Chapter 99: Unprecedented Incident
Lin Yuan didn’t know how he should express his sadness. Looking at the black and white funeral portrait on the TV screen, the man in the photo held a solemn expression, his gaze was frigid and composed. To the naked eye, he seemed hard to approach, only Lin Yuan knew how warm of a person he really was.
—Rosen Bessemer, his biological father.
He had once hugged him, saying: Son, Father will protect you, I won’t let you suffer any more grievances.
He once looked at him tenderly, saying: Xiao Yuan, I will bring your dad back. A day will come when our family of three will reunite.
Before going off into battle, he even smiled and said to him: Don't worry.
Such a strong, warm, and comforting father is now buried in a cosmic wormhole. There wasn’t a single bone of him left, the only thing left behind was the mass of splintered mech remains, which was to be transported back to the Capital Star and buried by the military.
—Father and son had just gotten to know each other not too long ago and he himself had not even called him father more than 10 times.
—How can he just leave like this?
—Dad’s whereabouts are still unknown, has this so-called day for this family of three’s reunion been turned into nothing but a pipe dream just like that?
Lin Yuan buried his face in Caesar's arms and silently wept bitter tears.
He had never shed this many tears before in his entire life, but he couldn't hold any back.
The pain of losing a most treasured loved one can't be described with any normal words. His tears rushed out like roaring streams of water, his vision blurred, and no words were able to leave his throat as if it was blocked off.
Only tears can be used to drain his sadness dry.
As Lin Yuan wept in his arms, Caesar gently caressed his hair over and over again, he wasn’t even able to say the compelling line of "Don’t cry"— because he knew for Lin Yuan to vent his emotions, crying was the best way.
Although Caesar hasn’t personally experienced the pain of losing a close relative, if it was his mother or father who had been met with misfortune, Caesar believed that… he himself may not be able to hold back his tears
Not to mention Xiao Yuan.
He had greatly admired the Marshal ever since he was a child and it hadn’t even been that long since he got to know the Marshal. This tragic news was like shattering the world they had just built into pieces.
After the happiness of the father and son meeting each other, the pain of parting was even stronger.
Finding out that Rosen is his father, then having his father die, that is even more saddening than never having a father at all.
Under Caesar’s patient placation, Lin Yuan's mood leveled out and while his tears had stopped, the reddened rims of his eyes appeared pitiful.
Seeing the appearance of the little monster's red eyes, Caesar couldn't help but stretch out his hand in distress, gently helping him to wipe the remaining tears stains off his face, saying softly: "Xiao Yuan, you go take a minute in the bedroom… I’m going to talk with your mother over there…"
Lin Yuan nodded and moved towards his bedroom with his head down.
His current state is clearly not in the right mindset for eating dinner, but if Mrs. Lin grows aware, it will become even more troublesome.
Caesar sent Lin Yuan back to his bedroom and then turned to the kitchen. Mrs. Lin hurriedly said with a smile, "Caesar, are you guys hungry? The food is ready, we’ll get to serving it right away."
Caesar said: "Auntie, Xiao Yuan is feeling unwell. He went back to his room to get some rest. He won’t be having dinner with us. I’ll save him a bit to eat and bring it to him later."
Mrs. Lin stared blankly for a while and worriedly saying: "Feeling unwell? What's wrong with him?"
Caesar said: "He caught a cold when we went out today. You can rest assured that I had him take some medicine and go lay down."
Seeing Caesar's face was serious and being that her son's health was always very good, catching a cold couldn’t be considered a serious illness. Mrs. Lin felt relieved and served all the dishes with Lin Yao, the three of them started dinner.
At seven o'clock in the evening, the Empire’s national news channel once again solemnly reported the news of the Marshal's sacrifice.
Mrs. Lin looked at the funeral portrait on the screen, startled, and said in wonder: "Why does this person seem a bit familiar?"
Lin Yao said, "Mom, did you forget? That one instructor who came to our house that one time looks a bit like the Marshal." After a pause, she bemoaned, "It's truly a pity that our Empire lost such a good Marshal."
Mrs. Lin also sighed and said: "This is just how it is on a battlefield, you are liable to lose your life at any moment."
Listening to the mother and daughter's comments, Caesar's mood grew particularly mixed— towards the masses, the Marshal's sacrifice may be regrettable or saddening, but the only one who would find it painful upon finding out is Lin Yuan.
Because Rosen wasn't just the Marshal of the Empire or the peoples’ idol, he was also his biological father, their connections running deeper than the blood in their veins.
Knowing that Lin Yuan wanted to have some alone time, Caesar would give him enough time to collect himself.
After having dinner with Mrs. Lin and Lin Yao and waiting for the mother and daughter to return to their respective rooms to rest, Caesar gathered some of the food specially reserved for Lin Yuan and turned to enter Lin Yuan's room.
