Old Lion

“Aren’t you [Ad Space for Rent]?”

Everyone gasped. Captain Lu, Captain Lu, this is hardly the time for small talk! Can’t you see the other is protecting… Wait, [Ad Space for Rent]?

They hadn’t noticed before, but now when they took a closer look the white-haired young man had a visible prosthetic leg beneath his pant leg, making a faint clicking sound as he walked. And that icy, aloof presence, unmistakable even behind a mosaic filter…

Nine times out of ten, this was the pilot who had placed second in the mecha competition.

The deputy’s expression shifted, and he quickly looked over. He knew that Lu Hang intended to use his quota to recruit this pilot into their unit. If the pilot performed well, Lu Hang even planned to recommend him to the Imperial Guard to serve alongside the monarch.

However, after Lu Hang had sent the invitation to the club responsible for the pilot’s arrangements, there had been no reply. Whether the club hadn’t received it or simply didn’t want to agree was unclear.

They’d wanted to ask the pilot directly, but due to privacy rules, the pilot’s personal contact information was confidential, so that was not an option.

What a coincidence that they’d run into him on the street today! A total twist of fate.

The deputy had to marvel. Truly, Captain Lu has luck on his side. Not only did he always manage to turn danger into safety, but whatever he wished for seemed to come to him. It was like he was living life with cheat codes enabled.

Lu Hang, for his part, had indeed straightened up. Dressed in casual clothes, standing next to a trash bin, he spoke with the formality of official business:

“Hello. I’m Lu Hang, captain of the Deep Space Mecha Corps C Squad.”

At the words “Deep Space,” Bai Ling instinctively tightened his grip on his fingers. Yu Chen glanced aside, and as the leather soles of his shoes tapped lightly against the cobblestones, he subtly used his larger frame to block Lu Hang’s line of sight.

Lu Hang continued, “The day before yesterday, I sent a recruitment letter to your club. Are you aware of this?”

Bai Ling was not.

After the group stage matches, he’d wanted to take a couple of days off to rest and had paid little attention to club matters. Perhaps they had received it. But a recruitment letter for enlistment…

He wasn’t interested.

Bai Ling’s lips curved in a faint, self-mocking smile. Back then, he had joined the military to protect his country, to repay the kindness of being raised by Izu Paraiso. Now, he had found a better path. There was no need to cling to the military and risk his life for others.

Besides, as an omega, in the alpha-dominated military, he would face discrimination at every turn, with almost zero opportunity for advancement. Even with Gram gone, removing one scourge from the legions wouldn’t make a future for him in the army.

Bai Ling had long since accepted this.

His tone was cold as he replied, “Sorry. I’m on vacation. I don’t want to discuss these matters.”

Lu Hang understood. “Then when do you have time? We can talk privately.”

Seeing that the man was persistent and wouldn’t let it go, Bai Ling frowned, his voice growing colder. “My affairs are fully handled by my club. A private conversation doesn’t comply with regulations.”

He had made himself clear, just short of outright calling the other tactless.

Lu Hang, undeterred by the snub, pulled out a sticky note, wrote down his private contact number, and held it out with an open expression:

“Alright. Whenever you’re interested, feel free to reach out.”

Bai Ling’s expression darkened. He was about to refuse when a hand, pale yet with prominent veins, reached out, took the note between two fingers, and pulled it back.

Yu Chen accepted it on his behalf.

Lu Hang blinked. Even with his top-three ranking in the legions, he couldn’t make out the face of the tall alpha before him. All he could perceive was a low, amused voice:

“I’ll take the number. You can go now.”

The words acted like a dog whistle. The young alphas scrambled toward the alley entrance, practically running, as if pardoned from execution.

Rank suppression.

Lu Hang’s pride stung a little. These were his soldiers, and here they were, scattering like startled animals at the other’s command. His scalp tingled under the mounting psychological pressure, but he managed to maintain his composure and ask, with difficulty:

“May I ask if you are [Ad Space for Rent]’s… agent?”

He wasn’t sure why he’d instinctively used honorifics.

The other chuckled lightly. “Close enough. I’m the sponsor.”

The way he casually revealed his identities sent a chill down the spines of the remaining people present. By the time they realized what was happening, the sponsor and the pilot were already gone.

