The Yan family estate was truly enormous. The moment Lu Qiao stepped off the aircraft, he was stunned by the palace-like place and stood rooted to the spot.
Yan Qiu looked at him with a faintly amused smile. “What, gone stupid? Why are you standing there?”
……Lu Qiao hurriedly put away his country-bumpkin-in-the-city expression and followed Yan Qiu.
“Is your mom here?” he asked Yan Qiu.
“No, she’s still at the border. It’s just the two of us.” Yan Qiu walked beside him. “What do you want for dinner?”
“…Can I eat whatever I want?” Lu Qiao looked up—yes, the height difference between them had indeed grown even greater, which bothered Lu Qiao immensely.
Lu Qiao ate nutritional supplements most of the time and had not enjoyed a proper meal in a very long time, so Yan Qiu’s words sounded quite extravagant to him.
Yan Qiu still had that teasing expression. “That’s right. You can eat whatever you want.”
Lu Qiao swallowed and said hesitantly, “…Actually, just give me a nutritional supplement.”
Yan Qiu raised an eyebrow. “No. You can only eat a proper meal.”
Lu Qiao clutched his chest. The surprise had come too suddenly, and for a moment, he genuinely could not name a single dish.
The evening breeze blew over.
Lu Qiao’s hair had grown somewhat long. It was not completely dry yet, and the wind tousled it.
Yan Qiu gazed at the person beside him, raised a hand, and gently smoothed his hair. He repeated, “Whatever you want to eat, just say it. Lu Qiao, tell me the first food that came to mind.”
Lu Qiao gave up struggling. He hugged his stomach hungrily and drooled weakly. “I want fried chicken. An entire fried chicken, with crispy skin and lots of chili powder sprinkled on top!”
—It was indeed unhealthy, but since Yan Qiu had already made the promise, he indulged Lu Qiao.
The Yan family employed quite a few servants. Lu Qiao and Yan Qiu walked hand in hand into the villa, becoming the focus of attention along the way. Those gazes were either shocked, curious, or filled with gossip, making Lu Qiao somewhat embarrassed.
He glanced at the hand Yan Qiu was tightly holding, then at Yan Qiu’s calm and composed expression, feeling rather conflicted.
Before dinner, Yan Qiu had the butler bring a set of loungewear that Lu Qiao could wear. He then took Lu Qiao to the bathroom and had him dry his hair. Because the two of them could not separate, the man could only stand beside him, arms crossed as he waited, the tips of his toes touching Lu Qiao’s heels.
Lu Qiao stood before the mirror, drying his hair, with the buzzing sound of the hair dryer in his ears.
His hair really had grown long…… Over the past two years, the director had mostly helped trim his hair. Lu Qiao had tried doing it himself, but gave up after one attempt. The deputy director’s skills were somewhat questionable too. Once he could return to the training center, he would still have to trouble the director……
As he dried his hair and let his thoughts wander aimlessly, he inadvertently noticed the man’s gaze in the corner of the mirror and froze.
The bathroom lights were somewhat dim, the light hazy. In the mirror, the man’s features looked as though they had been painted, his gaze calm yet focused, staring straight at him……
Lu Qiao’s hand slowed.
After their eyes met in the mirror, the man showed no intention of looking away either.
The next second, the man lowered his arms and stepped closer.
He moved right up beside Lu Qiao, so close they were almost touching.
Lu Qiao’s back stiffened involuntarily.
In the mirror, the top of his head happened to brush against Yan Qiu’s chin.
The man silently covered the hand holding the hair dryer with his own, and Lu Qiao’s fingertips trembled.
……The next moment, the hair dryer in his hand was taken away, while the man’s other slender hand slipped into his hair.
The buzzing continued, but the man dried his hair even more gently than Lu Qiao himself had.
Lu Qiao came back to his senses and made a sound in his throat. “…I can do it myself.”
The man glanced at him. “Water droplets were splashing over here.”
Lu Qiao: “……”
Lu Qiao: “Uh, sorry.”
Wait, his short hair had been left to dry for so long, and water droplets were still splashing over there? Had they really splashed onto Yan Qiu’s side? He did not know…… so he could only obediently let Yan Qiu dry his hair.
Afterward, the butler handed clothes inside. It was a set of pajamas with buttons. Lu Qiao had just put on the shirt when the man turned to face him, lowered his eyes, and began buttoning it for him one button at a time.
Lu Qiao: “……”
He silently stared at the man.
The man did not even raise his eyelids. “Why are you looking at me? Get ready to put on your pants.”
Lu Qiao: “……”
……Was this really that natural?!
Lu Qiao was extremely shocked internally.
