TMWTGD CH80

Xie Jianwei led a very structured life. So long as he hadn’t been overly exhausted the night before, he always woke at the crack of dawn. After a morning jog, he would have breakfast, browse through current political affairs during the morning, and once noon arrived, ask whether Lu Li was returning home for lunch.

If he was coming back, Xie Jianwei would wait to dine with him; if not, he would eat alone, take a leisurely stroll after the meal to aid digestion, and then take a midday nap. Upon waking in the afternoon, he generally spent some time out in the garden.

The Azure Mandarin blossoms in the garden were a hybridized plant, their genetics spliced from native flora of Planet Suoluoli and Planet Maita. The resulting Azure Mandarin blossoms possessed an exquisite form, a dreamy, pale-green hue resembling fireflies glowing softly in broad daylight.

Not only were the Azure Mandarin blossoms breathtaking to look at, but they also possessed a miraculous cleansing effect on the body.

The vapor they breathed out could be absorbed through human pores. Entering the bloodstream, it gently improved circulation, and settling into the nerves, it offered a powerful calming effect.

Due to this wellness property, Azure Mandarin blossoms were exceedingly valuable. Across the entire Milky Way, the largest garden of these flowers was situated right within the Marshal’s Manor.

Xie Jianwei was exceptionally fond of these flowers. In the past, Lu Li had thoroughly despised the green blooms—even he couldn’t see his Military Advisor on a fixed schedule every day, yet these wretched plants could linger around Xie Jianwei without fail.

Right now, Xie Jianwei was speaking with the two “Lu Li”s: “Isn’t eating together fine? Why must we be separated?”

As it turned out, they were bickering over dinner.

One Lu Li said, “I only want to dine with you.”

The other Lu Li chuckled coldly, “Indeed, so irrelevant bystanders can step aside.”

“Who is the bystander here is obvious to everyone.”

“If you aren’t an idle bystander, go work in the study. What are you lingering around here for?”

“Do you take me for that idiot Number Three?”

Lu Li, having been inexplicably insulted as an idiot by his own self, felt foul-tempered. Why was he Number Three? In this dream world, he was the true, authentic self, definitely not some third wheel.

Terrified that they might start a fistfight, Xie Jianwei mediated, “Then how about taking turns?”

One Lu Li immediately interjected, “Fine! A-Wei is mine today!”

The other refused to cooperate entirely: “Why should you go first?”

Lu Li sneered, “And why should you go first?”

Sandwiched between them, Xie Jianwei looked quite pitiful, making the genuine Lu Li feel waves of heartache.

Although he hadn’t truly split in reality, he mused that if each personality genuinely possessed an independent body with unshared memories, this kind of bickering and fighting over him was something he truly would have done…

Feeling that trading barbs was no longer enough to vent their discontent, one Lu Li proposed, “Let’s settle this on the dueling grounds. Whoever wins goes first…”

Before that Lu Li could finish, Xie Jianwei abruptly spoke up, his voice turning frosty: “No.”

Both Lu Lis froze.

Watching from afar, the real Lu Li’s emotions were deeply conflicted. What Xie Jianwei feared most was them turning on one another in fratricide; at the end of the day, he worried about his safety.

He cared about him, far more deeply than he had ever imagined.

It was truly sweet on one hand, yet bitterly sour on the other.

Xie Jianwei softened his tone, speaking gently: “Anything is fine, but fighting is strictly forbidden.”

Though the two Lu Lis bickered fiercely with words, they deferred deeply to Xie Jianwei, neither wanting to anger him.

Xie Jianwei suggested, “How about this. I’ll pick an Azure Mandarin blossom in a moment, and we’ll see whether the petal count is odd or even.”

The Lu Lis remained silent.

Xie Jianwei had no choice but to ask, “Who was Number One again?”

The Lu Li on the left said, “Me.”

Xie Jianwei said, “If it’s odd, we spend today together; if it’s even…”

The Lu Li on the right curled his lips: “I want odd.”

The Lu Li on the left snapped, “Why you?”

