Chapter 43: Facing Each Other Honestly Part 2

“I just think we can’t be like this. It’s really off.” Li You looked serious, raising a finger to waggle before Li Ye’s eyes. “Example. If Li Ming and Li Ze found out… they’d absolutely scream.”

“Why would they scream?”

“Just an example, exaggeration.”

“Then why let them know?”

“It’s a hypothetical! Hypothetical!!”

“But this is between you and me.” Li Ye was especially earnest, that cloud-shaped fluffy tail coiling up to wrap Li You’s waist. “Li You, as long as you don’t hate it, I have no reservations. I don’t care about others’ thoughts.”

His gaze burned hot, voice lowering: “Of course, if you care, I’ll completely follow you.”

His brows and eyes showed loss, even a hint of barely perceptible grievance.

Li You, completely encircled, short-circuited, eyes suddenly widening in shocked disbelief.

【Wait…】

【Li Ye doesn’t like me, does he??】

Li Ye narrowed his eyes watching the dazed Li You, and the next moment got his face pressed and pushed away by the other.

Li You didn’t know where he got the strength, suddenly propping up. He pushed away his brother’s face, pried open his hands and tail, grabbed the light brain, and bolted out of the quilt.

The Li Ye on the bed watched Li You, who only wore the top with bare butt cheeks, sprinting away, and called: “Li You.”

“Not listening!!” Li You shook his head wildly.

“…” Li Ye immediately got up to chase. “Youyou.”

“I won’t listen, I won’t!” Li You panicked and veered wrong, crashing into a wall, then turned to hug the wall and sidle along. To the approaching Li Ye, he urgently said: “Don’t come over. We both need to calm down. Really, let me go!”

“You aren’t wearing pants. It’s not appropriate to go out like that.” Li Ye stopped and looked at him.

Li You froze abruptly, glanced down at his bare legs, then glared at Li Ye a few steps away who was even more naked than him. He was fuming mad: “You have the nerve to say that to me?!”

“……I’m not going out.” Li Ye told him.

“……” Li You took a deep breath, forced himself to calm down, and averted his gaze: “I need pants.”

“Okay.” Li Ye turned to the wardrobe to find some for him. He first put on a set of sleep robes for himself, then pulled out a pair of clean underwear, examined it in his hand for a moment, and looked toward Li You not far away: “Mine might be too big for you.”

“Who wants to wear your underwear!” Li You gritted his teeth. “Just give me a pair of pants!”

Li Ye found the matching sleep pants for the pajamas Li You was wearing and handed them over.

Li You snatched the pants, backed up several big steps to create distance, quickly put them on, then turned and ran. He circled around before finding the door, opened it, and rushed out without hesitation.

Watching the figure run far away, a flash of loneliness passed through Li Ye’s eyes. The next moment, that door was pushed open again.

Li You’s fluffy head poked in. His face was red, his voice annoyed, and his tone sounded fierce, but he had actually just come back to remind Li Ye: “It’s not dawn yet. You should sleep properly and not overthink things! I’m not afraid of you. Really not afraid of you! Really, really not!! I’ve said the important things many times already! You have to believe me! If I were afraid of you, I would have run away more than a decade ago when I found out your identity. Why would I go to all that trouble to keep you around? And besides……”

He pursed his lips, his face even redder: “You’re my brother, my most important family! I might be afraid of anyone else, but I’d never be afraid of you!”

He emphasized again: “Just family! Got it?”

With that, he immediately withdrew his head, slammed the door shut with a “bang,” and the pattering sound of slippers gradually faded away.

Li Ye stood in place, his expression dazed. A long time later, he lowered his gaze, his empty fingertips rubbing together repeatedly.

Li You ran back to his own palace chambers, locked the door behind him, and leaned his back tightly against it. His heart pounded wildly, and his face was red enough to roast sweet potatoes. He ran to the bedside table in a flurry, pulled out some cold drink and chugged half a glass, then set down the cup and ran to the sofa to sit quietly. But after a few seconds, he suddenly grabbed a throw pillow and smacked it a few times like he was venting, buried his face in it, and went still again.

Five minutes passed like this. Li You suddenly stood up, tossed the pillow aside, rummaged in the wardrobe for his pajamas, and dove into the bathroom.

Twenty minutes later, he came out changed, flopped onto the bed, wrapped himself in the cool covers, and began to overthink.

From childhood to now, every interaction with Li Ye that he could remember replayed in his mind almost entirely. His brother’s expressions, actions, and those rare smiles played like a grand movie, looping continuously in his head.

It wasn’t until the sky outside the window began to brighten that Li You finally fell asleep again.

He slept straight through to noon. When he opened his eyes, he found himself lying on the carpet by the bed.

Li You sat up, looked around in confusion, lifted the covers and stood, hugged the bedding back onto the bed, slipped on his slippers, and went to the bathroom to freshen up. After coming out, he drank a cup of hot water, changed clothes, opened the door to leave, and looked up right into Li Ye’s gaze.

“…………”

Li You took a step back, his eyes chasing the air, and mumbled: “Morning.”

Li Ye glanced at the time: “It’s noon.”

