Late night
by M1zushiIn Bai Ling’s memory, things like laying eggs, stuck eggs, or brooding eggs were all very distant concepts.
Having failed his differentiation in his previous life, he had spent most of his years as a beta. Although he was frequently tortured by pseudo-heats, there was a silver lining: he had successfully avoided these “growing pains” of omega development.
Much like how human females have monthly cycles, avian hybrids have the habit of periodic egg-laying. They are basically unfertilized, possessing no life and not hatching into chicks. Essentially, it was just like losing a piece of flesh. It was perfectly harmless to fry them up and eat them; in fact, it helped replenish the protein and calories lost during the process.
Oftentimes, omega housewives who laid eggs too frequently would hold luncheons to exchange different varieties with their neighbors.
It’s said that Anatidae (duck) eggs were the most popular, such as duck, goose, and swan eggs, while Phasianidae (pheasant) eggs were considered delicious when baked with salt in a rice cooker.
It sounds absurd, but homemade fried eggs from omegas are indeed a signature Imperial delicacy.
Fertilized eggs, however, were a completely different story.
In an Empire where the birth control system is strictly controlled, every fertilized egg must be labeled from birth. Omegas are not allowed to stockpile eggs privately; they have to be handed over to the National Incubation Center for unified hatching to ensure the survival rate.
However, in recent years, a trend of home-brooding had swept through the people. Many nobles found enjoyment in observing postpartum omegas brooding, and some even live-streamed the process online to gain followers.
This, in turn, birthed many crooked tricks to bypass the system.
For example, one could submit an omega psychiatric evaluation claiming that brooding helped alleviate postpartum anxiety. With that, the National Incubation Center would grant permission for home incubation.
Bai Ling was certain the Tyrant’s government knew a vast number of people were exploiting this loophole and chose to turn a blind eye. The National Incubation Center was a social welfare institution established by the Old Empire, costing at least hundreds of billions annually. By the time the Tyrant took over, the economy had plummeted, so they naturally wanted to slash that part of the budget.
Since openly cutting welfare would incite public outrage, it was easier to spread the grassroots idea that “children hatched by their own parents are smarter,” shifting the responsibility of brooding from the State back onto the individual omega.
Most of these backward, dross-filled ideas were borrowed by the Tyrant’s government from the Mammalian Federation… stupid, but highly effective at inciting the masses.
Bai Ling silently looked toward the corner.
Behind the rows of bookshelves, in a cramped space, inside the deep shadows where the light couldn’t reach, the Raven was suppressing low gasps.
Sava was nearly choked by the pheromones and hurried the Grey Magpie to open the nearby windows. Otherwise, if the concentration exceeded 100, the monitors on the walls would trigger an alarm in minutes.
Bai Ling, however, felt nothing.
He was still in the early stages of his second differentiation, and his sense of smell was intermittent, leaving him temporarily immune to the pheromone bombardment.
“…The inhibitor stick… did you… bring it?” The previously arrogant Raven was now as weak as a mosquito’s hum.
“You’ve got some nerve, cuckolding the TGK in the Imperial Palace. Aren’t you afraid of being caught and hanged?” Sava stepped over his body, using the light from his terminal screen to check the Raven’s face. It was trembling and pale, looking very bad.
Sava said unceremoniously, “And you want to crush the egg like this? Don’t end up with your intestines shredded by eggshells, or you’ll be spending your next life unable to take care of yourself.”
The Grey Magpie trembled with fear. “No way, is it that serious?”
Sava shrugged. “Of course. You’d be lucky to end up in a wheelchair hugging a urine bag.”
The Raven still possessed a shred of consciousness and rolled his eyes back in a fierce glare. Perhaps he rolled them too hard, or perhaps a surge of agony from the stuck egg hit him, causing him to faint right then and there.
Sava looked down at him heartlessly. “I really want to just leave him to die.”
Bai Ling was speechless. This guy is all bark and no bite; since he was willing to come and look, there was no way he’d let a difficult labor go unassisted.
Sure enough, Sava called out to him, “Hey, Little Bird, come over and help me pin down this big-shot Crow. I need to press on his belly to push the egg out. Don’t let him jump up and kick my ass.”
Bai Ling remained expressionless. “You seem very experienced?”
“Naturally. I was the grade-level ‘midwife pioneer’ back at the military academy. I spent my time in the dorms handling stuck egg issues for everyone.” Sava rolled up his sleeves, his gaze sharp as he looked back.
Being looked at like that made Bai Ling’s lower abdomen tighten for some reason, and he felt a sudden urge to turn and run.
“Hold his arms.”
Bai Ling followed the instructions. On the battlefield, he used to perform emergency hemostasis and bandaging for himself or his teammates, so he was familiar with first-aid procedures.
However, the moment Sava began the massage, the Raven jerked up like a bug doused in salt water, twisting in a frantic shock.
