Su Ling's mind raced. Did caregivers sleep in the same room as their patients? Probably. Was the General's decision a sign he approved of his work? It must be! A warm, fuzzy feeling of satisfaction bloomed in his chest—hard work pays off, after all. He broke into a big smile, nodding eagerly. "Sure! That's great!"
Pei You saw the joy on his face, his voice sharp with warning. "But you're not allowed to sneak into my bed at night. Absolutely not."
Su Ling stared at him, confused, before the memory of their night together hit him, his hands waving in panic. "I won't! I promise! I swear I won't, don't worry!"
Pei You wasn't convinced. He just knew the little guy would find some way to cause trouble. And he was right. Because Pei You had eaten food, he needed to use the bathroom in the middle of the night. He called for Zhuangzhuang, telling him to wheel him to the cleaning pod—but Su Ling sat up, his eyes bleary with sleep, shaking his head. "Don't use the cleaning pod. I'll carry you to the bathroom. It's just a pee, it'll be quick." Su Ling hated the cleaning pod after his own experience with it, the feeling of it cold and clinical, uncomfortable to the point of pain. He'd do anything to keep Pei You from having to use it.
He hauled Pei You into his arms, carrying him to the bathroom, setting him down on the toilet—and then froze. He'd forgotten about the pants. If he called Zhuangzhuang now, the General would be embarrassed. And it was part of his job as a caregiver, wasn't it? C'mon. He'd been to public restrooms before, he'd seen other guys—they were both men, it was fine!
Pei You watched him freeze, his face flushing bright red, then saw him reach out, his hand closing around Pei You's belt—his heart slammed against his ribs, panic making his voice sharp, angry. "You're trying to take advantage of me again?!"
"I'm not!" Su Ling yanked his hand back so fast it almost flew off, his voice defensive. "How are you supposed to pee if you don't take your pants off?!"
Pei You's patience snapped, his voice rising. "Kissing me the other day—was that not taking advantage?"
"That was because your pheromones were too strong! They made me dizzy!" Su Ling shot back, flustered, not realizing how intimate his words sounded. A faint, sweet warmth bloomed in Pei You's chest, but he pushed it down, his jaw tight. The little guy had the nerve to blame his pheromones? He was just a horny little omega, plain and simple!
"You said you'd massage me every day—isn't that just an excuse to touch me? To hold me while you sleep?"
Su Ling's temper flared, his voice loud with frustration. "It's for your health! If you stay in bed too long, your muscles will atrophy—they'll die! You can't accuse me of this! It's not fair!" The injustice of it all made him angry, his cheeks puffing out as he snapped, "Who even wants to sleep with you? You're harder than a rock, you hurt my whole body when I lean on you!"
Pei You stared at him, stunned, disbelieving. "And now? You're not trying to look at my body? You're not trying to—" He couldn't bring himself to say the rest, his voice sharp with accusation. "You still won't admit it?!"
Su Ling stared back at him, his mouth open, speechless, so frustrated he thought he'd pass out. "If you don't want me to touch you, I won't! I won't touch a single thread of your clothes from now on! I won't look at you either, not anywhere, not without your permission! Is that enough for you?!"
Tears glistened in Su Ling's eyes, his face puffed out like a puffer fish, and Pei You thought he was just shy, throwing a tantrum. He cleared his throat, his voice softening, less sharp. "That's not necessary. You can touch me. Just… not too much."
"Call Zhuangzhuang to help you then." Su Ling's chest ached, the words falling from his lips like lead as he turned and walked away, slumping down on the bed, his eyes fixed on the bathroom door. He'd only wanted to help him. To take care of him. And now he was being accused of being a pervert, a creep. He couldn't explain it, no matter how hard he tried. Being called a sex fiend—it was a nightmare.
And Su Ling never, ever could have guessed what Pei You would say when he came out of the bathroom. A look of reluctant compromise on his face, his voice flat. "From now on, you're allowed to touch me and hold me. But not too often—once a day is enough. And you're not allowed to kiss me again. Not without my permission."
