“Tired,” Han Li complained when Graham finally joined him at the top of the steps. The half-blood stood in the door frame, just outside the plane that sat there waiting for the two.
Graham was silent at first, his stoic gaze carefully scrutinizing Han Li’s disgruntled expression. After all, it wasn’t as though he had prevented Han Li from sleeping.
In the end, the Saint of Eternity raised his hand and patted Han Li on the head. “We’ll be home soon,” he said as he ushered the youngster back inside the jet.
Han Li, though still pouty, seemed to be appeased as he followed suit. Not only was the private aircraft spacious, but the pilot was a skilled and experienced fellow, trusted by the Saint of Shields himself. It had been Miguel who helped organize Graham and Han Li’s quiet escape. With a sky so clear, turbulence was scant. The airplane was luxurious and had plenty of space for the two to stretch their legs and finally relax a little after a harrowing affair.
And yet, Han Li had chosen to plop himself down right next to the Saint of Eternity, curling up in Graham’s lap.
Han Li obviously left his reasoning and shame somewhere out the door, because he hadn’t been thinking at all when he clung to Graham’s solid form. Excuses could be formed later, he could say something akin to being comforted by the familiar warmth of another human being.
The truth of the matter was, Han Li had no real excuse, aside from the blatant fact that he wasn’t thinking straight. Or rather, he wasn’t thinking at all. It did not help that the Saint of Eternity hadn’t uttered a word complaint, and even ran that gloved hand of his through Han Li’s hair once or twice.
Vaguely, he recalled being referred to as a puppy. Discontent tickled Han Li’s gut but he was easily quelled by the bone-deep fatigue and Graham’s comforting presence. When his senses would return, Han Li wouldn’t dare admit that he ever drooled onto Graham’s lap or that he clung to the saint’s pants like an over-eager baby monkey. But at the moment, he was without boundaries and indulged in his desires as would a drunk.
Han Li slept through the majority of the trip.
And when Graham carried him out of the plane and shoved him into the passenger side of a car, Han Li had slept through that as well. His eyelids fluttered as lights passed the tinted car windows.
Through his groggy haze, Han Li blinked his bleary eyes as a blurry landscape of lights and tall buildings greeted him. Familiarity was abundant and Han Li sighed with a sense of relief, his eyes closing once more.
He was home.
It was time to rest.
And he would do just that, for much longer than he anticipated. Because the next time he woke, a whole week had passed by.
“What,” Han Li stared, flabbergasted at the date displayed on his phone screen. He’d been lying in the guest room in Graham’s penthouse, which he had become rather acquainted with.
What Han Li wasn’t acquainted with, however, was the slew of projects and deadlines that hung just around the proverbial corner. He paled, staring at his university inbox, seeing everything he had missed and everything he still needed to catch up with.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
“Memx!” Ljc Ol megrfv jr tf tbqqfv bea bo yfv— Dea tf tjv obgubaafc atja tlr wermifr jcv ybvs tjv yffc mbwqifafis rajucjca obg j kffx jcv ktfc tf aglfv ab ybia bea bo atf mbnfgr ja oeii rqffv, tlr wermifr rflhfv jcv Ljc Ol ofii ugjmfoeiis bcab tlr ojmf.
A loud thud echoed and Han Li groaned in pain, trying to pick himself up. His whole body flared with soreness and throbbing agony
“I would personally caution against random bouts of acrobatics in your current state.” Graham’s voice was right on schedule, both gentle and scolding.
The saint stood at the doorway, his attire the usual black that covered him from head to toe, from a casual but fitted long sleeve shirt to the sweatpants that matched. Even the apron that he wore on top was black.
There was time that Han Li found it odd that Graham wore his gloves on almost all occasions, even domestic ones, but it was now becoming a permanent fixture of the ‘Graham Assholely’ aesthetic.
Han Li blamed his prolonged sleep for the lag going on in his mental facilities. Certainly, it was neither time nor place for his stomach to be doing weird flips. Han Li scowled, “What the heck are random bouts of acrobatics supposed to be?”
Regret soon followed as Graham swept his gaze over his body in pointed scrutiny. Blood rushed to Han Li’s face as he felt embarrassment settle in his gut. “Hm,” Graham hummed, judgment in his tone of voice. “I’m glad that you are feeling well enough to be so lively, but do take care. Since you’re awake, come and join me for dinner.”
“I-I can’t,” Han Li surged to his feet, his hand reaching out instinctively to grab hold of the edge of Graham’s sleeve, pulling the senior hunter back.
The Saint of Eternity halted, turning to him with a look of concern and confusion on his face.
Han Li’s eyes were drawn to his own hand. He frowned and let go of the fabric as though it burned. It was suddenly very difficult to raise his gaze and admit his embarrassment. “I have to go to the studio. There’s a printing project due tomorrow that I didn’t even get started on.” In fact, he hadn’t even gotten halfway through the rubrics sheet and didn’t know what the project even pertained to.
“It’s late,” Graham pointed out, “There’s no point in heading to the studio now.”
“The studio is open 24/7,” Han Li retorted.
“Are you certain you’d be able to get anything done if you were to go there now?”
“…” Han Li wanted to frown, but he might have been pouting.
