Editor and proofreader: Oceanblue

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Ye Qingyun was genuinely stunned, replying blankly, “…Huh?”

Gu Shenyuan moved quietly over to the bed, kneeling to bring himself closer to where Ye Qingyun was lying.

With a slightly hoarse voice, deep and magnetic, Gu Shenyuan explained, “I looked up some information. It says this will help you, easing the pain when you give birth.”

Ye Qingyun hesitated, “But… this…”

But he wasn’t pregnant, was he?

Gu Shenyuan continued, “I learned some professional techniques. It won’t make you uncomfortable.”

Ye Qingyun stammered, “…Uh…”

The discomfort wouldn’t likely come from the part being massaged, but from another area that was decidedly “not” being massaged!

Wait, was he going to do this? What if he reacted? That’d be so awkward! Here was Gu Shenyuan, trying to be all proper, and meanwhile, his mind was full of not-so-pure thoughts…

Gu Shenyuan, noticing Ye Qingyun’s response, lowered his gaze, his hand on the side of the bed slowly clenching.

Yes, Ye Qingyun might like him, but perhaps his feelings hadn’t developed to the point where he’d want this level of intimacy.

…He’s been too forward, assuming that because Ye Qingyun accepted the ring and kisses, he’d also accept something more intimate.

Where did that confidence even come from? Had he gotten carried away in the closeness they’d built over time?

Ye Qingyun noticed his change in mood and wondered, ‘Is he upset just because I said no to the massage?’

Fine, fine, he’ll agree! Can’t they just try the massage already?

“I didn’t say I didn’t want it; I was just nervous!” Ye Qingyun flipped back the covers, giving Gu Shenyuan a light slap. “Something like this, you need my permission for it? Don’t you usually just… do things without asking? Since when do you hesitate?”

Gu Shenyuan paused, lifting his gaze to look at Ye Qingyun’s face.

It was dim in the room, the lighting faint, but as Gu Shenyuan looked closer, he could just make out a blush on Ye Qingyun’s face.

Ye Qingyun was embarrassed.

…So Ye Qingyun wasn’t entirely unwilling.

This realization sent a thrill through Gu Shenyuan, making him shiver slightly.

Ye Qingyun, looking somewhat as if he were facing a great ordeal, tried to relax, praying silently that he wouldn’t embarrass himself and make Gu Shenyuan, who only intended to give him an innocent massage, feel awkward.

Trying to make conversation, he offered, “Why don’t you grab a chair? Standing at the edge of the bed to massage must be tiring. Sitting might make it easier…”

But before he could finish, he felt Gu Shenyuan take hold of his ankle and pull it to the side, adjusting his posture into an open “V” shape. Then Gu Shenyuan shifted to position himself between his legs.

‘Wait—he’s going through with it?’

The position, with Gu Shenyuan in between, made Ye Qingyun’s scalp tingle. Trying to close his legs would seem too inviting, but keeping them open felt even more suggestive.

Ye Qingyun ended up lying there, stiff as a rock.

“Don’t be nervous,” Gu Shenyuan said.

Ye Qingyun stubbornly replied, “I-I’m not nervous.”

But after blurting that out, he instantly regretted it, staring up at the dark ceiling as he heard Gu Shenyuan sigh, lifting one of his hands.

Starting from his palm, Gu Shenyuan’s soft kisses and warm breaths tickled his skin.

Ye Qingyun instinctively tried to pull his hand away, but Gu Shenyuan held it firmly, refusing to let him escape.

The kisses continued from his palm to the base of his fingers, between each finger, then up to the fingertips. Each inch of his hand was enveloped in Gu Shenyuan’s gentle touch.

The tenderness in the air relaxed Ye Qingyun.

…Wait, no! Right now, his hand wasn’t just a hand; it was, symbolically speaking, the key to his fertility!

If Gu Shenyuan kept kissing his hand, wasn’t it essentially like…

Ye Qingyun felt his face grow instantly hot, unable to shake off the peculiar thoughts flooding his mind.

Sensing Ye Qingyun’s change, Gu Shenyuan paused briefly, then let go of his hand, lowering himself to press a kiss to Ye Qingyun’s lips.

The kiss wasn’t overly passionate but remarkably gentle, and Ye Qingyun gradually relaxed under it.

“Not nervous anymore, hmm?” Gu Shenyuan murmured. “With your current condition, I won’t push for more.”

Ye Qingyun replied in a daze, and then heard Gu Shenyuan coax him softly, “Good… stick your tongue out.”

Following his instructions, Ye Qingyun wrapped his arms around Gu Shenyuan’s neck, and the kiss grew more intense.

With all the practice he’d gotten, Gu Shenyuan’s kissing had improved drastically, and Ye Qingyun quickly found himself completely at his mercy.

Just as he was getting lost in it, Ye Qingyun noticed something was off.

He was feeling… a little chilly as if he were lying bare to the air with no clothing in between.

He touched himself and discovered his shirt was gone.

Ye Qingyun was alarmed. “What’s going on…”

Gu Shenyuan smiled softly at the corner of his mouth, “Time to start the massage.”

Ye Qingyun shot back, “People usually keep their clothes on for a massage!”

“How would you know?” Gu Shenyuan’s voice grew lower, “Have you had one before? Where?”

“Are you jealous over that too?” Ye Qingyun chuckled. “I may not have done it, but I know what it’s like!”

Only then did Gu Shenyuan’s expression soften. He explained, “Usually, yes, you’re right. But I looked up expert advice, and it said—” he traced his hand gently over Ye Qingyun’s heart, “you need a little extra stimulation.”

