I like you so much.
In the days without his Omega, Gu Zeyu could only sleep hugging his ugly stuffed animals. But once you’ve tasted watermelon, grapes no longer seem as sweet. Gu Zeyu had grown accustomed to sleeping with Lu Yunian, holding that soft, warm body like a comforting hot water bottle. Now, returning to these dolls, none compared to Lu Yunian.
He cared little for the outcome of the battle, only when Lu Yunian would return to his embrace. Lu Yunian’s body carried that enticing Omega scent. Though Gu Zeyu didn’t drink, he felt the sweet-tart aroma was like popping candies, making his heart leap every time he caught a whiff.
He called the writer Eighth Brother, asking if this was what love felt like – he thought he might like his Omega just a tiny bit. Hearing Lu Yunian had gone to the battlefield, Eighth Brother posed three critical questions: “Do you miss him? Are you worried for his safety? Are you afraid he’ll die in battle?”
Gu Zeyu pondered seriously for a second before replying, “No.”
Eighth Brother had already prepared his response and sent it without reading Gu Zeyu’s answer: “Then you must really like him. Who doesn’t love the Omega they married? Stories of marriage before love are very popular.”
Gu Zeyu’s reply came through moments later, but by then, Eighth Brother was engrossed in writing, and the message recall window had passed. Figuring it unimportant and seeing no follow-up, Eighth Brother returned to furiously typing his novel.
When Lu Yunian returned, he was called to a post-battle briefing. By the time he finished, it was already 6 p.m. During the battle, he’d captured a conch shell from the sea folk that could repeat any phrase three times. For some reason, he thought the little Alpha might enjoy this silly trinket.
“Where’s Gu Zeyu?” Lu Yunian asked the orderly with a frown upon finding their quarters empty. Other Omegas would eagerly await their husbands’ return from battle, running to the camp gates to throw themselves into waiting arms, their pheromones flooding uncontrollably.
But Gu Zeyu? Not only did he not come to greet him, he was nowhere to be seen. What a heartless little Alpha.
The orderly hesitated before answering, “Young Master Gu is in the mess hall.”
“What has Gu Zeyu been up to in camp while I was away?” Lu Yunian asked, trying to keep his temper in check.
“Sleeping in, lunch at the mess hall, napping, dinner at the mess hall, chatting with Omegas, supper at the mess hall,” the orderly reported.
“Why is he going to the mess hall three times a day? Aren’t you bringing him meals?” Lu Yunian sensed something wrong.
“The mess hall got some new recruits – Alphas and Omegas. Young Master Gu said us old-timers are too stuffy. He prefers hanging out with them…” The orderly trailed off as Lu Yunian angrily kicked over a trash can and stormed out. He hurried after him, shouting, “They’re all very handsome! Very handsome!”
When Lu Yunian found him, Gu Zeyu was cheerfully feeding pigs with a new recruit. Lu Yunian’s expression darkened. Gu Zeyu didn’t seem displeased to see him, waving his feed scoop with a bright smile. “You’re back! Have you eaten?”
Looking at the pink piglets crowding around Gu Zeyu, their curly tails high in the air, Lu Yunian couldn’t bring himself to say he hadn’t. When Omegas are angry, they release slightly sour pheromones. The air was thick with Lu Yunian’s scent, but Gu Zeyu remained oblivious, stirring the pig feed and asking in confusion, “Why did it suddenly go bad?”
Lu Yunian didn’t bother explaining. He hoisted Gu Zeyu out of the pig pen and carried him straight to the bathroom, where he began stripping off his clothes. Gu Zeyu managed to keep his pig-tail underwear on, covering his chest as he protested, “What are you doing? I just took a bath this morning, I’m clean! Is it your heat or something?”
Lu Yunian’s eyes darkened as he took in Gu Zeyu’s snow-white body, slender shoulders, and trim waist. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he pressed his lips together. Seeing Gu Zeyu try to escape while he was distracted, he grabbed the shower head and began lathering him with lemon-scented body wash. “Mm, get ready. We’ll have our wedding night tonight. Didn’t you come to help me? I’m going into heat tonight.”