“…If you are intent then I can give you a lift.” Han Li swore he heard the subtlest of sighs. When he looked up, Graham already had his back turned to him and was headed back to the stairs.
A mouthwatering waft of steak and olive oil was about the air and Han Li’s stomach growled with pointed aggression.
He clutched his rebellious stomach, face red, hopeful that Graham was too far away to hear it.
Han Li really needed to get his shit together. He blamed the one-week coma for messing with his brain and order of priority.
In the end, he stayed for dinner, vowing to get out as soon as he was done.
The familiar sound of a classical tune echoed throughout the penthouse, matching with the exquisite meal that had been prepared. Scented candles finished off the atmosphere, dousing everything in a comfortable, dreamy haze.
Han Li stared at the meal that was placed on the table in the dining room and the man who served it. The aroma that rose from the fillet mignon was almost unbearable. On the other side of the table, Graham folded a napkin into his collar. “Please, dig in.”
“Alright,” Han Li hummed, comfortable and used to Graham’s presence enough to forgo the feeling of awkwardness and forced politeness. He picked up his utensils and began digging in. The medium-rare roast was complimented with a silky sauce that melted in Han Li’s mouth. It inspired a fire in his starved heart and soon Han Li was gulping down the food with much vigor.
If Graham was bothered by Han Li’s slopping feasting, he made no show of it, only quietly shooting Han Li glances between his own, measured and elegant bites.
But Han Li’s eager first few bites began to slow. The delectable taste of food only did so much to stave off his churning thoughts. A million and one things passed through his mind; panic ripe with all the projects that were due on the horizon. He already acknowledged that it would be impossible to finish them all.
(Han Li recalled the car ride into Darmine and the nauseating spell he was beset by Saint Miguel’s divine barrier, and the rush of adrenaline he felt, drowning amid demonic miasma.)
But maybe if he was strategic about what he worked on, and how much, Han Li might be able to scrape by with his courses with the bare minimum grades to pass.
(Seoyun’s peaceful death mask was preserved in Han Li’s memories in perfect detail, laid upon the rubble as though asleep. He felt too awkward to ask Graham about her funeral, which he likely wouldn’t be able to attend anyway.)
“Han Li,” Graham’s voice cut through his thoughts.
“Hm?” Han Li blinked as he raised his head. Graham’s brows were just subtly furrowed.
“Are you unwell?”
“Huh? I’m fine.”
“You stopped eating. Is the food bad?” Han Li reached a point where he could notice the subtle flinch in Graham’s fingers, that tightened around the utensils in his grasp. Was the Saint of Eternity always this transparent?
“No, no,” Han Li flinched, trying to recall his appetite as he looked down at his plate. “The food’s great. I’m just… Thinking about that stuff. School things. That’s all.”
“I’m sorry.”
The words caught Han Li off-guard. He looked up, “What? What are you sorry for?”
“I cannot help but feel at fault. After all, I am the one who put you in danger. I failed to protect you like I said that I would.”
Han Li smiled wryly, feeling a well of both warmth and bitterness. “I put myself into those situations, Grams.”
“…”
Silence hung for a moment.
“Do you regret getting me involved?” Han Li put his knife and fork down before leaning his arm against the table.
“No,” Graham responded without missing a beat. But he then frowned and added, “Maybe. I’m not certain.”
Han Li chuckled bitterly, “I don’t regret it. The only thing I regret is not being able to save Seoyun.” Take Han Li back in time and he would do it all over again.
“Her death was not your doing,” Graham said, “You had little control over that.”
“I know,” Han Li shrugged, turning his gaze towards the soft candlelight on the table. “Doesn’t stop me from feeling some kind of way about it.”
“Hm,” Graham nodded with agreement. He understood Han Li’s sentiments. It was one common among hunters.
After the meal, Han Li chose to remain at the penthouse, forgoing his planned trip to school. It was unlikely that he was going to pass the semester.
Author: I’m very, very, very, very brain dead. TT___TT summer vacation, where you at???
Thanksss for the chapterrrr~
Eheheh we need a no conscience and no reasoning Han Li 24/7 kewk
thanks for reading <3
LMFAOO he’s just ded, like me, i am ded u w u i wanna slep for a wek
Sameee
Falling asleep for a week… I’m not even surprised anymore (ㆁωㆁ)
Thank you for the chapter!!! ❤️❤️
; w ; let me also fall asleep for a weep please and thank you
Wow, Han Li must have been very tired and Very with capital “V”. But he deserved all the sleep, after all he did a great job. And that clingy action was so cute. Thank you for the chapter!!!
thank you for reading!! <3 <3 and LOL YEAH…seriously though I also think that I deserve a week of SLEEPPPP TT__TT
thanks for the chapter <3
Han Li is baby….
Adopting a half demon puppy, good move Grams 🤸
aww cute lil domestic scene ^3^ <3 also now im hungry for steal 😭
…i mean steak. my brain’s broken 😭
70 capítulos y nada de NSWF…la historia maravillosa…si no le anunciaran el NSWF…no sería problema…pero si lo anuncian…deberían actuar en consecuencia no? o si solo existen pagados…igual deben advertirlo. Personalmente aun no puedo comprar kofies…porque no tengo tarjeta de credito y nunca he realizado una transacción por paypal…estoy en latinoamerica…