After Transmigrating, I Raised Cubs in the Insectoid Clan - Chapter 17

Holding hands?

The tips of Samuel’s ears suddenly began to burn. That heat crawled up his neck and onto his cheeks, making even his breathing turn cautious. He unconsciously rubbed the side of his index finger with his thumb. The sensation of the thin calluses on Suter’s palm still lingered there like a scorching flame, sending a fine numbness spreading down his arm.

In truth, Suter had only loosely gripped his wrist just now, his thumb barely resting against Samuel’s steady pulse. It could not even truly be called holding hands.

Samuel’s thoughts involuntarily drifted back to his previous life. In the place where he originally lived, his existence had been filled with numbers and spreadsheets. There were morning meetings at six, project proposals at two in the morning, and the never-ending ping of phone notifications.

He remembered how he had started as a minor marketing specialist and spent three years climbing to the top of the industry. He also remembered the alarming red indicators on his physical exam reports and the doctor’s stern warnings. At that time, he only thought about making money. Making money meant improving the lives of himself and his sister. In just three short years, he had moved his sister from a damp basement into an apartment, and then into a detached villa. He could take her to expensive restaurants that they previously would not have dared to even dream about.

But aside from making money, what else was left?

Samuel still remembered a rainy Thursday when he was staring at the fluctuating charts on his computer screen while listening to his sister’s nagging on the other end of the line. “You are thirty already, and you have never even had a proper relationship,” she had said. Rain lashed against the floor-to-ceiling windows, blurring the silhouettes of the towering buildings outside.

Later, when he started a business with a partner, Samuel poured all his energy into the new company. His increasingly busy work became the perfect excuse, allowing him to brush off his sister’s concern time and time again. Only in the taxis heading home in the early hours of the morning, when the entire city had fallen into a dream, could Samuel briefly strip away his disguise. He would gaze at the neon lights flashing past the window; those brilliant lights flickered in the night, but not a single one was kept lit for him.

There was always a room kept for Samuel at his sister’s house, but he knew that it had already become his little niece’s secret base. He had also tried to establish intimate relationships, but each attempt ended in failure. Gradually, he accepted the fact that perhaps dying alone was his destiny.

That was until he met Suter.

The Imperial Admiral who was invincible on the battlefield, the man whom Samuel felt was a luxury even to look up to, was now standing within reach. Samuel felt like a young man experiencing love for the first time; he wanted to present all the beauty in the world to the other person, yet he feared that Suter would see through his impoverished soul.

“What do I have to give him?”

This thought felt like a thorn buried deep in his heart. His life was as monotonous as an expired calendar, and even his so-called achievements were merely accidental results of the era’s trends. In this world, he had even lost that small, false halo. His current identity, his residence, and even the opportunity to be with Suter were all stolen.

How could Suter like him? He was the Admiral revered as the God of War, famous from a young age with illustrious military achievements. Had it not been for this accidental injury, there would always have been a chasm-like distance between them.

Samuel’s thoughts were tangled in a mess, and his heart pounded rapidly against his chest as if trying to break free from an invisible restraint. He tried to use logic to deconstruct the possibilities of this relationship, but every line of reasoning pointed coldly to the same answer: they would not make it to the end.

Just then, there was a soft knock on the bedroom door. The slightly ajar door was pushed open, and Suter stood at the entrance, his voice low and soft. “I am dressed.”

Soft light flowed over him. The dark blue suit made his figure appear slender and elegant. His silver hair, which was usually tied up, now cascaded over his shoulders, with a few strands falling casually over his forehead. This added a hint of lazy spontaneity to his near-perfect face.

“Is this… alright?” Suter asked, his tone carrying a rare hint of hesitation.

He did not know what to wear for a date, nor did he know what Samuel meant by a “date.” He had simply opened the wardrobe, which was stuffed with clothes Samuel had ordered for him from the Star Network over the past few days, ranging from simple shirts to matching accessories. He had instinctively chosen the most formal set and had even meticulously tied a bow tie, only to tug it slightly crooked at the last moment. Aside from that small error, he looked as exquisite as a groom about to step into a wedding hall.

Samuel looked at him, and his heart rate suddenly went out of control.

Taking advantage of Samuel’s daze, Xiao Su circled Suter, its electronic screen flashing wildly with star effects. It quietly opened its storage pocket, pulled out a bottle of perfume, and secretly sprayed Suter twice. It then let out a muffled giggle and scurried away, closing the door behind it.