Lin Yuan was sitting on his bedside, staring at something solemnly with his head hung low.
Caesar came up to his side and sat down, only to realize— in his hands, Lin Yuan held the electronic notebook that Rosen had personally given him in the mech training room— written in the notebook was a plethora of mech operation techniques, each and every line was written by Rosen himself, for many of the pointers, there were even clarifying annotations attentively written down. His handwriting was as neat as if it had been typed out.
It was these personally written notes that allowed Lin Yuan’s level of mech operation to gain a significant leap. He even rose above others during the school competition and obtained the qualifications to represent the school in the national mecha competition.
Even right up until this moment, Lin Yuan was unable to accept such a cruel reality.
Father has died, this notebook is the only remnant he had left for him.
The fingers clutching the electronic notebook looked white from his too forceful grip. Thinking of how not too long before, that man had personally coached him hidden within Black Dragon’s control cabin, Lin Yuan felt as if a knife was being driven in his heart.
As soon as he saw this notebook, Caesar knew what Lin Yuan was thinking of.
Back then, the scene of the father and son operating mech in battle from inside the mech training room was fresh in his mind, thinking about it now, however, it feels as if it was worlds away. As an observer, Caesar is the one who can understand Lin Yuan's pain the best.
Seeing Lin Yuan's despondent head drooping down, Caesar couldn't help but stretch out his hand, gently holding the back of Lin Yuan's hand, and the other hand tenderly pulled him into his arms and whispered, "Cry when you’re sad, don’t hold it in…"
Lin Yuan did not cry, but instead put the notebook in his hand down and reached out to tightly hug Caesar back.
In the time of his greatest pain, only Caesar's embrace made him feel a touch of warmth.
Only after a good while did Lin Yuan whisper: "I just looked it up online. The military department’s official website has given a detailed explanation of Father’s death. He was drawn into a cosmic wormhole a month ago. There isn’t a single person who could bear the force of the spatial shocks, both he and Black Dragon have… been compressed into pieces by the spatial shocks…"
Detecting Lin Yuan ’s tremors, Caesar could only patiently, as well as tenderly, lightly stroke his back.
Lin Yuan took a deep breath and stabilized his emotions. He then looked up at Caesar and said in full earnest: "Caesar, I want to go back to Cepheus, even if I can’t attend the service as his son, I should at least go to his tomb. I can’t even find out where his body is…"
Caesar went quiet for a moment, then immediately nodded in understanding, "Okay, I'll accompany you there. I'll help you arrange this."
Lin Yuan nodded and tightly hugged Caesar again.
In his most despairing and helpless time, it is already the most fortunate thing for him to have Caesar by his side.
Lin Yuan didn't have a single bite that night. Although the dishes sent by Caesar were delicious, he had no appetite.
Lin Yuan was in a despondent mood and felt not a tad bit sleepy. Caesar had been chatting with him from the get-go, the two of them couldn't get to sleep the whole night.
In the early hours of the morning, Caesar's communicator suddenly dinged and special platinum-gold cryptographic numbers formed a complex pentagonal shape, which naturally came from the Imperial Palace’s ciphertext.
Caesar immediately locked the door and switched the communicator on—
Surprisingly, it was Berg Wang Shu who appeared on the screen. Berg was wearing a neatly-pressed green military uniform, the military cap he wore covered half of his face, but Caesar recognized him at a glance, saying in surprise: "Wang Shu?"
Berg nodded and said sharply: "Caesar, take Xiao Yuan to Planet Oman and rendezvous with Brian right away. There will be someone to meet up with you there. Also, tell Xiao Yuan that his father is not dead… The two of you, come and meet me at Naomi Star together, as soon as possible!"
Lin Yuan's eyes widened in shock, "M-My father isn’t dead?! What's going on?"
For him, this news is undoubtedly a shift from hell to heaven. He didn’t know Berg, but since Caesar called this man Wang Shu, what this person said certainly carries a lot of weight!
(TN: Wang Shu- Royal Uncle.)
Berg said: "Xiao Yuan, I don't have much time to explain to you, go to Planet Oman to find and meet up with Brian immediately."
Although Caesar's heart was also matchlessly shocked, he had been groomed as the heir to the throne from a child and leveled out his thoughts regardless. He nodded and said: "I understand, Wang Shu, we will set off at once."
Berg nodded and hung up the communicator quite bluntly. He also seemed to be tucked away in some corner, secretly sending messages, obviously the situation was quite grave. Although Caesar did not know what happened, he was keenly aware of an immense looming crisis.
Caesar put away the communicator, turned to hold Lin Yuan's hand, and whispered: "I'll tell your mother and sister that we're going to go back to school. Hurry and pack your bags. We will be leaving in ten minutes.
Lin Yuan nodded in response, "Okay!"
At this time, Oman Planet.
