Chapter 99

Chapter 99

"ds93268": Ahhh it really is Nai Nai, what a magnificent face, lick lick lick!

"Nai Bao Nai Bao my god": Wuwuwu ahhhh, who is that male bug next to him, he's actually holding Nai Nai's hand! Ahhh, why can't it be me! {gloomy} {twisted} {crawling crazily} {writhing} I want to turn into a green-eyed monster!

"kc66382": My fellow bugs, I have a bad feeling about this. Nai Nai is usually very measured around bugs of the opposite sex, his heart and eyes are only ever on his own male spouse. He looks really familiar and intimate with this male bug!! Could Nai Nai's mate be this bug??!! {cracking} {screaming}

......

Countless threads of soft light cascaded down like stars scattered across the sky, melodious music floating and sinking within the shifting light and shadow. Even though he had been nervous just moments before stepping on stage, the moment he truly stood on the dance floor, Nevi felt an unprecedented calm.

Aesop gave a slight bow, his palm open and facing up, and Nevi rested his fingertips on Aesop's palm without a moment's hesitation.

Aesop closed his hand, leading Nevi to the center of the radiant, shimmering dance floor.

The instant their bodies drew near, they fit together as naturally as magnets. Aesop's strong arm wrapped around Nevi's waist, their steps interweaving as the colored lights spun overhead, spots of light flickering across their bodies like darting fish.

Aesop gazed at Nevi with focused attention. Those emerald eyes, usually as cold and deep as an abyss, now seemed to thaw like spring snow, so gentle it could intoxicate any bug.

With each spin, each gliding step, their bodies moved with perfect, instinctive synchrony. Aesop gave the slightest lead, and Nevi instinctively followed with a glide and a lean back, their movements flowing together flawlessly.

As the music surged toward its climax, the rhythm pounding like crashing tides, Aesop's arm suddenly tightened, drawing Nevi closer until his back was nearly flush against Aesop's broad, solid chest, where he could feel the strong, steady beat of Aesop's heart beneath his fine attire.

The two danced gracefully across the floor, the lights above trailing them like shadows, spinning endlessly around them and weaving a shifting, dizzying web of light. The clamor of the surrounding dance floor seemed shut out by this invisible barrier.

As the two bugs locked eyes, at that moment, the whole world seemed to fall silent, as if only the two of them remained.

Bathed in the dance floor's lights, their movements were agile and elegant, and Nevi's smile and sparkling eyes were made even more striking—his delicate and stunning features like a dreamlike, beautiful Moon God beneath the clear, bright moonlight, making every bug's heart race with admiration.

The guests present stared almost dumbfounded at the breathtakingly stunning Nevi on the dance floor, utterly unable to look away.

"Is he even real? Can a bug really be this... perfect..."

In the hushed crowd, someone spoke in a daze, their voice barely a whisper, as if talking to themselves, voicing what every guest bug in the room was thinking.

And in the middle of the crowd, two figures stood noticeably more slender than the others, their striking features couldn't be hidden even behind half-face masks—these were the two High Excellencies who had come together today.

Compared to the other male bugs who had lost themselves in Nevi's charm, being males themselves, they were clearly more resistant, and thus managed to spare some attention for the dancer beside Nevi.

But once they looked, they found the male bug's figure seemed somewhat familiar, especially that head of pure silver hair.

Wasn't that the signature of the Haimulun Family...

Once they confirmed what they'd noticed, the two High Excellencies looked somewhat incredulous, but then they started to doubt their own guess.

That was the Haimulun Family—the most powerful family in the capital star. The current family patriarch, Koit Haimulun, was the head of the Royalist faction, a staunch supporter of the royal family, deeply trusted by them.

No joke—as long as the royal family stood, the Haimulun Family's position was rock-solid.

How could it be the Haimulun Family? Maybe... it really was just a coincidence.

The two High Excellencies exchanged a glance, both looking at each other in bewilderment.

*

Nevi, at the heart of the storm, was completely unaware of the commotion around him—or rather, he had no attention to spare for it.

