CH 71

TL: Moonlit

Without waiting for William’s response, Lin Su hurriedly ran back to the room to retrieve clothes and bathing supplies for both of them. He first enjoyed a nice soak in the hot springs together with the large fox, and then went to the nearby pool to wash his tail.

Just the thought of it made Lin Su extremely happy.

William watched the busy little female running back and forth and couldn’t help but smile with indulgent amusement.

“William, come and change your clothes,” Lin Su called out, standing on tiptoes and crossing the screen to greet the large fox by the hot spring pool. “Oh, right, we also need to prepare some food.”

How can we enjoy the hot springs without fruits, eggs, and a little wine?

William arrived behind the screen and looked at the busy little female who had just rushed out, saying with a smile, “Take your time, there’s no rush.”

“I know, I’ll go ask the palace staff where our luggage is.” This time, he brought so many things, including several boxes of ingredients. By boiling a few eggs in the hot spring water, they could enjoy soft-boiled eggs.

Soon, Lin Su’s requested items were delivered. From inside, Lin Su picked out fresh strawberries, cherries, grapes, and prepared a plate of oranges and apples. They poured a pot of grape wine. Actually, it would be best to enjoy a glass of white wine while soaking in the hot springs, but the current conditions didn’t allow for it. Drinking some grape wine would still complement the atmosphere.

The palace staff helped them place the items by the hot spring pool and exited. Unable to resist, they whispered to the others nearby, “Our princess consort is so beautiful. His skin looks so good up close!”

“And he knows how to enjoy life. Soaking in hot springs and eating delicious food, just thinking about it makes me feel incredibly happy.”

“But that’s because our princess consort has the means. It’s useless to think about it for others.”

“But our prince and princess consort are so sweet. When I went in just now, the prince never took his eyes off the princess. Hehe.”

…

Unaware of the palace staff’s discussion outside, Lin Su changed into his clothes and pulled William to step into the hot spring pool together.

As Lin Su entered the steaming hot spring, there was a slight tingling sensation at the moment he immersed himself, but once he adjusted, it felt particularly comfortable.

Lin Su sat against the pool wall and gently tapped the water surface, saying, “Come here, William. It feels so comfortable here.”

After William entered the pool, he created splashes of water. Lin Su watched as his big tail got wet and lost its fluffy feeling, appearing a bit pitiful but still cute.

“William, does your tail feel heavy when it’s soaked in water?” Lin Su curiously reached out and poked it. The wet fox tail still felt smooth, different from when it was dry, giving a peculiar sensation.

“I can’t feel it.” For him, his tail was now a part of his body. Whether wet or dry, his body had long adapted to its weight, so he didn’t experience any special sensations.

Lin Su cradled William’s large tail in their hands. Even though it was wet now, it still had a considerable weight, indicating that it wasn’t just a matter of being plump.

“Soak a bit longer, and I’ll wash it for you later,” Lin Su gently smoothed the fox’s tail fur under the water. Then he reached into a tray and took out a small basket containing eggs, placing it directly into the high-temperature section of the hot spring water. After a while, they would be ready to eat.

Seeing Lin Su standing up, William expressed some concern, “Be careful not to slip.”

Lin Su looked back at him, saying, “If I fall, you’ll be responsible for carrying me back.”

“I can carry you, but please don’t fall.” As William spoke, his eyes remained focused on Lin Su’s every move, genuinely worried that he might slip and get water in his throat.

It was only when Lin Su placed the basket and returned to his side that William finally let out a sigh of relief. However, before he could say anything, Lin Su stuffed a bright red cherry into his mouth. “Eating while soaking in a hot spring is such a pleasant thing.”

Feeling the sweetness between his lips and teeth, as if it had traveled all the way to his heart, William captured the joyful expression in Lin Su’s eyes. “You really enjoy soaking in the hot springs, don’t you?”

In that case, perhaps their prince’s residence should also have a large hot spring pool like this.

