After Transmigrating, I Raised Cubs in the Insectoid Clan - Chapter 30

Samuel was momentarily stunned.

He was all too familiar with this invitation. Qisi from the Male Insect Protection Association had visited him personally a few days ago, handing him an identical gold-stamped card while hinting that there would be suitable candidates at the banquet. Samuel had refused him flatly.

He had worked so hard to earn a place by Suter’s side, like a dragon finally circling its most precious treasure in its nest, wishing to leave his scent in every corner. Anything unrelated to Suter should be cast out of his mind. Yet, because the invitation came from Suter himself, the rejection became nuanced.

Samuel observed Suter’s expression, trying to decipher the meaning behind it. Was this a sincere invitation or a test of his generosity? Samuel knew that in this world, high-ranking male insects had swarms of female consorts, and even the most mediocre kept several female slaves.

As an outsider to this world, he could never identify with such a culture. But Suter was different; he had been immersed in these values since he hatched. Adapting to these twisted rules was as natural as breathing to him. Samuel had finally managed to get Suter to lower his guard, and he was loath to let societal shackles stand between them again.

“Do you want me to go with you?” Samuel asked.

“Yes.”

“Do you really want that?”

“Yes.”

This time, the answer lacked confidence.

Samuel smiled, a “just as I thought” expression crossing his face. He raised his eyebrows and took the empty glass from Suter’s hand. Leaning in to kiss Suter’s lips, he wrapped his arm around Suter’s lean waist, giving a reassuring pat. “Go wash up and go to sleep,” he whispered.

Suter gave him a hesitant look before obediently heading to the bathroom. By the time Samuel finished tidying the kitchen and returned to the bedroom, he saw a small lump under the covers. Only half of Suter’s fair face was visible, his dark green eyes staring intently at the door.

Samuel laughed softly as he turned off the overhead light, leaving only the nightlight on the bedside table to cast a soft glow. He lifted a corner of the quilt and pulled the trembling mountain into his arms.

“Lucian is coming from the Ninth Star tomorrow. I have some matters to handle with him.”

Suter shifted under the covers, finding a comfortable position before firmly wrapping his arms around Samuel’s waist. He buried his head in the crook of Samuel’s neck, lightly sniffing the faint, slightly bitter strawberry pheromones.

Shadows of the Past

Lucian had been Salen’s assistant years ago. An accident had destroyed half of his wings, an event that Salen had brooded over until his death. That accident took Lucian’s wings and the last of the gloomy soldier’s vitality. Salen spent almost all his savings to bring Lucian back from the brink of death. Although his life was saved, Lucian remained disabled. Salen stubbornly kept his position but never allowed him to touch dangerous work again, keeping him in the safety of the rear for clerical tasks.

The last time Suter had seen Lucian was long ago in a video call, where Lucian’s figure had flashed behind Salen. Even that brief glimpse showed that the once gloomy and thin soldier was being well-cared for.

“What is he coming for?” Suter asked.

Samuel let him squirm in his arms until Suter found a comfortable spot. “I asked him to come,” Samuel explained slowly. “On the surface, he is Salen’s personal secretary, but he is much more than that.” The nightlight cast shadows across Samuel’s face. “He is a bodyguard, a translator, and his lover.”

Samuel looked down, talking as if discussing a stranger. In a sense, Salen’s life and death were irrelevant to him. He was just a lonely soul from another world. But he wanted to settle the people Salen cared about as best as he could.

“I asked him to come because I want to transfer part of Salen’s inheritance to him. Although they were not registered and have no cubs, and the law does not allow it, there should be something to remember him by. People are made of flesh and blood, not cold machines.”

Suter buried his face deeper into Samuel’s neck, his silver hair brushing against Samuel’s chin as he nodded. But he could not help but think of Xiwen’s words: “Even if we know Salen’s death was a total accident, does Samuel know? Do you think he can let you stay by his side without any hidden motives after losing his kin?”

A sense of panic rose in Suter, and his heart felt as if it were being pricked by needles. He unconsciously tightened his grip, fearing that this warm embrace would vanish if he let go.

“Suter?” Samuel felt the painful pressure on his waist and patted the soldier’s tense arm. When he met Suter’s moist, dark green eyes, his heart skipped a beat.

“I am sorry,” Suter let go as if burned, his trembling fingers tracing the red marks on Samuel’s waist.

