Chapter 1648: The Report

They bickered for a few more minutes before their argument finally ended, just as Zhao Li Xin emerged from the bathroom.

A towel was loosely wrapped around his waist, his dark hair still damp. He walked toward the wardrobe and casually dressed in his usual black robes.

A thin inner layer rested beneath a darker outer robe, the overlapping folds falling neatly over his broad frame. He wrapped a silk sash firmly around his waist before securing it with a sturdy leather belt, reinforcing the sash and keeping the layers of fabric in place.

For some reason, Lory had always been particularly fond of seeing him dressed in his traditional robes, and judging by the way she was staring at him now, that preference had certainly not faded.

Lory happily munched on a chicken leg as she enjoyed the view before her. Her husband had not only been blessed with a face that could rival the most beautiful men in the world, but with an equally impressive physique.

From head to toe, his body seemed almost sculpted by a master artist, every defined muscle and elegant line coming together with an almost unfair perfection.

Zhao Li Xin could feel her sharp gaze following him, lingering a little longer than necessary whenever he turned away. Especially around his backside. But he didn’t mind in the slightest. If anything, he was secretly pleased.

Even after all these years, his wife still found him attractive. That, in itself, was something worth taking pride in. Not every husband and wife could maintain the same spark between them as the years passed, but somehow, theirs had never faded.

Zhao Li Xin was secretly rather proud of that fact. He could still make his wife lose herself in admiration with nothing more than his appearance alone.

For that, perhaps he ought to offer his useless parents a rare moment of gratitude. His mother might have been a fool, and his father a shameless scoundrel, but even fools and scoundrels could apparently contribute something worthwhile to his life.

A face worthy of admiration. Perhaps that was the best thing they had ever given him.

Zhao Li Xin turned around and walked toward his wife, who was still staring at him as though he were a particularly appetizing piece of meat.

"My wife seems very satisfied with what she sees." He smiled flirtatiously.

Lory grinned and nodded without hesitation. "Very satisfied!"

Zhao Li Xin let out a soft chuckle before sitting across from her, separated by a table overflowing with fried chicken and snacks. He didn’t find the mess on the table unpleasant at all, perhaps because his whole attention was entirely fixed on his gluttonous wife.

Lory, however, suddenly felt self-conscious. No matter how comfortable they had become after so many years of marriage, she couldn’t help thinking she looked awful right now, messy hair, flushed cheeks, and a chicken leg still in her oily hand.

Yet Zhao Li Xin only looked at her with glinting eyes, his gaze filled with such warmth, tenderness and deep affection that it was as though she were the most beautiful sight in the entire world.

If Lory could somehow see herself through his eyes, she would probably can’t help herself to ask: ’Dude, what kind of filter are you using?’

Lory wiped her mouth before storing the remaining food in her spatial ring. She then picked up a tissue and began wiping the sauce stains from the table, only for Zhao Li Xin to gently take it from her hand.

"I’ll clean up. You just rest." he said.

Lory rubbed her ear awkwardly. "Um... thank you, I’m going to take a bath, then."

Before he could say anything else, she hurried toward the bathroom. She suddenly felt the need to freshen up and make herself presentable in front of her ridiculously handsome husband. No matter how stable and comfortable their relationship had become after all these years, she still believed a little effort was necessary.

After all, if she somehow lost this man, she was quite certain she would never find anyone better.

"Careful, Lory. Don’t run." Zhao Li Xin frowned when he saw her dash toward the bathroom.

"Okay!" she called back without looking over her shoulder.

A moment later, he called her again, "Need any help in there?" he asked, his tone half serious and half teasing.

"No!" came her immediate shout from the doorway.

The corner of Zhao Li Xin’s lips curled upward into a mischievous smile. "Too bad," he muttered.

When Lory finished her bath and changed into a comfortable pair of loose pants and a soft wool shirt, she found Zhao Li Xin sitting nearby, gracefully pouring freshly brewed tea into a porcelain cup.

He looked almost like a refined scholar in that moment, calm, elegant, and composed.

Except his eyes weren’t on the tea at all. They were fixed entirely on her.

Lory’s mouth twitched. Apparently, she wasn’t the only one who enjoyed watching her beloved get dressed.After so many years of marriage, the two of them had long since grown comfortable around each other.

The embarrassment had faded, replaced by an easy familiarity that allowed them to be completely at ease in each other’s presence. Yet somehow, it was amazing that Zhao Li Xin still looked at her with the same intensity he had the very first time they met.

Her heart skipped a beat.

A warm flush crept across her cheeks, leaving her feeling both shy and secretly proud. After all, she was the only woman in the world capable of capturing the attention of this notoriously cold and aloof man.

