Rating: mature!
Anya shrugged. “Met him a few days ago. Very nice little field and greenhouse.” She grinned. “I hadn’t realised just how much he had done over the last three years. Doubling crop yield? Quite the little researcher and change-maker, you have to give him that. So, what are you planning to do?”
Friduric had ideas but he didn’t want to say them. “You clearly have ideas. Why don’t you help your little brother out?”
“It’s easy once you think about it,” Anya said. “Ayden really likes his research. All you need to do is trick him into thinking that the classes are research too.”
Friduric: “…”
“Ayden also seems to like doing hard things, so you should challenge him,” Anya added. “If you make him research historical plant mages, he’d probably be much more amenable, and he’ll learn the surrounding history without realising it. If you make him write an essay about magical theory and personally mark it and critique it, he’ll certainly research the theory in detail without being asked.”
“And how are you so sure about what he’ll do?”
Anya shrugged. “He’s a researcher, he told me himself. He’ll find working harder fun.”
“I’m in charge of the academy not the university,” Friduric said. “Perhaps in your old age, you’ve forgotten the difference.”
“When the academy was first formed, it indeed trained mages from the basics,” Anya said. “However, these days aren’t like the old days. We started studying magic and having lessons when we were four. Yet, what is being taught has hardly changed. You could take this opportunity to reform the academy and make it useful.”
“If the lessons are too hard, then commoner mages can’t keep up.”
“Then let the commoner mages have beginner classes as soon as possible, rather than waiting for them to turn 15.”
Friduric frowned.
Anya stood up. “Well, I’ll leave you to think. I’ll be back for dinner.”
Friduric didn’t walk her out—she was his older sister; she could walk out herself.
Once alone, he sighed.
Anya made it sound so easy.
Ren Xiyang returned to the Capital on Monday afternoon. He went to the Rosewood house first. He conducted a healing session with Prince Pollux and Hadrian, and then attended to his growing projects.
The microgreens were growing well: all the seeds had germinated. Just a little longer, and they’d be ready for harvest.
The mushrooms were interesting. Plant growth magic affected mushrooms, inducing them to grow faster than their non-magicked counterparts. But it wasn’t natural: the resultant structure of the mycelium was different. Ren Xiyang couldn’t tell yet if it was a good or bad thing. Further study was required, and he wanted to talk to Florence about it.
Ren Xiyang prepared a few things in a large box before going to the academy. Kel took the box to the dormitories for him, while he headed to the field and greenhouse.
Rian met him at the academy gates closest to the fields.
“Weren’t you sad that I had made pizza without you a few weeks ago?” Ren Xiyang asked.
Rian pouted. “I wasn’t sad. You’re going to make pizza for me, aren’t you?”
Ren Xiyang nodded. Due to growth magic, there were crops ready for harvest. “Pick these tomatoes, the basil, and the rocket for me.”
Rian brightened. “Very well.” He turned to his Royal Guards. “Have a small dining table and chairs placed in our quarters.”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
Back in their quarters, Kel had put Ren Xiyang’s box by his bedroom door, and the Royal Guards had sent up a small dining table near the sofas.
Rian washed the harvested tomatoes, basil and rocket. Ren Xiyang went to his box and pulled out a big basket he had prepared earlier. Inside the basket were kitchen utensils and various ingredients.
Ren Xiyang set up a work area on the dining table and made the pizza dough. Then, he took the tomatoes and pulverised them into a tomato sauce.
This gave them 25 minutes before the dough would be ready.
“What a big box you brought back today,” Rian said, sounding like a big curious baby. “What’s inside it? What else are you planning?”
“I have something for you, actually.”
Rian’s eyes lit up. “Oh?”
“Close your eyes.”
Rian closed his eyes, but his excitement was still clear.
Ren Xiyang pulled out his gift, tidied it up a little, and stood in front of Rian. “Open your eyes.”
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.
Eljc bqfcfv tlr fsfr. “Yt!” Llr fcalgf ojmf ila eq.
