Starry Rebirth: The Warden and the Outlaw’s Interstellar Revenge | Chapter 33 | The Limits of Transparency | Novela.app

Standing inside the room, basking in the "surprises" the hotel had to offer, Feng Zhixi and Ji Yeran stared at each other in stunned silence. It was impossible to back out now. Fortunately, the suite’s various scenarios were all based on holographic simulations; surely, switching to a normal mode would fix everything. With that thought in mind, the two of them located the suite’s terminal and began scrolling through the options. What followed was a list that included: *Undersea, High-Speed Chase, Starship Bridge, Prison Cell...* If you could imagine it, the hotel designers had built it. The management of this establishment seemed to have lost their minds. Every scenario they designed pushed the boundaries of decency further than the last. As they scrolled through the titles, the holographic environment shifted accordingly, perfectly integrating with the physical furniture in the room. It was enough to give them both a massive headache. Starting from the very first option, they worked their way down the long list of moral rock bottoms until they finally reached the very end. There, they found a single, normal-sounding name: "Basic Scene." The moment they selected "Basic Scene"—the very nadir of the list—the holographic projections vanished. The suite was stripped back to its original form. The ceiling, floor, and walls were all a clean, refreshing white. After the sensory assault of garish colors and bizarre themes, both men let out a sigh of relief. Finally, something normal. However, as they turned around, they realized what "Basic Scene" truly meant. Aside from the pristine white surfaces, the suite was completely devoid of obstructions. Every single partition wall was transparent—including, but not limited to, the bathroom. For the designers to place this at the very bottom of the list, it was naturally intended to be the ultimate test of modesty. The so-called "Basic Scene" was designed for couples to be "perfectly honest" with one another, leaving nothing to the imagination. The creative director of this luxury hotel believed that returning to the most natural state of innocence was the ultimate temptation. *Embrace your primal nature!* Furthermore, guests who selected the "Basic Scene" were treated to a "thoughtful" extended service: once chosen, the mode could not be changed for at least twelve hours. If the guests enjoyed the experience, they could pay extra to keep it that way, with discounts available for long-term stays. Feng Zhixi and Ji Yeran stood in the suite, realizing that from any corner of the room, a single glance would reveal everything. There was no privacy, no sanctuary. Feng Zhixi: "..." Ji Yeran: "..." Outside the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, the sun had already set. The Honeymoon Star was ablaze with lights, a testament to the all-night revelry occurring below. It was getting late. The choice was simple: the capsule hotel or this suite. They looked at each other, both nursing growing headaches. Ji Yeran was the first to notice the dark circles under Feng Zhixi’s eyes. "Just rest for now," Ji Yeran said, no longer hesitating. He noted that they had already passed the strict bedtime the school doctor had mandated for his recovery. He picked up a glass of ice water and walked to the window furthest from the bathroom. He stared out at the scenery, intending to stay there until the Omega finished bathing. Feng Zhixi glanced at the Alpha’s back and shrugged. He grabbed a set of clean pajamas and walked into the bathroom. As the bathroom door slid shut and the sound of movement began, Ji Yeran’s brow furrowed. He was starting to regret not leaving the hotel immediately. This seemingly simple "Basic Scene" was riddled with the designer’s twisted ideas. Some "logical genius" had decided to equip the room with professional-grade directional audio amplification. Every tiny sound from the bathroom was transmitted into the living area with perfect clarity. Even without turning around, the person in the living room would know exactly what was happening inside. Ji Yeran could hear everything. He heard the sound of Feng Zhixi’s bare feet on the floor, the rush of the water, and a sharp, soft hiss—as if the Omega had accidentally brushed against a painful wound. *Does he have an injury?* Ji Yeran couldn't help but recall the moments on the ship. When he had wrapped the Omega in the large blanket, he hadn't noticed any visible wounds. Except... the area of the gland on the back of the Omega's neck. Inside the bathroom, Feng Zhixi pulled his hand back after hissing in pain. He had accidentally touched his nape. For some reason, the area felt both itchy and painful. The wound from the temporary mark had long since healed, and Ji Yeran’s scent had already faded from his body. So why was this happening? Annoyed, Feng Zhixi looked up. His gaze pierced through the layers of transparent walls, landing on the Alpha standing by the window. The man seemed worried about making him uncomfortable; he had adjusted the window to total blackout mode. It was a void of darkness, showing nothing of the street below. Ji Yeran stood there alone, looking as if he were facing a wall in solitary confinement. Feng Zhixi submerged himself in the warm water. He watched the Alpha standing tall and straight in his formal uniform in the distance, then lowered his gaze, his thoughts unreadable. ... A long while later, Ji Yeran finally heard the bathroom door open. For some reason, he felt a slow wave of relief. Then, he heard Feng Zhixi’s voice from behind him. "Your turn." The refreshed Omega spoke as he walked toward