He, The Scumbag, Has Turned Over A New Leaf. - Chapter 12

Ivan had never experienced such a situation before. As Tovis, despite being delirious, clung to him tightly as if he were a lifeline while being pinned to the floor, Ivan was at a loss. The air seemed to grow scorching, and he could feel the powerful, rapid pulse of the Zerg’s carotid artery beneath his palm. Seeing the pained expression on Tovis’s face as he struggled to breathe, Ivan felt a pang of sympathy. He slowly loosened his grip and fastened an inhibitor collar around Tovis’s neck. Ivan wiped away a mixture of sweat and condensation from his own ear and turned to leave the room.

Taking a deep breath of the fresh air outside, Ivan quickly returned to the villa entrance to retrieve the inhibitor delivered by a robotic vehicle. The package was simple, containing only a single syringe and a small vial of expensive gray liquid. Ivan grabbed the syringe and, without wasting a second, ran back to the room.

Inside, the inhibitor collar had already calmed Tovis. He lay on the floor with his eyes closed, his face no longer as flushed as before. The bath towel lay loosely across his body, failing to hide his impressive physique. With the black collar standing out starkly against his pale neck, Ivan focused his gaze away. He prepared the injection according to the instructions and administered it. As the gray liquid entered Tovis’s vein, his furrowed brows slowly smoothed, and his expression grew peaceful.

With the injection complete, Ivan’s tight-strung nerves finally relaxed. He let out a long breath, adjusted the white bath towel to cover Tovis properly, and lifted him onto the bed.

After lunch, Tovis had felt his mental power slipping out of control and had retreated to the bathroom for a cold shower to clear his head. He had no memory of what happened afterward. This was the situation Tovis pieced together upon waking.

Relying on his S-class capabilities, he sensed someone nearby the moment he regained consciousness. Identifying the familiar pheromones, he knew Ivan was sitting by the bed. Feeling the familiar hollowness of a post-injection state and the lingering pain of the mental storm in his mind, he felt momentarily lost. Slowly shaking off the feeling of helplessness, Tovis opened his eyes.

The golden glow of the setting sun spilled over Ivan, who was sitting beside the bed. As soon as Tovis moved, Ivan turned, his gaze filled with concern. “You are awake.”

Ivan put away the small trinket he had been fidgeting with and looked at Tovis. Tovis lowered his eyes to avoid the harsh light and gave a hoarse response. Ivan stood up, smiling. “I am glad you are awake. Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere?”

Tovis curled his fingers, which were resting at his side, and gave a slight shake of his head. “No.”

“That is good. I will have Xiao Yi prepare some light dinner for you.” Ivan seemed relieved and turned to leave. Tovis watched Ivan’s back disappear, curled his bandaged right hand, and tucked it under the covers.

Ivan ordered the meal and then thoughtfully delivered it to Tovis’s room himself. However, when he returned, Tovis had already shaken off his weakness and had dressed himself.

“Why are you up? You should have eaten in bed if you were not feeling well.” Ivan placed the tray on a nearby table, pulled out a chair, and gestured for Tovis to sit.

Tovis found this sequence of actions incredible. Although they had not spent much time together, he knew that nobles were usually obsessed with protocol. No other noble would bring dinner to a spouse’s bedroom or suggest they eat in bed. As he hesitated, Ivan smiled and walked toward him.

Ivan grabbed Tovis’s wrist and led him to the table. “Sit.”

Tovis sat as guided. Ivan did not let go of his wrist; instead, he held Tovis’s hand and examined it carefully. A female Zerg’s hand, much like the man himself, possessed great strength. Tovis had a deeper skin tone, and his knuckles were firm and powerful. Holding Tovis’s palm with one hand, Ivan pulled a jade ring from his pocket—the piece he had spent the entire afternoon polishing.

With a designer’s precision, Ivan slipped the dark green jade ring, inlaid with subtle gold threads, onto Tovis’s left ring finger. It looked stunning against his firm, dark fingers. Ivan surveyed his work with satisfaction.

Tovis frowned, staring at the green circle on his finger. “What is this?”

Ivan propped his chin on his hand, tilted his head, and smiled at the confused Zerg. “A ring. Made from that jade. I have one too.” He held out his own left hand, which bore an identical ring. Ivan’s skin was pale and delicate, making the dark green ring look noble and beautiful.