Taking a bite of a strawberry, the delicious and tangy juice made Lin Su squint his eyes in enjoyment, licking his lips. “I just like soaking in the hot springs in general. I’m happy because I can wash your tail for you. I’ve wanted to try it for a long time.”

Listening to Lin Su’s straightforward words, William laughed. His beloved always brought him joy. He lightly wrapped his tail around Lin Su’s ankle and rubbed it. “Then I’ll rely on you for that from now on.”

Lin Su’s eyes lit up. “Don’t fool me, I’ll take it seriously.”

William embraced him. “I’m not fooling you. Everything is yours.”

Looking at the handsome face of William so close, Lin Su felt that his fox’s charm was becoming more and more irresistible. A single look, a single movement, or even a word or a smile, all had an impact on his heart.

Unable to restrain his affection for William, especially when he was bathed in such a beautiful light.

Lin Su gently hooked his arms around William’s neck and pulled him down slightly, kissing William’s lips.

Originally, Lin Su intended for it to be a brief kiss, but just as he was about to pull away, the arms around his waist suddenly tightened, and William turned the kiss into a lingering one.

When the kiss ended, Lin Su leaned weakly against William’s chest, unable to believe that his physical stamina seemed to be no match for William, who was in an S-rank mental disorder. It was somewhat disheartening, and it seemed necessary to enhance his physical fitness through exercise.

Resting against the pool wall, William, who knows what the little female in his embrace was thinking. With half-closed eyes, a lazy expression appeared in his golden beast-like pupils, as if he were a wild beast that had just enjoyed a delicious meal, lazily and contently savoring everything that had just happened.

After soaking in the hot spring for a while and cracking open the steamed eggs for a delicious meal, Lin Su couldn’t wait to wash William’s tail.

The two of them arrived at the adjacent lukewarm pool. William put his large tail aside to make it easier for Lin Su to wash, while he leaned against the pool wall, watching his every move.

Lin Su first squatted by the pool wall and applied foam to the pristine white tail. After gently kneading the foamy bubbles, they transformed into large, fluffy foam flowers. This instantly made the already smooth tail even silkier and more pleasing to the touch, fully satisfying the desire to pamper and groom it.

“The texture feels so good. Do you find it comfortable, William?” Lin Su felt like he was being taken to heavenly heights. If there was something in this world that could truly heal the soul, it was the tail of a fox.

With half-closed eyes, William captured Lin Su’s excitement in its entirety. The gentle sensation transmitted from the tail was very clear. As Lin Su’s soft hands passed over it, there was an inexplicable warmth and tingling, making its presence felt intensely.

The tip of the tail curled uncontrollably, causing the ears on his head to tremble in response.

Resting his chin on his palm while leaning against the pool wall, William’s voice sounded hoarse as he spoke, “Mmm, it feels very comfortable.”

“Hehe, I feel comfortable too. It’s really great to touch.” Lin Su played with the large foam flowers mischievously and blew on them. The foam gently floated upward, refracting sparkling and translucent light through the sunlight.

Everything was so beautiful.

Lin Su thoroughly enjoyed playing with William’s big tail, washing away the foam by hand, blowing it dry, and finally using a small comb to smooth out the shiny fur.

He truly experienced the joy of being a pet groomer.

After spending the whole afternoon on it, Lin Su felt a bit tired but also content.

Seeing the sleepiness in Lin Su’s eyes, William found it amusing. It was rare for Lin Su to display such a childlike side, and he felt both happy and concerned.

Rubbing Lin Su’s hair, he said, “I’m a bit tired. Shall we rest for a while?”

Upon hearing William’s words, Lin Su’s first thought was about his well-being. He snapped out of their daze and asked, “Are you feeling unwell? Do you have any discomfort or a headache?”

Ah, perhaps Lin Su played for too long, and William got tired?

Looking at the worry in Lin Su’s eyes, William held his hand and gave it a squeeze. “Don’t worry, I’m fine now. I’m not in any pain; I just want to take a rest. Besides, you’re tired too.”

Understanding what William meant, Lin Su’s lips curled into a smile as he leaned against his chest. “So, it’s for my sake. Next time, you can just say that. I like it.”

