Chapter 326 Damn Handsome

Chapter 326: Damn, He's Handsome

Cui Ji's gaze followed his words, landing on the half-eaten sweet potato in his hand, which still had clear teeth marks, and replied simply, "Alright."

Hearing this, Cheng Ge reached out to break off the part he'd bitten and toss it to Dahuang.

Dahuang's ears twitched, and he propped himself up halfway.

But Cui Ji simply reached out and took the half sweet potato with his teeth marks from Cheng Ge's hand. "No need."

With that, he bit into it right where Cheng Ge had eaten, without changing his expression, and began to eat it slowly and deliberately.

Dahuang: "..."

Cheng Ge's fingers, which had been extended to break the sweet potato, froze mid-air, then curled up awkwardly and quietly retreated into his sleeve.

His palm still seemed to hold a different kind of heat than the charcoal fire—the brief touch of fingertips when Cui Ji had taken the sweet potato.

He felt his ears growing warm, so he pretended to look down and adjust his neck warmer.

Beside him, Dahuang let out a disappointed whimper and flopped back onto the thick blanket, his doggy eyes full of sorrow over the food that had slipped right out of his reach.

For a moment, the tent was filled only with the soft crackle of the charcoal fire and an indescribably subtle atmosphere hanging between the two.

Cui Ji slowly ate the half sweet potato, while Cheng Ge's gaze seemed fixed on the dancing flames before him, unmoving.

Their shadows swayed gently on the tent walls with the firelight, sometimes drifting apart, sometimes overlapping in a way that felt ambiguous.

Swallowing the last bite of sweet potato, Cui Ji brushed the crumbs off his hands and broke the silence.

"The army's short on an archery instructor. If you don't mind, once you're feeling better, you could teach them." He said this casually, as if it were just a routine assignment.

Hearing this, Cheng Ge's head shot up instantly, his eyes brightening with a mix of disbelief and delight.

"Really?" He'd been cooped up in the tent for days, going stir-crazy.

Now that there was actual work to do, he wasn't about to be picky.

Cui Ji looked at his instantly brightened eyes and nodded, his tone still calm, with a barely noticeable hint of indulgence.

"Mm. If it's too tiring, I'll arrange something lighter for you in a bit."

"I don't mind! I don't mind!" Cheng Ge quickly declared, reaching out to grab Cui Ji's forearm resting on his knee, as if scared he'd take it back.

Cui Ji's expression flickered almost imperceptibly, his gaze sweeping over the hand resting on his arm, and he said in a low voice, "I'll go wash up first."

After Cui Ji finished washing and walked to the bedside with a faint chill of moisture on him, he took off his outer robe and hung it up.

He turned back to look at Cheng Ge, who was still sitting by the charcoal brazier with a somewhat wandering gaze, and said as if it were the most natural thing in the world, "Come over. Keep me company for a nap."

Cheng Ge, still immersed in the joy of finding new work, almost choked on his own spit at the sudden words.

Cheng Ge: "! ?"

He jerked his head up to look at Cui Ji, his face a mix of shock and bewilderment as if struck by lightning, the tips of his ears visibly reddening.

Cui Ji looked at his reaction and couldn't help a low chuckle.

The laugh rumbled from his chest, unusually clear in the quiet tent.

He murmured in a low voice, "I'm a bit cold."

Cheng Ge: "..." So he was being treated as a personal space heater!

But then again, Cui Ji had just come back from outside, and he did have a chill on him.

This man had just arranged a job for him—returning the favor, warming his bed... probably wasn't a big deal?

But! If he's cold, just say so—why say "come keep me company for a nap"?! What kind of talk was that!

Grumbling internally, but seeing the exhaustion etched deeply between Cui Ji's brows, Cheng Ge ultimately shuffled slowly to the edge of the bed.

He glanced at Cui Ji, who had already lain down on the outside, pursed his lips, and climbed onto the bed, moving stiffly.

Carefully lying down against the very edge on the inside, trying to keep as much distance as possible, his body was as stiff as a board.

However, no sooner had he settled down and before he could breathe a sigh of relief, a powerful arm reached over and effortlessly pulled his entire body into an embrace.

Cheng Ge: "! ! !" He was pulled into a slightly chilly embrace without warning.

His eyes flew wide open, staring at the canopy above the bed, his whole body rigid, his heart thumping like crazy.

Thumping loudly in the silent tent, so loud he was sure Cui Ji could hear it.

He instinctively tried to struggle free, but the moment his arm moved, he clearly felt the chill on Cui Ji's body from having just come in from outside.

Especially his hands, pressed against the fabric on his back, feeling distinctly cold.

This made him freeze mid-motion, unable to push away.

He blinked, feeling his cheeks and ears burning, his heart racing like it might jump out of his chest.

His feet unconsciously shifted a couple of times, trying to find a comfortable position.

But of course, the top of his foot lightly brushed against Cui Ji's calf, and a barely audible breath sounded from above his head.

Then, Cui Ji very naturally used his own calves to clamp around Cheng Ge's feet.

"Cui... Cui Ji..." Cheng Ge's voice was tight as he called out softly, feeling super awkward.

"Mm..." Cui Ji responded, his voice low and muffled, thick with exhaustion, and asked in return, "Do you feel cold?"

Cheng Ge opened his mouth, his throat suddenly dry, and stammered back, "N-no... not cold..."

Not cold at all—he felt like he was steaming all over, about to burst into flames.

Cui Ji gave a noncommittal hum and said nothing more.

Before long, slow, deep breathing sounded above his head—clearly, he had fallen into a deep sleep, exhausted.

But Cheng Ge didn't dare move a muscle, lying stiff as a board in Cui Ji's arms.

His eyes stared at the canopy, restlessly darting left and right.

After a long while, he tilted his head slightly, cautiously stealing a glance at the face so close to his.

The tent was dim, with only the glow of the charcoal brazier outlining Cui Ji's sharp, striking features.

His eyes were closed, long lashes casting soft shadows on his cheeks.

The usually cold, hard lines had softened considerably in sleep, and even with traces of fatigue, his handsome, striking looks were undeniable.

Cheng Ge stared blankly for several seconds, his heart skipping beats without his control.

An inexplicable mix of jealousy and envy welled up inside him, and he couldn't help but curse inwardly.

Damn, he's handsome as hell! Why didn't the heavens make me this good-looking too!