The Heroic Master Is Tough-Talking but Soft-Hearted: The Aloof Major General Has Fallen - Chapter 16

“The female attendant, Renzo, asked me to tell you that dinner is ready,” Xi Ya said slowly, struggling to suppress the panic in his heart.

Cen Li’s gaze swept over him. From the moment they had entered the house, Xi Ya had vanished without a trace. Only now did he reappear, and God only knew where he had been in the meantime.

Cen Li’s eyes turned cold. “I am not eating this meal.”

Xi Ya was startled and looked up, only to see the Male Sovereign reach out and pull Asher up from the floor. His tone was sharp.

“How much longer are you going to kneel? Can just any insect that comes along boss you around?”

The male’s voice was indifferent, and every word sounded like shards of ice squeezed from between his teeth.

Asher straightened his body, following the strength of Cen Li’s grip on his wrist. He lowered his eyelashes quietly, a hint of bitterness touching the corners of his lips. He did not want this either, but he had no room to choose. The female’s thick hair fell forward, obscuring most of the expression on his face.

Cen Li felt irritated looking at him, and by extension, the arrogant Michau became even more of an eyesore. He applied a bit of pressure with his hand and firmly led the silent Asher away.

“Ah!”

They had not gone far when a scream erupted behind them. Immediately following it was Michau’s voice, sounding as though he were speaking through gritted teeth. “Cen Li!”

As they turned the corner, Asher could not help but glance back. Michau was staring intensely in their direction with a fierce gaze. On his fair face, a bright red and unmistakable mark had appeared, and the delicate skin around it began to swell instantly.

That was a mark left by mental power. After reaching this conclusion, Asher stole a glance at the Male Sovereign, whose lips remained tightly pressed together. It was obvious who had done it. Asher felt dazed for a moment.

Meanwhile, Xi Ya, who had been left behind, was stunned by the sudden turn of events. He gritted his teeth and, seeing the enraged Michau, broke into a cold sweat. He found an opportunity to slip away.

“What? You did not show it earlier, but you seem quite bold now.” Cen Li looked sideways with a half smile and released his grip.

Rather than saying he was dragging Asher along, it was more accurate to say that Asher was matching the speed of his wheelchair. The male’s voice suddenly drifted into his ears, and Asher snapped out of it, realizing he had been caught staring. He shifted his gaze away in a slight panic.

Cen Li, however, had no intention of letting him off the hook. “If he wants to hit you, you just stand there and let him? Are you a fool? You did not even try to dodge. Do not tell me that a Major General of the Empire cannot even avoid a single slap.”

The Male Sovereign’s eyes were cold. Asher’s lips trembled. “I could have avoided it. But he is your brother, and a noble Male Excellency.”

Asher finished the sentence as if squeezing toothpaste from a tube. Males usually did not take female attendants seriously, let alone when it came to their own family members; the choice of interests was very clear. Especially for an insect like himself who was loathed by his Male Sovereign, he did not dare to hope for any protection.

Cen Li remained silent. From Asher’s perspective, choosing to endure in silence was indeed logical. He let out a scoff, dismissing Asher’s words with disdain. “My female father never had a second child. I have no brother. Remember that. Next time, do not let me catch you bowing and scraping before him again.”

Asher complied.

Cen Li narrowed his eyes at the silent, head bowed female, wondering if he had truly taken the words to heart. He hoped he would not catch Asher foolishly choosing to suffer in silence again.

He asked, “Why were you punished with kneeling?”

Asher paused, his eyes flickering. Before he could respond, Cen Li continued on his own. “My female father said it was because you made my male father angry.”

Cen Li tilted his head, carefully observing Asher’s expression. “Is that so?”

Asher’s gaze darkened. “It is so.”

Although he had not even met Duke Joly himself, he knew that telling the truth would likely lead to even greater trouble.

“Oh.” Cen Li moved his lips and gave a casual nod.

After a moment, Cen Li did not pursue the matter further, and Asher let out a sigh of relief. But he had celebrated too early, as the male’s voice rang out again.

“Does it not hurt?”

Asher was slightly stunned. “What?”

Cen Li pressed a button, bringing the wheelchair to a stop. He lifted his chin and gazed quietly at the female. “I asked, does it not hurt? Or do you simply enjoy being beaten?”

His tone was biting, and his face remained expressionless as he looked at Asher.

“I…” Asher felt a sting from the coldness in the male’s eyes. He opened his mouth but did not know how to answer. He did not know what kind of response Cen Li wanted to hear.

It hurt. Of course, it hurt. No matter how many times he was injured, Asher still felt pain. He did not like being beaten either. No insect liked being hit; they simply were never given the right to choose.

As Cen Li heard the Humiliation Value slowly rising in his ear, he felt no sense of joy. He raised his hand, signaling for Asher to lean down. When the female obediently complied and closed his eyes in the next second, Cen Li’s movements paused.

At such a close distance, Cen Li could clearly see every fine hair on Asher’s face, as well as his eyelashes trembling from unease. A trace of an indescribable emotion flashed in Cen Li’s eyes.

It turned out that Asher could feel fear too.

Asher had misunderstood Cen Li’s previous movement, thinking he was going to slap him, just as Michau had done. Cen Li’s hand slid onto Asher’s cheek. His skin felt warm, and there was none of the pain the female had imagined. This prompted Asher to tentatively open his eyes, meeting Cen Li’s dark, unreadable gaze.

“Since you are afraid, then dodge next time.”

“Only I,” Cen Li paused, “am allowed to order you around.”

As he spoke, Cen Li increased the pressure of his hand. His thumb brushed over the swollen area on Asher’s face, applying a slight, kneading force. After seeing the female’s brow furrow slightly from the pain, he relaxed his grip.

Then, he continued with cold words. “Do you understand? If you get beaten, it is my reputation that is disgraced when you go out.”

After a long silence, Asher blinked, trying to comprehend the true meaning behind the Male Sovereign’s words. He was confused. The Male Sovereign never seemed to take him along when going out; he usually took the favored Xi Ya.

However, Asher would not contradict Cen Li, so he followed the male’s lead. “I understand, Male Sovereign.”

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