Asaph followed Venus into the study. The moment the door clicked shut, Venus turned to his son, his face lined with worry. “How is your spiritual sea holding up? I can sense that your mental state isn’t particularly stable right now.” He paused, his brow furrowing. “Has your Lord Husband not helped soothe your spiritual sea yet?”
“No, my Lord is wonderful,” Asaph defended quickly. “It’s just… I haven’t brought the matter up to him yet.”
“You haven’t brought it up?” Venus’s eyes widened in surprise. “Does that mean the two of you haven’t shared a bed yet? Why? Is it because he doesn’t care for your type?”
To Venus, his youngest son was stunningly beautiful possessing a countenance that ranked among the absolute finest of all male sub-classes. If they hadn’t been intimate, the only logical conclusion was that Lu Li simply preferred a different aesthetic.
Asaph, however, knew better. He could vividly feel just how much Lu Li adored him and how tirelessly the youth worked to win his affection. But he had no idea how to explain this to his papa. How am I supposed to tell him that we are courting like ordinary lovers? That Lu Li is actively pursuing me, waiting patiently for my consent before we take that step?
In the entire history of the Zerg race, such a dynamic was utterly unheard of.
No lord would ever treat a male sub-class like a priceless treasure. In their society, if a lord took an interest in someone, he would simply take them by force. No one dared to defy a lord, especially one of prominent status.
Zerg history was rife with such tragedies. Countless individuals were forced into marriages by predatory lords who desired them, only to have their wings broken and spend the rest of their days subjected to arbitrary beatings and abuse.
“No, it’s not like that at all, Papa. I have my own plans regarding this matter,” Asaph replied, offering the only explanation he could muster.
Venus sighed softly. “Very well. You’ve grown up, and you have your own ideas. I won’t interfere. I only hope you know how to look after yourself.”
With their private conversation concluded, the father and son headed back downstairs.
Down in the salon, Lu Li was getting along famously with Arie and Frost. The two older men were thoroughly impressed by the depth of Lu Li’s knowledge and his refined demeanor. He bore absolutely no resemblance to a commoner; instead, he carried himself like a youth meticulously groomed by an elite aristocratic clan.
Truthfully, they had grown quite fond of Asaph’s little Lord Husband. After all, a lord who was so elegant, articulate, and well-mannered was an absolute rarity in this day and age.
Sensing the mutual affection, Venus decided to give the young couple a subtle push. “Asaph, your Lord Husband will be staying in your quarters tonight. Is that acceptable?”
At the thought of sharing a bed with his lord tonight, Asaph’s heart rate quickened imperceptibly. “Yes, Papa. That is fine.”
Lu Li could hardly believe his luck. Recognizing that his father-in-law was actively playing matchmaker, he cast a look of profound gratitude toward Venus.
Inside Asaph’s bedroom, the two sat on the edge of the mattress, wrapped in a heavy, silent awkwardness.
“Lord Husband, why don’t you bathe first?” Asaph suggested, breaking the silence. “The toiletries are brand new. I’ll go fetch your nightwear.”
A bath? Lu Li’s mind immediately began to run wild. Is Asaph hinting at something intimate? Hehe, alright, let me go get cleaned up then!
In reality, Asaph had no hidden agenda; he simply found the idle sitting too painfully awkward and desperately needed to find a task for both of them to break the ice.
Inside the bathroom, Lu Li happily hummed a little tune. His eyes drifted over to the toiletries Asaph frequently used. Opening the body wash, he took a gentle sniff. Ah, it smells exactly like Asaph.
The body wash carried a rich, vibrant citrus aroma, punctuated by the faint, crisp bitterness of fruit rinds, all resting on a subtle, warm woody base. He never would have guessed that the seemingly frosty Major General would actually favor such a refreshing, clean scent. How utterly adorable, Lu Li thought with a grin.
Lu Li rinsed off in a lightning-fast shower and stepped out of the bathroom entirely enveloped in that warm, citrusy fragrance.
