Ji Yu and the others waited until deep into the night but still didn’t see them return.
Past midnight, Ling Nian stood up and walked towards the bedroom. “Looks like they’re having a great time.”
“Nobody’s answering the comms either…” Ji Yu sighed, getting up as well. “Nan, let’s go. We should head back to our room.”
Having just come down from Ye An’s spaceship, they didn’t believe they would encounter any danger again, especially here on Touban Star, inside the Chengyang Military Academy.
Thinking about it this way, they felt at ease. The three of them tidied up and went back to their rooms.
In another dormitory, after successfully completing a game with his teammates in the aerial garden and receiving the rewards, Si Wo Lin smiled as he collected the rewards.
His roommates exchanged glances. “Si Wo Lin, how’s your relationship with them?”
In reality, asking this question was somewhat redundant. Anyone who knew Si Wo Lin could see the change in him. He had become much more cheerful, which was quite surprising for someone who had been shy for a long time.
“It’s great. We get along really well,” Si Wo Lin replied sincerely. “They are all fantastic people, and we have a great time together.”
His roommates gathered around him, curious. “But strong individuals usually have some quirks in private. They don’t have any peculiar habits or temper issues?”
Si Wo Lin didn’t hesitate for a moment as he shook his head. “No, they don’t. Of course not. They are the best teammates in the world, the best people!”
Si Wo Lin’s unwavering support for the Dream Team made his roommates wonder if he had been brainwashed by them. “Are you sure? Not even little quirks like who has the shortest temper or who’s the most timid?”
Of course, there are some quirks.
But Si Wo Lin was determined to maintain his teammates’ image. “None at all.”
Considering his reputation for being honest and reliable, his roommates had no reason to doubt him. They couldn’t help but marvel at the seemingly perfect Dream Team. “They’re strong, good-looking, and not just good-looking, but without any flaws.”
Si Wo Lin not only enjoyed shipping his teammates but also loved hearing others praise them. He was in a great mood listening to his roommates’ compliments about the team, and his smile grew wider.
However, the most praised members were still Li ZouXing and Gu WenCheng.
Not only were they the strongest in the team due to their formidable mental abilities, but they were also the main attackers when it came to defeating the female SwordShell Beast.
They had watched the Dream Team’s strongest squad competition, and they couldn’t be prouder. “Seven out of the top ten positions in the Daystar competition were taken by our school. That’s a remarkable achievement.”
What surprised them even more was that not a single member of the Dream Team was eliminated!
However, those who had watched the entire livestream had no doubts about this. Anyone with eyes could see the vast difference in their abilities compared to others.
“But I saw a lot of discussions about Gu WenCheng and Li ZouXing on StarNet,” one of his roommates scoffed. “They make the friendship between men sound so simple. They just held their breath underwater. If our brothers were in danger, not to mention kissing, they could even dress up as women for them!”
“Yeah, what’s the big deal? It’s as if they can’t bear to be seen taking a breath for their teammates to save them.”
Si Wo Lin’s three perspectives on life were about to be shattered by this boastful talk. So, this was what friendship among boys was like?
He went to bed with this question on his mind, and the next morning, he went to find Ji Yu and the others. As soon as he entered the room, he saw Gu WenCheng pinning Li ZouXing against the wall, keeping the other within his own area.
Li ZouXing turned his face slightly, his handsome face full of embarrassment. “Don’t do this, WenCheng.”
His ears were turning red, and this shy and straightforward look made Gu WenCheng extremely fond of him. He continued to approach, forcefully closing the distance, leaving only a few centimeters between their faces. “Baby, now that our relationship is established, are you still insisting on the ten-day agreement?”
In this position, Gu WenCheng didn’t actually need to exert any force; his whole body had gone soft, and he could only rely on his invisible mental power to support himself. He used this dominance to get closer to Li ZouXing, teasingly lingering beside his face.
Li ZouXing lowered his head, and he could see all the marks left behind from last night’s frenzy peeking out from under Gu WenCheng’s collar. “…”
It was quite wild.
