Gu Zeyu had been raised in the palm of his twelve brothers’ hands since childhood, not even knowing how to write the words “being bullied.” When he opened his eyes on the bed in the new room and found that the fierce Omega had put a bite guard on him, his first reaction was to wonder if he had done something excessive while unconscious.

Gu Zeyu had sleepwalking syndrome, a condition that even the doctor, Sixth Brother, was powerless against.

Lu Yunian’s good work and rest habits allowed him to maintain a 9 p.m. bedtime regardless of where he was. After throwing Gu Zeyu on the couch and putting the bite guard on him, he lay down fully clothed. Gu Zeyu’s brothers had promised him that once the wedding was over, he could return to his military unit and wouldn’t have to stay in this godforsaken place.

He slept on his side with his back to Gu Zeyu. Lu Yunian didn’t take this unweaned little Alpha seriously at all, but he understood the primal instincts between Alphas and Omegas. Even the weakest Alpha had the potential to mark an Omega. Although he had applied suppressant patches to ensure not a whiff of his scent would escape, he didn’t know Gu Zeyu well, so he had to take precautions.

When putting on the bite guard, the two were very close. Gu Zeyu whimpered and hugged Lu Yunian’s arm, his delicate cheek nuzzling against his muscle, making Lu Yunian instinctively want to chop him dead. Fortunately, Lu Yunian restrained himself, remembering this was the Alpha he had just married. He disgustedly pushed him away and put on the bite guard with one hand supporting his head.

After all, it was an uncomfortable thing. Gu Zeyu frowned and made a muffled sound of distress, which actually stirred some compassion in Lu Yunian. He loosened the straps a bit so they weren’t too tight, but found that in just this short time, Gu Zeyu’s fair skin had already developed red marks. As if possessed, Lu Yunian reached out and poked his chubby cheek. Just a light touch left a red spot, and the soft sensation transmitted through his fingertips like an electric current to his cerebral cortex. When he realized what a strange action he was performing, he quickly withdrew his hand and coldly snorted, muttering, “Spoiled brat.”

Lu Yunian was extremely alert. When Gu Zeyu carefully approached him, barely touching the edge of his clothes, he flipped over and pinned him down. The burly Omega pressed the small Alpha beneath him, his thick arm against Gu Zeyu’s chest, nearly cutting off his breath. His eyes turned cold as he asked warily, “What are you trying to do?”

Gu Zeyu tried to explain with muffled sounds. Because of the bite guard blocking his mouth, saliva dripped from the corner of his lips, making him look both pathetic and pitiful. His eyes reddened again. Lu Yunian casually untied the string behind his head. After spitting out the bite guard, Gu Zeyu explained unclearly, “You… sleep, without a blanket?”

Looking down, Lu Yunian saw that Gu Zeyu was holding a thin, cloud-patterned blanket, its corners already crumpled from his nervous grip. Realizing that this Alpha had approached him only to cover his sleeping form with a blanket, Lu Yunian finally understood that he might have been a bit harsh earlier.

He was about to apologize to Gu Zeyu when he saw this stupid Alpha pick up the bite guard and put it back in his mouth. Confused by this bewildering behavior, Lu Yunian asked, “Why are you wearing that thing?”

Gu Zeyu suddenly looked up, nearly bumping into Lu Yunian’s face as he leaned in. Afraid of being pinned down again, he retreated timidly and said, “Didn’t you put it on me? I’ve finished speaking, so…”

Lu Yunian snatched the bite guard away and carelessly tossed it against the wall, where it shattered. He rolled back onto the bed and said to Gu Zeyu with barely perceptible guilt, “Go to sleep. Stay away from me.”

Lu Yunian closed his eyes but heard constant rustling nearby. He cracked open an eyelid to see Gu Zeyu tiptoeing to the bedside, carrying his elephant pillow, unicorn pillow, and pink mat one by one to the couch, arranging them in a circle. Then he carefully climbed in, lay down, and covered himself with a fluffy pink blanket.

How could this guy be an Alpha? The thought irritated Lu Yunian. He came from a military family and had always aimed to present as a top-tier Alpha. But the final result was shocking. However, true to his Lu family heritage, Lu Yunian had put in a thousand times more effort than an Alpha to climb to the position of general, becoming a true Imperial War Star.

Countless Alphas wanted to marry him. His mate selection criteria was that only someone who could defeat him could become his Alpha. But by some twist of fate, he ended up marrying this crybaby, foolish little Alpha.

Lu Yunian feared that if he spoke any louder, he might scare Gu Zeyu to death.

He closed his eyes and sighed, suddenly feeling Gu Zeyu tentatively approaching again. He opened his eyes and gave a slight glare, causing Gu Zeyu to go weak in the knees and half-kneel by the bed. After hesitating for a while, Gu Zeyu handed over a panda plush, saying in a trembling voice, “You haven’t slept in this room before. If you’re scared, you can hug this.”

Lu Yunian took the panda plush and smashed it hard on Gu Zeyu’s head. Seeing him start to tear up again, he barked coldly, “Drop one more tear, and I’ll spank you.”

Gu Zeyu stopped quickly, efficiently standing up and diving back into his nest of stuffed animals. He trembled under the covers, not letting Lu Yunian see whether he was still crying or not.

Lu Yunian had never encountered an Alpha like this before. He had been in the military since he was fifteen, surrounded by tough, unyielding Alpha men who wouldn’t shed a tear even when shot or seriously injured. But this Alpha in front of him cried at the slightest provocation. Setting aside the dignity an Alpha should have, this was the first time he had seen an Alpha rendered immobile by an Omega’s pheromones.

The crying from under the covers soon stopped. Lu Yunian went over, intending to drag him out, but as soon as he lifted the blanket, he saw the little Alpha had fallen asleep hugging the panda plush. Long lashes still held crystalline tears, two tear tracks on his faintly pink cheeks, making his skin look delicate and flawless.

Lu Yunian found everything absurd. He had been forced into marriage, forced to share a room with a weakling Alpha, and now he was even thinking this Alpha looked attractive. The Omega was angry with himself. He grabbed a blanket and went to sleep on the couch. As he covered his head and closed his eyes, all he could think about were the Alpha’s red lips, moistened and pouting from crying.

How strange!

The next day, when Gu Zeyu woke up, Lu Yunian was already gone.

The twelve brothers sat at the long table eating breakfast. Seeing Gu Zeyu come downstairs with a light step, they exchanged glances. The eldest brother cleared his throat, signaling everyone to maintain composure, and waved for Gu Zeyu to sit beside him. He asked in a standardized manner, “Did Lu Yunian fulfill his duties as a wife? Has your marriage entered a substantial phase? Do you have any specific plans for the future?”

Gu Zeyu took a sip of milk, remembering that Lu Yunian had eventually picked up the panda plush and placed it on the bed. He decided to cover for him, considering how gentle he had been with the panda. After all, Lu Yunian was now his Omega, and he couldn’t let his brothers bully him.

“It was good, we both slept quite comfortably,” Gu Zeyu said, meaning it literally. However, he didn’t expect all twelve brothers to choke on their milk simultaneously.

“Well then, pack up and move to the military base,” the eldest brother said, wiping the corner of his mouth and trying to maintain composure. “Omegas have a heat cycle every month. Lu Yunian will need you to help him.”