Chapter 21#
The Dispute#
By the time Yin Beichen arrived, the two men had already been forcibly pulled apart by others.
He swept a cold glance to disperse the onlookers, then brought the two roosters back to his office, along with the trembling Qiao Xi and his direct superior, Qu Yan, who had been standing nearby.
“What’s going on?” Yin Beichen’s gaze was as cold as frost.
He distinctly remembered that he had only asked Ou Jingshan to help pick up the vehicle—why was Qiao Xi also there?
Fighting in the base was a very serious offense, especially with so many bystanders. The negative impact was easy to imagine. Soon enough, word would likely reach the military headquarters on the main planet.
He had gone to great lengths to suppress the earlier database incident, and now, not long after, another mess had occurred.
Ning Feng stood leaning against the wall, hands in his pockets, silent. Ou Jingshan spat, accidentally pulling at the sore corner of his mouth, wincing in pain, but still slapped his chest boisterously.
“I brought him along. It was Qiao Xi who messed up the vehicle.”
He was pretty annoyed too.
He had thought picking up the car would be simple, no trouble. But who would have guessed that while packing, Qiao Xi would knock down some junk in the warehouse, which, of all things, fell directly onto the motorcycle’s engine, denting the body as well. The front end was twisted beyond recognition.
In the entire Nora Base, everyone knew that Jiaolong II was Ning Feng’s pride and joy. Even a scratch could get a person beaten half to death in the training ground, let alone damage to the most critical engine. Now that it was wrecked like this, the man was probably ready to kill.
Ou Jingshan didn’t like Ning Feng, but he didn’t want to invite trouble either. He glared at Qiao Xi, who was shaking in the corner.
He never should have brought that guy.
Couldn’t even handle something so simple—what a trouble magnet!
Yin Beichen glanced at Qu Yan, who sighed almost imperceptibly and fixed his eyes on Qiao Xi.
“Do you have anything to explain?”
“I’m sorry, I—I didn’t mean to…” Qiao Xi hung his head, tugging at his shirt hem. “Deputy Ning, I can pay for it. Please don’t be angry—”
“Pay?” Ning Feng let out a scoff, a chilling murderous glint flashing in his eyes. “Everything here is custom-made. What can you pay with? Your life?”
Hearing this, Qiao Xi’s face turned pale, and the corners of his eyes reddened, making him look innocent and pitiful.
Ning Feng just snorted coldly, raising an eyebrow as he glanced sideways. “I haven’t even started crying yet. Why does it feel like I’m the one bullying you?”
He had already inspected Jiaolong II. Anyone with basic repair knowledge could see that the damage was so severe that replacing the entire vehicle was the only option; there was no fixing it. A simple scratch would have been one thing, but what kind of force could shatter a combat-capable motorcycle like this?
He had already been set up in the equipment room before. Now he was playing innocent?
Did this guy really think everyone else was blind?
“I didn’t mean that…” Qiao Xi’s face flushed bright red. Panicking, he backed away, stammering but failing to say anything coherent.
“And isn’t it funny how you’re involved every time something goes wrong?” Ning Feng slowly approached him, a half-smile on his face. “You were the one who accepted the Silver Fruits. You were the one at the bar. You were the one who tore the cables. And now you’re the one who wrecked my bike. Every time I do something, there you are.”
He curled his lips coldly, his gaze making the scalp tingle. “You’re so focused on me—what, got a crush on me?”
“I don’t…” Suddenly, Qiao Xi’s nostrils flared, and a look of daze crept into his eyes. He stared silently for a long moment, then blushed and looked away.
Seeing the two getting closer, Yin Beichen frowned and stepped between them.
“Since the misunderstanding is cleared up, let’s leave it at that. As for compensation, settle it privately.” He gave the order calmly. “Ning Feng, notify all commanders to assemble at the starship.”
Then he turned back to Qu Yan. “Take your people away.”
Even after everyone else had left the office, Ning Feng remained motionless in his original posture. Yin Beichen didn’t urge him, simply waiting silently.