The Lu Li on the right stated, “In this sector, blossoms with odd petal counts outnumber even ones by three.”

Xie Jianwei: “…”

“Pfft!” Yan Ke swore he truly hadn’t dared to laugh, but he genuinely couldn’t hold it back.

The authentic Lu Li: “…”

Azure Mandarin blossoms were tiny to begin with, and this garden was vast, boasting at least several million blossoms. Their sector alone held tens of thousands, yet these two Lu Lis were clinging stubbornly to an advantage of three out of tens of thousands.

Was he truly this petty? Lu Li put himself in their shoes and suddenly realized he would have fought over it too. When it involved Xie Jianwei, forget three in tens of thousands, he would haggle over three in ten million.

Though this was a dream, it was remarkably realistic.

Xie Jianwei said helplessly, “Then let’s factor in three more even-petaled blossoms…” That way, the numbers would balance.

Number Two Lu Li refused to yield: “Then I want odd as well.”

Number One Lu Li’s tone turned foul: “Know when to quit.”

Xie Jianwei said with exasperation, “Forget it, how about we let the AI generate a random number?” That would be the fairest.

The two Lu Lis reluctantly agreed, but the authentic Lu Li could stand by no longer. Could they be any more unreasonable? He had labored through work while they hovered around Xie Jianwei, and now they were drawing lots behind his back! Why should he be left out?

Besides, Lu Li could not stomach the thought of Xie Jianwei sleeping with someone else tonight, even if that person was himself!

Not even another version of himself in reality would be tolerated, let alone fake constructs in a dream.

Lu Li strode forward, and all three in the garden spotted him.

Xie Jianwei’s eyes lit up: “Finished with work?”

Feeling quite pleased, Lu Li replied with steady composure, “Mm.”

Xie Jianwei asked him, “Care for some tea?”

Without a word, Lu Li picked up Xie Jianwei’s cup of fruit tea and drained it in a single gulp.

Xie Jianwei hurried to stop him, “There are apple slices steeped in that…”

Lu Li had caught the scent the moment he lifted the cup, yet drank it anyway, saying to Xie Jianwei, “Your tea is delicious no matter what.”

Xie Jianwei smiled softly, his eyes brimming with sweetness.

For a long time, Lu Li had rarely met Xie Jianwei’s gaze. His Military Advisor was always calm and self-possessed, those dark eyes lauded as “black gemstones capable of piercing human souls.” Such eyes were breathtaking, yet rarely betrayed overt emotion.

Lu Li hadn’t wanted to see him look at him the same way he looked at everyone else, which was why he looked away.

Yet now, knowing Xie Jianwei loved him, looking into those eyes brought pure sweetness to his chest.

Xie Jianwei looked only at him like this; Xie Jianwei loved only him. What could bring greater joy than this?

Well, right now there was a touch of displeasure, because he had multiplied into several versions, and Xie Jianwei’s affection had been divided into several shares…

Infuriating.

He wasn’t the only one irritated; the other two Lu Lis were fuming as well: Shameless Number Three, actually drinking all of Xie Jianwei’s tea!

Xie Jianwei brought out a clean cup, poured tea for Lu Li, and refilled his own.

The other two Lu Lis desperately wanted to drink Xie Jianwei’s tea as well, but thinking of Number Three having drunk from it first, their chests felt clogged with a leaden ball.

A sudden thought struck Number Two Lu Li, and he launched another move, offering his own teacup to Xie Jianwei: “Taste mine.”

Xie Jianwei blinked.

Number Two Lu Li said, “The flavor is very good.”

“Mm,” Xie Jianwei took a sip straight from the cup held in his hand.

Finishing the sip, his eyes curved: “A bit bitter.”

Before Number Two Lu Li could make a move, the authentic Lu Li grabbed Xie Jianwei, pulling him in and sealing his lips with a kiss.

Xie Jianwei widened his eyes, a touch of shyness flickering in his gaze, yet he didn’t pull away; he responded proactively, savoring the lingering fruity fragrance between his lips and teeth.