‘What extra stimulation?’

Ye Qingyun was puzzled. Gu Shenyuan pulled up his terminal and projected his research on the wall for Ye Qingyun to see.

It was quite a long section of text, but Ye Qingyun immediately spotted the key parts.

 “Special male prenatal care. Prenatal assistance is very important. By… promoting circulation, post-birth discomfort can be avoided. Specific soft instruments should be used, but if that’s too expensive, a partner can assist with…”

Ye Qingyun: ‘…???’

What kind of nonsense is this?

Is this legitimate research?

Ye Qingyun covered his face, but even that couldn’t stop his cheeks, ears, and neck from heating up.

“Qingyun?” Gu Shenyuan asked softly. “Shall I help you?”

Ye Qingyun was speechless for a moment, and then, with a tone that sounded like he wanted to bury himself, replied, “… Don’t ask.”

Mortified, Ye Qingyun covered his face, hearing Gu Shenyuan laugh softly, followed by a gentle kiss on his uncovered chin.

The kiss didn’t linger but slowly moved downward, grazing along his jaw, his Adam’s apple, and then…

Ye Qingyun held back any sound, afraid he’d make some embarrassing noise if he did.

His toes curled, gripping the bedsheet, his whole body tingling. Not wanting Gu Shenyuan to notice his state, he placed his arm over his eyes, trying to regulate his breathing.

Ye Qingyun’s mind was a jumble—thinking a lot but also somehow blank.

Time seemed to stretch into hours or pass in mere minutes before Gu Shenyuan’s breath returned close to his face. Gu Shenyuan nuzzled against him, murmuring, “Sweet.”

“…That’s not something you need to tell me.” Ye Qingyun’s voice still carried a hint of hoarseness.

Gu Shenyuan added, “It looks a bit… let me get some ointment for you.”

Ye Qingyun didn’t reply, only reaching out to grab Gu Shenyuan’s hand, stopping him from getting the ointment.

What a joke—going for ointment for something like this would be mortifying!

Gu Shenyuan didn’t insist. Straightening up, he said to Ye Qingyun, “If you don’t want it, that’s fine. We’ll move on to the next spot.”

Next spot?

That means…

Ye Qingyun felt he’d already reached his limit for one day. Any more, and he really might be finished, so he quickly refused, “No, I—”

Before he could finish, Gu Shenyuan lifted him with his power, gently turning him over.

“When you say ‘no,’ you mean ‘yes.’ I get it,” Gu Shenyuan said.

Ye Qingyun: “What do you mean—”

Before he could complete his sentence, Gu Shenyuan lightly nipped the back of his neck. With a soft scrape of his teeth on his skin, Ye Qingyun let out a small gasp and finally surrendered, burying his face into the pillow.

Gu Shenyuan kissed the smooth, pale skin on the back of his neck, his gaze intense with an almost devouring fervor.

Ye Qingyun hadn’t truly rejected him; he felt no resistance in Ye Qingyun’s response when he crossed the line.

Ye Qingyun… didn’t mind this kind of closeness.

This realization thrilled Gu Shenyuan. He wanted to keep kissing, moving down Ye Qingyun’s entire body, leaving his mark on every inch.

But he couldn’t. That wasn’t the purpose tonight.

Taking a deep breath, Gu Shenyuan lifted himself, looking down at Ye Qingyun beneath him.

Ye Qingyun’s back was fully exposed to him, and in this position, he could see the tattoo on Ye Qingyun’s back. Red lines intricately traced his pale skin, forming a sensual image.

The red marks extended downward, disappearing into places Gu Shenyuan couldn’t see.

Gu Shenyuan had seen this tattoo several times before and had mostly memorized its layout and patterns.

…But there was a part of the tattoo he hadn’t seen yet.

The section at the base of Ye Qingyun’s spine, where it continued downward, was hidden from view.

He wanted to see it, every inch.

“Qingyun?” Gu Shenyuan called softly, his voice tight.

There were things he could push for because Ye Qingyun’s outward refusal masked his shyness, so he didn’t need full permission.

But in this matter, he believed it was different.

He didn’t yet have the right to freely view that part of the tattoo.

Ye Qingyun seemed unwilling to talk at the moment and just hummed to show he was listening.

Gu Shenyuan went on, “I want… to see the tattoo.”

Ye Qingyun was puzzled, “Haven’t you seen it many times? You’re looking at it now too, aren’t you?”

“Not that part,” Gu Shenyuan said, placing his hand over the hidden section of the tattoo, then leaning close to whisper in Ye Qingyun’s ear, “I want to see this one.”

Ye Qingyun went silent.

Gu Shenyuan waited in silence, his mind flashing to a single word—presumptuous.

Was he being too presumptuous? Ye Qingyun had already been exceedingly generous in agreeing to his previous requests. He should be grateful.

And yet, he wanted more, craving a deeper intimacy.

Suddenly, Ye Qingyun spoke up, “Why are you hesitating?”

Gu Shenyuan: ‘…?’

“You need my permission again, you…” Ye Qingyun grumbled, hitting his pillow in frustration, “Hopeless!”

Gu Shenyuan froze, his eyes gradually brightening.

“I’m not agreeing!” Ye Qingyun buried his face in the blankets. “I’m going to sleep, and you’re not allowed to touch me.”

This time, Gu Shenyuan didn’t listen to Ye Qingyun. He left a kiss above the part of the tattoo he’d been longing to see, then reached out.

—

That night, Gu Shenyuan finally saw the complete tattoo. Its vivid red was even more beautiful than he’d imagined.