Fully immersed in the dance, Nevi felt nothing but pure joy. He had never felt his movements flow so naturally and gracefully. He didn't need to think about the next move or the next step; his body simply followed the music on its own.

Finally, the music receded like an ebbing tide, and the accompanying lights softened accordingly, no longer dazzlingly bright but transforming into a hazy mist gently enveloping the dance floor.

Nevi and Aesop gradually came to a stop, concluding this flawless dance performance with a beautiful, difficult double spin as the music's lingering notes faded. In the dimming glow, their hands remained firmly clasped. Nevi panted lightly, his fingertips trembling slightly as if an electric current lingered between them, sending shivers through his body.

The warm imprint left on his waist from their close contact during the spins remained, like a secret brand. The rich aroma of wine floating in the air, the faint traces of perfume, and each other's scent—all mingled and gradually settled, yet the ambiguity between them lingered, impossible to dispel.

Nevi beamed at Aesop, his joy and satisfaction unconcealed.

When the spotlight fell on them once more, the guests present spontaneously burst into applause, starting from scattered claps and swelling into a sustained ovation. The livestream audience erupted as well, a torrent of dense comments surging forth like a flood.

"kl48902": Ahhhh truly breathtakingly beautiful! I really can't put my feelings into words right now, it was so gorgeous, I've been screaming crazily through the screen, I can't imagine how stunning it must be in person, wuwuwu so jealous of those bugs at the banquet!

"hg97213": Who gets it—I stared at Nai Nai the whole time, that dancing male bug was so annoying ahhhh! But why did Nai Nai keep staring at that male bug the entire time, smiling so gently, wuwuwu what did that male bug do to deserve this! Damn it!

"cn473829": I still haven't snapped out of it, heavens, this opening dance will definitely be collected by the organizers as a classic! Lick lick lick!

......

The opening dance had ended. Nevi held Aesop's hand and waved politely toward the livestream equipment and the direction of the guests. In an instant, the dance floor's spotlight went out.

Nevi was about to exit with Aesop when, the very next moment, all the various colored spotlights and soft lights above the dance floor switched on simultaneously, bathing the entire floor in breathtaking splendor.

Nevi was instantly dumbfounded.

According to the arrangements the organizer worker bugs had told them, they should have exited when the lights went out, and afterward the performers of the group dance number would take the stage. But what was happening now? Was this an accident?

Should he and Aesop leave or not?

Nevi looked around bewilderedly toward where the organizer worker bugs had gathered, hoping for some hint, but when he looked, he found those worker bugs were no longer there, and the performers who should have been coming on stage were nowhere to be seen either.

Nevi's pleading gaze instinctively turned to Aesop beside him—but at that moment, Aesop suddenly took off his half-face mask!

Nevi's eyes flew wide open. Before he could say anything, Aesop turned to face him and dropped to one knee.

At this sudden scene, the nearby guests erupted in murmurs, abandoning all pretense of decorum as they whispered to one another, their expressions filled with shock and astonishment.

The livestream exploded instantly, like oil dropped into boiling water—crackling and boiling over. Comments poured down like a torrential rain, densely covering the screen. The overload caused the comment feed to freeze for a full five seconds before barely recovering, while viewers' emotions erupted like molten lava—screams, curses, rebukes, and meaningless characters flooded the screen frantically, as if that could stop the male bug's actions.

But it was all in vain.

Nevi suddenly realized what was happening. "Buzz"—his mind went blank, and his heart seemed to lose all control, pounding violently.

"Nai Nai, the luckiest thing in my life was meeting you back then. I never believed in fate before, but I sincerely thank the Bug God for arranging our meeting. Thank you, Nai Nai. Before I met you, I never had any thoughts of seeking a male or entering marriage. You are the only male I will ever love in my life.

I'm so sorry, Nai Nai, that three years ago I was injured and lost my memory, unable to give you a good life, unable even to give you a grand wedding, making you suffer so much by my side." Aesop paused, his voice slightly choked. Even as emotions churned within him, his gaze never left Nevi, the surging love in his eyes nearly spilling over.

