After Pretending to be a Beta, I Married the Imperial General - Chapter 27.2

“Since no one lives here often, there’s still a lot to prepare. Tomorrow, we’ll go shopping for whatever we need. Let me know what materials you want for the greenhouse, and we’ll get everything together.” Qi Jing had already planned everything out.

But this was their home now. They had to decorate it together.

Xia Ze nodded, already lost in the joy of his new greenhouse!

The soil transport ship was moving a bit slowly, estimated to take another two or three days before the soil could be delivered. Once it arrived, he could finally start planting!

He hoped to have this garden beautifully maintained before he left.

Such a lovely garden would be such a shame without matching flowers, plants, and trees.

Especially the few oddly shaped rocks in front of the villa they actually had a wild, rustic charm. Whoever placed them must have had some understanding of ancient Earth aesthetics.

It was a pity these rocks weren’t covered in moss, which would have made them even more interesting. But given the conditions of the interstellar era, with such intense magnetic microbursts, moss didn’t grow easily.

Still, nurturing those rocks properly would be quite fascinating.

Qi Jing watched as the boy wandered around the garden, pointing out where a swing should go, what flowers and trees should be planted here and there, his gaze warm.

Indeed, “tricking” him into coming here had been the right decision.

So what if he was an Omega? No one could compare to the little Beta before him.

Gender had never been an issue for him.

After touring the most important part the garden, Qi Jing took Xia Ze to see the bedroom. It was right next to his own, with a connecting door between them.

This had originally been designed for partners.

Moving in now wasn’t awkward at all. Once they officially married, it would be convenient to share a room directly.

In less than an hour after their return, the entire villa seemed to come alive.

Lights turned on one by one, transforming the villa into a home perhaps this was what it felt like.

After two days of travel and an evening exploring such a large villa, Xia Ze fell asleep almost immediately after washing up.

The next morning, he was still a bit dazed when he saw the message from Gao Zhou.

Just as Qi Jing pushed the door open, Xia Ze was hugging his communicator, his oversized white sleepwear revealing delicate collarbones. His slightly tousled hair and confused expression made him look even more youthful.

“What’s wrong?” Qi Jing asked.

Xia Ze instinctively glanced at the communicator, accidentally hitting the call button.

Before he could cancel it, the call connected instantly clearly, the person on the other end had been waiting by the communicator without moving an inch.

“Xiao Ze, are… are you still on the main planet?”

Qi Jing frowned. The voice from the communicator was unmistakably an Alpha’s.

Xia Ze hummed in response. “I was too busy yesterday and didn’t see your message. Sorry.”

“It’s fine! Are you okay? When are you returning to Planet F31? Or I can come pick you up, I can arrange my family’s private ship,” Gao Zhou said, mustering his courage.

Though it would be difficult for him to mobilize the family ship, he’d do anything to bring Xia Ze back as soon as possible!

Qi Jing replied coldly, “He’s staying on the main planet to get married.”

Silence fell on both ends.

Xia Ze, still half-asleep, hadn’t fully processed the situation.

Gao Zhou, on the other hand, was furious. He immediately recognized General Qi’s voice. If it had been anyone else, he would have lost his temper.

But facing General Qi, Gao Zhou had no choice but to suppress his anger. “General Qi, didn’t you already have someone else? Why are you keeping Xiao Ze? The person you’re marrying isn’t him, is it?”

He couldn’t hold back and added, “The whole internet has seen your fiancée! Are you still lying to him, saying you’ll marry Xiao Ze?!”

Though he didn’t outright say it, Gao Zhou might as well have called him a scumbag.

A scumbag!

Deceiving Xiao Ze!

Xia Ze and Qi Jing exchanged a glance.

If they still didn’t understand what was going on, they’d have to be complete idiots.

This misunderstanding was way too big.

Xia Ze thought for a moment and explained, “It’s not what you think, I’m fine.”

Xia Ze reached for the communicator, intending to switch to a video call, but Qi Jing pinched his fingers, immobilizing him.

Qi Jing’s fingertips, slightly calloused, traced circles over the child’s soft skin, clearly unwilling to let him video call that Alpha on the other end.

Meanwhile, Gao Zhou was stunned.

He hadn’t expected this answer.

Xia Ze continued, “General Qi treats me very well. It’s a bit complicated to explain, but don’t worry, there’s really nothing wrong between us.”

