Editor and proofreader: Oceanblue

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Ye Qingyun got his wish and arrived at the finest restaurant, ordering the most expensive dishes.

To maintain his clingy persona, he didn’t sit across from Gu Shenyuan but next to him. When the dishes were served, he immediately said in an exaggerated, dramatic tone, “Oh my gosh, how is there so much food? I might have ordered just a little bit too much. I didn’t mean to, I just wanted to try everything. You won’t be mad at me, right?”

Ye Qingyun leaned against Gu Shenyuan’s arm, and he could feel Gu Shenyuan stiffen.

Poor guy, I must have completely disgusted him.

“It’s fine. You can have whatever you want,” Gu Shenyuan replied.

Ye Qingyun pushed his luck further: “I don’t want to use my hands, it’s too troublesome. You feed me.”

Gu Shenyuan turned to look at him, and Ye Qingyun, feeling guilty, turned his head away and rested it on Gu Shenyuan’s shoulder. He had mentally prepared himself to be slapped away, but instead, Gu Shenyuan picked up his chopsticks and put a little bit of food into his bowl.

This was a public place, not home, yet Gu Shenyuan still tolerated such ridiculous, embarrassing behavior? How could he endure this?

Ye Qingyun frowned. He genuinely thought Gu Shenyuan was being too patient. If someone pulled this on him, he’d think they were a spoiled brat and would probably just tell them to starve if they didn’t want to eat.

As another spoonful of food was brought to his mouth, Gu Shenyuan asked, “Is it good?”

Ye Qingyun ate it, and as his gaze shifted upwards, he met Gu Shenyuan’s eyes.

In Gu Shenyuan’s gaze, there wasn’t the humiliation Ye Qingyun had expected. Instead, he just saw sincerity, a look that said as long as Ye Qingyun was happy, nothing else mattered.

Ye Qingyun stared into those eyes, and before he realized it, his ears began to heat up. His mind recalled a cheesy line he had memorized while studying recently:

“Thank you, hubby, you’re the best!”

Clang—

The spoon dropped to the floor, making a crisp sound, leaving the room in complete silence.

Ye Qingyun froze, seeing the shock on Gu Shenyuan’s face, and couldn’t help but feel utterly embarrassed.

Great, he had just died of social humiliation in front of Gu Shenyuan.

His dignity? Long gone.

Why did his memory have to be so good? Why did he have to remember that awful line?

Ye Qingyun stayed awkward for what felt like an eternity. When he finally recovered, he noticed Gu Shenyuan still hadn’t moved, sitting there like a statue.

“Gu Shenyuan?” Ye Qingyun nudged him.

Gu Shenyuan snapped out of it, quickly averting his gaze from Ye Qingyun’s face and shifting it to the table.

Ye Qingyun was unsure of what Gu Shenyuan was feeling at the moment. After a brief hesitation, he decided to stick to the original plan and continue grossing him out.

Gu Shenyuan was a fiercely independent person who hated being touched. Usually, anyone who tried to touch him would be beaten so badly they’d regret it.

Plus, Ye Qingyun had noticed that even though Gu Shenyuan claimed to like him, he didn’t touch him much—not romantically or intimately.

Putting all this together, Ye Qingyun had deduced that Gu Shenyuan was probably emotionally detached, preferring platonic love even if he liked someone.
Ye Qingyun, this time, wanted to take advantage of his current clingy personality to try and touch Gu Shenyuan, hoping to make him feel disgusted.

Ye Qingyun leaned forward, one hand resting on the table, turning slightly to observe Gu Shenyuan’s expression. Under the table, out of sight of others, he lightly kicked Gu Shenyuan’s leg. “What’s wrong? Are you mad?”

Gu Shenyuan expressionlessly moved his leg aside, avoiding Ye Qingyun’s touch.

This reaction—there’s something here! Gu Shenyuan hates being touched by others!

Understanding this, Ye Qingyun pressed his leg back against Gu Shenyuan’s, hooking his calf around Gu Shenyuan’s leg.

Once again, Gu Shenyuan tried to move away, but this time, Ye Qingyun had him trapped.

Gu Shenyuan closed his eyes, his dark lashes trembling slightly. “…Enough.”

Ye Qingyun now felt like a real creep, like a bad older brother forcing himself on an innocent youth.

