It might be due to not resting properly for too long that this sleep felt particularly prolonged for Gaien, who didn’t wake up until noon the next day. He held Han Yan tightly in the blankets, unconsciously nuzzling him a couple of times, his voice hoarse:
“My lord…”
Han Yan had woken up earlier, holding a book in his hand, and had been reading for quite a while. Upon hearing Gaien’s voice, he moved the pages of the book aside and glanced down at the disheveled silver hair in his embrace.
Han Yan softly asked, “Awake now?”
Gaien buried his face in Han Yan’s chest, nodding slightly, while reaching under the pillow for his terminal. Still groggy, he glanced at the time and realized it was already noon, twelve o’clock.
“12 o’clock?”
Gaien paused for a moment, obviously surprised by how long he had slept. His mind, which had been hazy just a moment ago, instantly cleared, and he subconsciously sat up in bed.
Han Yan raised an eyebrow lightly, “What are you doing?”
It was purely a reflex for Gaien. After all, he had spent a long time in the military camp, and he could count on one hand the number of times he had slept in. Hearing Han Yan’s words, he belatedly realized that he was back home now, in a state of vacation.
Gaien wasn’t wearing any clothes, so he simply crawled back under the covers. He whispered to Han Yan, “Sorry, are you hungry? I’ll go downstairs and prepare lunch for you.”
Breakfast was definitely out of the question, but they could still manage lunch if they hurried. Gaien thought to himself that he had indeed spent too much time in the forest, letting his guard down mentally. He had even forgotten something as basic as preparing breakfast for Han Yan.
Han Yan wasn’t terribly hungry, but seeing that it wasn’t early anymore, he sat up from the bed. He grabbed the clothes nearby and put them on, then gently patted Gaien, who was curled up under the covers like a caterpillar, indicating for him to get up. “Let’s go, we’ll eat out for lunch today. I need to go back to the office in the afternoon anyway.”
Han Yan actually had a meeting scheduled for this morning, but considering the circumstances, it was temporarily postponed. He could go in the afternoon instead.
Gaien, upon hearing this, didn’t think much of it. He was just about to find some clothes to put on when he was caught off guard by Han Yan, who pulled him into his embrace. Confused, he asked, “My lord?”
Han Yan didn’t say anything, only stating, “You’re coming with me.”
Gaien questioned, “To eat?”
Han Yan turned his head to look at him, his eyes behind the lenses a gray-blue hue, revealing nothing of his thoughts. Finally, he whispered three words, “To the office.”
It seemed like ages ago when Han Yan had uttered those words to Gaien, yet Gaien had never set foot in his company. Now, all the zergs in the business world had witnessed Han Yan’s ambition and assets, except for his monarch, which seemed somewhat unfair.
For the first time, Gaien didn’t refuse. He nodded and retrieved a clean and tidy outfit from the wardrobe, then went to the bathroom to freshen up and change clothes before heading out with Han Yan.
The snow outside had stopped, but it was still cold, creating a stark contrast with the warmth of the room. As the chilly wind blew, Gaien’s mind felt refreshingly clear.
As Gaien and Han Yan arrived at the commercial area near the company, they had initially thought that on such a cold day, there wouldn’t be many zergs out. However, they found the restaurants packed to the brim, bustling with an unusual liveliness, making it impossible to find a place to sit.
Han Yan didn’t mind waiting a bit longer. He chose a restaurant, took a number tag, and then sat with Gaien in the waiting area. The surrounding hustle and bustle engulfed them, dispersing some of the winter’s loneliness.
It was Gaien’s first time in such an environment with Han Yan, and he couldn’t help but feel a bit strange, yet he didn’t dislike it. He lowered his gaze, studying Han Yan’s left hand, as if a cub who had just received a beloved toy, content to sit there and play all day.
Han Yan sat with his legs crossed, his handsome and refined appearance attracting many glances. However, he simply closed his eyes to rest, until a sudden collision against his shin jolted him awake.
The restaurant was crowded, and inevitably, there were a few mischievous zergs running around. One chubby little cub somehow bumped into Han Yan’s leg, then plopped onto the ground with a thud. Looking bewildered, he sat there, unsure whether to cry, his large eyes darting around.
Gaien grabbed the cub by the collar and effortlessly lifted him up from the ground, his voice low and stern, “Little one, you just bumped into my lord.”
