Chapter 189
Chapter 189: Just Spoil Him—Shipping Couples Left and Right, and Every Ship Sinks Quietly
Agris’s grip tightened on Atuya’s arm. “Atuya, you’re willing to help me bring her back to Insect Clan?”
Atuya clasped his hand with hers and looked at him, affection pouring out of her eyes without restraint. “If she were on the Zhen Lin Empire’s capital planet, too far away, then we’d forget it.”
“But she’s on Ri Pan Star right now. Right under our noses. Within reach. If Your Highness wants her, I’m willing to try.”
Agris loosened his hold, turned his hand over, and interlaced his fingers with hers. “Thank you, Atuya.”
Atuya shook her head. “You are my fiance. I am your fiancee. There’s no need for thanks between us.”
“But you have to listen to me this time. You can’t act rashly. You can’t be stubborn. You can’t expect too much, and you can’t force it.”
Agris’s tender expression froze. “Atuya… what do you mean?”
Atuya explained, “I mean Chong Ming dares to place Jiang Tea Tea among the patrol staff because he has absolute confidence in her safety. He’s considered every emergency. There are definitely security staff around her that we can’t see.”
“Against someone like that, if we want to take her, we need a long plan. Don’t rush. Don’t act on impulse. All right?”
Agris smiled. “I’ll listen to you.”
Atuya nodded. “Good. Come. Let’s go back to the zone.”
Agris held her hand and led her away.
The insects following behind watched with envy. General Atuya truly doted on Agris, Your Highness. And he loved her too. From meeting to engagement, it had been only the two of them. No third insect had ever stood between them.
In Insect Clan, females were honored and males were low. The higher a woman’s status, the more husbands she kept. Besides a primary husband, she would also take consorts. Three to five was considered few. Eight or ten was normal. Dozens or even hundreds also fell within expectations.
Even if Agris was the Insect Race Eldest Prince, if General Atuya took other males, he wouldn’t dare make a sound.
Yet even without registering marriage, Atuya had always kept only him. No other males. She spoiled him, loved him, and covered for him.
“Kong Que.”
Zhong Li He stood with his arms folded and nudged Kong Que with his elbow, eyes still fixed on Agris and Atuya. “Tell me—isn’t that pure human girl, 59311, especially eye-catching?”
Kong Que glanced at Zhong Li He’s crossed arms and said calmly, “Chief Executive, please maintain a dignified image.”
Zhong Li He didn’t care. No one was around. No one was filming him for Starnet. “Stop worrying about my image. Answer me. Isn’t she eye-catching?”
Kong Que finally reached out and pushed Zhong Li He’s arms down, forcing him into a proper stance. “Yes. Unit 59311 is eye-catching. You should think more about selling our weapons and less about poaching people.”
Zhong Li He frowned. “With a beastfolk as smart and capable as me, I can’t do both? Sell weapons and dig corners? Two hands. Two goals. Perfect.”
Kong Que pulled out his Lightbrain tablet and held it up. “Chief Executive, I don’t know when you feel ‘perfect.’ I only know Commander-in-Chief Chong Ming feels pretty perfect right now.”
“Look. The exhibition just started. The Zhen Lin Empire’s orders are already in the hundreds of billions of star credits. Da Xi Nation isn’t even at ten billion. A tenfold gap.”
Zhong Li He stared and spat out three flat words. “There’s a cover-up.”
Kong Que sighed and put the tablet away. “Fine. Self-deception. You’ve mastered it.”
“I’m going into the zone to receive guests. Try not to let Da Xi Nation fall too far behind the Zhen Lin Empire—so your Chief Executive face can look a little better.”
Zhong Li He waved him off. “Go, go. I believe you. You’ll crush that bastard Chong Ming and leave him behind by eighteen star systems in orders!”
Kong Que paused, then reached out, hooked Zhong Li He by the back collar, and started dragging him. “Chief Executive, I’ve thought it over. You should come with me. Your face sells better than mine.”
Zhong Li He had no chance to refuse. He was dragged backward, collar in hand. He even felt relieved no one was watching, because if anyone saw this, his face would be gone.
What Zhong Li He didn’t know—and what Jiang Tea Tea didn’t know either—was that someone had filmed Jiang Tea Tea beating the three scorpion Insect Clan members and posted it online.
