Chapter 41: Heartbeat Accelerating Part 2

Before leaving, Yulian sent Li Ye the results from the hair and saliva samples Li Ye had mailed long ago for testing, and excitedly asked: “The hair and saliva you sent back have been tested. The results show these samples came from an animal, and they really contain A-187X components. Where did you get these samples?”

Li Ye glanced at Li You, who was munching cake nearby, and casually replied: “Got them by chance.”

“Alright.” Yulian shrugged and looked at Li You beside him: “How’s the taste?”

Li You nodded: “But chocolate flavor is still the best.”

“Such a picky eater.” Yulian smiled helplessly and asked again, “What’s the plan next?”

“Go buy clothes.” Li You raised his arm and showed the overly long sleeve: “I have no clothes to wear.”

“…” Yulian looked at the obviously ill-fitting clothes on him, shifted his gaze to Li Ye nearby, hesitated to speak, and finally just said: “Then hurry and go.”

“Yeah.” Li You put on sunglasses and waved: “See you.”

Li Ye drove the hover car and brought Li You to the most prosperous commercial district of the Star Empire. He led him straight to the high-end store where the imperial family most often ordered clothing. Once inside, he picked seven or eight sets of clothes in a row and shoved them at Li You: “Go try them on.”

Li You hugged a pile of clothes and looked at Li Ye, who was still pondering outfits for him: “Isn’t this a bit much?”

“Not too many. These suit you very well.” Li Ye said.

“I haven’t tried them yet. How do you know they suit me?”

Li Ye looked at the teenager upon hearing this, then withdrew his gaze after a moment: “I can tell.”

“…?” Li You was baffled and looked down at himself.

【How can you tell?】

He grumbled inwardly but obediently hugged the clothes and went to the fitting room.

The guides in this area had already been dismissed, and the large space was temporarily set as a private zone, with no one else able to enter. Li Ye picked two more sets and sent them to the rack by the fitting room, reminding Li You there were two more outside.

“Got it.” Li You’s voice was muffled. “Don’t pick anymore. We’ll look after trying these.”

Li Ye agreed, sat down at a nearby lounge seat, ordered a cold drink and mousse, then opened his light brain to handle some work in the meantime.

Not long after, the fitting room door opened. Li You dawdled out, holding an untied tie in his hand. He stood in front of the mirror, looking left and right, then turned to Li Ye over there: “How’s it look?”

Li Ye set down his light brain, got up, and walked over. He took the tie from Li You’s hand, his fingertip lightly brushing his chin, signaling him to lift his head.

“……” Li You raised his head and shifted a bit more to the side.

He pursed his lips, suddenly feeling that the distance between him and his brother was too close. He sneakily moved back a step, but his back was already pressed against the mirror, with nowhere left to retreat.

Li You was completely trapped by Li Ye in this small space. He just had to slightly raise his head to feel the other’s breathing.

Hot and a little itchy.

His gaze darted everywhere, looking at the ceiling, the floor, chasing specks of dust in the air—anything but Li Ye’s face.

A tingling numbness spread through his heart. He felt that his brother was taking especially long to tie the tie this time. His straightened legs and feet had gone numb, so he awkwardly twisted his body.

Li Ye pressed down on his shoulders. “Don’t move.”

Li You immediately froze, his body remaining tense. At that moment, he resembled a student who hadn’t studied properly for combat class and was dragged out by the coach for penalty standing. He even held his breath, not daring to exhale too obviously. Gradually, his face turned red from holding it in.

Li Ye glanced at him, then released his hand and slid it down along the tie without stepping back. He slowly adjusted the collar. “It suits you.”

It was a matching set: a white shirt paired with black knee-length suspender pants. The shirt’s cuffs and collar featured delicate, pretty ruffles, complemented by a small tie adorned with a red rose brooch.

This style had always suited Li You perfectly.

Hearing his brother say it suited him, Li You’s eyelashes fluttered rapidly. He kind of wanted to push the other away but felt it would be improper. His gaze flitted about until, in his panic, he pointed randomly at something. “Bro, I think that outfit would suit you!”

Li Ye looked in the direction he pointed. “Which one?”

Li You seized the chance to slip away from him and scampered off like a rabbit. In a fluster, he grabbed a set from the rack of clothes at random and shoved it at Li Ye. “This one, this one! Go try it on!”

“……” Li Ye lowered his gaze to look at Li You, whose ears were slightly red. He didn’t refuse and took the clothes into the fitting room.

With Li Ye finally out of sight, Li You let out a huge sigh of relief. He reached up to wipe nonexistent sweat from his face, only then realizing his cheeks felt hot.

He blanked out for a few seconds, utterly shocked.

【Why was my face red?】

【Li You, you pervert!】

【You don’t like him that way! You only like him as family!!】

He smacked both hands against his face, paced back and forth in circles around the store, then plopped down on the booth seat. He picked up the cold drink and pressed it to his face to cool off.

【Much better…】

Li You gradually calmed down. He closed his eyes and tilted his head back to stare at the chandelier overhead, then turned to look at himself in the mirror.

