Chapter 112

Xia You, nestled in a rocking chair, cradled a little rabbit she had pilfered from the neighbors. She looked as soft and comforting as a melted sugar cake.

Uncle Zhou passed by the balcony, glanced at her, and a few minutes later, brought her a glass of hawthorn juice.

Clutching her hawthorn juice, Xiayu gave Uncle Zhou a pitiful look.

She couldn’t drink any of it, not a single drop.

Uncle Zhou sighed, "So why did you decide to treat so many people at once yesterday?"

It was initially agreed upon to only try healing Quqi, but when Uncle Zhou wasn't looking, Xiayu moved from treating Quqi to Xuebing.

The usually well-behaved child causing a ruckus left the ever-reliable old butler, who always thought of his young charge as the most trouble-free, entirely unprepared.

By the time Uncle Zhou realized it, Xiayu was already running around the Marshal's residence, playing with cats, petting dogs, teasing birds, and fishing. In the end, she returned leisurely, carrying a little rabbit monkey from the neighbor's home, so stuffed that she collapsed motionless on the sofa.

It's been two days since, and Xiayu hasn't eaten a thing, not even showing interest in drinking water.

Uncle Zhou sighed, feeling that Xiayu's situation wasn't ideal.

Xiayu's overindulgence wasn't like an average person's. When she expends her psychic energy to heal others, it's as if she's paid an admission fee to a buffet. The consumed energy always comes back to her manifold.

Thus, the psychic energy brimming in Xiayu's psychic sea now needs to be expended elsewhere.

The old butler turned and saw someone at the door. With understanding in his eyes, he tiptoed away.

Yuanyuan approached and elegantly laid down next to Xiayu with an aloof grace.

Xiayu, still holding the little rabbit monkey, eyed the sleek panther, Yuanyuan, with a mischievous intent.

But the big panther was too familiar with Xiayu's antics. As her psychic tendrils sneakily reached out to touch the panther, Yuanyuan's shiny black tail slapped precisely on their tips.

Every movement met with a slap. The tendrils were swift, but the top-tier predator panther was unquestionably the king in this aspect.

The psychic tendrils were so fast that they almost blurred, even splitting into several in an attempt to break free, but each one was accurately hit by Yuanyuan's tail and slapped back.

Xiayu dared not forcefully attach her tendrils to the panther, knowing Yuanyuan would actually perch on a tree outside, within Xiayu's sight but out of reach.

The little rabbit monkey in her arms lifted its head, making a soft noise, its eyes filled with innocent cuteness.

Xiayu affectionately caressed the fluffy little rabbit monkey, resisting the urge to reach out to the panther.

Two days ago, she had treated over a dozen companion beasts in one go. All suffered from psychic energy disorders, not having reached the most severe stages, and thus were not yet in hibernation.

Relatively speaking, this category is of lower therapeutic difficulty.

Xia You's original intention wasn't merely to indulge in the fluffy creatures; how could treating illnesses be reduced to that? He merely wanted to test the limits of his current healing abilities.

But he got enticed by the allure of these fluffy beings and, before he realized, indulged a bit too much.

The readings on Xia You's mental energy alarmed Meng Wenxuan, who sternly prohibited Xia You from interacting with companion beasts until his mental energy normalized.

Hence, Xia You hasn't touched a companion beast in two days.

Not even the leopard.

Ah... and not even His Highness.

Xia You pursed his lips.

Lu Yinghuai, clad in a black-gold military uniform, walked over. His military boots silently stepped on the soft carpet.

However, Xia You sensed Lu Yinghuai's mental energy the moment he entered the Marshal's mansion.

The fair-skinned, blonde young man looked up and smiled warmly at the man beside him, "You're back?"

"Things at the military department have been a bit chaotic recently, with more matters needing attention," Lu Yinghuai bent slightly, brushed away stray hair from Xia You's forehead, and inquired softly, "Feeling better?"

Xia You knew full well the root cause behind Lu Yinghuai's busyness and coughed guiltily.

The little rabbit-like creature glanced between Xia You and Lu Yinghuai, its ears twitching.

"But the results have been quite impressive," Lu Yinghuai commented, twirling Xia You's hair and chuckling, "The other corps are now comparing prices, trying to book slots with the renowned healer. I wonder, what does Mr. Xia think?"

Xia, the grand healer, tilted his chin up and smirked, "Obviously, the highest bidder wins."

