Chapter 39

"Want me to rub it for you?"

She asked, but before the words even left her mouth, Wu Ying was already on it. Sitting up straight, she cupped his face with both hands and gave it a few gentle squeezes, turning his head left and right until Asher cracked his eyes open. Only then did she start massaging him.

She didn't know any proper technique, could only press and stroke his head lightly by feel.

"Lean in a little, okay? Is that any better? I'm not very good at this—should I get Jiujiu to do it? I think its technique is better than mine."

As she kneaded, Asher gradually leaned toward her, nearly his whole body tilting until his head rested half in her arms.

Asher kept his eyes closed, his nose filled with her scent—a mix of flower fragrance and the milky aroma of body wash. Whether it was that or something else, his whole body relaxed, and the piercing, drumming pain in his head slowly subsided.

When he heard her suggest Jiujiu, he refused immediately, wrapping his long, sturdy arms around her in a silent, physical rejection.

Wu Ying gradually slowed down. Her hands were sore, and anyway, with Asher holding her like this, she couldn't move at all. His shoulder epaulets kept poking her—she was making too much of a sacrifice here, honestly.

The two of them huddled together in the sofa, tangled up as one. It was exactly three or four in the morning, the quietest hour. Wu Ying gently stroked his back, wanting to comfort him but not knowing what to say, so she simply stayed gentle.

She'd had fun on Feng-2 Star, while he'd been in the thick of gunfire on the front lines, without even time to shave—him, who was so meticulous and particular about cleanliness. For the first time, Wu Ying truly understood that the peace she had hated and rejected was a hard-won victory.

"Thank you for your hard work."

She said it with utter sincerity, laced with unguarded tenderness. Wu Ying pressed a soft kiss to his forehead, hoping he'd get a good night's sleep. He must have been exhausted these past days.

This spot really was perfect for watching the sunrise. Even if it wasn't quite the ideal position, it still caught the morning light—basking in the glow of dawn.

The sun came up not long after, and Wu Ying woke from the warmth.

Frowning, she shrank down, trying to escape the light and go back to sleep. But as she moved, a wave of numbness rose from some unknown part of her body, and she snapped wide awake.

She was lying in Asher's arms, her nose brushing against his neck, still a little dazed.

On the small sofa, the two were curled together in a tight ball, Asher still in his heavy coat. His eyes remained shut, rare for him not to wake.

Wu Ying looked over his shoulder, blankly staring out the window, enjoying the sunrise as she tried to piece together what had happened last night.

She hadn't planned to make do with the sofa, but Asher absolutely refused to move. Not only did he stay put, he pulled her along with him. Held fast in his grip, she couldn't get away, so she'd thought she'd keep him company a little longer—and ended up sleeping till dawn.

Even the sunrise on Yuanji Star was unusual. The sun and the "moon" hung close together, a scorching fireball with a pale white tail trailing beside it, and a halo of purple gas ringed the sun—a lucky omen, like purple qi coming from the east.

Wu Ying's mind wandered. If this were ancient times, people would definitely call it a sign of great fortune.

The moment Asher opened his eyes, he saw Wu Ying staring off into space. Her amber eyes reflected the brilliance of the sunrise, her red lips slightly parted, clearly lost in some distant thought.

"Hey, you're awake?"

Wu Ying finally snapped back to reality. Seeing Asher just watching her without a word, she was a bit confused. Before she could ask, Asher suddenly smiled. His usually cold, hard mouth curved up faintly. With his stubble-covered jaw, the look was full of raw charisma—a wild tiger offering a gentle smile to a rose in the corner.

"What are you smiling at?" Wu Ying mumbled, a little annoyed but more so flustered. His sudden smile caught her completely off guard.

Asher didn't explain. He just sat up, rubbed his nose bridge, and seemed to realize he was still wearing his coat. He quickly stood and pulled it off. His tall, sturdy frame rose from the sofa like a small mountain. Wu Ying tilted her head back to look at him, her neck resting against the back of the sofa, her gaze unabashed and thorough as she looked him up and down.

Her eyes traveled upward and met Asher's teasing gaze. She wrinkled her nose and glared at him. What, can't I look? It won't cost me anything.

A ferocious little ball curled up on the sofa, her momentum losing half its edge.

A faint smile flickered through Asher's eyes, but he said nothing. He handed his coat to Zhi Yangyang, then opened his Light Brain, his expression turning serious, as if something troublesome had come up.

Seeing the state he was in yesterday, she knew there must be conflict—something the news never mentioned. Her heart tightened a little, and she felt she understood this world better than before.

"You're so busy, can't you even get some rest?"

He was already home, but work messages kept flooding in. She couldn't help but feel for him. Though, he was a commander after all—with a rank that high, it made sense.

Asher nodded, his fingers flying as he typed out replies. They had repelled the main force of the insect race, but remnants were still causing trouble along the defense line.

He couldn't stay on Beta Star for long.

Wu Ying waved him over. Asher bent down naturally, expecting her to say something, but felt a soft press on his lips—she kissed him right on the mouth.

Asher froze for a second. Before his mind caught up, his hand had already grabbed Wu Ying, who was trying to slip away after the kiss.

"What's that for?"