But that was exactly the effect he was aiming for. Doing bad things while pretending to be a delicate flower, Ye Qingyun said in a falsely innocent tone, “Enough? You… you! I’m the one touching you, and this is how you talk to me? You’re so mean!”

After saying this, Ye Qingyun braced himself and, pretending to be in a huff, moved closer to Gu Shenyuan.

Gu Shenyuan opened his eyes, his dark, bottomless gaze staring at Ye Qingyun. There was an inexplicable pressure emanating from him. With a low, steady voice, Gu Shenyuan asked, “Do you know what it means when someone plays footsie under the table?”

Ye Qingyun: “…”

This was beyond his knowledge base.

The only reason he chose to do it under the table was so that others wouldn’t see it and it wouldn’t be too embarrassing. Was there a deeper meaning?

Facing Gu Shenyuan’s intense stare, Ye Qingyun’s curiosity momentarily overpowered his other feelings. Awkwardly smiling, he said, “I don’t know. Why don’t you tell me?”

Gu Shenyuan silently looked at him for a moment, then suddenly reached out and grabbed Ye Qingyun’s hand.

Gu Shenyuan’s body temperature had always been cool, his hands usually too. But today, his hand was especially warm, almost uncomfortably so for Ye Qingyun.

Instinctively, Ye Qingyun tried to pull his hand away, but this time, Gu Shenyuan wouldn’t let him.

“I’ll tell you,” Gu Shenyuan said, looking directly into Ye Qingyun’s eyes, gripping his hand tightly. “When you do this, you’re telling me that tonight, you want to sleep with me.”

The words “sleep with me” should have sounded completely out of place coming from Gu Shenyuan, who always seemed detached from emotions. But now, hearing him say them didn’t make Ye Qingyun want to laugh—instead, it made his whole body tense up, feeling the urge to flee.

Gu Shenyuan’s expression, tone, gaze, and actions all indicated that he was deadly serious.

Ye Qingyun, who had never learned much about this side of things, never expected to step on such a big landmine this time. Looking at Gu Shenyuan, who now exuded a heavy, oppressive aura, he stammered, “Y-you don’t want to, right?”

“You think I don’t want to?” Gu Shenyuan replied, as if hearing the biggest joke, his lips curling up without any humor. He repeated, “You think I don’t want to?”

Ye Qingyun didn’t dare to say anything, but his eyes betrayed his thoughts.

Indeed, he believed that Gu Shenyuan had no interest in these sorts of things. After all, in the original story, Gu Shenyuan was immune to all kinds of temptations. No matter how attractive or alluring a person might be, they were no more enticing to him than a pile of pork.

Gu Shenyuan shifted his position, his other hand now gripping Ye Qingyun’s waist, effortlessly pulling him into his lap.

Wearing a loose robe, Gu Shenyuan hadn’t shown any signs of change until now. But in such proximity, Ye Qingyun could feel something pressing against him.

As a man himself, Ye Qingyun naturally knew what it was and understood Gu Shenyuan’s current state.

No wonder Gu Shenyuan hadn’t wanted to be touched—Ye Qingyun hadn’t even done anything extreme, just a small touch, and Gu Shenyuan was already turned on.

So what should he do now?

Ye Qingyun was a bit lost, frozen in Gu Shenyuan’s arms. After holding him for a while, Gu Shenyuan slowly let him go.

“My patience is limited. I can’t always hold back,” Gu Shenyuan said. “So I’d suggest you stop with these teasing actions, or I won’t be able to guarantee what will happen.”

Ye Qingyun: “Oh… okay.”

Ye Qingyun continued to eat, his mind in turmoil. Gu Shenyuan’s actions had completely shattered the image he had of him.

He had always thought of Gu Shenyuan as a distant, almost ascetic person, detached from worldly desires. Even his feelings for Ye Qingyun had seemed mild, like someone admiring a beautiful flower.

But now, Gu Shenyuan’s impulses proved that his feelings were far more than just that.

As Ye Qingyun ate, he realized he had overlooked a crucial question.

His assumption that Gu Shenyuan didn’t like clingy types was based on one key premise—that Gu Shenyuan was an aloof, submissive character.

But what if… what if Gu Shenyuan was becoming more dominant? Would his previous standards still hold?

Ye Qingyun felt like he was about to suffocate. He took a deep breath and shakily asked Gu Shenyuan, “I have a question… do you want to top, or be topped?”

