When Qiu Ling pulled back, Jing He didn’t speak up immediately. He simply lay next to him, listening to the faint breathing that was proof that he wasn’t alone. There was still a question he was asking himself and now seemed to be the right moment to bring it up even though it wasn’t easy for him to talk about the future. “Say, after we have married … are you going to take me away?”

Qiu Ling faintly raised his brows in the dark. He had feared that Jing He would pull back but if this was what he had wanted to speak about, he had been thinking too much. That question was answered easily. “Of course. Or could it be that you still want me to run over here every day to see you instead of moving into your husband’s palace?” Naturally, he would do so if that was Jing He’s wish but it would mean they would lose a lot of time. Ah, maybe it would be better if he moved to the Nine Heavens instead. He was just afraid that his advisers wouldn’t be happy about that …

Jing He smiled and shook his head. “How could that be?” He thought of the time Qiu Ling would need to travel every day and how such an agreement would likely mean not spending the nights together. Especially at this moment, when he had the chance to experience the shared silence and a few hints of the gentleness common between spouses, he didn’t want to imagine a future where they wouldn’t have that. “I also want us to spend more time together.”

“Mn. We’ll definitely have more time then.” Qiu Ling had often imagined their future together and had sometimes mentioned his ideas to Jing He. The situation at that time had never been like right now though. It just seemed too suitable to speak of the future and the married life they would get to enjoy.

Thinking of that, he couldn’t help but paint a picture of that future for Jing He once again. “Eh, just imagine spending every night like this one. Lying in the same bed, whispering to each other in the dark … maybe …” Qiu Ling took Jing He’s hands and pulled them up against his chest. “We can also do some other things by then.”

“Other things?” Jing He’s expression turned puzzled. What else would they do apart from talking? With everything around them being dark, there didn’t seem to be that many options.

Qiu Ling hummed. “Won’t I be your husband then?” His voice dropped to a whisper and his fingers brushed over Jing He’s shoulder. “Aren’t there certain things you’d do with your husband at night?” He couldn’t help but smile while he asked. This kind of talk would probably make Jing He feel self-conscious but thinking of how that time was indeed not that far off, his own mood soared.

When they were finally intimate, they would be regarded as spouses in the dragon realm as well. Of course, he was ecstatic that that time would come soon. It couldn’t be early enough for him. Right now, Jing He might not be fully ready for it but, well, at least he could dream of it already and since Jing He had agreed to marry him, it didn’t seem to be too much to discuss the marital bliss they’d experience after the ceremony was held.

“Things I’d do with my husband …” Jing He hadn’t thought of it at first but with Qiu Ling’s reminder, he lowered his gaze at once. In the darkness, it wasn’t noticeable but his cheeks had certainly turned crimson by now. He focused on the fabric below his fingertips instead, unable to speak any further.

Qiu Ling hummed again. The satisfaction contained in his voice while he thought of that future was difficult to miss.

Jing He felt a little ashamed to talk about such things but … thinking of how they would indeed be formally wedded by then, it indeed shouldn’t be an issue. And since Qiu Ling cared about it, he shouldn’t refuse.

He thought for a moment, trying to find a way to mention his thoughts in a more euphemistic way. “Whatever it is my husband wants to do I’d certainly comply.” He couldn’t put it in a better way than that. Even though, his face still felt hot. No matter whether they would be married by the time it happened, right now, they were only engaged. This kind of talk seemed to be a little too much. Even more so while lying in bed together.

Qiu Ling naturally didn’t have the same hang-ups. “Mn, that’s how it should be.” He brushed Jing He’s hair back and gently stroked his cheek. This moment felt special to him. It wasn’t that they had never been this close or that they had never spoken about the future but doing so after they had decided on getting married was different. It made it seem as if this future they imagined wasn’t far off.

Even though that was the case, he also knew he couldn’t overdo it. He enjoyed the feeling for a moment and then regretfully dropped the topic with a faint sigh. Of course, that didn’t mean that he didn’t want to talk more about the future. But rather than the physically intimate parts, he focused on the rest now. “I also know this isn’t easy for you.

“The gods are different from us in that regard but … you don’t have to worry. We’ll have a beautiful wedding following your customs first and only then will I take you to my kingdom. We’ll follow my race’s customs then and after that … However you imagine our life to be, is how it’ll be. Whatever wish you have you only have to tell me.”

Qiu Ling laughed lightly when he imagined those days. “Ah, no, I said it wrong. You don’t have to say anything. Just look at me. Your husband will be able to read your thoughts from your eyes and before you can even think of bringing it up I’ll have your wish fulfilled already.”

Yes, this was how he wanted their future to be. He wanted them to reach a point where they knew each other so well that even words were superfluous. When a short glimpse was enough to know what the other wanted or thought, then their relationship was strong enough to survive anything. That was what he desired more than anything else: A relationship that couldn’t be broken by anything.

He was afraid that so far, they weren’t there yet but he would not forsake Jing He. He could wait. He could wait the ten years until Jing He agreed to marry him, he could wait for the duration of the trial, and he could also wait until the day they reached that state of perfect understanding. No time was too long to reach that goal and he would gladly work toward it.

Jing He’s lips curved as well when he heard Qiu Ling’s words. He didn’t doubt them. After ten years of knowing one another, he felt that such a future in which Qiu Ling would try to and indeed manage to fulfill all of his wishes was likely. Of course, he himself would try just as hard. Hopefully, he would also manage to give Qiu Ling the life he desired.