I Hate That Jerk of a Spouse - Chapter 15

He wants freedom; the answer is meaningless now

A major burden had been lifted from his heart, and Leslie no longer needed to travel all over the universe. Following this came the cleaning out of the remaining Gray party members on the Capital Planet.

For those with clear evidence of involvement, there was no leniency; all were to face the justice of the law.

However, the group involved was complex and chaotic, and it included many in high positions. With part of the Gray family’s crimes being concealed, the judicial department lacked sufficient grounds to dismiss or detain them. They could only set the matter aside for the time being and wait for the right opportunity.

Leslie had already received several resignation letters, all from bugs blacklisted by his Xiongfu (male father), waiting to be liquidated at a later date.

To this, Leslie did not hesitate to reject them all. He spoke with such sincerity and eloquence that the bugs who received his replies were left speechless and secretly on the verge of a breakdown.

One has to ask, when faced with a question like “You have been dedicated and achieved outstanding results all these years, and you are very suitable for this position; why are you suddenly resigning?” could they really admit straight out that they were resigning to avoid disaster?

Even worse were those who used poor health as an excuse to resign. That very same day, they received “care” from the court physicians. The black-and-white medical reports effectively blocked them from saying a single word in return.

Leslie sipped his fruit tea, combing through his memories, trying to find any legitimate reason that might allow those bugs currently at large to “honorably sacrifice themselves.”

A sudden notification interrupted Leslie’s thoughts. It was a visitor request from the access control system.

[Tapia Krish requests a meeting. Do you grant permission?]

[Yes / No]

Hmm? Why would Tapia suddenly come to see him?

Though puzzled, Leslie still clicked “Yes,” taking the opportunity to arrange for a mechanical bug to guide him.

The signature red hair and green eyes of the Mattia family, yet he was an A-grade male bug. This allowed Casper, who was guarding outside the study, to instantly recognize the visitor’s identity.

Tapia Krish, the eldest son of the direct line of the Krish family. His Cifu (female father) was the current Bug Emperor’s female elder brother and also the current head of the Mattia family: Senville Mattia.

By blood, Leslie should call him “cousin.”

For Casper, who had always been a lonely bug with no family ties, it was the first time he found a form of address to be difficult.

If he called him “Your Excellency,” it was too distant and could harm the fraternal bond. If he called him “cousin,” never mind whether he had the qualification, he simply could not bring himself to say the word.

Following the mechanical bug’s guidance, Tapia reached the study door. He stopped the mechanical bug from knocking and reprogrammed it to prepare tea and snacks instead.

In the sound of the receding wheels, Tapia slowly narrowed his eyes, examining the female bug in front of him, who was dressed in the standard uniform of a Prince’s bodyguard.

This was his first time seeing Casper in person.

Broad shoulders, a narrow waist, long legs, blue hair, green eyes, and an icy face. He looked the part in his uniform; it was no wonder he had been able to make Leslie chase him for so many years.

Looks passed, physique passed, and pheromone control was decent—at least at this distance, he did not smell any foreign scents.

It was just that the cold air radiating off him, keeping other bugs away, was truly something to be despised. Had he saved the entire universe in his past life to be lucky enough to have someone want him in this one? Yet this jerk was ungrateful and had rejected him repeatedly.

Recalling how the beautiful Prince had been so dejected, Tapia felt his heart ache and drew a big red mark, deducting ten points from Casper.

Tapia added and subtracted in his mind, barely managing to give Casper a passing grade, before nodding slightly to him. “Good day.”

Casper, his body tense, squeezed out a greeting from his throat. “Good day, Your Excellency.”

In the end, he had chosen the most formal address.

A flicker of surprise flashed in Tapia’s eyes. He gave him a strange look, then pushed the door open directly, locking the female bug who wanted to follow him inside to report outside the door.

Casper: “…”

This male bug was truly too audacious.

However, Leslie did not chase him out, which showed their relationship was closer than he had imagined.

After a moment of silence, Casper returned to his original guard posture and continued to stand motionless at the door.

Inside the study, the first thing Tapia said after entering was, “Leslie, your Ci Jun is so strange.”

Cold as an ice sculpture, stiff as a board, with no vitality.

And he was already registered as married, yet he would not change how he addressed him. What was he trying to do? Refuse to acknowledge this marriage?

When Carlos was only engaged to Ingvar, Ingvar had directly changed his address to call him “Brother.” Having seen so many shameless bugs, suddenly encountering an old-fashioned stick-in-the-mud was quite jarring.

“Perhaps he is just immersed in his role as a personal guard.”

Leslie walked out from behind his desk and pulled Tapia to sit on the guest sofa.

He fulfilled the duties of his position. Casper had always been like this, and Leslie had long since become accustomed to it. So, even though there was only a door between them, he had not let Casper come inside. It was not that he did not want to; it was just that it did not fit the usual style of a female bug.

Having tea and snacks delivered by mechanical bugs, Leslie and Tapia chatted casually. The brothers, who had not seen each other for a long time, were not the least bit distant and remained intimate.

Noticing the unconcealable weariness and hesitation in Tapia’s eyes, Leslie shifted the topic at the right time.

“So, Brother Tapia, is there something you need from me?”

