Mecha Chapter 26: Becoming Aware

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Sulo

 

When Luo XiaoLou returned home, he was dismayed to find that the living room that had been waiting for him to clean up was now clean. The big boxes seemed to have disappeared into thin air, and Yuan Xi was nowhere to be found. Luo XiaoLou blinked and walked quickly towards his own room, then froze in front of the guest room.

Technically speaking, this wasn’t a guest room anymore.The king-size bed had been put away in the closet, and there was nothing else in the entire room except for the neatly arranged boxes. And because the boxes took up so much space, it was difficult to walk in. No doubt it was Yuan Xi who had organized them. It was rare that he finally knew how to do some housework — but couldn’t he have just stacked the boxes instead?

Luo XiaoLou groaned, the bastard was actually trying to keep him out of the room, right?! Well now, there was completely no space in the room.

Well, he should have expected Yuan Xi to do this. Luo XiaoLou turned and headed for the kitchen. If it was still early enough after he finished cleaning up tonight, there might still be time to set up his lab.

Materials, mecha parts, the lab… The very thought that he was on his way to creating a mecha made Luo XiaoLou so happy that even the matter of having a bad-tempered co-habitant didn’t affect him. Of course, aside from that damned slave contract — he had never felt the threat of that contract again except for the first time, but judging by the frequency of Yuan Xi’s recent bad temper, maybe he’d feel it soon — it wasn’t really any good at all.

At least, Yuan Xi now knew to turn in his living expenses. Even though Luo XiaoLou had to help him with meals and clothes every day, tidy his room and bathroom and occasionally light as a masseuse or something, it became clear over time that Yuan Xi wasn’t difficult to live with. Although sometimes a little violent and bad-tempered, as long as Luo XiaoLou did what he said, he would not have any major problems. Just like an awkward child, it was better off just petting him smoothly.

While thinking about this, Luo XiaoLou selectively forgot how he had spat out Yuan Xi internally when he was being bullied. The other thing Luo XiaoLou had to admit was that Yuan Xi had helped him relieve a large part of the panic and stress, or what could be called loneliness of some sort, of his newfound unfamiliar world in the future — whether it was through his bullying or his awkwardness.

If he could get out of that slave contract in the future, he’d really like to have Yuan Xi as a friend…

Just as Luo XiaoLou was about to reflect on whether or not he had been too lenient with Yuan Xi, trying to sum up the guy’s innumerable faults, Yuan Xi returned. 

Quickly throwing away the Yuan Xi in his heart, who was kneeling at his feet and waiting to be convicted by him, Luo XiaoLou said with great gentleness, “Back? Just a moment, dinner will be ready in a moment.”

Responding, Yuan Xi neither waited for dinner on the couch nor supervised at the kitchen door this time, but padded slowly into the kitchen.

Hey, even if the kitchen is big, you’re just in the way if you come in! And what are you doing with all this beating around the bush!

Luo XiaoLou inexplicably continued to prepare dinner, scanning Yuan Xi’s face as he secretly thought about whether he had done anything throughout the day that had made Yuan Xi angry: dinner, part-time job, meeting Ling Xu — Ling Xu? 

Was he mad because of Ling Xu? But he couldn’t be blamed for running into Ling Xu halfway around the world! God knows, he didn’t want to meet that self-righteous man at all.

What bothered Luo XiaoLou even more was that he was feeling guilty. Mother fucker, why was he feeling guilty like that?

Luo XiaoLou was worried about whether Yuan Xi would sniff out the fact that he had seen Ling Xu…

God, he must have hallucinated that being with Yuan Xi wasn’t bad. No, he’d better take a shower after he made dinner just to be on the safe side. What if he really smelled something?

At that moment, Yuan Xi stopped behind Luo XiaoLou and put both hands on the table, trapping Luo XiaoLou in.

