ASFTB 41: Made the Protagonist Cry 1

The room fell into a brief calm.

Just a moment ago, the constant alarm sounds of the system echoed in Jian Chengxi’s mind: 【Safety value below 20%, safety value below 18%, safety value below 15%…】

But after Li Lingfeng stopped and the two of them finished explaining, the safety value actually soared to 28% in one breath.

Jian Chengxi’s wrist was still red. Li Lingfeng glanced at it, lifted his hand and whispered, “Does it still hurt?”

“Still… it’s okay,” Jian Chengxi said, looking down at his wrist, where the redness was especially glaring. “Actually, it just looks worse than it is.”

Li Lingfeng sat up, and because of the force, his bathrobe slipped down, revealing his solid chest and muscular forearms. The man lifted his scarred arm and rubbed his brow.

The bed curtains fell.

His bloodshot eyes slowly faded, his voice low and hoarse. “I’ll go get you some medicine.”

The person on the bed tried to get up but his clothes were pulled back by someone.

Li Lingfeng turned his head, and met Jian Chengxi’s dark, deer-like eyes. The fragile elf seemed so small in front of the towering beast. His strength wasn’t much, but he easily pulled him back.

Jian Chengxi pressed his lips together and gathered his courage. He asked, “No, aren’t we continuing?”

Li Lingfeng didn’t expect his little wife, who had always been afraid of him, to hold him back.

Is… he really scared of himself?

He still remembered his past life. When he picked up Jian Chengxi, he never thought about what to do with that poor little elf.

Li Lingfeng had always been used to being alone. Bounty missions were dangerous and could result in death at any time. Being with someone like him wasn’t the best fate for Jian Chengxi.

Until that day—

Because of an accident during a mission, his high spiritual power couldn’t be controlled. He was on the verge of going berserk.

Jian Chengxi found him. In a night of blurred consciousness, a cold body embraced him. That night of uncontrolled spiritual power became the stone that broke the stillness of the lake.

That was the night they had a child.

Everything went so smoothly. They got married and registered, and he became a father.

Li Lingfeng was born emotionally indifferent. He had never thought that he would have a family, that he would have a lover and a child of his own.

Even if that night might have been a mistake.

If it weren’t for the child, Jian Chengxi probably wouldn’t be with him.

The man’s gaze fell on Jian Chengxi. Those eyes were still a little red and his eyelashes were all wet, looking so beautiful, like flawless white jade in the palm of a hand. As if it would break with too much pressure.

Jian Chengxi’s courage was just as little.

Yet what he didn’t know was, he actually couldn’t bear to do anything to him.

He couldn’t bear to make him uncomfortable.

The moment he cried, he couldn’t do anything about it.

Li Lingfeng’s eyes were dark, his voice low and hoarse. “Your body is too sensitive and afraid of pain, you can’t handle it.”

Jian Chengxi: “…”

Don’t say he looks like he really wants to do it!

It clearly wasn’t him who started it first!!

He complained in his mind, but was a bit surprised by Li Lingfeng’s thoughtfulness. In the end, he calmed down, and spoke, “Then…”

Li Lingfeng asked, “What?”

“Then I’ll go downstairs to put the flowers in the vase.” Jian Chengxi climbed up. Knowing it wasn’t the princess’s flower, he felt much happier. “If it’s that expensive, it would be bad if it wilted.”

The little money-lover’s true nature was revealed.

The person beside him was about to get out of bed, but was pulled back with great force.

Jian Chengxi sat back on the bed, looking at him with some suspicion. The difference in height and strength made him lie back on the bed directly,
with a bit of confusion and subconscious fear.

Li Lingfeng stood up. “Flowers aren’t important, apply the medicine first.”

Jian Chengxi sighed in relief. He sat up and said, “It doesn’t hurt anymore.”

Li Lingfeng glanced at him again.

Jian Chengxi looked somewhat worried that he wouldn’t believe him. He moved his wrist around and said earnestly, “Really, it just looks exaggerated. It doesn’t hurt as much now, so there’s no need for the trouble of applying medicine. You’ve come back so late from working overtime, just go to sleep.”

Li Lingfeng didn’t insist, and nodded. “Mm.”

