Chapter 141

Chapter 141

Hill remarked, "You look young, but you know so much more than I do."

Lu Cian chuckled, "I am quite young, only twenty."

Twenty years old—no matter where you are, that's still incredibly green.

Hill gasped, "You just came of age? I can't believe it!"

Lu Cian's lips twitched. Was Hill implying he looked old, not youthful enough?

Hill continued, "You're so knowledgeable. Even my own father doesn't know as much as you do."

Lu Cian's expression softened. So, he was being complimented after all.

Lu Cian stated, "You just haven't learned enough! Don't be swayed by the brainwashing from those female insects. Male insects are precious, so you need to learn even more to protect yourselves."

Hill looked puzzled. "Is that so? But they say male insects are born to enjoy life—carefree, and that our only duty is to live happily."

Lu Cian: "..."

The indoctrination of male insects in the empire was truly exaggerated. Is merely surviving considered their greatest contribution?

Male insects were rare, so in a way, that thinking wasn't entirely wrong, but... wasn't that basically like raising livestock?

Lu Cian firmly refuted, "They are brainwashing you, keeping you naive and ignorant, so they can make you marry many female insects and use you as a tool for breeding."

Hill wrinkled his nose. "But everyone lives like this, don't they?"

Lu Cian countered, "I don't. Compare me to those other male insects—which do you think is better?"

Hill pondered for a moment before hesitantly replying, "Your way... seems better."

Lu Cian spread his hands. "There you have it."

"What others say doesn't count. Only what you truly feel is good, that's what genuinely matters."

Hill nodded, beginning to take Lu Cian's words seriously.

On the way back, Lu Cian was still contemplating Hill and Aigevia's situation.

Aigevia and Hill's personalities were nothing like his own. Observing their dynamic, Lu Cian compared it to his relationship with Nair Inan and noticed some similarities.

Though Lu Cian now possessed some abilities, in the eyes of the insect race, lacking a strong physique meant he was at a disadvantage—he was still dependent on Nair Inan.

Lu Cian instinctively rejected this notion, telling himself deep down that it wasn't true.

It occurred to him that while Hill and Aigevia had developed feelings for each other, their relationship hadn't started on equal footing.

One was a space pirate, the other a prize the pirate had seized—this created a significant barrier between them, not easily overcome.

Their statuses were unequal, so naturally, their feelings couldn't be truly equal either.

But Lu Cian and Nair Inan were different. Their feelings were equal, so their statuses should naturally be equal too...

Lu Cian clenched his fists, wondering if he should do something.

He inwardly chastised himself. His past behavior had been too hesitant—love demanded courage!

He'd been dragging his feet, talking about pursuing a relationship, yet hadn't taken any concrete action.

Even now, all they'd managed was hand-holding and lying stiffly in the same bed, without even a goodnight kiss.

If they ended up like Aigevia and Hill—mutually in love but awkwardly refusing to break through that barrier, leading to many misunderstandings—what kind of obstacle would that create for their love, and how many detours would they take?

One misstep, and they might part ways, missing each other for a lifetime.

If tragedy struck, regret would come too late!

...

That night, Lu Cian lay in bed early. The lights were off, and in the faint moonlight, he saw a dark silhouette drawing closer...

In the darkness, all senses were infinitely amplified. Lu Cian distinctly felt the bed dip as Nair Inan lifted the blanket and lay down beside him.

Lu Cian quietly exhaled, timidly extending his hand from under the covers.

This clandestine action was truly agonizing. As time ticked by, his world seemed to expand infinitely.

Fate was so mischievous; the more you wished for things to go your way, the less likely they were to happen.

Lu Cian's palms grew sweaty with nerves, his fingers stealthily exploring ahead, his heart pounding out of his chest—

Finally, when his trembling fingers brushed against something warm, his wrist was abruptly seized.

Lu Cian's heart instantly leaped into his throat!

"What are you doing?"

In the darkness, a familiar voice came from beside him.

Lu Cian's eyes widened instantly, his mind went blank with a buzzing sound, his heart pounding like a drum.

The more Lu Cian tried to compose himself, the more flustered and anxious he became, unable to think of a solution.

Sweat gradually beaded on his forehead, a wave of heat washed over him, turning his skin crimson.

"I..." Lu Cian felt as if his throat was glued shut, too parched to speak.

With his wrist held captive, Lu Cian dared not move a muscle, not even turning his head. Out of the corner of his eye, he seemed to glimpse the shadow beside him stir slightly, followed by what sounded like a sigh: "Aren't you usually quite eloquent..."

Lu Cian: "?"

What did Brother Nan just say? His ears were ringing, his heart was beating so fast, he couldn't hear a thing!

Lu Cian desperately tried to calm his rapidly beating heart when suddenly, a warm touch brushed his cheek...

At that moment, fireworks exploded in Lu Cian's mind. His vision brightened, his mouth fell open, his thoughts cleared, his mood became wonderful, and even the air felt fresher.

