Yu Li had always had a personality that would shine as soon as he was given a little bit of warmth, let alone now that he knew the major villain could not actually do anything to him.
At this moment, his heart and mind were entirely focused on how to torment Qi Cai; he did not notice the young man’s awkward and shy inner thoughts.
The little boy’s exquisite face was flushed pink with excitement. His beautiful lashes fluttered upward along with the corners of his eyes, revealing a pampered, spoiled air as he reached out his slender arms toward Fu Shen, who was not far away.
He was youthful, pure, and ignorant. Even when he was ordering people around or bullying them, it did not make people hate him. In fact, it was impossible to even be angry at him. They could only let him torment them, serve him, and obey the little boy’s arrangements.
Fu Shen smiled gently, radiating the aura of a doting partner. “Very well, Li Li.”
Qi Cai was so angry his lungs felt like they were about to explode. He strode forward to block Fu Shen’s path, his expression cold. Before Yu Li could even react, Qi Cai scooped him up into a princess carry.
“Ah…” Yu Li was startled by the sudden sensation of floating, his small face turning pale. He clutched Qi Cai’s neck tightly, his watery eyes filled with bewilderment.
Before he could continue his plan to shriek and annoy Qi Cai’s ears, he heard the young man’s stern reprimand.
“Shut up. If you squeal again, this young master will beat your bottom raw.”
Yu Li closed his mouth in grievance, pressing his watery-pink lips together tightly. He felt completely humiliated by the major villain’s scolding, but he no longer dared to cause trouble. The major villain was a major villain, after all; even if he would not kill him, no one would be able to stop him if he truly decided to hit him.
Qi Cai regretted saying he would hit him the moment the words left his mouth. He cast a fleeting, downward glance at the little creature in his arms. Yu Li was sniffling, tears streaming down his face. His nose and the area under his eyelids were flushed a deep pink, making him look exceptionally pitiful.
Why is he so pitiful? I did not even actually hit him.
Yu Li felt the terrifying gaze upon him and hurriedly lowered his head. Fearing that Qi Cai might throw him down in his anger, he hugged him tightly and whispered a small mutter.
“I will not make noise anymore. Please do not beat my bottom, okay?”
Qin Xie frowned and blocked Qi Cai’s path to the stairs. “Qi Cai, you scared Li Li.”
Fu Shen chimed in, his eyes filled with disgust toward Qi Cai. “You are too fierce. Li Li is very timid; he will have nightmares.”
Their words were polite, but they were no different than pointing at a man’s nose and shouting, “Shut your mouth and stop scaring people.”
Qi Cai reluctantly spared them a glance.
Fierce?
He had never been this gentle in his life. Besides, he had already omitted the profanities and used a tone softer than he used for anyone else, almost as if he were trying to please someone.
Qi Cai never needed to please anyone, yet the first time he tried to curry favor and hold someone, he was pointed at and called cruel.
Seeing Yu Li’s delicate skin flushed a deep pink and teardrops like beans hanging in his eyes, his chubby lips unconsciously pursed, Qi Cai felt his heart soften. What a crybaby.
“Why did you not come over when I told you to just now? Was walking a few steps too tiring for you? You had to have someone else carry you right in front of me. What is it? Were you afraid I would make you walk to the dining table five steps away? Also, you should be grateful that this young master is feeding you. Do you know how arrogant you are to make me stand on the side to feed you? Why don’t you just fly up to the heavens?” Qi Cai looked at the little boy who was ignoring his words and felt helpless.
“Speak, and stop burrowing into my neck.”
Yu Li was teary-eyed and let out a soft whimper.
He was not wearing any shoes, so why would he walk back and forth on the carpet? Besides, the main characters were both here. Even if he made them carry him down, they would not dare to resist.
Why should he not take a free ride? Why would he waste his energy scurrying toward the major villain?
At this moment, he had completely forgotten his intention to bully the major villain for fun. His head was filled with thoughts of how pitiful he was.
Looking at the ancient human, who had turned his head away and refused to say a word—especially from the young man’s perspective—Yu Li’s dark lashes were curled and long, soaked in crystal-clear tears. His light-brown eyes were watery, his upturned nose was cute and petite, and his plump lips were slightly pouted, as if he were thinking about something. His thin throat moved gently up and down as he breathed.
Why is his temper so big? The things he did made one’s teeth ache with irritation, yet he could not be scolded, yelled at, or beaten, or else he would get angry.
Qi Cai’s heart itched intensely. He desperately wanted to put the little boy on his lap, pinch his small face, and kiss his mouth to see if he would stay silent and red-eyed just like he was when he was angry.
Unable to help himself, Qi Cai tugged at the ancient human’s cheek. “Alright, this young master will not hit you. Do not be aggrieved or angry anymore.”
Being threatened with a spanking by the major villain in front of the main characters was humiliating.
Yu Li’s soft voice was choked with sobs. Feeling embarrassed, he widened his beautiful eyes and pointed at the two men. “You two, go and make my bed. I like soft beds. I also like soft pillows. Hurry up!”
After the two men went upstairs, Yu Li slowly bestowed a glance upon the young man. He looked at Qi Cai in a daze, lifting his moist, teary eyes, his voice light and small. “What about later?”
The sound was as small as a newborn kitten, soft and so endearing that it made anyone who heard it feel an overflow of maternal instinct, wanting to bring the world to the little boy.
A flash of amusement crossed Qi Cai’s eyes. Look, the ancient human is meant to be mine. They were both equally obsessed with face; they were cut from the same cloth.
“It will not happen again.” Qi Cai nonchalantly flicked away a lash that had been washed off by Yu Li’s tears. “This young master has a gentle temperament; I would never do anything to bully people.”
Hearing the young man say this, Yu Li furrowed his fair, slender brows and turned his head away in a huff, feeling too annoyed to even look at Qi Cai. Nonsense! He was just bullying me earlier and made me cry!
But to Qi Cai’s eyes, Yu Li was just so incredibly cute.
Qi Cai had grown up surrounded by servants, accustomed to a life where his every need was met. Those servants were obsequious and groveling; no one had ever dared to throw a temper tantrum like this at him. Even the young masters and misses from noble families did not dare treat him as an equal, always acting humble and calling him “Your Highness.”
He had no friends, not even a single partner he could confide in.
Having seen the great scenes of the world, he was used to reading between the lines to find the truth in people’s words. This was the first time Qi Cai had met someone like Yu Li, who was both so spoiled and so stubborn.