And someone had filmed Zhong Li He being dragged by Kong Que and posted that too.
The two videos hit Starnet trending back-to-back, ten minutes apart.
Netizens across the M31 Star System reposted and laughed. “A blogger posted a clip of Zhen Lin Empire’s Bodyguard Unit ID 59311 earlier. Two hours later, here’s her beating scorpion Insect Clan.”
“Beast God above—when she swung that baton, she went straight into my heart. I need her full profile right now. I’m going to chase her.”
“Are you hearing yourself? She’s from Commander-in-Chief Chong Ming’s bodyguard unit. Someone like you would get knocked out along with ten others in one swing.”
“Look at the paint, the sunglasses, the ponytail. You can’t even see her face and she still looks unreal. Being near her must feel so safe.”
“It makes me mad. The pretty ones, the talented ones, the strong ones—all of them get handed to the nation.”
Someone finally shouted, “Wait. She’s hitting Insect Clan. She’s hitting our Insect Clan. Is nobody going to speak up for us?”
Others answered immediately, “If she hit you, you caused trouble.”
“Who hits insects for no reason? That would be boredom to the point of madness.”
“She hit you because you deserved it. Stop whining. No one feels sorry for you.”
Insect Clan netizens grew furious and started organizing to attack other netizens indiscriminately.
Before they could even get started, Zhong Li He’s collar-dragging video exploded across Starnet.
The comments erupted.
“Chief Executive getting dragged by the collar? I didn’t expect this in my lifetime.”
“Look at his pout. Look at that furious glare. It feels like he’s about to kill Kong Que.”
“No. With his rank, killing Kong Que would take seconds. But he’s not doing it. He’s letting Kong Que drag him.”
“I get it. He’s fussing, and Kong Que is indulging him. Ship it.”
“Stop. I’m an omnivore. I ship everything.”
Then someone pointed out, “Look! The Space Weapons Exhibition official account posted a statement. They released the full footage of why those three insects were beaten, and they fully support the patrol unit. They even praised Unit 59311.”
Netizens flooded the official account, watched the footage, then turned around and tagged Insect Clan’s official account.
“Insect Clan, didn’t you say we’re biased against you? Come watch your scorpion males.”
“They threatened women, then blamed the women, then talked filthy. Breaking their stingers, knocking out teeth, cracking heads, expelling them, permanently blacklisting them—59311 did nothing wrong. Whoever says she’s wrong, say it to my face.”
“The Zhen Lin Empire already warned everyone repeatedly. No violence. No conflicts. Break rules and you’re expelled and blacklisted.”
“Insect Clan broke rules knowingly. They deserved it.”
Insect Clan’s reputation took another brutal beating across Starnet.
Insect Clan’s official account said nothing. Cold silence. Like they didn’t care at all.
Jiang Tea Tea knew none of it. She didn’t know strangers were praising her to the skies. She didn’t know countless eyes had turned to her.
That morning alone, she handled two violent incidents and stopped one that almost turned violent.
At midday break, she called Chong Ming.
He picked up after two rings. His voice came through low and calm. “Calling me during lunch break. What is it?”
Of course. As the empire’s top leader, he knew she wouldn’t call for no reason.
Jiang Tea Tea felt awkward for a heartbeat, then lied smoothly. “Didn’t you tell me to call you whether I have something or not? What, it’s lunch break and it’s not allowed?”
There was a pause. “It’s allowed. I’m happy. But that isn’t your style.”
He really didn’t fall for anything.
Jiang Tea Tea sighed. “Fine. It’s like this. According to what I know about the participating countries, the Insect Clan representative responsible for the Space Weapons Exhibition is General Atuya, one of Insect Clan’s top generals.”
“This morning I made contact with Atuya and sensed ability fluctuations from Agris, the Insect Race Eldest Prince.”
“I didn’t actually see Agris. So I think he’s disguised beside her. Do you want to have people pay special attention?”
Chong Ming answered immediately, “Good. I’ll arrange it.”
Then his voice sharpened. “You be careful too. Agris has always been obsessed with you, and General Atuya loves him. They’ll definitely plan to take you back to Insect Clan.”