Insectoids: The Job of the Males

When Cheng Zhaoci and Xiao Ji are almost there, they notice an insectoid standing in front of the mansion.

It’s Sun Wushe, dressed not in his usual military attire, but in a black trenchcoat. He greets Cheng Zhaoci with a smile, “Mr Cheng!”

Xiao Ji knows that he’s Wei Zhuo’s half-brother, and greets him as well.

“Mr Sun? You weren’t called to the frontline?” Cheng Zhaoci sees Sun Wushe also has a small suitcase by his side, “you’re going off somewhere?”

“Yes. I’m leaving soon this evening, or I wouldn’t make it. I saw you and your brothers weren’t home, and thought we wouldn’t see each other before I leave. Turns out, I’m lucky today,” Sun Wushe’s smile feels a little infectious this time.

For some reason, it looks much more genuine than his usual, printed business smile he has when speaking to Cheng Zhaoci.

“Did you move out?” Asks Sun Wushe.

“Ah, not really, but it’s become a bit unsafe so I’m temporarily staying somewhere safer. I forgot my drawing tablet, though,” Cheng Zhaoci says, scratching his head, “so where are you going?”

“Somewhere pretty far. We might never be able to see each other again,” Sun Wushe has only been looking at Cheng Zhaoci this whole time, “do you mind having a walk with me? Just the two of us?”

Xiao Ji furrows his brows, “I don’t think…”

“I’m a grade A, enlisted shemale soldier. I have the ability to protect him; I also promise not to take the male anywhere dangerous. You may take a rest at home for a short while while I talk with the male a little. It won’t be long,” Sun Wushe then repeats, “it won’t be very long at all.”

“Sure,” Cheng Zhaoci nods. He is wondering where Sun Wushe is going… From what he said, he imagines he might be on a mission – perhaps undercover. If so, this might actually be the last time they can see each other. He doesn’t mind having a small talk.

Sun Wushe’s smile deepens, “I’d like to see a movie with you. I’ll see you home safely afterwards.”
“A romance movie,” Sun Wushe adds.

Xiao Ji then whispers to Cheng Zhaoci, “I suspect he has a thing for you.”

So does Cheng Zhaoci, for that matter, seeing Sun Wushe’s smile. It doesn’t look like seeing a movie will help matters any. It was probably bad timing to come home right now. If he decided to come tomorrow, Sun Wushe would’ve left, and none of this would be happening.

“You know I don’t like romance movies,” Cheng Zhaoci says.

“Neither do I,” Sun Wushe concurs, “they’re boring, but since I expect to be fraught with difficulty in the future, I’d like to relax a little.”

Cheng Zhaoci opens his mouth, wanting to ask if Sun Wushe actually has a thing for him, but the question feels hopelessly narcissistic no matter how he goes about it. Mainly, the two of them are casual acquaintances at best. Cheng Zhaoci does not think this is enough for love to strike.

“Uh, do you have someone you like?” Cheng Zhaoci decides to ask in a roundabout away. If he replies positively, he might indirectly ask if it’s him… And depending on the answer, turn back on his agreement to head out with him alone.

“Huh?” Sun Wushe looks surprised, “not really, why? Do you… I don’t plan on settling down any time soon.”

“Oh, nothing special!” Cheng Zhaoci shakes his head, “I was just curious, because you were inviting me to a movie out of the blue.”

“Is it that weird? Wei-ge and Meng Yuele are both off the planet. You’re the next insectoid I’m most familiar with,” he says with a simple, nonchalant tone, “if you don’t want to… but I might not ever be able to come back,” actually, he knows he can never come back. Whatever happens, he won’t be able to set foot on the Capital planet anymore.

Cheng Zhaoci is looking him up and down. He buys that Sun Wushe might not be able to come back, but seeing a movie alone doesn’t logically follow. He knows no one else on the entire Capital planet?

So finally, Cheng Zhaoci asks, “do you mind taking my older brother along? It’s kind of rude to leave him alone at home.”

“Sure,” Sun Wushe’s smile turns a bit more standard, a bit less genuine.

“I want to properly say ‘goodbye’ to you, and really, you’re the only person I could say that to,” Sun Wushe explains on the way to his vehicle, and opens the door for him, “I do ask you to forgive the suddenness.”

Cheng Zhaoci and Xiao Ji look at each other as they board the backseat. Xiao Ji is quick to lean close to Cheng Zhaoci, whispering, “Ci-zai, don’t look for a concubine before you’re even married! You’re too young. I won’t let you!”

“Do I look like a philanderer to you?!” Cheng Zhaoci whispers back, glaring. Xiao Ji, though, actually retorts, “how could I figure out what your true feelings are? I might have been with you the whole time on the landfill planet, but I still never figured out you’re male!”

Then Cheng Zhaoci kicks Xiao Ji’s thigh, but Xiao Ji doesn’t seem fazed at all. Instead, he asks, “anyway, is that romance movie thing not good? What’s it like? Is it similar to your comic?”

Xiao Ji has never watched one, just like how he has never fallen in love yet.

“Ho. You’ll know when you’ve watched one,” Cheng Zhaoci coldly retorts with a cold smile.

Well, it’s quite evident when the movie is playing in the private room they rented; actually, private rooms come in single rooms and double rooms, since normally males would not be on a date with more than one shemale or demi. They actually spooked the demi staff member when Sun Wushe booked a room for the three of them. He seemed quite taken with Cheng Zhaoci, seeing the two tall and clearly toned shemales with him. The staff even winked flirtatiously at Cheng Zhaoci just before they left the reception.

Xiao Ji asked on the way to the room, “what was with his eyelids twitching? And he was looking at you too. Did he realise you are BombIn and want to beat you up?”

Cheng Zhaoci “…” He feels the ticket in his hand is oddly heavy with guilt.

Not ten minutes after the movie has started playing, Xiao Ji has entirely lost interest in this romance movie. His head tilts over and he falls dead asleep.

Cheng Zhaoci then watches Xiao Ji starting to snore with this deadpan look on his face. He feels like beating someone up.

“The way you depict love is more convincing than the movies do,” Sun Wushe suddenly speaks up.

Cheng Zhaoci turns his attention back to the movie with this ascended, uncaring look on his face. The movie is really terrible.

“Perhaps because I’m about to become the head of a family.”

“You’re about to?” Sun Wushe tilts his head.

“Yes, with Squadron Leader Wei,” Cheng Zhaoci sounds almost boastful, “I was thinking about what to call our children not a few days ago.”

Well, he wasn’t. When he was with Wei Zhuo, that was all he could think about… and the big chest muscles. He’s saying this just in case Sun Wushe did have feelings for him.

“That your son will have you as his father is truly fortunate for him,” Sun Wushe says without bitterness or resentment, “I’ve often thought these days, ‘if only my father was a male like you,'” and he actually means what he said.

“I came to think like that after learning more about you.”

“?” What? So he actually completely misunderstood? Sun Wushe didn’t want him as xiongzhu, but him as his… parent?