ABRIWMTHM Chapter 78

Shi Xing entered the room with a sense of trepidation. Upon entering, he found no one in Chi Yao’s bed.

At the same time, he felt an inexplicable sense of relief.

It was a good thing that the prince no longer had to endure a chaotic period, nor would he have times when he lay in bed not wanting to move.

After closing the door, he found himself somewhat at a loss.

Just when he was unsure whether to move or where to go, Chi Yao emerged from the bathroom, his upper body bare, water dripping from his hair. As Shi Xing’s gaze landed on Chi Yao’s body, it felt as if he had been scalded; he instinctively turned his head away.

“Your Highness.”

Shi Xing called out softly, his tone sweet and obedient, completely different from the arrogance outside, though it carried a hint of unease.

Chi Yao nodded, feeling it unnecessary to explain, yet he said, “I didn’t expect you to come back so quickly.”

When he had instructed Xu Jin, knowing what he did, Chi Yao thought Shi Xing would linger outside for a bit before coming back, but he didn’t expect…

Shi Xing was restrained, his voice tight. “You said you wanted to see me, so naturally, I had to come at once.”

“So obedient?”

Chi Yao teased, “That line isn’t a lie, is it?”

Shi Xing felt too embarrassed, and despite his awkwardness, he shook his head and explained awkwardly, “No.”

“I-I haven’t lied to you…”

Although he had wanted to distract Chi Yao last time, every word had been true.

Chi Yao put on a jacket and dried his hair while quietly observing Shi Xing, who stood stiffly in place. Fearing that continuing this topic would annoy the young lad, he shifted gears.

“Are you tired these past two days?”

Shi Xing looked down. “It’s okay?”

“Really?”

Shi Xing hesitated for a moment before slowly admitting, “There’s a bit of embellishment.”

Chi Yao chuckled.

“Have you washed up?”

Shi Xing shook his head, and Chi Yao said, “Then go ahead, freshen up, and we can talk.”

“Oh.”

While feeling fortunate, Shi Xing couldn’t help but wonder if this was what they called the taste of “death’s reprieve,” with a huge sword hanging over his head, unsure when it would fall.

He wanted to say something before entering the bathroom, but turned back to see Chi Yao having the robot dry his hair, while he was also taking off a wet robe. Shi Xing’s face flushed, and he hurriedly dove into the bathroom.

In the swirling steam, Shi Xing couldn’t forget the glance of the deep scar on Chi Yao’s back.

Although there were many military officers in the Empire, scars on their bodies were not common. Firstly, due to advanced technology, scar removal was part of medical treatments, so as long as one didn’t want scars, it was nearly impossible to end up with them; secondly, the people in this galaxy had mental power guarding their bodies. Even without actively using their mental power, it would automatically resist physical harm unless faced with something very…

His thoughts stagnated as Shi Xing recalled the fissures in Chi Yao’s mental sea.

Could it have been left by that time?

There were no answers, but Shi Xing was convinced his guess was mostly right.

If the attack had been suffused with mental power, the hospital wouldn’t have dealt with it well. The simplest and clumsiest method would have been to suture and let it recover naturally, which would leave scars.

Chi Yao looked like someone who wouldn’t go to the hospital just because of a small scar.

Shi Xing submerged himself in the bathtub, and as the hot water enveloped him, his mind went blank, and he released his tension.

When Shi Xing emerged from the bathroom dressed, Chi Yao had already dried his hair and organized himself, lying on the bed with his eyes closed as if resting.

Shi Xing paused in his tracks.

Chi Yao’s low voice spoke again, “Come here.”

Not in the slightly forceful tone he had when standing by the door, but rather in a softer tone.

It was as if he was making a statement yet had a hint of coaxing.

Shi Xing’s heart raced, and he didn’t even know how he walked, step by step to Chi Yao’s bedside.

He steadied himself.

Chi Yao lay back, his arms resting by his sides, displaying a well-disciplined sleeping position.

Perhaps due to the royal family’s emphasis on etiquette, Shi Xing found Chi Yao’s lying posture exceptionally appealing.

“Your Highness.” Shi Xing called out again.

“Why are you so nervous?”

Knowing he couldn’t fool Chi Yao, Shi Xing hardened his resolve and replied honestly, “I’m scared.”

The two words were uttered so softly, almost like a mumble.

“Scared?” Chi Yao chuckled.

Shi Xing responded with an affirmative hum.