In his entire life, the only person who had ever provided this kind of service to him was his grandmother. So Yan Qiu was actually the type who took care of people like this? No way. He had never seen him like this five years ago!
After putting on his pants in a daze, Lu Qiao suddenly remembered something and hesitantly asked, “Did you…… take a shower?”
He had already showered and really did not want to take a second one. Besides, the two of them were locked together, so would they have to remain stuck together even while showering? That would be…… way too strange.
Lu Qiao could not help imagining the two of them, two grown men, covered in shower gel while still having to hold hands. The image in his head embarrassed him.
When Yan Qiu heard this, he glanced at him as though he knew exactly what Lu Qiao was thinking. His lips curved up, his smile somewhat meaningful.
Ah, he really had not showered! Lu Qiao cried out internally.
The next second, the man drawled, “I exercised before the meeting and showered afterward.”
Lu Qiao: “……”
Lu Qiao: “Then why were you smiling just now?”
Yan Qiu only smiled without answering. He took Lu Qiao’s hand again and led him to the dining room.
That guy was definitely teasing him!
When Lu Qiao finally sat comfortably at the dining table, an entire golden-brown fried chicken was placed in front of him. The chef had even prepared a small dish of chili powder according to his request, smiling cheerfully.
Lu Qiao had to admit, that chicken seemed to radiate a sacred light, illuminating his entire world!
However, an entire chicken compared to the small amount of noodles and lamb chops in front of Yan Qiu was rather excessive. Moreover, Yan Qiu showed no intention of sharing it with him, so Lu Qiao felt somewhat embarrassed about digging in.
The man beside him picked up his knife and fork, his voice low and gentle. “Weren’t you hungry? Eat.”
Seeing that Yan Qiu had already begun eating, Lu Qiao quietly said “Thank you” again and shyly put on a pair of disposable gloves.
His skin might be thin, but once he started eating, Lu Qiao could no longer care about such things. The crispy coating, the tender chicken meat—heaven. It was simply heaven!
Ah! Eating meat was truly blissful!
As he ate, Yan Qiu’s dark eyes shifted slightly. He remained outwardly composed, but his gaze seemed unable to tire as it slowly swept over every part of the person opposite him. Seeing Lu Qiao’s exaggerated expression as he ate the chicken, a hint of amusement appeared in his eyes.
“How long has it been since you last had a proper meal?”
Lu Qiao was thoroughly enjoying his food and answered without thinking, his words muffled. “Mm…… It was a month and a half ago!”
Yan Qiu’s movements stopped. His smile disappeared, and his brows furrowed.
Lu Qiao took two more bites before noticing Yan Qiu’s reaction. Seeing his expression, he froze, licked his lips, and looked away. “Nutritional supplements are more convenient……”
In the interstellar era, most people occasionally consumed nutritional supplements. Yan Qiu probably had not realized, when Lu Qiao mentioned nutritional supplements earlier, that they were actually his primary food most of the time.
But for someone living in poverty, this was also common……
That was right. Saying it was about convenience was merely a clumsy excuse to preserve his pride. In the end, it was because he was poor. How could Yan Qiu possibly not guess why he chose to consume nutritional supplements most of the time?
When Lu Qiao was still in school, he had not been this poor. His parents and grandmother had not left him much of an inheritance, but he worked part-time and could earn scholarships. After tuition and other living expenses, he could still save some money. However, genetic treatment was also expensive, and long-term use of genetic stabilizers was an even greater expense. Lu Qiao had therefore become completely broke in an instant.
He could use Yan Qiu’s money, but that was something he only borrowed when absolutely necessary. It was impossible for him to squander it. Therefore, as long as he could guarantee three meals a day, he would naturally choose the cheapest option.
Nutritional supplements might taste terrible, but at least they provided the basic nutrients.
If he had money to spare for lavish meals, he would not have treated himself so poorly……
Of course, what he was eating now was still the Yan family’s food.
Lu Qiao felt somewhat awkward. He could also tell that Yan Qiu was a little unhappy. Although he felt this was his own business and there was no reason for him to feel guilty merely because Yan Qiu had shown disapproval, he still became slightly uneasy.
This man had too strong a presence in his life. He always could not help caring about the other person’s reactions. He had not expected that this would remain unchanged even after five years.
He moved his lips, just about to find some topic to break the somewhat awkward atmosphere, when Yan Qiu lowered his eyes and spoke first.
He did not expose what Lu Qiao did not want to discuss. He merely said, “Eat slowly. Don’t choke.”
Lu Qiao froze and gave a dry response. “Oh……”
Then he silently tore at the chicken leg.
Unexpectedly, the man continued, “Starting tomorrow, tell the chef whatever you want to eat for all three meals.”
