AB Chapter 33: NY
Eric was sick.
To be precise, he had gone insane.
When Michel got the news, he had just struggled out of bed, sitting at the head of the bed like a sleepwalker with messy hair, staring blankly while holding his phone.
Simon was crouching in front of him, helping him put on socks.
Once Michel’s brain finished processing the shocking news, he immediately sobered up!
On the phone, Benny was still chattering away. He couldn’t contain his gossipy excitement and shouted, “That guy Eric and his entire family have a history of hereditary mental illness. It’s not too serious, but they’ve all gone mad a few times! Yesterday, the heavy weapons department and some prestigious students from school held a pool party at Eric’s private villa. Then something happened—"
Michel frowned, “What happened?”
Benny said mysteriously, “What else? A scandal! Apparently, everyone got drunk last night and remembered nothing. Eric took advantage of a drunk guy and did… stuff. The next day, people woke up to find Eric had lost it. He was covered in blood, smashed the pool to bits, injured several students, and kept shouting that he’d been attacked, that someone was pretending to be a ghost to scare him.”
Michel was shocked: “…” Eric scared of ghosts?
That Eric, scared of ghosts?
He found it hard to believe. After all, the guy had been spirited enough to send him threatening messages just yesterday.
As he listened, the black-haired young man adjusted his posture because Simon was helping him with the second sock.
“So what?” Benny continued, “Then he started hitting people, attacking anyone who got close. The other students had no choice but to call the police.”
Michel: “And then?”
Benny laughed gleefully, “Then he got arrested for forcing a fellow student into a sexual act and for ranting and attacking people! Haha, that scumbag tried to deny it, but the police found no trace of any ‘intruder’ except for him and the other students in the room. Plus, they confirmed his DNA in that male student’s body… tsk tsk tsk. Now he’s still in jail, waiting for a lawyer!”
Michel: “……”
Benny: “Hehe, if they hadn’t called the police, this scumbag would’ve gotten away with it, and it’d all be covered up. But now that it’s blown up, everyone knows. This is the biggest scandal in the history of the Ellis Group! The once-proud Ellis family didn’t even rush to bail him out—they were busy holding a press conference, stressing over how to minimize the stock crisis!”
“…………”
Eric, that rampaging mad dog, had probably been a nightmare for many. Now that he was down, it was likely that 90% of the school forum was in celebration.
Some people might laugh about this for a whole year.
So Benny’s eager, excited reaction was understandable.
Michel chatted with him a bit longer. Mostly, it was Benny talking, with Michel giving a few hums in response. “I’m gonna go share this good news with the rest of the guys,” Benny shouted before hanging up in a hurry.
Michel slowly put down his phone, still feeling a bit unreal.
“What’s wrong?”
Simon reached out and rubbed Michel’s soft, messy black hair.
“It’s just…” Michel grabbed his hand and stood up with his help, saying, “Eric, the guy who caused trouble at the school gates before—Benny said he went crazy… hurt people, and now he’s in police custody.”
“Is that so?”
Simon didn’t seem to care much. He looked like he was trying to recall who Eric was, his gaze thoughtful.
Seeing him frown in contemplation, Michel’s complicated feelings eased a little. He raised his hand and patted the bumblebee man’s firm chest, which was so muscled it stretched the fabric tight, and curled his lips.
“Forget it. It’s a minor matter now.” Eric going insane was actually good news for him. No need to waste time on that kind of person. Michel changed the subject: “What’s for breakfast today? Aren’t we heading back to Chicago?”
Simon: “Soy milk and pan-fried dumplings. There’s a Chinese restaurant nearby—I reserved a table there.”
Pan-fried dumplings?!
Michel’s eyes lit up, and he instantly forgot all the messy thoughts.
“Let’s go! Pan-fried dumplings are super delicious—you’ll love them too!”
“Mm.”
The two packed up and checked out at the hotel front desk, then headed straight to the restaurant Simon had booked. They had a great meal at the Chinese place.
Michel really loved Chinese food. He felt that half the wisdom of the ancient Eastern nation was probably reflected in its culinary culture.
Whether it was crab roe buns, shrimp dumplings, pan-fried dumplings, soy milk, or seafood porridge—almost every dish was a delight to the taste buds, delivering huge joy from simple ingredients.
Each bite was happiness!
As he ate, the black-haired young man relaxed his expression, cheeks puffed with food and swaying his head happily. If it weren’t for the crowd, he might have hummed a tune.
Simon, on the other hand, was fine. He was a big guy with a different digestive system from humans. Anything with energy and digestibility that could be eaten was on the drone bees’ diet. The juicy buns disappeared into his mouth almost one by one, and he was full in no time.
Then he leaned back in his chair and watched the young man across from him.
As he watched, Simon’s amber eyes softened.
Especially when Michel smiled with delight, his eyes curving—it made Simon feel even better about the decision he’d made earlier.
Michel finished the last sweetened soy milk and leaned back, rubbing his belly.
“There’s also a Chinese restaurant near our hive. If you like it, we can go every day after we move.” Simon handed him a napkin.
Michel took it to wipe his mouth, a bit intrigued: “Move, huh…”
Simon nodded: “We’ll have to move sooner or later. The current apartment isn’t suitable for you—it’s too noisy. You often get headaches.”
“Oh.” Michel scratched his chin sheepishly. “How did you know I get headaches?” He thought he’d hidden it well.
Simon replied, “Because you’re my flower. I can sense your reactions.” He seemed unsure of the right word and instead pointed to the antennae on his head.
Michel was stunned: “……” The bond between drone bees and plant-type beings was seriously wild.
After the meal, they sat together and shared a phone, checking where the next hovercar was.
Once they booked the tickets, Michel and Simon left the restaurant and boarded the hovercar back to Chicago. Along the way, Simon’s handsome face carried a gentle smile as he watered the flower on Michel’s head and asked if there was anything he wanted to bring when they moved.
Michel said the furniture and appliances were provided by the apartment, so only clothes and personal items were his. Oh, and two potted plants, a box of nutritional supplements, the kitchen’s coffee machine, and some succulents and cacti on the windowsill—all of those had to come.
Most of the other things had been added after Simon moved in.
He curiously asked Simon what the “hive” looked like.
But Simon didn’t tell him. Instead, he blinked and said Michel would know once he saw it.
With hopes for a beautiful future, and the peace of no longer receiving creepy messages, Michel chatted nonstop with Simon the whole way, a smile never leaving his eyes.
Until they got off the car—at the station, they were met by two NY police officers in winter uniforms who had been waiting for a while.
“Hello, are you Mr. Michel and Mr. Simon?”
A serious-looking white officer showed his badge to them.
Simon’s expression didn’t change.
Michel’s smile faded, and a strong sense of foreboding rose in his chest. He said, “That’s me. May I ask what this is about?”
One of the NY officers stared intently at Michel’s face, as if scrutinizing something, and said, “It’s regarding Eric Ellis—we need your cooperation. Please come with us, gentlemen.”
“But…”
“Please cooperate, thank you!”
“……”
Michel frowned and was about to say something when Simon suddenly stepped forward and placed a hand on his shoulder.
The solid weight eased his anxiety.
Seeing how the two officers kept a wary eye on Simon behind him, Michel suppressed his unease and got into the car with Simon…
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