17. You’re Welcome

Yin Sangyu stood stiffly at the entrance, staring at his palm, still feeling the lingering sticky sensation and the fruity scent he liked.

If he weren’t so concerned with dignity, he might’ve leaned closer to sniff it carefully.

Xiao Muyi, nearby, watched his reminiscent gesture, unconsciously clenching his fists and gritting his teeth. During the entire process, Yin Sangyu hadn’t done anything beyond “helping,” but that help was already excessive.

Moreover, when Xiao Muyi clearly said to stop and not touch there, Yin Sangyu proceeded regardless, forcing out his tears and a collapsing whimper, utterly beastly.

From the increasingly potent water lotus scent pheromones on Zhu Ling, Xiao Muyi confirmed she was a genuine omega.

Though one male and one female, both being omegas made such an outrageous act somewhat bearable. The problem was, aside from her omega body, Zhu Ling had nothing in common with an omega.

In that moment, Xiao Muyi genuinely thought he’d be violated, and now he was truly angry.

He couldn’t fathom how such an omega existed, wanting to ask if the nation’s omega training was too wild.

His ear tips fully reddened, unable to tolerate Yin Sangyu staring at his offending hand. He thanked again, “Thank you so much for today.”

As he spoke, he noticed his voice was still hoarse.

Yin Sangyu glanced at him, finally withdrawing his hand, “You’re welcome. I’m glad I could help you today.”

Xiao Muyi wanted no more talk of what happened. Looking at Li Ziyi and others lying nearby, he asked stiffly, “How long will they stay unconscious?”

Having exposed his overpowering martial prowess, Yin Sangyu knew pretending to be a frail sweet girl insulted intelligence. Dropping the act, he crossed his arms over his prominent chest, saying coldly, “They won’t wake before dawn.”

Xiao Muyi pursed his wounded lips slightly, staying silent, dark eyes glancing sideways, as if hesitating, looking fearful.

But Yin Sangyu suspected he was more likely contemplating killing to silence them.

He asked proactively, “Are you afraid they’ll trouble you again when they wake?”

Xiao Muyi hesitated, then nodded lightly.

It was a real issue. When Li Ziyi and the others woke, they’d at least demand to know who the woman who attacked them was.

Yin Sangyu glanced at Xiao Muyi. Humans are visual creatures. Xiao Muyi was naturally frail, his messy black hair covering his eyes, the visible half of his face pale and delicate, clothes wrinkled with grass clinging, like he’d just been ravaged—pitiful, disheveled, helpless, easily stirring sympathy.

Despite Yin Sangyu’s worldly experience, even with some brazenly seducing him with stripteases, he still found Xiao Muyi slightly cute.

But finding someone so dark-hearted and ruthless cute—such a person was typically called a fool.

Yin Sangyu didn’t think he was a fool. His mind turned, naturally recalling the system’s oft-repeated 100% compatibility, concluding he’d been brainwashed by something filthy.

System: […]

Explaining it away as the system’s fault, Yin Sangyu felt much relieved.

Though helping Xiao Muyi today likely wouldn’t raise his redemption value, seeing his pitiful state, Yin Sangyu wouldn’t leave him a mess.

After brief thought, he said internally, “System, can you fetch something from my house?”

System: [[Object Transfer]: 100 points. Confirm exchange?]

“Confirm.”

Ding—

[Exchange successful]

Feeling an object appear in his clothes, Yin Sangyu’s expression brightened, saying to Xiao Muyi, “Don’t be afraid. They didn’t see me clearly. If they ask, say it was a female alpha who knocked them out and… violated you. They won’t blame you too much.”

He pulled a gold unicorn badge from his pocket, handing it to Xiao Muyi, “If they want to find the female alpha, give them this badge, say it fell from her. They’ll quiet down.”

Xiao Muyi, slightly stunned, took the heavy badge, fingers tracing its etched ridges, murmuring, “…Golden unicorn?”

The golden unicorn badge, awarded only to high-ranking officers for first-class merits, bestowed by the emperor himself, symbolized imperial authority and glory.

Few living recipients remained, Yin Sangyu among them. With more than one badge, he didn’t cherish this honor much.

But for most, the golden unicorn badge was an invaluable treasure. Even an outlier like Xiao Muyi knew what could and couldn’t be touched.

He pushed it back to Yin Sangyu, “Thank you, but I can’t take it. I’ll handle it myself.”

“You’ll handle it?”

Yin Sangyu raised a brow, “How, like just now?”

Xiao Muyi felt a surge of shame, heart burning, words stumbling, “Li… Ziyi is my brother. If I tell Father when I get back, it’ll be fine.”