He thought Chi Yao would have something to comment about it, but instead, he said in a deep voice, “It’s good that you’re scared.”

Shi Xing: “…”

Chi Yao did not open his eyes but patted the space beside him, indicating, “Lie down.”

Shi Xing: “Ah?”

Chi Yao: “Lie here. Let’s talk for a bit.”

After a pause, he didn’t want to let Shi Xing’s unease go to waste, so he added, “We can also settle old and new accounts together.”

Shi Xing: “…………”

Shi Xing struggled. “Can I apply for a postponement?”

Chi Yao: “If you want me to use my mental power to pull you up here like I did with the Tianyu Star people today, I wouldn’t mind.”

Shi Xing fell completely silent.

Knowing he had no choice, he closed his eyes, resigned to fate, and lay down beside Chi Yao.

As soon as he reclined, he yawned.

Chi Yao saw through him. “Still claiming you’re not tired?”

Shi Xing rubbed his nose, quietly arguing, “Actually, my rest time was sufficient.”

Chi Yao echoed, “Yes, your rest time and usual workload tripled or quadrupled, is that correct?”

Shi Xing fell silent again.

It was true that one could retreat when facing a challenge. Shi Xing had previously been tense and anxious, but accepting his fate, he unexpectedly felt incredibly calm.

Calmly stretching to rub his eyes, he yawned once more.

“Feeling sleepy?”

“A bit,” Shi Xing assured, “but I won’t sleep, Your Highness.”

After saying that, Chi Yao’s hand reached out again. The two could not see each other, and his fingertip lightly brushed Shi Xing’s cheek, making the atmosphere suddenly thick and sticky.

Shi Xing realized he actually cherished this gentle touch, and somewhat emboldened, before he realized what he said, the words tumbled out.

“Your Highness, I truly didn’t lie to you that day.”

Chi Yao responded with an unreadable emotion, “And then?”

Shi Xing felt a weight press on his heart.

Suddenly, he flipped over, just as he often did these days, and hugged Chi Yao, shamelessly burying his face in Chi Yao’s chest, boldly declaring, “Then I really like you.”

He emphasized, “Really.”

With pure sincerity laid bare, Shi Xing’s heart felt as if it were delivered whole.

Chi Yao’s hand rested on Shi Xing’s shoulder, struggling to push away such a fervent Shi Xing.

He couldn’t bear to push him away.

Reluctant to part from this ardent and straightforward emotion.

After a moment, he finally embraced Shi Xing back, his flat tone subtly wavering, “I heard that.”

Three words were softened, as if afraid they might startle something.

In Chi Yao’s imagination, he should have asked a few more questions to clarify exactly what kind of affection it was.

But when it came to this moment, he felt it was already perfectly clear, a knowing question.

It was unnecessary.

However, it was still an issue Chi Yao could not easily let slide.

After holding each other for a moment, he broke the silence, “The feeling is real, and distracting me is too, right?”

Shi Xing: “…”

Chi Yao: “I told you not to keep channeling mental power into the contract. You never thought to obey, did you?”

Shi Xing: “…………”

Chi Yao: “Speak.”

Shi Xing muttered, “I did.”

Shi Xing’s spirit faltered, presenting the possibility of surrender, “You can punish me; I accept it.”

This made Chi Yao burst into laughter, “Accept it all?”

Chi Yao raised his hand, trailing down Shi Xing’s face to his neck, caressing. The pressure was light, yet the subtle tickling seemed to penetrate his bones.

Shi Xing involuntarily shivered.

Then Chi Yao suddenly said, “You know, we signed a marriage agreement, right?”

Shi Xing: “Mhm.”

“That means you also understand the marital obligations partners need to fulfill, right?”

Shi Xing momentarily felt dazed.

Chi Yao’s long fingers slipped into his shirt collar, pressing insistently as he asked again.

Shi Xing felt all his composure getting heated, lingering for a while before whispering, “I know.”

He reminded with difficulty, “But Your Highness, I haven’t gone through the maturity period yet…”

During the maturity period, Blue Star humans’ skin absorbs mental power, and it’s related to emotions. Before that period, the Nest does not recommend too deep intimacy…

In the past, there had been one or two unfortunate incidents, leading to awkward situations that required hospitalization.

Shi Xing certainly didn’t want to look for a doctor for Chi Yao in the middle of the night, trying to solve his suddenly depleted mental power…

That would be too, too embarrassing.

Wouldn’t everyone know…

Chi Yao merely replied with three words, “I know.”

