Chapter 95: Night Encounter

Chapter 95: Night Encounter

The residence still belonged to the Lan Yi family name; it hadn't been reclaimed after the annulment, so this didn't count as visiting another male's home on a whim. As Ludwig followed Amber into the garden, he consoled himself with this rationale, yet his heart remained unsettled.

Grandfather Fernan, originally in his upstairs study, suddenly heard the sound of a spacecraft outside. Frowning, he looked out the window and saw two familiar figures entering one after the other—undeniably Amber and Ludwig. He paused, perplexed:

What was going on?

Amber led Ludwig into the living room, subtly glancing upstairs. With a smile that was both there and not, he asked, "Major, would you rather sit in the living room or in my room?"

Ludwig raised an eyebrow. "Does it make a difference?"

Amber casually removed his coat, draping it over a hanger. The shirt beneath outlined his figure with a scholarly restraint, thinking how inexperienced this female was. He said calmly, "Of course it does. If you don't want to be disturbed, my room is clearly better."

This was too intimate, as if a gentle prod could shatter the thin veil between them.

Upon hearing this, Ludwig instinctively looked at Amber, only to see clear eyes that seemed to regard the question as casual. Turning his head to avoid the gaze, he couldn't quite pinpoint his feelings, and with a frown, uttered two words: "Living room."

No self-respecting female would ever enter a male's room on her own initiative, and neither would Ludwig.

As if expecting this response from Ludwig, Amber shrugged slightly. "Then when my grandfather comes downstairs later, I hope you won't feel disturbed."

Only then did Ludwig remember that another insect inhabited the house. Like most young insects who weren't accustomed to staying with older relatives, he wasn't used to it either, especially given their history of engagement and annulment, which made encounters awkward.

Ludwig subconsciously straightened his posture, quickly changing his mind. "Still, your room might be better."

Amber's room wasn't as luxurious as imagined, instead orderly and neat, with the bedding folded without a single crease, looking even more tidy than a military dormitory.

Seating himself at a chair by the desk, Amber told Ludwig, "Feel free to sit anywhere, no need for formality—it's your house anyway."

While technically correct, something about this statement felt off.

There was only one chair in the room, so if Ludwig wanted to sit, it would have to be on the bed. Surveying the surroundings, he didn't sit down but instead leaned lazily against the desk with his hands in his pockets, making it easier to converse face-to-face with the male. "Let's get straight to the point. What do you really want?"

Amber propped his chin on one hand, the slight curve of his lips disarming any insect, making them unconsciously overlook the ease with which he held control. "Ludwig, you don't have to be so tense. After all...we were once betrothed?"

Unmoved, Ludwig spoke coolly. "Is that so? What a remarkable relationship indeed."

Anyone could hear the sarcasm in his voice.

Amber merely smiled, ripples spreading gently. "May I ask why you bought that slave?"

The topic circled back to this.

Ludwig countered, "Can I ask why you're so intent on investigating that slave?"

Ludwig was busy every day and, in theory, should have had little time to concern himself with a gladiator arena slave. Yet, that day, Amber had asked him to investigate the auction house servers, and by some twist of fate, he stumbled upon some information.

Without explanation, Amber rose from the chair, bracing his hands on the edge of the desk. In an overly intimate gesture, he enclosed Ludwig within his embrace. Their proximity was so close that they could feel each other's breath, yet his voice remained calm:

"Just curiosity, since that day I got drunk and mistakenly entered the Third Prince's private room, he was the one guiding me."

Ludwig didn't expect Amber to suddenly close the distance. Instinctively, he pushed against the male's right shoulder to prevent him from invading his personal space. However, the thin fabric did little to block the heat, which radiated from his fingertips to his heart:

"Just for that?"

Amber gazed into Ludwig's amber eyes, feeling an inexplicable familiarity, as if from a past life. His eyelids lowered, casting shadows that hid a momentary distraction, cunning like a fox:

"Could there be anything else?"

Ludwig lifted his eyelids, scoffing. "That's for the slave to decide, not you. I do trust the military's interrogation methods."

Amber's lips curved slightly, unsure whether to laugh at being read like an open book or at the other's resourcefulness. "Alright, what terms do you propose?"

Ludwig never revealed his cards easily. Hearing this, he lazily tilted his head. Under the crystal chandelier, his amber eyes lost some of their usual coldness, instead appearing wine-like and enchanting. His black military boots shifted, intentionally or not, stepping on the tip of Amber's leather shoes.

Amber lowered his gaze, listening to the other's ambiguous words: "It depends on what I'm lacking..."

Lacking what?

Ludwig was a child of destiny, lacking nothing. Even if there were deficiencies, years of climbing and striving were enough to fill them. In other words, what Amber had, Ludwig also had, and what Amber lacked, Ludwig possessed. What could Amber offer him?

Truly a somewhat tricky condition.

Thinking this way, Amber showed no signs of urgency. Raising his eyes to the window, he noticed the fleeting red light of a hidden camera in the garden bushes, glaringly obvious in the night. Subtly, he drew the curtains, blocking out those prying eyes.