His voice carried a hint of confusion, a rough edge in the tone.

"I saw you working so hard, so consider it a reward."

Wu Ying's hand was caught, but she didn't panic. She teased him, her tone playful, as if she'd been tempted to kiss him earlier and finally given in.

"That's not nearly enough." Asher's eyes turned dangerous in an instant. His grip tightened around her wrist, his palm squeezing as he took a single step toward her, his face already inches away.

Wu Ying looked up at him. Their breaths mingled. She rolled her pretty eyes, a smile curling at the corner of her lips, "Still want a reward? You look all scruffy and smelly right now, and you have the nerve to ask for more?"

Her soft fingertips brushed his cheek, the prickly stubble prominent under her touch.

Asher's body tensed, his throat dry, but he couldn't find words. Something seemed to clash in his mind. His phoenix eyes narrowed, a commanding pressure pressing down on her as he murmured in an even raspier voice against her ear, "Then can I apply to postpone the reward?"

"Hmm, depends on how you behave."

Asher scooped her up in one swift motion, his strides long and driven, the wind from his movement lifting Wu Ying's hair.

Wu Ying laughed happily, her feet kicking in the air. As he set her on the bed and turned to head for the bathroom, she quickly called out. She loved not having to walk, but she needed this bathroom too.

"Use the one next door, I need this one."

Truth be told, it was his fault. If he hadn't held her back, she wouldn't have been so unkempt all night.

Barefoot, Wu Ying scrubbed her face in front of the mirror. Interstellar tech was unbeatable when it came to skincare—her skin still looked perfect even after a night.

By the time she was fully washed up, over an hour had passed. Wu Ying hummed a tune, stretching out a yawn. She hadn't slept much last night, and she was feeling drowsy.

A reward? Wu Ying shook her head lazily, and the idea lost its appeal.

Her light brown hair was slightly damp, and her fingers slipping through the strands carried the warm fragrance around her, even trailing a moist, sweet scent at her pale ankles.

Wu Ying stepped out of the bathroom with a slow, casual stride.

"Ah!"

Her mind went blank. Before she could see what was happening, she was lifted into the air. Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around Asher's neck.

The deep voice near her ear carried unmistakable laughter. Asher held her close, his head leaning in slowly, "Scared?"

"Obviously." Wu Ying smacked him, the loud slap echoing off his shoulder and back.

Only then did she notice he was wearing just a thin shirt, not even buttoned properly, giving her a full view of his chest.

Muscles bulged in clear definition, the sleek lines brimming with raw strength.

Wu Ying realized things were heading in a dangerous direction. Asher was like a furnace in front of her, radiating heat, the warm steam mixing with the scent of his body wash enveloping her completely.

"Um, you should, put me down first."

Her cheeks flushed, the tip of her nose burning hot. Wu Ying avoided his gaze, a glimmer of moisture threatening to spill from her eyes.

Wu Ying decided that a person ought to keep their word.

Her expression shifted constantly, but Asher's gaze stayed fixed on her face, as if watching something entertaining.

A glint of light passed through his dark eyes, before settling on her red earlobe—bright red and round, like the cream dumplings she loved.

He didn't hesitate. He fell onto the bed with Wu Ying in his arms.

The two of them dropped heavily, bouncing on the soft mattress, but Wu Ying stayed in Asher's hold the whole time. He held her tightly, his solid palm pressing against her waist.

In that instant, their breaths intertwined, impossible to separate. The heat between them passed back and forth, unable to escape the space of the bed.

Too tight, too close.

Wu Ying's lingering hesitation rose and fell, but in the end, Asher pulled her into a dizzying whirlpool.

Their breathing became ragged, a rhythm that fed on each other. Asher still couldn't resist the temptation of the cream dumpling.

He had to admit, it was the finest delicacy of all.

—

For the past few days, Wu Ying had been buried in the lab, up to her ears in work, barely knowing what day it was.

Despite bracing herself for difficulty, she couldn't shake off the deep frustration.

It was too hard. Her theoretical foundation was still shallow, and the experimental data could only be worked out on her own. Making a soil that could fully adapt to flower growth was completely out of reach.

In just the past week, she'd gone to the professor more times than she could count, practically meeting every teacher in the college.

Still, progress was slow.

Wu Ying ran her hands through her messy hair, put down the shovel, and slumped into a chair, her limbs stiff.

Maybe she should seriously consider the professor's advice—put together a research team, one focused entirely on her project, with her leading it.

She had to ensure the research results stayed fully in her own hands, or else the path she was on now meant nothing.

Wu Ying wasn't some saint. Her main goal in studying the soil was to reduce the flowers' dependence on her abilities, and to lay the groundwork for the planting market. And all of that had a single goal: she wanted to make money!

She needed to think carefully about how to approach this. It gave her a headache.

Forming a team—she had zero experience with that. Wu Ying pulled out her Light Brain, ready to ask Su Yi for advice. She'd be the one to know.

Wu Ying typed out a flood of flattery in the chat box, her round almond eyes wide and focused as she tapped away on the screen.

Just as her thoughts were flowing, a message window popped up. She swiped it away without a second glance and kept typing.

Suddenly, a voice call completely interrupted her train of thought.

"What!"