The beastman’s emotions were stirred and his spiritual power was impacted, making it difficult to calm down.

He sat at the bedside. Every inch of his blood and bones seemed to be screaming in pain. The presence of spiritual power enhanced the beastman’s physique, speed, and strength. The level of a beastman’s spiritual power determined their abilities.

But the higher the spiritual power, the easier it is to lose control, which is why beastmen rarely overuse their spiritual power. If it’s overused, it leads to heightened spiritual activity, significantly increasing the risk of going berserk.

Since the Zerg war, in order to survive and in order to ensure the survival of over a hundred thousand soldiers, his body had already reached a dangerously fragile state.

Li Lingfeng rubbed his brow, trying to forcibly suppress the pain that never ceased every night as usual.

Jian Chengxi’s voice came from beside him. “Are you feeling unwell?”

Li Lingfeng turned to look at him. Hiding his emotions had already become a habit and he answered expressionlessly, “No.”

Jian Chengxi sat beside him and said, “Let me give you a massage.”

Li Lingfeng raised an eyebrow, seemingly not very moved by this statement.

Jian Chengxi sat up. He took the initiative and said, “I accidentally learned some medical skills before. I won’t mention other things, but I can definitely vouch for this skill.”

Li Lingfeng didn’t hold much hope, but his little wife seemed really eager to prove himself.

The man was silent for a moment, then he finally nodded and said, “Okay.”

Jian Chengxi had him lie down, and sat beside him.

His grandmother’s health was poor before, and she always had to take a lot of medicine. The young Jian Chengxi, who lost his parents at a very young age, was especially afraid that his only family would leave him.

He followed the village doctor, and learned many massage techniques to care for his grandmother.

Jian Chengxi extended his slender fingers, and placed them beside Li Lingfeng’s scalp, with a gentle movement. “If you feel uncomfortable, just let me know, okay?”

Li Lingfeng’s physical and spiritual power was boiling, his headache was excruciating, and the man just gave a soft response.

The fingertips of Jian Chengxi’s fingers were slightly cool, yet they felt like the only soothing remedy in a boundless, scorching desert. His movements were neither too light nor too firm, like a gentle breeze brushing across an oasis.

Beside his ear came the soft and rambling murmur of the other’s voice.

Jian Chengxi said, “As for this spot, this acupoint promotes blood circulation. Pressing it more often helps with sleep…”

The interior of the room was very quiet at night.

His words were a bit like murmurs, but surprisingly, they didn’t feel annoying.

Li Lingfeng’s previously restless spiritual power surprisingly calmed down miraculously. The nights that once felt unbearable now seemed to have an unprecedented calm.

Jian Chengxi noticed that his brow was no longer furrowed, and smiled, saying, “Isn’t it very effective?”

Li Lingfeng decided to give his little wife some encouragement. “Mm.”

Jian Chengxi seemed very encouraged. “You train so hard every day, I’ll give your shoulders a massage!”

Li Lingfeng didn’t even have time to stop him.

Because of what happened earlier, his bathrobe, which he had just taken off after a shower, had already slipped off. That fragile, boneless pair of small hands landed on his shoulders, which were solid and well-built from years of training. The light pressure of the shoulder massage was like a kitten gently scratching an itch.

Jian Chengxi really couldn’t press very hard and his hand even started to hurt a little.

The person who couldn’t properly demonstrate his skills became a bit irritated. He sucked his breath in pain, softly complaining, “Why are you so stiff?”

They were so close to each other.

So close that Li Lingfeng could smell the pleasant fragrance from Jian Chengxi’s body.

Their bodies were close together, and because they were so close, it felt as if their breaths and body heat were intertwined. He suddenly regretted not continuing earlier, Li Lingfeng opened his eyes, his dark and deep eyes clearly reflected Jian Chengxi’s face.

Jian Chengxi’s complaining words got stuck, and he stared at him dumbfounded.

Just as he was about to say something, his hand was suddenly grasped by Li Lingfeng’s broad palm, the man’s fingertips covered with a thin layer of calluses, which was a little abrasive.

Li Lingfeng’s voice was hoarse. “Does it hurt a lot?”

Jian Chengxi looked at him somewhat confused, but still smiled lightly. “I–it’s fine.”