"Nai Nai, I'm sorry this sentence is three years late—will you become my Male Master? I will protect you with my life, love you, until the moment my life ends." Aesop's voice was firm and powerful, yet the trembling hands clutching the custom diamond ring box betrayed his nervousness and uncertainty.

"Yes, I will! I will!" Nevi didn't hesitate for a moment. The instant Aesop's words fell, he threw himself into Aesop's arms, eyes red.

At the same time, beneath the crystal chandelier, countless petals as white as snow cascaded down from the dome like a romantic spring rain in reverse, enveloping the two in a sea of flowers carrying the fresh fragrance of nature.

Seeing these flowers, Nevi's tears fell like pearls from a broken string, one after another striking his white lapel, leaving dark damp marks.

To my eternal beloved—this was a sea of White Roses, symbolizing pure and spotless love, and the witness to their love.

Amidst the sea of white roses, two chubby little figures ran toward them, hand in hand.

"Mother! Father!"

"Mother! Father!"

Baibai & Meimei, already round and adorable, looked even more exquisitely charming today in their miniature formal wear matching Nevi and Aesop's outfits.

Each of the two little ones held a small bouquet of white roses, their eyes filled with nothing but their mother and father at the center of the stage.

Nevi was momentarily stunned, then quickly wiped away the tear tracks at the corners of his eyes, bent down smoothly, and steadily caught the two soft little cubs rushing toward him.

"Papa looks so beautiful today!" Bai Bai nuzzled affectionately against his papa, whispering praise softly in his ear.

"Flowers, for Papa! Mei Mei didn't ruin the flowers!" Mei Mei rubbed his chubby, round cheek against his papa before eagerly handing over the white roses clutched tightly in his little hand, his small face beaming with pride as he looked at his daddy, as if he had accomplished something monumental.

Seeing Mei Mei had already offered the white roses, Bai Bai refused to fall behind and quickly handed his over too. "These are Bai Bai's flowers for Papa, and Bai Bai protected them well too!"

Looking at the thoughtful gifts from his two little cubs, Nevi's heart melted. He sincerely thanked Bai Bai and Mei Mei, giving each a kiss on their chubby cheeks, his expression indescribably tender.

Meanwhile, from the direction the two cubs had run from, a crowd of familiar friends and elders of Nevi's had all arrived.

At the forefront was Barlow, beaming with excitement and waving incessantly at Nevi. Beside him were friends from the association's tea parties, as well as the chairman and his husband, who had helped so much and felt as warm as elders.

There was also one who kept a slight distance, neatly dressed, looking somewhat awkward in demeanor, yet his expression was filled with deep affection—the elderly one.

That was Raphael from Numbered Star. He'd come too. They'd talked on the phone just a few days ago, and he'd kept this a secret so well.

Seeing his familiar friends and family, Nevi tried hard to hold his head up, but tears still stubbornly streamed down his cheeks.

A feeling of contentment swelled in Nevi's chest, like a cloud filling his heart, so soft it made his eyes sting, and like a quilt warmed by the sun, carrying the warmth of sunlight and wrapped in a deep, warm happiness.

Nevi felt all of this was too beautiful to be real, as if the slightest touch would pop it like a bubble. He instinctively held his breath, afraid of waking from this beautiful dream.

Seeing their papa in tears, the cubs immediately panicked. Mei Mei instinctively spread his chubby little wings, flapping them desperately, circling around his papa a few times, trying to reach his cheeks with his plump little hands. Unfortunately, since he'd gotten chubbier lately, his poor little wings couldn't support his round body. Mei Mei, unable to fly steadily, tumbled face-first into Nevi's face like a little bear, limbs splayed, but was thankfully caught in time by the quick-thinking Aesop.

Meanwhile, Bai Bai, who had no wings and could only cling to his papa's pant legs, was already pacing in anxious circles. Just as he pouted and was about to cry, Aesop, noticing the situation, quickly set Mei Mei on his shoulder and scooped up the soft, chubby Bai Bai.

