56: This moment belongs only to me.

The moment their gazes met.

Li tensed up all over.

The sunlight was blinding, and he couldn't help but squint. Why did he suddenly feel that shiver, like being targeted by a predator, just now?

Tu Nan walked from under the white cloth awning into the courtyard and stood beside him, smiling.

"You didn't bring a towel." Tu Nan's gaze didn't shift; she watched the water droplets on him.

"It'll dry in a bit, it's fine." Li didn't care much; he frowned, "The sun is too strong, don't get sunburned, go inside and sit down."

"Sitting for too long makes me uncomfortable," Tu Nan whined playfully.

"I'll take you to the market tonight," Li put away his scimitar and picked up Tu Nan with one arm.

"I'm all better now, perfect for seeing if there's any work I can take."

Yes, I see you're better too. Tu Nan smiled, completely entrusting her weight to him. As he walked towards the house, she suddenly licked his furry ear.

"Oh, there's still a drop of water here, don't let it get into your ear."

Li stumbled directly, yet he held Tu Nan very securely.

He stammered as he scolded Tu Nan, "Be steady, you're pregnant, you can't... can't..."

Tu Nan gave him an innocent and charming expression in return.

"Can't what? I don't have a towel." She curiously looked down, "Why can't you stand steady? Haven't your legs recovered yet?"

But then she saw Li... obviously change.

Tu Nan covered her mouth with a small gasp. Li, in a fit of pique, used the hand still holding the scimitar to press down on her head, preventing her from looking further.

He strode into the room, about to put Tu Nan down.

But Tu Nan still had an opinion.

"I'm a little sleepy, let me rest on the bed for a while."

Li's steps paused slightly, but he still gently carried her over as she wished and set her down.

However, Li couldn't pull away; two soft yet firm hands wrapped around his neck. Tu Nan straightened her upper body, pressing close to his ear.

"Li, you come too."

Li was being tormented to death by her; beads of sweat popped out on his forehead.

Gritting his teeth, he tried to pull Tu Nan off him, yet he didn't dare to move too much lest he hurt her.

"You, are, preg, nant."

Tu Nan's pregnancy wasn't particularly noticeable yet, but her lower abdomen indeed showed a slight curve. Ever since Li could get out of bed, he had treated Tu Nan like a precious porcelain, not wanting her to do anything, always wanting to carry her even for a short walk to the courtyard.

Initially, it made Tu Nan feel amused and secure, but soon, she didn't want it anymore.

She had many increasingly bold ideas, waiting to be realized one by one.

Starting with the most important one.

Tu Nan's hand loosened with Li's pull, but as it fell past Li's chest, it brushed him inadvertently. Before Li could react, she let go of him and settled onto the bed herself.

Tu Nan was like a flower carefully opened, her black hair spread across the bed. Her feet left Li's waist, and then, smiling at the fuming Li, she seemed even happier.

"I'm fine. I asked Ji Yu, and she said that Foster Mothers should have more contact with Male Beasts for the baby's sake, just a little gently~"

Her words echoed in Li's ears like a siren's temptation.

"Your injury hasn't healed, I haven't dared to trouble you, Lord Li~"

That 'Lord Li' carried no hint of distance, only charming innocence and... longing.

Li suddenly pounced, and the bed frame shook a few times. His hands braced on either side of Tu Nan.

"Really?" Li was shocked; he had always thought pregnant Female Beasts should avoid any harm.

"How could I lie about something related to the baby...?" Tu Nan's smile was warm.

Li immediately believed her. Tu Nan cared about the Children even more than she cared about him, so it seemed to be true?

Then he... endured for nothing for so long? He let out a frustrated growl, then lowered his head and captured Tu Nan's lips.

"You... waited until now to tell me, are you punishing me?" Li seemed to understand a little bit of the truth himself.

Tu Nan, of course, wouldn't admit it. She replied between gasps, "How... could I? I was just worried about your leg..."

After all, with his previous injury, Tu Nan had thought his leg would be permanently crippled.

"No need." Li bent one of his legs and pressed it against Tu Nan's side.

He took Tu Nan's hand.

"It's already healed." His words were always especially few at times like this.

The thigh under Tu Nan's hand was thick, powerful, and strong, and it occasionally twitched.

Tu Nan didn't quite understand the method of judging strength by gene Rank here, but if judged by the standards of her previous life... Li's physical quality must be good, and the seeds he provided wouldn't be bad. Her Children should have a good starting point; the rest... would depend on her efforts.

Or perhaps she no longer needed to make an effort.

Li noticed her distraction and let out an annoyed snort from his nostrils, moving her hand downwards to remind her of the situation.

Tu Nan chuckled softly, her voice rising at the end, as if in apology, but her hand gently followed Li's intention.

Li instantly pressed his head against her neck, drawing close to her.

Ambiguous and deep breaths thus sounded in Tu Nan's ear.

But soon, Li stopped Tu Nan's movements himself. He acted quickly, turning himself into a cushion and lying flat.

"Don't get hurt." His words were considerate, but his actions were without hesitation.

Lifting Tu Nan, the two were intimately close after a long time.

Tu Nan tilted her head back, her black hair splayed across her back, wildly rising and falling, jostling... ***

Kong Jiamu listened to his subordinate's report almost in astonishment, his slender, slanted eyes widening slightly.

"You mean... Miss Tu Nan is pregnant?"

Sergeant Song Jie nodded.

"That's right, the nearby households are all military dependents. I asked them to look after her, and I only found out today."

"I can't believe... Hain is actually that kind of person..." Kong Jiamu's lips curled up.

"It shouldn't be Lord Hain's, it seems to be that Chaotic Beast's." Song Jie's crucial information always came out a step late.

Disbelief filled Kong Jiamu's light blue eyes.

"You mean... this woman is actually living in the house I provided... betraying my brother?"

The pen in his hand was crushed by his grip. He sneered repeatedly as he stood up, took his military jacket from the hanger, and with long strides, intended to go deal with this unruly Female Beast and get revenge for Hain.

"..." Sergeant Song Jie quickly followed him.

No, what's wrong with Colonel Kong? When did he ever say Miss Tu Nan was Lord Hain's Female Beast?

At most, this was just... a noble Young Miss eloping with her guard.

There's no need for Colonel Kong to interfere, right?

Scratching his head, Sergeant Song Jie quickly followed.