Chapter 37: L-Like!

The Prince’s next move completely caught Ye Lu off guard.

He didn’t act indifferent like he usually did.

Instead, he gently pinched her drooping little hand between his thumb and forefinger, lifting it to his lips as if holding a feather.

He placed a soft kiss on it.

“Ugh… Prince…”

Just that one move, and Ye Lu was already a flustered mess.

Seeing him so gentle—so unlike himself—and feeling treated this way, her eyes grew teary again.

‘Mhm… I like… the Prince’s hand.’

Then, while Ye Lu was lost in her love-brain daze.

The Prince raised his other hand, picked up a handkerchief that seemed to come from nowhere, and with a smile curling on his lips, looked into her intoxicated eyes.

He carefully wiped away the moisture clinging to the corners of her eyes.

Ye Lu let him do it, silently closing her eyes, savoring this rare tenderness.

Soon, there was no more grievance.

No more sobbing either.

Her wrist was lowered, and she could still feel the wetness of his lips lingering on the back of her hand.

She was satisfied. She didn’t wipe it off right away. This rare delicacy—she planned to lick it clean slowly in private later.

Just now, she was touched by the Prince.

The last time was three days ago, in that forest.

She looked at him, now so refined.

She wanted to say something.

Then she saw him reach out his other hand.

He snatched the plush toy she was holding right back into his hand, brought it to his nose, and inhaled deeply.

“How could I neglect a gift from Her Highness the Princess?”

A husky, tingling voice.

“Mhm…”

‘My little deer is about to leap out!’

‘I’m going to heaven!’

“Thank you…”

First apologize, be ladylike. Don’t appear too unreasonable.

“Your Highness…”

“You don’t have to force yourself.”

“Indeed, this is just a cheap item. It can’t compare to the S-rank Magic Power Crystal you gave me…”

“But still… this is a small token of my feelings.”

“If Your Highness accepts it, I will surely…”

“Of course, if… Your Highness really hates it.”

“Throwing it in that trash can over there is fine too…”

Ye Lu even deliberately squeezed her voice, straining to make it sound sweet and saccharine.

Luckily, her voice was pleasant. If the Prince heard it, he’d surely be moved, right?

Hmph.

A smile.

“…”

“?”

‘Hey, why are you actually looking at the trash can!’

No no no! What’s with that hesitant expression!

‘I’m going to cry again…’

He looked over at Bell again. The two exchanged glances, and Bell gave a slight shake of his head.

The Prince laughed: “How could I possibly do that?”

“A gift from Her Highness the Princess—I love it most.”

‘Who would believe that!’

She mulled it over in her mind. Her happiness felt forced.

Good thing he was a man of strong character. An ordinary girl would probably have broken down and run away by now.

‘I’m amazing~’

“Then…”

“If there’s nothing else, Miss Ye Lu may take her leave.”

“Huh?”

“…”

Ye Lu was dumbfounded again: “What?”

Bell: “No, Prince. Why did you go out this morning? Did you forget?”

“Pregnancy test stick…?”

.

.

.

Disappointment.

Xiaoye had said she was going to the restroom, but who knows where she actually went.

Compared to before, the only change on the road to the women’s products store was probably the two little followers behind her.

Her beloved Prince was completely useless.

They were busy talking with his best friend about what they could do outside, and replaying the game he’d just won. They had no intention whatsoever of focusing on the girl he might have gotten pregnant.

It was only she, Ye Lu, who used nine oxen and two tigers’ strength to find the exact location.

It was a large supermarket inside the mall.

When they arrived, she felt too embarrassed to go in—there were too many people.

She glanced back at Bell, signaling him to walk in front.

Bell shook his head vigorously.

Then she looked at the Prince’s dejected, completely spiritless expression, as if all that elegance from earlier had been an act.

Hoping for his help was even more impossible.

He’d probably just hurt her feelings, make this fragile, uncontrollable body cry again, then humiliate her further in front of his best friend.

Take a deep breath.

Hugging the heavy shopping bag to her chest, she could only nervously take the first step herself.

Thankfully… she didn’t see any convenience store staff nearby, which greatly avoided embarrassment.

Once inside, everything her eyes landed on were tall shelves on both sides, enough to bury all sight.

Passing by these nursing products that only pregnant mothers should use, she couldn’t bear to look at them, afraid she’d need them herself one day.

With eyes half-open and half-closed, she rounded three shelves without seeing a single pregnancy test stick.

She’d almost lost hope, but it turned out they were all hidden at the end of the shelves.

Piles and piles of them, blooming like a hundred flowers.

She turned back: “Um, Your Highness…”

She trailed off.

Wait… where were they?! Why was it empty behind her!

She could read the labels on the products, but she just didn’t want to look at them alone. If the Prince wasn’t here…

After struggling for a moment, she walked out.

She wanted to see where they’d gone.

She tried to rely on her sense of smell, but just like when they first met, she couldn’t detect the Prince’s scent—as if he was deliberately masking it.

With no choice, she could only try to find him.

Luckily, she found him quickly.

He was at the toy shelf not far away.

Despite having a face that shimmered with the majesty of the Celestial Demon clan, his behavior was like a kid who hadn’t grown up, grinning widely.