“What is wrong?” Samuel cupped Suter’s cold face and kissed away a stray tear. The kiss was light, but it made Suter tremble.

“I know,” Samuel said, his forehead resting against Suter’s as their shaky breaths mingled. “About that accident, you were a victim too. It was not your fault.”

Samuel kissed his lover’s reddened eyes with guilt. He felt he should have realized sooner that this was why Suter was so guarded.

Suter’s body shook. He opened his mouth but could not make a sound, only clutching Samuel’s shirt until his knuckles turned white. “You really?” His voice was hoarse, his words breaking in his breath. His silver hair fell messily, obscuring his eyes.

“I do not believe what others say; I only believe what I see,” Samuel said. “You would not do something like that.”

Samuel pulled Suter deeper into his embrace. “I am sorry, I should not have brought this up now and made you sad. Tomorrow, I will take you to the party and pick you up when it ends. Is that okay?”

“Okay.”

The next day, Suter went to work as usual. They lingered over breakfast before sharing a reluctant kiss at the entrance. After Suter left, Samuel went out to buy groceries, including taro, Suye fruit, and strawberry milk. Life at home was made of such small, seemingly useless things that became essential in the right moments. He also bought rock sugar to turn the leftover strawberries into jam for Suter’s morning toast.

Making jam required patience, but Samuel had work in the afternoon, so he left the task to Xiaosu. “Make sure it does not burn.”

Xiaosu blinked and gestured at the height of the stove with his mechanical arm. “Samuel, I cannot see.”

Samuel set a timer for fifteen minutes, telling Xiaosu to add the rock sugar then, simmer for another ten minutes, and then call him.

“Alright,” Xiaosu grumbled, waving a spatula to stir the strawberries.

In the afternoon, Xiaosu hummed an electronic tune while mopping the living room. After Samuel finished work, he browsed for juicers on his light computer. He had bought soybeans and wanted to make soy milk for Suter. While milk was good, a variety was better for his health.

As he compared models, a bright red advertisement popped up: “Huixing Group’s new smart products are here! Invite friends for a free trial!” The tone was exactly like a galactic version of a discount app. Samuel clicked it. The page was full of smart kitchen appliances: temperature-controlled juicers, air fryers with holographic recipes, and foldable bread machines. Though more advanced than Earth’s technology, the design philosophy felt familiar. Samuel began to suspect that the designer or CEO might be a fellow countryman from Earth.

“Xiaosu, come help me!”

Three minutes later, the shopping cart was full. Xiaosu’s mechanical fingers moved in a blur, successfully snagging a limited-time 50% discount coupon.

The system notification sounded: “The order is packed and expected to arrive within 30 minutes.”

Samuel breathed a sigh of relief and settled onto the sofa with Xiaosu to wait for the delivery. Instead, Suter arrived home early.

“Susu? Did you skip work?” Xiaosu slid over with a smirking emoji on his screen.

Samuel took Suter’s coat. “Back so early? Are you hungry?”

The crisp navy shirt made Suter’s shoulders look sharp, but his cold eyes softened the moment he looked at Samuel. He stepped forward, pulling Samuel into the shadows of the hallway. They shared a kiss, their shadows merging on the wall.

“I missed you and wanted to come back,” Suter whispered, his nose brushing against Samuel’s ear. “I really liked the sweet soup you made last time.”

Under Samuel’s guidance, Suter was becoming more direct in expressing his feelings. This was a small victory for Samuel.

“Okay.” The sweet soup was fermented rice with eggs and red dates, a new favorite of Suter’s.

Since Suter had a banquet tonight where he might have to drink, Samuel wanted to prepare something to settle his stomach. He remembered some fried fish in the freezer and asked Suter to get it.

“Are you making sweet and sour fish?” Suter had changed into a white custom loungewear set that matched Samuel’s. Samuel called these “couple’s outfits.” Suter had become quite fond of matching items.

Suter opened the freezer and carefully took out the fish. As he prepared to defrost it, Samuel stopped him. “Let me do it. I do not want your hands to smell like fish. I will call you when dinner is ready.”

Suter, unwilling to leave, hovered in the kitchen like a clingy kitten. He leaned against the doorframe, watching Samuel in his checkered apron work with practiced knife skills.

“The sweet and sour sauce,” Suter said. “Can you use less starch? It was a bit thick last time.”

Samuel smiled and nodded. “Okay.”

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