“Okay.” The little female in his embrace was always so bold and straightforward, making it impossible to resist his charm.

Returning to the bedroom, Lin Su pounced onto the soft bed and exclaimed, “Mmm, so comfortable! William, come here.”

He gently patted the spot next to him, inviting William to join.

In the sunken spot beside him, Lin Su instinctively moved closer to William, wrapping his arm around his waist. “William, I want to take a nap. I feel like I can’t keep my eyes open.”

“Go ahead and sleep. I’ll stay with you.”

Lin Su nodded lightly and quickly fell asleep almost instantly.

Watching the little female fall asleep so quickly, William lovingly kissed his forehead.

—

Will came out of the conference room and said to Lin En, who was with him, “You still need to put effort into this matter, Marshal. The establishment of the Contracted Beast Pavilion is crucial for the Empire.”

Lin En understood the seriousness of the situation. “Your Majesty, rest assured, I will do my utmost in handling this matter. Has Prince and Princess returned to the residence?”

“Not yet. They just arrived today. They’re staying here to rest for a while. According to the palace staff’s report, William spent the entire afternoon soaking in the hot springs with the Princess. You know, William used to dislike wasting time on such things. Things have really changed.”

As he spoke, Will unintentionally revealed a sense of relief and indulgence, as if his little brother had finally grown up.

Lin En smiled and nodded. “The Prince and Princess have a really good relationship.”

“Yes, it’s truly rare. Oh, by the way, any news about the little pup from the Marshal’s family?”

Will was aware of the recent news about the Lin family finding the little pup, and he couldn’t help but ask.

Lin En sighed. “Not yet.”

The two words carried an obvious sense of heaviness when spoken by Lin En. It also brought a tinge of bitterness to Will’s heart, and he gently patted Lin En’s shoulder. “Take care of yourself and Qin Yi. As long as you don’t give up, there will always be hope.”

“You’re right, Your Majesty. Rest assured, we are mentally prepared.”

It just felt so real this time, yet in the end, it turned out to be another disappointment.

After leaving the palace, Lin En went directly to the military headquarters to find Lin Te.

In the morning, Lin Te suddenly ran over to him and said there was something he needed to discuss privately, something he couldn’t talk about in front of Qin Yi.

What could be so important that it needed to be kept secret from Qin Yi? Lin En could only think of one thing at the moment: it must be about their younger brother from the Lin family.

Since returning from the Skye Star, Qin Yi had been unusually silent, and Lin En didn’t want him to experience another blow in such a short time.

However, what surprised him was how and where Lin Te obtained the information.

Taking the hovercar to the military headquarters and arriving at Lin Te’s office, he saw Lin Te get up and lock the door. “Did you just finish the meeting, Male Father?”

“Yes. This time, when the Princess returned, he brought a group of A-rank or above contracted beasts, numbering around fifty. It is said that this is only a part of them. His Majesty wants me to establish the Contracted Beast Pavilion and its system as soon as possible to solve the difficulty of the public being unable to form contracts.” Lin En briefly explained the content of the meeting to Lin Te. “It’s hard to believe that a young female like Lin Su repeatedly brings us such great surprises.”

Lin Te was also shocked by the news. “It seems what Lin Feng said about the interaction between the contracted beasts and the Prince’s personal guard is true. After the Contracted Beast Pavilion is built, there will be a weekly gathering, right?”

“That’s what Lin Feng told you. It seems that Lin Su, this little female, has already planned everything. No wonder His Majesty arranged it this way.” Lin En couldn’t help but show a relieved smile. “It’s rare that he has such abilities and maintains such a temperament. Oh, by the way, why did you call me here?”

While Lin En had his own speculations, he mainly wanted to hear what Lin Te had in mind.

Lin Te brewed a cup of flower tea that Lin Feng sent to him and handed it to Lin En. “Male Father, have some water first?”

Seeing the white camellia floating in the water, Lin En’s eyes brightened. “What is this? It looks so beautiful.”