Hearing this, the smile on Tapia’s face faded. His lips were pressed until they turned pale, and his hands gripped his teacup tightly, trying to draw a sliver of courage from its warmth.

In his life, Leslie had only seen Tapia show this expression twice.

The always flamboyant and bright Tapia was fearless; he was a thorny rose growing wild in the sunshine.

He had taken a timid Carlos to integrate into groups and encouraged Leslie to pursue love bravely. As his older brother, Tapia had set the best example for them; he seemed to have endless courage, walking fearlessly on his own path.

It was not until he left his family for Mefilier that Leslie saw Tapia’s vulnerability for the first time.

Back then, Tapia had almost bitten his lip until it bled before he could let out a plea for help. The prideful rose that had always kept its head high had its stalk bent by the cold rain of reality for the first time.

And this second time, it was now.

Leslie almost blurted out, “Because of Mefilier?”

Other than that, he could not think of any other reason that could make Tapia show such an expression.

Tapia slowly turned the pink diamond wedding ring on his ring finger, closed his eyes, suppressed the countless images flashing through his mind, and finally made up his mind.

He stared straight into the golden eyes of the Prince beside him, his emerald eyes carrying a valiant sense of tragedy.

“Many positions have become vacant due to recent political purges, and I want to request one for Mefilier.”

Hearing this, Leslie frowned deeply. This was not something he could decide alone.

Tapia took a stack of files from his space ring and handed them to Leslie, signaling him to take a look first.

As the traditional paper was turned page by page, Leslie’s eyes gradually widened. He looked at Tapia with uncertainty, unsure and hesitant. “This is…” written by Mefilier?

Tapia looked at the handwritten political critiques with complex eyes and nodded, confirming Leslie’s guess.

“Yes, all of it was written by Mefilier.”

“He has this talent. It would be a pity not to let him utilize it.”

Mefilier was a slave Tapia had purchased and had no right to education. Under these circumstances, he could still write highly innovative plans and incisive critiques, which showed how high his talent was.

“If he truly has this ability, then his placement must be decided by the Emperor and Empress.”

This meant the position would certainly not be a low one.

With Tapia’s permission, Leslie opened his terminal to start scanning the files; he needed to send them to his Xiongfu and Cifu for review.

While the terminal was scanning, Leslie leaned close to Tapia, who had finally relaxed, and asked his biggest doubt: “How did you… think of sending Mefilier into politics?”

It was not strange that he was suspicious; Tapia had an extremely strong possessiveness over Mefilier. Letting go and allowing Mefilier to go out and work was truly a first in history.

Countless obscure and dusty images flashed before his eyes. Tapia buried his head in Leslie’s neck and muttered, “He wants freedom…”

“Those female bugs are all like that; they want work, they want status, they want to contribute to society. Without a career, he will die.”

Leslie was stunned.

This was the epitome of the lives of countless female bugs.

They clawed their way up with their lives, spending their whole lives working hard, and taking pleasure in it. Once they were completely idle, it meant they were useless, liable to be abandoned at any time, and would meet their deaths in a mental breakdown.

Tapia’s voice gradually took on a crying tone: “I can tie Mefilier up for ten years, twenty years, but can I tie him up for three hundred years? He would not even live that long!” He would die long ago from a mental breakdown.

“I just want him to be okay… to live…”

“I love him so much, how could I bear to see him die young?”

If leaving him meant Mefilier could live a happy and long life, then… even if it pained him, he would let go.

Tapia buried his head in Leslie’s neck, refusing to lift it.

So embarrassing! Crying bitterly in his brother’s arms was truly too shameful!

Tapia selectively ignored the fact that Leslie was already an adult and had grown taller than him.

The mental realm that had been groomed was peaceful and harmonious, and the mental threads floated lazily, revealing a sense of comfort after being smoothed out.

After a long time, Tapia, having built up his psychological defenses, raised his head, stood up gracefully, and pretended nothing had happened, his expression returning to normal.

“It is getting late. I should go. I will not take up any more of your time,” Tapia said as he took steps toward the door.

Leslie caught him just in time, helped Tapia straighten his clothes, and personally saw him out.

“I will notify you as soon as there is a reply.”

Through the glass of the shuttle, Leslie saw Tapia smiling brightly, his lip movements exaggerated as he said: “Thank you, Your Highness.”

Watching the shuttle disappear from sight, Leslie took Casper’s hand and walked slowly back.

Feeling the weak struggle from his hand, Leslie gripped it tightly, suppressing it.

“This is not your working time, my dear Ci Jun.”

So, stop abiding by that damnable guard code.

The hand he held stiffened for a moment before testingly squeezing back.

Noticing the change in his hand, a smile appeared on the corners of Leslie’s lips.

After being well-fed, Leslie curled up in Casper’s arms to digest, playing with his fingers in boredom.

Seeming nonchalant, he brought it up, “Casper, between your military rank and me, which would you choose?”

Casper was startled upon hearing the question.

If he had been asked such a question before, he would have chosen his military rank without hesitation.

Nothing made a bug feel more secure than the power and wealth actually held in one’s own hands.

But now…

“Ugh!”

Leslie did not give him the chance to answer.

From that silence, he had already received the answer he wanted.

No matter what words were spoken, they had no meaning anymore.

Support