A brother who deliberately offered him to cronies for amusement—such audacity wasn’t new. Xiao Muyi had likely been Li Ziyi’s punching bag since childhood. Telling his so-called “foster father” would only bring self-humiliation.

Twirling the badge between his fingers, Yin Sangyu said carelessly, “But you told me your foster father treats you badly. Will he help you?”

Xiao Muyi didn’t speak, only nodding stubbornly and firmly.

“Fine.” Since Xiao Muyi refused, Yin Sangyu let it go.

Dropping the matter, Yin Sangyu had a bigger score to settle. A mere “sorry” wouldn’t cut it.

Frowning unhappily, he pocketed the badge, then grabbed Xiao Muyi’s wrist, startling him.

Bending to meet Xiao Muyi’s eyes, Yin Sangyu pulled out his phone, expertly opening the interface, displaying the glaring [You have been blocked] message.

Unconsciously adopting a superior’s interrogative tone, he said coldly and sternly, “Give me a reasonable explanation.”

Despite suppressing his instinct to flinch from close proximity, Xiao Muyi couldn’t withstand such direct scrutiny. Those clear eyes seemed to peer into his rotten soul.

His lashes trembled, throat bobbing dryly twice, before he lowered his gaze, saying tonelessly, “I’ll unblock you now, okay?”

Yin Sangyu frowned, dissatisfied with his evasion, but to earn redemption value, he needed good relations. Being too confrontational might push him away.

Reluctantly, he released Xiao Muyi, not pressing for reasons but still grumbling, “We agreed to be friends, always together, yet you blocked me. Isn’t that excessive?”

Xiao Muyi, like a silent gourd, nodded guiltily, but no one knew his true thoughts.

If he were Yin Sangyu’s subordinate, he’d have been disciplined countless times.

Yin Sangyu shot him a sidelong glance, raising his voice, “Excessive?”

Xiao Muyi had been questioned before, but never without malice. Unable to raise his defenses, he clutched his clothes’ hem, echoing softly, “Excessive.”

“Will there be a next time?”

“…No.”

Seeing the villain stand obediently, taking the scolding, Yin Sangyu felt his days of headaches were slightly repaid. He hummed again, warning, “I know your name. If you block me again, I’ll find you at your school.”

Xiao Muyi panicked genuinely, not acting, opening his mouth to beg Yin Sangyu not to come, but anticipating an argument, he couldn’t speak.

He found it tricky. He’d never met someone like Zhu Ling and didn’t know how to describe her effect on him—partly repellent, yet not entirely.

He couldn’t fathom why Zhu Ling helped him, with no gain, or why a radiant omega fixated on him as a friend, when she wasn’t naively pure like typical omegas.

Ultimately, Xiao Muyi knew the vast chasm between them, in status and personality.

Their connection felt unreal, like clouds.

He sensed Zhu Ling’s lack of malice, but her approach must stem from an unknown lie.

Maybe novelty, a game, curiosity…

Not truly for him.

Xiao Muyi knew reality was so, and shouldn’t have been too affected, but anger at being toyed with surged. His teeth clicked from biting too hard, a flash of malice in his eyes.

The real him was silent and gloomy, but his disguised self could wear countless faces.

He hadn’t planned to harm Zhu Ling, but since she persistently sought him, any misfortune wouldn’t be his fault.

His demeanor shifted, as if resolving something, hesitating and dejected, “I understand. I won’t block you again. But do you really want to be friends with someone like me…?”

Honestly, if given a choice, Yin Sangyu would stay far from Xiao Muyi, but life was rarely ideal.

To eliminate his susceptibility period, accepting his mission, Yin Sangyu gave the suddenly insecure villain a firm reply, “Of course I do. I’ve said before, you’re really great.”

Xiao Muyi didn’t respond immediately. Just as Yin Sangyu wondered if he should say more, Xiao Muyi said, voice faintly tearful, “Sorry for blocking you… It was because I’m cowardly.”

“You’re an omega, so wonderful. I was afraid you’d look down on someone like me.”

He raised a hand, as if wiping tears, “I’m so glad you still accept me. Thank you.”

“…?”

Yin Sangyu’s mind sprouted a question mark, then froze entirely.

Moments later, his pupils shrank, urgently asking the system, “System! Xiao Muyi’s redemption and blackening values?”

System: [No change.]

As expected.

What were crocodile tears?

Yin Sangyu’s emotions churned. Xiao Muyi was going all in, saying such youthful words and crying—was he planning to kill him?

What drastic shift had he missed? Had he said something wrong? Which part?

Maintaining a calm expression, Yin Sangyu forced out through gritted teeth, “You’re welcome.”