After a long while, the man ran his fingers through his bangs and spoke, his voice hoarse.
“You know he did it on purpose.” He closed his eyes, straining to keep his tone even, but beneath it, dark anger churned.
“Whether I know or not doesn’t matter. It was an accident.” Yin Beichen’s voice was mild, neither warm nor cold.
“He ruined the equipment, wrecked my bike, and provokes me again and again!” Ning Feng took a breath, pausing for a moment before continuing. “And you’re telling me all of this is an accident?”
“At least until you have proof.”
“So I just have to accept it?”
“Qiao Xi has apologized and agreed to pay.”
“So I should thank him?” Ning Feng’s eyes were sharp, barely restrained anger simmering beneath. “Jiaolong II is destroyed. Didn’t you see what it looks like now?”
“I saw it.”
“He smashed it!”
“So what?”
“…What did you say?”
Ning Feng froze, unable to believe his ears. But as if to confirm what he had heard, Yin Beichen spoke again, his expression indifferent.
“It’s just a vehicle. Once he pays, you can get a new one. There’s no need to be so upset.”
Hearing this, Ning Feng’s face turned grim. A stiff smile spread across his lips.
“Ha. Get a new one?”
Jiaolong II had been with him for years. To him, it was no ordinary ride; it was a vessel of countless memories, second only to his Blade Mecha in preciousness. Every exhilarating ride, every laugh thrown to the sky, held embedded within them countless bitter-sweet, burning memories—irreplaceable treasures.
They had known each other for so long. Yin Beichen was well aware of how much Ning Feng treasured Jiaolong II. Yet that word “replace” came out so casually, so easily.
It seemed that in their shared memories, only he himself had ever been there.
The man swallowed hard, forcing down the flames that rose in his throat, but a bitter sourness surged up, almost suffocating him.
Time stood still for a few seconds, and the air fell silent.
Sensing that the atmosphere had become somewhat off, Yin Beichen softened his tone.
“No one wanted things to come to this. Calm down; don’t take it too seriously.” He paused. “As a commander, I hope you two can get along. After all, you’ll be working together a lot in the future.”
Ning Feng’s pupils contracted. “Working together? What do you mean?”
“Qu Yan just submitted the list. Qiao Xi will accompany the team to extract samples.” Yin Beichen handed him the list, his voice flat.
After quickly scanning the report, Ning Feng’s dark eyes widened.
“Why him?”
“This is based on objective considerations. Don’t let personal emotions interfere.”
It was the first time dealing with high-level sample processing, and in the research department, only Qiao Xi and Qu Yan had the deepest understanding of the insect venom. As the head, Qu Yan couldn’t go, which left only Qiao Xi.
Yin Beichen gave the man a deep look. “I don’t want this incident to affect the mission. As the deputy officer, you should know the difference between personal affairs and official duties.”
“What do you mean?” Ning Feng’s breath caught, his obsidian-like eyes shimmering with a chilling light. “Are you implying I’d use my position for personal revenge?”
“I’m just reminding you.” Yin Beichen’s expression remained as impassive as ever, seemingly unconcerned by the man’s doubt.
Ning Feng’s face changed abruptly. His usual carefree attitude began to crack.
Personal revenge?
He was worried that Ning Feng would bully a defenseless researcher?
If he really wanted to retaliate, Qiao Xi would have been kicked out long ago. How would he still have the chance to play petty tricks in front of him?
Qiao Xi’s clumsy provocations and shows of defiance had never really bothered Ning Feng. What mattered to him was Yin Beichen’s attitude. But whether it was giving away the Silver Fruits or standing him up, he had to admit that Qiao Xi held a very special place in Yin Beichen’s heart. He didn’t want to overthink it, yet the unease deep inside drove him to desperately seek an answer, a reassurance.
That was all.
Even though he had braced himself, hearing the other defend Qiao Xi and suspect him—it still made it hard to breathe.