Under the table, black leather shoes moved, lightly pressing against the military boots.

In a low voice, carrying a hint of seduction, Amber's obsidian eyes were as cool and mysterious as the night, yet brighter than stars. Staring straight at Ludwig, he said, "Perhaps you lack a partner who won't hinder you in anything you do and can stand by you through thick and thin?"

Ludwig's eyes darkened, his deep voice uttering, "Who do you mean?"

Before he could finish speaking, Ludwig felt his waist tighten. The male's casual kiss landed on his cool earlobe, then slowly moved toward his cheek, so slow, so gentle, causing an itch that spread like insects across his body, making his heartbeat skip a beat.

It was as if an invisible net had fallen from the air, trapping him firmly. His military boots struggled to escape, to retreat, but found themselves immobile under the black leather shoes, nailed to the cross.

No—

A rare look of panic and bewilderment flashed across Ludwig's eyes, feeling the loss of control, all his cards exposed. He struggled unconsciously but was instead firmly held by the male, the scent of blood from the fighting arena still lingering, seeping into his nostrils like the finest aphrodisiac.

His opponent showed no sign of haste, kissing deliberately.

When that warm, moist sensation reached his lips, Ludwig's mind went blank, forgetting to struggle. Instead, he experienced an indescribable heat and shame. A faint blush began to spread across his pale neck and cheeks. His rose-colored lips, repeatedly kissed, gradually took on a sheen, as if drained of all strength.

"No..."

Ludwig, starved for oxygen from the kiss, couldn't control his body as it slid downward. Amber's arm tightened, holding him against the edge of the desk. The plundering kiss finally ceased. The female clutched his shoulders tightly, breathing heavily. Her usually cold eyes were now flushed, blurred with moisture.

A sight that stirred the heart.

Amber wondered if he had beauties like this in his harem in his previous life? Alas, his memories were blank, and he could not find a trace of it. He gently pressed against Ludwig's forehead, his voice low but filled with an intimate teasing: "Major Ludwig, I suggest you carefully consider my words."

Ludwig's breath caught at Amber's words. Recalling something, he reminded him mockingly, "But you've already broken off our engagement with me. Or do you think the females of the Lanyi family are cheap cabbages on the roadside that can be discarded at will?"

Hearing him mention the broken engagement, Amber showed no hint of shame but instead smiled. "Does Heiz City have a rule that a male who breaks off an engagement cannot marry again?"

Ludwig grabbed his tie, his voice lowered, barely concealing its chill. "If you want to marry now, why did you break off the engagement back then?"

He was still harboring resentment over that matter.

And Amber naturally wouldn't let Fernan take the blame. He casually brushed away a strand of Ludwig's disheveled hair that had fallen down, his fingertips lightly caressing the other's cheek. He thought that despite appearing unrestrained, Ludwig was quite petty. "The breaking off of the engagement was done by Grandpa; he didn't consult me about it."

Upon hearing this, Ludwig paused. Seeing Amber's expression didn't seem false, his face subtly changed for a moment, looking somewhat ugly. "Why?"

He had once thought that Amber, being a playboy, couldn't resist temptation and wanted to break off their engagement. But he never expected it to be the elder Fernan, after all, the other party appeared kind and benevolent, there was no reason for him to want to break off the engagement.

Amber shrugged with a smile. "Who knows? Maybe he felt that our engagement would harm you, or perhaps he felt that Heiz City wasn't suitable for us and planned to return to our original place. In short, he didn't discuss the matter of breaking off the engagement with me, because..."

The tie, which had been tightly gripped, lost its tension as its owner leaned closer. The silk slipped through his fingers like a snake, leaving only the other person's half-truths whispering in his ear: "He knew I didn't want to break off the engagement..."

Didn't want to break off the engagement? Why?

This answer led to two extreme directions when delved into deeply: either cold-hearted interest, or an intimacy so intense it melted hearts. Ludwig felt his heart split between boiling water and ice, both cold and hot, sour and numb.

Still stunned, he asked, "Why?"

Amber didn't answer. Warm lips pressed against the female's neck, slowly moving upward along the artery until they captured the other's ripe red lips. Effortlessly prying open the teeth, he glimpsed Ludwig's thoughts.

Muffled words echoed: "It doesn't matter."

The engagement had already been broken, so there was no need to dwell on this meaningless question. Amber preferred to think about the present and the future. His face showed no desire, yet his actions seemed saturated with it. With a young and handsome appearance, and the dark and rebellious aura of time's accumulation, he blended into a peculiar charm.

Just like how Ludwig, who clearly didn't want to go upstairs, was lured up by Amber and dragged into the mud from above, crossing a taboo.

Ludwig had never been so intimate with anyone before. That feeling of having his breath completely taken away reappeared. His mind was muddled, and his rationality vanished. Using the last shred of clarity, he tightened his grip on the male's collar, his strength once becoming almost brutal, and asked in a difficult, hoarse voice:

"Can I trust you?"

