Chapter 21: Sleeping in Each Other’s Arms

Chapter 21: Sleeping in Each Other's Arms

Could Xie Chi have forgotten their meeting time and gone out?

Yan Wanqiu's mouth turned down slightly, but in the end, he still raised his hand and knocked on the door.

"Knock, knock, knock."

This time, there was finally movement inside. The light flicked on immediately, and hurried footsteps sounded from within.

The next moment, the door opened.

"Wife!"

The black-haired young man stood there in his pajamas, hair a complete mess—clearly just woken up from a nap—but his voice was still brimming with cheer.

A corner of Yan Wanqiu's mouth curved up. "Mm, you were sleeping?"

Xie Chi hadn't expected to sleep all the way until dark, either. He was annoyed at himself for growing less vigilant since crossing over, but he was also secretly overjoyed.

Waking up to find his wife right outside the door—what a blissful feeling.

Xie Chi reached out, pulled Yan Wanqiu inside, and said, "Yeah, I thought I'd take a quick nap after lunch, but I ended up sleeping till now. I only woke up when I heard the knocking. When I saw the message Yan Wanqiu sent me, it was already 9:30."

With only fifteen minutes of meeting time left, Xie Chi spoke at lightning speed.

He didn't even spare Ji Chou a glance before hurriedly grabbing the suitcase he'd prepared in advance.

"There's 200,000 in cash in here, plus a bottle of repair fluid and its formula. You already know about the repair fluid, right? Hold onto these for now. I also went out a few days ago and bought you a bunch of stuff—washing machine, fireplace, stuff like that—it's all outside. Here's the list—take a look and see if you need anything else. I'll get them tomorrow and have Yan Wanqiu give them to you."

The living conditions in Blizzard City were awful, and Yan Wanqiu would never let him renovate Ji Chou's place, nor would he allow Ji Chou to live with him. Xie Chi could only come up with this roundabout solution.

The moment Yan Wanqiu stepped through the door, before he could even put down the food container he was holding, he was shoved 200,000 in cash and handed a long itemized list.

Yan Wanqiu was speechless.

If he wasn't mistaken, this was the suitcase he'd given Xie Chi.

The wages he'd paid Xie Chi were being sent right back to support "Ji Chou."

This idiot.

Yan Wanqiu glanced over the list and saw that Xie Chi had bought every household necessity, big and small, which left him even more conflicted.

To be fair, Xie Chi genuinely cared for "Ji Chou" with all his heart.

If only the money weren't coming out of his own pocket, he might have been more moved.

Xie Chi looked at the silent Ji Chou with eager, nervous eyes and asked quietly, "Is this alright? I bought these at the black market yesterday—they're all the latest models. If you need anything else, just say the word. I got paid—I have money."

"...It's fine. This is more than enough."

Yan Wanqiu paused, then looked at the couple's items on the list—plush slippers, heart-shaped mugs, and such. Unable to disappoint the expectant look in Xie Chi's eyes, he added against his better judgment, "Thank you. I really like them."

Xie Chi immediately let out a sigh of relief, grabbed Yan Wanqiu's hand, and chattered away. "I'm glad you like them. Yesterday I even ran into Yan Wanqiu at the black market, and he said you'd definitely hate what I bought. He's always putting me down—he's so mean. But you're nothing like that, wife. You even risked staying overnight for me the night before last, only to leave in a hurry in the morning."

Yan Wanqiu: "..."

So that's how Xie Chi interpreted his escape?

Yan Wanqiu decided to skip the part where he insulted himself. He silently accepted Xie Chi's explanation of the previous night and lifted the food container in his hand. "I heard from Uncle Nie you didn't eat lunch or dinner today, so I brought you some food. Want to eat something first?"

"Thanks, wife." Xie Chi took it happily, then looked a little troubled. "But I'm not hungry right now. We only have fifteen minutes, so I'll save it for a midnight snack."

Yan Wanqiu was puzzled. "Did you eat out?"

