TuxedoTranslations

Chapter 29

Xia Tong had locked his door tight, refusing to come out, while downstairs, the renowned gunner and former heartthrob Zero was getting a proper dressing-down from everyone around him.

“I told you, at his core, Zero is exactly the same as me,” Shi Ya commented, propping his chin on his hand, clearly enjoying the show. “Proof that the quiet types are deadlier than the bold ones.”

“All this nonsense!” He Youjin huffed, crossing his arms. “I don’t care if it’s subtle or out there, the thing I can’t stand most is you Alphas with a little bit of charm who recklessly release pheromones and don’t take responsibility! If you just kept your mouths shut, things wouldn’t end up like this!”

Lin Mingfei pressed his fingers against his temple, where a vein throbbed furiously.

“I oppose Xia Tong joining the team,” he said coldly.

“What?” The group burst into a murmur of disapproval.

“You’re not actually worried about office romance becoming a thing, are you?” He Youjin leaned in with a stunned expression, practically getting in Lin Mingfei’s face. “Tell me the truth, Zero. Did you… already mark him—”

“Hell no!” Lin Mingfei snapped, fury flashing in his eyes. Every word he spoke was sharp and decisive: “Do you seriously think I’d want to? Has there ever been an Omega player in VR esports? Putting an Omega with no defensive abilities in a room full of Alphas—does that sound right to you?”

He Youjin, caught off guard by Lin Mingfei’s outburst, simply blinked and said nothing, his gaze shifting slightly upward.

Lin Mingfei, feeling utterly exasperated, went on with even more intensity. “He’s only been here a few days, and he’s already caused this kind of speculation among all of you. If he really joined the team, can you imagine what the public would say? It would be all over the place. You Alphas might not care with your thick skin, but what about him? Have you thought about how he would handle it?”

He hadn’t finished speaking when he noticed the room had gone unnaturally quiet. The “thick-skinned Alphas” had adopted a strangely uniform expression, their eyes raised slightly as they all stared past him in perfect synchrony.

Lin Mingfei’s right eyelid twitched heavily as he turned around, only to see Xia Tong leaning quietly over the second-floor railing, gazing down at him with downcast eyes.

A piercing pain struck Lin Mingfei’s chest like needles.

He had never seen the young Omega with that expression before, not even during their first encounter at the hospital, when he was bullied by Zheng Linchuan. Back then, Xia Tong hadn’t looked this hurt. His usually lively, bright eyes now appeared like stagnant, murky water, dark and heavy, making anyone who looked at him feel downhearted.

“Xia…” Lin Mingfei managed to say the first syllable with difficulty, but he suddenly didn’t know what else to say as he watched Xia Tong turn and head back to his room.

Moments later, the little Omega returned with a suitcase in tow, holding his pink robot tightly against his chest. He hurried downstairs in silence, ignoring everyone in the room as he strode out the door.

The suddenness of it all left everyone in stunned silence.

“Xia Tong!” Lin Mingfei snapped back to his senses first, blurting out as he shoved away from the table and rushed after him.

Xia Tong showed no sign of stopping. He bit his lower lip hard, his mind buzzing, emotions churning in a storm of sadness.

It all started when he heard Lin Mingfei say, “I oppose Xia Tong joining the team.”

He loved King’s Tomb, loved the people in Polaris, and he’d even harbored a fanciful hope, however slim, that he could join the team despite being an Omega.

He had thought that, if his dream somehow came true, he would work harder than any Alpha, a thousand, ten thousand times harder, until he made the whole team proud and earned the right to stay by Lin Mingfei’s side.

But that colorful bubble had burst in an instant.

He was, in the end, an outsider.

In that moment, the once vibrant Polaris base turned colorless, becoming a place of heartbreak. The people he had come to cherish were now like scabs on his wounds, ripped open and creating fresh pain.

The suffocating feeling in his chest rose up to his throat, leaving a bitter taste.

“Debon, I need to call a cab,” he said softly, choking back his tears.

Debon’s LED eyes flashed, and without commenting, the robot replied matter-of-factly, “Turn left to reach a main road with more traffic.”

“Okay.” Xia Tong nodded, just wanting to get away as far as possible.

“Xia Xiaotong, have you decided on a destination?” Debon asked next.

“I…”

This question felt like a wall descending from above, stopping him in his tracks.

Xia Tong stood at the crosswalk, deeply at a loss.

He rubbed his sore nose and wiped his tears.

“I… I don’t know…” he began to sob, his tears pouring out like a broken string of beads. “You’re right, Debon… I really am just a little canary. I have no skills… I’m completely useless…” He suddenly let go of the suitcase handle, crouching down, burying his face in his arms as he cried harder. “I don’t even know where to go… How did I end up like this, Debon… I don’t want to go back to Zheng Linchuan, Debon, I don’t want to…”

This question seemed to exceed Debon’s database capabilities. The little robot remained silent, its LED light on its head flashing dimly, as if it were taking slow, steady breaths.

