[Zerg] After being reborn as a male Zergling, he refused to be a kept man.

Money isn't something you can scrape up; it's something you can steal.

A sudden storm swept away all of Zhuang Nian's efforts, causing heavy losses and forcing him to confront the natural environmental problems of Earth.

In fact, Zhuang Nian should have been alerted after the previous red rain. This experience has served as a lesson, making him dare not be careless again.

Fei's suggestion was to equip Earth with an atmosphere for protection. This would not only allow for temperature regulation like the primary planet, but also prevent all natural disasters. However...

Zhuang Nian had no money.

Knowing his master's difficulties, Fei offered, "I have some money here. You can take it for emergencies and pay me back later. You can even pay interest. In short, I don't want to see you in a difficult situation."

Zhuang Nian thanked him, then said, "No need."

This has nothing to do with saving face or refusing to be a kept man; it's simply because, as a male insect, it's incredibly difficult to survive independently in this world.

The government seems to have given male insects absolute status and protection, but what is the reality? Politics, economy, military power, etc. are all controlled by female insects, and it is extremely difficult for male insects to find a job.

Once the female insect no longer craves the male insect's body temperature or needs its pheromones, and the most troublesome reproductive problem is solved, what place will the male insect, who has been pampered to the point of almost losing its ability to survive, have?

Zhuang Nian refused Fei's help. He regarded this natural disaster as a test for himself and wanted to use this opportunity to improve his competitiveness in the survival market.

After all, people are inherently lazy. This time he borrowed money from Fei, and next time he might want to take advantage of Fei's influence. If he keeps borrowing, all his success will be built on Fei's help. Once Fei leaves him one day, what will he have left?

Therefore, you must grit your teeth and rely on yourself.

-

Post-disaster reconstruction is an extremely difficult and tiring process. It is heartbreaking to see all the hard work and effort shattered before your eyes.

Zhuang Nian was rapidly losing weight at a visible rate. His hands, which were exceptionally long and slender with distinct joints, were covered with thin calluses and scars, layer upon layer like a mille-feuille, which was painful to look at.

Zhuang Nian didn't seem to have any negative emotions because of this. His mindset was not only stable, but excellent, perfectly embodying the spirit of optimism.

When female insects watch male insects become more courageous despite setbacks, they sometimes get the illusion that their own male is enjoying it.

Fei was deeply confused and utterly bewildered, feeling that Zhuang Nian was simply asking for trouble. He said, "I have plenty of money, and supporting you is my duty and I'm happy to do it! Why do you insist on being so stubborn and making yourself suffer like this? Don't you realize that your insistence is utterly meaningless?"

Hearing the commotion, the Male Insect Protection Association rushed over and urged, "Mr. Zhuang Nian, hurry up and marry more female insects to reach the pinnacle of insect life! Stop wasting your life on these meaningless things. Look, I've found you many beautiful and wealthy insects, not only from good families with large dowries, but also exceptionally capable!"

The female insects watching also said, "Lord Zhuang Nian, you could clearly rely on your SSS-level bloodline to make a living, so why did you have to make yourself look like this?"

The male insects, who were watching the spectacle, scoffed and said disdainfully, "What 'once-in-a-millennium SSS-class'? He's clearly a once-in-a-millennium idiot! Not just an idiot, he's the ultimate idiot!"

There were many rumors about Zhuang Nian at that time, but whether they were good or bad, they were all negative.

It seems the whole world is questioning Zhuang Nian, speaking in a voice that seems to be doing him a favor:

"Give up, it's useless. Just go and be a freeloader, a privileged parasite who contributes to the empire's birth rate. That's the life you deserve."

Zhuang Nian's attitude towards this is...

I do things my own way, remaining unchanged.

Although he had a smooth and successful life without experiencing any setbacks, the teachings he received from childhood had always spurred him on, encouraged him, and firmly reminded him:

A real man should stand tall and upright! It's not terrible to encounter difficulties; what's truly tragic is to be defeated by them. A life without setbacks is meaningless; true skill lies in overcoming adversity and weathering the storms.

Zhuang Nian enjoys the feeling of sailing against the wind, seizing opportunities to accumulate experience and learn from mistakes, turning the tide and rising to the challenge.

This time, he's going to do something even bigger!

Three months later, all the transplanted fruit trees survived, and fruit sales returned to normal. During this period, Zhuang Nian conducted a detailed survey of every inch of land on Blue Star and made many surprising new discoveries.

Six months later, the tested potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, and other crops were officially released to the public, still exclusively for the military, and received rave reviews.

Ten months later, the hot spring resort, designed and supervised by Zhuang Nian, rose from the ground. The food court and snack street were also ready, and the trial operation was scheduled for one month later.

In a year and a half, one-third of the land on Blue Star was completely transformed. While Zhuang Nian's business was thriving, he also began to repay his loans.

During this time, the initial wave of criticism gradually turned into thunderous applause and cheers. Fei watched his male master working diligently at his desk and felt that the male insect was becoming more and more attractive to him each day.

