Chapter 6#
Silver Fruit#
When the transport docked at the base starport, it was already dusk.
There was no obvious sunset in space, but a faint orange glow still crept across the tarmac. Ground crew scurried below, looking like tiny black specks from a distance.
Everyone returning from an external assignment had to undergo decontamination. Since they had been exposed to bug venom samples, Ning Feng and Yin Beichen additionally required a special cleaning procedure. Under the guidance of the ground crew, they entered the decontamination chamber. As the heavy door sealed shut, the pure white room was left with only the two of them.
Ning Feng was filling out a form while Yin Beichen stood silently beside him. The atmosphere between them was somewhat awkward.
“You and Qiao Xi—”
“Qiao Xi, he—”
They spoke at the same time, then both stopped abruptly. For a moment, the air fell silent again.
As soon as he heard that name mentioned, Ning Feng curled his lips in a sarcastic smile. “Sir, you’ve been quite lucky in love lately.”
Yin Beichen furrowed his brows. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh? Isn’t that the case?” Ning Feng’s fingers tightened on the pen. “You’ve already set up a private channel with Qiao Xi.”
“He is not my adjutant. There’s no need for me to establish an independent communication link with him.” Yin Beichen’s tone was as calm as ever, as if stating something perfectly obvious.
Ning Feng’s heart thumped twice. After a long pause, he asked again, “Then what’s the deal with that communication?”
“This is exactly what I wanted to discuss with you.” After submitting the form, Yin Beichen collected the decontamination suit and began unbuttoning his clothes.
Not a private channel, yet still able to access the frequency.
Ning Feng’s brow tightened, and he suddenly realized. “You mean… the communication channel was hacked?”
Communications were crucial for commanding troops and controlling weaponry, especially in wartime, when the transmission of military intelligence was vital. If intercepted or even cracked, the consequences could be severe.
“I’m not sure. That’s for you to investigate.”
Yin Beichen shed his combat suit, revealing a tall, slender, and well-proportioned figure. Under the harsh light, his fair skin was almost translucent. Every line was perfectly sculpted, yet the large and small scars covering it also radiated a sense of strength and beauty.
Ning Feng’s mind was still running through various possibilities, but his eyes were glued to this magnificent sight.
“No wonder you’re called the Empire’s Flower—so easy on the eyes.” Ning Feng whistled, his gaze boldly roving. “If I sold footage of this beauty emerging from the bath on the black market, I could definitely buy a new engine for the Soaring Dragon-2.”
He paused, his tongue pressing against his inner cheek. “But then again, I wouldn’t want anyone else seeing Little Chenchen like this.”
“Why aren’t you washing yet?” Long accustomed to the man’s nonsense, Yin Beichen turned on the showerhead without even lifting his eyes.
“Hmm? You want to see?” Ning Feng propped one hand against the wall beside the other’s face, leaning in lazily. “My physique is so perfect. What if you fall in love with me? What will you do then?”
Finally, Yin Beichen looked at him, frowning in silence.
“I’m not an easy person.” Ning Feng tilted his head closer, his breath whispering near Yin Beichen’s ear, his voice low, as if talking to himself. “But if it’s Beichen… I could make an exception.”
The sound of rushing water echoed through the space. The entire decontamination room was filled with scorching steam. The rising medicinal mist left people parched, carrying with it a faint, strange sour-sweetness.
The thick vapor blurred his vision. Yin Beichen could only make out the man’s hazy silhouette, the smoothly defined muscles, and that pair of black eyes like stars—which even flickered with a hint of… allure.
Yin Beichen shut his eyes briefly, concealing whatever emotions flickered within. When he spoke again, his voice was as cold as ice.
“Get lost.”
A shadow passed over Ning Feng’s eyes, but quickly he put on his usual roguish demeanor.
“So mean. You really hurt my feelings.” He pressed a hand dramatically over his heart, then suddenly remembered something and pulled out a fruit. “Oh right, I happened to pick this up on the way over.”
Ning Feng held out the silver fruit with a casual air.
“For you.”
Yin Beichen didn’t move. He just stared at it appraisingly, then wrinkled his nose in distaste.
Ning Feng looked down. The once pure white skin was now a mushy mess, completely unrecognizable. He carefully wiped it against his own clothes and held it out again.
“Want it?”
Yin Beichen looked at the fruit, then turned his gaze to Ning Feng.
Under the direct stare of those deep blue eyes, Ning Feng pretended not to care, but inwardly swallowed.
He had always believed that a person’s gaze carried temperature. Some people’s looks were like the morning sun; others were like the cold moon. But Yin Beichen’s eyes were like an endless black hole. Wherever they touched, they brought an intense sense of pressure, as if even one’s soul might be sucked in.
Ning Feng’s throat tightened. He feared hearing words he didn’t want to hear.
After a long moment, Yin Beichen finally moved. He reached out and took the silver fruit.