Around him, passersby moved along the street, occasionally casting curious glances at the crying youth but never stopping to check on him.

Xia Tong began to realize that everyone had their own lives, and perhaps no one—except Lin Mingfei—would be willing to alter their path to intersect with his, even if that path became winding and difficult.

In reality, people choosing to look the other way was only natural.

Who could bear to leave someone as kind as Zero behind? The thought only intensified his heartache.

Just then, someone ran past him, brushing against his shoulder. Xia Tong fell backward, hitting the ground hard. He looked up through teary eyes to see his suitcase being whisked away by a stranger, who then bolted down the sidewalk.

“Hey…” This time, Xia Tong didn’t need Debon to tell him what had happened. He shouted in alarm, “Why are you taking my suitcase? Hey—stop!” He stumbled to his feet, trying to chase after the thief.

With his Omega body—the weakest of all genders—he barely managed a few steps before he was out of breath, his legs heavy as lead, his throat burning. He grabbed onto a nearby utility pole to keep himself from collapsing. This was, without a doubt, his darkest hour. He doubted he would ever feel joy again.

Suddenly, there was a commotion up ahead. Xia Tong’s peripheral vision caught a flash of movement as someone leaped off a tall wall beside the sidewalk, their cardigan billowing in the wind. The figure, long-legged and lean, descended like a bird.

The sunlight glinted off the person, coating him in a brilliant, almost surreal glow.

Xia Tong stood frozen, dumbfounded, unable to think at all.

With a resounding thud, Lin Mingfei landed and immediately tackled the thief, pressing him down. His strength was undeniable as he twisted the man’s hands behind his back, pinning him down while grabbing the suitcase handle. He barked sharply, “Where’s the person you stole this from?”

“I… I don’t know!” the thief stammered in pain.

The Alpha, suitcase in one hand, scanned his surroundings with an irritated expression. His grip on the thief tightened, causing the man to scream.

“The owner is here!” someone from the crowd called out.

Lin Mingfei’s gaze shifted, locking onto a pair of red-rimmed eyes at the end of the street. The Omega boy, pale and slight, looked like a wisp of smoke, ready to disappear in the breeze. Suddenly, Lin Mingfei didn’t care about the thief anymore. Dragging the suitcase, he sprinted toward Xia Tong.

“Xia Tong!” Lin Mingfei yelled, spreading his arms wide and pulling the boy tightly into his embrace. “Why the hell did you run?”

“I…” Xia Tong stammered, unsure of what to say. He felt both sadness and joy at seeing Lin Mingfei, but the happiness felt fragile, hanging just out of reach. The Alpha’s hug was so warm and safe, and Xia Tong’s emotions were in complete turmoil, leaving him feeling helpless and exposed. After a moment, his voice cracked, breaking into sobs.

Lin Mingfei pulled him even closer, pressing him to his chest.

“I’m sorry,” he said, his voice laced with guilt and regret. “I shouldn’t have said those things.”

“I don’t want your apology,” Xia Tong choked out, his tears soaking through Lin Mingfei’s shirt. “You’ve been so good to me… it’s my fault for being so useless and greedy. If only I were an Alpha…”

“That’s not true,” Lin Mingfei murmured softly. “Xia Tong is a kind, smart Omega. I believe you can do anything—even play King’s Tomb with us.” He spoke gently, his voice low. “I only said those things because I was afraid you’d get hurt. You’re so trusting, and I wasn’t rejecting you or wanting you to leave—”

“I-I’ll learn to be more careful,” Xia Tong sobbed. “I’ll take care of myself. Zero, please let me join the team. Let me stay with you and help, okay?”

Lin Mingfei’s lips tightened in a thin line.

He thought to himself, maybe he’d been overthinking things. The base had plenty of Alphas, but he was the only one with such concerns. In reality, if he managed his own feelings, Xia Tong would have no problems here.

The issue wasn’t Xia Tong; it was himself.

“I’m not against it anymore,” Lin Mingfei finally said, a soft, resigned smile breaking through. “But competitive esports aren’t easy. You’ll have a lot to learn. Are you up for it?”

“I am,” Xia Tong nodded earnestly, wiping his red, swollen eyes. “I won’t throw tantrums anymore, and I won’t argue about sleeping arrangements…”

Lin Mingfei blinked, half-amused, half-sympathetic, as he ruffled Xia Tong’s hair.

“Don’t be silly.” The Alpha’s voice was warm and magnetic. He rested his forehead gently against Xia Tong’s. “Remember, don’t casually say things like that to others about sharing a bed. That’s a special privilege—you shouldn’t give it to just anyone.”

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