Chapter 35 - The General's Wife is an Illegal Resident in the Star System

Translator's Note:

Hello, I hope you've all been doing well.

 

I’ve finished setting up the Bella Novels Discord server! You can join us using this invite. There, you’ll be able to easily follow chapter updates for the novel(s) of your choice—along with access to many other features and community content.

I’m also introducing something new: the Chapter Boost System! This system lets you accelerate a novel’s releases by one, five, or even ten chapters.

Join the Discord to learn more about how it works and take part in this new feature!

 

If you’re able to provide me with the Raws of the Novels I need, you'll be the first person to receive my translation of them. You’ll also gain instant access to up to 30 advanced chapters for the novel of your choice, OR you can also request a SuperBoost for that novel.

For more details, you can check out the Raw Provider new page. 

 

And, as I said before, if you wish to read ahead, you can head over to my Patreon to get early access to all the translated chapters.

Here you go, and I wish you a good read. 

Noyce's Troublesome Predicament

 

 

Following Qin Yu's orders, Bu Xiaoyu did not appear that evening at Qin Yu's quarters, where he stayed at the First Legion base.

 

Lu Li had no idea about this new arrangement and thought Bu Xiaoyu, despite her claims to only follow Qin Yu's commands, had agreed in the end. He even felt she was rather considerate.

 

When Qin Yu returned, he was greeted by an elaborate meal Lu Li had prepared, filled with dishes catered to his tastes—roasted, steamed, boiled, stir-fried, with the enticing aroma of meat filling the room.

 

Lu Li took his coat and hung it up, leading him to the dining table.

 

Sitting down, Qin Yu took in the spread before him, but rather than showing delight, a slight frown creased his brow.

 

"What's wrong?" Lu Li asked, noticing his expression, thinking one of the dishes might not suit his taste.

 

"When did you learn to cook like this?"

 

Qin Yu's tone was casual, just an ordinary question, but Lu Li heard the concern behind it. Leaning on the table with a smile, he replied, "Years ago, after I got into the Federation's first military academy. I started living on my own and didn't want to eat out, so I learned to cook at home. I must have a knack for it—everything here I learned on my own."

 

In the past, Lu Li hadn't thought much of his cooking skills, as he only ever cooked for himself. But now, cooking for Qin Yu, he felt grateful he had learned.

 

Hearing him mention the Federation so calmly, Qin Yu glanced at him.

 

"Enough talk. Let's eat—try my cooking." Lu Li said, placing a piece of juicy, sauce-covered beast meat into Qin Yu's bowl.

 

This meat wasn't from domesticated animals but wild beasts from remote planets, creatures as powerful as mutants. Only nobles and wealthy families could afford it. The meat was said to contain trace amounts of energy that the human body could absorb over time. Even though it wasn't significant, the upper classes relished it as a status symbol. For them, eating beast meat was as much a mark of prestige as it was about nourishment.

 

Lu Li, however, thought that the taste itself was what kept the nobles coming back—tender and flavorful, with a pleasing chew to it. Without its exceptional taste, he doubted even the aristocrats would indulge in it, regardless of its supposed benefits.

 

In the end, nearly ninety percent of the meat ended up in Qin Yu's stomach, while Lu Li only ate a small amout, as his stomach couldn't handle too much of it. Instead, he finished off the vegetable dishes.

 

When they finished, Lu Li started gathering the dishes to wash in the kitchen.

 

"Leave it to the robot," Qin Yu said, stopping him.

 

A robot that Lu Li had once seen aboard the Glory battleship, A23, appeared at the table, swiftly clearing away the plates and cutlery and wiping down the table like an efficient housekeeper.

 

"Why is it here?" Lu Li asked, surprised. He had thought it stayed aboard the Glory Battleship, as he hadn't seen it around during the day.

 

"It arrived this morning," Qin Yu replied briefly before heading to the living room.

 

Lu Li observed A23 closely, realizing now just how advanced it was. In the Federation, household robots existed, but they were less sophisticated, with nowhere near the capabilities of A23.

 

"How long do you plan for me to stay here?" Lu Li asked, finding Qin Yu reading a newspaper in the living room. Newspapers in this interstellar era were mostly digital, projected through one's wrist communicator. Yet, physical copies still existed, favored by the upper class, and Qin Yu was holding an actual printed version.

 

"Until my mother stops giving you a hard time." Qin Yu kept his gaze on the newspaper.

 

"Isn't that a bit… inappropriate?" Lu Li hesitated.

 

"With me here, no one will dare say a word."

 

"This is a military base—a restricted area. I'm still a Federation citizen. You may trust me, but others may not. I don't want your reputation to suffer on my account."

 

"I don't care about that." Qin Yu acted by his own will, reputation be damned.

 

"But I care." Lu Li's tone softened, breaking into a small smile. "I don't have to stay here. Surely an esteemed general like you should have at least one house on Glory Star, right?"

 

Qin Yu set down the newspaper and met Lu Li's clear, bright gaze. Then he pulled him into his embrace, resting his chin on Lu Li's head. After a pause, he finally said, "Here, at least, Mother won't dare to harm you again."

 

Lu Li looked up, propping a hand on Qin Yu's thigh, and leaned in to press a soft kiss on his lips.

 

But Qin Yu wasn't satisfied with such a fleeting touch. He turned his head just as Lu Li started to pull away, capturing his lips in a deeper, more forceful kiss. His hand pressed against the back of Lu Li's head, drawing him closer.

 

Unable to escape, Lu Li surrendered, melting into him, his upper body completely resting against Qin Yu. The kiss left him breathless, their embrace heated, their bodies slick with sweat. For over twenty minutes, they clung to each other, feeling the dampness of their clothes sticking to their skin, stoking a growing restlessness within.

