Zhou Younan was once again hoisted over Wei Qing’s shoulder and carried upstairs.
Wei Qing kicked the door open, then closed it with a single backward sweep of his foot, his movements fluid and practiced, as if he had done this countless times.
A flicker of panic crossed Zhou Younan’s face. Seeing Wei Qing’s posture and expression, he instantly sensed that things were about to take a very bad turn.
He was thrown onto the soft, springy bed and Zhou Younan hurried to talk him down. “Wei Qing, it’s daytime right now.”
“Daytime means I can see everything even more clearly.” Wei Qing leaned in close to his neck, inhaling deeply. “You smell so good.”
A trail of fine, lingering kisses landed on the sensitive skin of his neck, tickling him until he shivered.
“Wei Qing, don’t… don’t be like this.” Zhou Younan tried to push him away.
But with a sudden shift, the two of them rolled and Zhou Younan ended up straddling Wei Qing instead.
“This is your punishment, Zhou Younan.” His voice was hoarse, low and carried a dangerous edge.
“I won’t do it next time.. ”
“Heh.” A quiet, mirthless laugh rolled out of Wei Qing’s throat. “It’s too late.”
His hand clamped around Zhou Younan’s waist and nape, forcing him to bow down.
Wei Qing’s kisses were always hot, scalding and unrelenting. Even though Zhou Younan had long learned how to breathe through them, his rationality still trembled under the pressure of rising desire.
Logically, he was the one on top right now but it didn’t feel like he had any control at all. Every move, every breath was dictated by Wei Qing’s rhythm.
“Wait, Wei Qing, I… I have something to say, mmph, something important, ”
“What is it?”
“I… I cleaned the Wuhaurou today. I should get a reward too, right? A reward should cancel out the punishment.”
“Oh?” Wei Qing curved his lips into a smile. “There is no such thing as rewards canceling punishments with me. You get both. A reward… and a punishment.”
Wei Qing’s hand slipped into Zhou Younan’s waistband, closing around the most vulnerable part of him.
Zhou Younan jolted in fear. “Wei Qing, l.. let go, let go…”
Wei Qing pulled him in by the waist. “Shh, don’t move… this is the reward.”
A blinding burst of white exploded across Zhou Younan’s mind.
Somewhere in the haze, he heard Wei Qing mutter under his breath, “Damn military drill!!”
Hearing the complaint, Zhou Younan finally felt relieved.
That meant Wei Qing’s rationality was still intact. He still remembered that he was scheduled to participate in a military exercise.
Zhou Younan curled up under the blanket like a turtle withdrawing into its shell.
Yesterday, Wei Qing had made his hands dirty. Today, he had made Wei Qing’s hands dirty.
That should count as balance… right?
Balanced?! Not at all!
In the end, Wei Qing had made him press his legs tightly together, claiming it was punishment and now his inner thighs still burned with lingering heat.
Beast. Total beast.
Zhou Younan cursed him viciously in his mind.
“Come eat.” Wei Qing walked into the room.
Zhou Younan opened his mouth to refuse but a wave of delicious fragrance drifted into his nose.
He had originally sworn that he would absolutely ignore Wei Qing today.
But then, his stomach betrayed him with a loud, resounding “guuuuu~”.
Wei Qing’s amused chuckle floated to his ears.
Zhou Younan had no choice but to obediently climb out of the blanket, swallowing back the “I’m not hungry” that had been ready to leave his lips.
Wei Qing carried in a small wooden table and set it in front of him. On top was a large, steaming bowl of glossy meat that gleamed like polished agate, accompanied by a small plate of vegetables.
Zhou Younan couldn’t help sniffing again. It smelled heavenly.
Wei Qing placed the bowl and chopsticks into his hands. “Eat.”
Zhou Younan felt a bit dazed.
It was the first time in his life he had ever sat on a bed and been served hot, fragrant food.
He looked up at Wei Qing. Wei Qing was already eating heartily. When he noticed Zhou Younan looking, he picked up a piece of meat and placed it into Zhou Younan’s bowl.
“Braised pork. You’ve definitely never had it. It’s delicious.”
“Mm.”
Zhou Younan picked up the meat and took a bite. It was delicious, shockingly so.
Sweet and savory, with the sauce completely soaked through the tender layers. With one bite, the rich meat and aromatic glaze filled his mouth, making the rice almost addictive.
Zhou Younan was twenty years old and this was the best meat he had eaten in his entire life.
Wei Qing tilted his chin slightly and raised an eyebrow. “Good?”
“Very good.”
