaze of the man standing beside Xia Ze. The two were standing unusually close, far beyond normal social distance.
A pang of bitterness struck Gao Zhou’s heart as realization dawned. He lowered his hand from the emergency alert device and waved. “Stand down.”
The patrol team obeyed instantly, visibly relaxing. But then, their squad leader snapped to attention and saluted. “General Qi, sir.”
General Qi?
Qi Jing?!
Tension spiked again as the rest of the team hurriedly followed suit with their own salutes.
Their patrol unit fell under the military’s jurisdiction albeit at the lowest branch but General Qi was their highest-ranking superior. Even the chief of F31 Planet’s Patrol Bureau would have to treat him with utmost respect.
Qi Jing gave a slight nod. “This is a private outing. No need for formalities.”
Xia Ze watched curiously. He could tell the patrol officers admired General Qi their eyes practically shone with reverence.
Only Gao Zhou seemed a little awkward. Xia Ze glanced at him, and Gao Zhou forced a smile. “We’ll leave you to it. We just detected unusually strong mental energy here, so we came to check.”
Xia Ze looked at the barrier shielding them from the wind and sand. So this was General Qi’s mental energy impressive.
As Gao Zhou walked away, he couldn’t help but glance back one more time. He saw the young boss looking up at General Qi, saying something. Even through the thick protective suit, his happiness and ease were unmistakable.
Just as Gao Zhou was about to look again, General Qi’s sharp gaze swept over, forcing him to turn away quickly.
Truthfully, Gao Zhou wanted to apologize to Xia Ze.
Last time, he had mistakenly assumed Xia Ze was General Qi’s lover and even tried to advise him.
When he later learned that Xia Ze wasn’t some so-called lover but actually General Qi’s fiancé, he was stunned.
Why would General Qi come to such a remote place to marry an Omega?
Beyond the apology, there was something else on his mind.
Did the young boss know about the rumors on the main planet?
Not just there media outlets were buzzing too.
Whispers online claimed that General Qi’s Omega was utterly ordinary, the kind you’d overlook in a crowd.
The moment this news broke, interstellar netizens mocked it mercilessly, and some of General Qi’s fans outright cursed the claims, saying, “At least make up something believable.”
How could General Qi’s Omega possibly be ordinary?
Right now, the rumors were only circulating on the main planet, but they’d likely spread to their local star network soon.
Would the young boss be upset if he saw them?
Besides, Xia Ze was anything but ordinary the plants he grew were exceptional.
After the incident with the troublemaking neighbor, Xia Ze had given Gao Zhou a potted plant as a gift. At first, he hadn’t thought much of it, but over time, he realized that little plant worked wonders for his sleep.
Surrounded by the greenery, he quickly fell into a deep sleep and found his mental energy restored much faster upon waking.
An Omega capable of creating such plants couldn’t possibly be ordinary.
Gao Zhou felt an indescribable sadness.
Why had it taken him so long to realize the little shop owner’s uniqueness?
Before, he had assumed he was just a Beta and never gave it much thought let alone bought any of his plants.
It felt like he had overlooked some hidden treasure, one that was now lost to him forever.
The interruption from the patrol team didn’t disrupt Xia Ze and Qi Jing. Xia Ze had never imagined mining could be this effortless.
All he had to do was point out which patch of soil he wanted, and it was done.
The ores he would have struggled to dig up were effortlessly handled by General Qi.
Was this the difference in physical strength between an Alpha and an Omega?
So unfair!
Xia Ze’s head was gently ruffled through his hat as Qi Jing chuckled, “What’s on your mind?”
“Just thinking, how much I envy an Alpha’s stamina.” Xia Ze’s gaze swept over Qi Jing. “Do all Alphas have such great physiques too?”
Qi Jing raised a brow. “You can see for yourself later.”
“Stamina? We could test that.”
Xia Ze didn’t quite catch the last part and tilted his head. “Huh?”
Qi Jing cleared his throat. “Nothing. I said you could see whether Alphas really have good physiques.”
On their way back, Qi Jing had just finished storing the collected soil when his eyes landed on Xia Ze, who was engrossed in his communicator. He froze.
His voice was laced with disbelief. “What are you watching?”
Xia Ze replied absentmindedly, “Checking out Alpha physiques. Look at this one eight-pack abs, well-defined pecs, just perfect. I’m voting for him.”
Qi Jing fell silent, his gaze lingering on the video’s title:
Interstellar Alpha Physique Beauty Pageant.
This wasn’t what he’d meant when he told the kid to check out Alpha physiques.
