Chapter 24: Bamboo Node
Wien wrapped the coat tighter around himself, feeling not just the warmth of the garment, but a deeper warmth, unable to suppress the upturn of his lips.
“Thank you, Master.” He whispered, properly putting on the coat, crossing the lapels, and wrapping himself tightly.
Opening the door, the rain was still drizzling, and the cold wind that blew in made He Yue shiver.
He took an umbrella from the side and handed it to Wien. “Be careful.”
Wien took the umbrella, smiled, waved goodbye, and turned to leave. He took a few steps, then looked back to see that He Yue hadn’t closed the door yet, so he called out, “Master, be careful not to catch a cold.” After receiving a nod of affirmation, he quickly disappeared into the night.
This guy…
A little bit of insignificant care could make him so happy.
He Yue smiled faintly, shaking his head helplessly, and closed the door.
A thick military cape was draped over his shoulders, the soft lining comfortable against his skin, and the lingering warmth from body heat made it especially cozy. The person behind him was very close, his chest almost pressed against his back. The fur collar of the cape tickled He Yue’s face, and he raised his hand to scratch it, turning to see Koeyle’s tense face.
“What are you doing?” He Yue’s smile faded as he raised an eyebrow.
He knew Wien had ignited a fire in Koeyle’s heart, and he was deliberately adding fuel to it.
Koeyle swayed slightly, cupping He Yue’s hands in his own, his voice stiff. “Your hands are cold.”
“It’s alright, it’s warm inside, they’ll warm up soon.” He Yue casually withdrew his hands, but didn’t remove the cape from his shoulders.
Koeyle’s hands remained clasped in front of his chest, caught off guard by the shift in atmosphere.
“Put these things in my room, and then come to the studio.”
“Yes.”
Koeyle came back to his senses and knelt down to put the items back into the bags.
He didn’t understand the source of his unease. From Wien emphasizing “accompanying male insect” to He Yue’s obvious preferential treatment, coupled with the pressure the unpredictable nuclear hole was putting on everyone during the emergency meeting, it all made him increasingly irritable.
Koeyle gathered the items on the floor, listening to the receding footsteps as He Yue went upstairs. He touched the epaulette on his shoulder, the sharp edges of the metal carving digging into his hand.
He Yue entered the studio and casually tossed the military cape onto the sofa.
(System, can you still find my bamboo node jade dildo?)
The system’s voice was delayed for a few seconds. [Found it, placed on the host’s table.]
The bamboo node jade dildo was about the size of a finger, crystal clear, and of excellent quality. The carving of the bamboo node was lifelike, with a small branch extending from the front.
The exquisitely carved jade bamboo node alone was already quite valuable, and those who didn’t know its purpose would naturally treat it as a treasure.
He Yue twirled the bamboo node in his hand, confirming that it was still functional.
(Is there a specific way for male insects to use soothing pheromones?)
The system was incredibly pleased to see that the host, who had always scoffed at male insect pheromones, was suddenly interested. [Usually, just releasing soothing pheromones is enough. Particularly severe physical or mental trauma might require hypnosis first. The pheromone release point is on the back of the male insect’s neck. The host can try it.]
He Yue rubbed the left side of his neck, feeling an unusual tingling sensation.
Pheromones were still somewhat unfamiliar to him, but since Wien’s single mention of “accompanying male insect” could increase Koeyle’s value by 4%, he felt he could also try using this unfamiliar but surprisingly effective tool.
A knock came at the studio door, and He Yue temporarily put aside his thoughts on pheromones, going to open the door. He leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, not inviting Koeyle in. “What’s your schedule for these days?”
“Patrols and guiding new and veteran military females, and also, nuclear hole simulation training.”
He Yue nodded and opened his palm. The bamboo node jade dildo lay quietly in his hand, its dark green color exceptionally translucent.
“Take this with you during the day, and return it when you come back at night. Same rules, I’ll use this to call you.”
Koeyle stared at the novel object for a second, then realized it was just a more peculiar-looking iron ball.
He hadn’t imagined that such a tool could be crafted into such a delicate piece of art. He lowered his head, avoiding He Yue’s gaze, took it with both hands, and softly replied, “Yes.”
The jade in his palm gradually warmed up, the protruding branch suggestive. He unconsciously rubbed the smooth surface of the jade, remembering that Wien had received a warm coat.
One was for amusement, the other out of care and concern.
He knew there was no comparison between him and Wien. One was He Yue’s accompanying female insect, the other a toy for three months. But inevitably, he still felt a pang of dejection.
But really, he just needed to endure these three months. Wasn’t his initial goal to remove the imprint?
He comforted himself, finding an excuse.
“Anything else you want to tell me?” He Yue asked, seeing him lower his head and remain silent.
Koeyle looked up and saw He Yue’s sharp, scrutinizing gaze, amplifying his unease. “Nothing, the base meeting discussed many complicated matters, this nuclear hole is more troublesome than we imagined…”
“Insects” always appeared flustered when they were hiding something. Koeyle, usually a man of few words, now spoke incessantly, all about the alarming nuclear hole.
However, he didn’t mention a single word about the “4%” that He Yue was interested in, the thing he truly wanted to say.
“Is it a base secret?” He Yue interrupted him at the right moment.
A flicker of guilt flashed across Koeyle’s face, and he hesitated. “I…”
He Yue wasn’t interested in hearing him ramble on. “Yes or no?”
The stern words carried an oppressive weight, crashing down on Koeyle. He Yue wanted the truth, the kind of truth where everything he was thinking had to be revealed without reservation.
Koeyle pursed his lips and said in a low voice, “Yes.”
He Yue didn’t press further, silently observing him for a while.
His silence only amplified the unease building up within Koeyle.
“Go back.”
Just as Koeyle thought He Yue would punish him for his flawed words and subject him to intense questioning, He Yue casually dismissed him and closed the studio door firmly.
The door almost hit Koeyle’s nose, forcing him to take a step back.
He still remembered the icy coldness in He Yue’s bright, all-seeing eyes as he closed the door.
The casual dismissal was more unsettling than a harsh punishment, especially since He Yue clearly knew Koeyle was struggling with the sudden shift in attitude.
Koeyle’s heart raced, the urge to knock on the door rising several times, only to be suppressed. The jade bamboo node in his palm was warm, and as he gripped it tighter, the protruding branch dug painfully into his skin.
What couldn’t he say…
The goal-oriented thought of “it’s just three months, it will be over soon,” and the slight pang of jealousy he felt because of Wien, pulled him in opposite directions.
It was just a toy, what was there to say?
He pursed his lips, strange emotions and thoughts swirling within him, and turned away from the studio door.
He Yue leaned against the door, fiddling with a new remote control in his hand. He heard the receding footsteps and smiled faintly, a playful glint in his eyes.
Only 20%, no rush.
