Insectoids: The Job of the Males

Chapter 66.1

Hypocritical

Translated by boilpoil
Edited by boilpoil

After the activities commence, many insectoids are hurrying to BombInMyPants’ booth.

Security personnel are already in place, helping the insectoids queue up.

“Hey, you know, BombIn’s security here is like, real tight. His booth looks different too,” an insectoid comments, looking at the long queue in front of him, and the forcefield projectors that make the booth stand out much more from other booths.

Even stranger are the guards assigned here – armed with guns! And sharp eyes! Scary!

A meet-and-greet would usually be the author or artist signing his name on the work or even drawing some cute icon for them. There might also be interactive activities coordinated by the host.

Like, even if it’s a Reader’s Gala now, this seems excessive.

“Shit, maybe BombIn is actually somebody? Like, high command or something?” A young male is chatting with his friend.

The friend seems unfazed, “it’s fine. So what? BombIn has been pretty receptive to jokes too. He wouldn’t mind.”

That’s true, and the male sighs in relief. Still, that doesn’t make the whole booth less intimidating.

The insectoids are chatting as authors and artists of the other booths have settled into place. BombIn is still yet to be seen.

“Maybe he wants to make a last-minute, grand appearance?” An insectoid guesses, “he is on a different level of famous to the other creatives. Makes sense to make it a little flashier,” and even more so if he actually is some bigshot somewhere.

It’s not just the insectoids at the venue that are curious, but so are the many more insectoids following livestreams and updates.

They may already have concluded BombIn is likely a shemale from that one photograph with the hands, instead of a demi, but his face is still completely unknown.

Many insectoids have already pooled their talents together, extrapolating BombIn’s height and stuff from that photographed hand alone, but that doesn’t help them guess his appearance at all. Many of them are really curious what BombInMyPants looks like – what appearance the insectoid who could dream up those fantastical stories and draw in such a unique style would look like.

“So that’s why you’ve both spent a donkey’s in the dressing room?” Asks Cheng Zhaoci, currently being escorted to the stadium, alongside the Zhou brothers. Unusually, Zhou Luoluo has forgone his usual clean, bright and sometimes outrageous look, and instead opted for a colder, more professional black and white attire.

According to him, as someone who is already (unilaterally) in a relationship, he needs to take care that his clothing discourages wanton advances and preserve his innocence as a virgin male.

In stark contrast is Zhou Xiaobao, who has taken the Christmas tree approach from his cousin. He seems to think this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for romance – he’s there to get lucky, so to speak.

“You know, if it weren’t for the two of you…” Cheng Zhaoci is speechless. Still, the Zhou brothers really do look quite like girls, making him unable to truly chastise them to their faces.

He thinks he understands what all boyfriends feel like waiting for their girlfriends to ‘get ready.’ Unfortunately for them, there is not the bond of love and romance to smooth things over in between. Waiting outside for them, especially for Zhou ‘the Walking Festival Decoration’ Xiaobao, has made Cheng Zhaoci feel justified to emancipate them from the struggle of clothing altogether, and just go commando.

Putting the lanyard with his identification attached on, Cheng Zhaoci warns them, “Xiaobao, I’m warning you, no flirting with any shemales or demis present later! Do you copy?”

“I won’t,” Zhou Xiaobao knows he’s not brave enough. He can draw that utter abomination of contrivances in private, but he is still the introverted, socially awkward male at heart. Even if he’s put ‘attractive’ clothing on, he is only hoping to catch the eye of potential suitors who would come to know him proactively.

As long as he doesn’t need to do the heavy conversational lifting!

Although, as it turns out, both his and Zhou Luoluo’s considerations and worries ended up for naught.

Because, as soon as they have walked in with Cheng Zhaoci, screams erupt in the venue – all the insectoids have turned their attention to them. Or rather, to one single insectoid. The one that was on the news, that piloted a mecha to find his cijun, that is imposing and the one and only, grade S male.

After that initial wave, the entire stadium becomes much quieter. The rest of the insectoids that were distracted talking with friends or otherwise have also noticed the strange mood, and are looking.

Of course, many insectoids aren’t looking at Cheng Zhaoci directly, with so many insectoids blocking the view, but there are large screens everywhere with holograms, that are currently showing the latest comic artists that just walked in.

How does it feel like to suddenly see a famous insectoid from the news? A national treasure of a grade S male…

After the suddenly silence, voices come back in the form of muffled, surprised discussions. Not the happy kind of surprised ‘woah’s similar to Zhou Xiaobao’s comics where shemales and demis are swooning at the sight of the protagonist male – but properly spooked or frightful ones, like they’re seeing an insectoid there that should not be there. It is simply terrifying.

There are now even confused shouting and yells. Enough to make Cheng Zhaoci feel like his ears are ringing. Furrowing his brows deeply, he takes a step back.

The voices quiet down a lot, once more.

Most insectoids are still looking right at Cheng Zhaoci. Some of them have started looking away, but are still occasionally glancing.

“H-help. My legs,” Zhou Xiaobao is already at his limits. He looks like he wants to run away already. Argh! He really shouldn’t have agreed to come anywhere this crowded!

“Stay with me. Calm down. They’re not looking at you,” Zhou Luoluo helps by grabbing his cousin’s arm.

It’s true they’re not looking at Zhou Xiaobao, but at Cheng Zhaoci. The insectoid in question takes a deep breath, and slowly makes his way over, passing by some of the booths. His guards, meanwhile, are still diligently performing their duties, protecting Cheng Zhaoci in the centre of their circle. The heads of many insectoids present at the venue are gradually turning and following wherever Cheng Zhaoci is moving.