All the swollen areas had swollen, and the parts that had been damaged were already repaired thanks to Gu WenCheng’s NK-03. The remaining marks were all evidence of their wild night.
One night.
A night that could torment someone to death.
He had tested it many times, verifying just how many drops of sweat Gu WenCheng’s lower back could hold.
His gaze rested on Gu WenCheng, who felt extremely satisfied with this and provocatively asked, “After I made you endure all night, why are you still looking?”
“Because it looks so pitiful,” Li ZouXing cleared his throat, “Is it still hurting now?”
Gu WenCheng revealed a nostalgic expression, “Don’t worry, I’m fine. If you’re not satisfied yet, I can accompany you for another night.”
What they said on StarNet was really true: there was no land left for plowing, only exhausted oxen. Gu WenCheng sighed inwardly; he felt fine now, but who knew if one day Li ZouXing would really tire him to death. After all, the young man was vigorous, fast, and had remarkable stamina.
Li ZouXing continued to be bashful. “…I’ve had enough.”
“Don’t hold back, my dear,” Gu WenCheng lowered his voice, “After all, we’re already lovers who’ve crossed the point of no return.”
Now that their relationship was firmly established, their gazes were filled with tenderness. The air was charged with an electrifying atmosphere, sending shivers down their spines. Images of last night’s passionate moments kept flashing in their minds, and their bodies still remembered the sensation of that all-consuming pleasure.
Even now, while they were sated, their desire grew even more urgent. How much was enough, and when would it ever be enough?
The tattoo on Li ZouXing’s back, Gu WenCheng loved that spot. When the young man’s back muscles tensed with suppressed excitement, that tattoo seemed to come alive on his skin.
The entire room was vibrant, and no one could stop.
Gu WenCheng licked his lips, which were swollen, and said, “You enjoy being with me, don’t you?”
He continued to press closer to Li ZouXing, and as he lingered near his face, Li ZouXing couldn’t help but be teased. The ripe desire between them oozed out like a fragrant and irresistible fruit, and Li ZouXing reveled in it. His cheeks blushed deeply, causing Gu WenCheng’s heart to race.
Then, with a faint voice, Si Wo Lin greeted, “Good morning?”
Li ZouXing and Gu WenCheng turned their heads to look at Si Wo Lin simultaneously. The atmosphere remained silent for three seconds, and then they gracefully released each other.
However, this movement rekindled the sensation in Gu WenCheng’s rear. Although he wasn’t injured, the lingering feeling of having a foreign object there was hard to dispel.
But darn it, Gu WenCheng had finally felt like that area was getting a bit bigger, and then this morning when Li ZouXing checked his wound, he discovered that the area affected by NK-03 had miraculously returned to its original state.
Li ZouXing’s expression at that moment was complex, a mixture of joy and depth. It was the first time he truly understood the magic of NK-03.
After all, if it was always like this, it would be both painful and pleasurable forever.
The pleasure would be doubled.
How many ukes wished to become like this, but it had fallen upon Gu WenCheng, who cared about both front and back equally.
“Good morning,” Li ZouXing greeted Si Wo Lin with a solemn wave of his hand, “Don’t mind us, we’re rehearsing a script.”
Too adorable.
Gu WenCheng stared at his hand and felt his heart turn into a puddle of water.
Si Wo Lin looked puzzled. “Script?”
“WenCheng wanted a plant ring made with those eternal flower pistils,” Li ZouXing explained as he led him to the dining table, “He doesn’t have a girlfriend, so he had to borrow me. Have you eaten?”
“Not yet,” Si Wo Lin replied, lips curving into a smile as he took a seat at the table. “And what about Ji Yu and the others?”
“They’re getting up,” Gu WenCheng lazily reclined on the sofa, his beautiful eyes circling Li ZouXing, “Si Wo Lin, do you think that me and ZouXing, as partners, can become the number one best couple?”