Lu Yinghuai raised an eyebrow, "Oh?"

Xia You reached out, hooking the finger that Lu Yinghuai had just lowered, playfully scratching the center of Lu's hand, and blinked, "Healer Xia has a rather weak resolve. A little temptation from Marshal Lu, and the Lanxing Base will surely get unconditional priority for treatments."

While Lu Yinghuai stood, Xia You remained seated.

Without standing up, Xia You looked up at Lu Yinghuai, then shifted a little to the side, eyes expectant.

However, the Empire's Marshal, who hadn't been home for two days, had a resolve firmer than a mech, as if an old building drenched in rain and wrapped in waterproof cloth, showing no sign of melting.

Lu Yinghuai's gaze settled on the young man radiating an aura of longing for closeness, who stood tantalizingly close yet distant by Xia You's side.

The black panther rose to its feet, leaned over, and gently snatched the little rabbit sun squirrel from Xia You's embrace, swishing its tail as it headed next door to return the child.

Lu Yinghuai took hold of Xia You's left hand, lifting it slightly. He lowered his head to delicately place a kiss on the pulse of her wrist.

Xia You shivered slightly.

The atmosphere instantly thickened with an undertone of intimacy.

Feeling the unintentional absorption of spiritual power from where their skins touched, Xia You murmured, "Maybe you shouldn't tempt me anymore, I truly can't take in any more..."

Ignoring the young man's lingering gaze, Lu Yinghuai acted as if he hadn't caught the insincerity in Xia You's words. He gracefully released her hand and straightened up.

Xia You: "..."

Lu Yinghuai remarked casually, "What can I do? After all, didn't little You indulge too much outside?"

Xia You was on the verge of speaking but held back.

No, she had merely petted a few fluffy creatures outside. Why does that sound so odd now?

Clad in a solemn military uniform, the stern Imperial Marshal raised his hand to adjust his cuff silently.

Meanwhile, Xia You, standing next to a radiant beauty, found her mind muddled, thinking only of how impressive and particularly striking the First Legion's uniform was.

That evening, after checking on White Tiger Sister's health, Xia You slowly ascended the stairs, lost in thought.

Opening the door absentmindedly, Xia You's steps faltered.

A large black panther with well-defined muscles and a robust physique lay on the carpet by the window, its dark paws stacked together, looking utterly pinchable.

The Marshal sat in a grand armchair, fingers on a plain white page of a book. Hearing the door, he glanced up.

He still wore that sharp, rigid military uniform, minus the medals of honor, yet he looked...

Xia You's fingers tapped lightly on the door frame.

What's that word again?

Ah... simply ravishing.

Xia You truly regretted it.

Just days before, he shouldn't have indulged so much with the fluffy creatures, overwhelming his spiritual sea to the point of pain.

Had he shown restraint, he could now enjoy the company of both the panther and the prince.

He couldn't even imagine the pleasure that would bring.

Even though no elder reprimanded him or gave him any advice, Xia You, who often acted impulsively, came to understand the importance and necessity of restraint for humans on his own.

Lu Yinghuai noticed the remorse on Xia You's face, chuckled, closed his book, and set it aside. "Come here."

Xia You reluctantly approached, lowered his head, and whispered, "I was wrong..."

Unlike the vivacious young man, Lu Yinghuai was adept at patience and restraint.

He meticulously inquired about the changes in Xia You's spiritual sea. After holding back for two days, Xia You eagerly recounted everything—from civet cats to large sun squirrels—discussing the changes in each creature after treatment and the differences in touch.

Lu Yinghuai listened patiently, then helped Xia You set a daily treatment limit, ensuring at least three days of rest in between.

Xia You sat closely beside Yuan Yuan on the carpet, pinching the panther's paw that he had missed for two days, nodding along like a chick pecking at grains.

"Tired?" Lu Yinghuai inquired.

Xia You shook his head, tapping his temple. "My spiritual sea still feels uncomfortable."

It wasn’t that he couldn't sleep, but rather, his sleep was restless, his nerves hyperactive under the influence of spiritual power.

Lu Yinghuai suggested, "Want to expend some energy?"

Xia You lit up, "You mean virtual mecha battles?"

He had considered this method to use up spiritual power. Though he and Cheng Zhiyan battled for five hours the day before—with Xia You consistently losing—his endurance was astonishing, eventually wearing Cheng Zhiyan out.

