Insect Clan: The Cold and Aloof General and His Green Tea Dog-Like Male Lord - Chapter 9

After finishing their meal, Atheyas initially intended to escort Lu Li back home. After all, as a lone male insect, staying within the confines of the Military Headquarters was not entirely safe.

However, Lu Li loathed the idea of being left alone at home. He wanted to stay at the headquarters to keep Atheyas company.

More than anything, he simply wanted to cling to him.

Yet, Lu Li was not the type to throw a mindless tantrum. Instead, he gently tugged on Atheyas’s arm, looking up with an open inquiry.

“Atheyas, I’d love to explore the headquarters a bit. Would that be alright?” As he spoke, he gave Atheyas’s forearm a soft, persuasive shake.

The midday sun was just right, filtering through the narrow gaps in the window blinds and casting dappled fragments of light across Atheyas’s face. The soft illumination took the edge off his cold, striking features, lending them a gentle, radiant luster.

Drawn in as if by an irresistible magnetic pull, Lu Li gradually leaned closer to the officer.

His heart rate accelerated violently, pounding against his ribs as if it might burst from his chest at any second.

Lu Li locked his gaze onto Atheyas’s unique blue-violet eyes, which seemed to harbor a boundless expanse of beautiful, shimmering stardust.

Finally, gathering his courage, Lu Li leaned in the remaining fraction of an inch.

In that singular moment, time seemed to grind to an absolute halt. The ambient noise of the surrounding environment dissolved into a profound hush, leaving nothing in the universe but Lu Li and Atheyas.

Tensely closing his eyes, Lu Li carefully pressed his lips against the officer’s cheek in a soft, delicate kiss.

Feeling the sudden, velvety warmth against his skin, Atheyas froze completely on the spot.

The perpetual frost dwelling deep within his eyes began to thaw at a visible pace, replaced by a delicate crimson blush that crept steadily across his cheeks.

Lu Li’s sudden, innocent display of affection had caught the seasoned commander entirely off guard.

He had never been kissed in such a gentle, unhurried manner before.

This pure, unpretentious gesture from his male lord was remarkably effective on Atheyas.

“O-Of course you can. I will accompany you on the tour and introduce the various sectors of the headquarters to you personally.”

Securing the exact response he had been angling for, a sly, triumphant smile played across Lu Li’s lips.

“Won’t that disrupt your duties, big brother?” Lu Li blinked his wide, shimmering eyes, projecting an aura of complete innocence.

Big brother? My male lord just called me ‘big brother’… How incredibly endearing!

“N-No, not at all,” Atheyas stammered slightly. “My workload for today isn’t particularly heavy. I can finalize the remaining tasks in no time.”

With that, Atheyas immediately summoned his adjutant. “Compile the urgent documents requiring my signature as quickly as possible. Delegate the non-essential files to your own desk.”

Hearing his commander’s directives, Dayce thought to himself with a internal, bitter sigh: Looks like I’m pulling mandatory overtime again. Boohoo.

Nevertheless, he quickly rationalized it for the ultimate romantic happiness of the Admiral, he was more than willing to sacrifice a bit of his precious leisure time.

Fearing that the male insect would find it incredibly tedious to sit through a dry administrative session, Atheyas intended to have Lu Li take a midday nap in the attached private lounge. By the time Lu Li woke up, the desk work would likely be fully cleared.

Atheyas turned to him: “Male Lord, please rest in the lounge for a short while. Once you awaken, I will take you to tour the headquarters for the afternoon.”

Lu Li beamed: “Alright, I’ll be waiting for you.”

As he stepped away, Lu Li formed a large, theatrical heart with his hands, directing it squarely at Atheyas. “Make sure to miss me, my dear female covenant partner! Work hard, I’m heading inside now.”

“Mwah, love you!”

Upon entering the private lounge, Lu Li discovered that while the office suite appeared compact from the outside, it was exceptionally well-appointed.

The small inner chamber was fully stocked with a comprehensive array of daily necessities, indicating that Atheyas frequently utilized this space to rest during extended shifts.

Atheyas departed immediately after settling Lu Li in, leaving the youth entirely to his own devices.

Having just finished a hearty lunch, Lu Li found himself entirely devoid of sleepiness. Capitalizing on the solitude, he decided to stretch his legs and explore the layout of the room.

His wandering footsteps eventually brought him to a halt in front of a massive wardrobe.

Glancing furtively to the left and right like a cautious thief, he quietly pulled the wardrobe doors open after confirming he was entirely unobserved.

Inside stood a flawless row of crisp white shirts alongside a diverse collection of military uniforms, meticulously organized according to their specific color gradients.

Staring at the sharp garments, Lu Li could vividly visualize a high-spirited, commanding Atheyas—donning these very uniforms, completely invincible and exuding absolute tactical brilliance across a chaotic battlefield.

He pictured Atheyas standing tall and unyielding against the faint, shimmering light of dawn, his uniform immaculate, and the metallic luster of his epaulets gleaming beneath the sky. His long, silver hair would be draped casually over his shoulders, swaying gently with every authoritative stride, projecting an ethereal, almost otherworldly aura.

An Atheyas like that made Lu Li’s heart swell with an intense, profound affection.

Yet, a stray thought crossed his mind, he realized he had never once seen Atheyas clad in casual, everyday attire.

The commander rarely wore anything outside of his standard-issue military regalia.

While Atheyas in a uniform was undeniably noble, elegant, and radiating absolute dominance, Lu Li couldn’t help but feel immensely curious about how his partner would look in civilian clothes.

Mm, I need to find an opportunity to take Atheyas out on a proper shopping spree. The credits I earned from selling my cultivated vegetables should be more than enough to fund a massive shopping haul.

As his thoughts drifted, a wave of drowsiness finally overtook him. Lu Li lay down on the bed and gradually drifted out of consciousness.

By the time his awareness returned, he blinked his eyes open in a hazy state, only to find Atheyas sitting quietly by the bedside, keeping a silent vigil over him.

Atheyas had entered the lounge only a short while prior. Seeing that the male insect was resting so comfortably, he had refrained from disturbing his slumber.

With Lu Li’s eyes previously closed, his long eyelashes had cast faint, delicate shadows against his eyelids like tiny fans gently shielding his deep eyes. His breathing had been perfectly rhythmic and steady, the soft rise and fall of his chest generating a faint, clear acoustic signature within the tranquil silence of the lounge.

In his sleeping state, Lu Li had shed his usual lively, animated energy, appearing exceptionally docile and sweet.

Staring at the innocent, tranquil male insect before him, Atheyas had momentarily lost himself in thought.

“Atheyas? Atheyas? My dear covenant partner? …”

Lu Li fully opened his eyes, calling out the name a few times before Atheyas finally snapped back to reality.

“Let us proceed, Male Lord,” Atheyas spoke, clearing his throat slightly as he stood up. “I shall take you on a tour of the Military Headquarters now.”