“You’re thinking too far ahead; today’s situation isn’t over, and we have to deal with the Alliance tomorrow.”

A faint laugh surfaced, “And I’m still in a chaotic period… you might be overestimating me.”

Shi Xing felt his face heat up.

“I don’t mean that.”

He merely wanted to remind that he wasn’t suggesting Chi Yao would reach that step!

Chi Yao’s voice lingered, “What do you mean?”

Could the prince be doing this on purpose?

Coming to this realization to Chi Yao’s purposely provocative questions, Shi Xing could not avoid the sensation creeping down his collarbone, shying away as he blushed, “Not that you’d do anything like that, means.”

“What do you want?” His long fingers dipped lower.

Shi Xing broke down, “Your Highness!”

This resulted in a light laugh from Chi Yao, igniting the heat on Shi Xing’s cheeks.

The sensation continued to tease him, and Shi Xing instinctively shrank back for the third time; the movement was larger this time, finally catching Chi Yao’s attention, who asked him, “Don’t you want to?”

Shi Xing was teetering on the edge of losing his sanity.

This time, he didn’t want to respond to Chi Yao. To illustrate the answer to that question, he did something Chi Yao hadn’t anticipated.

Shi Xing began to unbutton his nightgown one by one. Chi Yao was startled for a moment, but in just a fleeting instant, Shi Xing swiftly undid all the buttons, laid himself bare, burying his face in Chi Yao’s chest, grasping his hand again and pressing it onto his own skin.

Shi Xing threw away his reason, “Yes.”

“Everything is fine.”

Now it was Chi Yao who fell silent.

After a moment, Chi Yao exhaled, his voice laden with more rasp, the playful teasing he was so good at carried a hint of anger, “If it’s like this, I might have to take back that ‘overestimating me’ remark.”

Shi Xing closed his eyes, “As long as you’re happy.”

Chi Yao’s breath hitched, “Do you even know what you’re saying?”

Shi Xing almost innocently countered, “Didn’t you want to punish me this way?”

It was indeed true.

But Shi Xing was being too cooperative, which was a different matter altogether.

In a speechless silence, something rapidly brewed, fermenting until it reached a boil.

“Star Star…”

Chi Yao exhaled with a rough breath, “You’re right.”

In the next instant, he pushed Shi Xing up to a sitting position. In the dim light, just as Shi Xing steadied himself, a scorching kiss descended upon him, and he parted his lips instinctively.

The light seemed to warp before his eyes.

Everything became blurred in the heat of their breaths.

The kiss initiated by Chi Yao grew more active from Shi Xing’s side as he tugged at Chi Yao’s collar, engaging in a deeper chase.

Breaths became chaotic.

Reason shattered.

Yet Shi Xing did not dislike it.

His lips were bitten; his neck received a bite too, and his chest was not spared.

By the time Shi Xing’s energy went awry, starting to absorb mental power due to emotional excitement, the two had to stop, wrapping each other in an embrace as they came down from their intimacy.

Chi Yao reached from the bed to grab Shi Xing’s nightgown, wrapping him up and blocking skin contact, thus preventing the Blue Star human from inadvertently absorbing mental energy like crazy during maturity.

After a while, Chi Yao suddenly said, “Don’t pant.”

Shi Xing felt shame wash over him as he buried his face in Chi Yao’s shoulder, trying to muffle his breath.

Chi Yao whispered, “Tonight, you sleep here.”

Shi Xing nodded.

Chi Yao stroked Shi Xing’s cheek, then suddenly remarked, “Say again what you said to distract me that day.”

Shi Xing’s head was in a swirl.

Suddenly faced with Chi Yao’s question, Shi Xing took several seconds to recall.

What had he said back then?

——“Your Highness, do you have a slight liking for me?”

——“Your Highness, you actually know, right? I have a bit of affection for you.”

——“Perhaps a bit more than a little.”

——“I never dared think it through.”

Oh, those.

Thinking Chi Yao wanted him to confess again.

Shi Xing had already thrown caution to the wind, feeling no shame. Chi Yao said he wanted to hear, so he followed his memory, repeating, “Your Highness, do you have a slight liking for me?”

This time, before he could speak a second sentence, Chi Yao replied.

With just one word.

Chi Yao: “Mhm.”

Shi Xing’s heart suddenly constricted.

A kiss landed on the corner of his eye as Chi Yao murmured, “But it’s not just a little.”