The morning light filtered gently through the gaps in the curtains, painting the room in soft hues. Asaph drifted awake, his consciousness still somewhat hazy. Slowly opening his eyes, his gaze held a trace of laziness and confusion, as if he had not yet fully adjusted to the early morning light.
Sensing a slight weight pressing down on him, he lowered his gaze and found Lu Li.
His Lord Husband’s sleeping posture wasn’t terrible, but at some point, during the night, Lu Li’s head had quietly shifted right next to him. One of the youth’s arms was thrown over Asaph, as if instinctively seeking his warmth. From Asaph’s perspective, it looked exactly as though his Lord Husband was snuggling directly into his embrace.
The scene was extraordinarily warm and harmonious. Asaph simply lay there watching Lu Li, his eyes filled with a deep tenderness he hadn’t even realized himself.
Perhaps sensing Asaph’s intent gaze, Lu Li slowly opened his eyes.
The very first thing Lu Li saw upon waking up was the breathtaking beauty of his dear wife a visual strike that instantly guaranteed his good mood for the day. Looking at his visually delicious partner, Lu Li tilted his head upward.
Smooch! A crisp kiss landed squarely on Asaph’s cheek.
“A morning kiss!” Lu Li grinned. “Good morning, my dear.”
Even though Asaph had slowly grown accustomed to Lu Li’s routine of morning and night kisses over the past few days, having it happen so suddenly still threw his heart into complete disarray.
In stark contrast to the aggressive, uninhibited mating customs typical of Zerg society, Asaph had always kept his emotions tightly under lock and key. He was like a cautious snail, meticulously extending his antennae to perceive this uncharted territory of affection. Every step he took was slow and deliberate; at the slightest sign of trouble, he would instantly retreat back into his shell, using that hard exterior to shield himself from potential heartbreak.
His demeanor had always been frosty, using an icy attitude to treat every lord who ever tried to approach him with absolute equality. If it hadn’t been for the mandatory imperial system match, he likely would have gone his entire life without a Lord Husband.
Before this, Asaph’s ultimate plan for his life was simple: if his mental breakdown ever escalated to an uncontrollable degree, he would end his own life on the battlefield. He refused to spend his existence groveling at a lord’s feet. He possessed his own unyielding pride.
But Lu Li was different. Lu Li used his own warmth to slowly melt Asaph’s frozen heart. And truthfully, it felt as though he was finally being thawed out.
“Good morning, Lord Husband,” Asaph murmured.
As the words left his lips, Asaph lowered his head and pressed a gentle, fleeting kiss against Lu Li’s cheek.
It was a kiss laden with infinite tenderness. In that exact fraction of a second, time seemed to stand completely still. The entire universe faded away, leaving only the sound of their synchronized heartbeats and that gentle touch, brimming with boundless affection and care.
Not only was Lu Li utterly stunned, but Asaph himself froze in sheer shock.
The moment Asaph fully registered what he had just done, the tips of his ears turned a violent crimson. In an instant, he dove completely under the duvet, burying himself out of sight.
Meanwhile, Lu Li remained suspended in the lingering afterglow of that kiss, thoroughly savoring Asaph’s unprompted initiative. My wife actually kissed me! He couldn’t control his feelings, he really likes me! In a flash, Lu Li’s mind raced so far ahead he had already decided on the names of their future children.
“Asaph, don’t hide under the covers! It’s completely airtight in there, don’t suffocate yourself.” Lu Li chuckled, teasing the blanket bundle. “It was just a tiny kiss, what is there to be so shy about? Come out, come on out~”
Listening to Lu Li’s playful teasing from beneath the heavy duvet, Asaph only wanted to burrow deeper. He practically wanted to live under the blankets for the rest of the day.
Seeing that Asaph still refused to emerge, Lu Li resorted to his ultimate weapon. “Father, Papa, and Brother are all downstairs waiting for us to join them for breakfast. If you don’t come out now, the entire family is going to know you’re sleeping in.”
What nonsense! Asaph thought indignantly. He wasn’t some young larva; how could he possibly be sleeping in? He was Major General Asaph, for goodness’ sake! His Lord Husband was truly too much.