Lu Hang watched their retreating figures with complicated eyes.

He had heard rumors that some clubs took the wrong path; specifically selecting young, attractive pilots to offer up to sponsors in exchange for larger investments.

He hadn’t expected that [Ad Space for Rent], a pilot who could rely on his skills, would fall into the same trap.

Lu Hang had always valued talent and couldn’t bear to see a gem tarnished, mired in mud. His brows furrowed as he promised himself to confront the club leader who had let this happen.

If possible, he would persuade the other person to change his ways.

---

As for Lu Hang, Bai Ling had some impression of him from his past life.

A gifted alpha with a mental stability rate of 98%, the perfect candidate for a high-level commander. He recalled that after the tyrant government launched a campaign to suppress the Revolutionary Army, which had been flourishing on the wild planets, Lu Hang had served as deputy commander of a fleet for a while. Within two years, he had been promoted to chief commander, securing three major victories with his steady, methodical tactical style.

In one of those victories, he had destroyed Commander Bai’s outer space fortress.

Fortunately, that fortress had been built from scrap materials scavenged from battlefields, costing next to nothing. And Commander Bai had gotten wind of the attack in advance, leading his group to flee quickly, so the losses had been minimal.

Otherwise, the regresed Commander Bai would have thrown a punch right then and there to vent his frustration.

Still, Bai Ling harbored no goodwill toward Lu Hang. Based on his past life, Lu Hang seemed to remain a loyal lackey of the tyrant from start to finish.

He knew that even during the era when the tyrant had ceded two mining planets to the Mammalian Federation in exchange for “peace”, humiliating the nation and sacrificing its interests, even among the privileged elites who had already benefited from the status quo, there were righteous individuals who couldn’t stand by and watch.

These individuals would anonymously pass information to the Revolutionary Army, through reliable channels and without compensation. The Revolutionary Army on the wild planets had once relied on such selfless, great assistance to slowly advance their front toward the Capital.

Then, the tyrant had somehow introduced a new restriction ring monitoring system. It was quietly implemented, using data screening to suddenly catch hundreds of informants.

The tyrant was furious and had the head of the intelligence agency dragged out and beheaded, exclaiming, “My government is riddled with holes!”

During that time, the nightly news broadcasted a long list of those executed by the firing squad each day.

The pink skies of the capital were stained black by thick blood. The bodies of the “traitors” hung high in the square as passing crows landed on their shoulders, pecking at their desiccated remains. When the secret police passed by laughing, the crows would caw and flap away, a dark, mournful cloud drifting across the horizon.

With bloodshot eyes, Commander Bai bled his palms as his fingers dug in, forcing himself to stand before the scrolling screen, memorizing every name on that list.

All of them were comrades he had never met.

After his regression, Bai Ling still remembered that list. However, Lu Hang’s name was not on it.

He had heard that Lu Hang had also undergone scrutiny but was found to have an immaculate background. In both thought and action, he was deemed loyal to the tyrant and had even received commendation.

To each their own. Lu Hang’s choice to walk his own path wasn’t wrong.

Bai Ling could understand it rationally, but emotionally, he did not accept it.

So, for a moment, he didn’t understand why Yu Chen had taken that note.

Yu Chen turned his deep green eyes toward him. “I could see you didn’t like him. But try to think of him as a piece on a chessboard, and yourself as the player of that board.”

Bai Ling considered this. “You mean… use him?”

Yu Chen looked at him encouragingly, signaling him to continue.

A flash of insight struck, and Bai Ling blurted out, “I’m not a pawn. I don’t have to do everything myself. I’m the player. I don’t need to get involved with him directly. I can stay behind the scenes, find someone to keep Lu Hang occupied, throw obstacles in his way, nothing major, just enough to trouble him for a while.”

Yu Chen nodded with satisfaction. The little bird’s mind worked quickly. A worthy player, trained by his own hand.

A pleased smile played on Bai Ling’s lips as he murmured to himself, “Let me think. The resources I have right now are you, the concubine dormitory group, and the mecha club.”