Li Lingfeng’s gaze on him became much darker and deeper. The man’s lowered eyes were full of ambiguous meaning, a depth that Jian Chengxi couldn’t understand. He grabbed his little wife’s hand, rolled over and sat up. He stared at the person in front of him, his rough fingertips brushed across Jian Chengxi’s pale cheek.

This was the subtle mating signal of the beastman. The tall and mighty general’s voice was low. “Let’s continue.”

Jian Chengxi blinked. “You still want to press? But I can’t press anymore.”

Li Lingfeng’s voice carried a slightly hoarse and magnetic tone. His eyes held the look of a hungry beast seeing a bone, as if he were gently coaxing him. “I’ll make the move.”

Jian Chengxi shook his slightly sore wrist and yawned. “Let’s not continue, we’ll stop here for today, I’m a bit sleepy.”

As he spoke, he even had tears welling up in the corners of his eyes from sleepiness.

Then, he had barely closed his mouth and seemed to have fallen asleep in just a few seconds.

Li Lingfeng: “…?”

The man slowly lay down and covered his little wife with the blanket. He stared at the ceiling.

Feeling the changes in his body, he closed his eyes helplessly.

That’s it.

He couldn’t sleep.

The next day.

Jian Chengxi got up today, preparing to send the child to school.

Li Suisui was already up. The little girl was sitting in front of the vanity chair while combing her hair and Li Chen was busy getting dressed.

Jian Chengxi walked over to help Li Suisui comb her hair.

The sunlight from outside streamed in and the temperature inside rose a little.

Jian Chengxi helped her comb her hair, and softly asked, “Suisui got up very early today?”

Li Suisui nodded and said, “Because Suisui needs to get to school early.”

Jian Chengxi smiled and patted her head, praising her. “Waking up early and not being late, Suisui is truly a good child.”

A small expression of pride appeared on Li Suisui’s face.

A few days ago, Jian Chengxi encountered something with Li Chen. He was a little worried that his daughter might also face discrimination in class so he asked, “Do you get along well with your classmates at school?”

Li Suisui indeed paused for a moment.

Jian Chengxi had a bad premonition in his heart.

The little girl sat in front of the mirror, looking at herself in the reflection, and softly said, “Suisui gets along well with her classmates, always remembering what Daddy said, to get along well with her classmates.”

Jian Chengxi looked a bit confused.“Really?”

Li Suisui nodded.

Jian Chengxi was still a little worried. “Are any of your classmates bullying you? If they are, you should tell Daddy.”

Li Suisui shook her head and answered, “No.”

Jian Chengxi finally felt a little better and patted the child’s head, saying, “If there is, you must tell the teacher or Daddy, don’t bear it on your own, okay?”

He never thought before that school bullying could happen to such young children.

Until what happened two days ago.

The prejudice in this world is too great.

Just like in his dream back then, he was truly afraid that his two children would be rejected by society.

However, looking at it right now, it doesn’t seem that serious. His little daughter gets along well with her classmates. It seems there is still friendship among classmates in the world and that made the old father very comforted.

Li Suisui turned her face. It was tender, fair, and cute. “No, the classmates are all afraid of me. No one comes to cause trouble for Suisui.”

Jian Chengxi hesitated, asking, “Afraid of you…?”

Li Suisui nodded and cheerfully said, “They’re afraid that if anyone bullies Suisui, Suisui will poison their rabbits to make them faint.”

“…”

Such touching friendship among classmates.

In the morning, after the kids finished eating, Jian Chengxi packed fruit boxes for the two children.

The box contained the sweet fruits he had grown himself, perfect for an afternoon snack.

Li Lingfeng came out of the training room—he had a habit of working out every morning. After putting on his military uniform again, he looked tall and handsome. Unlike last night, it seemed he had regained his usual calm and composure.

Jian Chengxi looked at him and said, “Are you leaving?”

Li Lingfeng fastened the collar strap. “I need to go out today, and I’ll be passing by the school, so I’ll take you there.”

Jian Chengxi nodded and said, “Okay.”

While thinking, as Jian Chengxi was leaving with the children, he hesitated and said, “Did you bring your backpacks?”