Gu Shenyuan: “…”

Without saying a word, Gu Shenyuan’s gaze conveyed the answer.

Gu Shenyuan wanted to top.

Ye Qingyun felt even more despair: “This whole time I’ve been clinging to you—did it annoy you?”

Gu Shenyuan’s lips curved into a slight smile, and he shook his head.

Of course, how could a cold, aloof dominant type be annoyed by a clingy, needy partner? They were practically made for each other.

Ye Qingyun: “…”

He really couldn’t catch a break.

As he continued eating in despair, deep in thought, a voice suddenly sounded at the table: “What a coincidence, you’re here too! I just happened to run into you. Mind if I join?”
The voice sounded familiar. Ye Qingyun looked up and saw the Third Prince standing nearby with a smile on his face.

The Third Prince hadn’t left this planet yet? Hadn’t he already killed his lover? Why was he still lingering on this planet meant for couples?

This question flashed through Ye Qingyun’s mind, and then he saw the Third Prince pull out a chair across from them and sit down without waiting for an invitation.

Ye Qingyun frowned. “We didn’t agree to this.”

The Third Prince chuckled. “Chance meetings are fate. Let’s chat a bit, and we can become friends.”

Ye Qingyun: “???”

Who wanted to be friends with this guy?!

The Third Prince’s gaze quickly flicked to Gu Shenyuan before returning to normal, his expression friendly as he looked at Ye Qingyun.

… Of course. The Third Prince had always been searching for that humanoid weapon, and Gu Shenyuan’s appearance and demeanor were a perfect match. He must be suspicious.

“Would you like to order anything else? It’s on me. Let’s have a bit more,” the Third Prince offered.

“No, we’ve already eaten.” Ye Qingyun stood up immediately, intending to drag Gu Shenyuan away.

But the bodyguards, who had been silently standing behind the Third Prince, stepped forward to block their path.

“What’s the rush?” The Third Prince’s smile remained, but his tone was cold. “Sit down and chat. I’m not going to harm you. But if you embarrass the royal family today, the consequences will be more than just making me unhappy.”

The Third Prince wasn’t just the prince of a single planet; the empire spanned an entire galaxy. The royal family’s power covered this vast territory, and offending them while giving them a legitimate reason to retaliate would make it almost impossible to escape their revenge, no matter where you fled.

Realizing the danger, Ye Qingyun reluctantly sat back down.

He could ignore the threat for himself, given that he could change his identity after being reborn. No one would recognize him. But what about Gu Shenyuan?

Gu Shenyuan had no one to rely on, so to avoid causing trouble for him, it was better for Ye Qingyun not to act rashly.

Even though they stayed, Ye Qingyun was determined that if he was uncomfortable, the Third Prince wouldn’t have it easy either.

The Third Prince, satisfied with Ye Qingyun’s compliance, poured himself a glass of water. After taking a sip, he said, “Ye Qingyun, you and Gu Shenyuan seem very close. Where did you two meet?”

“Oh, it’s nothing like that,” Ye Qingyun replied humbly. “Your relationship with your lover is truly admirable. You seemed so confident in him. By the way, where is your lover?”

The Third Prince’s expression briefly darkened but quickly returned to normal. He smiled and said, “He felt unworthy of me, so he left to better himself.”

“Really? That’s so diligent!” Ye Qingyun feigned shock. “Isn’t he undefeated by almost anyone? I can’t believe he was so upset by losing to my Gu Shenyuan that he left you!”

Seeing the Third Prince’s face grow grim again, Ye Qingyun continued insincerely, “I apologize, I’m not good with words. I didn’t mean anything by it. Surely you understand, right?”

“Heh, I understand,” the Third Prince replied with a cold smile. “You two are very close. Were you each other’s first love?”

Determining if someone was a humanoid weapon largely depended on how many relationships they had. If it was more than one, they definitely weren’t the weapon.

Ye Qingyun might not tell him the truth, but from his expression and tone, the Third Prince could still gather some clues.

If Gu Shenyuan really was the humanoid weapon he had been searching for, even if Gu Shenyuan had fallen in love with someone else, the Third Prince wouldn’t let him go.

Since Gu Shenyuan clearly listened to Ye Qingyun, the Third Prince planned to capture Ye Qingyun. With him as leverage, Gu Shenyuan would have no choice but to obey.

