The moment Yuan Ye saw Li Zhenting, any lingering resistance he had toward going home vanished instantly. He sat obediently across from Li Zhenting, his expression shy and demure.
"Can... can I call you Brother Zhenting? You saved me from human traffickers when I was little. You probably don't remember, but I've always remembered you! I only came back to the country because I wanted to find you and thank you."
"Back then, I was so scared I was in a daze. I forgot to say thank you."
He blinked his round eyes, his watery gaze shimmering as if filled with stars.
Li Zhenting felt incredibly awkward under that gaze. It was mortifying; he had originally thought this boy was a romantic rival and had even displayed the righteous fury of a spouse confronting a mistress. To find out they shared this kind of history was... unexpected.
"Uh, call me whatever you want. That incident was nothing. Anyone would have helped you."
He glanced at Li Zi, who was leisurely sipping her tea beside him. She looked completely relaxed now, her expression even carrying a hint of mockery. She was clearly enjoying his predicament.
*Cruel! Come over and help me!* He shot her a pointed look.
Li Zi arched an eyebrow, acting as if she hadn't seen a thing, and continued to savor her tea.
Seeing that Li Zhenting hadn't rejected him, Yuan Ye grew even more excited. He leaned forward a couple of steps, reaching out to grab Li Zhenting’s wrist where it rested on his lap. "Brother Zhenting! Can I come visit you to play in the future?"
"Speak properly. Keep your hands to yourself."
Only then did Li Zi speak up. She pulled Li Zhenting back, causing him to avoid the boy's touch.
Li Zhenting tumbled into Li Zi’s embrace, her arms circling around him. Although her sudden display of dominance and possessiveness gave him a secret thrill, the sense of shame was still more prevalent. Being claimed like a piece of property by his lover in front of a boy who claimed to worship him as a hero was a lot to handle.
"Ahem. Aren't you still in high school? You should focus on your studies. Education is more important." He sat up straight, trying to muster the last of his dignity as an elder.
Li Zi’s actions were so blatant that Yuan Ye, who was far from stupid, immediately understood her attitude.
The hero he admired and adored with all his heart had already been marked as someone else's territory. Even if that person was a sister figure he quite liked, still...!
Yuan Ye glared at Li Zi’s hand wrapped around Li Zhenting’s waist. *I’m starting to find this woman a bit of an eyesore!*
"Then, if I study hard, can I come find you when I'm free?" he continued to ask Li Zhenting cautiously.
"I suppose so," Li Zhenting replied. Finding no reason to refuse, he could only nod.
Immediately, he felt the arms behind him tighten, expressing dissatisfaction with his decision.
"That’s great! Thank you, Brother Zhenting! You really are a good person!"
Yuan Ye was overjoyed. He hadn't expected his attempt at running away from home to yield such a harvest; the grief he had endured earlier was entirely worth it.
"Alright, you've said your piece. I’ve already contacted your parents; they’re sending someone to pick you up right now." Li Zi dropped her previous "kind older sister" act and began showing him the door.
"Oh, okay." He agreed verbally, but his eyes remained glued to Li Zhenting.
"Wait here, then. I’m going to help your brother pack his things." Li Zi gave him no further opportunities. She pulled Li Zhenting up and, carrying his luggage bag, led him straight into the bedroom.
The moment they entered, she pressed him down onto the bed. "Still think I'm cheating? You see who that kid likes now, don't you?"
Li Zhenting was pinned beneath her, but his eyes were full of mirth. "Are you jealous?"
Li Zi could actually get jealous!
Having her thoughts read—and indeed caring about a brat’s designs on her lover—Li Zi didn't fly into a rage. she had plenty of ways to make a man forget such things.
She pulled Li Zhenting’s shirt up, beginning to "inspect her territory." "Let me see if you've been eating properly lately."
After years of training, Li Zhenting had his own insights into fitness. Once he returned to a normal diet and exercise routine, his muscle definition returned quickly.
His pectoral muscles, in particular, were slowly swelling again, filling out the tattoo Li Zi so adored.
"Not bad. It seems you've been obedient." She brushed her fingers over the center of the pear blossom tattoo, causing the muscle beneath to twitch.
"You need to think this through. If you get pregnant, the physique you worked so hard for will disappear again."
"Do you really want this?" She wanted to make one last effort to get him to abandon the idea.
"A physique can be rebuilt anytime, but a child isn't something you can have just because you want one." Li Zhenting grew a little upset. He pulled his shirt back down, no longer wanting her to touch him.
"You already promised me. Are you trying to go back on your word?"
"No. If I went back on my word, someone would start crying 'golden beans' again, wouldn't they?" Li Zi sighed. "I never realized you were such a crybaby before."
"Hmph."
Li Zhenting didn't argue with her. His mind was filled with plans for the future. In a couple of days, he would go to the hospital for another check-up, and then he would prepare to go to the Association to collect the catalyst.
He would never give Li Zi the chance to regret her decision.
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 催化剂 | Catalyst | Likely a substance used to facilitate male pregnancy in this setting. |
| 协会 | Association | A specific organization mentioned in the context of obtaining the catalyst. |
| 金豆子 | Golden beans | A metaphorical term for tears, often used for children or loved ones. |
| 梨花纹身 | Pear blossom tattoo | The tattoo on Li Zhenting's chest. |