Number Two Lu Li erupted: “Let go of him!”

Lu Li didn’t dare kiss for too long. He dared not underestimate Xie Jianwei’s dream world. Xie Jianwei understood him thoroughly, so the Lu Lis here were replicated with terrifying fidelity; Lu Li genuinely wasn’t certain whether he might end up being beaten to death by “himself.”

Even so, he couldn’t let them kiss him under any circumstances. What kind of trash thought they could trick his Military Advisor!

Releasing Xie Jianwei, Lu Li glared at Number Two: “A-Wei tasted bitterness, and your mouth is bitter from the tea you drank. What’s wrong with me changing the flavor for him?”

Everything is wrong with that! Number Two Lu Li’s liver ached with fury.

Fearing they might break into a fistfight, Xie Jianwei hurried to intervene: “No more tea. In a moment, I’ll have the AI send some pastries over.”

The three Lu Lis chimed in unison: “Not eating.”

Xie Jianwei said, “It’s not apple pie…”

The three Lu Lis spoke in tandem once more: “Want to eat you.”

Xie Jianwei: “…”

Clearing his throat, just as he was about to speak, the men beside him were already bickering.

“Why are you copying me!”

“Who’s copying you? I said it first, alright?”

“I was definitely faster than you.”

“Heh, yes, you’re fast, so fast you shouldn’t broadcast your embarrassment. A-Wei is mine tonight.”

The authentic Lu Li: “…” If he hadn’t been fighting hard to restrain himself, he would probably have joined the brawl with these two “idiots.”

Yan Ke had a stomach full of commentary, yet dared not breathe a single syllable aloud.

Is this truly our Lord Marshal? Has he completely broken character?! And if he hasn’t… oh my god, will my little life survive once this therapy ends!

Xie Jianwei had no choice but to steer the topic back: “Let’s draw lots and divide the schedule…” Gathering all of them in one place was simply untenable; the scent of gunpowder was too thick, bound to spark an explosion sooner or later.

As if recalling something, the two Lu Lis chimed in unison once more: “Hurry up and start!”

Just as Number Three Lu Li wondered why they were suddenly so eager, a faint voice drifted from behind him: “A-Wei, you are being far too biased. Just because I stepped out, you forgot about me?”

Yet another Lu Li appeared!

Xie Jianwei gasped in pleasant surprise: “Back so soon?”

Number Four Lu Li’s voice reeked of jealousy strong enough to pierce the sky: “If I were any later, would I have been barred from returning at all?”

The authentic Lu Li finally understood why the other two had been so eager. There was a Number Four! Drawing lots among three was better than among four; they were truly eliminating competition whenever possible.

Regrettably, Number Four Lu Li had a keen nose. Sensing something was amiss, he had rushed back from another planet posthaste.

Number One and Number Two nitpicked, “Is the matter on Planet Bingdao resolved?”

Number Four shot them a sidelong glance: “If you’re so worried, go check yourselves.”

Who would go? A round trip took at least four hours; by the time they returned, everything would be long over.

Number One and Number Two held their tongues. Number Four was hardly a pushover either; turning to Xie Jianwei, he asked softly, “May I have a hug?”

This was Lu Li’s habit: whenever returning from another planet, he would embrace and kiss Xie Jianwei.

—This had also been the primary reason Number Four agreed to travel on official business in the first place.

Xie Jianwei immediately threw himself into his arms, letting him hold him close, even planting a soft kiss on his cheek.

Seeing Number Four about to push his luck, the authentic Lu Li could endure it no longer, cutting in: “Let’s draw lots.”

Number Four had wanted to kiss Xie Jianwei thoroughly, but hearing Lu Li’s words, he decided not to lose the greater prize over minor gains, asking briskly, “What are the rules?”

Xie Jianwei explained, “Four numbers, randomized by chance.”

“And after that?”

Xie Jianwei said, “Sequential rounds.”

Meaning: One, Two, Three, Four. If One was drawn, the remaining Two, Three, and Four continued drawing until the order was established.

