Before meeting Yu Chen, Yun Xunlan sometimes felt anxious about not being able to complete the daily tasks released by the system. He couldn’t openly express this concern, so he used his constant failures in the “War Psychology” exam as an excuse, claiming that it was this that made him anxious.

Doctor Yu Jiano listened to his self-reflection and suggested that he get a pet to relieve his stress.

Yun Xunlan strictly followed the medical advice and adopted a tea pet that very day. He would play with it when he hadn’t completed his tasks, and even when he had, he would still play with it. Every day, he would take care of it, watching as the tea pet became more and more glossy and shiny, its patina growing smoother. Yun Xunlan’s mood gradually improved, and the sense of satisfaction was beyond words. He planned to change his little account’s username from “New Fish Keeper” to “Master Fish Keeper” to celebrate once he achieved the perfect patina.

He shared beautiful photos of the tea pet with Doctor Yu.

After looking at them, Doctor Yu suggested, “Your Highness, why not get another pet… a living one?”

“While the tea pet is nice, it can’t give you any response.”

“If you have a pet that can interact with you, it would be even more effective in relieving your anxiety and stress.”

Yun Xunlan wanted to say that he wasn’t anxious anymore—after all, with Yu Chen around, what was there to worry about regarding daily tasks? Unfortunately, his external reason was still his failing grades in “War Psychology,” so until he passed, no one would believe him if he claimed he wasn’t anxious.

Thus, Yun Xunlan had to continue following the medical advice and get a living pet.

The system asked him, “What do you plan to raise?”

“I’ll stick with fish,” Yun Xunlan replied. “I’m familiar with that.”

The system couldn’t quite understand: “Is raising a tea pet fish the same as raising live fish? One is dead and can’t be kept alive; the other is alive and might die. The difference is huge!”

Yun Xunlan had his reasoning: “Both can be raised as long as you have money. What’s the difference?”

The system: “…”

It really was true.

The system had nothing more to say.

Yun Xunlan’s chat with Doctor Yu came to an end. He bid farewell to Doctor Yu and got up to leave the consultation room, intending to find Ni Chun to discuss changing their plans—he needed to visit the pet market to buy a new pet.

However, once outside, Yun Xunlan didn’t immediately see Ni Chun. Not only Ni Chun, but he also couldn’t spot Yu Chen.

But as he turned his eyes and scanned the area, he quickly found where Ni Chun and Yu Chen were. They were standing next to a pot of greenery, seemingly discussing something. Ni Chun looked worried and anxious, while Yu Chen’s expression fluctuated between red and green.

When his face was green, the deep-set beauty of the alpha’s features appeared particularly cold and stern; when it turned red, the coolness was diluted, and his blue eyes, like the sea, were illuminated by the warm light streaming in from outside, resembling a beautiful gem forged in fierce flames, revealing a precious innocence amidst its clarity.

—Especially when he looked at Yun Xunlan.

Yun Xunlan thought Yu Chen’s eyes were particularly beautiful, so he smiled at him and then silently mouthed, praising him: “Your eyes are very pretty.”

After the compliment, Yu Chen’s face lost its green hue. He understood Yun Xunlan’s lip movements, and for a moment, his pupils constricted. The next second, his entire face turned red, even his ears. Such a tall and upright alpha was now filled with awkwardness and shyness, pure to an unbelievable degree.

“Yu Chen is really shy; just one compliment from you makes him blush,” the system commented with interest. “He has this tendency to blush easily. I bet you two won’t be able to avoid some rumors in the future.”

“That’s fine.”

Yun Xunlan remembered the system’s golden saying: “Just ignore the rumors and slanders from others.”

When Ni Chun saw Yun Xunlan come out, he immediately ended his conversation with Yu Chen and walked over to the silver-haired alpha, bowing his head in greeting: “Your Highness.”

“Ni Chun, we’re not going back to the base just yet,” Yun Xunlan told him. “I need to go to the pet market to buy a new pet.”

Ni Chun nodded: “Yes, Your Highness, I’ll arrange a vehicle for you right away.”

The Imperial Military Medical Research Institute was located in the suburbs, near a military base, so the safety level was unquestionable. They had arrived by flying vehicle. However, since the pet market was in the city, taking a flying vehicle would be too conspicuous, so Ni Chun arranged a discreet car for Yun Xunlan.

The driver was naturally Ni Chun, while Yun Xunlan and Yu Chen sat in the back seat.

Lu You also drove a car, following behind Yun Xunlan’s vehicle with Fu Yanxi and Gui Yan.

On the way, Yun Xunlan noticed that Yu Chen’s face wasn’t as red anymore, but his ears and neck still had a faint blush. He opened the car window, hoping to let in some cool air to help Yu Chen cool down.

However, they were driving along the coastal highway, and the wind blowing into the car had passed over the sea, carrying a cold, salty scent.