Si Wo Lin finally understood what Li ZouXing meant by borrowing. He remembered his roommate’s words from last night, “If necessary, I can also be a woman for my brothers.” Now, surprisingly, he accepted it quite calmly. “Of course, you can.”
However, he couldn’t help but ask, “You’re both guys, would the organizers allow you to participate?”
And something just didn’t seem right. If needed, Gu WenCheng was so handsome that it should be easy to find a girl willing to compete with him. Why go to ZouXing and make it more complicated?
Li ZouXing raised an eyebrow, bringing the warm dishes from the kitchen. “There’s always a way to solve it.”
When Mr. Star Thief wants to participate in a competition, who can stop him?
The aroma of the food distracted Si Wo Lin from his thoughts. After tasting a spoonful of the porridge, he was pleasantly surprised. “It’s delicious!”
He looked at Gu WenCheng with bright eyes. “Did you make this, WenCheng?”
Gu WenCheng nodded with a smile. This was a celebration.
Si Wo Lin was immersed in the delicious meal and touched by the gesture. Ji Yu and the others emerged from their rooms, still half-asleep. The scent of the food quickly brought them back to reality, and they joined the scramble for food.
“Where were you guys last night?” Xi Nan asked with a mouthful of food, sounding a bit groggy. “We waited for you for a long time!”
So, there were people waiting outside while they were busy inside?
Li ZouXing sincerely thanked the versatility of mental powers. “I went for a walk and lost track of time.”
Ling Nian gave him a skeptical look. Was it okay to take a walk in bed?
Even Gu WenCheng’s mental power took a little stroll in his body.
Ling Nian withdrew his gaze and elegantly and quickly began eating his own meal. “What’s on your neck?”
The others curiously looked at Li ZouXing’s neck, where there was a faint mark, along with several red dots.
“Are you allergic?” Ji Yu furrowed his brows in concern. “What’s the allergen?”
Li ZouXing instinctively covered his neck and didn’t say anything when his teammates exclaimed, “There are red dots and bite marks on your fingers too!”
Gu WenCheng felt a bit uneasy and turned his face slightly, his cheeks reddening.
Fortunately, the teammates didn’t inquire further about this matter. Li ZouXing gave a few vague explanations, and after finishing their meal, they prepared to go to the training room. However, they received a last-minute communication request from Prince Yin Sa.
The communication request appeared on Li ZouXing’s light brain, and the members of the Dream Team exchanged glances, unsure why the little prince wanted to speak with them.
Li ZouXing accepted the request, and the screen immediately displayed Yin Sa’s charming, shallow dimpled face.
“Good morning,” Yin Sa said with a smile. “I hope I’m not interrupting your time.”
“Not at all,” Li ZouXing replied. “Is there something you need?”
“Do you know Colonel Raymond?” the young prince asked.
They all shook their heads in unison.
Yin Sa nodded knowingly, then chuckled while covering his mouth for a while before finally revealing, “I wanted to inform you in advance so you can prepare. Tonight, my brother will extend an invitation on behalf of my father for dinner at the palace. I hope we’ll have a pleasant evening.”
After he ended the communication, the group stood there, lost in thought.
Given their recent encounter with Jin Di, they had become more sensitive to various types of information from the outside world. Even Xi Nan, who used to be rather carefree, had learned to think about the hidden meanings behind people’s words.
They had heard of Colonel Raymond’s reputation as a formidable drill instructor, known for leading one of the fastest-promoting and most dangerous units in the entire Imperial Army.
So why did Prince Yin Sa single him out? And why did Prince Nico want to invite them to dine with him?
“Well, friends,” Gu WenCheng said, lowering his hand, “you won’t get to taste my cooking tonight.”
His teammates groaned and sighed in response.
“That’s not all,” Ling Nian added after reading Colonel Raymond’s profile. He sighed again. “You’ll also need to learn royal dining etiquette today, so there’s no need to go to the training room.”
With formal attire and various other preparations in mind, Ling Nian’s head was filled with things to do.
A headache.
