"Yanlin," Zhang Wang hummed, holding back a yawn.
Yu Yanlin poked at the fire before turning around to respond, "Yes?"
With a small sigh, Zhang Wang patted the spot next to him to urge the Demon King to come join him. "Didn't I say it's okay that you take that thing off when it's just the two of us?"
Yu Yanlin smiled, his features glowing with soft warm hues. He came over without complaint and plopped down right next to Zhang Wang. Their thighs brushed and Zhang Wang had to think if it was okay to lean in. For warmth, of course.
The Demon King reached up to unclasp the blindfold from his face. And when his eyes peeled open, they were blue. Zhang Wang found himself lost in their glistening vibrancy. It was a mystery as to why the Immortal of a Thousand Blossoms was so enraptured of late. Was it the Demon King's captivating appearance?
His odd personality that struck Zhang Wang's curiosity?
Or perhaps it was his gentle and caring actions that should have irked Zhang Wang but instead charmed him.
In fact, it was almost as if he was being presented with a very obvious romance flag or something. "Yanlin," he said, "aren't you a little too chivalrous? It doesn't fit your image as the Cruel White King."
Yu Yanlin was genuinely confused, head tilted with wonder in his eyes. "Chivalrous? How so? I don't believe that I am. I also don't know how I fit or don't fit the image of the moniker, Cruel White King. It was only a name that people thought fitting for my character."
Zhang Wang frowned, "Well that's what I'm saying. It doesn't fit you at all. You've been so…white knight-like, you know?"
Of course, Yu Yanlin could not know.
The Immortal of a Thousand Blossoms sighed and rubbed the back of his neck, "Well, you're always there protecting me and rescuing me like I'm some sort of a damsel in distress. I'm not, by the way. So you don't have to keep doing that."
"..."
Okay well, Zhang Wang did not fashion himself as some sort of helpless maiden. He did infiltrate the Palace of Sins all on his own. He wove through the mess of the demonic court with favors and sweet lies. But that didn't change the fact that in the fray of battle, he was relatively useless in comparison to people like Sikong Ren or Yu Yanlin. Heck, he couldn't even claim to have as much prowess as that idiot Princess of the Steppes.
For the first time, he felt a visceral desire to get his hands on a debugger. Perhaps with the help of his system he could obtain power similar to that of Ariunbayar's. Perhaps he might even obtain power that may match Sikong Ren's…
Alas, he was getting ahead of himself.
Yu Yanlin looked at him uncertainty, "I… I was worried about you."
"...Sorry I'm not some," Zhang Wang scowled, "some sort of ridiculously powerful warrior. I'm just me." But he sighed. "I guess I should raise my cultivation or something and increase my martial arts. I get it. I'm a weakling."
"I don't mind," Yu Yanlin answered immediately.
"Yeah but I do." Ineptitude gripped his heart, fanning frustration throughout.
"...Zhang Wang."
"Hm?" Zhang Wang looked up, but was startled to see Yu Yanlin's face so close to his. He didn't have the time to pull back when Yu Yanlin leaned in and stole a kiss.
Zhang Wang's heart fluttered, the anxiety melted for a moment and a keening sound erupted from within. But he also pulled back, grimace mixing with red hue of embarrassment that colored his visage. "If this is some weird way of comforting me…I don't need it. You're not some sort of consort or whatever, okay?"
The Demon King was not only more handsome, but also a lot more adorable when his eyes were bear to the world. When those brows furrowed, Zhang Wang could see the swells of confusion and doubt that sparkled in those blue orbs. It was a pity that he had to wear that awful thing.
"I��was not trying to act as such," Yu Yanlin's voice was hesitant. "If not this then, what can I do for you?"
Zhang Wang scowled, "Sex," he said resolutely, "isn't something that you do for someone else. You do it because you want to and because the other person also wants to." He had a lot of pride over his moralities and approach in his sexual relations. There was nothing that irked him more than when women complained to him about past partners in a way that he could only shudder with discomfort from hearing.
Perhaps it didn't help that in his past life, his first sexual relationship had been an older woman who took advantage of him. It had taken him a long time to get over the manipulation and discomfort he felt toward intimacy after that. A whole separate lifetime apparently.
"Oh…Okay." Yu Yanlin slowly nodded, as if he was trying to process the information but had a hard time understanding.
How could he? Growing up, he only understood a relationship that happened between one person who was tasked with giving and the other one took.
That was the right order of the world and just like the many other things he had both committed and asserted had been simply part of the natural order of nature itself.
Zhang Wang sighed, wondering if his expectations were just too high. After all, it made no sense for a demon to understand morality. He quelled his annoyance and said patiently, "Alright, I get that it might be a little different and weird but hear me out, okay?"
Luckily, Yu Yanlin was both patient and eager to listen. He nodded and cuddled even closer, until the entirety of their sides were pressed together and warmth flowed freely from one body to the other.
Zhang Wang couldn't resist putting his arm around Yu Yanlin's waist. "Relationships are only worth having if both parties are gaining something out of it. That's what makes it meaningful," he began explaining.
Even if his words might have been convoluted, even when he caught himself talking in circles, the Demon King still listened intently. He nodded and asked questions. At times he still tilted his head in confusion but he was so cute that Zhang Wang was able to stave off his annoyance.
In fact, the Immortal of a Thousand Blossoms couldn't help but feel that this cruel and senseless world didn't have to be so terrible if there were more people like Yu Yanlin who were willing to listen.
Alas, was it not ironic that it was the Cruel White King before him, who listened to words calmly and thought them over without stubborn rejection?
"I think I can understand it a little better now…" Yu Yanlin hummed. "Then, would it be okay to kiss you if it's something I desire as well?"
Zhang Wang perked up, "Well, I guess if you're into it then we can do it whenever you want--"
"So Zhang Wang also likes it when we kiss?"
And now the questions were getting embarrassing, Zhang Wang flinched and tried to regain composure, "Well yeah, of course! Why wouldn't I?"
Yu Yanlin smiled easily and leaned in to press his lips against Zhang Wang's. Before their skin touched and passion burst, Yu Yanlin's breath was soft upon Zhang Wang's face. "I also, always enjoy these exchanges I have with you."
After slyly uttering his confession he leaned into the Immortal of a Thousand Blossoms. Their tongues mingled and Zhang Wang found himself melting.
He thought absently that he never had the pleasure of sharing a kiss with someone as fascinating and as enchanting as the Demon King.
Even if he refused to admit it out loud, his heart was beating with affection.
There might have been a small possibility that he just maybe, just maybe! Liked Yu Yanlin.