Chapter 36: Requires Skin Contact Part 1

Li Ye handed the brass knuckles he had dug out from the Central Laboratory warehouse to Li You. “You haven’t fully adapted to your body yet. It’s very dangerous outside right now, so you can’t go out rashly.”

Li You looked at the brass knuckles in his palms.

This pair of golden brass knuckles was wrapped with black, flexible straps. Li Ye had prepared them to prevent hurting the enemy at the cost of hurting oneself.

“What do you mean?” Li You looked at his brother.

“We’ll tentatively set off in ten days. During this time, I’ll accompany you to adapt to your body. Use everything you’ve learned to attack me.” Li Ye said to him. “Don’t worry about hurting me. First, think about whether you can even touch me.”

“Brother, you’re a bit too condescending!” Li You equipped the brass knuckles on both hands and proudly lifted his chin toward Li Ye. “Although I never beat you before, it’s not like I couldn’t hurt you.”

“Then give it a try.” Li Ye met Li You’s burning gaze.

The Central Laboratory had a very large warehouse, and a spacious area had been cleared out for Li You to practice.

Li You had never liked combat classes since he was young, but that didn’t mean he skipped them entirely. He did skip some, but not all of them. And although he was the worst among his brothers in combat skills, a student trained by the imperial combat coaches wouldn’t be that bad even if they were the worst.

Li You changed into combat gear found in the Central Laboratory warehouse: a black fitted top paired with wrist guards, very lightweight with excellent protection. He gripped the brass knuckles and assumed an attack stance, looking warily yet excitedly at Li Ye a few steps away.

He really didn’t like combat classes, but that was just because he hated getting beaten.

But now, Li Ye wouldn’t fight back. As long as he could hit the other party, it would be him beating Li Ye!

The more Li You thought about it, the more excited he became. The smile on his face couldn’t be hidden at all, with all his emotions written plainly on it. He was too easy to read.

Li Ye, also wearing combat gear, raised an eyebrow and gestured to him. “Come on.”

Li You had already adapted to his legs and arms over the past few days. His punches were sharp and without holding back, but the first one was easily blocked and pushed away by Li Ye, who sidestepped and used one hand on the wrist.

He quickly swept with his other hand, but it was dodged as well. Fist and leg combos came in several rounds, yet Li Ye blocked and pushed them away effortlessly every time, cracking his attacks without breaking a sweat.

Li You couldn’t touch that guy at all!

After an hour of practice, Li You went from initial chaotic attacks to more planned and strategic offense. He was slowly rediscovering the feel from his old combat classes. The effect was remarkable; his muscle memory gradually awakened. The more he fought, the more into it he got, growing braver with each setback.

Although he hadn’t touched Li Ye from start to finish.

Two hours later, Li Ye grabbed Li You by the collar with one hand and pinned him against the wall with a single leg. He said to the sweaty, panting Li You, “That’s enough for today. Rest first.”

Li You clearly wasn’t satisfied and was very unconvinced. He was indeed very tired now; his body, unused to high-intensity activity for so long, felt sore and fatigued. His hands hanging at his sides clenched the brass knuckles. He suddenly made a feint toward Li Ye’s face, stopping just millimeters away from touching it.

Li You looked at the unmoving Li Ye, who hadn’t been startled at all, and pouted. “What’s this? You’re not even afraid I’ll really hit you?”

Li Ye released Li You’s collar and straightened his messy neckline, but he didn’t put down the person who had gone limp and was sitting on his leg. He kept Li You pinned in that spot and reviewed the earlier practice with him.

Li You listened attentively. He had no strength left, so he simply straddled the leg Li Ye was using to pin him. After listening, he nodded. “I got it.”

Only then did he belatedly realize their position was a bit off, so he patted Li Ye’s shoulder. “Let me go.”

Li Ye looked at him quietly and released his leg.

With both feet on the ground, Li You, who hadn’t expected his legs to be so weak, staggered two steps forward. Fortunately, Li Ye supported his arm, preventing him from falling.

He stared dazedly at his legs, which were trembling like waves. “No way?”

Li Ye scooped Li You up. “It’s been too long since you used a human body. High-intensity practice will wear it out.”

He said to Li You, “Let me relax your muscles for you, or you’ll be sore all over tomorrow.”

