Insectoids: The Job of the Males

Chapter 14

Protection

Translated by boilpoil
Edited by boilpoil

Xiao Ji and He Huaijian had their blood drawn to grade them before boarding the vessel headed for the Capital.

The results are in the night before they arrive. Xiao Ji, pulling He Huaijian along, banged Cheng Zhaoci’s door until he opened.

The three of them only saw each other once or twice a day even though they have been really close childhood friends who grew up together due to Cheng Zhaoci suddenly turning into a male. It’s probably to do with awkwardness even in spite of ‘the talk’ they had. Cheng Zhaoci became a male! A male, you know?!

But that has entirely slipped Xiao Ji’s mind already. The door has opened, and Cheng Zhaoci is out, rubbing his eyes, only to be met with a yell, “Ci-zai! Do you know what grade lao-He and I are?!”

“Huh? What grade?” Cheng Zhaoci asks. He’s still a bit sleepy, having ended up working overnight drawing comics a few days ago. His biggest bad habit is forgetting the time when he’s really into drawing, even telling himself that if he did something else when the inspiration came he’s going to lose it.

No wonder he died of a stroke in his past life, even though the bigger reason was his dumbass boss.

Xiao Ji can hear the ‘couldn’t care less’ in Cheng Zhaoci’s tone immediately; they all grew up together, and pardon the crass language, but when Cheng Zhaoci raises his hips, he can already tell what kind of fart will come out. He puts his hands on Cheng Zhaoci’s shoulders, shaking, until finally, Cheng Zhaoci is awake.

Cheng Zhaoci finds that he does not enjoy a cold brainshake at all. Wait, wasn’t he, a male, a national treasure or something? Is this how you treat a national treasure? The national treasure’s brain is going to mush!

“I’m awake! I am! Xiao Ji, talk, and calm down!”

“Getting cocky, are we? You’re supposed to call me older brother,” Xiao Ji makes a big sulk.

He Huaijian has had enough of the dum-dum taking the topic to Narnia, and interjects, “we’re both grade A, and Xiao Ji is even an A+. Flying Officer Wei said that we can attend military school as transfer students and then skip the cadet stage when we graduate and get assigned.”

“Yeah yeah yeah! Ci-zai, you know Officer Wei said that lao-He had talent in mechanics and stuff, so he’s like, the weapons guy. He can get him a teacher!” Xiao Ji looks so excited he wants to slam down on Cheng Zhaoci’s shoulder again, until he remembers his good friend is a weak-ass male and turns his hand to slap on his own forehead instead. It makes a clean ‘snap.’

His forehead is red.

But at least Cheng Zhaoci has been snapped from his stupor entirely, “A?! A+?!” Well jeez, what are the odds? Grade As are already rare enough as the very pinnacle of shemale physical capability, if discounting grade S’s that are basically just bugs in the Matrix.

Xiao Ji the dum-dum is even A+? No wonder he always wins even against a group of shemales when fighting them on landfill planets for resources.

So they have a military career ahead, huh. Cheng Zhaoci finds himself relieved for his two good friends. He knew it. He always knew his own Mr Brain and Mr Brawn are the top of their own games.

Xiao Ji has a smug look on his face seeing how amazed Cheng Zhaoci is, “isn’t it cool? Isn’t it amazing? Don’t you feel honoured to be brothers with me?”

“We can protect you now,” He Huaijian gently ruffles Cheng Zhaoci’s hair, starkly contrasting with how jumpy Xiao Ji is being, “we can protect you even in the Capital. We are strong.”

None of them know what the Capital really is like. At best, they’ve seen photographs of it on their local Internet. Even if Cheng Zhaoci is a male with male privilege, he would still feel lost and unfamiliar there.

This really is touching, to be honest. There can’t be anyone out there who isn’t warmed by such a promise.

“Sleep early. We’ll be there the next morning,” He Huaijian feels like smiling, but he stops himself. Having a poker face the whole time, he really isn’t good at smiling. He’s tried it once against a mirror… let’s leave tragedy in the past.

He Huaijian starts dragging Xiao Ji away, but Cheng Zhaoci calls out, “when we’re all settled down, I’ll treat y’all to cupcakes.”

The two shemales are both looking at Cheng Zhaoci, who says, “I promised you on Zhousuo. I’ll treat you guys when I start making money.”

“But you’re a male…” Xiao Ji furrows his brows. Even as out of touch as he is, he knows it’s weird a male is treating a shemale. Who would actually let males pay?”

“A male? So what? I only want a simple answer, are you going or not?” Cheng Zhaoci doesn’t try to fan emotions with ‘we’re all family’ and such. It doesn’t suit the three of them.

“Of course!” He Huaijian is the one to answer firmly, breaking into an uncontrollable smile. It really doesn’t suit him, but Cheng Zhaoci can feel his happiness.

Xiao Ji looks like he could cry already. He’s blabbering and waving his arms around to try to give Cheng Zhaoci another bear hug, but He Huaijian stops him in time.

They chat some more before finally parting.

“Cheng Zhaoci really is such a good male insectoid,” remarks Wei Zhuo, for the umpteenth time.

