Yu Li waited nervously for Qin Xie’s inspection, completely unaware that the man had already begun fantasizing about whether Fu Shen had pinched his face and kissed his mouth. Fearing that Qin Xie could not see clearly, he tilted his chin upward and cooperated by opening his mouth wide.
Qin Xie leaned in close to Yu Li’s mouth like a dog, sniffing the sweet, fragrant scent radiating from within. Under Yu Li’s puzzled gaze, he explained, “If one is parasitized by a Vile Insect, there will be a rotting smell in the mouth.”
Yu Li was worried sick. With the man pinching his face and fingers shoved inside his mouth, he could not even speak properly. “Is my mouth smelling like rot?”
“No,” Qin Xie replied coldly with his eyes lowered. “Now, check for white insect eggs.”
Listening to the urging voice in his ear, Qin Xie acknowledged it but did not speed up. He checked extremely slowly, as if he were inspecting a piece of art.
Gradually, as Yu Li kept his mouth open, his cheeks began to ache severely. His pink tongue retreated as far as it could. Because he was looking upward, he could only see the man leaning over his mouth, fingers stirring and poking around inside. It felt stretched, and his tongue was becoming sore from being flipped around by Qin Xie’s inspection.
Yu Li was about to cry from the pain. He could not help but urge the man again, sobbing, “Qin Xie! Are you even checking properly? Are you punishing me for not letting you eat, and that is why you are deliberately scaring me?”
Qin Xie sighed. He slowed the inspection further and pulled his fingers out with a lingering reluctance. The warm sensation faded, and the soft tongue was finally released. The man’s voice was hoarse as he gently wiped the saliva flowing from Yu Li’s mouth with a clean tissue. “The check is finished.”
Yu Li, eyes welled with tears, allowed the man to wipe his face. Seeing Qin Xie’s calm and indifferent demeanor, he feared the man did not care about him. He quickly asked, “Is there anything there?”
“No,” Qin Xie said. “He has not parasitized you. However, it is still unclear whether he is a Vile Insect, so you should keep your distance. It would be best to send him away.”
Fu Shen naturally had not missed the scene where the ancient human had been grabbed and teased. Even more, he realized Yu Li had been tricked into opening his mouth by Qin Xie. He was already this brazen while in his presence; Fu Shen dared not imagine what would happen if he were sent away and Yu Li were left alone under that bad man. He imagined Yu Li forced to cry until his voice grew hoarse, his light brown eyes red and swollen, his fair skin covered in countless marks, clutching his stomach while crying in grievance. Thinking of this possibility, Fu Shen’s gentle face turned cold, but before he could speak, Yu Li reflexively retorted.
“No way!”
As soon as he spoke, Yu Li felt two gazes land on him. Since he was facing Qin Xie directly, he could clearly observe the man’s expression. Yu Li deliberately raised his voice, abandoning the pitiable act he had used to ask for the inspection. A smug, vicious smile appeared on his beautiful, youthful face. “If I send him away, who will cook for me? You? Clumsy and slow-witted, what can I expect from you?”
Hearing Yu Li admit that he was useful and immediately allow him to stay, even demeaning Qin Xie to do so, Fu Shen stared at Yu Li’s profile. Under the bright golden light, the ancient human’s short black hair refracted colorful rays. His dark lashes were curved, and his stunning eyes were filled with blatant malice. Yet, it did not make people feel annoyed. On the contrary, it made one want to cup that spoiled little face, pinch it, and bite down on those lips that always said such provocative things. His heart leaped with excitement, as if encouraging him not to just think, but to take action. He wanted to hold the ancient human in his arms, with Yu Li’s fair, straight legs curled around his waist. He imagined Yu Li releasing an even richer fragrance due to emotional agitation, his youthful, beautiful face flushed and alluring. Fu Shen’s eyes grew increasingly obscure, flashing with unreadable light.
Qin Xie thought about it and found it logical. How could he chase Fu Shen away for his own selfish desires? However, remembering the reason he had come downstairs, he transitioned the topic smoothly. “Li Li, why have you not drunk your nutrient solution?”
Yu Li had been looking for an excuse to cause trouble, and this provided the perfect opportunity. He glared at the man, accusing, “Did I not punish you by telling you not to come out? Why are you here?”
Qin Xie lowered his head honestly, allowing Yu Li to lecture him. “I was worried you would not eat. If you do not drink your nutrient solution, you will suffer from malnutrition. You are a bit too short, Li Li. You will get sick. If you do not eat, you will not grow.”
Yu Li continued to glare, deeply dissatisfied. “What do you mean by saying I am too short?”
Qin Xie explained weakly, “No, I am just worried. Without nutrient solution, there is no intake of vitamins and proteins. You will get sick.”
The man was very tall. He stood in front of the slender, beautiful young man, almost enveloping him. As he lowered his head to speak, the bronze-colored muscle lines were clearly visible. Through his dark bathrobe, one could even see the tension in his frame. Qin Xie’s cold face was taut, and his pitch-black eyes betrayed no emotion. He looked quite fierce.
As if refusing to accept defeat, Yu Li’s glare softened. He was fearless, but he was afraid of being beaten, and he was afraid of being looked at fiercely. Yu Li said with a look of reluctance, “I suppose you have a bit of a conscience.”
Standing together, their matching couple-style bathrobes looked like an eyesore to Fu Shen. Fu Shen took the opportunity to grab Yu Li’s hand, but Qin Xie blocked him with a quick sideways movement. The man acted as if nothing had happened, taking the opportunity to pick Yu Li up. “Li Li, it is very late now. Let me take you to sleep.”
Suddenly held in Qin Xie’s arms, Yu Li was a bit dazed. He could clearly feel the explosive power of the man’s strong muscles through his clothes. The voice by his ear was gentle with a hint of deliberation. The perspective of his surroundings changed as he became quite high up. Qin Xie held him like a baby, supporting his bottom on his forearm.
Yu Li thought back to Qin Xie mentioning that he was short several times. Now, seeing the world from a different angle, it certainly felt different from when he stood on the floor. Yu Li covered his mouth and gave a small yawn. He was truly tired. It was fair to say he had been under immense mental pressure all day, from the near-death experience upon landing, to his wild imagination during the bath, and then the kidnapping event. All of it was enough to terrify him.