the bedroom area. Though, with the transparent walls, there wasn't much difference between the bedroom and the living room. Ji Yeran set his untouched glass of ice water on the table and turned toward the bathroom. He chose the second one, the one the Omega hadn't used. As he entered, the lights in the bedroom dimmed. This was another bizarre feature of the "Basic Scene": the lights could be dimmed anywhere except the bathroom. As long as the sensors detected someone inside, the bathroom remained as bright as day. Ji Yeran turned his back to the room and opted for a quick, efficient shower. He didn't realize that the Omega in the bedroom hadn't gone to sleep yet. Wrapped in a thin quilt, Feng Zhixi kept his eyes open. He clearly saw the vast array of scars on Ji Yeran’s back—crisscrossing, mottled, and layered upon one another. Feng Zhixi’s hands tightened on the blanket. In the interstellar era, how did one even acquire scars like that? With that lingering confusion, and having been forced into a healthy routine lately, Feng Zhixi drifted off to sleep to the sound of running water. When Ji Yeran emerged from the bathroom, he found that Feng Zhixi was already asleep. Since this hotel strictly catered to couples, it naturally didn't provide extra bedrooms. The entire suite had only one bedroom and one bed. Ji Yeran dimmed the lights in the living room and looked around. While there was only one bed, this was a luxury hotel, so the sofa was exceptionally large. He didn't want to think about *why* the hotel had designed a sofa as large as a bed. Ji Yeran glanced at the sofa and decided to sleep there for the night. However— After searching the room, he discovered that the hotel didn't just limit the beds; it only provided a single blanket. Currently, that lone blanket was draped over Feng Zhixi. "..." Helpless, Ji Yeran contacted the front desk. The night shift staff had clearly changed. The new receptionist informed him firmly that a suite only provided one blanket, and no amount of money could change that. However, if the guest required other "service props," the hotel could provide them free of charge. Having no desire to know what those "props" were, Ji Yeran cut the connection. He checked the time, turned off the remaining lights, and prepared to rest. As the lights died, the room fell silent. Separated by a transparent glass wall, the Omega slept in the bedroom while the Alpha rested on the sofa... Time ticked by. When even the city that never sleeps began to quiet down, the Omega in the bedroom suddenly opened his eyes. Waking from a dream filled with brilliant, scorching flames, Feng Zhixi blinked. It had been a long time since he’d woken up in the middle of the night. He sat up, pressing a hand to his aching temple. His head felt heavy and dizzy, and the gland at the back of his neck was acting up again—burning, hot, and itchy. After a moment, he regained his bearings and looked up. His eyes, adjusted to the dark, clearly saw the figure lying on the sofa nearby. The sleeping Alpha was lying perfectly flat, hands folded over his chest. He looked like someone who had been raised with etiquette carved into his very bones—solitary, cold, and almost pitiful. *What a pretender,* Feng Zhixi judged silently. Then, he stood up, wrapped in the thin quilt, and walked toward the sofa. His bare feet padded softly across the plush carpet. He left the bedroom and crouched down beside the sofa in the living room. Keenly aware of someone approaching, the light-sleeping Alpha snapped his eyes open. His gaze was like a blade cutting through the dark, cold and filled with killing intent. Unfazed by the aura Ji Yeran displayed—so different from his daytime persona—Feng Zhixi blinked and asked, "Am I being unreasonable?" "What?" Recognizing who it was, Ji Yeran suppressed his hostility. His voice was slightly raspy from sleep. "Am I being unreasonable?" Feng Zhixi tilted his head and asked again. Ji Yeran sat up, confused. Then, he watched as the Omega pulled the thin quilt off his own shoulders and tossed it into Ji Yeran’s arms. The scent lingering on the quilt was crisp and mellow—the fragrance of fine liquor. Ji Yeran froze. Before he could react, the Omega stood up and looked down at him, looking rather displeased. Seeing Feng Zhixi turn to leave, Ji Yeran quickly grabbed his hand. "I don't need it." This tiny, thin blanket was better suited for the "patient." Heaven only knew why the temperature in the suite dropped so drastically after midnight. Feng Zhixi stopped when his hand was caught. He looked back at Ji Yeran, one eyebrow arching slightly. It was a simple, nonchalant movement, but combined with the light in his eyes, it created a breathtakingly stunning expression. *You don't need it?* Faced with Ji Yeran’s modesty, Feng Zhixi didn't say another word. He shook off the Alpha's hand and walked away. "Wait..." Ji Yeran clutched the quilt, intending to chase after him, only to see Feng Zhixi returning a moment later. He was carrying a pillow. Ji Yeran looked on in bewilderment as the Omega marched back with his pillow, acting completely entitled. Then, Feng Zhixi proceeded to lie down on the sofa right next to him. Ji Yeran: "You—?!" "Be quiet," Feng Zhixi muttered, closing his eyes and pulling a corner of the quilt over himself. He complained under his breath, "I'm tired! And it's freezing! What a garbage hotel!" "You..." The annoyed Omega opened his eyes. In the darkness, his deep black pupils seemed to reflect the light. "It’s not like we haven't slept together before. Don't bother me!" Ji Yeran froze at those words. His thoughts were instantly derailed, drifting back four years to the time they had spent their graduation trials together... ***