“Was I talking to you about the time? I was greeting you! You should think Your Highness Youyou is very polite and say morning to me too!” Li You bristled, glared angrily at Li Ye in his military uniform, looking just like a cat arching its back, hissing, and going berserk.

Li Ye’s hand covered the top of Li You’s head, pressing down the tuft of hair that had stuck up to seal it away, and followed his words: “Morning, Your Highness Youyou.”

“……” Li You immediately calmed down, cheeks puffed out as he glanced at Li Ye, then raised his hand to push the other’s away: “Don’t touch my hair. A man’s head can’t be touched casually.”

Li Ye lowered his hand: “Go eat something first. Teacher Moger is waiting for you at the combat arena this afternoon.”

Li You said “oh” and asked: “What about you?”

“I’m going to the Imperial Military.” Li Ye checked the time again. “There’s an off-world mission next. I need to be out for five days and can’t accompany you.”

Li You froze, his expression changing: “An off-world mission? Is it far? Dangerous? I want to go too!”

In his agitation, that tuft of hair on his head stuck up again. Li Ye itched to touch it and reached out to press it down: “It’s not dangerous. It’s a routine mission. I just need to go there myself for a few days. You stay in the empire and train properly with Teacher Moger.”

“Since it’s just a few days, take me along. Missing a few days of training won’t……”

“I’ll quiz you when I get back. If you don’t run into me in two combat matches, it won’t count as passing.”

“Who are you looking down on?!” Li You once again pushed away Li Ye’s hand on top of his head and stressed, “I said don’t touch my hair!”

Li Ye agreed with “okay,” but his gaze still drifted now and then to that particularly stubborn tuft of Li You’s hair. The fingers hanging at his side rubbed together twice, his palm feeling empty.

The two walked side by side toward the outside of the Imperial Palace, a person’s distance apart, all the way in silence.

Whenever Li You got nervous, he couldn’t help but pick at his fingers. His little movements were so numerous it was hard not to notice.

Li Ye glanced at him many times from the side.

After eating, they headed to the combat arena. At the hover car platform, Li You watched Li Ye head toward the hover car, clenched his fists, and called: “Bro.”

Li Ye stopped and turned: “What’s wrong?”

“What exactly happened to you last night?” Li You looked at him. “Are you okay?”

Li Ye shook his head and explained to him in the simplest way: “Abyss species are aggregates of abyss pollutants. They occasionally become unstable. You can think of it as my main body going ‘mad’ every so often. It’s currently under control. I’m sorry for scaring you last night.”

“I said I’m not afraid.” Li You stared at him, his tone serious. “I’m worried about you.”

Li Ye walked back and stood in front of Li You, opened his hand to invite him to touch.

“……” Li You hesitated, then placed his hand on it, feeling the other’s icy body temperature.

Li Ye’s temperature was usually like this, carrying a chill like his personality. But last night, it had been abnormally high, clearly not normal.

“See, I’ve recovered.” Li Ye grasped his hand, enveloping it entirely in his palm. “The A-187X in your body can effectively purify my agitation and depression. Without you, I wouldn’t recover this quickly.”

Li You: “……”

He remembered it all now. Skin contact with him could effectively alleviate his brother’s chronic condition.

It was just that the method of contact was a bit hard to speak of.

Li You couldn’t help recalling last night. They had used almost every kind of contact: hands, legs, and lying naked together skin-to-skin for most of the night.

His face instantly heated up. He quickly turned and hurried forward with his head down: “Alright, alright, you should go!!”

The Li Ye behind him let out an “mm,” then went quiet.

Li You walked far, then suddenly stopped and looked back, discovering Li Ye still standing in place. He straightened his lips and called sideways again: “Bro.”

Li Ye: “Mm.”

“When do you set off?” Li You asked.

“Dusk.” Li Ye told him. “I’m going to the Imperial Military now. There’s still some work to handle.”

“Oh.” Li You lowered his head again, stared at the tips of his shoes, and kicked away a small pebble by his foot. “Then be safe.”

“Okay.”

“……” Li You stood without moving. He looked up and saw his brother hadn’t left either. The two just stood there quietly facing each other for dozens of seconds.

Li You held himself tense.

He couldn’t hold it anymore. He turned abruptly and strode toward Li Ye with great momentum, arrived in front of him aggressively, spread his arms, and gave him a domineering bear hug. Then, putting on an air of maturity, he patted Li Ye’s back—even though he was on tiptoes—and said solemnly: “Eat properly, work properly! Stay safe, have a smooth trip!”

It was like reciting lines. After finishing, he pulled away, turned, and bolted.

【Aaaah Li You what the hell kind of farewell was that!!!】

【So embarrassing so embarrassing!!!】

The person had run far away, but the lingering warmth and faint scent still clung around him. Li Ye slowly lowered his arms, looked at his palm that had just touched the youth’s waist and abdomen before it slipped away empty, and chaotic feelings stirred in his heart.

Suddenly, the light brain chimed “ding.” The message was from Li You.

Youyou: 【Your Highness Youyou commands you! Forget everything I just said!!】

Li Ye was stunned. The corners of his lips curved up, and he replied: 【Okay, Your Highness Youyou.】

Forgetting was impossible. Li Ye planned to imitate ancient Earth civilization when he had time, write those four sentences in calligraphy, frame them, and keep them as a memento.