As Ling Nian and the group were busy preparing, Prince Nico personally sent them an invitation on behalf of Emperor Kate at noon. By three o’clock in the afternoon, a royal spacecraft adorned with the imperial emblem had landed just outside the gates of Chengyang Military Academy.
The appearance of the royal spacecraft immediately caught the attention of the school’s staff who were still present. It was only after the school administrators rushed to the scene that they learned about the royal invitation for the Dream Team to dine at the Imperial Palace.
They concealed their astonishment, dispersed the curious students around, and sent someone to urge the Dream Team.
In no time, the Dream Team arrived.
The six young men were dressed especially attractively, with their uniforms replaced by black formal attire. Military academy students had tall and slender physiques, and they looked impressive in whatever they wore. The school administrators nodded in approval, wearing smiles as they escorted the students away.
It was an honor for the entire school that the royal family had invited their students for dinner.
The Capital Star wasn’t far from Touban Star, but flying there would mean missing dinner. After they boarded the spaceship, the escort team initiated a spatial jump. Ten minutes later, they arrived at the Imperial Palace on the Capital Star.
Prince Yin Sa was personally waiting for them. Upon seeing them, he praised, “You all seem to have grown even taller since we last met.”
Boys cared a lot about their height, and the members of the Dream Team were about to make a jest in response. However, upon observing that Prince Yin Sa’s height hadn’t changed a bit, they wisely kept silent.
“I watched your last competition from start to finish,” Prince Yin Sa said. “I have to thank you for taking care of the students from our Royal Academy.”
He was referring, of course, to Ren Yingying. Xi Nan couldn’t resist teasing, “She seems quite timid, but I never thought I’d lose to her while listening to ZouXing’s ghost stories.”
Teammates glanced at him, thinking, “With you crying like that, it’s probably harder to compete with you, right?”
Prince Yin Sa gave Gu WenCheng a curious look and couldn’t resist asking, “My dear Gu WenCheng, I’ve heard quite a bit about you and Ren Qingying at school. I heard she’s crazily infatuated with you?”
The prince clearly had a mischievous tone. Gu WenCheng smiled faintly and replied calmly, “Your Highness, please don’t spread rumors. After all, I have a beloved lover whom I hold close to my heart. If he were to hear these rumors, he would be quite distressed. You see, my darling has a strong possessive streak, which often troubles me.”
Li ZouXing gave him a glance, and Gu WenCheng winked at him.
Gu WenCheng wished Li ZouXing’s possessiveness were truly that deep.
Prince Yin Sa widened his eyes. “You actually have a girlfriend?”
Gu WenCheng remained enigmatic.
Teammates had question marks floating over their heads and concluded that Gu WenCheng was just showing off. Where could he have a girlfriend, especially a dream girlfriend? It was probably just an excuse to fend off admirers, not to be taken seriously.
In the opulent and splendid dining hall, Emperor Kate was smiling as he watched them approach. The group paid their respects, and then they were seated with the royal envoy. Both princes, along with a princess, sat on the Emperor’s left side. When the Dream Team took their seats, the right side of Emperor Kate was already occupied by a high-ranking military officer.
The moment they saw the senior officer, they recognized him as Colonel Raymond.
Colonel Raymond had a kindly face, but his presence exuded great authority. He nodded in their direction as a gesture of acknowledgment while discreetly observing them.
“No need to be too formal,” Emperor Kate chuckled. “When our family dines together, we always have a lot to talk about. Except for Raymond and your first meeting, the rest of us have met before. So, please relax as much as possible.”
“We will,” Li ZouXing replied. He had no particular reverence for the royal family, as he had never been exposed to the concept of royalty. Therefore, he felt genuinely at ease, displaying a casual yet appropriate demeanor.
Gu WenCheng liked this version of him, unable to resist keeping his gaze fixed on Li ZouXing, who shone like a radiant sun. In the very first moment Li ZouXing looked at him, he immediately whispered, “Is the cushion still comfortable?”