Efc Wlsjcu kjr mjggslcu j ijguf ybedefa bo yfjealoei jcv nlygjca gfv gbrfr. “Mbg sbe, Eljc.”
Efc Wlsjcu gfwfwyfgfv ktfc Eljc tjv yffc pfjiber bo atf gbrfr tf ujnf ab batfg qfbqif. Ktlr ybedefa kjr rfnfgji alwfr ijgufg, jcv Efc Wlsjcu tjv qlmxfv atf wbra yfjealoei oibkfgr, jcv fnfc xfqa atfw wjulmjiis mbbi ab qgfrfgnf atfw yfaafg.
Rian happily took them and breathed in. “They smell amazing.”
Ren Xiyang smiled. “Do you like them?”
“Extremely. Ah, we need a vase!”
Rian went to the door and had Gary bring several vases.
Rian put a vase on his desk, one on the coffee table, and one on the small dining table, and divided the roses out. Then, he would narrow his eyes, tilting his head this way and that, picking out the perfect number of roses and arranging them just right. It was very endearing.
It wasn’t until right now that Ren Xiyang truly realised that Rian really liked traditional expressions of love.
Ren Xiyang took out a few more things from his box. After Rian arranged the roses on the dining table, Ren Xiyang scattered some fallen petals on the table and lit two small candles.
With half of the dining table taken up by cooking things, and another large part of it taken up by vase of red roses, Ren Xiyang’s and Rian’s seats were placed adjacent to each other, sharing a corner.
Ren Xiyang started preparing milk tea to accompany the meal. Then he took out silken tofu, various ingredients for breading, and a small pot of cooking oil.
Rian was finally satisfied with his arrangements around the room. He came and sat down, accepting the glass of milk tea from Ren Xiyang.
“You’ve prepared a lot today,” Rian said.
“I wanted to make it a proper date night,” Ren Xiyang said.
“Date? But we’re engaged already.”
“A turn of phrase,” Ren Xiyang said. “It means spending time together without work.”
“And does it involve sex afterwards?”
“It can.”
“I’ll keep that in mind. Is the dough almost ready?”
“Appetiser first.” Ren Xiyang cut the silken tofu into four cubes, dipped them into flour and breadcrumbs, and deep fried them, expertly controlling the heat of the oil. Once done, he put the tofu on one plate, drizzled over some sauce that he had prepared earlier, and scattered on some finely chopped scallions.
Ren Xiyang set the plate between his seat and Rian’s and sat down. Sitting this close made it all the easier to nudge each other under the table.
“Do you have some small plates?” Rian asked.
“We’re engaged, we can eat from the same plate,” Ren Xiyang said.
“It’s true, we’ve shared more than just saliva,” Rian said with a little proud smirk.
Ren Xiyang’s lips twitched. “Eat.”
The outside of the tofu was crispy, while the inside was soft and smooth. The sauce was salty, sweet, and spicy, with a hint of sourness, flavouring the tofu and cutting through any oiliness.
“Delicious,” Rian praised.
“Thank you.”
Ren Xiyang put away the dish and set the table up for the main course by placing the spicy olive oil in reach. He took the risen dough, dividing it in half. He made two pizzas: one had tomato, cheese, and basil as toppings, while the other had additional rocket and thinly sliced ham. He cooked them in under three minutes under high heat.
Rian sliced the pizzas up with a few neat air blades.
This time, they had individual small plates. It made it easier for Ren Xiyang to drizzle more spicy olive oil on top of his pizza slices, while Rian drizzled less.
“Good?” Ren Xiyang asked.
“Very,” Rian said. “The hint of your magic in food always makes it tastier.”
“Then I’ll cook something for you again next week.”
Rian’s eyes brightened. “What are you going to make?”
“Not telling.”
“Is it going to be hotpot? Noodles? Pancakes? Doughnuts?”
Ren Xiyang shook his head. “I haven’t decided exactly yet.”
“Then I should keep giving you suggestions to inspire your thinking.”
“Much obliged, your Highness,” Ren Xiyang said. He had some more pizza, before asking, “So, what happened today?”
