In the seven years of their marriage, the number of times they had kissed could be counted on one hand, and almost all of those kisses had been initiated by Cheng Jin, often in a sneaky manner. But now, with Lu Tao taking the initiative, it felt almost unheard of.

The way Lu Tao’s lips and tongue claimed him was fierce, yet the actions were far from skilled—just simple licking, sucking, and nibbling. Even that was enough to leave Cheng Jin in shock.

Lu Tao was actually kissing him?

The overwhelming impact lingered in Cheng Jin’s mind, refusing to fade. When Lu Tao finally bit down on his lip and pulled back, Cheng Jin was still dazed, frozen in place with wide eyes, unable to focus.

Lu Tao seemed surprised by his own impulse, his expression slightly stiff. After a moment, he straightened up and asked, “So, do you understand my feelings now?”

Cheng Jin did understand, but he couldn’t fully trust it. A person who had hated him for years, who had ignored him, suddenly claiming to have “genuine feelings” was something anyone would find hard to believe. Yet that glimmer of hope was too enticing for him to dismiss. Even if he suspected it was all just a dream, he didn’t dare to shatter that illusion. He touched his lips, feeling the lingering warmth, and asked, “Since when… did you…?” He originally wanted to ask, “When did you start liking me?” but he couldn’t bring himself to say it. Instead, he changed his question: “When did you start to see me differently?”

“After noticing your changes.” Lu Tao seemed like he wanted to say more, but the doorbell rang, cutting him off. He glanced at Cheng Jin and then walked over to the door.

Cheng Jin heard him open the door and say something to someone. When Lu Tao returned, he was holding a bag, which he handed to Cheng Jin. “I had your old clothes dry-cleaned, and I bought some new underwear too. You can change into them.”

Lu Tao’s thoughtful gesture surprised Cheng Jin and made him feel a bit flattered. He accepted the bag and softly said, “Thank you.” He started to loosen his clothing, wanting to change, but hesitated when he realized Lu Tao was still standing there.

He didn’t want Lu Tao to misunderstand that any nudity was meant to tempt him, even though he had done that kind of thing in the past.

Lu Tao noticed his hesitation but didn’t turn away. Instead, he said, “Let me see your belly.”

Cheng Jin’s face instantly flushed with embarrassment. He wanted to refuse but couldn’t voice it, so he awkwardly pulled his shirt open a bit, exposing his small belly.

His skin was very pale, and his waist was slender, with no excess fat at all. However, at that moment, his abdomen had slightly bulged out. It wasn’t large, but the curve was noticeable.

Lu Tao stared for a moment before reaching out to touch it.

This hand had often touched Cheng Jin’s belly over the past few months, but the thought that the soul inside belonged to his actual husband made everything feel strangely odd. It wasn’t that he felt repulsed; it was more of a panicked weirdness. It felt almost like he didn’t deserve this.

And now, that hand was indeed caressing his abdomen, the long fingers pressing against his skin and bringing warmth. As Lu Tao’s palm glided over his belly, it sent shivers through Cheng Jin’s entire body, making his waist go weak. He had to brace himself with his hands to support his upper body. Meanwhile, in a certain area, a more intense reaction was igniting; the thin fabric did little to conceal the situation, and the bulge began to rise, eventually forming a small tent.

At that moment, Cheng Jin felt so embarrassed that he wished he could just disappear into the floor!

What was happening?! Just not long ago, he had “earnestly” declared that he didn’t want anything to do with Lu Tao, yet now, he was turned on just from being touched on the belly!

Cheng Jin’s ears turned red, and he hurriedly pushed Lu Tao’s hand away, trying to grab the blanket. “I-I didn’t mean to… it’s just that I haven’t… released in so long…”

As he struggled with the blanket, Cheng Jin realized Lu Tao was stopping him. Panic surged through him again, and when their eyes met unexpectedly, he felt even more flustered and powerless. But Lu Tao remained much calmer, as if this sensual situation didn’t faze him. He asked, “Do you want me to help you out?”

Cheng Jin was taken aback, eyes wide, and before he could respond, the lights in the room went dim, plunging them into darkness. Suddenly, he felt someone get onto the bed, and the next second, he found himself enveloped in a familiar embrace, his underwear stripped away.

The swift sequence of events left Cheng Jin utterly bewildered. “I-I didn’t clean up…” Even though he hadn’t fully trusted Lu Tao’s feelings, he wasn’t so stubborn as to deny his partner physical contact. Besides, no matter how you looked at it, being intimate with Lu Tao was a bonus for him, right?

That had always been his mindset. Even now, despite thinking of separation, the idea was too deeply ingrained to be shaken off.

“No penetration; you’re not suited for that right now.”