“I’m glad you like it.” He paused, then said slowly, “When I was little, braised pork was my favorite dish. My father always made me learn how to cook it. Said that if I learned to cook well, I’d have an easier time finding a wife in the future.”
Zhou Younan’s chopsticks froze mid-air.
Wei Qing… was talking about his family? Was he homesick?
Wei Qing continued, “Back then I was lazy. I’d say as long as he cooked, it was fine. Once I brought my wife home someday, my father could use his cooking to keep her from leaving.”
Zhou Younan looked at him. Wei Qing had lowered his head. A few strands of his long golden hair fell over his cheek, covering the tricolored earring at his ear.
“And then my father would twist my ear. Hurt like hell.”
Wei Qing chuckled lightly.
After a while, Zhou Younan asked, “What happened later?”
“Later… I ended up alone.” His voice softened. “So I could only rely on memory and try to recreate the taste he used to make but I always felt it wasn’t as good.”
Wei Qing sighed.
“It’s really good. Wei Qing, I think it tastes wonderful. You’re amazing.” Zhou Younan said sincerely.
“Really? I think today turned out better than usual too.”
Wei Qing picked up another piece of meat and dropped it into Zhou Younan’s bowl.
“Because you’re here. My wife is eating with me. Of course it tastes better.”
He smiled brightly. Sunlight streamed in from behind him, scattering golden flecks across his long hair. His whole being seemed warm and radiant and even the cold little water-drop tattoo under his eye looked playful and charming in the light.
Zhou Younan lowered his head and took another bite but the tip of his tongue tingled with a faint sourness.
After they finished eating, Wei Qing carried the table away.
Watching the silhouette of his long hair swaying behind him, Zhou Younan lowered his gaze.
Wei Qing’s home now only had him left.
Just like himself.
“Because you’re here, my wife…”
Wei Qing’s words echoed again in his mind.
Zhou Younan felt something twist in his chest.
If Wei Qing still treated him cruelly, he could sleep peacefully but the current Wei Qing was too warm… too open-hearted.
Zhou Younan’s conscience was being poked.
No! No! No! He shook his head vigorously.
Wei Qing had been married three times. He was someone known for killing his own wives. For all he knew, all this warmth could simply be another trick.
Important reminder: Wei Qing only liked his pheromones because of the capsule’s effect.
Zhou Younan inhaled deeply, then slowly exhaled.
In the afternoon,
Wei Qing took Zhou Younan by the hand and led him to the activity room on the second floor. It was a large, empty space with absolutely nothing in it.
Wei Qing pressed a button on the wall. A burst of colorful holographic light flickered, slowly sharpening into clear images.
The first thing that appeared in front of Zhou Younan was a neat row of mannequins. They were fully dressed, wearing outfits of every color and style, bright, vivid and diverse. Some garments had clear characteristics from different planets and cultures.
In the Empire, citizens shopping for clothes had countless options. They could pilot their spacecraft to the vast shopping centers scattered across different planets, browsing and buying to their heart’s content. They could even fly to planets dedicated entirely to fashion and spend days indulging in shopping sprees.
And if they didn’t feel like leaving home, they could simply stay on their sofa and use holographic projection and imaging technology to stroll through boutiques across the galaxy, allowing them to shop as freely as if they were physically there.
So… they were here to buy clothes? Why were they suddenly buying clothes?
Zhou Younan was a little confused.
“May I ask if you are here to purchase clothing?” A sales-assistant robot appeared before the two of them.
“My wife is buying clothes. Scan him.” Wei Qing said, pointing directly at Zhou Younan.
“Understood. Please wait a moment.” The robot stilled as its system activated.
Zhou Younan knew the process, it was scanning his body through the cameras, generating a highly precise three-dimensional model of his physique.
Once the model was imported into the virtual fitting system, he wouldn’t need to try on a single piece physically. The system would display how each outfit looked on him, perfectly adjusted to his proportions.
If the customer requested, the program could even simulate environments or scenarios to match the clothing style.
Wuhaurou brought over two chairs and a small table, even placing drinks and a small plate of dried fish snacks on it. After setting everything down, the little robot didn’t dare look toward Zhou Younan and scurried away.
Wei Qing picked up a dried fish snack and tossed it into his mouth.
“I don’t want to buy clothes,” Zhou Younan said. “My brother sent me a bunch last weekend. All of them are new.”
Wei Qing lounged in the chair with one leg crossed over the other. “Tomorrow, we’re going to the Imperial Palace. His Majesty wants us to have dinner with the Nobel family.”