Aesop gently wiped away the tears on Nevi's face, his eyes full of heartache, yet he could tell his mate was crying tears of joy. Unable to come up with sweet words to comfort him, he hesitated for a long time and could only squeeze out a flat, "Nai Nai, don't cry."

Nevi looked at the identical anxious expressions on the big one and the two little ones before him and suddenly laughed. He reached out and ruffled each cub's head in turn, and when it came to Aesop, he also gave his head a gentle pat, feeling a little embarrassed afterward. "Bai Bai, Mei Mei, Aesop, I'm fine. It's just... just that I'm so happy, I couldn't help it... Thank you for the flowers, cubs. Papa loves them, loves them very much."

Nevi paused, then met Aesop's gaze directly, beaming. "Thank you, Aesop. Thank you for preparing all of this for me. I'm truly so happy!"

A faint redness tinged the corners of Nevi's eyes, tears glistening in his amber eyes, yet his lips curved upward, his smile radiant and bright.

The fragile beauty of his tears made his already stunning features even more breathtaking, leaving others captivated and unable to look away. Even Aesop was no exception. He blinked, momentarily dazed, then rubbed his nose sheepishly. "Nai Nai, I'm glad you like it. I have to thank Barlow for reminding me—he helped a lot with the arrangements too..."

Aesop omitted the awkward moment when Barlow had scolded him to his face and the embarrassing, terrifying realization that he had actually forgotten to file their marriage license, leaving only his heartfelt gratitude and relief toward Barlow.

Nevi was taken aback, touched by his words. He instinctively looked toward Barlow, only to see him staring at them with a panicked expression. When Barlow caught Nevi's eye, he let out a sigh of relief, then urgently gestured for Nevi to get Aesop's attention. Nevi didn't overthink it and casually brushed Aesop's palm.

Below, Barlow was about to lose his mind. When Aesop finally looked over, Barlow twisted his face into a grim, strained smile and pointed at his ring finger. Seeing Aesop suddenly realize something and hurriedly nudge aside the flapping Mei Mei, then fumble for the ring box in his pocket, Barlow felt utterly exhausted. He slumped wearily against Bernie beside him, silently grumbling to himself that he should remind Nevi to take that guy to the hospital for another check-up—had his brain injury really fully healed?

How could he just stand on stage clinging to Nai Nai, being all affectionate, and not even finish the ceremony?!

If he hadn't reminded him, that restless little cub Mei Mei would have already pulled the ring box out of his pocket to play with!

Bernie was equally speechless and couldn't help but quip, "Barlow, is he really that guy from the Haimulun Family? He seems so clumsy, not elite at all..."

It wasn't just Barlow and Bernie who thought so. At that moment, viewers whose eyes were red with jealousy were also spewing venom in the live stream, venting their frustrations.

"ds873213": Wait, wait, how does he look so clumsy like he's all thumbs? Did his brain injury heal? So embarrassing, I'd do better than him!

"gc573992": Ugh, I can't take it anymore. This guy made Nai Nai suffer so much before, and he had to rely on live streaming to make a living and raise two cubs alone. Now that the cubs are a bit bigger and the stream is picking up, he comes to cash in?!!

How dare he say so confidently that from now on there's only Nai Nai?? Isn't that just expected? With Nai Nai, does he think he can have anyone else?? Why should he? Because he's got nerve? Because he's shameless!!!

"fr742615": Don't cry, don't cry, Nai Nai, don't cry! Urgh, that guy with the clumsy tongue, just standing there dumb—doesn't he know to comfort Nai Nai! Boo hoo, seeing Nai Nai cry makes me want to cry too. How can anyone cry so beautifully? I'd do anything to make Nai Nai stop crying!