Fei placed a small dish of spicy cucumber and a bowl of rice porridge on the table, deliberately making a not-too-loud noise, then wrapped his arms around Zhuang Nian's neck from behind and licked his earlobe, saying, "My lord, these are the freshly delivered dishes. Take a rest and have a taste."

Zhuang Nian put down his pen, reached behind him, pulled the lecherous insect that had been teasing him onto his lap, patted its bottom, and asked, "Where are the kids?"

Fei: "Just finished making a fuss, going to sleep." Saying that, she dimmed the lamp on the table, reached for the bowl, scooped up a spoonful of porridge, blew on it, and fed it to her master.

Zhuang Nian leaned back in his chair, lazily enjoying the service from his lecherous insect, and nodded, saying, "Not bad."

Fei fed him a few more mouthfuls, but seeing Zhuang Nian shake his head, he put down the porridge bowl and used a fork to feed his master a piece of cucumber to try. The answer was still that it was okay.

"You're as satisfied with his cooking as ever~" Fei pursed her lips and said sarcastically, "Looks like I'll have to give him a raise again~"

The "he" Fei refers to is a sub-female who is extremely talented in cooking.

No matter what new ideas Zhuang Nian had, this female could always make dishes that satisfied the male insect based on Zhuang Nian's descriptions. Not only was she amazing, but she was also very good at pushing her luck.

It's one thing to ask for raises every few days, but the demands he makes are getting more and more outrageous. The worst part is that Zhuang Nian agrees to them every time, which is just ridiculous.

Sure enough, as soon as Fei finished speaking, Zhuang Nian nodded and said, "He did a good job, he should be added."

Fei immediately became a little unhappy.

Don't think he's blind and can't see it. That sub-female is clearly interested in her male master. She repeatedly makes various demands to show how good the male is to her. The male even acts like he's indulging her. If there's nothing between them, Fei will twist his head off.

The female insect puts the fork in the male's hand, letting him eat it himself.

Zhuang Nian noticed Fei's change in mood and asked curiously, "What's wrong?"

Fei didn't want her master to think she was a jealous and petty jerk, so she said sourly, "It's nothing, I just feel like I'm incompetent and can't cook the dishes you like, so I deserve to hear you praise me."

"..." Zhuang Nian: "What did I praise him for?"

Fei nodded and said, "Yes, you didn't praise him, but you just gave him a raise without warning. This kind of indirect praise is definitely more effective than direct praise. You can't be so nice to him just by cooking a few dishes. I can't learn that." After saying that, she looked at Zhuang Nian with a look that was full of resentment.

The lecherous insect had long harbored resentment towards the sub-female, and this wasn't the first time he'd made sarcastic remarks in front of Zhuang Nian. Zhuang Nian probably understood Fei's meaning and said, "I gave him a raise because he can bring me more benefits. Why are you being jealous?"

This……

That makes sense, but can jealousy be explained simply by reason?

Fei hated it when her powerful lord tried to reason with her, and immediately threw a tantrum, saying, "I just care that you gave him a raise! I just can't stand him! I'm annoyed by him! I hate him to death!"

Zhuang Nian: "..."

Fei: "Why don't you fire him? I don't want to see him again."

Zhuang Nian: "..."

Fei: "My lord, I beg you, please?"

Zhuang Nian: "..."

Fei: "Do you like him? Do you?"

Zhuang Nian: "..."

He and this lecherous bug have been together for over two years now, and he knows the bug's temperament better than anyone else.

She appears aloof, arrogant, and detached from worldly affairs, with an air of detached detachment like a celestial being descended to earth. But in reality, when she gets jealous, she's incredibly petty and easily overwhelmed by ordinary people.

After Zhuang Nian and Fei reconciled, their relationship became much more harmonious. Although they did not remarry, they shared a bed and whispered sweet nothings to each other every day, acting more like a couple than a real married couple.

They all share the same pot of food and live together, and Zhuang Nian didn't want Fei to suffer. However, that female was his lucky charm, and he really couldn't give it up easily.

Zhuang Nian held Fei's hand and rubbed it, his fingertips slipping into his palm, and said, "Alright, he's just a hired hand, it's not worth making such a fuss about."

Fei knew it wasn't worth it, and he knew he was being unreasonable. He didn't actually intend to expel the sub-female; he just wanted the male's attitude, wanted to hear his master coax him with a few sweet words to put his mind at ease, but...

Zhuang Nian offered no explanation, no comfort, and certainly no sweet words.

As always, he would only use easily understood reasoning to suppress, suppress, and suppress the jealous female soldier again.

Fei was insecure. He had been entangled with Zhuang Nian for a year and a half without any official status. He watched Zhuang Nian's career flourish and rise step by step. Although he had two cubs, the insects surrounding Zhuang Nian didn't take him seriously at all. They openly expressed their love, but he had no right to say anything. After enduring it for so long, he naturally couldn't hold back anymore.

Zhuang Nian's rational attitude made that sub-female a thorn in Fei's side, and he wished he could get rid of it as soon as possible.

But how can one get their powerful lord to willingly remove this thorn?

Fei looked at the two little coal lumps rolling around at his feet and suddenly had a plan...