“Hurry up and wash. There’s still a banquet tonight.” He turned back to continue scrubbing himself with the medicinal solution.
“Got it, sir.” Ning Feng withdrew his gaze and quickly slipped out with his form.
After just a couple of steps, he was out of sight. He let out a breath, feeling much lighter.
Although he was still a bit concerned about the communication issue, Yin Beichen’s explanation had made him feel better. And Yin Beichen had just accepted the silver fruit—that meant he still liked the gift, right?
The corner of his lips lifted slightly. Ning Feng touched the back of his neck. When his fingers grazed the uneven skin, he paused.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to wash in there. It was that, given how much Yin Beichen detested bugs, if he found out his adjutant was an infected host, he’d probably have him transferred off the base the very next day.
Well, maybe not even until the next day.
Ning Feng took a deep breath.
For now, he had to get rid of the bug venom as quickly as possible. Then he could think about other things. If he could also win over the cabbage in the meantime, that would be best. But trying to make this bug-obsessed guy realize his feelings was even harder than cracking open a bug’s head.
Speaking of which, Yin Beichen’s attitude was pretty strange. The atmosphere had been fine just now, but then he suddenly got angry out of nowhere. Ning Feng had been about to make a move, too. Did Little Chenchen prefer the more subtle approach?
Ning Feng rubbed his chin, thinking maybe he should go back and read some artistic confession letters, when he suddenly heard noises coming from the washroom outside. He figured other personnel returning from duty had come back.
He vigorously rubbed his face, quickly submitted his form, tucked a newly issued set of decontamination solution under his arm, and dawdled back to the washroom.
But as soon as he opened the door, Ning Feng froze.
He saw Qiao Xi, smiling sweetly at Yin Beichen.
And in Qiao Xi’s hands was the silver fruit he had given him.
Ning Feng stood there, stunned. Suddenly, it felt as if something was squeezing his chest tight. The medicinal smell in his nose turned nauseating, and his mouth was filled with bitterness.
At that moment, all he wanted was to disappear.
**
Watching the man leave, Yin Beichen withdrew his gaze and focused on washing.
The decontamination solution prepared by the Science Division had a terrible smell, but it was very effective. He held his breath and quickly cleaned himself.
After getting dressed, Yin Beichen looked at the grime-covered silver fruit. After a moment’s thought, he held it in his palm, stared at it fixedly for a while, then shook off his thoughts and slowly dried his hair.
Just then, the decontamination room door was pushed open from outside.
“Sir, you’re back.” Qiao Xi was slightly out of breath, still wearing his lab coat.
“What is it?” Yin Beichen glanced at him.
“I—I came to pick you up.” Qiao Xi adjusted his glasses, a flush creeping across his face.
“Pick me up?” Yin Beichen frowned.
“Professor Qu’s idea.” Qiao Xi stammered out an explanation. “The Science Division will also be attending tonight’s banquet. He said he’d like to have a drink with you, and asked me to make sure to invite you over.”
Yin Beichen wiped his hair, silent.
As head of the Science Division, Qu Yan was highly competent professionally, but on certain issues, he often clashed with Yin Beichen. Still, with Ning Feng around, their relationship had never been too strained.
Come to think of it, that guy could get along with anyone. Although Yin Beichen himself was also quite conspicuous on base, others mostly felt awe or respect toward him. It wasn’t the same kind of casual, pull-and-tug relationship Ning Feng had.
Suddenly, that handsome face flashed through his mind. Yin Beichen’s eyes darkened.
Such practiced moves, such exaggerated banter.
He must have said those lines to plenty of others before.
Seeing the officer scowling and rubbing his hair even harder, Qiao Xi felt a bit confused. Then he sniffed the air. “What a nice smell.”
He looked around. When he spotted the silver fruit, his eyes widened. “A silver fruit! Is it for me?”
Yin Beichen’s eyelids twitched. Instinctively, he said, “No.”
“Oh… I see.” Qiao Xi’s shoulders drooped, the corners of his eyes slightly downcast, looking pitiful. “I was hoping I could research it for edible radiation-resistant materials.”
Yin Beichen narrowed his eyes.
Although current mecha radiation protection was quite adequate, materials for human body protection were still scarce. If they could really develop something, that would be a good thing.
Besides, Ning Feng couldn’t sit still and often led teams out into the field. Extra protection wouldn’t hurt.
“Are you confident?” Yin Beichen asked.
“I’d like to try.” Qiao Xi nodded emphatically.
After a moment’s thought, Yin Beichen handed over the silver fruit. “I want a report within a week.”
Qiao Xi took it with both hands, beaming. “Yes, sir.”
And this scene happened to fall right into Ning Feng’s eyes.
Ning Feng raised one eyebrow, a half-smile on his face, but the coldness in his gaze was impossible to hide.
“Oh ho~?”