As the Third Prince eyed Ye Qingyun with malicious intent, he suddenly felt an overwhelming pressure that made it hard for him to breathe.

It was Gu Shenyuan’s power.

Gu Shenyuan had sensed the Third Prince’s intentions towards Ye Qingyun and was now warning him.

Under the threat of such absolute power, the Third Prince could no longer utter any threats. He could only watch as Ye Qingyun and Gu Shenyuan calmly left.

As Gu Shenyuan led Ye Qingyun away, Ye Qingyun was still in shock. “Are we just leaving like this?”

“I’ve already settled the bill,” Gu Shenyuan replied calmly.

“That’s not what I meant.” Ye Qingyun shook his head, speaking hurriedly and forgetting to watch his tone. “I mean… if you offend him like this, what will you do in the future? You’re strong, sure, but people like him can easily make your life miserable.”

“And what about you?” Gu Shenyuan asked.

“Me? What about me?” Ye Qingyun was puzzled.

Gu Shenyuan was silent for a moment. “You haven’t mentioned the trouble you might face from offending him. You’re only worried about what I’ll go through.”

Ye Qingyun didn’t think much of it. After all, he had the advantage of rebirth. He wasn’t in the same situation as Gu Shenyuan.

Gu Shenyuan, seeing through Ye Qingyun’s thoughts, pressed his lips together.

How could someone be so selfless, paying no attention to the dangers they might face, only worrying about the small inconveniences that might happen to him?

Realizing that Ye Qingyun had stayed behind to deal with the unpleasant Third Prince purely for his sake, Gu Shenyuan couldn’t hold back anymore. He reached out and took Ye Qingyun’s hand.

Amidst the bustling crowd on the street, no one noticed their clasped hands except the two of them.

Ye Qingyun was startled. ‘???’

He tried to pull his hand away, but failed.

“Ye Qingyun,” Gu Shenyuan said softly.

Ye Qingyun: ‘!!!’

What was happening? Why was Gu Shenyuan calling him like that?

Gu Shenyuan’s voice was quiet, like it could dissolve into the air at any moment, yet every word reached Ye Qingyun’s ears clearly: “I’m with you, not to let you suffer.”

Ye Qingyun said, “… I’m not being wronged.”

Gu Shenyuan didn’t argue with Ye Qingyun but continued, “In the future, if you encounter situations like this, as long as you don’t like it, there’s no need to endure it. Just leave, without too many concerns.”

Ye Qingyun: “…”

If Gu Shenyuan had this kind of teaching method as a child, he would definitely grow up to be a little troublemaker.

Gu Shenyuan said, “Do whatever you want. If anything really happens, I’ll take care of it for you.”

Ye Qingyun was stunned by his grand declaration. After a while, he replied, “That… that depends on the situation. Not everything can be resolved by you, just like that Third Prince from earlier.” Ye Qingyun seriously schooled Gu Shenyuan, “If I provoke the Third Prince recklessly and he uses the entire empire’s power to hunt me down, can you single-handedly suppress them and make them lie on the ground calling me ‘Your Majesty’?”

Gu Shenyuan replied, “Mm.”

Ye Qingyun was shocked. “Mm? Think carefully before you speak!”

Gu Shenyuan looked up at the sky. It was daytime, so there were no shining stars, but some nearby small planets could still be seen, quietly hanging in the sky.

“I’ve thought it through,” Gu Shenyuan said, gripping Ye Qingyun’s hand tightly. “I want this entire star system to belong to you, making you the most esteemed person in this galaxy.”

Ye Qingyun abruptly turned to look at Gu Shenyuan. He saw Gu Shenyuan’s profile, which appeared calm as always at first glance, but upon closer inspection, there was madness hidden in his eyes.

“Stop, stop, don’t say anymore! Calm down!” Ye Qingyun hurriedly interrupted Gu Shenyuan. “I haven’t even thought about making you help me conquer the world. Why are you being so proactive?”

Gu Shenyuan remained unfazed and continued, “If I die in the process… then you’ll be free. I’ll leave my inheritance to you.”

The more Ye Qingyun listened, the more alarmed he became. Just as he was about to give Gu Shenyuan some advice, he saw Gu Shenyuan turn his face toward him, his pitch-black eyes staring at him, as if putting everything on the line. He said, “But if I succeed and don’t die, will you be willing to be with me?”