Facing the warnings from Chu Tianhao and Zhang Yi, You Rong showed no displeasure. He solemnly assured them, "Patriarch Chu, Steward Zhang, please rest assured, I will do my utmost to arrange the mating ritual. I will make sure the Beastmen and the Blood Tribe all know that Qing He is my partner. As for seeing other people... that will absolutely never happen!"
Chu Tianhao hummed with satisfaction, "That's more like it."
Lin Qing He smiled helplessly at Chu Tianhao and Zhang Yi's parental-like demeanor. "You two... you're really worrying too much. If You Rong ever dared to fool around behind my back, would it even be your turn to intervene? I could handle him perfectly well on my own."
"The Progenitor is right. Then we have even less to worry about. We'll just wait for the young master and you to have your grand mating ceremony."
As Lin Qing He chatted and laughed with Chu Tianhao, You Rong leaned close to her ear and said earnestly, "Qing He, I promise you! I will want no one but you. Only you, and only you!"
Chu Tianhao naturally heard You Rong's hushed words and said with feigned envy and jealousy, "Tsk tsk tsk... Oh my! I'm so envious. When will I ever find a partner? I've lived for tens of thousands of years, why am I not as fortunate as someone who's barely an adult? Alas..."
Zhang Yi rolled his eyes, clearly unwilling to engage with the effusively sour Chu Tianhao. Chu Tianhao's eyes suddenly lit up, and he slung an arm around Zhang Yi's, grinning mischievously, "Steward Zhang, you've been with the Progenitor for tens of thousands of years, right? You're also single. How about... we two ten-thousand-year-old bachelors make do with each other?"
Zhang Yi's eyes rolled all the way to the back of his head. He shoved Chu Tianhao away with disdain. "Progenitor, I'll head back first. I'll start preparing for your mating ceremony with the young master as soon as I return."
Lin Qing He nodded. Zhang Yi turned and left. Chu Tianhao, likely having too much fun, pestered Zhang Yi, "Steward Zhang, I wasn't joking just now. Please consider it seriously. It's not bad to be with me. I'm quite good-looking, no worse than those female bloodlings. We're both purebloods, a perfect match, what's not to like..."
As Zhang Yi and Chu Tianhao disappeared through the doorway, Lin Qing He could still faintly hear Zhang Yi's angry curses from afar: "Get lost!"
With Zhang Yi and Chu Tianhao gone, You Rong took Lin Qing He back to the room they had stayed in the previous night.
As soon as the door closed, You Rong embraced Lin Qing He from behind, holding her tightly, his chin resting on her shoulder, nuzzling her. He looked exactly like a puppy seeking affection.
Lin Qing He flicked his forehead. "What are you doing? Let go quickly. You've been clinging to me non-stop since last night whenever you had a spare moment. Aren't you tired of it?"
"Tired of it? But I want to hold you forever, never letting go. Wouldn't that be even more overwhelming?"
Lin Qing He chuckled helplessly, "You... you're still just like when you were a child, refusing to let go once you hold me. Though back then you were so stubborn, clearly afraid but unwilling to let go, yet still refusing to admit it!"
You Rong's gaze darkened. He leaned in and bit Lin Qing He's earlobe, his voice low as he asked, "Qing He, can you tell me... when did you start liking me?"
"Uh, this..." Lin Qing He felt shy to admit it. She had fancied You Rong from the very beginning, even when he was still an underage wolf cub. Lin Qing He mumbled vaguely, "I don't remember..."
"Really?"
Lin Qing He's voice carried a hint of guilt. "...Really!"
You Rong's eyes flickered. He bit Lin Qing He's earlobe, nibbling gently. A tingling sensation spread from her earlobe throughout her body. Her cheeks flushed, and she weakly pushed at You Rong, "Stop playing, let go quickly. I'm tired and want to rest..."
"Liar. Bloodlings don't need rest. Yet you say you're tired... Tell me, I want to know when you started liking me? From the moment you first saw me? Or did you start liking me gradually after you brought me back to the Blood Tribe? I want to know, Qing He... Qing He, please tell me?"
His husky voice, tinged with a hint of pleading, seemed to have bewitched Lin Qing He. Before her mind could even process, she blurted out, "From the beginning, I suppose. From the very first time I saw you, I wanted to bring you back. Back then, I was already determined you would be mine..."
Upon hearing this, You Rong felt an inexpressible surge of excitement. His fair fingers cupped Lin Qing He's chin, lifting it. He then kissed her deeply from behind. After the kiss, his breathing uneven, he said, "Qing Qian, you're so wicked. I was so young, and you were already plotting to get me?"
Lin Qing He's face flushed with shyness and annoyance. After all, considering the original body's age, she was essentially an older woman pursuing a younger man!
Feeling both shy and angry, Lin Qing He tried to push You Rong away, but he suddenly bent down, scooped her up horizontally, and strode to the soft, large bed in the room, setting her down.
You Rong pressed himself down, pinning Lin Qing He beneath him, his gaze dark as he stared at her. "Qing He, aren't you curious about when I started liking you?"
Lin Qing He blinked, "After I fell into a coma?"
After all, the progress bar only started increasing from that point.
You Rong chuckled softly, "No."
"No?" Lin Qing He looked at him with suspicion.
Impossible!
The progress bar only started increasing after she fell into a coma. It was impossible for You Rong to have liked her any earlier than that!
You Rong leaned down and gently kissed Lin Qing He's soft lips twice. He then took her hand and guided it down to a certain unspoken place. He let out a sigh, a mixture of pain and pleasure, before slowly saying, "The first time this part of me reacted like this was in my dream when I was fifteen. My entire dream was filled with you..."
He hadn't understood matters between men and women back then. He simply thought that since he hadn't encountered any other women besides Lin Qing He, it wasn't strange for her to be the one in his dreams.
Thinking back now, from that point on, he had intentionally or unintentionally wanted to monopolize Lin Qing He's attention. If she glanced at someone else, he would feel uncomfortable.
He must have started liking Lin Qing He then.
It was a pity he was so foolish. He should have understood this feeling as love much earlier, not just dependence or familial affection.
Meeting You Rong's gaze, and feeling the sensation in her hand... Lin Qing He's face turned both red and hot, completely forgetting how to react.
You Rong buried his face in her neck, his breathing deepening, and said with difficulty, "Qing He, move, please. Just a little... move..."
Lin Qing He's face became even redder, as if she could bleed. Yet, as if possessed, she complied with You Rong's request.
Afterward, Lin Qing He quickly declared, "I'm tired!" and pulled the quilt over her head to feign sleep. Her heart was pounding. She heard You Rong chuckle softly and kiss her through the quilt. "I need to deal with matters for the Beastmen Alliance. I'll come back to be with you later."
The sound of footsteps faded, and the bedroom door closed. Lin Qing He heard the system prompt: "Progress increased by 2%. Total progress: 99%."