This was the fairest method. If they refused to agree, Xie Jianwei would likely lose his temper, so everyone compromised and consented to the draw.

Yan Ke was rather tense. Although the Lord Marshal seemed steady, what if he didn’t draw first place? Would the Lord Marshal truly refrain from smashing this dream world to bits?

He would probably endure it out of consideration for the Military Advisor, but could he truly… bear watching the Military Advisor be intimate with another “him”?

Yan Ke suddenly felt as if the entire garden of Azure Mandarin blossoms had migrated directly onto the Lord Marshal’s head, glowing green with brazen audacity…

The drawing was intensely nerve-wracking, every second stretching like a year.

The outcome was delightfully worth celebrating: Number Three took first place, followed by Number Four, Number One, and Number Two.

Number Two, who drew last, practically exploded into fireworks of fury.

Number One, who drew third, accompanied him in mid-air.

Number Four, who drew second, was hardly in high spirits either.

The thought of being separated from Xie Jianwei plunged every Lu Li into agonizing misery.

Lu Li gave them no opportunity to renege: “State affairs cannot be neglected either. I won’t be going to the Astral Palace tomorrow; I leave everything to you.”

The three Lu Lis sneered coldly.

Lu Li said, “I presume none of you would want to be constantly interrupted on your hard-earned day off?”

Xie Jianwei spoke up: “Then it is settled.”

Lu Li added, “For the sake of fairness, let A-Wei sleep by himself tonight.”

Lu Li’s calculations were meticulous: “Starting from seven tomorrow morning, twenty-four hours counts as one full day. How about that?”

There was no flaw in the logic, so they agreed: “Fine.”

Xie Jianwei suggested, “Can we have dinner together?”

With him asking, who could refuse? They all replied gently: “Alright.”

Identical vocal timbres, identical pitch, identical inflection. Xie Jianwei curved his eyes and smiled.

Dinner for five was lively in the extreme.

Setting the food aside, seating alone sparked a minor war.

Everyone wanted to sit beside Xie Jianwei, but Xie Jianwei had only two sides, and dividing them among four was impossible.

In the end, Lu Li proposed, “We will all sit across from him.”

Better that none sat adjacent, saving everyone the grief.

Otherwise, watching Xie Jianwei act affectionate with two other versions of himself would ruin his appetite; though his appetite was already ruined anyway.

Lu Li felt that his earlier self, who had schemed to split into separate bodies, truly had holes in his brain.

If they actually split, how could life ever be bearable?

Ah, right. The main reason he had wanted to split back then was so he could slaughter the other three once physical vessels existed.

Xie Jianwei said, “I won’t serve food to any of you.” To avoid stoking grievances over who received food first.

Yet even without him serving them, the Lu Lis remained displeased, glaring at one another like mortal enemies—if not for these three bastards, his dinner with Xie Jianwei would have been so sweet and cozy!

The real Lu Li was truly suffocated with frustration. You three fakes, why don’t you die in a ditch!

The three fakes certainly didn’t consider themselves impostors; they were all Xie Jianwei’s Lu Li.

The Lord Marshal profoundly understood the meaning of digging one’s own grave. Had he foreseen this day, he would never have meddled with cloning.

Then again, thank goodness this was a dream. If this were reality… he would probably lose his mind.

After dinner, all four departed the Marshal’s Manor simultaneously, keeping the agreement to leave Xie Jianwei alone and refrain from seeking him out.

Yet the Lu Lis knew each other far too well. Number One said, “We stay in one place tonight.”

Number Two said, “Fine, lest someone says one thing and does another.”

Number Four said, “I keep my word; can’t say the same for the rest of you.”

“Cut the act,” Number Two sneered. “As if you aren’t literally the same person.”

Number Four: “…” Damn it all, not only can I not shake these rivals, but they also know me inside out!

Lu Li suggested, “Let’s not sit idle. Work together.” The Milky Way was vast, and as the supreme ruler, affairs were endless. The only silver lining of having multiple bodies revealed itself now: productivity was doubled with half the effort, and zero mistakes were made.

