Chapter 47: They Deserve to Be Seen, Acknowledged, Remembered.

Shao Ye froze like he’d just been struck by lightning.

Stuck there, motionless, his mind a mess of tangled wires, he couldn’t figure out his next move. All he could think about was Lu Zhanxing, bleeding out on the frontlines, fighting like hell with injuries that would’ve taken anyone else down. And here he was, stuck in the backlines, useless, protected, burning with frustration at his own impotence.

Then Alice spoke, cutting through his spiraling thoughts like a blade.

“There’s an armory in Commander Lu’s quarters. We can convert it into a makeshift lab.”

Shao Ye’s head snapped up so fast he nearly gave himself whiplash, his eyes wide with a mix of shock and a spark of desperate hope.

Did she mean—?

Was she actually on board?

The sheer risk of what she was suggesting slammed into him like a gut punch.

Alice sighed softly, still facing away from him, her voice calm but heavy with something deeper. “I know a few Omega scientists—absolute powerhouses in their fields. But because they’re Omegas, their achievements have been buried or outright erased. I’ll send out the invites immediately. If they agree, they’ll come to Lu Manor and assist you with the research.”

Shao Ye couldn’t stop himself from jumping to his feet, his chest a furnace of exhilaration and gratitude. But even as that fire surged, doubt crept in. His expression tightened, his voice dropping into hesitation. “But… what about the Lu family?”

That was when Alice finally turned, her gaze hard and unflinching as she pinned him in place. “Without Commander Lu, the Lu family has no future. Helping him is the only way to save it. Ah Ye, this isn’t just a decision—it’s me handing the Lu family’s future over to you. This plan has one path: success. Failure isn’t an option. Do you understand?”

Shao Ye straightened, his face serious, his voice steady despite the storm inside. “I understand. I swear I’ll complete the fourth-generation mechs and end this war.”

Under Alice’s meticulous arrangements, the Lu's armory transformed quickly into a hidden laboratory, concealed from prying eyes. Shao Ye ditched the mind-numbing etiquette classes and threw himself headfirst into the research, pouring every ounce of himself into designing the fourth-gen mechs.

Soon enough, the Omega scientists Alice had invited arrived. Shao Ye wasted no time. He introduced himself, laid out the blueprint for the mech project, and made no attempt to sugarcoat the stakes.

“If this plan fails or the committee finds out, the consequences will be severe,” he said, his tone cutting and deliberate. “I’m giving you a choice. You all have families, people you care about. If you don’t want to take the risk, you can leave now.”

The room went silent. The scientists exchanged uncertain glances before turning their eyes to Alice.

Shao Ye could feel the tension thick in the air. He knew the truth—they couldn’t just walk away. Knowing what they knew, leaving would mean walking into a death sentence. Alice might not spill blood herself, but she’d make damn sure they couldn’t jeopardize the mission. At best, they’d lose their memories. At worst, they’d be locked in Lu Manor until the war ended.

Everyone knew it. They just didn’t want to be the first to admit it.

Alice didn’t rush. She steepled her fingers under her chin, her sharp gaze sweeping over the room. Then she smiled—cool, steady, a smile that didn’t just calm nerves but demanded loyalty.

“Ah Ye is the Lu family’s little madam,” she said, her tone laced with a mix of amusement and menace. “When he makes a promise, the Lu family stands by it. So there’s no need to second-guess me. Follow his lead. Do what he says.”

Shao Ye exchanged a brief, loaded glance with Alice—gratitude burning in their eyes, a silent nod sealing the unspoken acknowledgment. This wasn’t just a gesture; it was validation, a bold proclamation of his authority before the crowd.

The first to rise was an older Omega woman, her frail form belying the fire in her eyes. Shao Ye recognized her immediately—he’d done his homework. These people weren’t just talented; they were legends in their fields.

This woman? She was a goddamn pioneer. She’d been the first to propose the groundbreaking theory linking mecha systems to mental networks, back when she was barely old enough to drink. Her work had birthed the third-gen Alliance mechas.

But the spotlight? Oh, no, that had gone to her bonded Alpha husband—a man so scientifically inept he’d flunked elementary science. Yet the world hailed him as a genius while her name was erased like a bad memory.

Now, as she stood there, Shao Ye’s pulse quickened. She was a linchpin, the kind of mind he couldn’t afford to lose. If she walked away, his plan would take a serious hit. But he’d given his word: this was voluntary. If she chose peace over war, family over the fight, he wouldn’t begrudge her.

The Omega stepped forward, her hands trembling as much from age as from the weight of her decision. Her voice, though low and unsteady, cut through the tension like a blade.

“Mr. Shao,” she began, her words heavy with conviction, “the nation is in peril, and my home knows no peace. We Omegas may live behind closed doors, but I’ll be damned if I watch this war claim my children. I know those third-gen mechas better than anyone alive. No one else comes close. And I’ll be damned again if I don’t fight for something better. I’m in. I’ll help build the fourth generation.”

Her hands, wrinkled and worn, reached out. Shao Ye, choking back tears, clasped them tightly. “Welcome aboard, Doctor,” he said, his voice cracking under the weight of his emotions.