Li Chen nodded and said, “I brought them.”

Jian Chengxi felt reassured, but as they were about to get into the car, he paused again. “The water bottles, Daddy bought water bottles for you but you didn’t bring them. I’ll go back and grab them.”

Li Suisui pointed to the water bottle packed inside her backpack. “I brought it.”

Jian Chengxi helped the two children into the shuttle and just as the airship was about to start, he patted his leg, nervously looking at the two children, saying, “By the way, the teacher said yesterday that we need to bring the school ID today.”

Li Chen pointed to his pocket. “I’ve already got it on.”

“…”

Jian Chengxi was stunned for a moment. “You didn’t forget anything?”

The old father felt somewhat relieved.

He looked at Li Lingfeng, and was about to say how independent and capable the children were under his education—

Li Suisui sat on the chair opposite while looking at her father. Her voice is soft and childish with an expression as if saying what am I going to do with you,“Because Daddy always remembers only when we get to the school gate.”

Jian Chengxi: “…”

She’s digging up someone’s past, huh?

That’s enough already!!

He sent the two children to school.

After the children went to school, Jian Chengxi basically had nothing else to do.

Li Lingfeng’s warship was much more spacious and better equipped than the ones they usually rode. It was far more spacious and well-equipped. He sat in the main cabin, flipping through the recent documents he needed to review.

Jian Chengxi returned from outside.

Li Lingfeng looked at him and asked, “What are you planning to do today?”

Jian Chengxi said, “I’m planning to go to the supermarket. The vegetables and food brought from the Underground City at home are running low. I heard there are many large supermarkets here, so I’m planning to go check it out.”

Li Lingfeng nodded and said, “Okay, I’ve already opened an account for you. If you need anything, just buy it.”

Jian Chengxi responded with a sound of acknowledgement.

Although at first, when Li Lingfeng gave him the card, he was happy that it had money in it. Having been used to saving every penny on his own and suddenly having money he could freely spend, he was definitely very happy.

Yet now, as he always uses his money and after experiencing the concubine incident, even though Li Lingfeng said he had no such intention, Jian Chengxi’s thoughts had changed to some extent.

Money is still most secure when earned by oneself.

Right now, Li Lingfeng isn’t divorcing him but what if he does? If he leaves with nothing, how will he live?

Jian Chengxi had the thought of making money but Sky City was very unfamiliar to him and the journey back to the underground city was far. He still had two children to take care of and going back to sell fruit on the streets was obviously not realistic.

The system said:【Host, actually, you don’t need to worry. I can’t say much about the protagonist but he’ll definitely be able to support you.】

“How could I, a grown man, need someone else to support me?” Jian Chengxi still had some clarity. “I’m an independent person and I need respect. If I just keep reaching out for money from him every day, then I’ll never be able to hold my head up in front of him in the future.”

The system: “…”

So, is it so that you can hold your head high when asking for money in the future?

It seems like something’s not quite right.

The system’s little mind couldn’t quite grasp it, but still asked:【So, what are you planning to do?】

Jian Chengxi paused.

For a moment, he thought about what he could do but he really couldn’t think of anything.

The system then said:【If you get busy in the future, will you no longer take care of the two children as much?】

Jian Chengxi answered in his heart, “That’s not it. Anyway, I don’t have much knowledge right now and I’m not very familiar with this planet. We’ll take it slow and figure it out step by step.”

The airship stopped ahead.

The operator said, “Master, we’ve arrived at the square.”

Li Lingfeng glanced at Jian Chengxi.

Jian Chengxi stood up and said, “I’ll go now.”

Li Lingfeng nodded and asked him, “Do you need me to go with you?”

Jian Chengxi shook his head and said, “It’s fine, I’m just buying a few things. Don’t you have something else to do? By the way, I noticed last time you seemed to really like meat pies. Since you’ve been quite busy with work lately, how about I try making braised meat tonight?”

He was mentally planning the menu.

Yet in Li Lingfeng’s ears, he was keeping his preferences in mind, waiting for him to come home.

It was a very novel feeling—it had been a long time since the word home had meant anything to him. His little wife had once been so afraid even to see him.

Li Lingfeng’s voice was low. “I might get back a bit late tonight.”