“Lance Nobel?”
“The Empress has a special relationship with the Nobels. He wants me and that family to get along. Claims it’s to ‘resolve misunderstandings.’”
The Empress… who was that again? For a moment Zhou Younan couldn’t remember. All he knew was that the current Empress was extremely low-profile and rarely appeared in public.
Wei Qing frowned tightly. “I don’t think there’s any misunderstanding to resolve. I get annoyed just looking at Lance Nobel.”
Zhou Younan could clearly see that the relationship between Wei Qing and Lance Nobel was terrible.
Could it be because Lance had snatched the Stellar Hall from Wei Qing? Or perhaps because Lance had set his eyes on Zhou Mo adding even more friction? Or maybe they simply disliked each other instinctively?
As expected of one of the five founding families, they even dared to provoke Wei Qing.
The shopping assistant robot finished and projected Zhou Younan’s full 3D model into the air. “Hello, shall we begin trying on clothes?”
“Yes. Start with red.” Wei Qing pulled Zhou Younan’s hand so he would sit down beside him.
The moment Zhou Younan sat, he heard Wei Qing’s voice: “Pass. Pass. Keep this one. Pass. Keep that one. Pass. Keep… pass…”
Zhou Younan only managed to see the first outfit, a long red trench coat. Everything afterward flashed by so fast that he couldn’t see any of them clearly.
At the rate Wei Qing was going, one outfit per second, was he really even looking?
Zhou Younan turned his head, hesitated and looked over.
Wei Qing sat with perfect posture, one hand lightly supporting his chin. His long eyelashes fluttered gently every time he blinked, like feathers moving with the slightest breeze, giving him an unexpectedly elegant air.
Zhou Younan quickly looked away. He must be imagining things.
Wei Qing finished going through every red outfit in no time. He turned to Zhou Younan. “Do you want to choose for yourself?”
“I don’t like red.”
“Oh? I like red, yellow and blue. If you don’t want to choose, then I’ll buy all the ones I picked.”
“Wait, just because you buy them doesn’t mean I’ll wear them.”
“I think you look great in red. What if you feel like wearing it someday?”
Zhou Younan didn’t reply. In the end, it was Wei Qing’s money. If he wanted to buy them all, so be it.
Just as Zhou Younan lifted his drink to take a sip,
“How many in total?” Wei Qing asked the robot.
“There are 2,249 items. Shall I pack everything together?”
Hearing the number, Zhou Younan choked violently on his drink, coughing so hard his face turned red.
Cough! Cough! Cough!
He stretched out a hand and quickly intercepted it before Wei Qing answered. “No! Don’t pack them! I’ll pick them!”
Wei Qing raised an eyebrow and nodded. “Then you choose.”
The 3D model displayed a loose, half-transparent shirt with a deep neckline that dipped all the way to the chest.
“Mmm~ I like this one.” Wei Qing said, his tone suggestive.
Zhou Younan’s brows furrowed immediately. “No.”
They spent the entire afternoon sitting together and picking outfits. Wei Qing only selected clothes in red, yellow and blue, his three favorite colors.
Zhou Younan systematically removed anything off-shoulder, cropped, skin-tight, overly revealing or simply indecent.
Wei Qing didn’t object. Instead, he asked curiously, “What colors do you like to wear?”
“Black, white and gray.”
Wei Qing abruptly changed the subject. “I always wanted to become a Grand Marshal.”
Zhou Younan didn’t catch up. “Huh?”
Wei Qing said with a slight grimace, “The Marshal’s ceremonial uniform is black. I don’t like it. The Grand Marshal’s ceremonial uniform is red. I like that one.”
…He wanted to become the Grand Marshal because of the uniform color?!
Zhou Younan couldn’t help silently complaining.
Wei Qing looked at him, a smile in his eyes.
“But since you like black, I suddenly think being a Marshal doesn’t sound so bad.”
Now he didn’t want to be a Grand Marshal anymore?
Such whimsical thinking, such utter self-indulgence.
Yet Zhou Younan realized…
This was exactly Wei Qing’s style.
And, somehow, he was already growing used to it.
