Chapter 31: Looking Every Bit the Part of a Principal Husband

The two men assessed each other. Though both were Yun Fu’s beast-mates, there was little friendliness to be found on their faces. The natural, deep-seated repulsion between powerful males only served to make their expressions even colder.

Gu Lin spoke first. "Yun Fu is changing. What do you want?"

Qin Min observed Gu Lin, noting the absence of the crimson haze in his eyes that usually signaled a mental breakdown in a beastman. Gu Lin looked calm, clearly soothed and having spent the entire night with Yun Fu. Qin Min’s gaze drifted to Gu Lin’s tattered combat uniform, his voice carrying a cold, textured edge.

"Nothing. I simply came to call her for breakfast. Furthermore, a word of advice for Commander Gu: mind your decorum in front of our female. If you suffer another mental breakdown, find somewhere else to stay; do not drag Yun Fu into it. Females are delicate and cannot withstand the terror of a feral beast."

With that, Qin Min glanced at the door completely blocked by Gu Lin’s frame, then turned and headed back to the living room.

Though Qin Min’s tone was grating, Gu Lin felt the sting of truth in his words. If his mental state were to collapse again, he truly could not allow his instincts to lead him to Yun Fu. It would be more appropriate to have his adjutant lock him away next time.

When Yun Fu emerged, both Gu Lin and Qin Min were already seated in the dining room. Gu Lin, unable to retract his tail, sat with his dragon horns protruding. Even with his spine straight and his expression stern, he looked noticeably awkward. As Yun Fu walked over to sit between them, she noticed that the back of the chair Gu Lin occupied had been dismantled, transforming the luxury seat into a stool to accommodate his tail, which now trailed on the floor. She twitched, realizing the source of his discomfort.

The way Yun Fu glanced at the chair gave Gu Lin a subtle, needle-like sensation of unease. He thought, *Right, females do not like males who are so violent and destructive.* He regretted coming to the dining room; he should have just stayed in his room and consumed a tube of nutrient paste. The Commander sat even straighter, speaking cautiously.

"I am currently inconveniently shaped for this chair. Once I can retract my tail, I will repair it or buy a new set to replace the damage."

Yun Fu, unaware of why Gu Lin was so nervous, wondered if she had been that harsh. "It’s just normal wear and tear. Don't worry about it; just handle it whenever you can."

Gu Lin’s body visibly relaxed.

"Try the minced meat and vegetable porridge. I made it myself; I’m not sure if it suits your taste." Qin Min placed a bowl in front of her, setting a spoon down and naturally interrupting their conversation.

Yun Fu’s attention was immediately diverted. "You can cook?"

In the Interstellar Era, technology had advanced so rapidly that robots had long since replaced such tedious housework. Besides, the villa had 01, a bionic butler who handled everything; they had no need to step into the kitchen.

Qin Min, his eyes softening, placed a piece of salt and pepper pork rib onto Yun Fu’s plate before gesturing to the other two dishes on the table. "I can. I prepared these as well. Cooking is a mandatory course for males at the Imperial Academy, and I did quite well. If there is anything you would like to eat, Fu-fu, just tell me. You are my female; you have the right to command your beast-mates."

Qin Min felt his face grow warm. This was the first time he had formally acknowledged his status as a beast-mate in front of her. Yun Fu tasted the ribs and the porridge; they were surprisingly delicious. It seemed the Imperial Academy’s culinary training was a true benefit to the females of the empire. However, Qin Min’s research lab was demanding, and Yun Fu did not want to turn a talented researcher into a house-husband. Most importantly, she wanted to entrust him with the creation of her soothing perfumes.

"The villa has robots and 01, and their food is quite good," Yun Fu said earnestly. "Your hands are meant for research; you shouldn't spend your time in the kitchen."

Qin Min froze. He had not expected her to say that. Imperial females were accustomed to such special treatment, and the prevailing philosophy for males was that once married, they should prioritize their female above all else. If a female demanded they return to the home, they were expected to abandon their ambitions and serve her. Qin Min had no intention of quitting his work, but with so many other males surrounding Yun Fu, he had hoped to use his cooking skills to carve out a place for himself. Instead, he had unexpectedly received a privilege many other males in the empire would die for.

At that moment, 01 walked out of the kitchen and placed a glass of warm milk at Yun Fu’s side. "The Lady is correct. I handle the Lady’s nutrition. Mr. Qin is a workaholic who spends his days immersed in the lab; if the Lady were to wait for him to cook, she would likely starve."

It was a familiar, biting remark. The softness in Qin Min’s eyes vanished. "I have a female to attend to now; I will not be working as incessantly as before, and I will make time for Fu-fu. As for cooking, I think my efforts have more humanity than food made by a bionic being that consumes electricity and wouldn't know the taste of a real meal if it tried."

Qin Min’s words struck at 01’s greatest vulnerability. Yun Fu watched as 01’s brilliant golden eyes dimmed, looking quite forlorn. She sighed; the Interstellar Era was truly something, where even a bionic being could express such subtle emotions.

The two were at each other's throats, which was ruining the meal. Yun Fu drank her milk, ate the dishes made by 01, and then the two prepared by Qin Min, offering praise to both to extinguish the silent sparks of war.

Gu Lin said little during the meal, but he quietly picked the bones and thorns out of the dishes Yun Fu had sampled twice and placed the meat in her bowl. He was quiet, observant, and in a corner Yun Fu didn't notice, he used his mental power to suppress the tension between Qin Min and 01, preventing them from disturbing her meal. He seemed well-suited to the role of a primary partner.

After eating, Qin Min mentioned that Warren and his men had come to the villa the night before and were waiting outside to escort Gu Lin to the detention center for a check-up on his mental stability. Lu Shiling had originally left Warren and the others at the villa to ensure Gu Lin didn't lose control and hurt Yun Fu, and to keep the two beastmen from clinging to her too shamelessly. But Warren, wiping sweat from his brow, realized he couldn't afford to offend either of the males inside. After some thought, he decided to wait outside, keeping a close eye on the villa's movements.

Hearing this, Yun Fu asked Qin Min to invite them in. She checked her neural link and, unsurprisingly, found a flood of messages from Lu Shiling. Seeing the anxiety overflowing from the text, she could imagine that if Qing Ze could get out, he would have charged over to the villa himself.

Yun Fu was touched and replied to reassure him. Within two seconds, she received a reply. She could easily picture that red-haired fox in the confinement room, his chubby paws glued to his device, watching for her every word.

Once she finished replying, Warren and his team entered. They greeted Yun Fu and politely asked Gu Lin to accompany them for his examination. Although Gu Lin was their boss’s romantic rival, he was also an Imperial Commander they deeply respected, so they could not treat him with cold hostility.