Brian has been living in the little house SNow had rented out for these past two days.
The area of the house is very small and the small space of more than 20 square meters is broken into a small bedroom, bathroom and kitchen. It is difficult for Brian to imagine that Snow has been living all by himself in such a place for all these years.
No parents, no relatives, Snow only had himself to rely on to support himself for the five years from the age of 13 to 18. He has worked odd jobs in various shops. With the help of the meager savings Dr. Wald had set aside and his pair of little dexterous hands, the small child scraped by.
Let alone the fact that he was an Omega, giving him constant worries about his identity being discovered all the while maintaining his livelihood.
The reason why Snow chose to test into St. Romia Military Academy was also very simple— although this school has the highest enrollment score, there were tuition exemptions and living subsidies for the orphans like him who can’t even afford tuition fees, testing into this school was the only way for him to take the next step.
In order to be admitted to this school's medical school, Snow worked himself to his bones. The tiny quarters did not have a study, there was only a simple and crude hand-made bookshelf beside the bed made up of cardboard boxes. The shelves were filled with all kinds of books and exam prep materials…
Brian looked at the rudimentary bookshelf and felt so much pity, he didn’t know what to say.
When he first saw Snow, he was attracted by Snow's delicate and pretty appearance and the kind of indifferent pridefulness he exuded. He even thought that Snow's pridefulness was because his family situation was too well-off, believing that everyone else was beneath them. It wasn’t until this very moment that Brian truly realized that Snow’s coldness and detachment towards others were because he had gotten used to using an ice-cold outer shell as a defense mechanism.
The so-called indifference and arrogance were only to protect himself and nothing more…
Today, accompanying Snow to sweep Dr. Wald's grave, sensing Snow's low mood, Brian was endlessly distressed.
Brian could hardly imagine how much hardship Little Snow had gone through in order to strenuously provide for himself with his own two hands after Dr. Wald's passing…
Looking at Snow ’s humble abode and cardboard bookcase crammed full of medical books, a crazed thought suddenly formed in Brian’s mind— to carefully protect this person, protect him in his arms, and never let him receive the slightest bit of harm again.
The strong possessiveness and protective desire of an Alpha’s nature reached its peak at this moment.
Looking at the youth in front of him, it seemed that even the blood in his body would boil.
Snow, in his heart, was actually feeling very uncomfortable. This little room has been a secret he buried in the bottom of his heart, stowed with the entirety of his youth and dreams. Now bringing Brian back here, it was like uncovering his innermost secrets and scars for Brian to observe.
Snow felt that Brian most definitely couldn’t accustom himself to this. After all, it was small and cold here, it was totally incomparable to the ginormous residence of the Bayh Family.
He originally wanted Brian to go to the hotel. Unexpectedly, Brian not only did not turn his back to it but was instead quite happily insisting on staying here. Brian, who could still be regarded as upright and well-behaved, suddenly used "too cold" as an excuse to honorably and justly hold Snow tightly in his embrace.
Sensing that the youth in his arms stiffened in a moment's pause, Brian gently touched his back, lowly calling to him: "Snow."
Snow responded awkwardly: "…what is it?"
Brian tightened up his arms and with a soft tone, said: "I never would have thought that you would have gone through so much before…"
Snow rushed to cut him off, "That’s all in the past, there’s no need to sympathize with me."
Brian smiled and kissed Snow's forehead, pressing up against his lips, his said: "It's not sympathy… I want to say, no matter what you have gone through in the past— from now on, you’ll have me at your side."
Snow: "………"
Brian said: "I will never leave you, even if you drive me away, I’ll stick myself to you."
Snow: "………"
Looking up at Brian, this usually very improper and unruly boy, the expression in his eyes was incomparably earnest, earnest enough to make Snow's heart fall into sudden trembles.
—From now on, you’ll have me at your side.
—I will never leave you.
Two simple sentences actually made him feel warmer than an "I love you".
Yes, the sticky candy that he couldn’t get rid of that always follows after him. Snow no longer worries about himself being alone anymore.
In times of coldness, there is such a person to hold him.
Coming back home in the dead of night, there will be such a person dedicatedly waiting for him with the lights on.
What could be rarer than this sincerity?
Snow remained silent for a long time, before finally lowering his eyes, gently returning Brian’s embrace, nestled his face into his chest, and quietly said: "En."
Brian smiled, pleasantly surprised: "What does that mean? Is that you saying you’ve decided to accept me? While we’re on the topic, it seems you’ve never said that you like me before, Snow, in reality, you have me in your heart too, don’t you? You’re just too shy to say it… mmn… "
To prevent Brian from going down another tirade, Snow straightforwardly lifted his head and kissed him gently.
Brian's words were interrupted by a kiss, the cool touch on his lips made his heart suddenly blaze with a raging fire.