"Wife, have some tea to warm yourself." Zhao Li Xin pulled out a chair for her.

Once she sat down, he picked up a dry towel and gently began brushing through her damp hair, his movements slow and careful.

Lory relaxed almost immediately, happily surrendering herself to his indulgent pampering.

Years had gone by, yet their affection had never faded. They still treated each other with the same tenderness and care as they had in the beginning. Perhaps that, in itself, was a miracle.

As usual, Zhao Li Xin quietly infused his qi into the towel, letting its gentle warmth dry her damp hair faster. His movements were slow and careful, filled with a tenderness that made even such a simple moment feel precious.

Lory closed her eyes, relaxing beneath his touch, a small smile tugging at her lips.

"You don’t use a hair dryer, Li Xin?" Lory asked. ℯ

"No." He continued gently drying her hair. "I think doing it this way once in a while is fine, right? Like the old days."

Lory smiled as she reminisced about the time they spent together in the past. "Yes. Like the old days." She paused, then looked up at him expectantly. "Will you style my hair today too?"

Zhao Li Xin tilted his head slightly, pondering, then said, "I’ll braid it. That way, it won’t get in your way."

"Okay~" Lory’s grin stretched from ear to ear.

A few minutes later, Lory sat comfortably in her chair, happily sipping her warm tea when a knock sounded at the door.

"Come in," she called casually, not bothering to turn around.

The door opened, revealing Leon and Fargo. The moment they stepped inside, both men paused.

Lory was sitting comfortably with a warm cup of tea in her hands while Zhao Li Xin sat behind her, completely absorbed in the task of brushing and braiding her hair.

His expression was as serious as ever, his movements careful and meticulous, as though styling his wife’s hair were the most important matter in the world.

For a moment, neither Leon nor Fargo knew what to say.

"Enjoying yourself, Princess?" Fargo finally asked, his naturally boisterous voice filling the spacious room.

Lory raised a brow and lifted her teacup. "Care for some tea?"

"Nah. I brought my own drink." Fargo proudly lifted the whiskey bottle in his hand.

There was, of course, no alcohol anywhere in Lory’s room. Ever since her pregnancy, the entire place had been thoroughly renovated by Fredhardt into a pregnancy-safe zone.

Paranoid edition.

Fargo walked toward the pantry as though he owned the place. "I’ll get the glass."

"Bring one for me too," Leon reminded him.

Leon turned his attention back to Lory. "Glad to see you’re fine, Princess."

Lory chuckled, taking another leisurely sip of her tea. "Could anything happen to me with Lucas and Fred around?"

"Hey, I was there too, princess" Fargo protested, approaching with two glasses in his hands.

"Yeah, yeah." Lory waved him off with a casual shrug.

Leon smiled, already accustomed to their easygoing banter. He took a seat across from Lory, then shifted his gaze toward Zhao Li Xin.

The man had clearly noticed their arrival, but he paid them little attention, choosing instead to remain focused on Lory. He carefully gathered her hair before beginning a neat side braid, his movements patient and practiced.

Leon watched in silence, his eyebrows slowly rising.

He hadn’t expected this man to know how to braid hair.

’Huh. He can braid hair too, and it’s look good too.’ Leon was genuinely impressed.

Zhao Li Xin remained completely focused until he finally finished the braid. He examined his work for a moment before asking, "Is this okay?"

Lory reached up and touched the braid resting over her shoulder, her face lighting up with satisfaction. "It’s perfect. Thank you, honey." She leaned over and planted a quick kiss on his cheek.

Zhao Li Xin’s expression remained calm, but the faint curve at the corner of his lips revealed his true feelings.

Leon stared at him for a long moment, trying to reconcile this quiet, almost domestic man with the same terrifying figure he had seen covered in blood and ashes.

He finally lifted his whiskey glass and took a slow sip.

Looking at Lory, Leon couldn’t help but admire her. Somehow, his dear Princess had managed to tame this man so completely.

As expected of Princess Lorient.

"So, why are you all here? It can’t possibly be because you missed me." Lory pulled out the chair beside her, making room for Zhao Li Xin, then flashed Leon and Fargo a playful smile.

Zhao Li Xin quietly took an apple from the fruit bowl along with a small plate. He sat down beside Lory and began peeling the apple with calm, precise movements, completely unbothered by the heavy discussion that was about to begin.

"I did come to make sure you’re all right, Your Highness." Leon set his whiskey glass down, his expression losing some of its usual amusement. "But mostly, I came to report on the progress regarding Lucia Viora." He paused. "To be honest, most of what we learned isn’t far from what we already expected."