ABRIWMTHM Chapter 96

Before the New Year of the Empire, there is another holiday, the Harvest Festival, one of the oldest holidays that has existed since the Empire’s inception many star years ago.

It is tomorrow.

The palace has also prepared all arrangements for the holiday, and everyone residing in the sleeping quarters will have a rest to celebrate.

Combined, Shi Xing has spent about twenty-five years in the Empire. He cannot say he remembers every Harvest Festival clearly, but such an unforgettable one… Shi Xing feels there won’t be many in the future.

Sitting on Chi Yao’s lap, the touch from the sleepwear feels unusually different.

Usually, he wouldn’t notice the texture of Chi Yao’s clothing being so stiff.

At least, he couldn’t feel it so clearly.

But now, every inch of contact is emphasizing this discomfort and continually amplifying it.

Ordinarily, there wouldn’t be much of a feeling; he has helped Chi Yao button and unbutton before, but in the current situation… Shi Xing’s knuckles are uncontrollably trembling.

There’s nervousness.

There’s embarrassment.

And even a secretive anticipation.

Chi Yao’s long fingers glide from his wrist up to his shoulder, brushing against him, causing bursts of ticklish sensations, as if touching, yet also exploring the texture of his sleepwear.

“Where did you buy this?” Chi Yao asks.

His voice is subdued, lacking any waves, but despite being the same as usual, Shi Xing feels something is off.

It’s as if he’s being scrutinized closely by something terrifying.

“On the Star Network, custom-made,” Shi Xing’s voice is even tighter.

Chi Yao’s fingers trace around Shi Xing’s collar, and though the darkness does not reduce the vision of the Empire’s people, he lowers his voice an octave, teasingly asking, “Did you fill in the palace address?”

Shi Xing was too afraid to fill in the palace; he didn’t respond. When pressed, he answered truthfully, “I filled in the First Legion; I sometimes go to cooperate with training, so… I filled it there.”

Chi Yao chuckles, “Not foolish, huh.”

Shi Xing’s ears flush with heat, continuously reminding himself to control, yet deep down, he knows it’s impossible to control.

At least his heart is beating too fast.

“Not just Starlight Silk?”

Starlight Silk is one of the top materials produced in the Twin Star Galaxy, soft and splendid, thus named.

Shi Xing is surprised, “Can you tell just by touching it?”

Chi Yao: “They mentioned it in cultural class when I was young; it feels mixed with other materials.” After a pause, he affirms, “Doesn’t feel like fabric.”

Indeed, it isn’t; it’s…

“A type of new material that partially isolates mental power mixed in.”

“No wonder.”

It’s the sensation that mental power isn’t attaching to Shi Xing’s skin in any way.

Chi Yao’s smile broadens, sounding either sentimental or teasing, “So considerate, Star.”

Shi Xing can definitely feel his ears heating up, burning.

His hand trembles, and a button slips off his fingertip.

But Chi Yao continues, “So thin, if water drops on it, it should penetrate immediately.”

Shi Xing’s head feels a bit dizzy, not understanding why he suddenly brought this up and what it has to do with the current situation.

Until Chi Yao pulls him down, opens his mouth, and bites him, the moisture instantly seeps through the fabric to his skin, and Shi Xing understands.

His head spins; his hand has completely moved, and Chi Yao presses on his shoulder, guiding him down a little, their lips and tongues collide.

Their breaths intertwine, and Shi Xing’s face becomes very hot.

A bite isn’t enough; the Prince excessively reaches to the damp area on the fabric…

Another hand won’t leave Shi Xing alone, grabbing his hands and pressing them down on the buttons to help him unbutton.

Shi Xing quickly responds, exposed to everything.

When released, he is dazed, the corners of his eyes are flushed, and his eyes glisten.

Chi Yao sits up, pinning Shi Xing beneath him, not allowing him to escape, and grips his hands to continue unbuttoning.

When their clothes and pants are thrown on the ground, Shi Xing is all heated up, his eyes uncertain where to look.

It’s not that he hasn’t seen anything, nor that he’s shy; it’s just the atmosphere of this process is simply too overwhelming.

Still, Chi Yao remains calm, wholly enjoying this pleasurable moment.

“Did Xu Jin prepare my clothes here?”

