Chapter 38: Chapter 38: How Dare You Think About Other Males?
’Still thinking about other Snake Clan males?’
The man refused flatly.
"No. Don’t even think about it."
It seemed the little female had truly entered her mating season.
All she could think about now was mating.
The Duke was displeased. He took a drag from his pipe, suppressing the irritation welling up inside him. "Without my permission, you are not to get involved with any male from the Beast Clan—"
He suddenly paused.
For a female of the Beast Clan to be in her mating season, mating was a perfectly normal thing.
The Duke realized.
’It isn’t just the Snake Clan. I can’t allow males from any clan to get near the little pet I’m keeping.’
Although, he had indeed kept a pair before, finding a companion for his pet.
But—
’She’s different.’
"In any case, know your place." The Duke averted his gaze, staring at the tip of his long, slender pipe, where a blue Ghost Lotus was carved.
Yu Zhizhi had only been asking.
Seeing the Duke’s firm attitude left no room for negotiation, she nodded lightly. "Oh."
The time for this mission was much more generous than before.
That meant she could make more preparations.
’Maybe the Duke will change his mind tomorrow?’
"Are you going to sleep?"
Yu Zhizhi asked in a soft voice.
She had been out all day and was a little tired.
A lighter clicked.
A small flame flickered in the darkness.
Slowly, smoke drifted over.
The scent of this smoke was very faint, like quiet agarwood.
"I have some documents to review. If you’re tired, go to sleep."
"Oh..."
Yu Zhizhi clutched her bath towel and walked further into the room.
She saw some clothes draped over the screen: a loose, crescent-moon-colored inner robe. Not worrying about the details, Yu Zhizhi slipped on the garment, tied the belt, and considered herself dressed.
She slipped under the soft covers.
It was a familiar scent.
She slept well through the night.
The next morning, following the Duke’s instructions, his personal attendant went to the residence of Miss Mu Mu of the Snake Clan to ask for the "Wild Dog."
The young Snake Clan woman’s brown, slitted pupils widened. "Did Lord Bolan really send you to get him? He actually agreed?!"
’Lord Bolan is a neat freak; how could he possibly allow such a lowly slave within his sight, not even in his courtyard? And all just to grant that little rabbit’s request!’
The Duke’s personal attendant wore a serene smile. "Miss Mu Mu, I must take him back to be cleaned up quickly."
The young Snake Clan woman was still in shock.
She had heard about the "pet"...
And she knew Duke Bolan had always treated his pets well.
He just replaced them rather frequently.
But that little rabbit was a female, after all. ’Could the Duke really keep her by his side and have no other intentions?’
’He’s even letting her keep a male consort?’
The young Snake Clan woman patted her stunned cheeks and turned. "Go on, bring that Wild Dog out."
The world had finally gone so crazy she didn’t even recognize it anymore.
The personal attendant, a man of about forty, stood to the side with a broad smile.
Once they brought the person out, he led the way toward the study.
Yu Zhizhi was jolted awake by a feeling of suffocation.
In her sleep, she felt as if her nose was being pressed into a sponge, making it impossible to breathe.
Her rabbit ears were completely flattened.
With a sudden kick of her legs, she opened her eyes.
The first thing she saw was the collar of a man’s nightshirt.
The Duke had gotten into bed at some point, and he was holding her so tightly in his arms that she could barely breathe.
A drop of sweat trickled down the man’s jaw and dripped onto Yu Zhizhi’s eyelashes.
She blinked.
She noticed that the Duke before her was drenched in sweat, his brow tightly furrowed.
’Is he...’
’...having a nightmare?’
His arms were like steel, wrapped tightly around her.
He suddenly tightened his grip, and Yu Zhizhi let out a small whimper.
Lost in the nightmare, the Duke heard the little rabbit’s whimper, and his consciousness slowly returned.
He opened his eyes and saw the little female in his arms, her cheeks flushed from lack of air. Her soft body was pressed against his chest. The clothes she wore were far too large for her; it was one of his everyday sleep robes, making her look like a child wearing an adult’s clothes.
The Duke loosened his grip slightly.
Creating a small gap.
Yu Zhizhi could finally breathe freely.
"Good morning." The man’s tone was calm, with a barely perceptible hint of a smile.
Yu Zhizhi raised her hands, pressing them against his chest to create some distance.
"Good morning..." The young female’s voice was soft and drowsy, as if she wasn’t fully awake. She rubbed the corner of her eye with her finger.
"Are you okay?" Yu Zhizhi’s eyes were filled with concern.
The Duke watched her in silence for a good while.
The little female was terrible at hiding her emotions. Right now, she was looking at him as if he were a patient, even trying to raise a hand to check his forehead.
And she did just that.
But not to check his temperature.
Instead...
...Yu Zhizhi used her sleeve to gently wipe away the sweat from the Duke’s forehead, bit by bit. Her eyes were earnest, her movements incredibly soft and delicate.
Something stirred in his heart.
The man suddenly grabbed her slender wrist.
Before Yu Zhizhi could react, he pulled her into his arms. He embraced his little pet, burying his face in her long hair.
Her waist was so slender and soft, it felt as though it might snap with the slightest pressure.
During such an intimate embrace, the slightest movement caused the already loose robe to slip slightly, revealing a small, rounded shoulder.
And where the robe gaped open at the front, her skin was pressed directly against his.
Her warm skin against his chest, especially its soft, yielding feel, made the Duke sigh in contentment.
Holding her felt wonderful.
Better than any of the fluffy pets he had kept before.
Yu Zhizhi was held tightly by him.
She could feel her own heart pounding fiercely.
The Duke’s body temperature was cool, and being held by him made her tremble slightly.
After a long while.
The Duke released her.
"I have to go to the Royal Palace today."
He familiarly pinched her rabbit ear. "You be a good girl here at home. If you need anything, go find your Teacher Dai Li."
"Mhm," Yu Zhizhi nodded.
The little female had always been docile; he had yet to see her lose her temper.
The Duke picked up a lock of her hair and lowered his head to take a light sniff.
"Remember to bathe before you sleep. Don’t bring any dust to bed."
"I’ll remember," Yu Zhizhi replied softly.
"One more thing—"
"What is it?"
"Never mind. It’s not set in stone yet. I’ll tell you when I get back tonight."
He was actually very curious.
’What kind of expression will the little female make when she hears the news?’
He ruffled her hair.
The Duke sat up.
Attendants from outside the door entered the room to serve him.
Without even eating breakfast, he left the study.
Maids came in holding several sets of clean, well-fitting clothes for Yu Zhizhi to choose from.
She chose a simple, knee-length dress with a collar of small lace flowers. A maid helped comb her hair, placing a pair of fluffy, spherical hair clips next to her rabbit ears.
’Mmm...’
’The Rabbit Clan Lady the Duke brought back is so cute.’
While combing her hair, the maid couldn’t help but steal glances at her in the mirror.
’No wonder Lord Bolan is so fond of her.’
’She’s so pretty and so cute. If I were a male, I’d be desperately trying to court her.’
’Not to mention—’
’She’s an S-Class female.’
The maid was quite envious.
She suddenly remembered the Housekeeper’s instructions and quickly spoke up, "Ms. Zhi Zhi, the Wild Dog you wanted to save has been brought back. He’s been placed in the utility room outside the courtyard."
"I want to go see him."
"Then I’ll lead the way!" the maid volunteered eagerly.