“It’s from Lin Feng, and we should have it at home too. Lin Su is the one who came up with it. It’s called flower tea. It not only tastes good but also looks beautiful. I don’t know how a little female like him has so many ideas.”

After Lin Te finished speaking, he picked up the cup, took a sip, and the floral aroma instantly spread between his teeth.

Lin En followed Lin Te’s example and took a sip. The refreshing and elegant floral fragrance, combined with the refreshing and comfortable feeling that made the spiritual domain tremble, created an indescribable and magical taste. “Your Female Father would surely love this flower tea.”

Lin Te nodded. “I think so too.”

For a while, the father and son remained silent, savoring the tea in their cups with utmost seriousness.

After finishing their first cup, Lin Te poured another cup for both of them before speaking again. “What’s your impression of Lin Su, Male Father?”

Lin Te’s sudden question caught Lin En off guard. “There’s nothing to say, of course. Why are you asking?”

Lin Te sat beside Lin En. “Male Father, do you remember not long ago, when His Majesty left the capital star for the North Star without authorization, and you sent me to bring him back? I met Lin Su during that time, and he gave me a very warm feeling, making me inexplicably want to protect him. Lin Feng also had a similar feeling when he first met Lin Su. Moreover, I noticed that Lin Su’s facial features are very similar to yours.”

From the things Lin Te said, Lin En understood what he meant. But how could it be possible?

“Such a judgment is too hasty.” Even the recent trip to the Skye Star was so realistic, yet it turned out to be a false hope. Lin En couldn’t easily believe in such things anymore.

“Male Father, Lin Feng knows. Lin Su was adopted and is around the same age as our younger brother. What’s more, he also has a shirt with flowers, just like our younger brother, and Uncle Su Jin still keeps it.”

If there weren’t so many similarities, Lin Te wouldn’t have mentioned these things to Lin En.

Lin En pursed his lips, his expression looking particularly tense. He finally understood why Lin Te had consulted him about this matter first.

Based on the current information, it did seem very real. If Qin Yi found out, he would definitely have hope and start searching again. But what if it wasn’t…

They didn’t want to see Qin Yi disappointed again.

“We need to investigate this matter. Even if it is indeed Nuo Nuo, we should consult his adoptive parents and not act recklessly.”

Given the Lin family’s status, they could indeed investigate and verify forcefully. However, they were searching for their own child, not seeking revenge. They needed to handle everything in the gentlest and most acceptable manner.

Lin Te nodded. “I understand. If you agree, I want to privately investigate Lin Su’s past and see if we can find any useful clues.”

Lin En didn’t respond immediately after hearing his words. He pondered for a moment. “Did Lin Feng mention what kind of people his adoptive parents are?”

“Yes, he said that two uncles still keep the little clothes Lin Su wore back then, hoping that one day when his biological parents come looking, they can be of some use. They also hope that Lin Su can find his own biological parents.” Lin Te’s tone unintentionally softened as he spoke.

Lin En was also moved by his words. “Don’t investigate privately. I can’t leave recently. Go on my behalf, but you must go with sincerity. Don’t tell your Female Father about this for now.”

“Rest assured, Male Father. I know what to do.”

“If I finish my current tasks, I will also go. Such matters shouldn’t be handled by a child like you. I should personally handle it.” However, the matter of the Contracted Beast Pavilion was pressing, and for the time being, he couldn’t leave. He just hoped that Lin Su’s adoptive parents wouldn’t think that the Lin family lacked sincerity. “I won’t say much more. I’ll focus on my tasks and try to complete them as soon as possible. When are you planning to depart?”

Clearly, now that there was information, he couldn’t wait to know the outcome. What if it really was their lost Nuo Nuo?

“I’ll finish handing over my current work and book a ticket immediately.”

“Good. I’ll leave it to you this time, Lin Te.” Lin En gently patted Lin Te’s shoulder. As the eldest son of the Lin family, Lin Te had always been responsible. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have become an Imperial General at such a young age.

Lin En felt reassured handing the matter over to Lin Te.