It was as if a thousand-pound weight pressed on his chest. Ning Feng felt like he had fallen into an ice cellar, frozen from the heart down to his toes. He wanted to speak, but swallowed the words. After a long silence, he finally mustered a crooked smile.
“Is that an order?”
Yin Beichen saw the tall figure sway slightly, a smile on his eyes but none in them. A vague panic rose in his chest, which he forcefully suppressed, and he answered coldly.
“Yes.”
Ning Feng’s lips trembled almost imperceptibly. Then, the corners of his mouth twisted into a bitter arc.
“I understand.”
Yin Beichen’s brow furrowed, a hint of emotion flickering beneath. He was about to speak, but the other cut him off.
“If there’s nothing else, I’ll get to work.” Ning Feng saluted lazily. “Goodbye, sir.”
With that, he straightened, saluted, and left the room quickly.
Staring at the retreating figure, Yin Beichen rubbed his fingertips together and let out a soft click of his tongue.
**
On the way to the research department, Qu Yan and Qiao Xi walked one behind the other.
They were silent until they reached a deserted corner. Qu Yan stopped and turned around.
“Why are you provoking Ning Feng?” he asked in a low voice.
Qiao Xi wanted to retort, but meeting the other’s deadpan gaze, he bit his lower lip and looked down glumly. “I didn’t… I really didn’t mean to…”
“Then how come you’re always involved?”
“I—I don’t know. I really don’t know.” Tears welled up in his eyes, and his long lashes brushed away tears.
“I just wanted to talk to Beichen, but Deputy Ning hates me. I—I only wanted to help, so he wouldn’t hate me…” Tears fell in large drops, stark against his pale face, evoking sympathy. He cried harder, then gave up and looked straight at the other. “I don’t want Beichen to be with Deputy Ning!”
Hearing this, Qu Yan’s pupils constricted.
“What do you mean?” He narrowed his eyes dangerously.
Qiao Xi faltered, biting his pale lips in silence.
Ignoring the fragile vulnerability before him, Qu Yan stepped forward, one step at a time, looking down at the other.
He had always thought Qiao Xi was an introverted, naive kid, only interested in experiments and data. The guy didn’t even spend much time with Yin Beichen, so how could he have such intense feelings?
It was like he had become a different person.
“I—I didn’t mean anything by it…” Intimidated by the overwhelming pressure, Qiao Xi choked back sobs and stumbled half a step back.
Suddenly, a thought struck Qu Yan, and his face darkened. “You applied to join the Hive Star operation just to get close to Yin Beichen, didn’t you?”
“No! I wanted to go to the Hive Star myself!” Qiao Xi denied it hastily, his expression resolute. “I’ve always been fascinated by insects. I want to see a real hive!”
At this, Qu Yan’s expression softened slightly, but his eyes still glinted coldly.
Whatever feelings Qiao Xi harbored for Yin Beichen were ultimately personal matters, beyond his authority. But research was a serious endeavor—every piece of data, every report, was the fruit of many people’s hard work. There was no room for carelessness. Allowing personal emotions to seep in could hinder the development of the antidote.
If he found out that the other was using research as a pretext to mess around, he absolutely wouldn’t accept it.
Not to mention that Ning Feng didn’t have much time left.
Qu Yan adjusted his glasses to mask his emotions. “The team is leaving in a few days, and you’ll be accompanying them. When do you plan to submit the insect venom research report?”
Caught off guard by the sudden shift in topic, Qiao Xi faltered, the passionate rhetoric dying on his lips. “I’ll submit it to you when I get back…”
Qu Yan stared at him expressionlessly for a while, then turned and continued walking.
“I don’t care what you think of Yin Beichen, and I don’t want to interfere if you try anything with him. But…” He turned his face sideways, his gaze sharp as a blade.
“Don’t provoke Ning Feng again.”
Qiao Xi sniffled and nodded repeatedly. Only after the other had turned away did his face drain of all expression. He frowned, slowly wiped the tears from his face, and a flicker of irritation passed through his eyes, quickly suppressed.