The moment Asaph looked up, Lu Li’s figure filled his field of vision. Contrary to his expectations, Lu Li possessed an incredible physique. Asaph had initially assumed the youth was on the leaner side, completely unprepared for the fact that he was the epitome of “lean in clothes, muscular underneath.”
Lu Li boasted a flawless V-taper. His broad chest stood in stark contrast to his lean, powerful waist, and his tightly sculpted abdominal muscles radiated raw strength and masculine beauty. His black hair was slightly damp, and mischievous droplets of water slid down the strands, tracing a slow path across his cheek before disappearing past his waistline.
Asaph suddenly found the atmosphere in the room turning suffocatingly sultry. His throat went completely dry. “I… I will go bathe now,” he blurted out, fleeing into the bathroom like a man on the run.
Lu Li, who possessed a very clear understanding of his own visual appeal, let out a silent smirk. Yes, it was entirely intentional. The opening of his bathrobe wasn’t actually that wide; he had purposely adjusted it in front of the mirror until he achieved the perfect level of casual exposure before stepping out.
He had executed his honeypot trap flawlessly.
Having escaped into the bathroom, Asaph instinctively slapped his own cheeks, trying to force himself to calm down. He turned on the tap, cupped the cool water in his hands, and splashed it onto his face. The biting chill slowly brought down the burning temperature of his skin.
By the time he finished his bath, the heat in his face had finally receded to a manageable simmer.
Dressed in a silk robe, Asaph stepped back into the bedroom to find that Lu Li had already turned down the sheets and was waiting for him.
“Asaph, come over here!” Lu Li said, patting the empty space beside him.
Asaph walked over, his limbs moving with rigid stiffness. He was incredibly nervous; after all, Lu Li was the very first partner he had ever interacted with so intimately. The moment he lay down beside the youth, his heart hammered violently against his ribs.
Seeing how tense and utterly inexperienced Asaph was, Lu Li couldn’t resist the urge to tease him. “Let’s turn off the lights and go to sleep,” he murmured, switching off the lamp and settling down right next to Asaph.
Feeling the radiant warmth of Lu Li’s body right beside his own, a strange, distinct sense of fulfillment bloomed within Asaph’s chest.
Just as Asaph was desperately trying to force himself to fall asleep staring into the void and pretending his partner wasn’t right there Lu Li suddenly reached out and caught his hand, lacing their fingers tightly together.
“Dearest,” Lu Li whispered, his voice soft and laced with a hint of innocence. “I’m a little cold. I want to sleep a bit closer to you.” When Asaph didn’t immediately reply, Lu Li followed up with a plaintive tone, “Is that not allowed, my dear?”
It’s allowed. It should be allowed, Asaph answered silently in his heart. Aloud, he managed a quiet, “It is allowed.”
With the lights extinguished, Asaph’s expression was entirely swallowed by the darkness, rendering it invisible to Lu Li. But in that hidden dark corner, the tips of Asaph’s ears were flushed so hot they felt ready to combust.
Moments later, Lu Li leaned in closer and planted a soft kiss on Asaph’s cheek. “Then how about this? Is this allowed too, my dear?”
Asaph’s ears burned even hotter. Yet, strangely enough, he didn’t feel the slightest hint of aversion. Instead, an entirely unique sense of satisfaction washed over him.
Smooch, smooch, smooch.
A succession of soft kisses rained down upon Asaph’s cheek. Once finished, Lu Li nuzzled his head against Asaph’s neck like an affectionate puppy, explicitly projecting his warmth and adoration.
Asaph felt entirely lightheaded from the barrage of affection. My Lord is simply too adorable! he thought, his heart melting.
Tonight, Lu Li had managed to share a bed with Asaph, lock fingers with him, and steal several kisses on his cheek. It would have been even better if I could have kissed his lips, Lu Li mused wistfully. Asaph’s thin lips were like delicate rose petals, exerting a fatal attraction over him.
But for tonight, he was deeply content. Time to sleep.
“Asaph, goodnight,” Lu Li’s slightly breathless voice drifted through the quiet dark.
Asaph’s heart continued to flutter violently, deeply moved by the exquisite tenderness of the night. “Goodnight, Lord Husband.”