Luo XiaoLou’s body stiffened. What was Yuan Xi doing? Was he crazy? Is this a new dare? The knife in Luo XiaoLou’s hand was trembling, and he couldn’t decide whether to continue preparing dinner or whether it would be better to try to reason with Yuan Xi and show his weakness…

Yuan Xi stared at the weak and thin man in front of him. Only after seeing Luo XiaoLou continuing to cook without any reaction, did his slightly red face slowly change back to its usual familiar arrogance.

The fragrance of soup had already drifted out of the… multifunctional pot, and Yuan Xi remembered the scene where his mother cooked soup only on his father’s birthday every year. The thought that Luo XiaoLou actually cooked for him every day, suddenly filled his heart with happiness.

Yuan Xi looked at Luo XiaoLou who had his head bowed and slowly rested his head on Luo XiaoLou’s shoulder, rubbing against it. Mn, it was just too nice. Luo XiaoLou was his alone anyway, and he could do whatever he wanted.

“I say, what are you doing?” Luo XiaoLou’s insensible voice broke the eight-pole analogy in the mind of the S-Rank genetic genius.

Yuan Xi was startled, doing what? Continuing to rest his head on Luo XiaoLou’s shoulder and staring at the food being prepared in dead silence for a moment, Yuan Xi finally found a good reason and said, “My birthday is coming up in three months — as an educated slave, remember to prepare a gift for me.”

Brother, why are you declaring your birthday date so early? Luo XiaoLou pretended not to hear how Yuan Xi addressed him and the definite words before it, and just spat in his heart.

But then again, since Yuan Xi had asked for it, he had to prepare a gift. Preferably something that wasn’t expensive and would make him look good. Now that the vault’s resources were tight, it wasn’t like he could take Yuan Xi’s money to buy a gift.

“Are you going to help lay out the plates?” When Luo XiaoLou returned to his senses, he asked Yuan Xi who continued to hold his waist.

When he saw the plate Luo XiaoLou handed over, Yuan Xi stayed still for a moment, then snorted through his nose and took the plate before walking out.

After they had eaten, Luo XiaoLou finally realized that he would be sleeping with Yuan Xi tonight, and his clothes had taken over a small corner of the dressing room.

After a moment’s hesitation, Luo XiaoLou took his pajamas and headed to the other bathroom. He took a hot bath and walked back to the master bedroom. 

Standing by the door, it occurred to Luo XiaoLou that although Yuan Xi was arrogant and domineering, when he was asleep — he was very beautiful. His features were so perfect that no flaws could be found.

Luo XiaoLou couldn’t help but think of this and feel torn inside. He was a normal man who was already engaged. If one day, after he’d fallen asleep, he couldn’t control himself and did something unacceptable to Yuan Xi… then the consequences would really be unimaginable.

Luo XiaoLou hesitated, wondering if he should go sleep on the living room sofa.

At this time, Yuan Xi, on the bed, impatiently turned his head and saw Luo XiaoLou in his pajamas at the door. His eyes lit up for a moment, then impatiently greeted, “Why are you dilly dallying? I’ve cleaned the bathroom. This side’s bathroom is quite functional, you really should wash with me. Come here! You’ve long wanted to share my bed in the master bedroom.” He finished by giving Luo XiaoLou a look that said see how generous and tolerant your master is.

Who wants to sleep in the same bed as you? Who wants it!?

As Luo XiaoLou carefully got on the bed, Yuan Xi rolled over to his front and gestured for Luo XiaoLou to massage him. Luo XiaoLou sighed. Just by sleeping together, the workload had really increased.

Luo XiaoLou sat on the bed and gently ran his fingers through Yuan Xi’s jet-black hair. At the moment, Yuan Xi rested his head on Luo XiaoLou’s knee and placed his arm intentionally on the side of Luo XiaoLou’s waist, squinting comfortably, like a reserved cat being waited on with care. 

However, Luo XiaoLou seemed completely unaware that Yuan Xi actually wanted to share the bed in the master bedroom with him, and still took half of the bed for granted.

