I Transmigrated as Cannon Fodder, Only to be Desired by the Dragon King - Chapter 30

Chapter 30: Lie Down on My Bed for a Bit? Like Being Caught Red-Handed…

It took Shen Youqing a good while to recover from the shock that the chubby little boy in the Dragon Palace was actually Little Black.

He stared into Feng Xiuyan’s eyes, his voice carrying a daze he hadn’t quite shaken off. “So… that kid I saw today, he’s really Little Black?”

Feng Xiuyan nodded with a smile, his fingertips lightly brushing the soft, stray hairs atop Shen Youqing’s head. “Mhm.”

“Then, then the ‘younger brother’ he mentioned…” Shen Youqing already had an answer in his heart, but he still wanted to hear the confirmation from Feng Xiuyan’s lips.

Seeing his urgent need for proof, Feng Xiuyan couldn’t help but chuckle softly, his tone filled with tenderness. “It’s the little duckling. He only just finished his transformation today, a bit later than Little Black.”

“Really?!” Shen Youqing’s eyes widened instantly. It was such a surreal feeling—like living in a fantasy novel!

“He hasn’t been in contact with spiritual energy as long as Little Black, so his transformation wasn’t as smooth.” Feng Xiuyan’s smile faded slightly, replaced by a more serious tone. “His internal spiritual power is still unstable; I have to use my dragon breath to help comb through the chaotic energy.”

Shen Youqing immediately snapped back to reality, his brows knitting together in a straight line, his eyes full of worry.

Seeing this, Feng Xiuyan quickly added in an even softer voice, “Don’t worry, I’ve already stabilized him. After a few more days of regulated breathing, he’ll recover on his own. He’ll be fine.”

Hearing this, Shen Youqing finally looked down and breathed a sigh of relief.

“That’s good then… Sorry, I totally misunderstood you earlier.” His voice was thick with embarrassment.

“It was only because you didn’t know the truth.” Feng Xiuyan watched Shen Youqing’s reddening ears and the way his hands fidgeted awkwardly, a shallow smile rippling through his eyes. “When the duckling is more stable, I’ll bring them to see you?”

He paused, a hint of expectation coloring his voice. “Or if you’d like, would you want to come back to the Dragon Palace with me to see them?”

Shen Youqing’s eyes lit up instantly, forgetting his previous awkwardness. “Really? Can I still feed them spiritual snacks?”

“Of course.” Feng Xiuyan nodded, the tenderness in his misty blue eyes almost overflowing. “After all, you are their ‘Dad’ too.”

Wait, why does that sound so strange? But… technically true?

“What’s wrong?”

“N-nothing.” Shen Youqing instinctively scratched the back of his head. “I almost forgot… I guess I am their ‘Little Dad,’ haha.”

His dry laugh made the corners of his mouth twitch. He quickly turned away, pretending to look at the storybook at the foot of the bed, though his ears were turning a deep crimson. The more they talked, the more it felt like they were a couple with two children.

They were pet sons before, but now they’re real sons!!??

Shen Youqing’s wandering gaze accidentally landed on Feng Xiuyan’s face. The slight furrow between his brows and the faint dark circles under his eyes were very prominent. He remembered how he had imagined this man to be a “scumbag” with a wife and kids who tricked people’s feelings.

In reality, Feng Xiuyan probably hadn’t closed his eyes for days, staying up to guard the duckling’s transformation. Guilt washed over him.

He rubbed his nose awkwardly. Seeing that the other man had no intention of leaving, he felt he couldn’t just tell him to go home and sleep—that would seem like he was rushing him out.

Shen Youqing’s clear eyes darted back and forth before he let out a light cough, his voice tinged with a hint of embarrassment. “Um… why don’t you lie down here for a bit? Take a nap?”

Feng Xiuyan, who had been wondering how to stay a little longer, froze. His ears twitched as if he had misheard. “What?”

“I mean, you look really tired.” Shen Youqing patted the bed beside him naturally. “If you don’t mind, why not lie on my bed for a while? Or… unless you want to go back…”

Before he could finish, Feng Xiuyan’s eyes lit up. He agreed decisively: “Okay.”

Shen Youqing was the one who froze this time. He quickly stood up to move out of the way. “Alright then, come on up.”

Feng Xiuyan was about to take off his outer robe when he saw Shen Youqing heading toward the end of the bed. He frowned in confusion, grabbing the boy’s wrist. “Where are you going?”

“I’m going to sit over there on the low couch. You lie down and rest.” Shen Youqing pointed to the seat across the room. He reached out and pressed on Feng Xiuyan’s shoulder, trying to get him to lie down. Then, remembering something, he added, “Oh right, take off your outer robe first. It won’t be comfortable to sleep in.”

Feng Xiuyan was completely dazed as he let Shen Youqing fumble with the ties of his robe. Watching the boy seriously help him undress, his ears turned pink.

He thought Shen Youqing was inviting him to lie down together…

Once the robe was placed at the foot of the bed and Feng Xiuyan was tucked in, Shen Youqing even thoughtfully pulled the quilt up to his waist. “There. You sleep first. I’ll read over there; I won’t bother you.”