The little cub flapped his short legs in the air, realizing he couldn’t break free. He looked up at Gaien with puppy eyes, nibbling on his fingers, and whispered softly, “Handsome brother, I’m sorry.”
It was a cute and clever little female zerg.
Seeing this, Gaien released him back onto the ground and gently pinched his chubby cheeks, a hint of a smile crossing his red eyes. “Be careful when you walk.”
Han Yan watched the scene unfold, and for some reason, his heart softened for a moment. He couldn’t help but reach out and touch Gaien’s cheek. The texture was delicate and soft, prompting the female zerg to look at him with confusion. “My lord?”
Han Yan withdrew his hand. “It’s nothing.”
Unconsciously, Han Yan’s fingertips continued to rub against Gaien’s cheek, still retaining a hint of warmth.
Before long, it was their turn to be seated in the restaurant as their number was called. The waiter escorted Han Yan and Gaien to their table and presented them with a delicate menu, smiling as he made a recommendation, “Your Excellency, since we’re nearing the end of the year, our restaurant has specially launched a couple’s love-themed set menu. Originally priced at three thousand star coins, it’s now available for just one thousand two hundred and fifty-eight, and it comes with a limited edition heart-shaped crystal ball as a gift.”
Han Yan didn’t want to order it. They had partnerships with most restaurants in the area through their company, and these types of set menus were simply meant to rip off unsuspecting couples. Whoever buys them ends up losing.
But seeing Gaien silent, Han Yan seemed somewhat inclined.
The phrase “limited edition” was irresistible to the Zerg race, and Gaien couldn’t resist those pretty little things either.
After a brief silence, Han Yan finally relented and said to the waiter, “We’ll have one.”
The cycle of fate was indeed relentless; no matter how you try to avoid it, you always end up being taken advantage of.
When the meal was served, the waiter, with keen eyesight, placed the heart-shaped crystal ball in front of Gaien and said with a beaming smile, “Sir, wishing you and your lord plenty of love in the new year.”
While Han Yan remained indifferent to the sales pitch while eating, Gaien, upon hearing the word “love” was momentarily stunned. He lowered his head, absentmindedly rubbing the crystal ball in his hand, lost in thought.
Han Yan noticed that sometimes Gaien acted like a stubborn child, completely engrossed in whatever caught his interest. He lightly tapped the table to get Gaien’s attention. “Let’s eat. The food is getting cold.”
Gaien snapped out of his reverie at Han Yan’s words. He handed the crystal ball decorated with a red heart to Han Yan. “My lord, this thing is very beautiful.”
Han Yan glanced at the crystal ball, not finding it particularly remarkable, but he still nodded. “Keep it if you like.”
However, Gaien didn’t put it away. He placed it within easy reach, between himself and Han Yan, where he could see it with just a glance.
The long-awaited meal was quiet yet cozy. Despite not saying much, it felt good just to be together.
When it came time to pay, Han Yan pulled out a gold card from his jacket pocket. Instead of directly calling the waiter, he flicked it between his fingers for a moment before placing it on the table, pushing it discreetly towards Gaien. “Go settle the bill. The PIN is the same as before.”
Gaien shook his head slightly. “It’s okay, I brought my card.”
It wasn’t right for the male zerg to pay when they were dining together. As he finished speaking, Gaien pulled out his chair, preparing to go to the front desk to pay. However, Han Yan unexpectedly repeated himself, “Use this card to pay.”
Han Yan sat calmly in his seat, gazing at the beautiful red eyes of his monarch. He leisurely spun the wedding ring on his ring finger and said, word by word, “This card belongs to you from now on.”
This supplementary card was linked to Han Yan’s main card, allowing the holder to share his astonishing wealth. It had been prepared for a long time, but it had never been given out.
For someone like Han Yan, a cunning businessman, this gesture was quite difficult. After all, he was greedy yet stingy, hypocritical yet selfish. Money was like his flesh and blood; even cutting a small piece would cause him pain.
Gaien shouldn’t refuse.
He shouldn’t refuse a gift from a miserly person, especially one that was rarely given.
Gaien belatedly realized what Han Yan’s gesture represented. He slowly reached out his hand and took the cold, golden card, seeming somewhat uncertain. “Is this card for me?”
Han Yan replied calmly, “It’s for you.”
Gaien’s eyelashes fluttered. “For me?”