Cheng Zhiyan and Fan Yunxin's spiritual seas were still fresh, and excessively draining their spiritual power wasn't prudent. Thus, Xia You had retreated to the sofa, idling away.

But Lu Yinghuai was different.

Xia You's eyes gleamed brilliantly, reflecting two miniature versions of Lu Yinghuai, compelling him to tenderly stroke Xia You's eyelids.

"Mech battles are too slow," Lu Yinghuai said, shaking his head. "Let's head to the psychic simulation battlefield."

Xia You immediately stood up, grabbing Lu Yinghuai's arm, and started walking toward the training room.

Yuan Yuan stretched languidly, yawning wide before following the duo.

……

Two hours later,

Emerging from the training room, tendrils of Xia You's psychic energy once again clung to Yuan Yuan, the panther's tail curving in delight, clearly in high spirits.

The bloated feeling in his spiritual sea had dissipated, and Xia You comfortably stretched himself.

Back in the bedroom, Xia You glanced at the bathroom, then turned to Lu Yinghuai, suggesting, "Your Highness, I'll shower in my room."

After a long day at the military department and helping him expend psychic energy, the prince must surely want a hot bath.

Naturally, there was only one bathroom in the bedroom.

Lu Yinghuai paused briefly, then nodded with a neutral expression. "Be sure not to catch a cold."

Grabbing his nightclothes, Xia You headed toward the connecting door between the two bedrooms, replying in affirmation, "Mhm, I understand."

……

After a satisfyingly warm bath, Xia You, with rosy cheeks and dripping hair, climbed out of the bathtub. He quickly rinsed off, hesitated when he saw the hair dryer, and instead draped a large towel over his head.

Yuan Yuan, lying on the bed, let out a soft roar upon seeing Xia You.

Xia You playfully dived onto Yuan Yuan, cuddling and nuzzling from its paw pads to its belly fur, sighing contentedly afterward.

With his hair still damp, he moved toward the adjoining bedroom.

Xia You's affection was both candid and straightforward. Shyness was instinctive to him, as was the desire to inch closer.

He could always perceive the subtle changes in the prince's gaze and the tension in his muscles—yet Xia You was genuinely fond of him.

Every time he witnessed a rare moment of vulnerability in the ever-composed prince, he felt a secret thrill, as if unearthing a hidden treasure that no one else could touch.

Lost in thoughts of how to snuggle up when the prince would help dry his hair, Xia You absentmindedly stepped through the inner door into the spacious master bedroom.

At a glance, Xia You's feet felt rooted to the spot.

Lu Yinghuai, having changed into his pajamas, leaned against the bedhead. His legs were long, and the button near his Adam’s apple on the pajama top was loosely fastened, only securing the middle one.

Xia You's fingers behind her back were fervently twisting together.

Without any rush, Lu Yinghuai methodically retrieved a deep purple button from under a nearby pillow, one that Xia You recognized all too well.

The man lowered his gaze, his long finger pressing gently under Xia You's watchful eyes.

"Hold me."

Xia You: "!!"

Who could withstand this?!

Taking a few swift steps, Xia You threw herself into Lu Yinghuai's arms, her slippers flung in two different directions.

Lu Yinghuai's palm rested on Xia You's waist, slightly lifting her, guiding her to straddle him and sit snugly within his embrace.

"Your Highness, that was certainly unfair," Xia You said, holding Lu Yinghuai tightly, her cheek nestled against his neck.

Lu Yinghuai chuckled softly, "Is Therapist Xia pleased with such a temptation?"

Refusing to be outdone, Xia You pressed a kiss against Lu Yinghuai's neck, eliciting a restrained moan from him.

With a smirk playing on his face, he said, "Alright, with Marshal's efforts, the Blue Star Base has secured the top therapeutic priority from Therapist Xia."

Lu Yinghuai gazed deeply into Xia You's eyes for a moment, then, with a strong embrace, lifted her as if she were a child. As she let out a surprised cry, he captured her lips, dominating and taking in every heated breath from his beloved.

Xia You's hand trailed along Lu Yinghuai's neck. As their lips grazed against each other, her strength waned, slipping down his shoulder. Yet, it felt as if she was a drowning person, clutching the last floating wood, desperately trying to grasp onto anything her fingers could reach.

After a long while, their lips parted.

Breathless, Xia You opened her eyes in a daze. Her throat tightened, fingers brushing the disheveled and suggestive folds of Lu Yinghuai's pajamas, feebly attempting to straighten them.