Su Ling's heart was racing, his face hot as he lay there, wrapped around the General. He'd slept with him all night. Slowly, carefully, he lifted his head, peeking at Pei You—thank god, he was still asleep. He gently pulled his arm away, glancing at Pei You again, then his leg, another quick glance—and met a pair of dark, unblinking eyes.
Su Ling jumped, scrambling back, his hands waving in panic as he stammered out an explanation. "I-I-I swear I didn't mean anything by it! I promise!" He held up three fingers, his voice shaky. When Pei You's face stayed blank, he added, quieter, more unsure, "I-I was just tired from the massage. I haven't been sleeping well, and the bed's so hard…" He rubbed his nose, and his fingers brushed empty air—his nasal plugs were gone, lost somewhere in the night. He grabbed the pheromone inhibitor, spraying Pei You twice in a panic, his embarrassment doubling. He hung his head, his voice small. "I'm sorry."
"You held me, kissed me, touched me, slept with me—all while I couldn't move." Pei You's voice was low, his deep, magnetic baritone lightened with a soft, bubbly lilt that sent a shiver down Su Ling's spine, making his ears tingle. "You took every advantage you could, and now you plan to leave me in seven months."
How could he say something like that with a straight face? Su Ling's face burned, the red spreading down his neck, shame making him freeze, unsure what to say, what to do. He hadn't taken advantage of him—not on purpose. But he had held him, kissed him, touched him, slept with him. It was an accident! God, what had he done? How could he explain this?
"Still. You're my spouse. I'll forgive you—for now." Pei You said it like he was bestowing a great favor.
Su Ling's mind was a mess. What did that mean?
"But you can't keep being so…" He hesitated, the words shameless on the tip of his tongue, before settling on something milder. "Reckless. You have to ask first."
Su Ling stared at the floor, his eyes darting to Pei You from the corner of his eye. He saw the faint frown on his face, the small smile hidden in his eyes—and it hit him. The General was messing with him! The damn, tricky General was teasing him!
Su Ling puffed out his chest, his voice sharp with warning. "I'm telling you, don't treat me like a kid. If you keep this up, I'll actually bully you. You'll regret it."
He heard that deep, lovely laugh, Pei You's voice soft as he asked, "Oh? How exactly do you plan to bully me?"
Su Ling lost his temper, for no reason at all. He jumped to his feet, standing on the bed, towering over Pei You, his finger pointing at him as he stammered. "Y-Y-You! Today, you—" He was going to say he'd take away his sunlight, but he thought better of it. The General only got a little sun every day; he couldn't bear to take that away. "No honey water for your lips today!"
"On what grounds?" Pei You stared back at him, his eyes bright with life—Su Ling had never seen him like this. His heart softened, his resolve melting. "Fine. Plain water instead."
"I'm hungry. I want fish porridge, egg custard, mousse cake, and five-flavor soup." Pei You said it like it was the most natural thing in the world, and Su Ling's attention snapped to the words, excitement bubbling in his chest. "Yes! You finally want to eat something!" He'd been trying to tempt Pei You with food for weeks, and it had finally worked. He was willing to bet the General had been craving it this whole time, just too stubborn to admit it. Su Ling snickered to himself. "Wait there—I'll make it for you."
His smile was too bright, the amusement in his eyes impossible to hide, and Pei You saw it all. He did like him. He was happy just making him food.
As soon as Su Ling left, Pei You told Zhuangzhuang to wheel him to Su Ling's room. It was a surprise, and yet not. Su Ling's room was the same as always—pale white walls, cold, empty, no warmth at all. Su Ling hadn't used any of Pei You's money for himself. Not even a pillow. He drew a clear line between them: Pei You's money was for Pei You, and he'd buy his own things with his salary. A space Pei You had once found calm and familiar now felt wrong, uncomfortable. He reached for his brain pad, ready to transfer money to Su Ling—then stopped, changing his mind. If the little guy wanted to be a caregiver, then a caregiver he'd be. Caregivers asked their employers for a raise, not the other way around.
And as for this room? If he was so desperate to share a bed with Pei You, he'd grant his wish—half of it. No need for a separate room anymore. But he was a man of principle. He wouldn't let the little guy take advantage of him so easily again!
"General?" Su Ling's voice came from the doorway, surprise in his tone. He'd looked everywhere for Pei You, never expecting to find him here. "Dinner's ready." He straightened Pei You in his wheelchair, his brow furrowed. "What are you doing in my room?"
"I bought the mattress. It'll be delivered this afternoon."
Su Ling's face broke into a huge smile, his lips stretching so wide they almost reached his ears. He placed his hands on Pei You's shoulders, his voice bright with joy. "I'll make you delicious food every day from now on! Anything you want!"
Su Ling wheeled Pei You to the dining room, the smell of food wrapping around them, making Pei You's stomach growl, his Adam's apple bobbing. The little guy was evil. He seduced him with his body, and now with his food. He deserved a little punishment, didn't he?
The wicked Su Ling scooped a spoonful of porridge, leaning close to Pei You, a napkin in his other hand, feeding him like a baby—one spoonful, then a quick wipe of his mouth. "Is it good?" His voice was soft, gentle, and he was so close Pei You could see the fine fuzz on his cheeks, the tips of his ears turning pink as he grunted a quiet "Mm."
"I can make so much more." Su Ling grinned, proud. "When you get better, I'll make you sweet and sour pork ribs, spicy saliva chicken, braised fish, sweet and sour pork tenderloin… everything." He fed him another spoonful, his voice teasing. "Do you like sweet things? Cake, cookies, egg tarts, donuts, pudding—I can make all of them."
"I'm an S-rank alpha, a general who's fought on countless battlefields. I don't like sweet things." Pei You said it stiffly, his lips pressing together in discomfort. Su Ling snickered to himself. The stubborn General thought liking sweet things was embarrassing, didn't he? Too proud to admit he was a little greedy. It was kind of cute.
Su Ling coaxed him, his voice soft. "Yes, yes, top alpha, undefeated general. Do me a favor? Just try a little cake later, okay?"
"You're always acting so clingy." Pei You looked put-upon, his voice thick with fond exasperation. "I've never met anyone who likes to act like a baby as much as you do."
Su Ling wanted to scream. Unfair! This wasn't being clingy! This was taking care of a stubborn, grumpy General! He felt like a pot had fallen on his head, no way to defend himself, his mouth twitching as he stuffed a spoonful of cake into Pei You's mouth. "If you don't like it, you can spit it out." He placed his hand under Pei You's chin, waiting.
"We soldiers don't waste food. Since you made it, feed me all of it." Pei You licked his lips, the sweet, creamy cake melting on his tongue, and added, stern, "And you're not allowed to waste food either."
Su Ling was speechless. They said you catch more flies with honey, but the General was a different breed! He ate his cake, and then he made rules! So obvious he loved it, but too stubborn to admit it. Childish! Su Ling decided to let it go, not willing to argue with him.
Pei You's lips parted, his eyebrow quirked, waiting for the next spoonful, savoring every bite, the sweetness seeping into his chest. After dinner, Su Ling found out Pei You had bought a new bed, a thick, soft mattress on it, Fangfang wheeling it into the General's room. Su Ling's eyes lit up with envy, wheeling Pei You in to look, his voice curious. "Why not move your old bed out?" The General's room was huge, the two beds sitting side by side, plenty of space between them.
"I bought it for you. You'll sleep here from now on." Pei You didn't need to look to know Su Ling was over the moon. He liked him so much, and now his wish to share a room was finally coming true.
Sharing a room? Su Ling froze.