The first lazy rays of the morning sun filtered through the window, painting the room in a vibrant, warm, golden hue. Outside, birds chirped playfully among the trees. The dew on the leaves had not yet fallen, sparkling brilliantly under the sunlight.
It was a scene just like yesterday. The moment Asaph stepped out of his bedroom, the sweet aroma of baking filled the air.
This morning, Lu Li had woken up early to bake some buns. He had brushed the soft, fluffy dough with a golden wash of beast-egg yolks, drizzled them with sweet honey, sprinkled sesame seeds on top, and slid them into the oven. The sweet scent lingering in the air inexplicably made Asaph’s heart feel just as sweet.
“Asaph, come give me a hand with breakfast! The fried eggs are almost ready,” Lu Li’s youthful voice echoed from the kitchen.
“Right away, Lord Husband,” Asaph replied. He strode into the kitchen on his long legs. Seeing Lu Li busy at the counter brought a wave of warmth over him. A life like this actually seems quite wonderful, he thought.
Asaph stepped forward to set the table, then took his seat, waiting patiently for Lu Li to join him. When Lu Li turned around and saw Asaph waiting so dutifully for them to eat together, his lips curved upward into a natural smile.
“Fried eggs are served!”
Looking at the steaming porridge, golden fried eggs, and freshly baked buns on the dining table, another wave of warmth rushed through Asaph’s heart. He could feel the heavy, genuine affection poured into the meal; it was like a sweet spring flowing gently into his soul. Every tiny detail reflected Lu Li’s attentiveness and care, making Asaph feel deeply treasured and protected.
Asaph tore off a piece of a bun. Fresh out of the oven, it was still warm and had an excellent texture. However, as he thought about telling Lu Li that his parents had invited him to dinner tonight, a strange wave of timidity washed over him.
Would his Lord Husband want to meet his family? Would he want to dine with elders? Would he mind? After all, in Zerg society, such an occurrence was incredibly rare.
Noticing that Asaph was mindlessly tearing his bread into tiny shreds with a conflicted expression as if he had something on his mind Lu Li considerately spoke up. “Asaph, is something the matter?”
Seeing that Lu Li had read his mind, Asaph threw off his hesitation. “Lord Husband, my family wishes to meet you. They would like to invite you to dinner tonight.”
Hearing this, Lu Li’s eyes sparked with excitement. Asaph’s family wants to meet me? A visit to the in-laws tonight! I absolutely have to make a great impression.
I’ll bring some fresh vegetables, and maybe some of the new fruits I’ve successfully cultivated recently for my father-in-law and papa to try.
Fresh fruits? Lu Li suddenly paused. How could I forget to let Asaph try them first?
“My dear, keep eating. I’m going to the backyard to pick some fruit for you.”
Speaking of the backyard, when Asaph had first arrived at the villa, he had been utterly shocked by the abundance of fresh vegetables and fruits. He never expected his Lord Husband to be so capable, let alone possess the skill to cultivate agriculture. In Zerg society, fresh fruits and vegetables were luxury items of exorbitant wealth. Furthermore, there were many new varieties out there that Asaph had never even seen before.
This matter must be kept an absolute secret, Asaph thought strictly.
Lu Li returned from the backyard in no time. He carried the fruits to the sink, washed them thoroughly, and skillfully sliced them into a beautiful platter.
“Asaph, quick, eat some fruit! Fruits are excellent for your health,” Lu Li said, holding the platter out with bright, shining eyes.
After the couple finished breakfast, Lu Li wanted to drive Asaph to the Military Headquarters just like he usually did.
Remembering the massive commotion his Lord Husband had caused during his last visit to the military base, Asaph felt a bit apprehensive and wanted to decline.
Predicting Asaph’s refusal, Lu Li struck first. “Does my dear wife think I’m too embarrassing to be seen with?” He sniffled, wiping away non-existent tears with the back of his hand. “If only I were as outstanding as the other lords, maybe you would agree. I’ve brought shame upon you. I’ll just stay home by myself then. Ugh…”
Lu Li bit his reddened lower lip and stood to the side with a deeply aggrieved expression, looking exactly like an abandoned puppy.
Asaph had never dealt with such a tactic before. Lu Li’s pitiful little face instantly made him compromise. Looking at the youth’s watery eyes, Asaph let out a soft sigh, his gaze carrying a hint of helplessness and a wave of indulgence he hadn’t even realized he possessed.
“Let us go, Lord Husband,” Asaph said.
The moment the long-awaited answer reached his ears, Lu Li’s eyes lit up. His lips curled upward, blooming into a smile as bright as spring flowers—a look entirely filled with joy and satisfaction. With a cheerful bounce in his step, Lu Li grabbed Asaph’s hand and led him out the door.
Boarding Asaph’s sleek, cool starship, they arrived at the gates of the Military Headquarters in record time. Right before Asaph could step out of the vehicle, Lu Li quickly leaned in and planted a swift kiss on his cheek.
“A morning kiss!” Having executed his surprise attack successfully, Lu Li grinned slyly like a child who had just received their favorite toy.
Though Asaph maintained his usual cold, aloof expression, Lu Li knew he liked it and didn’t mind it at all. Hehe. Progress on wooing my wife: +1.
Watching Asaph’s figure gradually disappear into the distance, Lu Li drove his own starship out of the garage and set the destination for the commercial shopping mall.
Once inside the mall, however, Lu Li found himself at a complete loss as to what to buy for Asaph’s parents. Thus, he logged onto the Star-Net and typed into the search bar: “What gifts should a Lord Husband buy when visiting his male wife’s parents for the first time?”
The top search results left much to be desired and completely shocked him:
[User_9921]: “Buy gifts? The Lord just showing up in person is more than enough honor.”
[Zerg_Citizen]: “Agreed. As long as the Lord doesn’t lose his temper and treats their son well, that’s gift enough.”
[Star_Imperial]: “Visiting a male wife’s parents? Do they even deserve such respect?”
There were countless similar responses down the thread.
[Hive_Mind_9]: “Which male wife is daydreaming like this?”
Although Lu Li knew that Lord Husbands held an incredibly high status in Zerg society, he had never imagined it to be this extreme. If that’s the case, just how much injustice and inequality has my Asaph had to endure as a male sub-class?
In the end, as Lu Li wandered through the shops, he decided to fall back on Earth’s traditional customs for visiting one’s in-laws. He purchased top-grade tea leaves, exquisite jewelry, and the latest model of a luxury starship.
Perfect. The tea leaves and jewelry can be gifted to Papa and Father, and Asaph’s older brother can have the newest starship. This way, both respect and social face are fully covered.
Although it didn’t look like many items, the purchases wiped out almost the entirety of the wealth Lu Li had accumulated from selling his fresh fruits and vegetables. Then again, Asaph came from a noble background, and his family members were well-accustomed to luxury. Only items of this caliber could match their status.
After securing his purchases, Lu Li flew his starship back home. Hmm, I really need to formally test for a starship pilot’s license. It will make traveling much more convenient, and who knows, maybe I can chauffeur Asaph around in the future.
Upon returning home, Lu Li worked tirelessly to prepare lunch before rushing back to the Military Headquarters. The moment he arrived at the entrance someone was already waiting to greet him.
“Are you Lord Lu Li? I was sent by Major General Asaph to escort you. The Major General is currently handling official business in his office. Allow me to lead the way.”
“Yes, thank you for your trouble.”
As the military sub-male led Lu Li through the corridors, he could not resist stealing glances at him. The rumors were indeed true, Major General Asaph’s Lord Husband was incredibly handsome, and his temperament was wonderfully gentle.