The words sounded more like he was being coerced.

Before Gao Zhou could respond, the call was abruptly cut off.

Xia Ze looked up innocently at General Qi. “If we don’t clarify, he’ll definitely misunderstand you.”

Qi Jing ruffled the boy’s hair. “Let him.”

As an Alpha himself, how could he not see the other man’s intentions?

Allowing the boy to exchange even one more word with him would be his own failure.

“Don’t bother with irrelevant people.”

After some hesitation, Xia Ze sent another explanatory message.

He simply stated that he was doing well here, that the person who appeared yesterday was indeed him, and that Gao Zhou didn’t need to worry.

Gao Zhou stared at the message in dismay.

If only he were as formidable as General Qi, then the little boss wouldn’t have been taken away, let alone abandoned.

And the little boss claimed that yesterday’s Omega was him? Impossible.

Just as Xia Ze was about to explain the mask situation, Qi Jing pressed down on the communicator.

Watching them exchange messages back and forth, Qi Jing narrowed his eyes in displeasure. “Go eat. Old Qi has been preparing for a long time.”

Ah, right. Time to get up and eat.

Sleeping in on the first day here didn’t seem appropriate.

Qi Jing added calmly, “No need to explain the mask. I’ll handle it later.”

The boy had worn a mask on Planet F31 for convenience.

Who knew it would end up trapping those people in their own schemes?

Since that was the case, it wouldn’t be like him not to take full advantage of the opportunity.

Xia Ze blinked. “Are you going to deal with the online rumors?”

Qi Jing nodded. What he didn’t say was that the situation was already mostly resolved today would just be the final wrap-up.

After the boy fell asleep last night, he had taken charge of handling the matter.

As for why he didn’t let the boy explain to that Alpha, the reason wasn’t that it would disrupt the plan.

It was simply because watching them chat back and forth annoyed him.

Another morning arrived.

Yesterday morning, the interstellar populace had ridden an emotional rollercoaster.

From: Let’s see what kind of Omega has captured General Qi’s heart.

To: General Qi, you lucky man.

Then came the series of speculations why wasn’t the Omega in the photos the same as the one in the video?

If they weren’t the same, how could General Qi explain cozying up to one Omega a few days ago and switching to another yesterday?

Was this still the same General Qi they knew, the one who had always been known for his integrity?

Had his sterling reputation all been an act?

This morning, all answers were revealed.

The Omega in the photos and the one in the video were the same person!

For safety reasons, he usually wore a specific mask and lived as a Beta. The public was asked for their understanding.

The Qi family’s announcement was straightforward.

While ostensibly clarifying the discrepancy between the Omegas, it also neatly tied up the loose ends from before.

Xia Ze had lived on Planet F31 for a long time, and everyone around him knew he was a Beta. If it were suddenly revealed that he was actually an Omega, it would undoubtedly invite a lot of skepticism.

Given that, it was better to clarify everything along with the matter of the mask.

After all, wearing a mask and pretending to be a Beta served the same purpose,

For safety reasons.

If it were someone else, people might still have doubts.

But the moment they thought of Xia Ze’s face, many immediately changed their stance.

[I can actually understand this!]

[Right? With a face like that, living on a junk planet if he hadn’t taken extra precautions, how could he still be standing here unharmed?]

[Not just that, but that Omega even opened a small flower shop on the junk planet. If it were an ordinary Beta, fine, but a good-looking Omega would definitely get harassed every day.]

[Exactly, prioritizing safety is completely normal. If he hadn’t been cautious, he would’ve long been taken by some powerful figure as a plaything.]

[Can we really say that out loud?]

[Why not? A poor and beautiful Omega is nothing but a toy in their eyes. They might even force a mark on him to “improve” their ugly family’s genes.]

[Oh god, now that you mention it so-called “gene optimization” is just forcing attractive Omegas to bear superior offspring.]

[Yeah, there was an Omega who went insane from that. She had an extremely high rank, and so many families wanted her to produce elite descendants. It was horrible.]

[Looking at it this way, General Qi’s fiancé isn’t just good-looking, he’s also really smart.]

[Surviving that long on a junk planet without revealing his identity? That’s seriously impressive!]

[Considering his age, he even lived through the junk planet’s fall. That’s so tragic.]

In just a day, public opinion completely shifted.

