189 You can lie down and I will help you

Out of all the deans across the Federation, the dean of Scylla Military Academy was the most stressed. That’s because he was training the future elites of the Military hence the pressure on him to deliver was ten times greater.

His hair in a disheveled mess he rushed over to his office. This morning he had received the location for the final assessment and the subject on the email was tagged in red with the words ‘strictly confidential’ in caps.

He had been waiting for this location for two weeks and now that it was here he had to approve and finalize the list of members for each team. Thus he was in a rush like a drone in a bee hive.

As soon as he stepped into his office the lights switched on and his AI assistant greeted him.

“A cup of coffee please and make it a triple shot. I have a meeting with the Marshal soon and I absolutely need it to keep sane,” he said only for a familiar voice that shouldn’t be here to respond to him.

“And why is that?” asked Marshal Yi while sitting in his chair with his legs crossed at the knees. His wrists casually resting on the armrest of the chair he continued, “You seem to love talking smack behind my back.”

Dean Kerpesky hastily waved his hands in refusal as he stammered an unbelievable response.

Marshal Yi raised his hand slightly to stop him before gesturing for him to sit down. The man wiped the sweat off his forehead and sat down opposite him in the guest chair of his own office.

“I didn’t come to make things difficult for you. I came because I want you to do something for me. Since it’s very important I had to come in person,” said Marshal Yi his tone serious.

.....

Dean Kerpesky swallowed his saliva moistening his dry throat before coughing lightly. “I am at your disposal,” he replied his voice hoarse.

Marshal Yi placed both his elbows on his desk and locked his fingers together his gaze fixed on the Dean but in truth, he was lost in thought.

How could he have not known before? The answer was right there but like the rest of the public, he was blind and couldn’t even see what was in front of him.

He hated that Zi Feiji didn’t disclose this information to him in advance. He had to find out because of a pair of eyes. How fucked up was that?

After he met that Zi kid he couldn’t get over the fact that those eyes were very familiar. Thus he kept going through his entire list of associates. After going through so many faces he changed strategy focusing on Zi Xingxi herself. Who in the Bloodgarde was around her at the time she was pregnant?

As he went through the list of people around her at the time he suddenly had a bad premonition the longer he scanned through. He couldn’t deny it anymore.

With an air of reluctance, he pulled up the image of the prince and his heart dropped to the pit of his stomach.

He didn’t think Zi Xingxi would have the balls to actually sleep with a royal but looking at the evidence of the incident he could no longer put it past her.

If the prime minister found out Zi Han’s identity then everything he had worked hard for would burn to the ground. Why? That’s because his son was very close to that Zi kid.

Two families as powerful as theirs couldn’t get too close as this would threaten the balance that keeps the federation in harmony. Zi Han’s true identity would only act like gasoline and further fuel the fire into an uncontrollable blazing storm.

His wife already liked him and his children were already pining over him further complicating the issue. If he tries to use force these four would only resist him thus he decided to work in the shadows and pull them apart.

“I need you to put Zi Han and Yi Chen in separate teams... and don’t leave any trail of it,” he said before standing up.

Dean Kerpesky’s brows creased hearing this. He didn’t understand why nor did he want to find out the reason.

He nodded his head a chicken pecking at rice.

Meanwhile, Zi Han who had no idea that he had been screwed over was wrapping his sore arms with tape in the training room while complaining.

“After that platter of pork ribs how do you expect me to train well,” he said glancing over in Yi Chen’s direction.

Yi Chen raised his head slightly and sniggered showing his pearly white teeth. “I told you to eat less but you said you can handle it,” he said before lowering his head again and tugging at his armband.

Zi Han took a step forward reducing the distance between them and said, “You don’t have to remind me about it. Aren’t you supposed to comfort me?”

Yi Chen raised his head as he grasped Zi Han’s wrist and pulled him closer. He smoothed out the armband while whispering, “Would you like me to rub your tummy for you like last time?.... You can lie down and I will help you.”

Zi Han’s heartbeat stagnated like his soul had left his body for a second. The last time he got a tummy rub from Yi Chen his stomach churned even more while he was sweating profusely. It didn’t make him feel better but it worsened the situation.

The feeling only got worse whenever his fingers moved closer to his lower abdomen. So yep... he would never accept Yi Chen’s help ever. Feeling a little tense with a prickly sensation spreading across his body he pulled back his arm his tone taking a drastic turn.

“No need. I can, I can train,” he said but his hand was grabbed again and with a lowered head Yi Chen continued to smooth out the armband.

Zi Han’s gaze lingered on his slightly damp strands of hair and fluttering lashes. His eyes suddenly narrowed as an image flashed in his mind.

For a moment the shadowy figure from his spring dreams suddenly turned into Yi Chen which terrified him half to death.

“Fuck,” he swore while taking his arm back. This time he took two steps back and because he wasn’t looking he bumped into someone.

“Sorry,” he murmured with a slight turn of his body.

“En... don’t worry I am not that fragile,” said Evan staring at him with a sly grin like he was about to pit an innocent lamb to do bad things.