They were, after all, a single entity. They refused to admit it in front of Xie Jianwei, but at work, it was undeniable; not even left and right hands could match their seamless telepathy, for they were the exact same hand.

Pulling an all-nighter was technically a huge loss for Lu Li.

If he went without sleep tonight, his stamina tomorrow would certainly take a hit. Spending his designated day with Xie Jianwei in a lethargic haze would be completely not worth it.

The other three clearly realized this too, so they cooperated with immense enthusiasm, wishing they could work Number Three like a dog so he would sleep through the entire following day, which would at least lift their spirits.

Was Lu Li truly going to take the loss? Evidently not. As the authentic original, he possessed an edge over the constructs.

He specifically selected mentally taxing, thorny dilemmas, assigning one to each while dialing in remote conferences to spar with stubborn veteran ministers, wearing everyone out.

After working for a while, Lu Li stood up: “I’m going to the restroom.”

Number Two eyed him with suspicion: “Don’t play tricks. If you aren’t back in ten minutes, I’m heading back to the Marshal’s Manor.”

Lu Li shot him a glance and sneered.

Number One and Number Four pricked their ears, nodding in complete solidarity with Number Two.

Lu Li stepped out for precisely ten minutes.

This was Xie Jianwei’s dream. Although his Military Advisor knew almost everything, residing in the Marshal’s Manor over recent years meant his knowledge on certain matters had grown somewhat partial.

After all, Xie Jianwei had genuinely wanted to relinquish power, refusing to maintain one face in public and another in secret.

Everything Xie Jianwei cared about pertained strictly to Lu Li; he had zero interest in mundane administrative trivia.

Consequently, those trivial details were things the fake Lu Lis in the dream did not know.

For instance, when Lu Li had researched clones a while back, he had produced various derivatives, one of which was a strategically significant “puppet substitute.”

They could flawlessly mimic an individual and execute specific programmed tasks for a duration, making detection nearly impossible over short spans.

Lu Li stepped outside, circled around, and ten minutes later, the one returning to work was his puppet, while he had already slipped back to the Marshal’s Manor.

What a joke! How could he ever let A-Wei sleep alone in an empty bed?

Xie Jianwei was rather bored…

Over these past years, he and Lu Li had spent far more time apart than together. Once work grew frantic, they wouldn’t see each other for days on end.

Unwilling to disturb him, he could only inquire through indirect channels. Rejoicing when he heard Lu Li was returning soon, and falling into despondency when learning he had been held up by urgent affairs.

Such a life could hardly be called ideal, but it was his own choice; whether good or bad, he accepted it wholeheartedly.

After all, compared to everything else, Lu Li was the most important.

What Lu Li desired took precedence over all.

Having conquered the galaxy with such immense struggle, how could he not labor to guard it? It was his responsibility and duty, and doing what he loved was always done with willing joy.

Xie Jianwei didn’t feel crestfallen over relinquishing his authority; he merely missed him, terribly so.

One Lu Li turning into four caused him deep anxiety, yet in his subconscious, there was a flicker of delight.

He could finally see him whenever he missed him; from that angle, it was quite wonderful.

Except it was perilous too… Lu Li had never been someone willing to share.

The more vital something was, the less it could ever be shared. Splitting into four was merely the inception of hidden perils.

Xie Jianwei tossed and turned in bed, devoid of drowsiness.

So when footsteps echoed near the doorway, he sat up immediately.

He knew the defensive capabilities of the Marshal’s Manor inside out; if an intruder could breach this place, the entire Milky Way would be on the brink of collapse.

There was only one possible visitor: Lu Li.

The corners of Xie Jianwei’s mouth curled. He couldn’t resist sneaking over after all?

The moment Lu Li entered the room, he caught sight of the figure sitting on the bed: “Why aren’t you asleep yet?”

Xie Jianwei switched on the lamp, looking at him with amusement: “Didn’t we agree that no one was allowed to come tonight?”