Xie Chi shook his head and said honestly, "I drank a nutrient solution. One bottle gives me energy for a whole day."

Seeing the man's confusion persist, Xie Chi briefly explained what nutrient solution was and his dilemma over how to give it to Yan Wanqiu, then said, "I already got you into trouble once with the repair fluid. This time I want to bring it up differently. Keep this a secret for now. When Yan Wanqiu tries to make a move on you again, use it as leverage to protect yourself—tell him you got the intel from me."

"That way Yan Wanqiu will come after me instead, and he won't hurt you."

Xie Chi remembered the wounds, big and small, on Ji Chou's body that night, and his heart ached for him.

"I'm sorry. That must have hurt a lot that night, right?"

Yan Wanqiu pursed his lips uncomfortably. "It's fine. It didn't hurt. I don't blame you."

Xie Chi insisted, "It definitely hurt. I cried the first time I got injured. Don't risk passing me intel anymore. If something like that happens again, just push it all on me. I don't want to drag you into trouble—I want to protect you."

Yan Wanqiu's movements paused.

He remembered clearly how Xie Chi had come back after assassinating Ye Laoda, his entire clothes soaked in blood, yet still bouncing around energetically.

"What about you?" Yan Wanqiu couldn't help asking. "Were you injured on your mission?"

"No, I'm really strong now—not a single scratch." Xie Chi smiled obediently at him. "Plus, I was wearing the constant-temperature combat suit. That thing can block most damage for me—oh, right, why haven't I seen you wearing yours? Is it the wrong size?"

This was the first time Yan Wanqiu learned that the constant-temperature suit Xie Chi had given him also had protective functions.

Remembering the suit gathering dust in the trash bin, Yan Wanqiu guiltily averted his gaze. "...The size is fine. I just forgot today."

Xie Chi urged him, "You should wear it regularly. That way, if anything happens, it can protect your internal organs. As long as your organs aren't damaged, even severe external wounds can be healed with repair fluid."

Listening to Xie Chi's words, Yan Wanqiu couldn't help but think of that suit soaked through with blood.

Little liar. And he said he wasn't injured.

Looking at Xie Chi's innocent expression, he gave a low "mm" in response.

Xie Chi had no idea what Yan Wanqiu was thinking. Happily taking the man's hand, he showed him all the changes he'd made to the room.

"I've already swapped the bed for a two-meter one—it can fit two pillows properly now. Next time you come, wife, we won't have to squeeze together. I also got you slippers that match mine, and the burner is new too—one load of thermal ore lasts eighteen hours, so you won't have to get up in the middle of the night to add more... Ah!"

In his excitement, Xie Chi forgot to watch his step and tripped on a table leg.

He quickly steadied himself and apologized sheepishly to Yan Wanqiu. "Sorry, the place is too small. I spent all night trying to arrange things, but it's still too cramped in here."

Due to the shortage of supplies and the urgency of the situation, the dormitories in the camp were all built to single-occupancy standards, and lower-ranking members even had to squeeze four to a room.

Xie Chi had added so many things at once that when living alone, it was merely a bit cluttered. But now, with two six-foot men in the room, it felt positively cramped.

Yan Wanqiu scanned the completely renovated interior and finally understood why Xie Chi had come to him early that morning asking how to buy a three-bedroom apartment.

He had been in such a hurry before that he hadn't paid much attention to Xie Chi's living quarters. Now that he thought about it, Xie Chi's request was actually perfectly reasonable.

Given the camp's current conditions, mass-building three-bedroom apartments was out of the question. But building one just for Xie Chi...

Before Yan Wanqiu could finish that thought, Xie Chi said, "I asked Yan Wanqiu if there were any three-bedroom apartments, and he told me to get lost. Looks like there won't be any in the camp anytime soon. But that's fine—I can still earn money. Once I kill Yan Baiyue and You Fuzhu, I'll have enough to build my own."

Yan Wanqiu: "?"

He'd only sent a question mark, so how the hell did Xie Chi hear that as "get lost"?