Before he could collect himself, another Omega woman stood. This one exuded a quiet strength, her gaze unwavering. “Count me in too,” she declared. “Both my sons serve under Commander Lu, and they’ve told me how his omegas partner break every stereotype. I didn’t believe it—until now. You’ve earned my respect.”

Shao Ye recognized her instantly: the mother of Yu Mo and Yu Han, two soldiers whose sharp features were unmistakable echoes of her own beauty.

“Thank you,” he managed, his gratitude spilling over as he glanced at the crowd.

Not a single Omega stepped back. Not one wavered.

After hearing his plan, they didn’t just agree; they committed with everything they had.

And it hit him like a freight train—these weren’t just Omegas. These were warriors in disguise, people who’d been crushed by an unjust system yet still burned with defiance. They’d been shoved out of their labs, stripped of their credit, forced to watch others bask in glory that wasn’t theirs. But here they were, rolling up their sleeves, ready to fight for a future they might never live to see.

Shao Ye’s chest tightened with awe and fury.

What kind of world could waste talent like this?

What kind of twisted society could bury brilliance under prejudice?

This wasn’t just about mechas anymore. This was about giving these people the platform they deserved, the recognition they’d been denied.

With their backing, his project roared to life. Shao Ye was unstoppable. And so were they.

He was the kind of guy who’d throw himself so hard into his work that he’d skip meals, forget sleep, and sometimes pass out right at his drafting table with designs still half-finished.

Yet, every single damn time before calling Lu Zhanxing, he’d go all out. He’d clean himself up, have the maids do his makeup, and make sure those dark circles and the exhaustion carved into his face were buried under layers of polish.

Alice, watching him grind himself into the ground like this, couldn’t take it anymore. She forced him to get a full medical workup, demanding the private doctor check him daily and confirm he wasn’t on the brink of collapse before she’d let him step foot in the lab. It wasn’t for nothing—she was doing it for him and the kid’s safety. Because if nobody held him back, this workaholic lunatic would forget he was an Omega carrying a baby, completely oblivious to the concept of rest.

Thankfully, the lab staff were all Omegas too. They knew the signs. If he looked pale or started swaying, they’d shut him down, shove some tonics in his face, and make him take a damn breather.

Shao Ye didn’t take their care for granted. He was grateful as hell, moved in ways he didn’t even know he could be. He’d never imagined being surrounded by so many people who genuinely gave a damn about him.

A month flew by like that, and finally, the preliminary model of the fourth-gen mecha, designed specifically to counter the weaknesses of its predecessor, was done. Manufacturing and testing were the next steps. For the first time in forever, Shao Ye could actually take a breath. And it just so happened that his downtime lined up perfectly with his video call with Lu Zhanxing.

The call connected, and Lu Zhanxing’s holographic projection appeared in front of Shaoye. His heart clenched at the sight—Lu looked rough. His face was thinner, his exhaustion visible even through the projection.

“Lu-ge… is it that bad?” Shao Ye asked cautiously, his eyes full of worry.

“Nah,” Lu Zhanxing replied, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Don’t worry about me. Just take care of yourself and the baby.”

And then, out of nowhere, Yu Mo crashed into the frame, grinning like the devil himself. “Shao Ye! The doc says bossman here’s lovesick as hell. Could trigger his heat at this rate—that’s why he’s looking like he’s about to keel over…”

“Get lost!” Lu Zhanxing snapped, his embarrassment flaring as he kicked Yu Mo out of view. Turning back to Shao Ye, he softened his expression, the smile he gave this time warm and tender. “Don’t listen to him. He’s full of crap as always.”

“Oh, so you haven’t missed me?” The words spilled out of Shao Ye’s mouth before he even realized it, carrying a tone that was almost… teasing? Flirty? Like some lovestruck girl trying to wheedle attention out of her boyfriend.

The second he heard himself, he froze, his cheeks flushing crimson as he dropped his gaze to the floor, suddenly mortified by his own impulsiveness.

He stared at the wedding band circling his finger, the cold metal a silent echo of Lu Zhanxing’s burning longing. Oh, he could feel it, all right, but damn it—he wanted to hear it, raw and unfiltered, straight from the man himself.

Lu Zhanxing’s breath hitched, the tenderness in his eyes so thick it was practically dripping into the space between them. Without thinking, he reached out, fingers aching to touch Shao Ye’s cheek, to feel that familiar warmth. But his hand hit nothing but the cold, unfeeling void of a hologram. The realization hit him like a gut punch, and his hand fell back to his side, the frustration flashing briefly across his face.

Still, his gaze stayed locked on Shao Ye, unwavering, deep, and deliberate. His voice, low and steady, cut through the emptiness. "Ah Ye, I miss you. So fucking much."

Thump. Thump-thump.

The world went silent, leaving Shao Ye alone with the wild, deafening rhythm of his own heartbeat. How could he lie to himself? Every damn second, every breath, every heartbeat, he’d been consumed by his own gnawing ache for Lu Zhanxing.

“Lu-ge,” he said, his voice cracking just enough to betray the storm inside him, “I miss you too. So fucking much.”