Chapter 25 1/2

“Jiang Li looked at the enthusiastic Cen Lang and couldn’t think of a reason to refuse for a moment.

Why shouldn’t he exercise? It’s not like everything will be fine if he avoids pheromone-induced impotence. After all, there’s a disgusting example of Jiang Li in the world. After causing impotence in others, one still needs the ability to escape from the other’s clutches.

At another time, if Cen Lang is willing to teach him, Jiang Li would definitely sculpt six-pack abs for himself.

Cen Lang’s attitude is very persistent, evident in the way he holds onto his own ankle, as if he won’t let go unless Jiang Li complies. In the encouraging gaze of Cen Lang, Jiang Li falls down expressionlessly, hands interlocked behind his head. Slowly, very slowly, he lifts himself a bit.

Cen Lang feels Jiang Li’s ankle exerting force; like a white fish about to escape control, it tightens.

Jiang Li rises about thirty degrees, then lets go and lies down, looking as if he’s done his best, pulling the blanket up to cover everything above his abdomen. His voice muffles: “Can’t get up.”

In the early stages of pregnancy, the abdominal muscles’ contractions can cause irregular contractions in the reproductive cavity. Carelessness could lead to significant problems.

Cen Lang looks at the soft Jiang Li in disbelief. Is his physical strength really so weak?

He shouldn’t have doubted Jiang Li’s role as an underground city caregiver. Helping an adult Alpha turn over, wash, and dress—even requiring two Beta caregivers to accomplish.

Cen Lang: “Try again; I’ll see your strength reserves.”

Jiang Li nods in the blanket, very cooperative: “Okay. Your grip on my ankle hurts.”

Cen Lang loosens the grip a bit at his words. Looking down, he sees a red mark left on Jiang Li’s fair ankle. He nervously wipes it with his thumb, attempting to remove the mark. Pressing down slightly changes the color, but it fades when released.

Cen Lang is truly uneasy now and dares not press any further.

Seizing the opportunity, Jiang Li pretends to do sit-ups. Since Cen Lang isn’t holding him, he flexibly rubs off Cen Lang’s bath towel with his ankle.

The angle is calculated just right. Anyway, he’s covered in the blanket, and nothing is visible. “Hungry, I can’t get up,” JiangLi shamelessly says.

He convinces himself that he’ll need to be shameless in many situations in the future, like when his offspring, like Cen Lang, get into fights at school. He’ll be called by parents, and the morally upright Dr. Jiang will have to personally apologize to the teachers.

Cen Lang remains silent.

Jiang Li, with his eyes closed, can imagine the embarrassed look on the other person’s face. Get up quickly and go to the bathroom to get dressed.

Cen Lang calmly tucks in the bath towel, staring at the person curled up in the blanket, his eyes deep.

For some spoiled Alphas who want to feign illness to escape training, Cen Lang will show them the cruelty of the space force. As for some Beta who whines about being hungry, Cen Lang… is a bit headache-inducing. Why can’t any of them do it?

Forget it; first take care of his health. After all, he currently has no other concerns. With him by Jiang Li’s side, no one can bully him.

Footsteps fade away. Jiang Li lifts the blanket, his forehead turning red from being covered. He wipes his sweat, glances at Cen Lang, moves his ankle a bit, and gets up to pull his marching bed and set up a small table.

“Have milk and oatmeal for breakfast.”

Because Jiang Li mentioned being hungry, making oatmeal with milk is the fastest. Cen Lang changes into a new combat uniform, neat and tidy, showing no signs of training all night.

Jiang Li’s little notebook gains another entry. He regrets that, following Cen Lang around every meal, he completely forgets about things like nutritional supplements.

The soft oatmeal is fragrant, smooth, and creamy. Biting into a raisin between his teeth, slightly sour, mostly sweet.

Jiang Li, lowering his head, carefully says, “It was a bit troublesome for General Meng to come and pick me up last night.”

Cen Lang doesn’t see anything wrong with it. “I am responsible for your safety. There’s no second Beta in the base that I trust.” That’s out of the question.

Jiang Li: “I went to the base with you to collect pheromones, with no intention of meeting other high-ranking officials.”

Cen Lang remembers. Everything must be done by him personally; he can’t delegate tasks to others.

Jiang Li stirs the oatmeal. “I will make sure to prepare the medication for the pheromone gland tumor when I return. Does the Cen family also have a pharmaceutical research group? I’ll transfer my patent share to you.”

Although he controls the pricing, good medication can enhance reputation and word of mouth, and without research and development costs, it’s pure profit. With the Cen family’s pharmaceutical company producing it, Jiang Li is also reassured about quality control.

Apart from this, Jiang Li currently can’t think of a way to repay Cen Lang for his help and meals.

Although Cen Lang is willing to accept things from Jiang Li, he senses a hint of setting boundaries. He furrows his brows and says, “Are you sure you want to discuss business at this small table?”

Jiang Li: “It’s not business…”

Cen Lang: “Don’t think too much during meals; it affects nutrient absorption.”

Rather than some damn repayment, Cen Lang is more concerned about what Jiang Li said about “after returning.”

I really don’t want to go back.

Once back, Jiang Li will have to hide in his dilapidated laboratory, not even seeing a shadow.

The space force is his territory. Jiang Li stays on his warship, eating three meals a day, waiting for him to return late from training. There will be medical supplies for injuries on the marching bed. If only it could always be like this.

Cen Lang counts the remaining bases, from nearest to farthest; there are still four in total, stationed with nine top-level Alphas. After drawing blood from these people, they should return the same way.

For the first time, he feels that the expansion of interstellar territory is too slow. If he has eighty-one bases, wouldn’t he be able to travel the stars for a hundred and eighty days with Jiang Li?

Is there any way to delay time without Jiang Li objecting?

Repairing the warship… That excuse is too lame.

Cen Lang suggests casually, “Do you want to visit the old demon king on the way? You can discuss pharmaceutical research with him.”

Jiang Li’s finger pauses. “Is that possible?”

Before the dean went on a business trip, he entrusted him with the task of being theoretically effective. They haven’t discussed conducting clinical trials yet.

Cen Lang lightly laughs, “We’re all comrades; why not?”

Jiang Li’s eyes brighten slightly. The dean is scheduled to return to Earth at the end of May, four months from now. A lot can be accomplished in four months, and meeting him in advance would be great.

Cen Lang smiles, and the location of the old demon king is—