Chapter 9: It’s Not Like I Can’t Afford to Support You

Chapter 9: I Can Afford You Anyway

"Fantastic, Brother Le. From now on, I can see you every day and train with you, have meals together... Just thinking about it makes me happy. Oh, by the way, Brother Le, that mech you crafted yesterday... Can I buy it?"

"If the organizers don't object, it's up to you."

"Alright, thanks, Brother Le."

"No need to thank me."

Luo Le had just propped himself up but felt uncomfortable, so he lay back down.

"Brother Le, are you sick? Why does your voice sound so hoarse?"

Luo Le nearly choked on his words. "Cough, cough, nothing. It's like this."

With that, he hastily ended the call.

"Little Master, it's time to get up and have something to eat."

Luo Le propped herself up with her hands under her cheeks, covering her flushed face. "I'm not hungry."

"Get up."

The voice sounded so much like Huo Yuanjing's.

As Luo Le rose, she saw Little Yuan's reddened eyes, indicating she was in communication mode.

"Husband?"

"I don't intend to repeat myself."

Recalling Huo Yuanjing's lack of restraint the previous night and his current aloof demeanor, Luo Le felt discontented. She spoke with a hint of sarcasm, "Who should I blame for my current state? You're such an emotionless, cold-blooded man. And you even pulled..."

Huo Yuanjing's temple twitched. "Be quiet."

Luo Le pulled the blanket down slightly and gazed intently at Little Yuan.

It was as if Huo Yuanjing was right in front of him.

Showing the culprit the evidence of his wrongdoing.

Huo Yuanjing: ....

Why on earth did he make this call?

"Alright, I'm up."

Luo Le seized the opportunity to end the conversation, throwing off the covers and getting out of bed.

He didn't mind at all that the person on the other end of the line might catch a glimpse of his naked form.

But the moment he stood up, he noticed Little Yuan's eyes had returned to their usual blue.

"Master, do you need assistance?"

"No, not here. I'm hungry. Go prepare something for me."

Luo Le gingerly made his way to the wardrobe, hand on his waist.

The clothes he wore yesterday were crumpled and tossed carelessly in the car, destined for the trash bin.

As Luo Le gazed at the monotonous wardrobe, he sighed.

He arrived with empty hands.

Seems like he'll have to go shopping tomorrow; he couldn't keep wearing Huo Lanjing's clothes forever.

Besides, these outfits were dull and oversized, not suitable for him at all.

Lost in thought, Luo Le began to change and freshen up.

Descending the stairs, he noticed someone else seated at the table.

"Husband? Why are you back?"

He wouldn't have come back in the middle of the day if he didn't want to be at the military headquarters, right?

Huo Lanjing looked at the person walking towards him with an odd gait, and shifted his gaze uncomfortably.

Then, he patted the document bag beside him. "Get your things."

Luo Le sat down beside Huo Lanjing and stared at him intently.

Reaching out, he looped his arm around his, leaning his head on it. "Hubby, you're already back. Why don't you stay for lunch before leaving?"

Huo Lanjing nonchalantly brushed off his hand. "Mm, I've arranged a place for you. Lieutenant Lin will send you over tomorrow."

Send him over...

Did that mean in Huo Lanjing's mind, Luo Le was just a guest staying with him?

Did Huo Lanjing really dislike sharing the same roof with him that much?

Luo Le felt a bitter taste in his heart.

Noticing Luo Le's silence, Huo Lanjing turned his head curiously.

There, Luo Le, dressed in an ill-fitting shirt, had his head lowered, his shoulders trembling slightly, concealing his emotions from view.

Had he been too harsh on him?

But this was a military zone where even family visits were strictly prohibited.

As a general, he had to set an example.

With this thought, Huo Lanjing steeled his heart and averted his gaze, refusing to look at Luo Le anymore.

Luo Le's eyes flickered slightly, his lids drooping half-closed.

Was Huo Lanjing so eager to send him away because he was afraid that the person he liked might misunderstand something?

No, Luo Le had waited too long for this chance; there was no way he was leaving now.

Straightening up, Luo Le fixed his gaze on the man beside him with his sparkling eyes.

With a gentle tone, she said, "Husband, we're already married. If you ask me to move out, how will people view the Huo and Luo families? How will they... look at me?"

Huo Lanjing's eyes flickered slightly as he frowned in deep thought.

He was right; they were no longer in the Empire where military discipline was strictly enforced.

But still, he couldn't ignore the rules.

Wanting to insist, Huo Lanjing caught sight of the green mark on Luo Le's wrist, feeling a subtle heat from the claw marks on his back.

His words were held back once again.

Luo Le remained silent, patiently waiting for him to speak.

After a moment of hesitation, Huo Lanjing decided to postpone the matter. He would bring it up again in a few days.

"I'll arrange a bedroom for you then."

Luo Le quickly nodded in agreement.

The pressing matter now was to smooth things over with the tiger's fur.

After that, neither of them spoke, and the room fell into a sudden silence.

Before long, Huo Lanjing finished his meal and walked out with a file folder in hand.

At the door, he couldn't resist turning back.

Seeing the ill-fitting clothes on Luo Le, he said gravely, "Your Star Need Card is linked to my Star Brain. The Huo family isn't so impoverished that we can't support you."

With those words hastily spoken, he left, leaving Luo Le standing there, bewildered.

Luo Le shifted his gaze back to the shirt on him.

Did Huo Lanjing mean for him to use the Star Need Card to buy clothes?

Was this a form of concern?

"Little Master, would you like me to prepare nutrient fluid?"

Little Yuan's voice pulled Luo Le back to reality. He suddenly remembered that he had a program that scanned tasks based on the curvature of human lips.

Luo Le paused. That instruction... did he just smile?

What was so funny?

Huo Lanjing was merely worried that he would lose points by wearing ill-fitting clothes.

"Little Master, do you need me to switch to nutrient fluid?" Little Yuan asked, speaking at twice his usual speed.

Luo Le replied, "No need."

He really didn't want to go out, but since Huo Lanjing had suggested it, he decided to make an exception for today.

After asking the guards stationed at the main gate, he learned the location of the military district's mall.

Luo Le put on a loose-fitting shirt, topped with a hat to hide his messy hair, and stepped out.

The mall was located five kilometers north from here, not exactly nearby.

Luo Le decided to take the hovercar instead.

The garage was just across the street, mere steps away.

Inside, the vehicles were uniformly black and white hovercars.

Unconsciously, Luo Le's gaze swept to the white car on the far left, feeling uneasy. He then detoured to choose the black one in the middle.

If he tilted his head slightly, he could see two crumpled clothes behind the locked door of the backseat.

Ten minutes later, in the mall.

Most visitors here were dressed in deep black or varying shades of green military uniforms.

However, it seemed to be training time, as there were only a few people inside.

Luo Le entered a men's clothing store, where a man in a suit greeted him with a slight smile.

"Sir, hello. Feel free to look around. If you need assistance, just call out to me. My code is D."

Luo Le gestured for him to follow along, displaying a practiced ease.

He then sat down comfortably on the sofa.

The rack was predominantly filled with shirts and suits, with only a few windbreakers and casual sportswear items.

Luo Le scanned the selection briefly before finally making his choice.

"Those three, yes, and that one too. Fetch them for me in my size to the fitting room. Now, where is your changing area?"

D felt a pleasant surprise; it seemed they had a significant client on their hands.