Li You felt it shouldn’t be that bad, but after thinking about it, he still said, “I can relax my own muscles. Go do your thing, Brother. Just remember to practice with me later.”

Li Ye looked at him without speaking.

“…” Li You pursed his lips, his eyes darting around, before compromising. “Fine, fine. Help me relax my muscles!”

Li You lay prone on the mat placed on the ground, chin resting on his crossed arms, looking completely at the mercy of others.

Li Ye sat cross-legged behind him and placed his hands on Li You’s calves.

A fierce wave of sore pain hit. It wasn’t really painful, just an intense soreness that made Li You gasp sharply. He propped himself up to flip over, but Li Ye held his waist with the other hand and pressed him back down.

“Bear with it.” Li Ye said to him.

Li You kept gasping, grimacing from the soreness, face buried in his arms as he hummed nonstop.

Li Ye didn’t go easy at all, whether in the earlier practice or this muscle relaxation. He pressed every spot that needed it with the right force.

Li You was pressed into bliss. Afterward, he lay there like a lifeless salted fish, sprawled motionless on the soft mat. He weakly turned his head toward Li Ye. “…Let me recover a bit. Don’t mind me.”

Li Ye didn’t ignore him. He picked up the sweaty, disheveled-haired Li You, supported him back to the room, and placed him on the bed. “No bathing now. Call me if you need anything.”

“Mmm, got it.” Li You slowly turned his face sideways and smiled. “Goodbye, Brother.”

Li Ye went to the lab area. In the room, Li You fell asleep while lying there.

When Li Ye came back to check on Li You, he saw a cat curled up in the center of the bedding.

The combat gear was messily draped on the bed and floor. The cat slept soundly, its body rising and falling slowly with its breaths, purring loudly—it was very relaxing to listen to.

Li Ye walked over, picked up the scattered clothes and pants, and placed them aside. He sat on the edge of the bed.

He sat quietly for several seconds, his gaze lingering on the cat without blinking for a long time. After a moment, Li Ye cupped the drowsy sleeping cat with both hands, pulled it onto his lap, and lowered his eyes to watch its pink nose twitching in its dreams. His serene yet dark eyes shifted as he placed his hand over it and stroked gently with utmost tenderness.

The cat slept for six hours, and Li Ye sat there watching it for six hours. Only when the cat yawned, opened its eyes groggily, and began to nuzzle around did Li Ye bury his undisguised emotions.

He waited for Li You to fully wake, pinched the cat’s cheeks twice, placed it back in the bedding, found a set of clean casual clothes and put them by the bed, then said to Li You, “Put on clothes and come out once you’re awake.”

The cat with paws tucked under its chest looked up. “Meow!”

【Got it!】

Li You watched Li Ye leave, lingered on the bed for a moment, finally shifted back to human form, dawdled for a while longer before grabbing the clothes and heading into the bathroom. After showering and dressing, he stood in front of the mirror, staring seriously at his reflection with the pair of cat ears on top. He raised a hand and pinched the tips of the ears.

They wouldn’t retract.

Li You wasn’t proficient at controlling his shift to human form. He could do it, but it took time. This was the first time the cat ears wouldn’t go back in like this.

He glanced back. Fortunately, no tail was showing.

Ignoring the ears, Li You grabbed a purple ribbon and loosely tied back his hair, then opened the bathroom door and stepped out, steam wafting around him.

He arrived at the lab and stood next to Li Ye. “My arms and legs are a bit sore, but tolerable.”

Li Ye glanced at him, his gaze shifting upward to the erect cat ears, and his eyes narrowed.

“I can’t retract them.” Li You tilted his head up, grabbed the ear tips, and tugged lightly twice. “Shouldn’t affect practice.”

Li Ye withdrew his gaze. “The tuft of hair is quite long.”

Li You crossed his arms and lifted his head proudly. “Of course. Your Highness Youyou has always been very smart.”

“The stubborn fur isn’t short either.” Li Ye said.

“What’s wrong with stubborn fur being long?” Li You put his hands on his hips. “Who says long stubborn fur means you’re stubborn? Your Highness Youyou has such a great personality!”

“Mmm, you’re right.” Li Ye nodded and handed the brass knuckles, now rebound with the special rope, to Li You. “Try the feel, smart Your Highness Youyou.”