Nair Inan, perhaps feeling embarrassed, coughed lightly as he lay back down and mumbled, "Go to sleep."

"O-okay, I'll sleep."

Lu Cian's heart swelled with delight, and he immediately closed his eyes.

But his emotions were more stirred than ever, unable to settle for a long time.

He closed his eyes, trying to fall asleep, but Lu Cian counted many sheep and still couldn't sleep. In fact, the more he counted, the more awake he became, and the less he could sleep.

Lu Cian opened his eyes and turned to look at the shadow very close beside him, wondering to himself, had Brother Nan just kissed him?

He definitely kissed him, right?

He wasn't dreaming, was he?

Lu Cian didn't think he was narcissistic enough to fantasize about Nair Inan kissing him.

Perhaps because he truly couldn't sleep, or because he felt enough time had passed that Nair Inan must surely be asleep by now. Or maybe it was the conviction that if Nair Inan had kissed him, it must mean he liked him, and even if he didn't, he should take responsibility—Lu Cian's courage swelled.

Without further ado, Lu Cian threw off his own blanket, then swiftly lifted Nair Inan's and slipped inside, the entire process taking no more than two seconds.

Seeing no reaction from the other, Lu Cian happily pulled the insect into his embrace, softly muttering, "I'm so pitiful, sleeping alone under my own blanket. We're partners, of course we should sleep together!"

Once they were nestled together, the previously wide-awake Lu Cian immediately drifted off to sleep.

Under the covers, the two insects embraced, heads touching, sleeping exceptionally soundly.

The next morning.

The morning sunlight crept in through the window, inching onto the bed, over the blankets, and onto their faces.

Startled awake by the dazzling light, Nair Inan woke up—and inadvertently roused the insect beside him.

"Mmm..." Lu Cian felt long hair brush against his face, the mischievous strands tickling his nose until, just before he sneezed, the owner of the nose woke up.

Blinking groggily, Lu Cian found himself staring directly into Nair Inan's eyes.

Lu Cian: "..."

His hazy sleepiness vanished instantly, replaced by full alertness.

Fortunately, Lu Cian's mind worked quickly, and he hadn't forgotten the momentous event from last night just because he'd been half-asleep.

Gazing at Nair Inan's sleeping face, the words burst out before he could stop them: "I like you."

Some words, once spoken, naturally become less difficult to say afterward.

"I like you. I want to be with you. Through winter and summer, through changing stars and shifting times, whether in poverty or wealth, in sickness or health—I will never leave your side."

And one more thing: even if there's a species barrier, I still want to be with you.

My journey through time won't separate us. Even if one day I must depart, I will cross light-years to find you again.

"Brother Nan, just say yes!"

Lu Cian spoke, and after waiting a long time for a response, he couldn't help but urge impatiently.

Nair Inan suddenly smiled—not a faint smirk or an absentminded grin, but a genuine, radiant smile.

Dazzling, captivating.

"Are you so certain I'll agree?"

Lu Cian's love-struck mind gradually regained a sliver of rationality, and he puffed out his cheeks in protest. "Yesterday you took advantage of me without even confessing, and now you're denying it!"

Nair Inan raised an eyebrow. "When did I take advantage of you?"

Lu Cian lifted his chin defiantly. "You kissed my cheek!"

Nair Inan impassively sat up, glanced at him, and made to leave. "You misremembered. That was just a dream."

Lu Cian was stunned.

The other's cool denial—acting as if he hadn't just done a kiss-and-run—finally provoked Lu Cian.

He grabbed Nair Inan before he could get up, pinning him down on the bed.

Lu Cian, in a burst of masculine assertiveness, gave Nair Inan no chance to react—he kissed him directly.

Lu Cian was a complete novice, a little too rough in his eagerness, and accidentally bumped their lips together.

"Ouch!" It seemed he'd bitten himself, and not lightly.

But how could he let the prize he'd finally caught slip away? Even if his lips were bruised and bleeding, Lu Cian refused to let go.

Having never been in love before, Lu Cian had no idea kissing could be such a wondrous experience.

Pressing against those soft lips was like tasting the finest premium gelatin—supple and bouncy.

Nair Inan's lips were slightly cool, like a refreshing treat. Lu Cian explored them cautiously, learning as he went, until he grew more confident in his "consumption."

When their lips parted slightly, a nimble little tongue slipped inside.

A faint, sweet fragrance lingered in the air between them—elusive when he tried to pinpoint it, yet everywhere at once.

The scent sent his blood rushing, emotions intensifying, desire deepening—and his stomach growling even louder.

Only after what felt like an eternity, when his stomach rumbled insistently, did Lu Cian finally pull away from his indulgence, ready to move on to actual food.

Their lips parted, both now flushed a deep, vivid red. What looked like a trace of blood lingered at the corner of his mouth, though he couldn't find any wound. Flustered, Lu Cian scrambled upright.