Allowing Qin Xie to carry him, Yu Li rubbed his sleepy eyes and peered over the man’s shoulder at the layout of the small villa.
It was clear that the interstellar officials had put in some effort. In a world full of mechanical buildings and high-tech structures, they had gone out of their way to construct this concrete building. With its glass chandeliers, colorful lights, and walls adorned with gold-dusted decorations and tasteful paintings, the renovation was incredibly lavish.
Maintaining his professional dedication to being difficult, Yu Li decided to stir up trouble even without a real reason. He said in a spoiled tone, “I want to live in the most spacious room on the top floor. It must have a balcony on one wall, and it would be best if I could see the scenery outside.”
“Also, I am a restless sleeper, so the bed must be big. The biggest one possible.”
Qin Xie felt as if a bright light had flashed before his eyes. His neck was encircled by soft, sweet-smelling, slender arms. As the beautiful little marionette spoke, a scent as sweet as honey wafted toward him. Because the two were pressed together, Yu Li was practically lying in the man’s embrace. Every time he spoke, the fruity fragrance of his skin swirled around Qin Xie’s nose.
Yu Li did not care what Qin Xie thought of him. Even if the man wanted to hit him, he would have to think twice. Feeling a bit spoiled and tired, Yu Li yawned, his moist eyes brimming with tears. His beautiful, youthful face was flushed with the loveliness of impending slumber, and his fair skin was rosy.
Yu Li was fierce. “The biggest one! I want the biggest one!”
While he made a scene, he did not notice Qin Xie’s unease, as the man had gone red from his neck to his ears. Yu Li wriggled around in the man’s arms like an unruly, naughty child. Even so, despite his malicious demeanor, his voice remained sweet and endearing.
Qin Xie was genuinely worried that Yu Li would snap his own slender waist with all the tossing and turning. He carefully and gingerly shielded him as he said, “There is only one room on the top floor. Naturally, Li Li’s room is the largest, and the bed is the largest, too.”
Having failed to stir up more trouble, Yu Li did not feel discouraged. He hummed vaguely and praised him as if he were praising a puppy. “Well done.”
Had Qin Xie possessed a tail, it would have been wagging to the heavens. He cast a sidelong glance at Fu Shen, who was pursing his lips and lost in thought, and let out an almost imperceptible sneer. He was the first person to encounter this ancient human. Qin Xie did not need Yu Li to pledge himself to him; he only needed the beautiful little marionette to have eyes for him. He wanted to be the most important and indispensable existence in Yu Li’s heart.
The breath of the young boy by his ear was sweet enough to cause a toothache, yet it made his heart itch, leaving him wanting to lean in close to smell him. Suppressing his impulses, Qin Xie stepped onto the top floor.
Behind him, Fu Shen followed closely. Qin Xie was displeased by this, but he said nothing.
The young boy in his arms was already drifting off to sleep. The face that was always held high and spoiled, yet clearly naive and youthful, was buried in the crook of his arm. His robe was loose, and upon closer inspection, one could see more than should be seen.
Yu Li’s skin was very fair, yet it was not a sickly pale; instead, it had a healthy, light pink tint. His joints had no pigmentation, showing only a faint, passionate pink. He lay soft as if boneless in the man’s arms, his translucent lips parted slightly to reveal a bit of white teeth. His eyelashes were long and curved, crowding over his glassy pupils. He looked both spoiled and worthy of being cherished in the palm of one’s hand.
Qin Xie looked away and clumsily, gently settled Yu Li onto the bed.
Yu Li covered his rosy lips with his slender fingertips and gave a small yawn. His misty, light-brown eyes looked tired and adorable. Grasping the bedsheets, he did not forget his task. “It is too hard. The bed is so hard.”
Qin Xie did not speak. In his heart, he felt he could not spoil Yu Li endlessly. After all, the body belonged to the little marionette, and as someone similar to a guardian, he had much more to consider. Moreover, he was not good at sweet talk. He pressed his hand down on the mattress; it was not hard. He had specifically laid down three layers of high-quality cotton. After Yu Li was placed down, a distinct indentation formed.
He thought seriously that a bed that was too soft was bad and would cause back pain. However, there was another person present. If he made Yu Li angry over this, would it not be undermining his own authority and boosting their morale?
Qin Xie looked at Yu Li, who was stubbornly trying to keep his hazy, beautiful eyes wide open just for an answer, and softened his voice. “If it is too soft, it is easy to get back pain and fall ill.”
Yu Li wrinkled his nose. He was very sleepy, but that did not stop him from being difficult. “Qin Xie! You are not listening to me again.”
The beautiful little marionette’s voice rose slightly. He blinked his clear, bright eyes in a daze, a mist of confusion in their depths. Perhaps because he was too tired, his voice carried a hint of acting spoiled, which made Qin Xie’s heart melt. Yu Li’s soft black hair lay messy against the snow-white pillow. His slender, youthful body curled up in the quilt, and he pouted in grievance. After finishing his tantrum, he looked at Qin Xie with watery, pleading eyes.
Qin Xie could not say no to such pitiful eyes. “I will arrange it for Li Li tomorrow.”
“Mm.” Receiving an affirmative answer, Yu Li finally closed his eyes in satisfaction.
Qin Xie watched the young boy close his eyes to sleep and could not help but reach out to gently touch Yu Li’s fleshy cheek.
Fu Shen felt anxious. He took a step forward, but before he could do anything, Qin Xie had already withdrawn his hand and stood up. The warm light from above made Qin Xie appear even taller. He looked down at Fu Shen, who was smiling with gentle elegance, with obvious hostility in his dark eyes.
Fearing he would wake Yu Li, Qin Xie pointed toward the door.
Fu Shen bit his tongue and followed the man out. The moment they reached the doorway, he turned back to look at the ancient human sleeping soundly.
The door clicked shut.
Only then did Fu Shen’s gentle mask vanish. He stared coldly at Qin Xie. “You are not qualified to stand by the ancient human’s side.”
Fu Shen gritted his teeth, jealousy turning his heart sour. “Possessiveness and jealousy. If these reports were filed, your privilege to protect the ancient human would be revoked in an instant. After all, no one who attempts to possess the ancient human should be allowed to stay, and as for Brother Qin, hehe.”