He did look pretty good.

He set down the cold drink, stood up, and walked over to the mirror, sighing inwardly.

【Not bad, my brother.】

【He really has good taste.】

At that thought, he suddenly worried that the outfit he’d grabbed for Li Ye might be a miss. After all, in his haste, he hadn’t even looked closely at what he’d handed over.

【With his build, he’d look good in anything.】

With that in mind, Li You stopped worrying. He sat back in the booth, legs pressed together neatly, hands placed properly on his knees, and stared fixedly at the mousse.

Before long, the fitting room door opened. He whipped his head around at once. “How is it…”

His words cut off abruptly. Li You stared blankly at Li Ye.

Li Ye wore a burgundy flip-collar shirt with a very low neckline, dipping even below his chest a bit…

And that wasn’t even the most lethal part.

The outfit came with black leather chest straps that accentuated the contours of his arms and chest muscles, giving them an explosive look.

Li Ye had a muscular build, with muscles toned just right without seeming bulky. The deep V-neckline exposed part of his chest while teasingly concealing the rest. The pants were black suit trousers paired with a simple leather belt, creating a classic color clash with the burgundy top.

Li You stared at his brother and couldn’t help swallowing. By the time he snapped out of it, Li Ye—who now sported gold-rimmed glasses—had narrowed his eyes. A hint of ambiguous amusement colored the depths of his gaze as he asked calmly, “You picked it. How is it?”

Li You naturally noticed his brother smiling, however faintly—he’d seen it!

That smile, as if he’d seen through his little slip-up, made Li You’s face burn bright red. He shot to his feet and changed the subject abruptly. “I-I should go try the next set.”

“Li You.” Li Ye called his name. “You haven’t answered my question.”

Li You froze and looked up. His gaze was first drawn to the visually striking deep V-neck, then to his brother’s impressively sculpted pecs…

He hastily shifted his eyes away and mumbled like a mosquito. “Looks good.”

He pursed his lips for a moment, then sneaked another glance and whispered, “Looks really good.”

Li Ye understood and handed over the accessories. “Help me put them on?”

Li You stared fixedly at the thick silver chain necklace and red silk ribbon in Li Ye’s hand. He hesitated and shuffled sideways step by step. “You can do this one yourself in the mirror. I’m going to change…”

Li Ye watched him.

“……” Li You felt itchy under that gaze. His hands at his sides clenched into fists. After a while, he shuffled back, snatched the accessories from Li Ye’s palm, and muttered, “How old are you? Still needing Youyou to help with accessories.”

Amusement flickered in Li Ye’s eyes, but he didn’t argue. He simply said, “Never worn anything like this.”

“Mm.” Li You examined the items in his hand. They certainly weren’t Li Ye’s usual style.

The most Li Ye ever wore were ties. This layered metal chain with a red silk ribbon was trendy, the long red ribbon adding a casual flair that clashed with Li Ye’s typical old-cadre style.

If Li You hadn’t grabbed it randomly, Li Ye probably never would have tried something like this.

Li You draped the red silk ribbon over his arm and unclasped the necklace. He looked up at Li Ye. “Lower your head. I’m not tall enough.”

Li Ye leaned down as instructed, bringing his gaze level with Li You’s.

“…”

Now Li You could see even more clearly into that V-neck…

He pressed his lips tight and quickly looped the necklace around his brother’s neck. But he couldn’t see the clasp at the back. He struggled with it for a while, then went up on tiptoes and craned his neck. In frustration, he said, “Lower a bit more.”

Li Ye placed one hand on Li You’s shoulder and leaned in further. From another angle, it almost looked like a posture of submission.

And right then, with Li You fastening the necklace and ribbon on Li Ye, it resembled tethering a submissive one.

Li You’s gaze couldn’t help drifting into his brother’s eye-catching deep V. He didn’t have any particular fetish; he just simply thought…

【Why are his pecs so perfectly sculpted?】

Li You released his hand and glanced down at his own chest. He silently shifted to the side but was caught by Li Ye’s grip on his wrist.

He jolted and looked up into those incredibly handsome eyes right in front of him. He heard Li Ye say, “Not used to the glasses. Help me take them off.”

Li You ultimately couldn’t refuse. He carefully lifted both hands to remove the gold-rimmed glasses for Li Ye. Seeing the clear amusement in Li Ye’s eyes, he froze.

Li Ye brushed the back of his hand against Li You’s cheek. “Judging by your reaction, this outfit must be pretty good.”

Li You kept a calm expression, but waves gradually rose in his heart.

【Weird…】

【Li Ye seems to be doing this on purpose…】

Like he was deliberately seducing him…

Li Ye raised a brow, straightened up, took the glasses from Li You’s hand, unfolded them, and slowly put them back on. He studied Li You, who was dazed but with ears burning red. “They look good on you.”

Li You looked up and met his gaze. His heartbeat accelerated, like a startled fawn bumping around.

【I’m done for…】

【What now?】

Li Ye was playing foul!!