Lu Li said, “I missed you so much I couldn’t sleep.”

Warmth flared in Xie Jianwei’s chest as he whispered, “Me too.”

Hearing those two words, blood surged to Lu Li’s head. Striding forward, he captured his lips in a kiss.

Xie Jianwei let out a soft murmur, looping his arms around his neck, deepening the kiss.

Lu Li’s heart bubbled with sweetness, growing sweeter with every passing second. He felt he could never kiss him enough, wishing he could fuse this person straight into his flesh and bone.

In the dead of night, on their own bed, kissing soon led to them rolling together in naked bliss.

Xie Jianwei groaned softly, gasping repeatedly that he couldn’t take it anymore.

Lu Li kissed him: “If you can’t take it, just let go.”

His entire body turning limp, Xie Jianwei lost count of how many climaxes he reached.

Lu Li indulged until late into the night. Seeing him exhausted, heartache washed over him. He carried him tenderly to the bathroom, washed him clean, and tucked him back into bed.

Tugging at his sleeve drowsily, Xie Jianwei mumbled, “Don’t leave.”

Lu Li couldn’t resist kissing his eyes, whispering, “Aside from by your side, I won’t go anywhere.”

Those words brought total peace to Xie Jianwei. With a smile gracing his lips, he nuzzled against his chest and drifted into a tranquil sleep.

Lu Li timed his rest carefully and took a short nap as well.

When Xie Jianwei woke again, the spot beside him was empty. His waist ached faintly, though he wasn’t overly exhausted, feeling only a dull soreness behind.

He had no idea which Lu Li it had been last night; in truth, he couldn’t distinguish between the four at all. They were fundamentally the same person, so how could he tell them apart…

With a sigh, Xie Jianwei dialed a number and made a few quiet inquiries, learning that all four Lu Lis had pulled an all-nighter working, with none having left their post.

He paused, then found it hilarious. It seemed one Lu Li was rather more capable than the rest.

Which one was it?

Xie Jianwei didn’t dare test the waters.

If he probed the wrong one and the others found out, the lottery agreement would collapse, and an all-out quarrel would blow the Marshal’s Manor to pieces.

Lu Li returned without showing a trace of guilt, and the other three noticed nothing, entirely unaware that a certain scoundrel had snuck off to indulge in pleasure for most of the night.

Even without knowing, the three gave Lu Li sour looks. After all, Lu Li had been lucky enough to draw first place, meaning Xie Jianwei was his for the entire day!

Thinking of this infuriated them; all three Lu Lis wanted to murder him.

Well, the real Lu Li wanted to murder them too.

At seven sharp, Lu Li returned to the Marshal’s Manor right on time. Xie Jianwei greeted him: “Have you had breakfast?”

Lu Li said, “Not yet.”

Xie Jianwei asked, “Is there anything special you’d like to eat?”

Lu Li countered, “What about you?”

Xie Jianwei thought for a moment: “Cherry pie…”

Lu Li smiled, “Wait here, I’ll bake one for you.”

“Eh…” Xie Jianwei blinked, “You’re cooking?”

Lu Li asked, “Don’t want to eat it?”

“I do!” Xie Jianwei caught up in a few quick steps. “It’s been so long since I tasted your cooking.”

Lu Li couldn’t resist caressing his waist: “If you like it, I’ll cook for you every day from now on.”

“Where would you find that kind of time?” Xie Jianwei’s voice softened.

Looking at him, Lu Li’s gaze was infinitely gentle: “There’s plenty of time now.”

Xie Jianwei paused, then smiled along: “There really is time now.”

Lu Li said, “I’ll spend the entire day with you today, going nowhere else.”

Xie Jianwei said, “It seems having extra bodies has its perks after all.”

Lu Li did this on purpose. He needed to put Xie Jianwei’s mind at ease; otherwise, living each day in dread of them slaughtering one another would make life miserable.

Lu Li added, “When I accompany you every day, don’t grow sick of me.”