For some reason, Lu Tao’s voice in the dark sounded deeper and more magnetic, carrying a hint of indifference that only made it more alluring. This caused Cheng Jin’s previously softened arousal to harden again.

As Lu Tao’s hand grasped him, Cheng Jin shut his eyes and mouth, desperately convincing himself that the person behind him was “Lu Tao No. 2,” and that’s why he could do such things. But no matter how much he hypnotized himself, he could clearly distinguish that this person was his legitimate husband.

It was just like when he learned that two personalities lived within this body; he could differentiate between them perfectly.

The skilled hands used for manipulating intricate instruments and fighting were now gently stroking and caressing his member, almost a misuse of talent. Even though Lu Tao wasn’t particularly skilled in this kind of intimacy, it was enough to overwhelm Cheng Jin. He felt himself reaching his limit, on the verge of release in no time. Within just two minutes, clear fluid was oozing from the tip, splattering onto Lu Tao’s fingers.

If it had been “Lu Tao No. 2,” Cheng Jin would have leaned into him completely, sweetly asking for kisses. But with his actual husband, he couldn’t bring himself to do that. Instead, he sat up straight, not daring to lean against Lu Tao, much less ask for affection.

Yet even so, he came quickly.

At the moment of climax, Cheng Jin’s mind went blank. Biting his lip couldn’t stop the moans from spilling out. It had been so long since he had released; after separating from Lu Tao, desire had seemed to vanish. He hadn’t even masturbated in the forty days since, so when he finally released, it was a series of seven or eight spurts, filling the air with a faint scent of male essence.

After he came, it felt like all his strength had been drained. Cheng Jin collapsed weakly backward, only to be caught securely by Lu Tao.

Startled, Cheng Jin’s body stiffened. He wanted to sit up immediately and back away, but then something hard pressed against his backside, making him forget his intentions.

This was… too strange. Did Lu Tao actually have desires for him?

Though he had sensed it before, in their seven years of marriage, they had been intimate every time they reunited after long separations, but he always thought his husband’s desires were purely reactive. Men were just creatures of their lower halves, easily stimulated by external factors—whether it was an erotic image or video, or even just seeing a woman in a short skirt on the street. A man could get aroused even without having any feelings for her.

Cheng Jin had attributed Lu Tao’s past desires to his own enticing behavior.

But now, it seemed that even without his active temptation, Lu Tao still felt desire for him.

So did that mean he actually liked him, even just a little?

Cheng Jin’s heart was a whirlwind of emotions, but he didn’t dare voice his thoughts. Noticing that Lu Tao wasn’t making any moves either, he hesitantly shifted his body and quietly asked, “Do you want… me to help you too?”

“No need.” Lu Tao responded swiftly, then began to clean Cheng Jin up in the dark before turning on the lights.

When the lights came on, Lu Tao was already out of bed, leaving only his back visible to Cheng Jin. Cheng Jin felt a bit dazed for a moment before he started putting his clothes back on.

Lu Tao went to the bathroom, and when he returned, the bulge had lessened a bit. Cheng Jin’s emotions were complicated as he couldn’t help but glance at that area. While his mind was racing with chaotic thoughts, Lu Tao suddenly said, “You didn’t take care of yourself.”

Cheng Jin froze for a moment.

Lu Tao looked at him, saying, “Wait until you stabilize before doing that. I’ve checked, and the best time for intimacy during pregnancy is after four months. When we get back, I’ll take you for a detailed check-up; then we can determine the exact date of conception.” He paused. “It’s best to follow the doctor’s advice.”

Understanding his words made Cheng Jin’s face turn beet red. He muttered, “I-I didn’t mean that…”

Lu Tao looked at him. “So do you understand now?”

“Understand what?”

“I came to find you to take you back, not to divorce you, but to hope we can continue our relationship as partners.”

His tone was calm, lacking the usual indifference, but the way he stated it still felt the same, leaving Cheng Jin unable to find any cracks in that façade. He couldn’t feel complete joy; it was like Lu Tao’s actions were still just to fulfill a responsibility.

Cheng Jin clutched the blanket, hesitating for a long time before finally giving in to his curiosity. “Lu Tao, do you like me?”

Lu Tao replied, “I like you.”

The unexpected response left Cheng Jin stunned. Even though he hadn’t felt that “liking” from Lu Tao, he knew his husband—the highly sought-after General—would never lie about such matters. Cheng Jin’s face turned a bit red as he whispered, “Really? I-I never felt it… I always thought you hated me…”

“That’s not contradictory,” Lu Tao replied bluntly. “Your previous behavior did annoy others.”

Cheng Jin felt a bit hurt.

“But the liking is real.” He seemed to finally show a crack in his stern demeanor, his tone softening as he glanced away, appearing shy. “You have a very deceptive appearance. When you first walked toward me, I thought I saw a little angel.”