Rian chatted about what he did today, outlining what was taught during class, and the assistance that he had provided to Josephine and Neil.
“—Speaking of classes, I prepared something for you over the weekend.” Rian levitated a folder over. “The curriculum for each class, as I remember it.”
Ren Xiyang plucked the folder from the air and looked inside. For each subject, there were estimated dates and topic notes.
“If you’re interested in any of those topics, you could attend class at those specific days,” Rian said. “Alternatively, you could use this to learn the required material at your own pace, before the end-of-year oral exams.”
“Did you write this yourself completely? Without referencing the notes of older students or teachers?” Ren Xiyang asked.
Rian huffed. “Of course.”
“Then you know everything, clearly,” Ren Xiyang said. “I don’t want to attend class because it’s boring. You could teach the class if you wanted. You’d be much more engaging, and I’ll have an excuse to look at you throughout class.”
Rian made a pleased smile. “Indeed, I could.”
“But thank you, this is really helpful. I’ll look through this carefully and try to pick out interesting topics.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really. But among these, which classes or content do you believe I need to learn, regardless of interest?”
Rian blinked. “Give that back, and I’ll make some notes and return it to you later.”
Ren Xiyang’s lips quirked up. “Thanks.”
Lastly, for dessert, Ren Xiyang took out a bowl of chocolate, various fruit, and serving forks. With a faint heat to melt the chocolate, they used the forks to dip the fruit and coat them in chocolate.
After playing around with their food and eating off the other’s forks, Rian said, “We need to figure out our plan and approach for the meeting with Dean Palatinate tomorrow.”
“Are you full?”
“For now. For food,” Rian added, with a little smirk.
“Planning and work first before fun,” Ren Xiyang said sternly. He stood up and started to clear the table.
Rian helped Ren Xiyang clear up by calling Gary in to do it.
Gary worked neatly and quickly, his eyes not straying to the vases of red roses. Rian felt it was a bit of pity, he wanted Gary to see them and ask where they had come from. Then he could say that Ayden gave them to him, and weren’t they beautiful and fragrant?
Alas, Gary was too professional.
After Gary left, Rian pulled Ren Xiyang over to his desk. They looked at their table of ideas, added more ideas, and condensed down what they would actually suggest, and who would say it.
“—And we’re done here,” Rian said with finality.
“Hmm.” Ren Xiyang glanced over the notes again.
“Now, let’s go to bed.”
Ren Xiyang looked up. “It’s still early, we could work on that telepathy spell.”
Rian pulled Ren Xiyang up, his hands on Ren Xiyang’s hips. He leaned in, speaking into Ren Xiyang’s ear. “Xiyang, for what I have planned next, we need to get ready for bed now, in order to have sufficient sleep tonight.”
A tingle of sensation rushed travelled from the shell of Ren Xiyang’s ear and downwards. “Before tomorrow’s big meeting?”
Rian kissed Ren Xiyang’s cheek. “What, are you doubting me?” Then he started nibbling Ren Xiyang’s ear.
Blood started to rush south immediately, as though Rian’s nibbling was the trigger.
Ren Xiyang: “…”
“Okay, okay. Your bed?” Ren Xiyang asked.
Rian’s eyes brightened. “If you insist.”
They separated for a moment to walk into Rian’s bedroom. After the door closed, Rian started to strip.
“—Xiyang?”
Ren Xiyang was disrobing much slower than usual, with only his outer layers off. He said slowly, “Since we have time, why don’t you try taking off my clothes today?”
Anticipation sparked in Rian’s eyes. He immediately stepped close, reached out, and caressed Ren Xiyang’s skin, over the cloth. With eyes full of appreciation, he slowly took off Ren Xiyang’s remaining layers. He kissed Ren Xiyang and nudged him back towards the bed.
As the kisses became more heated, Ren Xiyang’s cock started to feel unbearably hard. His breaths became disordered. But he still remembered to speak instead of remaining silent: “Rian—”
Rian kissed him, masturbating him until he came.
As Ren Xiyang panted and recovered, Rian moved down his body.
