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

Yes, he also has the larvae of the male lord.

Ashel did as he was told and raised the corners of his lips.

Gapuni paused, only to find that Ashel's forced smile was stiff and more like a grimace.

Just then, Ashel's terminal beeped.

It was a message from Derek.

Gapini noticed that Ashel's expression suddenly changed, and he picked up his coat and turned to leave, his movements extremely hurried, as if he had received a very urgent message.

Gapini called out from behind him, "What's wrong? Why are you in such a hurry?"

Ashel stopped in his tracks, turned around, and looked at him with a startled gaze. "My lord, you're awake."

A short message easily stirred up waves in Ashel's heart, and he could almost hear the sound of waves crashing in his ears.

He wanted to see the powerful ruler immediately!

Gapuni was taken aback for a moment, then laughed and said, "That's a good thing."

The female soldier, who had been flustered at first, suddenly stopped moving. Gaponi looked at her, asking in a questioning tone, "What's wrong? Weren't you supposed to be rushing to see your lord?"

Ashel spoke with a strained voice, "Brother, do you think the Lord might not want to see me?"

Don't you think he wouldn't have suffered so much if he hadn't gone out to look for Ashel...?

A look of helplessness crossed Gapuni's eyes. "Don't overthink it. If you want to know the answer, just go see Cen Li."

Ashle knew his brother was right, so he walked towards the door.

In Gapini's view, Asher's speed was as slow and hesitant as a snail's.

He raised his voice and said, "What are you afraid of?"

"Don't forget, you're carrying the male insect's offspring. Tell Cen Li this news, he'll be overjoyed!"

The lord's egg.

As her brother's words echoed in her ears, Ashel touched her belly and finally smiled.

The powerful ruler should be pleased.

He wanted to see the powerful ruler.

Ashel's steps became much lighter.

He arrived at the hospital quickly.

No day in the past few days had he felt as excited and joyful as he did today, yet he was equally hesitant.

As he walked outside the ward, Ashel stopped in his tracks; he heard the voice of the lord.

He is talking to his female father.

"Xiao Li, are you feeling unwell anywhere?"

"No, Father."

"I am fine."

"You've been unconscious for so long, I thought... Do you know how worried I was about you?"

"Thank goodness you're alright, that's a stroke of luck amidst misfortune."

……

Ashel leaned against the corner of the wall, listening to the worried and anxious words of the female father, and... the male master's voice, which was as familiar as ever.

Suddenly, a sense of fear arose within me.

My gaze drifted unfocused to the end of the corridor.

"...Father...Ashel..."

Ashel, who had been lost in thought, suddenly snapped to attention. Did he think he heard the lord mention him? Was it just his imagination?

Ashel pressed his ear against the door, trying to hear more clearly, but he heard nothing.

The insect inside stopped talking.

Ashel suddenly heard approaching footsteps, each step like a blow to his heart. His heart skipped a beat, and it was too late to retreat when a figure in military uniform suddenly appeared.

Derek's gaze swept over him, "Ashel? Why aren't you coming in? What are you doing standing there like an idiot?!"

Ashel's lips parted, "I..."

"Alright."

Derek interrupted him, displeased with his slow movements, "If Little Li hadn't said he saw you at the door, I wouldn't have believed it. Come in."

Ashel followed behind him with her head down.

Did the powerful ruler even notice him...?

Derek muttered to Cen Li on the hospital bed, "Ashe is indeed outside the door. I wonder why she doesn't come in."

Ashel stiffened.

There was no response from the powerful ruler to this statement.

Ashel stared at the ground, wondering if the lord would overthink things, thinking that he was deliberately not coming in, and then become dissatisfied with him.

His fingers tightened.

Derek talked with Cen Li for a while longer, then checked the time before leaving.

As he passed Ashleigh, Derek suddenly slapped his forehead. "Look, I almost forgot."

"Ashel,"

As Ash looked up, he saw Derek wink at him with unusual delight. "Remember to tell Little Li the good news, so he can be happy too."

Ashleigh understood what Derek was saying and nodded.

Derek left satisfied.

While Cen Li was talking to his female father, his gaze drifted towards Derek's back several times.

Ashel stood far away from him, almost at the doorway, her head bowed as if she wanted to stare her toes until they bled.

I never looked up at him even once.

Not even once!

Cen Li was depressed.

Where did Ashleigh go, who used to always sneak peeks at him but always got caught?

He is shy and likes blushing female rulers.

Don't tell Cen Li that Ashel is avoiding him?

If he doesn't come in when he gets to the door, he has to ask his female father to catch him.

Cen Li narrowed his eyes.

"Why are you standing so far away?"

"Afraid I'll eat you up?"

The lord spoke to him... It was such a familiar voice, almost etched into his memory.

It's completely different from listening to the male master speak to the female father.

Ashel's legs felt like rusty parts as she stiffly moved toward the bed, and for a moment she felt like she was walking with her hands and feet moving in unison.

Ashel had walked that distance from the doorway to the master's bedside countless times in recent days.

But never before have my movements been so stiff and awkward as today.

Finally stopping, Ashel lowered his eyes and stared at the master's hand hanging limply outside.

These hands were long and beautiful; Ashel had secretly held them during the days when the male master was unconscious.

The heartbeat begins, proclaiming something.

"One command, one action?"

Cen Li felt like he was directing a robotic insect. The corners of his mouth suddenly turned up and then down. "Look up."

She didn't even glance at him.

What does that mean?

"A mighty ruler..."

His clear voice sounded like it was mixed with grit, muffled and a little hoarse.

Ashel did as he was told, raising his head and then abruptly turning it to the side.

Cen Li paused for a second, staring at the female soldier's hard profile, his mind filled with only a pair of slightly reddened eyes flashing by.

Aside from in bed, Cen Li had almost never seen Ashel in this state.

It felt like I had been bullied.

The air fell silent for a few seconds.

The female insect's mandibular line is visibly taut.

Cen Li suddenly had a headache.

Those eyes, faintly revealing unspeakable sorrow, overlapped with Ashel's red-rimmed eyes that had run towards him that night.

Cen Li thought.

Perhaps I should try to comfort him?