In his left hand was a plastic-boxed hovering bus; in his right, he held a wooden bow and arrow.

That was the kind of thing Ye Lu had used to shoot birds when she was bored as a child.

That alone would have been fine.

But what made her even angrier.

The plush toy she’d given him was casually placed on top of a cabinet, covered in dust…

Sigh.

So childish. Even a boy’s toy could make him stop, while she, a perfectly proportioned succubus, had exhausted all her efforts to seduce him and got no reaction.

Thinking about it that way.

When they first met, the accidental collision and that strong kiss were pretty rare—though he was probably just curious for novelty.

She was out of ideas. She called out softly: “Your Highness… can you come help me look?”

After a moment, the Prince reacted and turned back: “Wait a minute, Miss Ye Lu. I found something interesting here. Come take a look?”

“…”

“Alright…”

Completely out of options.

She could only wait.

Her arms got tired from holding the bag, so she set it on the floor.

She also crouched down, hugging her knees.

Stupidly staring at that aloof back that didn’t match his personality at all.

He kept moving, kept talking… full of enthusiasm.

A long, long time.

After filling a bag with toys, he finally seemed about to come over.

Ye Lu prepared to stand up, but then noticed he’d walked deeper into the aisle.

In the end.

The one who came toward her was actually Bell.

Steady footsteps.

Getting closer and closer.

But she was too lazy to look up.

After all, in this current body, compared to the Prince whom she depended on so heavily, this former inseparable best friend had obviously dropped in status.

Simple logic: between a brother and a girlfriend, of course the girlfriend is more important.

…

“Good afternoon, Ye Lu.”

“Good afternoon…”

“You… are you pregnant?”

“…”

Being asked directly, her small face quickly heated up. She looked up.

Pursed her lips, giving him an “are you stupid?” expression.

“Oh, congratulations.”

“Congratulations my ass!”

She bristled and whispered an explanation: “I… I don’t know… It’s all the Prince’s doing…”

‘—Actually, it was me who was cheap and kissed him first…’

“I… I have no choice, that’s why I came here to find… that thing to confirm.”

Ye Lu looked up, serious: “But you know what?”

“I am a proud, upright man. I don’t like men, and I certainly won’t willingly bear a man’s child.”

“So, I have a plan…”

Bell was stunned: “What? Meaning… you don’t like the Prince, right?”

“O-Of course!”

He suddenly became very agitated: “This is bad! If you keep being forced like this, bound for life, with your personality, you’ll be crushed!”

“Huh…?”

“Why didn’t you say so earlier!”

“No! While there’s still time, I have to tell the Prince!”

“No…”

He gritted his teeth: “Just say you don’t like him! And that you really, really, absolutely don’t want to!”

“With his personality, from what I’ve seen these past two days, he should… be able to accept it!”

“How about it?”

“The Prince is definitely not the forceful type.”

“If you don’t say anything, I’m going.”

“Stop!”

Ye Lu called him back, organized her words, and said humbly: “There’s no chance anymore. I’m already pregnant, so… don’t go.”

“Even if I tell him… the child still has to be born. I have no choice. Just let me bear it painfully…”

Bell turned back, with a “poor you” expression, showing a very confident smile: “Ye Lu, trust me. I can do it.”

“I understand you don’t want to cause me trouble, but we’ve been best friends, sworn brothers for two years!”

“I understand you deeply, just like I understand myself. We’re the same kind of people. When you’re hurt, I absolutely cannot…”

He spoke with great emotion, clenched his fists, and was about to step forward.

“Wait…”

“No! I said no, you idiot! I like him! I definitely like him…”

Ye Lu’s voice dropped very low at the end, afraid of being heard.

But thankfully, Bell stopped in time. She let out a sigh of relief.

No… wait.

When did the Prince walk out of the toy pile?

Phew…

Sigh of relief.

Looking at the transparent bag in his hand, filled with toys big and small, and his expression lost in his own world—he probably didn’t hear.

She quickly went up to greet him, but didn’t dare touch even the hem of his clothes.

She rubbed her legs together and put on her sweetest smile.

“Your Highness, you’ve finally returned.”

She lowered her head and mumbled.

“Um… can you help me choose… pregnancy test products now? Because… I don’t know anything.”

“Of course.”

He agreed.

Ye Lu was very happy.

She walked two or three steps to the shelf she’d been at earlier.

When the Prince came over, she pointed at the area.

“It’s here.”

“There are too many complicated things. I’m too stupid, sorry.”

“Mhm.”

The Prince looked around, clicked his tongue, seeming just as confused.

After a moment, he casually picked up the one nearest to hand.

“I think this one looks good.”

He smiled, handed it to her, seeking her opinion.

“…”

“What the hell?”

Ye Lu was dumbfounded.

The entire succubus was frozen like a statue.

She rarely blurted out a complaint.

It was huge.

Even the Prince struggled to hold it with one hand.

And coincidentally, the label even said “Succubus Exclusive.”

She wanted to argue, but felt it wasn’t appropriate.

“What do you think?”

‘Don’t ask!’

‘Of course not!’

“It’s fine… Your Highness is amazing~ Ahaha.”

Thinking it was chosen by the Prince, she couldn’t bear to discourage him.

She could only force a smile.

‘Just go for it…’