Feng Xiuyan lay on the soft brocade quilt, his throat bobbing as he let out a silent sigh. The little shred of expectation he’d had was gone, replaced by a self-deprecating smile. He didn’t overthink it further, placing his hands outside the quilt, his fingertips curling and uncurling as he adjusted to this rare moment of relaxation.

He turned his head slightly toward the couch. The warm candlelight glowed atop the boy’s head, gilding his messy hair in pale gold.

What filled his nose wasn’t the usual cold ambergris of the Dragon Palace, but Shen Youqing’s unique, sweet scent of honey-locust soap. It was the scent of someone who had just bathed—clean and warm.

He unconsciously nudged closer to the pillow, his breathing growing light. He heard the faint rustle of pages and an occasional, suppressed giggle. That soft, joyful sound made Feng Xiuyan’s heart melt.

He watched Shen Youqing go from sitting cross-legged to lying prone on the couch, cheek pressed against a soft pillow, one hand propping up his chin while the other turned the pages. His calves hung off the edge, his toes wiggling restlessly.

As he watched, the tension in Feng Xiuyan’s brow smoothed out. This was a relaxation he had never known. No palace affairs, no spiritual exhaustion—just the person he liked nearby, the sweet scent in the air, and the rhythmic sound of life.

Perhaps the scent was too soothing, or perhaps the exhaustion of three sleepless nights finally caught up to him. Feng Xiuyan’s eyelids grew heavy. He took one last look at Shen Youqing’s wiggling toes, a faint smile on his lips, and closed his eyes.

Soon, a long, light rhythm of breathing filled the room. He had actually fallen asleep.

…

Shen Youqing was curled on the couch, his shoulders shaking from the ridiculous plot in his book. He didn’t dare laugh out loud for fear of waking the person opposite him. After a while, his stomach actually started to hurt from holding it in.

He peeked over at the bed. The person there was lying peacefully, hands resting atop the quilt.

“Wait, is he really asleep?” he whispered, his voice barely a breath.

He placed the book on the small table. Getting up, he tiptoed across the room like a thief about to commit a crime, sneaking toward the bedside. Only when he stood right there did he dare to breathe a sigh of relief.

As he leaned in, the faint scent of ambergris mixed with the soap on the bedding wafted over, making him hold his breath. He leaned his ear close to the man’s chest and could clearly hear the steady heartbeat intertwined with long, deep breaths.

He’s definitely out. He didn’t even react to me being this close.

Looking at Feng Xiuyan’s relaxed sleeping face, he couldn’t help but admire him: This face is a masterpiece!

“Can’t look anymore, this face is an invitation to commit a crime,” Shen Youqing shook his head, trying to snap out of it.

Just as he was about to straighten up and head back to the couch, his gaze was caught by the prominent dragon horns on Feng Xiuyan’s forehead.

They weren’t fully retracted; a small portion peeked out, glowing softly under the candlelight. The surface was actually covered in a layer of fine, velvety fuzz. They looked soft—not at all like the hard, cold things he’d seen in the Dragon King Hall.

His heart skipped a beat. He glanced guiltily at Feng Xiuyan’s face. The long, curled lashes remained still.

Just one tiny touch… he probably wouldn’t mind, right?

He swallowed and reached out his “wicked” little hand. The moment his fingertip touched the fine fuzz, Shen Youqing’s eyes lit up.

It was soft! Like touching newly grown downy hair. A warm sensation traveled from his finger straight to his heart. As he touched further, the texture of the horn itself was different—smooth, with delicate patterns. It wasn’t cold like stone; it was warm, like holding a piece of warm jade.

“Whoa…” he whispered, his voice so thin only he could hear. His finger nudged it twice more.

Feeling like he’d been caught doing something bad, he peeked at Feng Xiuyan again.

Whew~ Still asleep. Only his eyelashes fluttered a bit.

Shen Youqing clutched his chest and backed away. He tiptoed back to the couch and picked up his book.

What he didn’t know was that the moment he turned his back, the eyelashes of the man on the bed fluttered ever so slightly.

Those misty blue eyes opened noiselessly. There was no grogginess from sleep; instead, they were filled with a smile he couldn’t hold back.

Feng Xiuyan had been sound asleep, his days of exhaustion finally claiming him. But the sensation on his horns was too unique. They were as sensitive as his “reverse scale”; a normal person touching them would trigger an instinctive spiritual backlash.

Yet the moment Shen Youqing’s finger touched him, the first thing he sensed was the boy’s familiar scent and a timid warmth. As his nerves tightened and spiritual power surged toward his chest, he forced it back down.

The soft feeling of the fuzz being nudged still lingered on his horns. He breathed a silent sigh of relief; thank goodness his reaction time was fast, or he might have accidentally hurt Qingqing.

He waited until he heard Shen Youqing settle back on the couch before he dared to open his eyes. His gaze followed the boy’s silhouette, and seeing him pick up the book again, the corners of his mouth curled into a secret smile.

But then, his ears turned a faint red. Dragon horns and reverse scales… only the closest people are allowed to touch those…