Han Yan, patient as ever, affirmed, “For you.”
“…”
Oh.
Gaien didn’t say anything in the end. He got up and went to settle the bill with the golden card in hand. At that moment, no one knew what was going through his mind.
Han Yan waited for Gaien to finish paying and then left the restaurant together with him. He seemed afraid that Gaien might run off midway, holding his hand tightly all the way until they entered the company’s gates. Only then did he let go.
As lunch break had just ended, the company employees were already busy at their desks, handling their tasks. They all instinctively straightened up when they saw the big boss, Han Yan, coming in, so as not to be mistaken for slacking off. However, they were surprised to see a beautiful silver-haired female zerg following behind him, looking quite unfamiliar.
Johnny happened to walk out from inside and was surprised and somewhat delighted when he unexpectedly saw the two of them. “Huh, Gaien, when did you come back from the forest? I had no idea.”
Well, he had no idea, especially with a prince as a monarch by his side.
Gaien hadn’t seen Johnny for a while and was surprised by his carefree demeanor. “I came back last night. I didn’t get a chance to tell you guys.”
Johnny shook his head. “You rarely come back, and yet the boss didn’t even take a day off to spend time with you. He didn’t come to work this morning, so I thought he was taking a day off. Turns out, he just dragged you to the company directly.”
Han Yan didn’t appreciate Johnny’s chatter and gave him a brief glance. “Are you idle?”
Johnny choked a bit. “No, not at all. I’m busy.”
Han Yan glanced at the time on his terminal. “Notify everyone. We’ll have a meeting in the conference room in an hour. Make sure they’re not late.”
After his words, he took Gaien’s hand and led him into his office in full view of everyone, shutting the door behind them, thus blocking out the scene inside.
Unlike Han Yan’s aloofness, Johnny, the manager, always took a friendly approach. When the employees saw the big boss bringing a military-uniformed female zerg into the office, they all popped their heads out of their cubicles like meerkats.
“Manager, manager, who was that military female just now? The boss seemed very familiar with him.”
“Yeah, we’ve never seen the boss being so intimate with anyone before. Could that be his partner?”
Johnny grinned and snapped his fingers. “You guessed it right. He’s my big brother’s partner.”
Han Yan was handsome and wealthy, and many female zergs in the company harbored feelings for him. Johnny, well aware of this, leaned on his desk partition with a meaningful look. “Hey, don’t blame me for not warning you. Don’t try to get close to my big brother from now on. His partner is the Eighth Prince of the Empire, about to be promoted to the rank of lieutenant general. Anyone who doesn’t match up to my big brother’s standards won’t even catch his eye. You’d better give up early.”
Some female zergs were unwilling to accept this, saying sourly, “But I heard the Eighth Prince is a cripple.”
Johnny glanced at the female zerg who spoke and silently noted down his employee ID number, planning to report him to Han Yan later. However, he still maintained a smiling demeanor. “Even if he’s a cripple, he’s still better than you. Can you go to the battlefield and fight?”
The employees who could stay in Han Yan’s company were not necessarily exceptionally intelligent, but the vast majority had brains. As soon as they heard Johnny’s words, they understood everything. They chimed in agreement:
“Yeah, and when the Eighth Prince walks, he doesn’t really look like he’s limping.”
“No wonder we’ve never seen the boss’s partner. Turns out he’s out there fighting on the battlefield.”
“The Eighth Prince being promoted to Imperial Lieutenant General at such a young age is truly a match made in heaven with our boss!”
Johnny witnessed so many bootlickers for the first time, and inwardly sighed at the sight. They usually seemed so honest, but it turned out they were all just skilled flatterers. If he had even half their skills, he wouldn’t have to toil away here.
“Alright, get back to work, and remember we have a meeting in an hour.”
The office door was soundproof, so Han Yan naturally couldn’t hear the discussions outside. In fact, he also noticed that Gaien’s legs seemed to be in better condition than before. At least he seemed much steadier when walking.
Han Yan had Gaien sit on his office desk and ran his fingertips down Gaien’s calf, inch by inch, as if checking something. Finally, he paused at the knee and applied pressure—
Gaien’s muscles tensed unconsciously for a moment, and he let out a muffled groan of pain.
Han Yan released his hand upon seeing this and gently massaged the area. “Does it hurt a lot?”