“How could I?” Xie Jianwei pondered, saying, “I love having you by my side.”

Lu Li acted like a rogue: “I thought you preferred having me inside your body.”

His cheeks flushing slightly, visibly shy yet curving his lips, Xie Jianwei shot back, “I do love that too.”

Lu Li nearly abandoned cooking to ravish him on the spot.

Considering things had been quite intense last night and he must be hungry, he held back: “Don’t tease me, or I might make you ‘love’ it right now.”

Xie Jianwei felt a genuine twinge of alarm, chiming in quickly, “I’ll go fetch cherries for you.”

Watching him like this, Lu Li felt a warm glow filling his chest.

What was he to do? He had loved him desperately before, and now, knowing Xie Jianwei loved him in return, he had no idea where to contain this overflowing adoration.

Let’s pour some into the cherry pie for now, Chef Lu thought happily.

Xie Jianwei brought over pitted cherries. Lu Li had already kneaded the dough and was lining the pie dish.

Curious, Xie Jianwei asked, “You truly enjoy using these ancient methods.”

Lu Li said, “Things made by hand taste entirely different from what machines produce.”

Xie Jianwei said, “That perspective is actually quite trendy.”

Lu Li didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. On ancient Earth, only nostalgic folks used retro tools while true trendsetters chased the novel and avant-garde. In the interstellar era, the reverse was true; traditionalists clung rigidly to high-tech appliances, while hip youths at the forefront of fashion endlessly mimicked antiquity.

Elderly interstellar citizens always lamented that they couldn’t understand today’s youth…

Lu Li couldn’t understand them either.

Making cherry pie required simmering fresh cherries into candied preserves.

Xie Jianwei had already snuck several along the way, and gazing at the plump, glistening little fruits now, his eyes remained glued to them.

Lu Li pinched one and brought it to his lips. Xie Jianwei swallowed it in a bite, mumbling, “If I eat more, there won’t be enough.”

Amused, Lu Li chuckled, “It’s fine, there’s plenty.” Saying this, he fed him three more.

Torn between wanting fresh cherries and candied cherries, Xie Jianwei faced quite a dilemma.

Not wanting him to eat too much raw fruit in the morning, Lu Li fired up the stove, adding sugar and water to stew the cherries.

Once cooked, they needed to cool. As they cooled slowly, the candied cherries gave off an even richer fragrance, their glossy crimson hue appetizing beyond measure.

Seeing Xie Jianwei staring unblinkingly, Lu Li scooped up a spoonful: “Open up.”

The gluttonous Military Advisor obeyed with adorable sweetness.

Moved by his docility, Lu Li’s eyes softened: “Sweet?”

Xie Jianwei’s eyes widened: “Sweet, incredibly delicious.”

Lu Li said, “Let me taste.”

He said taste, yet didn’t taste the cherries, leaning down instead to capture Xie Jianwei’s lips.

Xie Jianwei froze as Lu Li swept into his mouth, tasting him meticulously from corner to corner.

Left breathless by the kiss, Xie Jianwei heard Lu Li murmur with earnest conviction, “It is indeed very sweet.”

Xie Jianwei mumbled, “Eating the cherries directly would be sweeter.”

Lu Li shook his head with utter solemnity: “You are far sweeter than cherries.”

To actually be flustered into a pounding heart by his own husband’s flirtation, Xie Jianwei felt entirely defeated…

Lu Li spread the cooled candied cherries over the pie crust, then began weaving lattice dough strips across the top.

Watching curiously from the side, Xie Jianwei remarked, “Your hands are so large, yet surprisingly nimble.”

“I believe…” Lu Li paused, taking another crude detour: “Whether they are nimble or not, your mouth down there should know best.”

Xie Jianwei: “…”

Lu Li laughed, “Alright, go wait at the dining table. Keep teasing me and I won’t be able to hold back.”

“Who… who was teasing you?” Defending himself with words, his legs moved briskly, exiting the kitchen to the dining room.