Shi Xing has half-closed eyes, speechless, just nods.

“That’s good.”

In the next moment, Shi Xing is completely lifted up and sits on Chi Yao’s forearm, his other hand wrapping around Shi Xing’s waist.

“No light; there must be other lighting tools.”

“There are candles.”

Shi Xing hasn’t had time to light them.

Chi Yao scans the area with his mental power, controlling it to light one, then hands it to Shi Xing. They light the decorations along the way, ultimately entering the bathroom.

He grabs a towel and places it on one side of the sink, then puts Shi Xing on top, starting to wash up.

The toiletries are all ready.

Xu Jin was thoughtful; even knowing it was Shi Xing’s room, ever since they started sleeping together, both sides have set up two sets of toiletries and change of clothes for two people, everything included.

The set on Shi Xing’s side is the same as Chi Yao’s, the only difference being that this side is the first time Chi Yao is using it.

After slowly realizing that Chi Yao is washing up, Shi Xing feels awkward and isn’t sure whether to stay in the bathroom.

He thought to himself, how come only two candles were lit in the bathroom; turns out they were afraid it was too bright and he’d feel embarrassed.

He… indeed feels quite embarrassed.

That outfit he is wearing, the bright parts, he lowered his head to sneak a glance… Shi Xing’s toes curled up.

When he wanted to run, he realized he had no shoes; he was carried in by Chi Yao.

Seeming to notice his searching motions, Chi Yao doesn’t even look at Shi Xing, only saying, “Don’t run; sit here.”

“I’ll be fine soon.”

Shi Xing lowers his head, feeling heat all over his body and face.

Hearing Chi Yao’s voice makes him feel hot.

Looking at his own feet, Shi Xing seems to complain, mumbling, “Your actions will make me doubt my attractiveness.”

Chi Yao’s voice remains calm, not allowing for disagreement: “Then you will know the answer soon.”

Realizing the deeper meaning, Shi Xing’s breathing quickens, feeling like a match; the Prince just needs to poke it, and he’ll ignite.

Even if nothing overly excessive has been said yet.

Why is it like this…

Shi Xing closes his eyes.

Feeling his rapidly beating heart, Shi Xing thinks,

He must really like the Prince too much.

The sound of water fills the air, steam rises, and Shi Xing completely shuts his eyes.

Not knowing where to place his gaze, he simply closes his eyes to calm himself.

Chi Yao engages him in conversation half-heartedly, “How long did you prepare this?”

Feeling the faint pressure, knowing he can’t dodge the subject Chi Yao wants to talk about, Shi Xing gives up his embarrassment and quietly responds, “About a week or two, at first I didn’t know how to arrange it. Later, I asked Chang Yue and Uncle Xu indirectly about your preferences before slowly starting.”

Chi Yao’s voice is filled with a laugh, infused with mental power; even at a low volume, it still precisely reaches Shi Xing’s ears, “What preferences?”

“Preferred scents, favorite colors, things like that.”

Thinking of something, Chi Yao states meaningfully, “I like this set you’re wearing.”

Whether it’s the color or the style, or both, Chi Yao doesn’t say, and Shi Xing doesn’t ask.

Worried that if he asks, he might react, feeling too embarrassed.

But Chi Yao doesn’t let it go, “What made you think of this? Don’t the mainstream styles tend to be quite bold?”

If he had custom-made it on the Star Network, Chi Yao is sure Shi Xing must have seen others, interesting ones.

Shi Xing lowers his head, pulling in on himself, mumbling, “That would be too bold.”

He temporarily accepts his inability.

Chi Yao bursts out laughing.

After a few back-and-forth exchanges, Shi Xing suddenly feels the heat drawing closer, and Chi Yao’s voice whispers against his ear, “Lift your head.”

Holding the back of Shi Xing’s head, he kisses him intensely.

After the kiss, Shi Xing’s eyes are misty, gasping for air with his mouth open.

Chi Yao clears his throat, and in the next instant, he lifts him outside as Shi Xing buries his face into Chi Yao’s shoulder, with his heart pounding like a drum.

“Here?”

Shi Xing: “Here.”

“Okay, where are your things?”

Shi Xing closes his eyes, voice as soft as a mosquito, “By the head of the bed.”

Chi Yao glances over and indeed finds the two tubes of liquid.