Gaien shook his head. “It’s much better now, not as painful as before.”
He couldn’t shake the feeling that Han Yan was helping him with his leg, but Han Yan never admitted to it.
Han Yan had been pondering the next steps for treatment. At first, he didn’t hold much hope, but the regenerative abilities of an S-Class royal zerg were far better than he had imagined. At this rate of progress, even if Gaien’s leg injury couldn’t fully recover, it could at least improve by seventy to eighty percent.
For the first time, Han Yan spoke up, “It will gradually return to normal in the future.”
Today, he was unusually generous, finally giving Gaien some hope.
Gaien had noticed the changes in his right leg back in the forest, so hearing this statement didn’t surprise him too much. Upon hearing it, he unconsciously touched his right knee. “Are you referring to my leg?”
Han Yan nodded.
Gaien’s pocket contained something bulky. Han Yan guessed right away that he must have brought back the gift from the restaurant. He reached into the pocket and, as expected, found a red heart-shaped crystal ball.
Han Yan played with it between his fingertips and raised an eyebrow. “Do you really like this?”
Gaien nodded, but his response was off-topic. “Yes, I like you.”
Han Yan paused at Gaien’s words, subconsciously raising his eyes to look at him. He found Gaien smiling at him, with an unmistakable expression of affection in his eyes.
Han Yan’s voice was low, “I didn’t ask you about that.”
Gaien nodded. “I know. I like you.”
He repeated it again.
“…”
Han Yan didn’t respond. Outside the window, snowflakes filled the sky silently. He tightened his fingertips, silently enclosing the small heart-shaped crystal ball in his palm.
He applied a bit too much force, causing a slight discomfort.
Gaien leaned in closer to him, almost touching his nose. His silver hair fell softly, brushing against Han Yan’s skin and causing a gentle tickle. “My lord, if my right leg gets better…”
He paused for a moment before continuing, “Would you like me more?”
Han Yan didn’t speak. He gently pulled Gaien down from the table, making the female zerg sit face to face on his lap. He raised his hand to brush away the stray hair in front of Gaien’s eyes, then touched the red mole below the corner of his eye. He made many gentle gestures and pondered for a long time, but still didn’t know how to answer Gaien’s question.
What is love?
Han Yan wondered.
He vaguely understood that Gaien’s “like” was different from the liking for ordinary objects, it was more sincere and passionate, more complex and profound.
Han Yan had never experienced this kind of emotion in the first half of his life, to the point where he couldn’t speak for a while.
Gaien lowered his head, pressing against Han Yan’s nose, and asked seriously, “My lord, do you like me?”
Do you like me?
“Hush, don’t ask.”
Han Yan finally spoke softly, reaching out to pull Gaien into his embrace, giving him an exceptionally warm hug in this cold season.
What exactly is love? Perhaps no one can say for sure, and Han Yan couldn’t explain it either. People are simple-minded, so why bother pursuing an answer.
Han Yan only knew that he had given Gaien a unique ring, that he had never touched any other female zerg, that he allowed Gaien to share his wealth, and that he allowed Gaien to sit on that leg, which no one else was allowed to touch.
His entire life’s desires were all tied to him.
This burden was heavier than any affection.
Gaien, why ask again…
Han Yan raised his hand, took off his cold glasses, and placed a gentle kiss on the female zerg’s cheek, whispering softly near her ear, “Don’t ask.”
He knew Gaien would understand. Not denying was the best answer.
Gaien paused at the words, as if understanding something. He reached out, encircling Han Yan’s neck and leaning on the male zerg’s shoulder, smiling in a place where Han Yan couldn’t see. “Alright, I won’t ask anymore.”
He wouldn’t ask anymore, he already knew the answer.
Han Yan’s temperament was always peculiar; it didn’t matter if he didn’t say. There were still many days ahead, and he would find a way to make the male zerg say it in the end.
Han Yan wordlessly held Gaien tightly, as if embracing all his wealth. In his calculated and pragmatic life, there was finally something he didn’t need to calculate to obtain.
Outside the window, heavy snow fell, carried by the cold wind from who knows how many miles away. It passed through mountains, rivers, and the years’ decay, finally choosing to settle here.
He had seen the most beautiful scenery in the world, and stepped into the darkest and most damp corners, but in the end, he still found your embrace to be the warmest. So, he traveled thousands of miles to stand before you.
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