Meng Yuele can’t agree more, having spotted the conversation at the male insectoid’s door alongside his superior, “it really is. This must be what all those shemales like to call, uh, what was it, ‘dreamy’? Yes, that’s right!”

“If only all males are like him…” Wei Zhuo’s tone trails off.

He knows it’s impossible. Ever since his own father tortured his dad to death to feel ‘superiority,’ since Jin Yue’s father left Jin Yue at his own male younger brother’s mercy and was crippled. He knows that that is what males are like, deep down.

There are times when Wei Zhuo doesn’t know for what reason he climbs the ranks. Even one with a powerful background like his own dad, the Chief of the armed forces, his death only resulted in an investigation and a ‘Not Guilty’ verdict, with the only defence being ‘it was an accident no one could have foresaw.’

Why do they even fight in the army? To give those depraved, lustful and wasted males even better lives? Wei Zhuo doesn’t understand, but he will never betray the Federation like Jin Yue did. He just doesn’t even know what he is fighting for anymore, or who can give him answers.

But after picking up the little male from the landfill planet’s rubble pile, he thinks he understands a little better, now. The young male’s future cijun will definitely live such a happy life, different from all the other cijuns.

“It’s really nice,” Wei Zhuo suddenly says before turning to leave.

“Eh? What’s nice?” Meng Yuele is filled with questions, not knowing what this ‘nice’ is referring to.

The male really does resemble his own comics. He is oddly endearing and even soothing. Just watching him makes one feel like, it is worth living and fighting for. Do you see him? Can you see this odd but also lovable male? Even if he is only one, but he is there.

They tried to corner a mad dog on the landfill planet, but ended up with a treasure haul instead.

Wei Zhuo is walking back when he remembers he didn’t even follow the young male’s comic. He opens his holodeck, and follows Cheng Zhaoci’s anonymous ID.

He then leaves a comment on the latest chapter [The comic is great, keep it up! (˙▽˙)]

Wei Zhuo is actually expressionless when making the emoji facial expression, but Meng Yuele has told him that typing in this manner makes his words look less harsh and lifeless. He’s never put it into practice in the past, as he felt it unnecessary.

However, he is talking with the young male insectoid… being gentle is a must.

The comment is buried under the many other comments, and Cheng Zhaoci has no chance of seeing it.

Not that he even has the time to read comments.

He really wasn’t expecting at all, that this was what Wei Zhuo meant by ‘get prepared.’

Not materially, but mentally.

When the military vessels have landed, Cheng Zhaoci and the two shemales tagging along all want to take in the sights of the Capital planet. All until the door opens to reveal a uniform file of shemale soldiers with universally passionate gazes.

Cheng Zhaoci, whose foot is already dangling out, quietly but smoothly retreats. He gulps, then mutters, “is this Resident Evil?”

“What?” Wei Zhuo, standing next to him and overhearing the phrase, asks.

“Nothing. Never mind,” Cheng Zhaoci shuts his eyes before opening again, then walks forth without hesitation. There are obstacles man must face, “I’m going now!”

There is a resolution of one sacrificing his own life for his motherland in his tone.

“Wait for us!” Xiao Ji and He Huaijian quickly follow behind.

The shemale soldiers’ eyes all light up as they suddenly burst forth like a horde.

“Mister, why are you coming down here? Do you feel unwell?”
“I’ve always said Officer Wei is too dull to keep a male’s attention.”
“Mister, is there anything I can do for you?”

Well, to be honest, all shemales Cheng Zhaoci has become acquainted with so far, from his own dad to Wei Zhuo, had a sort of ‘doting father’ on them. The little brats on the landfill planet might have both irritated him and tried to endear themselves to him, but it felt almost like childish pranks. It’s the first time Cheng Zhaoci has ever faced so many shemales alone.

Before he would suffocate to death, though, he gets carried off the ground by the waist and is quickly moved to the side.

By the waist, the same manner Cheng Zhaoci used to grab and carry his cat around.

“Uh, I should clarify that I was telling you to be prepared to be gawped at, not for you to, you know, rush in as a male,” Wei Zhuo pauses, before saying, “I must apologise, as I was too shocked by what you did to stop you in time.”

Cheng Zhaoci slowly but surely buries his face in his hands. This is so utterly… humiliating! To the core!

Why did he even think to barge in? He could just follow behind Wei Zhuo and the soldiers won’t dare pouncing on them!

Oh wait, didn’t he have two tagalongs? “Where are Xiao Ji and He Huaijian?”

“They’re also surrounded, probably because those surrounding them wish to learn of your contacts through your older brothers,” Wei Zhuo says, pointing over to the two other focal points of insectoid gathering.

Cheng Zhaoci quickly calls out, “Xiao Ji! He-”

“Ci-zai! Ci-zai where are you, I’m coming!” Xiao Ji, hearing Cheng Zhaoci’s call, immediately starts his brainless blabber, “don’t worry! I’ll protect you! I’ll be right with you soon!”

Cheng Zhaoci watches as the crowd has pushed him further away from him.

“Wait for me! I’ll be there in no time!”

And a bit further.

Xiao Ji, always the directionless idiot, can be heard smiling and declaring, “I think I’m real close to you, now!”

Wei Zhuo “…”
Cheng Zhaoci “…Ha.”