Sure enough, Yuan Xi had no intention of moving until Luo XiaoLou was done with his massage.

In order not to end up sleeping on the floor in the middle of the night, Luo XiaoLou had no choice but to stay close to Yuan Xi.

Okay, maybe it would be comfortable in the winter, but Luo XiaoLou, who had just been worrying about something, couldn’t help but inwardly groan. Is it really okay to be this close? Yuan Xi you’re a jerk but still dangerous!

Before going to bed, they entered the virtual network together. Luo XiaoLou left the basic classroom early on Saturday night, and resisting the strange feeling in his heart, he left the virtual network for the first time while he was still awake and after learning the level one parts as usual.

Yuan Xi seemed to be still online. Luo XiaoLou was relieved and covered him with the blanket Yuan Xi had put around his waist, then restrained himself as much as possible and fell asleep on the edge of the bed.

Shortly after Luo XiaoLou fell asleep, Yuan Xi stretched out and dutifully returned from the virtual network. He turned to the side and looked over at Luo XiaoLou, who had his head down, revealing the graceful curve of his neck, but the obstructive blanket covered up what lay further down.

Yuan Xi glared fiercely at the innocent blanket, thought about it, and moved closer. His body heat made Luo XiaoLou subconsciously move closer to him.

“Hey, what are you leaning over for, you’re still coming over — mn, you asked for it,” Yuan Xi whined in a broken whisper as he contentedly pulled the man over and found a comfortable position with him in the middle of the large bed, wrapping his arms and legs around him.

The man was weak, and it would probably be hard for him to live without his shelter. Yuan Xi didn’t have a heart of gold, but it felt good to be silly and meekly taking care of him all the time, he thought before falling asleep.

……

Why does this damn monster keep haunting me? Luo XiaoLou thought as he tried his best, but after fighting all night, he was really exhausted, so the monster surged up, wrapped around him — and ate him.

Luo XiaoLou suddenly opened his eyes and realized that he had just been dreaming, and even in the future, it was impossible to see monsters while in the safe zone.

But when Luo XiaoLou took in the current situation, his face turned very red and he woke up in a hurry. With his hands around Yuan Xi’s neck, his face practically buried in Yuan Xi’s neck, and Yuan Xi’s arms and legs wrapped tightly around him, it was no wonder he was having nightmares.

But, looking at how they lay together in the middle of the bed — had he taken it upon himself to ask Yuan Xi to hold him again? 

Then, Luo XiaoLou was extremely embarrassed to discover that their pajamas were messy and their exposed chests were almost pressed together…

Luo XiaoLou couldn’t care less if he woke up Yuan Xi. If he continued like this, it was really a test of his self-control…

As a result of the struggle, that only made the two of them remain in close proximity to each other, Luo XiaoLou remained motionless, and Yuan Xi slowly blinked open his eyes.

Luo XiaoLou teared up inside. He was so pitiful! He really couldn’t help but jump over and get caught?

When Yuan Xi looked over, Luo XiaoLou blushed and said awkwardly, “Ahem, it’s not my fault — I don’t know why it’s like this, but I promise it won’t happen —”

“You’re the one who came over.” Yuan Xi interrupted Luo XiaoLou, still cold-faced, but one could see that his whole body was overflowing with an emotion called smugness.

What was there to be smug about?! Luo XiaoLou blushed and sped up to get up, secretly jealous of Yuan Xi’s body which seemed to harbor a lot of energy. He went to the dressing room to change clothes and carried out the clothes that Yuan Xi was to wear.

In the early morning, and after a weird breakfast, both Luo XiaoLou and Yuan Xi stepped out. Fortunately, he didn’t meet anyone today, or else he would have been late again and got real angry! 

“It’s too much trouble.” Luo XiaoLou said smilingly.

“Who’s going to give you a lift, it’s just a ride.” Yuan Xi scornfully returned, but the pleasure in his eyes was too obvious.