Yun Xunlan slightly tilted his face up, sniffing the air, then turned to look at Yu Chen.

On this side, he found that Yu Chen was also looking at him.

The warm evening glow of the sunset flickered and danced in the man’s eyes, sparkling like the sun illuminating a frozen blue sea.

Yun Xunlan gazed at him, took another breath of the sea breeze, and then said to Yu Chen, “Yu Chen, the air here seems like your pheromones, but not as fishy as yours.”

To his surprise, as soon as those words left his mouth, he saw Yu Chen’s face, which had been cooled by the sea breeze, not only fail to cool down but also start to heat up again.

He lowered his long, straight lashes: “My pheromones don’t smell good.”

Faced with such a damp, salty scent, even with the good-brother filter in place, Yun Xunlan couldn’t bring himself to say “good smell.” He could only comfort Yu Chen: “Actually, it’s fine once you get used to it.”

The blue-eyed alpha raised his gaze at this, his voice lower and huskier than usual: “…So, have you gotten used to it?”

“I don’t need to get used to it.” Yun Xunlan leaned slightly toward Yu Chen, his golden eyes filled with gentle laughter, and whispered softly in the alpha’s ear, “Because I never thought it smelled bad.”

The air was filled with the unique briny scent of the sea breeze, a familiar smell that had accompanied Yu Chen since the day he differentiated as an alpha. It enveloped him; he was like a fish living in the sea, never feeling that the surrounding environment was unpleasant. But at this moment, the youth’s words erupted like a sudden underwater volcano, boiling this sea area and invading his personal space.

Yu Chen felt as if he was about to be swallowed by it, merging into ashes in the heat.

He lifted his lashes, gazing at the person beside him with a look that seemed to want to engrave the youth’s image in his heart, but his mind was replaying the conversation he had with Ni Chun outside the consultation room—

“Major Yu Chen, have you and His Highness ever had a sexual relationship?”

At that time, Ni Chun had called him to a corner and immediately asked a question that could explode Yu Chen’s rationality.

It took Yu Chen a few seconds to come back to his senses and answer Ni Chun: “…No.”

He took a moment to calm his breathing and emotions, starting from the objective fact, and added, “I have only slept in the same bed as His Highness; we have not had a sexual relationship.”

They hadn’t even established a relationship yet; how could there be a sexual relationship?

“His Highness has never liked being close to others since he was young, but now he is willing to sleep in the same bed with you every day.” Ni Chun’s expression grew more serious. “He really does have feelings for you…”

The beta hesitated, struggling to find the right words, and finally said, “This isn’t something I should be saying, but I’m really worried about His Highness. Major Yu Chen, please forgive my rudeness, and please promise me—”

Ni Chun looked into Yu Chen’s eyes, seriously saying, “If you and His Highness are going to engage in sexual activity, please make sure to take safety measures, for both of you.”

Ni Chun had to emphasize this to Yu Chen out of necessity.

He was fifteen years older than the Third Prince and had watched him grow up into adulthood. However, someone who had never had prolonged close contact with Yun Xunlan couldn’t understand the extent of his “autism”—Yun Xunlan had never liked interacting with people since childhood, and this resistance was far greater than that of Jin Wenxi.

As a baby, aside from eating, Yun Xunlan would cry whenever someone got close, and even the Queen, the Emperor, and the Crown Prince were not spared.

Later, when Yun Xunlan learned to speak, the sentence he said the most was: “I want to be alone; don’t share a room with me.”

As he grew older, Yun Xunlan’s “autism” had lessened and improved, but it still existed.

Yet this Yun Xunlan suddenly called him one day, asking him to prepare fitting sleepwear and underwear for another person, and to share a bed with him, how could Ni Chun not think too much about it?

At first, Ni Chun pondered whether he had misunderstood.

So he planned to find an appropriate time to ask Yun Xunlan indirectly.

But before that moment could arrive, Ni Chun received a new task. The Third Prince told him, “Ni Chun, please change the bed in my dormitory to a bigger one; the old one is too small. I didn’t sleep well with Yu Chen last night.”

The Third Prince had indeed slept with Major Yu Chen again last night!

And judging by this, were they going to continue sleeping together in the future? Otherwise, there would be no need to change beds, right?

Ni Chun was initially shocked, but after calming down, he felt this was a good opportunity to probe for more information, so he asked Yun Xunlan, “Alright, Your Highness, should I prepare new sleepwear and underwear for Major Yu Chen as well?”

Yun Xunlan replied, “Yes, prepare some. Although Yu Chen wore mine last night, I’m afraid he won’t be used to it. Remember to prepare two extra sets for convenience.”

Ni Chun: “…”

If it was for convenience, then they must be planning to sleep together for a long time.

And also…

His Highness was willing to let Major Yu Chen wear such intimate clothing?!

Wait, His Highness’s underwear and Major Yu Chen’s size aren’t the same. Did Major Yu Chen wear it? Could he fit it? Or did he not wear it at all? Did he sleep naked with the Third Prince?