No one would ever bring up the fact that Xia Ze had lived as a Beta on the junk planet again.

Nor would anyone stubbornly insist he was a Beta pretending to be an Omega.

Because everyone would just reply, He did it for safety, okay?

Besides, with a face like that, how could he possibly be a Beta?

If he were a Beta, wouldn’t General Qi have known?

Even if they hadn’t completed a permanent mark, they must have at least had a temporary one, how could General Qi not have noticed?

When Xia Ze saw these posts, he couldn’t help but marvel.

General Qi was too impressive, he’d considered everything.

His past identity would never be questioned again.

What a formidable man!

As the official announcement was released, the paparazzi and photographers involved in the unauthorized shots were exposed one by one.

All of them had been paid to deliberately take unflattering photos of General Qi’s fiance their accounts showed large, unexplained deposits of interstellar currency.

Now, even more people realized they’d been manipulated into weaponizing public opinion!

Was this all to undermine General Qi’s authority? Or to smear his fiancé and prevent the wedding from happening?

After all, if the backlash grew too severe, even the military and the royal family would pressure General Qi.

Just as people were digging deeper, the royal family stepped in.

The Emperor himself presented the public with his “findings.”

These reporters and photographers were all connected to space pirates!

They were paid by space pirates to smear the Empire’s general!

This outcome seemed quite plausible.

At the military headquarters, Qi Jing glanced at the delivered documents and said calmly, “Only traced back to space pirates?”

His deputy Xu Chuan replied, “Yes, one of their factions. The final payment account leads to them.”

Deputy Ding Ruijie frowned. “Taking such a huge risk just to slander someone?”

Naturally, none of those present believed it, but the mastermind left no traces, clearly having long discarded these pawns.

No matter how deep they dug, they could only uncover these small-time thugs.

Qi Jing’s voice turned icy. “In that case, wipe them out.”

“Confiscate all the interstellar currency in their black accounts.”

Ding Rumu grew excited finally, a chance to stretch his limbs!

Damn it, these snakes and rats were all in league. Who knew who was really behind this?

Lei Chen was equally fired up.

Total annihilation!

Let them spread rumors!

The only question was who would be sent this time.

Among the four deputies, Xu Chuan was a Beta, while the others were Alphas any of the three would be suitable.

Qi Jing declared, “This time, I’ll go myself.”

No matter how clean the operation, flaws would inevitably surface. He had to personally handle this space pirate mission.

The mastermind wouldn’t escape so easily.

“You can’t go yourself! You’re getting married in two weeks!” Ding Ruijie immediately protested.

Surely, he couldn’t wage war and get married at the same time?

Or was the wedding to be postponed?

Qi Jing tapped the location of the pirate stronghold. “One week is enough.”

One week.

To annihilate a formidable pirate faction?!

Ding Ruijie instantly understood.

This wasn’t just about eliminating pirates!

This was about avenging his wife!

A warning to those behind the scenes this is the price of meddling.

Xu Chuan and Ding Ruijie silently mourned for those pirates.

Of all people to provoke, they had to target the general’s wife.

Returning home, Qi Jing didn’t see the boy in the living room and instinctively headed to the backyard.

There, he overheard the boy talking to Butler Qi: “Can I really buy these seeds? Won’t they be too expensive?”

Butler Qi replied, “Just pick what you like. They’re all part of the Qi family’s assets.”

Xia Ze examined a few familiar seeds likely ancient Earth plants, possibly phalaenopsis orchid seeds. If he could grow them, they’d be stunning.

As Xia Ze made his selections, Qi Jing approached and said, “Get one of each. He’ll grow them well.”

Most people wouldn’t buy too many seeds, fearing waste if they failed to cultivate them.

But in Qi Jing’s eyes, the boy had no such concerns. His affinity for plants was unlike anything he’d ever seen.

Before Xia Ze could refuse, Butler Qi cheerfully collected the seed catalog. “Then we’ll follow the young master’s wishes.”

With keen discretion, Butler Qi excused himself, leaving the garden to the master and young master.

Qi Jing looked down at the slightly nervous boy and repeated, “I believe in you.”

“Besides, many in the military are still waiting for the plants you grow.”

“Go ahead and plant without worry.”

This wasn’t just to comfort Xia Ze. Those who had used the plants from his shop had nothing but praise.

And not just because of his status as the general’s wife.