 

In a haze, Lu Li glanced down and caught sight of the fierce bulge between Qin Yu's legs. Startled, he pulled back slightly, looking up just in time to meet Qin Yu's darkened gaze. Usually composed and impenetrable, Qin Yu's eyes now smoldered with barely restrained desire, a force as magnetic as it was overwhelming. His self-control was impressive—even with his body betraying his desire, he held his composure well.

 

Blushing, Lu Li tried to slip off his lap, but suddenly the world spun, and he found himself pressed back against the soft cushions of the couch. The couch wasn't as spacious as a bed, but it added an unexpected sense of thrill. Feeling Qin Yu's heated desire pressing against his thigh, Lu Li hurriedly placed a hand on his chest.

 

"Wait, is this really a good idea here?"

 

Though it was Qin Yu's private quarters, what if someone came in unexpectedly?

 

Qin Yu leaned down and sealed his lips again, wordlessly assuring him that no one would enter without his permission—not even Zhou Junyan.

 

Lu Li tried to protest, but his thoughts soon dissolved in the pleasure Qin Yu stirred within him. They didn't confine themselves to the couch; at some point, they rolled onto the soft carpeted floor, leaving traces of their passion everywhere. Later, whenever Lu Li sat on that couch, he'd recall that wild night, sometimes feeling he ought to replace both the carpet and the couch altogether.

 

The next morning, sunlight poured brightly through the windows, filling the room with light.

 

Lu Li was roused by Qin Yu's movements, though he couldn't quite open his eyes.

 

"It's still early; go back to sleep." Qin Yu gently removed Lu Li's hand from around his waist, rising from the bed and reaching for his clothes. His body, toned to perfection, could rival any interstellar model's.

 

Lu Li, feeling less sleepy at Qin Yu's suggestion, turned his head to watch him. His body ached from their previous night's passion, every inch of him sore as if he'd been dismantled and put back together. He propped a hand on his pillow, watching Qin Yu dress. The more he looked, the more he felt his man was absolutely perfect. His eyes glazed over with admiration, only snapping back to focus when Qin Yu turned to leave.

 

"I'll have someone bring breakfast. You should rest today," Qin Yu said, pulling on his jacket.

 

"By someone, you mean Bu Xiaoyu? She told me she used to prepare your meals at the base," Lu Li replied, narrowing his eyes as he recalled the barely concealed animosity in her gaze.

 

"Not lunch."

 

"Why did you have her cook for you?"

 

"She's the only one who can. But if you're uncomfortable with that, I'll have her stop," Qin Yu replied matter-of-factly, as if it made little difference to him.

 

To him, it truly made no difference who prepared his meals.

 

"It's not that I mind," Lu Li admitted, "I just don't want there to be any misunderstandings." He recounted his conversation with Bu Xiaoyu. "It felt like she had a certain impression of me. I only suggested that I could cook to save her the trouble of coming over, since I won't be staying here long. But she seemed pretty upset."

 

Qin Yu raised an eyebrow. "I'll handle it."

 

Lu Li nodded in agreement.

 

After Qin Yu left, Lu Li remained in bed for another hour, only rising when it was nearly noon. With little time for a proper lunch, he simply boiled himself a bowl of noodles he'd made the day before.

 

At the same time, Noyce arrived at the military base as usual, only to be stopped by a guard.

 

"Captain Noyce, Lieutenant Bu Xiaoyu was looking for you just now."

 

"Just now?" Noyce wondered what she might need from him this early. "Where is she now?"

 

"She waited for you inside for a while but left when you didn't arrive."

 

Puzzled, Noyce decided he'd check in with her later. But just as he stepped inside, his communicator went off.

 

"Colonel Zhou, you're calling me this early for what?"

 

On the display, Zhou Junyan's gaze bore into him for so long that Noyce grew uncomfortable. Just as Noyce was about to ask again, Zhou finally spoke. "Did you just arrive at the base?"

 

"Obviously. You know my usual schedule—and do I look like I've been here long?" Noyce rolled his eyes, puzzled at Zhou's unusual behavior.

 

But Zhou's expression grew suddenly grave.

 

"What is it?" Noyce asked, growing wary.

 

"Who was here before you?" Zhou asked, his tone severe.

 

"Lieutenant Bu," Neuss replied, feeling a sense of foreboding. He knew Zhou's usually composed demeanor wouldn't crack unless something serious had happened.

 

"Noyce, you're in big trouble," Zhou said in a low voice, his eyes reflecting a sternness that left Noyce's face turning pale.

 

Zhou then explained what the monitoring department had detected that morning.

 

...

 

"My apologies, General. This was my oversight. I'm willing to accept any punishment," Noyce said, his face ashen as he lowered his head, not daring to meet Qin Yu's gaze.

 

Qin Yu listened impassively, his eyes like steel as they bored into Noyce, who stood stiff and drenched in cold sweat. Only when Noyce's face drained of its last color did Qin Yu finally speak.

 

"Go report for your punishment."

 

"Thank you, General." Noyce exhaled in relief.

 

The First Legion had its own iron-clad code of conduct, where even high-ranking officials couldn't escape consequences. Mistakes came with punishment, especially for a captain like Noyce, who had to set an example. As per the Legions' code, his punishment would be two to three times harsher than that of a regular soldier to ensure a lesson learned.

 

It wasn't the punishment Noyce feared—it was the prospect of losing the General's trust.

 

Zhou Junyan patted him on the shoulder, encouraging him to accept it with a clear mind.

 

Noyce managed a strained smile before turning to go receive his penalty.

Last Chapter | TOC | Next Chapter
⥼ Bonus Discord Chapter ⤴

 

❧ Join Bella Novels' Newsletter by clicking here ↫ and
receive an email for each New Update -͙✧˖*°࿐