Whether he wore it or not, it seemed wrong…

Ni Chun tried to calm himself down and asked in a steady voice, “Do you need to prepare condoms and lubricants? Do you and Major Yu Chen have any preferences for scents?”

Yun Xunlan responded with a puzzled “Hmm?” and said, “No, I don’t need that when I sleep with Yu Chen.”

Ni Chun: “…………”

Ni Chun could no longer maintain his composure. His voice began to tremble, but he couldn’t directly advise Yun Xunlan that this was something they couldn’t skip, so he went to find Yu Chen, emphasizing to him: “If His Highness doesn’t want to take safety measures, you can’t just let him do as he pleases; you must supervise him.”

Yu Chen: “…?”

Not wanting to take safety measures meant wanting to… go without protection?

Yun Xunlan was playing it so boldly?

Yu Chen’s face was on fire again.

Ni Chun looked at his flushed face, thinking he had hit the nail on the head regarding their little secret of recklessness. Otherwise, with Major Yu Chen’s strong psychological quality, capable of acing “War Psychology,” how could he blush like this?

Did he know how dangerous it was not to take safety measures?

Ni Chun felt heartbroken and advised Yu Chen: “This is for His Highness’s safety, and also for your safety.”

Sex education was a compulsory course for all citizens of the Galactic Empire, and Yu Chen had studied it very well. He certainly understood the importance of taking safety measures during sexual activity with a partner, not only to prevent “unexpected lives” but also for hygiene and to prevent the spread of certain diseases.

But both Yun Xunlan and he were alphas, so even without safety measures, it was impossible to create “unexpected lives.” Why did Ni Chun still emphasize the word “safety” so seriously?

Could it be that Yun Xunlan had some unspeakable… contagious… kind of “love disease”?

—No, that was impossible. His Highness wasn’t that kind of person.

Yu Chen immediately denied this outrageous speculation, but his face was still burning with embarrassment.

He, Yu Chen, was an alpha who kept himself pure, with his first kiss still intact.

After finally developing feelings for someone, he ended up falling for a flirtatious alpha?

Although Yu Chen was reluctant to assume the worst about Yun Xunlan, how could he not think more about it after Ni Chun’s words?

And even knowing that Yun Xunlan might not be very loyal and was a bit of a player, when he saw the youth smile at him and heard him say, “Your eyes are very pretty,” he still felt an uncontrollable flutter in his heart.

He couldn’t help but keep looking at Yun Xunlan.

It was like the tides were locked in place, unable to change direction.

He recalled the first time he stood in front of Yun Xunlan without any barriers—

That day was also under such a blood-red sunset, the silver-haired alpha stood high on the steps, his golden eyes slightly lowered, looking down at everyone, his face shrouded in a layer of hazy brilliance, as if he were a noble deity descending to the mortal realm.

Now, Yu Chen sat beside Yun Xunlan, in this close proximity, watching the youth lean toward him, listening to him whisper in a husky voice in his ear. He reached out, brushing aside the layer of misty light that covered Yun Xunlan.

This time, Yu Chen finally saw Yun Xunlan’s face clearly: he was not a deity but a seductive spirit.

Even though he was dressed neatly and held himself with restraint, with just one glance, one low murmur, or one smile, he could enchant anyone to become his follower, obeying all his commands and forgiving all his misdeeds.

This kind of capture was like the powerful gravity of a star, and Yu Chen had already fallen into the net, unable to escape.

“…Yun Xunlan.”

He uncontrollably called out the youth’s name.

“Mm?” The silver-haired alpha leaned closer to him, as if responding to a summons without resistance, “What is it?”

Such obedient docility only ignited Yu Chen’s wicked desires—he desperately wanted to peel off the suppressive patch on the back of his neck and cover the youth’s entire body with his pheromones, claiming this vibrant and brilliant star for himself.

If he couldn’t have it all…

Then let him kiss this lychee rose just once.

Yu Chen pressed his lips together, his Adam’s apple nervously bobbing, and leaned toward Yun Xunlan: “If you don’t want to, then just push me away…”

The man’s voice was too hoarse, and he lowered it too much, so Yun Xunlan couldn’t hear what he said clearly. To listen closely, he had to tilt his face up and lean closer to Yu Chen, completely unaware that the car had stopped.

Driver Ni Chun also couldn’t hear what they were saying in the back seat. He could only see the Third Prince about to kiss Yu Chen, so he wisely kept silent, covering his face with his hands in despair, unable to bear to watch.

Then, Fu Yanxi’s voice came from outside the car window, which had not been closed tightly: “Your Highness, we’ve arrived at the pet market.”

Hearing this, Yun Xunlan suddenly turned around and looked out the car window: “So soon?”

Not having been pushed away, but only managing to kiss the ends of Yun Xunlan’s hair, Yu Chen: “……”