The Mad King's Heir

Li Jun watched as Yu Wen unbuttoned his shirt, one button at a time. Yu Wen’s actions were casual, but in his eyes, it was an act of provocation. It was though he was saying, "You can look, but you can’t touch."

Li Jun clicked his tongue in disappointment. He shuffled on the bed before pulling the covers over his body. Yu Wen hung the shirt neatly before turning to look at the heap under the covers. "Do you have pants I can wear?" he asked.

The person on the bed didn’t move for a long time. Just when he thought Li Jun was sleeping, the man’s messy head of hair peeked out, and he replied, "In there," pointing at the closed door. After saying that, he covered himself with the bed cover, shutting down any further conversation.

Yu Wen smiled slightly. He couldn’t help but think that Li Jun was throwing a tantrum. He opened the door to the walk-in closet and found that it was half-filled with clothes. He had never been in Li Jun’s bedroom before, but he was pretty sure he should have more clothes than this. Li Jun rarely repeated outfits. This shouldn’t be all his clothes, right?

He wanted to ask, but he thought it was overstepping. He picked up a pair of olive pants and put them on. They were a little tight around the waistband, but it was bearable. He walked out of the closet and climbed onto the bed.

He lay down on his back, looking at the ceiling. He would be lying if he said he wasn’t nervous. His heart was beating so fast he could hear it in his ears, and his breath was coming in short bursts. He didn’t dare move until he heard the person beside him breathe evenly.

Yu Wen bit his lower lip before making a decision. He turned to his lie down on his side and looked at him. Unexpectedly, Li Jun wasn’t asleep at all. He was looking at him. Yu Wen laid his head over his arm and said, "I thought you were asleep?"

Li Jun, who was lying on his stomach, chuckled, saying, "What? Were you planning to do something to me?"

He smiled at the accusation and said, "No, I will only ever do something to you while you are awake."

Li Jun shuffled closer, and in a low voice, he asked, "Can you hold me to sleep?" Yu Wen looked at him for a second before wrapping his arm around him. He rested his chin on top of the man’s head, his scent engulfing him. He had never held anyone to sleep like this.

Even as a kid, he was always so independent. His mother often complained that from the moment he didn’t need her to change his diaper, he ditched her like she was no longer of any use.

But now, holding Li Jun, it felt... nice. It was warm and steady, like cradling someone to sleep. "Li Jun... If you ever want to do this again. You can call me," he said. He didn’t know what prompted him to say that. Maybe it was what they had done together or because of the heat of the moment. Either way, he didn’t regret it. With a sigh, he pulled him even closer. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Li Jun didn’t reply, but he heard him. Too bad, this was the one and only time. He lay with his face pressed to the man’s bare chest, feeling the steady rise and fall beneath his cheek. Each heartbeat thudded against his ear, mingling with the faint, unfamiliar scent that wrapped around him. It felt good being held by him.

For some reason, he felt safe in his arms, like all his worries didn’t matter anymore. If only things were different, he wouldn’t mind keeping him around.

***

BANG!

Li Jun got up with a start. He grabbed the plasma gun from his bedside. When he saw it was Yan Jia, he calmed down considerably. She had accidentally hit her leg on the console table when she rushed in. She wasn’t a clumsy person, so that could only mean that something was up.

"Your highness, that bitch issued a warrant for your arrest. They are on their way," she said, but her speech slowed when she saw the hickeys on his neck and chest. She clenched her fist. He knew that beast wouldn’t be able to resist. She wanted to settle the score with him, but this wasn’t the time.

Li Jun had a throbbing headache, and his stomach felt uncomfortable, but it was bearable. He really shouldn’t have drunk too much last night. While Yan Jia was picking clothes for him, he climbed off the bed while asking, "What are the charges?" The other side of the bed had long grown cold, and the person was nowhere to be seen. He was glad Yu Wen was gone, otherwise it would be so fucking embarrassing.

Yan Jia, who had finished picking clothes, said, "High treason and endangering the empire, punishable by public execution." Li Jun burst out laughing. He should have known that Xiu Ying was so ambitious. For the sake of getting her hands on Blue Sapphire, she would put such charges on him. It was a large step up from the drug charge they tried to put on him. He picked up his phone and messaged his grandfather.

Jun Jun: It’s happening.

DC: I know. I have your back.

Li Jun smiled and sent back a smiling cat sticker before handing his phone to Yan Jia. "You have to leave now," he said. That was the agreement, but Yan Jia shook her head no. She didn’t want to leave. She couldn’t.

He understood her feelings in this moment, but it was only temporary. He walked over and pulled her into an embrace. Yan Jia’s lips quivered. She was always strong, but this time, she broke.

She knew this was all part of the plan, but there was no guarantee that it would be flawless. She didn’t want to leave him alone with no protection. At least she would feel at ease if she were by his side.

"They won’t do anything to me, but they will torture you. Sister Jia, I... I can’t let them do that to you. Three days... give me three days, and I will join you in one piece, okay?" he said, his voice filled with emotion.