"Dreaming of a cute cub": Ahhhh, Bai Bai and Mei Mei are at the scene too! Oh my god, oh my god, I'm about to faint from happiness. I've followed Nai Nai for a long time and really love Bai Bai and Mei Mei. Boo hoo, I finally get to see the cubs today. How can such plump, round cubs be this adorable ahhhh! Bai Bai and Mei Mei, what color bag do you want? I'm ordering one right now, hehe!

"hj472992": Holy crap, holy crap! That guy is that rich?! Oh my god, isn't that the newly developed rare natural mine from this year? Every milligram is priceless and unavailable. Two huge diamond rings like that—my jealous tears are flowing from the corners of my mouth. Sir, do you need an assistant?

"kj478902": A beautiful, gentle mate, cute and lively cubs—isn't this my ultimate dream! Boo hoo, I'm crying so loudly. Why, why aren't the mate and the cubs mine! Boo hoo!

"fd238716": Ahem, off-topic, but I can't directly say who that guy is. If he wanted to, he could truly have more than one mate, though not openly. I'm a fan of Nai Nai and have followed him for a long time. I'm not defending the guy, but you might not imagine the risks he's taking and what he's giving up by doing this today...

All I can say is, his original options for potential mates were among the new generation of High Excellencies from the top noble families on the capital star. The privileged class on the capital star is quite conservative—even ordinary nobles don't approve of marrying commoners, unless it's a high-ranking Excellency, but as everyone knows, high-ranking Excellencies generally don't appear among commoners.

That guy's bold move today probably didn't have his family's support. He's not just challenging his family, but the entire privileged class... Sigh, I just hope none of this drags Nai Nai into it.

Mei Mei, gently nudged aside, looked at the sparkling, gorgeous big gems on his parents' hands, and his round eyes lit up instantly. He had always loved these shiny, glowing gems, and these two looked especially beautiful!

......

Mei Mei's mouth immediately turned down in a pout. He flapped his little wings hard, clumsily flying up onto his daddy's head, messing up his smooth silver hair, and whined clingily, "Daddy, I want it, I want this too! Daddy!"

Meanwhile, Bai Bai, who had been nestled in Aesop's arms peeking out shyly with half his head at the guests nearby, twisted his chubby body around, looked at his parents' rings, blinked, and his face clearly showed he wanted them. But he didn't make a sound, just kept tugging at his daddy's clothes, rubbing his soft cheek against Aesop's chin like a kitten, calling out in a sweet, milky voice, "Daddy."

"Alright, Bai Bai and Mei Mei will both have one."

Aesop had always been endlessly indulgent and doting toward Bai Bai and Mei Mei. He knew the cubs loved sparkling gems and had prepared for this in advance, so he wasn't flustered now. Finally showing a bit of his usual composure, he fondly patted Bai Bai in his arms and Mei Mei, who was causing mischief on his head, then pulled out two matching gemstone necklaces of the same size from his pocket. He handed the amber one to Mei Mei on his head and gently hung the green one around Bai Bai's neck.

Having received their beloved treasures, the cubs settled down considerably, cuddling their new toys in their daddy's arms with eyes curved in smiles, sweetly thanking him.

Nevi watched the interaction between the big one and the two little ones with a gentle smile, feeling as if his heart was filled with warm, sweet hot cocoa—so warm it swelled, so soft it ached.

Having soothed the two cubs, Aesop took Nevi's hand again, pressed a solemn kiss to it, and placed it over his heart, speaking earnestly like a vow: "Nai Nai, we will have a grand wedding. I'll make sure every bug knows our relationship, and they will all cheer and bless us."

Nevi's lashes trembled. In that moment, the hidden unease and fear deep in his heart dissipated completely. He felt a lump in his throat, and it took him a long while to let out a soft acknowledgment.

Aesop wrapped his arms around Nevi, with the two cubs hanging on him, and the satisfaction he felt at this moment was beyond words. For the first time, he looked up toward the live-stream camera and flashed a bold, unrestrained smile at the countless viewers behind the lens, as if staking his claim, silently telling those envious, covetous viewers:

The male is mine.

The cubs are mine.

You all, get lost!

*