The poor child that Jinde thought needed protection was currently romancing his fiance again. Well, maybe ‘romancing’ was the wrong word to put it. Rather than that, it should be said that a certain dragon king was shamelessly asking his lover to do the romancing this time.

Jing He’s cheeks had flushed once again when he was reminded of the night he sang for Qiu Ling. Anyway, his skin had always been thin and while Qiu Ling might be calling it a lullaby, Xing’s lament was obviously a song expressing one’s love.

Still, since Qiu Ling had asked him for a favor, Jing He would never outright say no. He pulled the blanket a little higher. If he could have, he might have raised it up to his eyes but as things stood, he left it barely at the height of his chin, not wanting to make Qiu Ling feel like he was rejecting him. “What kind of favor?”

“Well, how about singing a love song this time? Or I would also take you reciting me a poem expressing your love.” Qiu Ling smiled before hurriedly putting on a rare hesitant expression. “Well … I’m just asking. You don’t have to do it if you don’t want to. Although I would naturally be very happy if you did.” He also knew that Jing He was easily embarrassed. Naturally, he wouldn’t force the issue. But seeing as they were already engaged more or less officially and that tonight was a rare chance to be close … it just seemed like an opportunity too convenient to pass up.

Jing He lowered his head, his heart racing. It shouldn’t be a problem to do something like this for his fiance. Anyway, he had done it before. It was just … being asked so suddenly, he naturally felt shy.

He gingerly reached out, his fingers brushing the hem of Qiu Ling’s lapel. “I wouldn’t know which one.” It was the only excuse he could come up with right now. He knew Qiu Ling would probably tell him that he wouldn’t care either way so he could just pick anything but it at least gave him some time to think this through. Of course, he wanted to do something this small for the man he loved. He didn’t want to mess up though so he had to think about it well.

As expected, Qiu Ling simply gave a hum. “I’m alright with anything. Anyway, you know I don’t know the things that are popular in the Nine Heavens too well. Just pick something your people like. I probably wouldn’t know it.” And even if he did, he still wouldn’t mind. He just wanted to hear Jing He say a few sweet words to him. In fact …

“If you can’t remember one, it’s even alright to make one up. I wouldn’t mind you speaking straight from the heart.” He reached up and caught Jing He’s hand, pulling it up to his lips and pressing a kiss on the back of his fingers while looking at him.

By now, the room had mostly fallen dark. With the windows closed, only a little light fell in and barely illuminated their figures. He could still make out Jing He’s face thanks to the dragon’s good night vision and the fact that they were this close. He wasn’t able to make out the faint blush on his cheeks but he knew Jing He. Just seeing how he refused to look at him right now, he could gather how he felt.

Qiu Ling inched a little closer, still holding onto his hands. “If you’re too shy to say it out loud, you can also whisper the words. In fact … I think I would very much like you whispering in my ear in the middle of the night. That seems rather intimate, doesn’t it?”

Jing He’s breath hitched when he heard Qiu Ling’s suggestion. Just imagining such a scene … He almost shook his head to get rid of the image but with Qiu Ling so close, it was almost impossible not to think about it. With it having gotten late, lying in the same bed so close to each other that he could feel the warmth from Qiu Ling’s body indeed seemed more intimate than anything they had ever done.

Of course, he knew this was nonsense. Qiu Ling had hugged him tightly before, sometimes kissing him while his hands were holding him tightly. Just lying next to each other wasn’t any more intimate than that. And yet, the feeling still differed. Even with only the skin of their hands touching, he felt that his whole world only consisted of Qiu Ling.

Jing He shifted slightly, unable to still think about what Qiu Ling had originally wanted him to do. How was he to remember a poem or song for him when all his senses were so full of Qiu Ling’s presence? No, not a single coherent thought could currently pass through his mind.

His fingers faintly squeezed Qiu Ling’s hand. “I love you.” He only managed to squeeze out these three words, his voice a little breathless. More than this … he really didn’t know how to do it.

Qiu Ling hummed, his resolve not to do anything crumbling slightly. He was really digging his own grave here, wasn’t he? Staying with his beloved, gently holding him, asking him to whisper some sweet nothings into his ear … if Jing He really did, then he was still the one who needed to hold back from committing any mistakes. What was that if not torturing himself?

Qiu Ling gulped. “I love you too.” His voice sounded a lot hoarser than he would have liked and he faintly cleared his throat to get back some momentum. “I guess … we should just go to sleep?” Either way, they both wouldn’t be able to keep a normal conversation going at this point. Thus, it was better to just try to fall asleep. Not that he thought he could currently do this. His whole body seemed to be on fire after that small confession of Jing He’s.