“AH, AAAH…!” Through the intense pain, the Raven felt the egg sliding down.
“Cover his mouth, don’t let him attract the Etiquette Officers,” Sava clicked his tongue and impatiently barked orders at the Grey Magpie.
Watching these steps, Bai Ling felt a sense of familiarity.
…Hmm, that’s how they used to interrogate enemies.
Sava controlled his strength and pushed for a long time. He wiped the sweat from the back of his hand, and his orange-red eyes shimmered in the dim light. “We need to prop him up and make him walk a few steps. With the help of gravity, the egg will leave easier.”
“No… no… I can’t walk… just let me die…” The Raven shook his head incoherently, murmuring in a breakdown, “I don’t want to lay eggs anymore, don’t make me do it again… Kunan, kill me, ah!”
Sava: ” Cool-Nan?”
Are the nicknames of omega lovers these days all this simple and crude?
Hearing that name, Bai Ling froze for a moment, then narrowed his eyes. He reached out and seemingly casually flicked the Raven’s collar aside. There, in the hollow of the collarbone, was indeed a tiny cross tattoo.
Interesting…
If he remembered correctly, a cross tattoo was the mark of an underground gang, and Kunan was the name of a gang leader. It seems that within this circle of concubines, quite a few people were hiding unsavory backgrounds.
After ten minutes of relentless “midwifery,” a dull thud sounded, and a round bulge filled the Raven’s pants.
It was a steaming, fresh egg, still stained with biological fluids.
Sava stood up while pinching his nose, urging Bai Ling to leave quickly. The Raven’s pheromones smelled strongly of alcohol, and the stench was making his head ache.
Just then, the Raven’s eyelids fluttered. He opened his eyes, exhausted and gasping for air. “Let me… let me see the egg.”
The Grey Magpie hurried to pull the egg out, wiped it down with a tissue, and handed it over. The Raven switched his terminal to flashlight mode, pressing the spotlight against the shell to inspect it inch by inch.
Under the light, the shell became semi-translucent. Through the glow, one could faintly glimpse fine, spiderweb-like red veins, trembling slightly with vibrant life.
— It was the sign of flowing vitality.
Whether out of joy or sorrow, the Raven let out a heavy sigh and cradled the egg against his chest. “It’s not a dead egg…”
Bai Ling raised an eyebrow in surprise. Judging by that tone, it seems the Raven was traumatized by laying dead eggs before. So, this wasn’t his first time.
The Raven finally shifted his gaze toward them. His lips moved with lingering reluctance before he spoke in a rasping, stiff voice:
“According to the traditions of us Corvids, anyone who helps deliver an egg is considered its godmother. I don’t want to break that tradition… You two, give the egg a name.”
Sava: “According to our military academy tradition, since you had a stuck egg, let’s call it Stuckie.”
The Raven: “…” That’s too casual!
The large Raven turned his weary but sharp gaze to Bai Ling, hoping for something more meaningful. Bai Ling glanced at the digital clock on the wall.
[December 7th, Thanksgiving, Temperature -11°C]
Bai Ling thought seriously for a moment and said, “Why not call it Little Green?”
The Raven froze, then begrudgingly accepted. “Little Green it is. You mean ‘full of life,’ right? That’s what you’re trying to say?”
Bai Ling: “Close enough. Today is the three-day Thanksgiving period, a time to present gifts to the TGK. This egg is profoundly significant, the perfect gift for him.”
Little Green. Green, as in a vibrant and lush green hat.
To dare cuckold the Dog King right inside the palace, this Raven was no ordinary person. After a moment of reflection, he actually felt the name possessed a certain “gangster rebellion spirit,” so he kept it.
Watching the Raven tighten his arms to hug the egg in his embrace, Bai Ling and Sava exchanged a glance and silently walked out.
Little Green. Vibrant life, growing through adversity, it truly is a good omen.
Unfortunately, the dormitory inspections are strict. This egg is too big of a target; it likely won’t remain hidden for long.
When the time comes, the Raven will surely face a fierce battle to protect it.
Outside the library, the Grey Magpie bowed in gratitude and asked Sava, “Could we… could we ask for your help again if this happens next time?”
Sava waved him off. “Don’t count on me. Just be careful and develop good habits so you don’t get stuck eggs so easily.”
The Grey Magpie asked, “Which conditions make it easier to get a stuck egg?”
Sava rubbed his chin. “Small pelvis, thin waist, malnutrition, and not eating enough vegetables.”
Bai Ling: “????”
Let’s immediately head to the canteen to grab some greens.
In the canteen, Sava looked at Bai Ling’s cold, mountain-like poker face and let out a snort. “Why are you acting like this? Did I scare you just now?”
Bai Ling silently buried his face in his vegetables.
Sava: “By the way, your reaction is so awkward. Did you never take a sex education class?”
