Qi Cai felt a warmth in his heart and a strange, inexplicable sensation welled up within him. Raising an ancient human seemed like a pretty good choice. However, Qi Cai was narrow-minded; he could not tolerate the presence of anyone superior to himself beside Yu Li. Even those tasked with protecting or serving Yu Li were unwelcome. These were roles he could try and learn to fill himself. Moreover, Qi Cai was both scholarly and skilled in martial arts; he was more than capable of protecting the ancient human. Yu Li did not need people around him who would deceive him or harbor ulterior, profane motives.
How could such a simple and slow-witted little boy be so comfortable letting bad men hold him in their arms and press him against their chests? He was even wearing such flimsy shorts. Just by bending over or crossing his legs, everything could be seen clearly. Furthermore, as a member of the guard unit tasked with serving the ancient human, how could Qin Xie allow someone to arrange for him to wear such inappropriate clothing?
Yu Li must have been forced into it; he had no choice but to wear shorts this short. Everything was just the petty schemes of those bad men.
The moment he saw Yu Li, Qi Cai’s mind went blank. How could there be such a beautiful little boy, one who combined such innocence with a sense of nobility? In the current interstellar era, where technology, wealth, and progress were largely equalized, all “New Humans” had extended lifespans, allowing them more time to raise children. After generations of development, it was rare to find a newborn who wasn’t physically stunning. In an age filled with handsome men and beautiful women, Qi Cai had become desensitized to beauty. The photos of ancient humans circulated online were always blurry, and the subjects appeared so pale they were blinding. At first glance, Qi Cai had assumed the netizens were exaggerating, perhaps even using beauty filters.
But upon seeing Yu Li, he realized it was even more exaggerated than any filter. It was truly possible for such a beautiful little boy to exist.
He sat obediently in the arms of a bad man, his elegant, noble black hair looking soft and fluffy. His small face was delicate and pretty, his neck slender, his waist barely the width of a palm, his legs straight and delicate, and his bare feet flawless. He was simply a favorite of the heavens, like a little angel sent down to earth to endure trials. His thick, curled eyelashes fluttered, and his glassy eyes looked at people with a watery gaze.
He was impossibly well-behaved and beautiful.
Held in the arms of a man with broad shoulders and a sturdy build, he looked like a pathetic little creature being deceived. Those bad men were as fickle and cunning as dice: lustful and heartless. Once they tricked a boy into bed, they would take what they wanted without a second thought. Yu Li was so slow-witted that he would likely open his little mouth obediently, only to cry with regret once he finally understood what had happened. He was so timid that he could only swallow his grievances when bullied, not even daring to resist. Even a little bit of harshness would make him teary-eyed, begging for mercy over and over.
Qi Cai felt as if he were spellbound. He completely forgot about the little boy’s previous misbehavior and arrogance. Suddenly, in Qi Cai’s heart, Yu Li had become a little beauty being deceived by bad men. As Qi Cai thought about this, he became even more determined to stay by Yu Li’s side at all times. He absolutely could not allow such tragedies to happen; that was not something he wanted to see.
As the two sat on the soft chairs, the table was filled with a wide variety of breakfast items, showing the effort Fu Shen had put in. Yu Li remained silent, secretly observing Qi Cai. He let all of Qi Cai’s promises that his word was as good as gold, that he would not lie or hit anyone go in one ear and out the other. Although he did not know what kind of tantrum the Big Villain was throwing, he could be certain for now that Qi Cai would likely not hit him anymore.
Especially when he wiggled uncomfortably while sitting in the young man’s lap; Qi Cai was good-natured, pressing a hand to Yu Li’s waist to settle him in his arms. While the cold, arrogant face did not smile, it was no longer menacing.
“Don’t move around. Eat your breakfast nicely.”
Determined that the Big Villain was the type who yielded to softness rather than hardness, Yu Li gradually shed his earlier restraint and fear. Relying on his status as an ancient human, he lifted his noble chin.
“I want that sandwich. And the steamed egg. I want the hot milk, too.”
Under Qi Cai’s soft-hearted indulgence, Yu Li’s chin rose higher and higher. The fear and timidity he felt when he first met the Big Villain had vanished. Before, he had been a pitiful sight, wanting to bury his head in the floor just to speak a word to Qi Cai; now, he wore his arrogance on his sleeve. Yu Li deliberately bossed him around. His fair fingers pointed at one thing, then another, eating a bite here and there, tiring Qi Cai out until he broke into a light sweat.
He did not stop until he was full.
Underneath Qi Cai’s dark blue-black hair, an earring glittered, contrasting with the skin of his earlobe, which had turned a bright, blood-red. The little boy was restless, acting as if he had ADHD, twisting his waist one moment and burrowing into the man’s arms the next. The young man felt completely uneasy, teased by these unexpected benefits. He dazedly followed Yu Li’s commands: if told to pick up vegetables, he picked them up; if told to hold the hot milk to his lips, he held it to his lips. Even though he knew the ancient human was deliberately bossing him around, he obeyed as if possessed. If outsiders saw this, they would surely gossip about how the Imperial Crown Prince was being played like a dog.
Thinking this, Qi Cai looked down at the ancient human, who was curled up comfortably in his arms, fully satiated. He was stunned for a moment. He was arrogant and difficult to discipline, looking down on everyone, yet Qi Cai had to admit that Yu Li was impossibly beautiful, pure, and delicate.
The little boy’s soft black hair was messy and fluffy. His face, not even a palm-wide, was pure yet carried the dainty haughtiness of a noble young master. In his glassy, light-brown pupils was an aloof expression; the young master was even more at ease after a full meal. He wore a long, ruffled shirt with delicate lace trim at the cuffs. The top faux buttons hung loosely, revealing a patch of snow-white skin and his deep, prominent collarbones. The hem of his shirt was tucked into his black shorts, which, because he was sitting on someone’s lap, were pulled tight. Yu Li’s small feet rested on Qi Cai’s knees, and his legs were pressed closely together as he hugged his own knees, causing the shorts to cling tightly to the skin at the top of his thighs, cinching a circle of fair, translucent flesh. His legs were white and straight.
There were many bad people in the interstellar society. Rumors held that ancient humans were beautiful, delicate, and excellent for reproduction. Many powerful and influential people would dig three feet into the ground to hide one away. Otherwise, the awakened ancient humans would not be on the verge of extinction. Because of this, the authorities had increased the number of search and guard units, searching almost every moment with the intent to protect ancient humans as soon as they were found.
If it had not been for the fact that Yu Li appeared in an abandoned, ignored trash system, he might not have been protected at all.