Slowly, Asaph poked his head out from beneath the duvet. Keeping his eyes strictly averted from Lu Li’s direction, he practically bolted into the bathroom to wash up. He was terrified that catching the amused, smiling glint in Lu Li’s eyes would cause the already scorching temperature of his cheeks to skyrocket further.
Watching Asaph flee the scene in a total panic, Lu Li couldn’t help but think to himself: My wife is genuinely the cutest creature alive.
When Asaph finally stepped out of the bathroom, he kept his gaze anchored firmly to the floor, still not daring to meet Lu Li’s eyes. “Lord Husband, please go ahead and wash up. I will wait for you here.”
Seeing how adorable Asaph looked in his bashful state, Lu Li’s inner troublemaker flared up again. “But I want you to wash up with me,” he cooed.
Wash up together? How are we supposed to do that? I’m already finished, Asaph thought blankly.
Seeing Asaph stand there in silent confusion, Lu Li doubled down, pushing the boundaries even further. “Is that not allowed, my dear? Ah, my request must have been far too demanding. It’s fine. After all, my dear wife doesn’t like me all that much, so it’s only natural that you wouldn’t want to do things together. Sigh… I’ll just go in by myself. It’s quite alright; a single soul isn’t lonely at all. Not miserable in the least.”
Asaph knew perfectly well that his Lord Husband was just acting spoiled and playing a part, but he was entirely powerless against it. He absolutely melted for this specific tactic. Accepting his fate, he quietly fell into step behind Lu Li.
He is my Lord Husband, Asaph reasoned in his heart, so I am the only one who can spoil him.
Catching sight of Asaph’s dutiful shadow following right behind him, an unstoppable, triumphant grin bloomed across Lu Li’s face. Once inside the bathroom, Asaph stood to the side, completely unsure of what he was supposed to be doing. Lu Li seized the opening immediately, leaning in for another swift smooch.
“Oh my,” Lu Li gasped with a sly wink. “My lips suddenly acted completely out of my control. My dear wife won’t blame me, right?”
Having been thoroughly dazed by Lu Li’s barrage of kisses all morning, Asaph arrived at the breakfast table looking distinctly distracted, his mind completely adrift.
Venus took one look at Asaph’s bright red ear tips and his spacing-out demeanor, and he instantly knew exactly what the young couple had been up to this morning. Having lived through it all himself, he simply smiled. Children would find their own happiness, and seeing how deep their affection ran only put Venus in an excellent mood.
“My, Lord Husband,” Venus noted cheerfully, looking at his own partner. “The fried eggs this morning are wonderful cooked to a beautiful, appetizing golden brown. Truly excellent.”
Asaph’s father naturally picked up on his spouse’s stellar mood and immediately chimed in, “Indeed it is, it’s brilliant. Eat a bit more, my dear.”
Once breakfast concluded, Asaph and Lu Li prepared to take their leave. Though Venus’s eyes held a touch of lingering reluctance, he offered Asaph a few quiet words of parting advice before saying goodbye.
Sensing the family’s bittersweet emotions, Lu Li immediately spoke up to reassure them. “Papa, please don’t worry. We live so close by. I will make sure Asaph and I come back to visit you all frequently.”
Hearing Lu Li’s earnest promise, the knot of worry in Venus’s heart finally loosened. For his young sub-male child to have such a fulfilling life was the absolute best outcome he could have ever hoped for.
As Asaph left the estate, he was dressed in casual loungewear. The soft, white fabric effectively blunted his usual frosty, military aura, making the formidable Major General appear far more approachable and grounded.
“Asaph, today is the weekend. Do you have any official duties at Headquarters?” Lu Li asked as they walked. “If you’re free, would you care to go shopping with me?”
Shopping. The concept struck a pleasant chord in Asaph’s mind. Other lords were notorious for embarking on massive spending sprees at the malls, and he certainly wasn’t going to let his own Lord Husband be deprived of anything. At the thought of Lu Li wearing clothes, he personally selected, a wave of warmth surged through Asaph’s chest.
Coincidentally, Lu Li was harboring the exact same thoughts. He wanted to buy an entire wardrobe of beautiful clothes for Asaph, dressing his darling wife up to absolute perfection.
With their desires aligning flawlessly, Asaph steered their starship toward the most prosperous, high-end commercial district on the capital planet.