This feeling of being cared for constantly, of being held close to someone’s heart, was exceptionally sweet. Gu WenCheng nodded slightly, suppressing the curve of his lips. “Thank you for your concern. I’m fine.”
“If you feel uncomfortable anywhere, please let me know promptly,” Li ZouXing looked at him with concern. “And remember not to eat spicy food.”
Oh my.
His lover was the best in the world. Even after being the one on the receiving end all night, he still cared about him.
Prince Nico smiled and said, “I was quite fascinated by the worldview in your ghost stories.”
“Do you want to hear more?” Li ZouXing smiled. “These stories are ones I’ve heard from others by chance.”
Prince Nico was tempted, but he glanced at his father, who seemed somewhat reluctant. He sighed, “Next time, we must experience the feelings brought by ghost stories in person.”
The food had yet to arrive and to avoid offending the princess, the six boys of the Dream Team had hardly cast a glance in her direction. However, after a while, the princess herself approached Li ZouXing, holding her skirt with a smile as she invited him to dance, “After one dance, it will be time for dinner. Would you be interested in a pre-meal dance with me?”
Gu WenCheng’s smile deepened, and he deftly folded the tablecloth in his lap.
Emperor Kate expressed his delight, “Of course, you can dance. My dear, I haven’t seen you so enthusiastic in a long time.”
Li ZouXing had no choice but to accept. He stood up, took the princess’s hand, and moved to an open space nearby to start the dance.
The princess suddenly said, “I know you have a girlfriend.”
At such a close distance, the concealed kiss marks were clearly visible. Li ZouXing offered an apologetic smile, “I apologize if it appears that way.”
“Your relationship must be very good,” the fair-haired princess sighed, her eyes filled with melancholy. “You can rest assured, I don’t have any feelings in that regard towards you. In fact, I asked you to dance with me just because I wanted to get to know your teammates.”
Her fair complexion tinged with red, and she looked shy as she continued, “You seem to be the most approachable one among them. Could you tell me the name of the person sitting next to you?”
Li ZouXing unintentionally tightened his grip on her hand for a moment, then relaxed it, forcing a false smile, “Are you referring to the person sitting to my right or left?”
Gu WenCheng was seated to his right.
Li ZouXing never underestimated his appeal to women.
Darn it.
Encountering admirers even while having a meal was causing Li ZouXing great annoyance.
The princess lowered her voice further, “The one sitting to your left, he fascinates me.”
Left side.
Li ZouXing’s expression tensed for a moment before relaxing. “Are you talking about… Ling Nian?”
“Is he Ling Nian?” The princess blushed this time. “Please don’t misunderstand. I meant the gentleman who looks difficult to approach and expressionless.”
That had to be Ling Nian.
“He doesn’t have a girlfriend,” Li ZouXing replied with a perfunctory bow, a smile on his face. “I wish you good luck.”
After finishing the dance, he returned to his seat feeling refreshed. He was about to tell Gu WenCheng some gossip about Ling Nian when he noticed something was off.
It wasn’t just Gu WenCheng who seemed off; everyone at the table was looking at him with a mixture of ambiguity and teasing.
Prince Nico’s previous admiration had turned into a scrutinizing look, and even Emperor Kate was not an exception.
To others, they only saw the blushing cheeks of the princess and Li ZouXing’s smiling face.
Li ZouXing’s expression froze.
Gu WenCheng muttered to himself, using his mental power to transmit his words to Li ZouXing’s ear.
“Am I not satisfying you?”
“Or have you discovered that you prefer prettier girls?”
The protagonist smiled but his eyes were dark and profound. “Do I need to lock you in a room and completely possess you for you to only love me, to only see me?”
Li ZouXing sighed, “I…”
“I’m restless.”
Gu WenCheng locked eyes with him, and in those youthful eyes, there was a level of complexity usually found in adults. “Don’t make me feel this restless, okay, ZouXing?”
Translator’s corner:
Hello nurse, he’s awake!
I hope Gu WenCheng won’t take the yandere path 😭