Lu Qiao looked up in astonishment. After coming back to his senses, he laughed. “Are you going to support me?”
Yan Qiu glanced at him. “It’s not like I can’t afford to.”
Lu Qiao: “……”
He watched as Yan Qiu resumed eating on his own and swallowed.
……He was teasing him again.
The Yan family estate was truly enormous, but at this moment, aside from the two of them, only the servants remained.
The Yan family was extremely famous throughout the entire Cosmic Alliance. The family had deep roots, and renowned generals had emerged from the family for generations. Almost all of their first-level genes were those of combat races. The first-level gene inherited by Yan Qiu’s branch from his father was the God of War race gene, currently the strongest known combat-race gene.
Yan Qiu’s father and mother were both military officers, one a marshal and the other a general. Yan’s mother was stationed at the border year-round and only occasionally returned. As for Yan’s father……
Five years ago, when Yan Qiu was about to enter the military, Yan’s father met with an accident and subsequently disappeared from public view.
In fact, people outside believed that Yan’s father had died on the battlefield five years ago. If Yan Qiu had not privately told Lu Qiao the truth that night, Lu Qiao would have thought the same.
But at most, he only knew that Yan’s father had not actually died. What had happened to that famous general and where he was now, Lu Qiao knew nothing about.
After dinner, it was already nine o’clock. It was somewhat late, so the two went directly back to Yan Qiu’s room.
When Lu Qiao saw the spacious bedroom, he muttered, “It’s as big as a classroom.”
They could practically have a fight in there.
Lu Qiao had an online job to do. His working hours were relatively flexible, and he did not have to log in every day, but he still asked Yan Qiu whether he could go onto the holographic network for a while.
Unexpectedly, ten minutes after he finished speaking, the butler had two people bring over a double-person holographic pod——
That was right. The butler explained with a smile that the Yan family did not have holographic helmets, only holographic pods. Now that Yan Qiu and Lu Qiao were locked together, they naturally had to lie inside the holographic pod together. The Yan family happened to have a two-person pod, too!
It was the husband-and-wife holographic pod that Yan Qiu’s parents had used!
After hearing the butler’s cheerful explanation, Lu Qiao stared at Yan Qiu with his mouth open.
Yan Qiu raised an eyebrow. “What?”
Lu Qiao: “……”
On the side of the husband-and-wife holographic pod meant for women, there was actually lace sewn around it!
Lu Qiao gave an awkward laugh. “That lace-covered side……”
Yan Qiu simply looked at him.
Lu Qiao: “Okay, got it. I’ll use this side.”
With that, he efficiently lay down amid the sea of lace, put on the headphones, closed his eyes, and folded his hands over his stomach, looking extremely proper and obedient.
Amusement spread through Yan Qiu’s eyes.
His fingertips brushed against Lu Qiao’s hair as he moved around to the other side and sat down. His body was consequently pressed against Lu Qiao’s side.
Beside Lu Qiao was a status button. After flashing red several times, it changed into a steady white light, indicating that Lu Qiao had officially entered the holographic network. All his senses in reality would consequently weaken.
Yan Qiu was just about to lie down when another call came in.
It was his mother calling. News traveled extremely quickly within the military, and his mother, who was at the border, already knew that he had been locked together with someone.
“Silly son, silly son,” Madam Qiu Yue’s voice was filled with teasing. “I heard about it! You’ve been locked together with a little boy, and apparently the boy is quite good-looking? It’s little Lu Qiao, right? I knew I couldn’t be wrong! Everyone online is saying that the people who got locked together all have something going on. The only person who could get locked together with you is little Lu Qiao. You two——”
“The thing you’re thinking about hasn’t happened yet.” Yan Qiu interrupted his mother’s fantasies.
“Oh? ‘Yet’? That ‘yet’ is very meaningful!”
Yan Qiu gently twirled a strand of Lu Qiao’s hair between his fingers. “Are you very free right now?”
“Wow, you won’t even let me ask?” Qiu Yue complained. “How tyrannical!”
“Mom.” Yan Qiu released the strand of hair from between his fingers, bent his index finger, and slowly traced the back of it down Lu Qiao’s cheek, gently rubbing along it. “Lu Qiao and I have only just reunited.”
Qiu Yue was finally quiet for two seconds.
Then she clicked her tongue and asked, “You mean it’ll still take a long time before I can find out what you two might develop into?”
The back of Yan Qiu’s finger slid down to Lu Qiao’s chin.
He lightly pinched that small, delicate chin, gave a soft laugh, and answered, “Not necessarily. We’ll see.”
Perhaps they really would need a lot of time.
Or perhaps…… he would not be able to hold himself back for very long.