Tovis’s hand intertwined with Ivan’s, creating a striking contrast. His brow furrowed deeper. He pulled his hand back and whispered, “Thank you, Master.”

“You are welcome.” Ivan smiled, stood up, and added, “Eat slowly. I will be heading out.” With that, he walked straight out of the room.

Ivan hummed to himself as he walked, admiring the ring he had crafted. He felt in high spirits. After a light dinner, he picked up his tools and the remaining jade to continue his work. Ever since he had used the inhibitor to help Tovis through his mental instability, Ivan had felt much more at ease. If the inhibitor could soothe the flare-ups, then as long as he kept Tovis supplied, he would not die from a mental breakdown. Though it was not a permanent cure, it bought them plenty of time.

Having found a solution, Ivan settled happily into the extravagant life of a wealthy noble male Zerg, spending his spare time polishing his jade treasures.

A week later, Arui returned from school. The moment the little male Zerg arrived, Ivan laughed and scooped up the plump, golden bundle of energy.

“Big Brother!” Arui released his brother’s hand and threw himself into Ivan’s arms, giggling as he shared funny stories from school.

Ivan sat on the sofa with the child, took the fruit Xiao Yi brought over, and placed it before Arui so he could eat while he talked. Tovis watched the scene, a sense of nostalgia stirring in his heart, as if he were back in the days when his own parents were still alive. He placed Arui’s bag beside the sofa and sat down nearby.

Seeing how happy the child was, Ivan brought out something he had prepared. It was a safety buckle made from a braided black cord.

“Wow, Big Brother, what is this? It is so pretty.”

Arui’s eyes widened. He reached out to touch the delicate jade buckle, then pulled back, afraid to damage it, which only made Ivan smile more.

“This is called a safety buckle. It protects our little Arui so you stay safe, sound, and happy.” Ivan loosened the cord. “Here, let me put it on for you.”

Arui looked at the translucent, dark green buckle with anticipation. After glancing at his brother and receiving a nod of permission, he obediently lowered his head and let Ivan tie it around his neck.

“Thank you, Brother Ivan.”

Arui could not stop playing with the small buckle, his smile radiating pure joy.

“You are welcome.” Ivan ruffled the child’s soft, golden hair and headed back to the study to work.

Tovis watched his brother’s irrepressible happiness with a bittersweet feeling. He had seen everything Ivan had done over the past few days; the man truly seemed different. Tovis stood up, staring at Ivan’s retreating figure, and found himself wavering.

Could he try to believe what Ivan said in the detention room that day?

Arui’s presence brought life and laughter to the quiet villa. Two days later, Arui went back to school, and the villa became still once again.

The only difference was that Ivan found himself puzzled. Marshal Tovis, who used to avoid him at all costs, had been lurking around him constantly. For instance, when Ivan went for his morning run, Tovis left the house, but before Ivan could finish his lap, Tovis was already back. When Ivan returned indoors, Tovis was sitting on the sofa, watching the interstellar news.

“Recently, a new unmined energy mountain was discovered on Pute Star, where…”

Ivan drank a glass of water, his gaze drifting toward the female Zerg, who sat impossibly straight even while watching TV. He wondered why Lotte had not returned yet.

Speak of the devil.

Just as the thought crossed his mind, the villa gate opened, and Lotte’s travel-worn figure appeared. Lotte had been away for days investigating the mining competition, but he still looked composed, standing at the entryway in his dark clothing.

“Young Master, I have returned.” He turned to salute Tovis. “Greetings, Master Tovis.”

Tovis stood up and nodded.

“Uncle Lotte!” Ivan rushed over. “You have worked hard.”

“Not at all. It is my duty.”

Since Lotte had returned with a report on the competition, Ivan led him to the study. Tovis watched them leave, then looked down at himself, somewhat lost in thought. In the military, his physique and appearance were considered top-tier, so why did Ivan seem so indifferent to him? Tovis, who had been trying to test if Ivan was still the same scoundrel, had used himself as bait, but his recent efforts to be present seemed to have had zero effect.

Had Ivan truly turned over a new leaf? Or was it an issue with the object of temptation?

Tovis was confused. Tovis was emo.

Tovis let out a heavy sigh.