They genuinely felt the plants had an effect on their mental energy.

Most in the military were Wall Street-wolf Alphas they knew better than anyone how mental energy worked.

They could easily discern which plants could soothe the mental turbulence caused by war.

The last batch, sold at cost, had been remarkably effective.

When Qi Jing returned to headquarters, several people had even approached him for details.

The reason the news didn’t spread widely last time was because there weren’t many green plants, otherwise some military officers would have come knocking on their door.

Xia Ze nodded earnestly: “I’ll definitely work hard!”

However, the soil and seeds wouldn’t arrive for another couple of days. Today, the two of them went shopping for greenhouse supplies and decorations for the villa.

While shopping, Qi Jing naturally mentioned his upcoming mission.

Hearing it was about combating space pirates, Xia Ze grew nervous: “Didn’t you say you wouldn’t go until after we’re married?”

“Space pirates have many factions. The timing isn’t right yet to deal with the largest group.”

“Right now we need to eliminate a smaller faction first.”

The space pirate organizations were complex, with Graves’ faction being the most powerful. Qi Jing’s father had died at the hands of this pirate leader.

This cunning fox had multiple hideouts and was treacherous. If not for Qi Jing’s relentless tactics over the years, his influence would have expanded even faster.

Besides the major pirate leaders, there were several remnant factions.

The group Qi Jing was targeting now was the one secretly manipulating public opinion and funding media attacks.

Xia Ze sighed in relief: “Then you must be careful and don’t get hurt.”

Xia Ze knew firsthand how terrifying space pirates could be. On the garbage planet, they committed every imaginable atrocity killing, burning, looting.

They had ransacked schools and hospitals repeatedly.

These weren’t the romanticized “gentlemen thieves” some imagined, but truly vicious criminals.

Countless travelers lost their lives to them every year, while attractive Omegas and Betas were abducted and trafficked to lawless regions.

Most of the chaos on garbage planets could be traced back to them.

Qi Jing would depart tomorrow.

But before leaving, there was one more matter to attend to.

Qi Jing’s gaze subtly drifted to the boy’s nape. Regardless of gender, everyone had glands in their neck.

The difference was that Betas couldn’t perceive or emit pheromones.

That night, after washing up, Xia Ze heard knocking at his door.

The sound came from the connecting door between their rooms.

Xia Ze called out “Come in,” and Qi Jing entered, freshly showered.

His casual homewear made him appear more approachable than usual, though he still towered over Xia Ze when sitting across from him.

Qi Jing began: “Before I leave tomorrow, there’s one more thing I need to do, it might be somewhat intrusive.”

Intrusive?

Xia Ze looked puzzled.

Qi Jing explained patiently: “During my week-long absence, many will likely invite you to parties or try to get closer to you.”

“You’ll inevitably come into contact with other Alphas and Omegas.”

Xia Ze understood this.

He’d noticed while shopping today that Alphas and Omegas seemed particularly abundant on the capital planet.

If these genders were rare commodities on garbage planets,

here on the capital, they appeared everywhere.

“If they can’t detect my pheromones on you during these interactions, it would raise questions.”

“So we might need a temporary mark.”

There were four methods of temporary marking,

ranging from mild to intense:

Holding hands, embracing, kissing, or gland biting.

The pheromones of Alphas and Omegas would blend in a peculiar way, leaving each other’s scent.

Both parties’ pheromones would also receive corresponding comfort the higher their compatibility, the more stable their mental energy would become.

What to do when suddenly recalling learned knowledge!

Xia Ze truly lived up to being an outstanding graduate from Omega Academy, immediately recalling what he’d studied.

Upon hearing the words “temporary mark,” a flush instantly rose to his cheeks.

Without his mask, his skin turned a delicate pink, making people unable to resist the urge to pinch it.

And Qi Jing did exactly that. His fingers lightly traced Xia Ze’s chin as he whispered, “Is this okay?”

It should be fine, right?

Just as Xia Ze was about to agree, Qi Jing added, “You’re a Beta. Pheromones will dissipate faster from your body. Just holding hands definitely won’t be enough.”

He would be away for a week, and during that time, Xia Ze needed to maintain traces of Alpha pheromones continuously.

After serious consideration, Xia Ze patted the space beside him: “How about we sleep together?”

Now it was Qi Jing’s turn to short-circuit.

Sleep together?

Are you sure?

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