Did Xie Chi really think he was that vicious?

After Xie Chi walked Yan Wanqiu around the place, the two sat down at the dining table.

Even though Xie Chi rushed through his words as fast as he could, it still took him a solid five minutes to explain everything and fill him in.

That left them with just ten minutes alone.

Only then did Xie Chi get a proper look at Ji Chou.

Ji Chou had his half-face mask on again today, leaving only his sharp jawline visible. His white hair was tied back, and his eyes were jet black.

Since the room was warm, Ji Chou had shed his coat, showing off his slender neck.

Xie Chi looked at Ji Chou's fully healed gland and blushed a little: "Wife, does your gland still hurt?"

He couldn't see anything that night, but he could tell that with the other guy egging him on, Xie Chi had bitten down pretty hard.

Yan Wanqiu hadn't expected him to bring that up out of nowhere. Seeing Xie Chi's flushed face, he felt a little flustered himself: "It doesn't hurt. I'm fine."

Xie Chi didn't buy it. Ji Chou was way too gentle and thoughtful—no matter what he asked, the guy always said he was fine.

"Sorry, I'll go lighter next time." Xie Chi apologized in a low voice.

A few days earlier, Yan Wanqiu would've politely made it clear there wouldn't be a next time. But he'd just realized Xie Chi's pheromones might be able to suppress his Pheromone Dysregulation Syndrome. He opened his mouth, but in the end, he swallowed the rejection.

"Mm."

Anyway, he still held all the cards.

If he didn't want to sleep with Xie Chi, he could just keep limiting Xie Chi's visits with Ji Chou to fifteen minutes.

Playing Xie Chi's wife for fifteen minutes a month to keep him in check—that was a deal Yan Wanqiu could live with.

As for what came after...

Yan Wanqiu tested the waters: "What do you think of Yan Wanqiu?"

Xie Chi pouted: "Pretty terrible, but he's free with his money. Anyway, he doesn't have long left. Don't worry, wife—once he croaks, I'll take you away and take care of you for the rest of your life."

Yan Wanqiu: "..."

Sorry, but that chance probably wasn't coming, since he and Yan Wanqiu were bound in life and death.

Yan Wanqiu just figured Xie Chi's "doesn't have long to live" was about his Pheromone Dysregulation Syndrome, so he didn't think much of it.

After all, that's what just about everyone thought.

But given how Xie Chi felt about "Yan Wanqiu," he probably wouldn't get a chance to come clean either.

His relationship with Xie Chi would probably stay a mess like this until one of them died—only then would it really be over.

What a joke. How absurd and ironic.

"Yan Wanqiu," hated by everyone, had actually become family to some idiot once he was broke and living as "Ji Chou."

Xie Chi had no clue what that one sentence did to Yan Wanqiu inside. He looked at Yan Wanqiu with hopeful eyes: "Let's not talk about stuff that bums people out. Wife, don't you have something you wanna say to me?"

Yan Wanqiu was confused: "Huh?"

Xie Chi's eyes drooped, and he stared at him without blinking, his voice all pitiful as he dragged the word out: "Wife—"

Yan Wanqiu got it now. Xie Chi was waiting for him to call him "hubby."

He let out a low chuckle and curled his finger: "I do have something to tell you. Come here."

Xie Chi scooted closer right away.

Yan Wanqiu flicked his forehead: "Small brain, big dreams."

Xie Chi let out a pitiful whine.

Yan Wanqiu pinched his cheek, and Xie Chi's pitiful whine turned into a soft little hum.

"Eight minutes left." Yan Wanqiu glanced at the ring on Xie Chi's ring finger. That was what had dug into him when they held hands earlier.

Since when did Xie Chi have a ring? Who gave it to him?

Was it from Yan Baiyue?

Yan Wanqiu remembered the sweet omega pheromones he'd caught on Xie Chi last time.

His suspicion and guard around Xie Chi had never fully gone away. He didn't ask out loud, not wanting to tip Xie Chi off. Keeping his face neutral, he said: "Anything else you wanna say?"