Suddenly, Qi Jing felt his molars ache. “That’s mediocre at best.”
On-screen, the Alpha flexed and posed, the barrage of comments exploding with screams of admiration, the noise practically leaking through the screen.
【Drools】
【Oh my god, vote for him! Must vote!】
【Wonder how he compares to General Qi.】
【Just drool already.】
Xia Ze found it amusing and pointed at the comments. “Someone’s asking who has the better body, you or him.”
He said it casually before flipping to another contestant’s video, hesitating. “This one’s physique is amazing too. Did I vote too soon?”
He then pinched his own shoulder wistfully.
If only he could train to look like that!
Just as he was about to scroll to the next video, Qi Jing couldn’t take it anymore. He covered the screen with his hand, forcing Xia Ze to look up at him.
Before him stood Qi Jing tall, broad-shouldered, with a narrow waist and hips, his body honed to a lean, powerful build through years of training. Every inch of him exuded raw strength and explosive potential.
Even though he was still wearing his shirt, Xia Ze had a feeling the muscles beneath wouldn’t lose out to any Alpha on that pageant.
After all, this was the strongest Alpha in the interstellar realm.
Xia Ze swallowed hard, his face full of envy.
Qi Jing naturally didn’t miss that tiny reaction, a smirk tugging at his lips as he teased, “Want to compare for yourself?”
He took Xia Ze’s hand and gently placed it against his abdomen, the firm muscles beneath sending a rush of warmth to Xia Ze’s palm.
H-how was he supposed to compare to this?!
Xia Ze’s entire face flushed crimson, yet the man seemed oblivious as he earnestly asked, “Which one is better?”
Xia Ze tried to withdraw his hand, only for it to be held even tighter.
It wasn’t until their aircraft landed at home that Qi Jing leisurely released his grip.
Old Qi at home had just prepared dinner when he noticed their expressions. What happened? They went out for fun, so why were their faces so red?
Meanwhile, another comment appeared on that Alpha beauty contest video:
[Replying to the earlier comment about General Qi] [Qi., General Qi’s is better.]
After dinner, the two sorted the collected soil samples by category. Next came sterilization, pest removal, and impurity extraction.
Xia Ze was well-versed in these tasks, but just as he began working, his communicator buzzed with a message from Gao Zhou.
After much deliberation, Gao Zhou had decided to apologize first for mistakenly thinking Xia Ze was General Qi’s lover. The young boss didn’t seem angry.
He also briefly mentioned the media situation on the main planet.
Actually, Gao Zhou had wanted to meet Xia Ze in person, but one thought of General Qi’s piercing gaze made him instinctively keep his distance, no reminders needed. Even his subordinates had noticed and warned him to maintain boundaries with Xia Ze.
Someone else’s Omega shouldn’t be approached too closely.
Reading the message, Xia Ze felt somewhat bewildered. Gao Zhou initially thought he was General Qi’s lover?
Noticing the boy’s expression, Qi Jing, who’d come to help, asked, “What’s wrong?”
Xia Ze shook his head before quietly explaining everything. “General Qi, maybe I shouldn’t wear the mask tomorrow.” Was he embarrassing the general?
The reason for Gao Zhou’s misunderstanding was probably the assumption that General Qi wouldn’t marry someone ordinary-looking, the same criticism from main planet media.
Xia Ze didn’t mind Gao Zhou’s mistake; the man meant well. But he needed to address this issue.
Removing the mask might help. He wasn’t bad-looking, after all.
Instead of answering, Qi Jing sat on the work stool beside the boy now slightly lower and looked up at Xia Ze. “Perhaps the problem isn’t your face.”
The mask wasn’t the real issue. No, the media wasn’t either.
Xia Ze failed to notice the deepening intensity in the man’s gaze.
“Then what is?” Xia Ze racked his brain through everything he’d learned in class, but his teachers never covered this.
Qi Jing said impassively, “Maybe it’s how you address me.”
“Address?”
“You still call me General Qi.”
“It’s not intimate enough.”
Xia Ze blinked. That made sense. But intimate?
Struggling, he asked, “What should I call you then?”
“How about husband?”
Qi Jing froze. The term made his fingers twitch involuntarily, his lips pressing together as heat surged somewhere. Today, he might be acting less than human.
“Say it again,” Qi Jing’s voice grew husky. “Just that word.”
Human decency be damned.
Xia Ze dropped his tools and practically fled.
If he couldn’t tell the man was teasing him now, he’d be truly stupid!
Husband?! They weren’t even married yet!
