Chapter Thirty-Four: Heartache

Chapter Thirty-Four: A Sting to the Heart

Yun Yang was gone for three days, and in that time, Rose’s head felt ready to explode—because Liang Bing had started following her around again. No matter how Rose tried to attack her, it was as if it made no difference at all, and she couldn’t even drive her away. Liang Bing threatened to use the ordinary soldiers in the camp as leverage; Rose could hit or scold her, but driving her out was not an option.

“Rose, look, that guy hasn’t come back for three days. He’s probably out living it up somewhere else. You know what they say—wildflowers are always sweeter than those at home, don’t you think?”

Rose’s face darkened at Liang Bing’s words. These days, whenever she got the chance, Liang Bing would speak ill of Yun Yang, just like a scheming friend who can’t bear to see someone else’s boyfriend doing well. It annoyed Rose to no end, but for the sake of her soldiers’ lives, she could not send Liang Bing away.

“I’ll say it one more time—I don’t like women! Get back to your own bed!” Rose, sitting on her own bed, stared in utter despair at Liang Bing, who was lying right beside her, and shouted.

At Liang Bing’s request, Rose was watching over her. Liang Bing herself was now considered a dangerous individual, so she needed to be monitored—just like Yun Yang had been—and had to share a tent with Rose. For three days, every time Rose woke up, she’d find Liang Bing in her bed. Yesterday, Liang Bing even reached into her clothes and grabbed her little white rabbit. Today was even worse—Rose hadn’t even fallen asleep yet, and Liang Bing was already there. What was she planning? To eat her up and leave nothing behind? Predictably, Rose finally snapped.

After three days of careful nursing from the little nurse, Yun Yang finally awoke. His bandages had been removed while he was unconscious, so now he sat on the bed in a hospital gown, munching on an apple and chatting with the nurse.

The young nurse was eager to know how he’d gotten injured that day, and Yun Yang recounted in grand fashion how he’d unleashed his powers, destroyed countless Gluttony warships, and, under endless attacks, managed a calm and heroic escape. As for his injuries—he’d sustained them while shielding Ge Xiaolun from a barrage of attacks, of course.

Hearing his tale, the young nurse was enraptured, her cheeks flushed like spring flowers, as she leaned closer and closer to Yun Yang.

Just as Yun Yang was beginning to feel overwhelmed, Ge Xiaolun walked in. The nurse, spotting him, flashed a hint of murderous intent in her eyes—this was the man her beloved had protected at great personal cost, and now he barged in without knocking, ruining her rare chance to be alone with her idol. Didn’t he know how hard she’d worked to secure the privilege of caring for Yun Yang on his first day awake?

If Ge Xiaolun could read her thoughts, he’d cry injustice—this was a tent, after all; there was no door to knock on!

“Well, well, Ge Xiaolun, the Power of the Galaxy—I’ve read your file,” Yun Yang said, greeting him as he entered.

“Uh, I came to check on you. We fought side by side, after all. I still don’t know your name—how should I address you?” Ge Xiaolun scratched his head awkwardly, embarrassed that he didn’t know Yun Yang’s name.

“Yun Yang. Quantum Controller Yun Yang. I recently joined the Super Soldier Squadron and was approved by the North Star side.” Yun Yang smiled as he answered, but deep down, he’d already resolved to give Ge Xiaolun a good jab—after all, Rose’s first kiss had been taken by this guy. Even though he hadn’t arrived in this world at the time, it still didn’t sit right with him.

A man’s inexplicable possessiveness—who can truly explain it?

With that in mind, Yun Yang didn’t wait for Ge Xiaolun to respond but continued on his own: “Anyway, Ge Xiaolun, since you’re here, there’s no reason for me to stick around. I’ve got to get back—Rose is waiting for me. If I don’t go back soon, she’ll be upset.”

Ge Xiaolun was left stupefied by Yun Yang’s words, three existential questions echoing in his mind: Who am I? Who—no, who is he? Why is Rose waiting for him? What’s their relationship?

Unable to hold back, Ge Xiaolun blurted out, “What’s your relationship with Rose?”

A look of bliss spread across Yun Yang’s face as he replied, “Rose? She’s my girlfriend. I don’t know how she’s faring without me by her side.” Only the first sentence was true; the rest was purely to get under Ge Xiaolun’s skin.

“Damn!” Ge Xiaolun cursed, then despaired, “Do you even know who I am?”

Yun Yang, though fully aware of what Ge Xiaolun meant, feigned ignorance, gazing at him as if he were an idiot. “Of course I do. You’re Ge Xiaolun, the Power of the Galaxy.”

Ge Xiaolun realized his words were probably lost on Yun Yang and rephrased, “No, that’s not what I meant. Do you know what my relationship with Rose is?”

Yun Yang continued his act. “Sure, you and Rose are both with the Super Soldier Squadron—comrades in arms.”