After Lin En left, Lin Te contacted Lin Feng and explained the situation to him. There was silence for a while before Lin Feng responded, “Big Brother, when are you coming? Do I need to inform Uncle in advance?”

“I need to hand over some things here. I should be able to depart tomorrow evening at the earliest. No need to inform him for now. I’ll handle everything personally when I arrive. By the way, how is Lin Yue?”

Thinking about the possibility of his younger brother suffering from a mental disorder, Lin Te couldn’t help but worry.

“I’ve arranged for Lin Yue to receive treatment at a rehabilitation center. The little brat has already secretly used two calming agents without us knowing. This time, he couldn’t hide it anymore. The signs of his mental disorder have shown signs of progressing to Class A. I think he’s scared now.”

When talking about this matter, Lin Feng couldn’t help but want to give Lin Yue a good beating. He knew that Lin Yue didn’t want them to worry, but everything had its importance.

Could he really hide something like a mental disorder?

Fortunately, he wasn’t too foolish.

There are multiple methods available for treating mental disorders now. Otherwise, he couldn’t bear to think about Lin Yue’s ultimate fate.

Lin Te also didn’t expect Lin Yue’s condition to be so serious. “What nonsense! He’s just not feeling well right now. Otherwise, when I see him, I’ll have to teach him a good lesson.”

“I’ve already talked to him. He spent one night in the rehabilitation center, and his condition is quite good. Don’t worry about our third brother’s matters. I’ll take care of everything. I’ll leave our younger brother’s matters to you.”

“It’s the responsibility of being an older brother. Take care of yourself. We’ll discuss everything when I arrive.”

“Alright.”

After finishing the conversation with Lin Te, a sense of anticipation rose in Lin Feng’s heart. If Lin Su really was their younger brother, he would treat him extremely well.

He would make up for all the love he missed in the past dozen years.

“Second Brother, why are you laughing sneakily over there?” Lin Yue, who came to find Lin Feng for a chat instead of resting in his room, walked in and saw his second brother crouching under the window, a bright and cheerful smile on his face, which was somewhat chilling.

His second brother had already gone crazy to this extent, being able to be so happy even when alone.

Lin Feng glanced at him with disdain. “I just told Big Brother about your situation. You can wait for him to come and deal with you.”

“What?” Lin Yue immediately wore a distressed expression. “Second Brother, how could you? We agreed that it was our secret!”

“Why can’t I do this? If you weren’t feeling unwell now, do you think I wouldn’t beat you up? Did you have your fruit this morning?”

Although Lin Feng was angry at Lin Yue’s concealment, he still cared for him in the way an older brother should.

Lin Yue chuckled, “I had my fruit. Second Brother, you can wait until I’m better to deal with me. When is Big Brother coming and why is he coming?”

“He’s coming in a couple of days, and he’s coming for a reason. Don’t worry about it for now. Focus on resting and don’t wander around unnecessarily. Go back and rest. If your manager sends you a message, don’t answer. Your health is more important than work.”

“We’ve already discussed it. I’ll take a break for a while, and he knows that.” Lin Yue patted his chest, assuringly, “I’ll definitely recover completely this time before returning.”

Regardless of whether what Lin Yue said was true or not, that statement actually made Lin Feng quite satisfied.

When Lin Su woke up, it was already dark outside the window. Surprisingly, he felt a bit dazed after sleeping for so long. William approached him with a glass of water, “Are you hungry?”

Lin Su took a sip of water and nodded, “A little.”

William placed the glass on the table, “Perfect timing. Big Brother just sent someone to inform us that dinner is ready. He wants us to come over and eat.”

“Dinner?” Lin Su was a bit surprised. “Are the palace chefs preparing the food?”

“No, it’s Mr. Bai, whom we invited from the Bai family. The palace doesn’t have chefs. But I’m afraid the taste won’t compare to what you cook yourself.”

Hearing William’s words, Lin Su couldn’t help but laugh, “William, have I spoiled your appetite?”

William nodded with a smile, “Yes, it’s all because of your spoiling.”