“There’s no need to use a cleaver to kill a chicken, you certainly can’t get involved. The dormitory group doesn’t have direct influence either. But the club side…” He took a quiet breath, steadying himself as the answer came to him. With a firm gaze, he said to Yu Chen, “Please give me that note. I’ll take a picture and send it to the club leader.”

King against king, queen against queen. Since Lu Hang wanted to poach talent, using the club leader as a piece to counter him was the perfect move.

Yu Chen softly praised him: “Not bad.”

At his words, Bai Ling remembered something else. He stood on his tiptoes, tugging at the lapel of Yu Chen’s coat, and asked with a hint of playfulness:

“Wait a minute. If I recall correctly, you don’t really like the club leader. Last time, you even argued with me about his pilot suit, didn’t you? Hmm? Are you trying to stir up trouble on purpose?”

Yu Chen slightly lifted his gaze, showing his elegant and serene features in the night:

“Encouraging alphas to engage in male competition is beneficial for social progress.”

Bai Ling raised an eyebrow: “And what about you?”

Yu Chen tilted his head, his golden curls draping like sea mist, and seriously asked him: “Have you ever seen an old lion go fight with young lions?”

His features were distinguished, carrying just the right amount of pride: “Old lions don’t do that. Old lions sit back and reap the benefits.”

Bai Ling patted his arm, ran a couple steps ahead, and couldn’t help but look back with a smile: “Old lion, the way you scheme is truly charming.”

Yu Chen raised an eyebrow with pleasure, his tone slow and elegant. ” Charming?”

Bai Ling leaned close to his ear and whispered: ” Vulgar.”

Before the word left his lips, he was silenced by a searing kiss, heedless of their surroundings. The other gripped his nape like seizing a swan, pressing him somewhat roughly against a nearby vending machine, kissing him down into his throat.

Damn… pervert old man, you really know how to kiss.

A muffled sound escaped Bai Ling’s throat. Unable to help himself, he lifted his chin and eagerly yielded, yet instinctively adjusted the angle, offering an easy path for the other’s further invasion.

Bai Ling’s heels spasmed, and he kicked the vending machine in reflex.

Clang! Clang, clang! The restless noise echoed through the quiet street.

But Yu Chen released him. The cold air mingled with their panting breaths, forming a faint mist. His green eyes were dark as a forest thick with poisonous haze.

“Keep going?”

Bai Ling’s legs were weak and his back was limp. Remembering the keys in his pocket, he hummed, “I know a good place.”

Before they left, Yu Chen watched as the bird, face impassive, pressed buttons on the vending machine in a rapid spree.

Having retrieved his items, Bai Ling trotted back and arched an eyebrow teasingly. “You know, I used to think Mr. D was an old man.”

“Mm-hmm.”

“I’d already planned it: keep a condom in my pocket, have my fun, and run. If the old guy didn’t have a heart attack from me, I’d swipe your medical card and buy myself some booze.”

A strand of hair brushed past his cheek. The merman leaned down beside him, slipping a hand into his pocket.

Bai Ling: !

Yu Chen toyed with the foil packet hidden in Bai Ling’s pocket, casting him a sidelong glance. The bird’s eyes were darting everywhere. He said:

“Just one?”

“…How many was I supposed to bring? I calculated based on the average duration for Empire alphas, and this is more than enough.”

The merman drew close to his ear, lowering his voice to a mellow, magnetic pitch that seeped into his ear, inexplicably making the back of his neck tingle. Bai Ling unconsciously shrank his shoulders:

“That’s not my size.”

Bai Ling’s scalp prickled. He retorted, “Impossible. I measured with my eyes.”

“You measured wrong.”

Bai Ling fired back without thinking, “How could I be wrong? I observed you the second time I met you.”

Yu Chen’s expression turned meaningful. He pinched the bird’s cheek with a predatory gleam in his eyes, like a wild animal on the hunt. “You should have allowed for extra room.”

---

Author’s note:

The previous chapter was revised with additional sweet moments, so some content has been moved here.

Next chapter: heading to the stump bird’s little nest, hehehe~

Little bird: (arguing his case) (completely unabashed) I observed you carefully the second time I saw you in the bathhouse!

Old merman: (elegantly nodding) (agreeing with the child) And you also measured by mouth.

Little bird: ?????! (cussing up a storm) (“You pervert old man!”)