Cherry pie paired best with green fruit wine: one sweet-tart, the other crisp and refreshing. Xie Jianwei felt Lu Li was the cherry and he was the green fruit wine—a perfect match!

Before long, the cherry pie emerged from the oven, its aroma instantly perfuming the entire dining room. Xie Jianwei felt that Lu Li, this great cherry, had leaped straight into his heart, filling his chest with boundless sweetness.

Lu Li said, “Sorry for the wait.”

Xie Jianwei said, “For something this delicious, waiting any length of time is worth it, not to mention it didn’t take long at all.”

Lu Li sliced into the pie, the flaky golden crust mingling with the rich cherry sweetness, enough to make anyone’s mouth water.

Taking a bite, Xie Jianwei sighed with pure contentment: “Spectacular.”

Sipping his green fruit wine, Lu Li whispered, “As long as you like it.”

Of the large pie, Xie Jianwei finished two-thirds.

Lu Li wasn’t fond of sweets (he only fancied Xie Jianwei’s sweetness), so he ate sparingly.

Xie Jianwei asked, “Did you get full?”

Lu Li asked, “Want to feed me?”

Xie Jianwei said, “No fooling around in broad daylight.”

Lu Li had eaten his fill last night, so he wasn’t genuinely hungry, simply unable to stop teasing him.

After breakfast, Xie Jianwei usually checked the news in the study, but Lu Li took his hand and said, “Come, let’s go out and play.”

Xie Jianwei blinked: “Where to?”

Lu Li smiled with devastating charm: “On a date.”

Dazzled by the smile, Xie Jianwei cleared his throat: “What date?”

Lu Li said, “Having finally found free time, why cooped up at home?”

“But going out…” Xie Jianwei still had reservations, “what if there’s danger?”

Lu Li said, “Can’t we just disguise ourselves?”

Xie Jianwei hesitated.

Lu Li assured him, “‘I’ am currently meeting with the old ministers in the Astral Palace. If someone wanted to launch an ambush, they wouldn’t even know which one to target.”

That was true…

Xie Jianwei smiled: “Then let’s go!”

Lu Li spent the day showing him around. Like two ordinary young men, they visited a wildly popular virtual entertainment complex.

Inside was a simulated mecha arena that awarded prizes based on high scores.

Naturally, the prizes were nothing extravagant: starting from plushies, the top tier was merely a Cold-Gold Stone pendant, worth very little money.

Yet Xie Jianwei was quite fond of it: “The red Cold-Gold Stone is truly lovely, and it’s crafted in the shape of a cherry.”

Lu Li looked at him: “Want it?”

Xie Jianwei shook his head, “Don’t go bullying the kids.”

Lu Li countered, “How could it be bullying? It’s fair competition.”

With that, he stepped into the arena.

The outcome was entirely predictable. With Lu Li’s skills, he completed a flawless speed-run, clearing every tier and leaving the young competitors dumbfounded, shouting:

“Is this some regular officer from the armed forces blowing off steam on leave?!”

“This combat prowess is insane! Under the Lord Marshal’s leadership, our Milky Way Armed Forces are truly invincible!”

Thank goodness these lads didn’t know the person snatching the prize right out of their hands was their own Supreme Marshal, or they would have wept on the spot.

The little pendant was claimed with effortless ease, and Lu Li presented it before him.

Xie Jianwei called him a shameless veteran picking on children, yet his curved eyes brimmed with delight.

It held little monetary value, but was genuinely gorgeous.

Admiring it for a moment, Xie Jianwei couldn’t help saying, “If I truly wanted one, I would buy it. What was the point of causing such a fuss?”

“Is it not good?” Lu Li looked at him.

Xie Jianwei stayed quiet.

Leaning close to his ear, Lu Li murmured, “Once in a while, I want to show off in front of the person I love.”

Xie Jianwei froze.

Lu Li smiled down at him.

And in the very next instant, his Military Advisor—the solemn, upright man who never did anything unseemly in public—actually wrapped his arms around his neck and kissed him in broad daylight amidst the crowd.