The powerful leader was tough on the outside but soft on the inside; the aloof major general fell fo

It's numb. Why is it numb?

The answer is obvious.

Ash felt his scalp tingling. "My lord, let me rub it for you."

He leaned closer and placed his hand on the arm that hadn't changed position.

Cen Li's statement was somewhat exaggerated, and seeing Ash'er's nervous appearance, he decided not to explain further.

"Are you feeling any better?"

Ash asked softly, his hand gradually moving from the top of the arm to the forearm. He had specifically sought out a doctor to learn how to massage the male's legs before, so his pressure was neither too light nor too heavy.

"Okay." Cen Li grabbed his hand, then let go.

Ash's arms were just a little sore from being pressed down for so long, but it wasn't something that Ash should be too worried about.

Ashel silently withdrew his hand, and the sleeve that had slipped up fell down again, covering the wrist that the lord had just grabbed.

The air fell silent again, and the lord remained silent, saying nothing more.

Ashel gently pursed his lips and lay down.

He stared wide-eyed, utterly bewildered as to how he had ended up pinning down the male ruler's arm.

The room was completely dark. Ash turned to the side, his gaze fixed on something he could feel, and asked softly, "My lord, am I disturbing you every night?"

"You mean, like today?"

Ash listened to the lord's voice, paused for a moment, and then said, "You said before..."

I've mentioned before that he has a bad sleeping posture.

Ashel, pressing down on the lord's arm, recalled this matter again.

After a while, he said softly, "I have a bad sleeping posture, maybe I should go sleep outside."

Outside?

Cen Li knew that their family didn't have any extra rooms, so where would Asher sleep outside?

A sofa? Surely it's not on the floor?

This is still his fault. He never expected that Ash would remember something he said so casually for so long.

Just as Cen Li was about to speak, Ashel suddenly straightened up.

"Are you really leaving?" Cen Li stopped him.

Asher responded sullenly.

He didn't want to leave either. Sleeping with the male ruler would be great, of course, but... if it would disturb the male ruler, Ashel thought it was better to give up.

Once or twice is fine, but over time, the dominant ruler will definitely start to dislike him.

"I'll sleep here."

The powerful ruler's voice brooked no refusal; his hand was still gripping his, pulling him back.

Ashley pulled herself up to lie on her side, blinked slowly, and said, "But..."

Cen Li interrupted him, "Your sleeping posture is quite good."

"Didn't you say before..."

Cen Li still told him the truth, "That day was an exception. You were in a weak period and lacked pheromones, which is why you were unusually... clingy to me."

Ash's fingers unconsciously tapped the sheets, his voice a little unnatural, "So that's how it is..."

In hindsight, the male master had been deceiving himself that day, but Asher believed him, genuinely thinking that he had a bad sleeping posture and liked to sleep on insects.

And I believed it for so long.

A surge of emotions welled up in Ashel's chest, yet he felt no anger toward the lord.

Thinking back on it again, I still feel more ashamed and angry. It was indeed wicked of the male ruler to deceive himself, but it did not cause him any real harm.

Ash thought it was a miracle the lord hadn't thrown him out.

If he had been attracted to the male's pheromones, he might have done something even worse, but the male hadn't told him.

For example, it might bury its head in the side of the male's neck and sniff around like a puppy.

Just imagining it made Ash's gaze wander, and he dared not look at the lord again in the darkness.

Under normal circumstances, Ash would certainly not do such a thing, but it's possible he might do it when he's unconscious.

"Good night, my lord."

The air had become completely quiet, and Ashel's voice was very soft.

"Good night."

Although he didn't care whether the male lord responded or not, Ash's heart skipped a beat when he heard the male lord say goodnight to him as well.

Goodnight, Ashel said to himself again.

……

"Uncle, what story did Uncle Ashel tell last night?"

As soon as Cen Li sat down at the dining table, Gene's little head came over.

story?

Gapuni looked strange, his gaze shifting between Cenli and his brother Ashel.

This male insect is already so big, and it still wants to hear stories? That's ridiculous!

Cen Li was stumped. Ash hadn't told him any stories; he couldn't very well say that the book he was reading was "The Pure-Hearted Soldier and the Charming Lord."

Isn't this corrupting the little bugs?

Seeing the male insect's silence, Gapuni naturally assumed that Gene had misunderstood something.

Not wanting to embarrass the male insect, Gapuni stepped in to defuse the situation, saying, "Little En, where did you hear that? Only little insects like you like listening to bedtime stories."

"Father, you're wrong."

Gene puffed out his chest and confidently retorted, "It was Uncle Cen Li who said it himself."

"He said that Uncle Ashel will tell him stories all month."

Cen Li: "..."

Ashel: "..."

Ash coughed lightly, clenching his fist. When Gapuni saw his brother's expression, he knew that what Gene said was true.

That's really strange.

"What's the story? Can't you tell me?"

Gene pressed on, his eyes full of innocence and curiosity.

Here it comes, here it comes again.

Gapuni sighed, wanting to cover Gene's mouth. Even if he was really telling a story, the male insect was clearly not willing to continue the conversation.

Only the clueless little insects would eagerly approach, asking questions with a thirst for knowledge.

"alright……"

Just as Gapuni was about to make excuses for the insect cub, another voice cut him off.

"The story we're telling is the same one that Xiao En heard last night," Ashel replied.

Gene's eyes widened in surprise. "What?! Uncles, was the story you heard yesterday also about 'the little insect looking for its mother'?"

Cen Li:? ?

Ashel: ...

"puff--"

Ethan spat out all the congee he was eating, splashing it all over the table.

Gene let out an "Ugh!" and bared his teeth in protest, "Uncle, this is disgusting! I can't even eat breakfast."

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

Ethan's face turned bright red. This was the first time he had ever made such a fool of himself, especially in front of a male insect. He felt like he could die on the spot.

Gene's words were so funny that he couldn't help but laugh.

It was already absurd enough that the male insects wanted to hear bedtime stories, but Gene added that the stories they heard were all about "baby insects looking for their female fathers." Ethan couldn't hold back for a second and immediately burst out laughing.

It's definitely not just one insect that would react this way.

Ethan also noticed that Ash's female father, Palos, was trying not to laugh. Perhaps even the insects on the table were finding the topic amusing, but Ethan's reaction was the strongest.

"Prepare a new breakfast," Palos said.

Ashel couldn't wait that long; he had to go to the military headquarters soon and planned to buy breakfast on the way.

Goodbye, Uncle!

While the other insects displayed various expressions, only Gene remained calm, sporting a bright smile.

"goodbye……"

Ash's embarrassment hadn't completely dissipated when he looked at the little bug who was smiling at him and ruffled his hair.

"Uncle, I also like the story of the little insect finding its female father."

Unaware of what was happening, Gene continued, "Fortunately, he eventually found his female father, that's good..."

Ash's hand froze.

When they went to see the powerful ruler, they saw a blatant mockery in Cen Li's eyes.

Ash turned his head, his face expressionless: "...That's good."