Seeing that Yun Yang still didn’t get it, Ge Xiaolun gave up and, looking dejected, turned and walked out of the tent.

Zhao Xin and Zhi Xin had come by after hearing that Yun Yang had regained consciousness, intending to meet the new squad member. As they approached the tent, they saw Ge Xiaolun walk out, not even saying hello, his face clouded with sorrow.

Zhao Xin figured Ge Xiaolun was being moody again and didn’t pay him any mind. Taking Zhi Xin by the hand, he entered the tent and saw Yun Yang sitting up, eating an apple. Relieved to see the new guy had recovered—after all, it wouldn’t do for someone to be blown up by Reina on their first mission—he relaxed.

Zhao Xin, ever the friendly sort, plopped down on the bed next to Yun Yang, threw an arm around his shoulders, and grinned, “Brother, what should I call you? I’m Zhao Xin. Just call me Xin-ge from now on. With me around, the Super Soldier Squadron’s got your back!”

Before Yun Yang could reply, a woman’s voice sounded from outside the tent: “Is it that I, captain of the Super Soldier Squadron, can’t swing a blade anymore, or have you, Zhao Xin, gotten too full of yourself, taking people under your wing?”

At the sound, both men on the bed and Zhi Xin, who was standing nearby, all looked toward the tent entrance. A tall young woman in a black trench coat swept aside the curtain and walked in.

Zhao Xin jumped up and dashed over to her side, turning into a sycophant as he introduced her to Yun Yang, “See this long-legged beauty? That’s our captain—the Queen of the Sun, Reina. Quick, call her Sis Reina.”

Yun Yang glanced at Zhi Xin, who gave him a helpless look. He then turned to the two by the entrance and introduced himself, “I’m Yun Yang, Quantum Controller Yun Yang.”

He paused, then added, “Reina, Queen Reina, Empress of the Sun, Mistress of Solar Light, adept at stellar energy control—I’ve read your file. If I’m not mistaken, my injuries were…”

Though Yun Yang left his sentence unfinished, everyone in the tent knew what he meant.

Reina, awkward, replied, “It was a mistake, a total accident. I miscalculated your physical resilience—the energy input was too much. As compensation, I’ll look after you from now on.”

Yun Yang, unmoved, fixed his gaze on her. He’d nearly lost his life—was a mere promise of protection enough? Not a chance.

Sensing his silence and unwavering stare, Reina grew nervous. Was this guy planning something? She gritted her teeth and upped the ante, “Don’t look at me like that—it’s impossible between us, so give up any hope. To express my apology, I’ll grant you a manor in the Sun Realm. After all, I don’t own anything on Earth.”

Hearing the first part, Yun Yang rolled his eyes—what was she thinking, being so conceited? But the latter part made his eyes light up with little dollar signs—a manor! That would be worth a fortune.

Zhao Xin, seeing Yun Yang’s money-grubbing expression, lost all hope for the new recruit—another clown, the squad was doomed. But since they were all teammates, he felt embarrassed on Yun Yang’s behalf and reminded him, “Bro, snap out of it—it’s not on Earth. The manor’s in the Sun Realm. It’s no use to you now; you can’t even live there.”

Yun Yang quickly composed himself, cleared his throat, and said, “Well, since you’re sincerely apologizing, I’ll forgive you.” But his gaze toward Reina was still full of dollar signs.

He then turned to Zhao Xin, “Doesn’t matter where it is—if it’s mine, it’s mine. I can’t go now, but after the war, I can take Rose on a trip off-world.”

Zhao Xin was stunned, “What’s your relationship with Rose?”

“Boyfriend and girlfriend, of course,” Yun Yang replied, as if it were the most natural thing.

Now Zhao Xin finally understood why Ge Xiaolun had looked so devastated earlier—someone had stolen his beloved! Though, strictly speaking, Rose had never agreed to it; it had always been one-sided on Ge Xiaolun’s part. He silently mourned for Ge Xiaolun and congratulated Yun Yang, “Congrats, man. You actually won over our ice-cold beauty Rose. Impressive!”

At that moment, the petite beauty Zhi Xin, who had been standing quietly like a demure wife, muttered to herself, “Since Rose already has her prince, I suppose the Power of the Galaxy will now devote himself to Queen Yan.”

Reina, standing off to the side, pursed her lips and cursed inwardly: These shameless show-offs, even throwing their dog food in my face. She suddenly felt like unleashing a solar flare and burning them all to ashes. Her thoughts drifted to life aboard the Great Gorge and to Prince Cheng Yaowen of the Duxing, and her eyes dimmed, haunted by guilt—her mistake had caused his death and the loss of the ship.

The group chatted a bit more about the situation on North Star, finding that things were not as dire as they’d feared—five beautiful angels stood guard there, which put Zhao Xin at ease. Zhi Xin, meanwhile, found herself longing for North Star, where her sisters were stationed, wondering how they were faring.

If Yun Yang had known her thoughts, he would have reassured her that her sisters were doing just fine.