The Ger's Contract Marriage [BL]
Chapter 499: Beauty & the Other Beauty & the Other, Other Beauty...

Chapter 499: Beauty & the Other Beauty & the Other, Other Beauty...

The outdoor kitchen was a twister of chaos. Archaic-looking pots and utensils lay scattered across the ground, and bamboo jars filled with spices and seasonings were strewn about in disarray.

Plates, both clean-ish and dirty, mingled in a disorganized fashion, creating an obstacle course of cooking clutter. The area designated for cleaning dishes and pots was far away, situated near a distant well—the only one in the rented home.

FengLi glanced toward the well and the large washing basin in the distance, then down at the accumulated mess on the floor. He sighed, bending down to pick up the first stack of chaos.

As FengLi’s fingers grazed the cool ceramic of a discarded plate, Brother Jian entered the outdoor kitchen, his presence drawing the ger’s attention. FengLi’s heart skipped a beat as the taller man took in the scene.

Brother Jian was taking in the state of the kitchen, but he was taking in all of Brother Jian!

"Why are you still here, FengLi?" Brother Jian’s voice was calm, laced with an emotion that made FengLi’s face flush lightly.

"I, uh..." FengLi stammered, feeling a wave of embarrassment wash over him.

"I told you I’d take care of it after setting the table. Go get dressed." Brother Jian’s tone was relaxed, but there was an undertone of care and affection that made FengLi feel both pampered and cherished. It was a sensation he wasn’t entirely used to, having spent much of his life looking after himself and his brother while keeping others at a distance.

He had become lazy, he realized, too comfortable in the presence of this man who seemed to effortlessly clean up after him. In the past, tidying up after cooking came naturally to FengLi, but now he had unknowingly made a mess.

It wasn’t a small mess either, he was so focused on cooking up a meal to wow their guest and satisfy the man in front of him, that nothing else seemed to matter.

FengLi looked up at Brother Jian, who was smiling down at him, and for a brief moment, a thought crossed his mind: ’Could it be possible this prey is trying to hunt me?’

The thought was fleeting, vanishing as quickly as it came. When Brother Jian’s smile revealed a flash of teeth, FengLi felt his heart flutter. This was the thrill of the chase. He was cornering his prey, expertly planting the seeds of their partnership.

This was his "dual cultivation" partner, but the seeds of becoming true partners had been expertly planted by him! He was the hunter here, he reminded himself—A very successful and skilled hunter!

"I’ll be ready soon!" FengLi responded, trying to inject a seductive tone into his voice, though he knew he was the one blushing. With a lingering look at the Dragonborn in front of him, FengLi fluttered away to the secondary bedroom, leaving the mess behind.

In the secondary bedroom, he took a moment to compose himself.

He preferred to keep most of his accumulated items in his storage bag, but coming to this room to change gave the illusion of privacy that the two Dragonborn often ignored.

As he dressed, he thought about Brother Jian’s words and the way he had effortlessly taken charge of the situation. It was a dynamic that both comforted and excited FengLi, adding a new layer to their intricate dance.

With a final glance in the hazy bronze mirror, FengLi adjusted his robes and took a deep breath. The fall evening was chilly, but he felt a warmth spread through him, knowing that Brother Jian was out there, taking care of things.

He was ready to step back into the game, to continue the hunt. But for now, he allowed himself a moment of contentment, knowing that in this dance, he was "leading" slyly...

Just as FengLi was about to leave the room, he heard a voice that was foreign to him, yet at the same time, it felt like a voice he’d heard before. It was a new encounter, he was sure, but the voice gave him pause, causing him to try to remember why it felt so familiar.

FengLi hadn’t noticed his own furrowed brows and the discomforting feeling in his chest as the new voice mingled amiably with the voice he knew so well—Brother Jian’s.

For some reason, the silver-haired ger felt like his prey would be stolen right from his grasp. He wanted to sprint out of the room and defend his catch, his prey, but he caught himself at the last moment. That wasn’t his hunting style, it wasn’t the way to capture his prey. Instead, he walked back to the mirror, reassessed himself, and changed his outfit once more.

This time, he chose a more seductive robe with hints of enchanting red that made the dark robes infinitely sexier. The robe he’d chosen before was among the ones Brother Jian had seen him in previously, but this was a new one, one that was guaranteed to turn heads no matter where he went in this lower realm.

Even with this new secret weapon, the ger didn’t stop there. He pulled his hair into a simple, but dignified updo, leaving his neck bare and easily in view of his prey, allowing the silver updo to frame his face and highlight his neck in a different way.

Looking over his handiwork, the ger narrowed his eyes. He wasn’t going to let the interlopers steal his prey. He reddened his lips purposefully and added more jewelry to his body before finally smiling evilly at his reflection in the bronze mirror.

Someone wanted to challenge him? Let them try! He wasn’t a pushover! He was curious to see who was going to challenge him, a dragon who had worked so hard to secure a promising mate!

The scene outside was transitioning from day to evening. The lights were dimming, casting a soft, warm glow over the surroundings. They were about to have a candlelight dinner in the main reception room. The soft hues of twilight melded with the flickering candlelight, creating a romantic and intimate atmosphere.

FengLi made his way out of the room, his new attire giving him an air of confidence and allure. As he approached the main reception room, he could hear the low murmur of conversation. The mingling voices grew clearer, and his heart quickened.

He entered the room with an air of nonchalance, yet every step was calculated.

Brother Jian stood near the table, his tall and broad figure a striking presence. Beside him was a figure FengLi had seen before, he was sure of it, but it was hard to place the man from this distance.

The voice was still foreign. Even from a closer proximity, the voice wasn’t one he’d heard before. FengLi had a good memory. Still, the voice, the man himself, caused the ger’s heart to speed up.

He was uncomfortable, excited, and reluctant all in the same breath. He wanted to join the conversation, pull his Brother Jian away, and flee for his own welfare—all three things were pulling him in different directions.

FengLi paused for a moment at the entrance of the reception room, looking in at the two men at the high table littered with food and wine and light up by candlelight. The picture was beautiful, even the scents of the night were enchanting, but...

"Ah, FengLi, you’re just in time," Brother Jian greeted him warmly, his eyes lighting up as they landed on him. "I was just bragging to our guest about your cooking skills."

At that comment, FengLi’s face lit up. He was more proud that his lover was proud of him than of his cooking prowess. Brother Jian was showing him off!

The discomfort in his chest was still there, but the bubbling happiness couldn’t be ignored either. This interloper didn’t know what he was up against! He was a master predator!

As FengLi gave himself an internal pep talk, he took the opportunity to move closer to the two men, and asses his competition. The man was truly a man, not another ger as he suspected. There were other ger in this realm, but they weren’t very common similar to most worlds (at the time).

Many people felt uncomfortable when around gers, and he was no different. The fact that he had silver hair and a tall frame only added to the discomfort others felt around him, but FengLi used this to his advantage.

Before he’d met Brother Jian, he often played a game of seducing men who looked down on gers. He wouldn’t "cultivate" with them like he did Brother Jian, but he would have them falling all over him before he disappeared from their lives without a trace.

It was a fun pastime, but even with the ger’s precarious standing in this world, he himself felt a bit competitive when he assumed Brother Jian brought another ger to their love nest.

This guest wasn’t a ger though, and something in him relaxed, but other things were wound tighter. The man was just as tall as Brother Jian, if not taller, with an air of mystery and strength. His attire was simple yet elegant, and his eyes held a depth that hinted at something FengLi wasn’t sure he admired or hated.