He was more asking himself.

That feeling of knowing the other party might have ill intentions but still clinging to a sliver of hope, betting everything on it.

Amber leaned in, allowing him to hold onto his collar. It was a slightly indulgent posture. "How would you know without trying?"

"..."

Ludwig pursed his lips and slowly released his fingertips, unsure what he was thinking. His complexion looked somewhat pale and distracted. After a while, he frowned and spat out a sentence: "That slave is yours then."

This represented his concession.

Amber lowered his eyes and smiled faintly. "No problem, leave him with you for now. Find a place to secretly confine him. I'll have use for him in the future."

Amber couldn't deal with that slave right now, nor did he have a place to accommodate him. This was a fact. It was better to find a trustworthy insect to help him handle it.

Ludwig slowly exhaled. "Understood."

He wisely refrained from asking any questions. "It's late, I'll be going first."

But Amber held his shoulder. "There are reporters staking out outside. If you leave my house late at night, tomorrow's headline on the Star Network might not be what you expect."

Upon hearing this, Ludwig's pupils contracted for a moment. Surprised, he turned to look out the window. Through the gap in the curtains, he indeed spotted a shadow lurking in the garden bushes. He lowered his voice and cursed fiercely, "Damn it, I'm going to gouge out his eyes!"

When he stepped out of the aircraft, he was too preoccupied to notice a reporter squatting in the bushes. These pests were more annoying than puppies, had they ignored his warnings last time?!

But Amber signaled Ludwig to remain calm. "You don't need to intervene."

After saying this, he directly dialed the security team's terminal, briefly described the situation, and expressed his doubts about the manor's security capabilities in a tactful manner, hinting that he might contact a lawyer to report the issue. Within ten minutes, a patrol car appeared outside. Two guards came down from it and dragged away the reporter squatting in the bushes.

"...It's too late now, it might not be convenient to take statements... Yes, let's wait until tomorrow."

Amber cut off the panicked voice on the other end of the line. Waving the terminal in front of Ludwig, he said calmly, "See, isn't this much better? You don't need to intervene, there are insects who will handle things for you."

Ludwig narrowed his eyes under the light. "So, sir, am I also just a pawn you're using?"

Amber remained silent. He reached out and lifted the female off the desk, as if gentleness was etched into his bones. Whispering softly in Ludwig's burning ear, he said one sentence: "No, maybe not long from now, you'll become my fiancé again..."

Just as Ludwig was particularly satisfied with Amber, Amber was equally satisfied with Ludwig. A beautiful, capable, and well-connected partner, who wouldn't like that?

But the storm caused by their broken engagement hadn't passed yet. Suddenly getting engaged again would undoubtedly stir up considerable public opinion. Neither side's elders would agree. They could only wait for things to settle down before discussing it.

Amber thought of something and looked down at Ludwig. "By the way, help me investigate a male's background."

Upon hearing this, Ludwig raised an eyebrow, surprisingly cooperative. "Who?"

Amber pondered for a moment, slowly uttering a name that was somewhat out of place among the insectoids: "Fang... Yun?"

Ludwig was somewhat surprised. "Him?"

Amber: "What, do you know him?"

Ludwig's tone was subtle. "No, but he works in the military department and is close to Sivray... So, do you have a grudge against him?"

The last sentence sounded somewhat suspicious.

Amber shook his head with a smile. "No, I'm just rather interested."

At that moment, Ludwig missed the flash of deep contemplation in Amber's eyes, leading him to completely fail to realize that not long after, he would unexpectedly see the other party in the office where the military was recruiting clerical staff.

Separated by a wall, Amber was sitting neatly dressed in a suit at the desk, undergoing an interview. Behind him, a row of competitors sat in the rest area. Their bewildered and mixed gazes fell upon the male's extraordinary appearance and attire, unable to understand why someone with such outstanding conditions would want to compete for a small office assistant position.

The interviewing director, Mr. Pedi, clearly shared the confusion. Adjusting his reading glasses perched on his nose, he inquired with suspicion, "Sir, are you sure you're applying for the assistant position? I must warn you in advance that this job might be somewhat troublesome, and the salary during the internship period is very low."

More importantly, the military didn't want to invite back such a revered figure. While male bugs were indeed rare, it depended on where they were placed. At home, they were delightful ornaments, but in a place like the military, full of rough edges, they became cumbersome burdens. Especially with such an eye-catching appearance, surrounded by a group of hot-blooded female bugs in the military, no one could predict what kind of scandal might arise.

Amber responded with grace and propriety, "I believe every job has its reason for existence. More importantly, it's about learning knowledge and gaining experience, which cannot be measured by money."

The furrows between Director Pedi's brows remained unrelenting. "Then do you have any previous work experience in similar positions?"

Maintaining his composure, Amber slid the prepared folder across the table towards the opposite side. "No, but here is my resume, you may take a look at it."