If Gu Zeyu weren’t so gullible, he’d know Omega heat cycles don’t just happen on command. But he was that gullible.
He even nervously messaged Doctor Sixth Brother: “My Omega’s going into heat tonight. What should I do?”
Sixth Brother replied quickly, with lots of exclamation points: “You must be on top!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Gu Zeyu found this strange. His understanding of Alpha/Omega pheromone exchange was limited to imagination, like this: “Hello, here is my Alpha pheromone for you. I’ll keep your Omega pheromone safely in my bag.”
As a soldier, divorce wasn’t an option in Lu Yunian’s upbringing. Since Gu Zeyu was and would always be his mate, fulfilling those rights and duties was only proper.
As he carried Gu Zeyu from the bathroom, the man clung to him like a little fish. Lu Yunian could smell the milky scent from Gu Zeyu’s nape gland, making him slightly dizzy. He couldn’t imagine what being with Gu Zeyu would be like, but some things needn’t follow convention.
He didn’t want Gu Zeyu to take him, but he could take Gu Zeyu.
So his kisses trailed down from Gu Zeyu’s brow, like golden seals stamping “Lu Yunian” everywhere. He pinned Gu Zeyu’s hands above his head, splaying him out on the bed. Gu Zeyu felt dreamy from the kisses, finding this game delightful. Warm, comforting Omega pheromones drifted through the room. He bit his lip to stifle sounds of pleasure.
Lu Yunian’s calloused fingertips traced Gu Zeyu’s collarbones, following the lines of his body. This fish was so pale, like fine beach sand. He didn’t want to admit any fondness, yet couldn’t stop kissing Gu Zeyu’s chest, leaving rosy marks.
The Alpha and Omega pheromones in the air reached a fever pitch. Even Gu Zeyu began writhing uncontrollably, Doctor Sixth Brother’s advice long forgotten as he lay beneath Lu Yunian like a ragdoll, too comfortable to move.
When an urgent ringtone broke the silence, Lu Yunian paused. A flash of clarity crossed Gu Zeyu’s eyes. He quickly turned off the ringing phone, then wrapped his arms around Lu Yunian’s neck, nuzzling him and whispering, “Keep going.”
Lu Yunian’s voice was husky as he kissed the corner of Gu Zeyu’s mouth, tracing his lips with his tongue before capturing them fully.
Another ringtone sounded. Gu Zeyu reached for his phone apologetically before remembering he’d turned it off. He nudged Lu Yunian’s firm chest with his foot. “It’s yours.”
Lu Yunian didn’t want to answer, but the caller ID was both familiar and strange. He held Gu Zeyu down with one hand while answering with the other. The call lasted less than 30 seconds before he hung up, looking at the waiting Gu Zeyu with a complex expression.
Gu Zeyu didn’t know what had happened. Lu Yunian had suddenly gone cold. He tried releasing Alpha pheromones to entice Lu Yunian to continue, but his pheromones were pitifully weak and had no effect. Lu Yunian gathered Gu Zeyu’s clothes and began dressing him. Seeing Gu Zeyu’s puppy-dog eyes gazing at him pleadingly, he finally said gently, “My heat hasn’t come. We’ll continue next time.”
Before Gu Zeyu could get upset, Lu Yunian pulled out the conch shell and tossed it to him. “I brought you a gift. Say something into it.”
Gu Zeyu’s attention was easily diverted. He whispered into the shell, then listened with bright, round eyes. He held it up to Lu Yunian’s ear like a treasured possession. His youthful voice echoed: “I really like my Omega. I really like my Omega. I really like my Omega.”
Lu Yunian’s gloomy expression instantly cleared. He hugged Gu Zeyu close and pinched his cheek, solemnly declaring, “Let me prepare. We’ll have our wedding night next time.”
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