✦ ✧ ✦
Cressilia
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
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☕ BUY THEM A COFFEE →
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✦ thank you for reading ✦
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ChaptersChapter 1 · Escape from Zhou familyChapter 2 · Bride To BeChapter 3 · Attacked on SpaceshipChapter 4 · FiancéChapter 5 · Wild one Tastes betterChapter 6 · Cousin, Zhou MoChapter 7 · Wedding DressChapter 8 · Wedding Hall disputeChapter 9 · Marshal Fainted!Chapter 10 · CATNIP!Chapter 11 · His Pheromone is Catnip!Chapter 12 · The show beginsChapter 13 · He likes me!Chapter 14 · He is crazy!Chapter 15 · Auditorium, I brought it. Do you like it?Chapter 16 · Only I can bite your lipsChapter 17 · Wei Qing grabbed his wristChapter 18 · Your posture just now was perfect for kissingChapter 19 · This is… Wei Qing’s leopard?Chapter 20 · Let’s do what newlyweds should do.Chapter 21 · Release your pheromones and overwhelm meChapter 22 · Zhou Younan, I miss you.Chapter 23 · The promise to bite your lip isn’t just for yesterdayChapter 24 · You beast! You enormous beastChapter 25 · My patience is almost at its limitChapter 26 · Touch Wei San? Pluck its feathers?Chapter 27 · Doesn’t Wei Qing like you a lot?Chapter 28 · You’re the dog, your whole family are dogsChapter 29 · How did things turn out like this?!Chapter 30 · Zhou Younan, I love everything about youChapter 31 · Cheetahs do react to catnip.Chapter 32 · Second PrinceChapter 33 · Immersed in the fluffy touchChapter 34 · What can you do to help if you stay?Chapter 35 · Sand WormChapter 36 · I gave Wei Qing a capsuleChapter 37 · His vulnerable period has arrivedChapter 38 · Reason has long since been burned awayChapter 39 · I can’t believe I did that! I’m insane!Chapter 40 · The person I want to protect is my wifeChapter 41 · Zhou Younan, you can only be mineChapter 42 · Until the last star in the universe is annihilated.Chapter 43 · The light in Wei Qing’s eyes dimmed.Chapter 44 · Family?Chapter 45 · The green capsule was in his palmChapter 46 · Zhou Younan was filled with fearChapter 47 · Brother won’t abandon youChapter 48 · What a piece of trash!Chapter 49 · Zhou Younan, are you looking at me?Chapter 50 · Zhou Younan feared Xu QiChapter 51 · Zhou Younan, you’re such a foolChapter 52 · You really don’t want to marry me?Chapter 53 · My braceletChapter 54 · Zhou Younan, I can’t mark youChapter 55 · A symbol of brotherhoodChapter 56 · How old are you?Chapter 57 · Abnormal!Chapter 58 · Did you give Wei Qing the capsules from the tin box?Chapter 59 · Brother, I’ve made up my mindChapter 60 · Doing things for you is my wishChapter 61 · You’re the first person I’ve ever liked, Wei Qing.Chapter 62 · Childhood sweetheartChapter 63 · He can’t live without youChapter 64 · Teacher RigenChapter 65 · Were they running togetherChapter 66 · You two kidnappersChapter 67 · GiftChapter 68 · Don’t look back, just carry onChapter 69 · Maurice Jin is already a thing of the past for meChapter 70 · I finally found youChapter 71 · Who’s your wife?Chapter 72 · How would he interpret his leaving?Chapter 73 · Wei Qing was Wei San?Chapter 74 · Maurice Jin had been assassinated?!Chapter 75 · Turn your face towards the sunChapter 76 · Wei Qing’s eyes were brightChapter 77 · Pheromones are a double edged swordChapter 78 · Don’t stareChapter 79 · He’s the Empire’s MarshalChapter 80 · So WeakChapter 81 · Are you alright?Chapter 82 · Was he really that kind of person?Chapter 83 · He remembered his forgotten goalsChapter 84 · Come on, shoot me in the heartChapter 85 · Why are you unhappy again when I touch you?Chapter 86 · Don’t you even like me anymore?Chapter 87 · Wei Qing transformed into Wei San.Chapter 88 · I’ll give you my love, and I’ll give you my lifeChapter 89 · Just do it for me, okay?Chapter 90 · Don’t bother me until you explain clearlyChapter 91 · I want to stop your time when you still love meChapter 92 · Damn it! Zhou Younan! You just waitChapter 93 · From the very beginning, I had no choiceChapter 94 · From the very beginning, I had no choiceChapter 95 · A gunshot rang outChapter 96 · I grew up in the research instituteChapter 97 · You complete liar! You’re despicableChapter 98 · You will always be the only one in my heartChapter 99 · You are actually the same as meChapter 100 · Zhou Younan, I’m leavingChapter 101 · How could a big cat possibly resist the allure of catnip?Chapter 102 · The EndChapter 103 · Extra: 1