Xie Chi shook his head no.

He didn't really have anything else to say. He'd rushed through everything earlier just so he could spend more time with Ji Chou and feel like he had family.

He'd always been alone.

Yan Wanqiu raised an eyebrow: "So you don't want a kiss from me either?"

Xie Chi's face went red: "I—I—"

He shamelessly took back his head shake: "I do."

Yan Wanqiu smiled softly. That low laugh made Xie Chi's ears burn, and it also sounded weirdly familiar, but before he could think about it more, a faint woody scent washed over him.

Yan Wanqiu took his chin and kissed the corner of his mouth.

"You've done great these past few days. You've worked hard."

Xie Chi was stunned for a second by the kiss before it hit him what Ji Chou had said.

He blinked, staring at the man so close to him yet still unable to see his whole face, and felt his nose tingle.

Getting hurt hadn't hurt that bad. Getting pushed around by the Tyrant hadn't been that upsetting. Fixing up the cabin by himself hadn't been that lonely, and not seeing his wife hadn't made him want to cry.

But right now, Xie Chi's eyes were reddening for no damn reason.

Yan Wanqiu was caught off guard. He brushed his thumb over the tear mole under Xie Chi's left eye. Seeing the tears welling up in the kid's pretty round eyes, he said helplessly: "Why are you crying now?"

Xie Chi quickly pulled back, clumsily wiping his eyes, and mumbled: "I'm not crying."

He was a grown man now. He had to be a proper husband and wasn't about to cry in front of his wife.

Yan Wanqiu looked at Xie Chi and said, "Come here."

Xie Chi obediently came back.

Yan Wanqiu thought to himself, *He really is like a little puppy.*

He carries anything good back to his den, gets picked on one second, and comes running back the second he's called.

How did an idiot like this even survive to adulthood?

Yan Wanqiu helplessly stroked the youth's dark hair, his voice gentling: "Is there anything else you want? Even if it's something special, I can easily sneak it to you from the kitchen."

Xie Chi glanced at the clock—five minutes to go.

He thought for a moment, then tentatively said, "Then... could you hug me?"

Xie Chi spread his arms, clumsily gesturing: "Like this—a hug like this."

Yan Wanqiu watched his hesitant, unpracticed movements, and his heart gave an inexplicable tug.

He paused, then stood up. Under Xie Chi's astonished gaze, he scooped him up and carried him to the bed, sitting down with him.

Xie Chi wasn't heavy—as long as he didn't struggle, Yan Wanqiu, as an adult alpha, could lift him with ease.

Xie Chi was caught off guard, and before he could react, he was already in Yan Wanqiu's arms.

The fresh sheets were soft, still holding the faint scent of Xie Chi's orange pheromones, which mingled with Yan Wanqiu's subtle woody fragrance. Under the warm firelight, the combination became deeply comforting.

Yan Wanqiu had the classic V-shaped build—broad shoulders, narrow waist, and a wide chest—so Xie Chi could curl right into him.

Xie Chi hugged him back, thinking, *So this is what a hug feels like.*

How dangerous—baring your neck right in front of someone else.

And yet, it was so warm.

...

After a moment.

Yan Wanqiu looked at Xie Chi, who had fallen deeply asleep in his arms, and sighed helplessly.

With so little wariness, how did he ever become an assassin?

He slowly pried Xie Chi—who was clinging to him like a koala—off and tucked him under the blanket. Then he added more thermal ore to the furnace so it wouldn't burn out and cool down overnight. Finally, he put the food container he'd brought into the fridge.

When he was done, Yan Wanqiu returned to the bedside and took one last look at the sleeping Xie Chi.

The fifteen minutes were up.

Time really could be so short.

Yan Wanqiu leaned down, and his hair tie came loose, falling beside Xie Chi's pillow.

His long white hair spilled down, shrouding their faces as they drew nearer.

"Sleep well, little hubby."