Rian liked Ren Xiyang, and he liked his body. Sometimes, Ren Xiyang felt that Rian liked his body more than he did.
At this time, Ren Xiyang acknowledged that Rian’s brazen appreciation made Ren Xiyang more confident. The person he was now wasn’t the same person during the apocalypse and wasn’t the same person before the apocalypse. Rian made him better. Rian’s unwavering trust in him made him work hard, try harder, do more.
Rian’s heated gaze and gentleness in preparing Ren Xiyang was its own gift.
The spongy tip of Rian’s penis pressed against Ren Xiyang’s hole. Ren Xiyang felt a thrill of anticipation, his hole fluttering lightly.
Rian liked traditional expressions of love.
“Rian, I love you,” Ren Xiyang said quietly.
Rian jolted, and the tip of his penis popped inside. “Xiyang—”
“I’m yours.”
Rian thrust all the way in, filling Ren Xiyang up from inside, hot and big. “Xiyang, do you want something from me?”
“No,” Ren Xiyang said, gazing into Rian’s eyes. “I just…wanted to let you know how much I appreciate you.”
Rian’s hips started to move. His voice was strained. “Yangyang. You know I love you…I want you forever.”
Ren Xiyang’s cock was hard and leaking in his stomach. Waves of pleasure grew and grew whenever Rian’s cock brushed against that spot inside of him. “I want you forever too.”
Thrust—“I want to make you mine”—thrust—“I want—I want—” Rian groaned as he pulled out and push in.
“I love you too. You feel really good inside of me.”
“Xiyang.” Rian leaned forward and kissed Ren Xiyang deeply. Meanwhile, his hips fucked faster and faster.
Ren Xiyang’s entire body was soaked in pleasure, and his heart was full. “I really love you so much, you’re the person I love the most.”
“Xiyang!” Rian thrust harder than ever and came deep inside.
Feeling the hot come inside of him, full of Rian’s essence, Ren Xiyang gasped a final “Rian…” before an all-encompassing wave of pleasure overtook his senses.
Royal Guards: We saw nothing, we heard nothing.
Gary: His Highness wants vases? I definitely have no idea why. Roses, what roses?
Ren Xiyang: Did you know that Rian hardens whenever I say “I love you”?
Rian: …
Thank you to tkaa for the ink~
Thank you for everyone’s support, I made a writing summary for 2024 here.
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it’s a little hot in here isn’t it 👀
😳😳😳😳
👀… ahem (cough) loved that line where Rian helped by calling Gary over
Hehehe, thank you for reading!
lol, my house needs a Gary.
👀… Thank you for the chapter! 😘
Thank you for reading~
TYSM for the chapter i am dyinggg
Dying in a good way, I hope! 😏
Ren Xiyang poking all of Rian’s sweet spots. The Roses, the food, the praise and concessions of love. All the things Xiyang knows Rian likes he provided to make up for disappointing him.
Yeah 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰 Ren Xiyang is starting to treat his relationship as a romantic one, instead of just bros-in-love 😆
RX getting more and more professional in love affairs. Aaaawww🥰🥰🫠❤️
Character development! 🤣
awww Xiyang realized Rian’s love language!
Hmm, I’m trying to figure out Xiyang’s love language! Rian’s love languages seem to be words of affirmation, physical touch, gifts, and quality time. While Xiyang’s are likely acts of service, and gifts!
It’s adorable because they’re opposites, but probably difficult for them since it’s harder to figure out each other likes… 😅
😍😍😍😍😍 your love language notes seem right!! I think Ren Xiyang also likes quality time, but his definition of quality time is different from Rian’s 😆😆😆😆😆
Ren is so caring💞
This chapter was so wonderful
So comfortable!
(The bed scene is very hot)
I was finally able to read everything calmly. I got sick and can’t work, so I can pay attention to the story.
I’m very late, but thanks for the chapter!
But now I’m so hungry.🤧 This delicious food
Thank you! hehehe I’m glad you like the bed scene.
Oh no, I hope you get well soon!!! And have some delicious food!
Thanks
(つ≧▽≦)つ