Suter had pulled the bow tie crooked on purpose. He was not unskilled at wearing suits. On the contrary, during his school years, learning how to dress properly was a required course; after all, a future Male Lord might need him for any occasion. He just wanted to see Samuel’s reaction. Any reaction would do.

During his long military career, he had seen too many gazes filled with either awe or flattery, but he had never seen such a purely uncontrolled expression on anyone’s face for him. Samuel could be thrown into such a panic just because of a kiss.

What if he went a little further?

This thought caused a hidden expectation to rise in Suter’s heart. He stepped forward slowly and lowered his head slightly, his silver hair sliding over his shoulders. “Is it too formal?”

The distance between the two closed again. He could clearly see Samuel’s pupils contract suddenly, his Adam’s apple bobbing uneasily, and his fingertips trembling slightly. These subtle reactions were like the most wonderful movements of a musical piece, making him want to continue playing.

“You, you can wear whatever you like. Anything is fine.”

Samuel tried his best to keep his voice steady, unaware that the bright red tips of his ears had already betrayed him. Suter tilted his head as if by accident, his silver hair brushing against the back of Samuel’s hand. He took Samuel’s hand and placed it gently on his own tie. “There is no mirror in my room. Could you help me see if my tie is crooked?”

He made the request politely, but while Samuel was dazed and reaching out to adjust the tie, Suter quietly returned the light-brain to its original owner. Then he lowered his hands and waited quietly.

Samuel’s movements were quick. His fingertips brushed against the side of Suter’s neck like a feather glancing over skin. The collar was tucked in properly and patted down as a cover-up.

“There.” Samuel coughed a few times, his voice a bit tight. His hand dropped down, and his palm suddenly felt empty, as if something important was missing. “Let us go.”

The aircraft landed in the most prosperous central business district of the Imperial Star. This was the intersection of power and luxury for the entire Empire; the gilded buildings shimmered with a cold light under the sun. Here, power and status were the true passports, while money was the cheapest decoration.

Furthermore…

Suter gazed at the scenery flashing past the window, his eyes gradually darkening. “Are we… buying clothes here?”

Indeed, there were countless clothing stores lined up here with a steady stream of customers. However, the items displayed in those windows were mostly not very decent garments. There were displays of intertwined lace and leather where models posed suggestively. In the transparent changing rooms, the silhouettes of customers trying on clothes were faintly visible.

It had taken Samuel some time to find this old tailor shop hidden in a deep alley. He had spent three whole nights searching through a vast ocean of video data for fleeting shots. Suter rarely attended public events, and in the occasional footage captured of him, he was always in a meticulous military uniform. However, while the Admiral’s clothing style was temporarily unpredictable, the adolescent Suter had clear preferences.

The younger Suter always loved wearing sturdy, wear-resistant fabrics. His cuffs were always tightened neatly, and the design of his hems was made for ease of movement. The search process was more difficult than expected. Modern ready-to-wear stores exclusively sold flashy, impractical formal wear. Samuel eventually decided to look for a private custom tailor shop. This hundred-year-old shop was hidden deep within a labyrinth of alleys, and the nearest aircraft landing point was inside this mall.

“Almost. That shop is nearby,” Samuel answered.

Samuel parked the aircraft steadily and paid the full-day parking fee. He habitually walked around to the passenger side and reached out to help Suter down. The chassis of this military aircraft was always too high for Suter, and in the past, he had always needed help.

But this time, Suter jumped down nimbly, moving as gracefully as a cat. Samuel’s hand hung in mid-air as he suddenly realized that this habitual action was no longer necessary. Suter stood against the light, and the sun gave his silver hair a golden-red edge, though his face remained in shadow. Samuel could not see his expression but felt Suter’s gaze resting heavily on him.

“What kind do you like?” Suter’s voice sounded. “I am fairly familiar with this place.”

Before Samuel could react, his hand was enveloped by warm fingers. Suter naturally intertwined their fingers and led him toward the mall. The warmth in Suter’s palm caused Samuel’s mind to stall instantly, leaving him to be pulled along mechanically.

“There are many styles here,” Suter’s voice sounded suspiciously cheerful. “We will try them on shop by shop until we find one you like.”

Samuel finally regained a shred of logic. “Wait. The clothes are for you. As long as you find them comfortable and a good fit.”

Suter suddenly stopped walking. This time he stood in the sunlight, and Samuel clearly saw the expression on his face, which was somewhere between playful and helpless.

“That kind of thing,” Suter suddenly leaned close to his ear, his lowered voice carrying a hint of mischief. “No matter what, it will not be made to feel very comfortable.”

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