The candlelight flickers gently, mirroring Shi Xing’s mood, rising and falling, without knowing where it drifts.

After sitting down, Chi Yao doesn’t let go of him; he shrinks into the Prince’s embrace like an ostrich.

But soon, he hears the sound of packaging being torn open.

Another suffocating deep kiss, Chi Yao shoves the edge of his clothing into his mouth, forcing him to bite down excessively.

The prelude is ambiguous and enchanting.

When Chi Yao picks up that tube of liquid again, he lightly taps it against Shi Xing’s nose and suddenly asks, “Er Ya must have told you some taboos, right?”

Shi Xing’s mind is entirely in disarray; it takes him a couple of times for Chi Yao’s question to penetrate, and he replies, “What?”

“Regarding mental power.”

Oh, he means the matter about Blue Star humans absorbing mental power during their maturity period.

Shi Xing nods; Er Ya indeed mentioned it and even directly advised him not to go too far, suggesting alternative methods to prevent exhausting Chi Yao’s mental power. However, he really can…

Before he can ponder further, Chi Yao seriously states, “Just try, if it doesn’t work, then it’s fine.”

“Ah?”

It can really be considered “fine,”?

Can it really be treated like that?

Seeing Shi Xing’s confusion, Chi Yao gives him an answer, “Of course it can.”

His tone carries an unwavering firmness that doesn’t match the mood, warning, “I’m not afraid you’ll exhaust my mental power, but based on what Er Ya gathered, you really like absorbing the mental power of the star beasts; you can’t touch anything in the gaps of my mental sea anymore.”

If Shi Xing were to exhaust Chi Yao’s mental power, he isn’t sure whether under instinct, Shi Xing would still continue absorbing the residual energy from star beasts.

But he doesn’t want to find out.

Things that cannot bear the consequences are best not attempted; Chi Yao has deeply understood this since childhood.

For his little partner, he only hopes the other will be well.

In the next kiss, Shi Xing slowly realizes the reason behind Chi Yao’s recent cautious behavior.

So…

Softly panting, Shi Xing feels as if he has been pried open.

“Eh, where did Star and Chi someone go? How are we going to celebrate the Harvest Festival tomorrow? Aren’t they coming to vote?”

Glancing at the communicator, Fei Chu finds it strange, “No replies to the messages.”

“Sent twenty minutes ago.”

Xu Jin checks his communicator and confirms Fei Chu isn’t mistaken.

They were downstairs discussing what to eat for lunch tomorrow, and in the afternoon Fei Chu wanted to go out, which wasn’t in the plan, so they were reaching a consensus.

Xu Jin: “Maybe they didn’t see it; let’s wait a bit, they’ve been too busy lately.”

Thinking of something, Xu Jin gazes up at the floor above, hesitantly saying, “They wouldn’t be busy with government affairs again, would they?”

Fu Qing: “With their recent states, it’s not impossible.”

Yan Changyue: “Let’s wait a minute; it’s nothing critical. Hey, wanna watch a movie? I brought back the rights yesterday; it’s a hot screening in theaters now.”

The film piqued Fei Chu’s interest; he said to watch it, and everyone in the living room activated the holographic mode and distributed sensors.

As the big movie began, a star beast’s claws appeared right from the start.

Meanwhile, upstairs, Shi Xing felt as if he had been fished out of water, his fingers gripping Chi Yao’s arm, producing uncontrollable sounds.

Wanting to escape, Chi Yao wouldn’t let him.

As the opening credits rolled, the names of various producers appeared alongside the music.

The beats were tightly layered.

Shi Xing chaotically called out Chi Yao’s name, his face rubbing against the other’s neck.

The music faded out.

Shi Xing’s eyes were clouded, his mind in a daze, thinking,

The Prince’s fingers are really long.

Just when Shi Xing lifted his head, wanting to continue the kiss, the hand that was gripping his waist loosened, and the sticky sound of water echoed faintly, producing a pop as they separated.

Chi Yao pushed Shi Xing away slightly, “Let’s save it until after the maturity period.”

“?”

Shi Xing blinked, his vision gradually clearing.

Realizing afterward, just a moment ago, he… had unconsciously absorbed most of the Prince’s mental power.

Technically, they hadn’t even formally started yet.