It was evident that Snow did not know how to kiss, but he simply kissed Brian on his lips then withdrew back with his ears flushed red. Brian naturally wasn’t about to let him go, he extended his arms and wrapped them around his waist, seizing the opportunity to enthusiastically kiss him back.
If it were not for this place being too shabby and cold, Snow couldn’t have been so rushed for his first time. Brian really wanted to eat this bashfully spontaneous Snow up… Unfortunately, for now, he can only kiss him and touch him a bit to parch his thirst.
The kisses grew more and more impassioned, Brain's hand snaked its way into Snow's clothes, running down his smooth abdomen, he pulled the bands of his underwear open, and lightly grasped that sensitive place with his hand.
Snow's body suddenly stiffened, his breathing grew heavier as his face flushed red, "Mnn… don't, don't touch… mnn…"
Brian kissed him as he used his hand to stroke there, feeling that sensitive place gradually growing larger in his hand, there was even a nice faint blush on Snow's face and Brian put even more effort into his motions.
That sensitive area that has never been touched by anyone before, being skillfully tugged and stroked, the feeling of his body being played with was extremely shameful, but the strong pleasure that rose from the base of his spine nearly burned away his consciousness…
The originally cold room gradually heated up, there was a layer of sweat forming on Snow's back.
Snow rigidly grabbed Brian's hand, "Brian … let, let go… don't do it, mnn…"
Snow usually has very little sexual urges and his body's reaction is so sensitive that its light pink color makes one itch to put it in their mouth. Brian gave it a thought, he then bluntly released the grip on his hand, squeezed into the quilt, and directly wrapped his mouth around his erection.
"Ah……"
The sound of his rushed breaths was like music to his ears.
Brian sucked Snow with his mouth and noticing Snow's unceasing trembles, the happiness swelling in the bottom of his heart pushed him to work even harder, and his tongue lightly licked along the contour of his length, even the hole on his sensitive tip wasn’t forgotten, he didn’t neglect to massage the round sacs at the base either…
"Ah… mmph… Bri-Brian… ah…"
Snow didn't expect this at all. He just took the initiative to kiss him in order to shut him up, he didn’t expect to end up with these kinds of consequences.
The strong sense of shame of being brought pleasure by the other’s mouth, mixed with the unfamiliar sensation in his body, repeatedly eroded away the sense of imminent danger approaching the walls of his rationality.
The moment when Brian sucked particularly hard, Snow's mind suddenly went blank, his body fell into a fit of violent shudders and he came all into Brian's mouth.
In this instant, a loud noise rang in his ear all the while—
The poor little wooden bed finally could not bear their combined weight and after a burst of creaking sounds, it collapsed with a bang.
Snow: "………"
Brian: "………"
The two of them fell to the ground and with their eyes widened.
In response to his little wooden bed being crushed, Snow's face abruptly went red, embarrassed to the point not knowing what to do.
Brian licked the white residue on his lips clean, all with a smile. He pressed a kiss to Snow's lips and said: "I’m sorry that your bed is broken… One of these days, I’ll buy you a new one."
Snow: "………"
Snow, who bore himself under the quilt in embarrassment, saw a different kind of cuteness in Brian's eyes.
Stretching out his long arms and hugging the quilt, Brian said happily: "I will buy you a little bit nicer double bed."
Right at this moment, the communicator suddenly rang.
Brian looked at Berg on the screen and froze in place, "Dad?"
Berg glanced at his son insipidly and said: "Brian, Caesar and Xiao Yuan will be coming to rendezvous with you very soon. I will arrange for someone to provide backup, I’ll give you ten minutes to reach the address I’m giving you… "
Berg typed out the address and bluntly hung up the communicator altogether.
Brian looked at the address, suddenly dumbfounded—
After less than two days of having alone time with Snow, his dad is sending two super-large light bulbs in the form of Caesar and the little monster over to rendezvous?
(TN: Third-wheels)
Despite being a bit depressed in his heart, Berg’s grave expression was obviously not kidding around. Brian was forced to lift the quilt off, pull the blushing Snow from the bed, and swiftly find him a set of clean clothes, saying: "Quickly put these on. Caesar and Lin Yuan are coming, it seems like something happened, we are going to go meet up with them."
Snow says no more and changes his clothes as quickly as possible.
Brian was just about to turn and go out, but Snow suddenly caught him and whispered: "You…"
Brian asked in confusion: "What's wrong with me?"
Snow blushed and pointed to the corner of Brian's mouth.
Brian came to an understanding and stuck his tongue out to lick the white residue on his lips clean, leaning into Snow's ear, he said, "This is your taste…"
Snow went red in the face and ruthlessly beat him with his fist: "Don’t say anything!"
Snow was unavoidably ashamed into anger and Brian wasted no time and cleverly shut his mouth. He took Snow's hand all smiles and led him to the place designated by his father.