Chapter 15: Seduction
If it was Ouyang, Xia Yi didn’t mind. Ouyang was kind to him, gave him potatoes, and was the strongest man in the Underground City. Xia Yi could bear Ouyang’s children.
Late into the night, Ouyang Xiaoli returned home, removing his jacket and unbuckling his belt as he entered the bathroom. The starship’s energy charging was satisfactory; it wouldn’t take many more sessions to fully charge it, thanks to Xia Yi.
He stopped abruptly upon seeing Xia Yi in the bathtub. The merman’s bright golden tail was stunning, a quarter of it visible, the rest submerged. His eyes darkened.
He approached softly. Xia Yi was dozing, his mouth slightly open, revealing a rosy little tongue. Ouyang imagined how sweet it would taste. He felt a sudden warmth, licking his dry lips.
Xia Yi unconsciously hummed. This was incredibly tempting for Ouyang Xiaoli. He felt a physical response.
Xia Yi woke with a start. He opened his eyes to meet Ouyang’s dark, intense gaze, resembling a wolf’s. Xia Yi’s eyes were unfocused.
Ouyang Xiaoli finally suppressed his desires. His eyes were dark, his hand caressing Xia Yi’s lips.
“Koda’s idea?” His voice was hoarse, suppressing some emotion. His eyes were slightly red.
Xia Yi obediently replied, “My tail was dry. Koda told me to soak in the tub.” He wouldn’t betray Koda. If he admitted Koda had taught him how to seduce Ouyang, Ouyang would be furious. He’d learned his lesson.
Ouyang Xiaoli remembered merfolk needed to soak in water regularly; he’d forgotten. He looked at Xia Yi’s beautiful golden tail, glowing under the light, seemingly sacred and mythical. He touched it; the tail swished timidly.
Ouyang chuckled softly. The scales felt cool and smooth. He couldn’t resist touching it longer.
Xia Yi bravely took Ouyang’s hand, placing it on his face, rubbing against it—a gesture of affection. Ouyang Xiaoli swallowed.
“Do you know what you’re doing?” Ouyang Xiaoli’s voice was low. If Xia Yi wasn’t his, he’d belong to someone else. The thought enraged him. Xia Yi belonged only to him.
Ouyang Xiaoli didn’t consider this love; they had only known each other for a few days. It was possessiveness. He remained calm and rational, releasing Xia Yi’s hand and standing up.
“Finished? Get out.” Xia Yi had been soaking for a while, hence falling asleep.
Xia Yi was confused. “Huh?”
Ouyang Xiaoli turned, unbuttoning his shirt slowly. “I need the bathroom.”
Xia Yi understood. He looked at Ouyang’s attractive physique, each curve perfect. He was sexy and strong.
Ouyang paused while unbuckling his belt, glancing at Xia Yi, who was staring intently at his hand, awaiting the unzipping.
“…”
“Get out,” Ouyang said.
Xia Yi, gripping the bathtub’s edge, looked up bravely. “L-let’s wash together,” his ears flushed slightly. Ouyang had a great physique.
Ouyang Xiaoli felt his self-control reaching its limit. He took a deep breath, zipped his pants up, and didn’t bother putting on his shirt. He walked towards Xia Yi, who was staring at him. Ouyang Xiaoli emotionlessly lifted him from the tub and unceremoniously tossed him onto the sofa.
“Reflect on yourself,” he said before entering the bathroom. The sound of water filled the bathroom. Xia Yi pouted on the sofa.
Ouyang Xiaoli closed the door, didn’t even take off his pants, and turned on the shower. He lowered his head, closed his eyes, calming himself. It was merely possessiveness, coupled with years of celibacy. It was normal male reaction.
After a while, he opened his eyes. An hour later, he drained the bathwater, noticing strange floating substances. He exited the bathroom, emotionless. Xia Yi’s tail had turned back into legs, curled slightly, delicate and white like crystal jade. Xia Yi was asleep, unaware of someone watching him and covering him with a blanket.
—
“Song Chengbing, the invincible General of the Silver Sea Empire, has repelled the Zerg invasion. The King is about to bestow his only daughter upon him,” Koda said, reporting the news to Xia Yi. He’d managed to access the Silver Sea Empire’s information—a big scoop! Song Chengbing was a renowned general!
Koda was excited. “My idol’s getting married! I wonder if the princess is pretty. It would be a shame if she’s ugly.”
Ouyang Xiaoli said lazily, “It won’t happen.”
“How do you know, Boss?”
Ouyang knew. He frequently infiltrated the Silver Sea Empire, noticing even the smallest details.
“Song Chengbing isn’t the marrying type. He’s said to be frigid.” Ouyang rarely gossiped with Koda, but Xia Yi was listening intently.
Koda’s voice rose, “Frigid?”
Xia Yi’s expression froze. His brother’s lover was frigid? How would their married life be? Poor brother.
In the following days, Koda cared for Xia Yi. Sometimes he brought potatoes before Ouyang even spoke. To prevent boredom, he found a pot with dark soil. Xia Yi found it odd, as soil was yellow, black, or red. But he felt uneasy about this soil.
“What is this?” Xia Yi whispered.
Koda thought the merman didn’t recognize soil. “It’s soil. You can grow plants. If you’re lucky, you can grow potatoes.”
Xia Yi looked puzzled. Potatoes should grow easily. Koda had mentioned the Underground City’s soil problems.
Xia Yi held the soil, noticing tiny dark particles emitting a faint energy. Was it because of these particles? If the impurities could be removed, the soil could grow food, ending hunger.
“I brought you a potato. Do you know how to grow them? We’ll wait for it to sprout, then cut it into pieces and bury them.” Koda talked non-stop.
“Mmm,” Xia Yi took the potato, noting it was normal. “Can’t we grow other plants?”
Koda said, “They won’t grow.” Only potatoes survived, and even that depended on luck.
Xia Yi remained silent, putting the potato in his pocket.
Ouyang Xiaoli was discussing infiltration and the starship with Xiao Mo and Tang Si. Tang Si thought infiltrating the Silver Sea Empire should wait. They didn’t understand why Ouyang was so focused on the secret lab.
Ouyang Xiaoli glanced at Koda and Xia Yi on the balcony. “Without the secret lab, my starship is scrap. Interplanetary travel would be impossible.”
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