Bai Ling denied it instantly. “I have.”
“Where?”
Bai Ling: “…In the ICU?”
Facing Sava’s incredulous gaze, he chewed on a salty piece of pickled vegetable and added, “When I was in the ICU, I had nothing to do, so I studied the health tips on the wall.”
Sava: “? You can’t cover everything like that.”
Bai Ling: “I’ve been in every department.”
Sava: “…Then you must be very good at swallowing.”
“Why do you say that?”
Sava held up three fingers and dropped a dark joke: “From having tubes that thick shoved down your throat all the time. You must be quite skilled.”
Bai Ling gave a cold sneer. “I don’t understand.”
The afternoon consisted of two back-to-back etiquette classes. In the first, the omegas were to learn twenty ways to tie ribbons, so they could wrap gifts for guests during holidays to showcase a wife’s gentle homemaking skills.
The Etiquette Officer handed out ribbons for practice.
“Everyone, study seriously. These two days are Thanksgiving. Don’t forget, each of you must hand-make a card filled with words of love. I will collect them and present them to His Majesty. This is your chance to shine, so grasp it well.”
North muttered quietly, “The more you lack something, the more you have to show it off.”
Suddenly, North felt a burning gaze. He turned to see Bai Ling looking at him with an expression of wanting to say something.
“Birdie, what’s up?”
Bai Ling stared intensely at his hand. “Can you trade your green ribbon to me…?”
“Oh, sure! Take it.” North handed it over.
Bai Ling tested the tensile strength in his hand and nodded with satisfaction, stuffing it into his bag. The old guy liked green or black ropes. He would prepare his fishing gear early so that catching the old bad fish would be effortless.
Sava smirked. “Your stealing skills are a bit too practiced, brother. You’ve pocketed the ribbon; let’s see how you hand in your assignment later.”
Without hesitation, Bai Ling snatched Sava’s ribbon, leaving Sava squawking in rage.
The two were at it again, competing to see whose fingers could tie faster. They tied the twenty required bows so quickly it was a draw, so they increased the difficulty, aiming for international professional standards.
When the Etiquette Officer patrolled over, he found a group of concubines crowded around a certain table, gasping in awe.
He nodded in approval.
It seems these two troublemakers have finally seen the light. If they are willing to put effort into pleasing His Majesty, their future looks promising.
Full of expectation, the officer stood on his tiptoes to peek over the wall of people.
Bai Ling and Sava had tied each other up in “captive binding” and “tortoise shell rope binding.” Bai Ling’s technique was particularly high, binding Sava so tightly his chest was practically bursting out.
Etiquette Officer: “…”
He furiously snapped a photo and sent it to the Inner Officials’ group chat: “Which one of you idiots let these two bastards in!”
Heinz, who had a lurker account in the Inner Officials’ group: [Silently saving] [For late-night activities]
The next class was [Appreciation and Practice of the Brooding Dance], a mandatory course for the Bird Class.
Holding a message he had just received on his terminal, the Etiquette Officer said with excitement, “His Majesty has decided to make time to visit. Tomorrow afternoon, he will come to watch everyone perform the Thanksgiving Brooding Dance. Work hard, everyone. Try to leave a deep impression on His Majesty.”
Tomorrow afternoon… Bai Ling seemed lost in though, his palm unintentionally brushing against the short blade at his lower back.
He will certainly ensure the tyrant has a “Thanksgiving” he’ll never forget.
After class, a certain fish sent a message right on time.
[Little Bird’s Dish]: What do you want to eat tonight? I’m taking requests.
Bai Ling’s pupils rounded slightly. Ordering a specific dish… would that be a bit too much? He habitually typed out “Thank you for your care,” but then remembered the merman was blind and always used text-to-speech. It would be better to just send a voice message.
Bai Ling checked to make sure no one was around, leaned his lips close to the terminal speaker, and said very softly and quickly: “Thank you for your care. Tonight, I want to eat you—” …r big beef.
“Hey!” Someone suddenly patted him.
Bai Ling’s hand shook, and he heard a sharp shing—the notification sound for a sent message.
Sava drifted over like a ghost, leaning an elbow on his shoulder with a smirk. “Chatting with your 01 alpha again? Fine, fine. I’ll handle the dorm manager tonight. You go ahead.”
Bai Ling didn’t answer. He just looked down with trembling eyelashes.
…Dammit! That incomplete voice message has already been sent.
He turned and gave the chicken a furious kick to the butt. If he couldn’t crawl back tonight, it was all this stinking bird’s fault!
Meanwhile, in the palace, the merman swiveled his chair and clicked the voice message with one hand. A cold-textured voice, carrying a rare hint of caution and shyness, spoke to him:
“…Tonight, I want to eat you.”
Author’s note:
Bird: I really didn’t mean to this time…
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