Who the hell wanted to touch him, hold him, kiss him?! Su Ling's brain short-circuited. Where did these ridiculous ideas come from? A once-a-day rule? For what?! He stared at Pei You, his eyes wide, and saw anger in his dark pupils—and a faint, helpless indulgence, like he couldn't say no to Su Ling even if he tried. The cold, distant General was gone, replaced by someone alive, someone warm. What the hell was going on?
Su Ling grabbed the covers, pulling them over his head, from his hair to his toes, not wanting to talk, not wanting to look at him. The little lump under the covers wiggled, and Pei You smiled to himself. He was definitely shy, hiding under the covers and giggling to himself, satisfied with the rule. Feelings needed to grow slow, step by step. Even if they were married, the little guy couldn't be so forward, so desperate for physical contact. If he was healthy, he'd be stricter. He'd never indulge this little pervert so much!
Su Ling curled up into a ball under the covers, his face burning hotter and hotter—it was all the covers' fault, too thick, too warm. He pricked up his ears, listening—nothing but his own ragged breathing, silence stretching on and on. Had the General fallen asleep? Had this whole mess been forgotten? Su Ling pulled the covers back a little, peeking out—and found Pei You sitting in his wheelchair, right beside the bed, staring at him.
It was terrifying! And his face said it all—I knew you'd peek. Knew you couldn't stay quiet. What did he even mean? Su Ling's voice was small, confused. "What are you doing?"
"I'm waiting for you to fall asleep." Pei You said it like it was obvious.
"Why?" Su Ling's mind was still a mess, his voice tired. "Your body can't handle staying up late. Go to sleep. Now."
"I can't. I have to wait for you to fall asleep." Pei You was stubborn—Su Ling knew that better than anyone. If he said he'd wait, he'd wait all night, even if it killed him. But why? Su Ling propped himself up on his elbow, his brow furrowed. "What does me sleeping have to do with anything?"
"Everything." Pei You's face was pink, uncomfortable, his voice stiff. "Did you hear what I said earlier? Will you keep your promise?"
What promise? The stupid once-a-day touch and hold promise? He was sitting here, waiting for him to fall asleep, just for a yes? Su Ling's chest burned with injustice, a ball of anger swelling in his throat as he ground out the words, slow and deliberate. "I. Don't. Want. To. Touch. You."
Pei You didn't believe him for a second, his eyes fixed on Su Ling's, unblinking, waiting for him to agree, to promise. Su Ling had no way to explain himself, no way to make him believe. He couldn't just sit here all night, staring at each other. A helpless, hopeless feeling washed over him, and he caved, throwing his hands up in defeat. "Fine! Fine, I promise! I agree, okay?" He flopped back onto the bed, slamming his eyes shut. "I'm asleep. Happy now?"
He heard no movement, no order for Zhuangzhuang to wheel him away, and his temper flared again, his voice sharp. "What else do you want?!"
"I said I'd wait for you to fall asleep." Pei You repeated, unyielding.
Su Ling said nothing, staring at the ceiling, desperate for the night to end. He counted seven hundred and sixty-nine sheep, his eyes burning, before he spoke, his voice muffled, tired. "General… can you tell me why you have to watch me fall asleep? Please?"
"You—" Pei You hesitated, the words dying on his tongue, embarrassment making his voice sharp, annoyed. "Just go to sleep. Stop asking questions."
Su Ling felt like he was going to lose his mind. How was he supposed to sleep with the General staring at him like a hawk? He replayed Pei You's words in his head, the accusations, the assumptions—he thought Su Ling was a pervert, a creep who wanted to take advantage of his injury. Was he afraid Su Ling would climb into his bed while he slept?! God! He'd never do that! He'd never sneak into his bed, never take advantage of him like that! He didn't trust Su Ling's character at all. Accusing him of things he'd never do, making him out to be a bad person—it was so unfair.
Su Ling's chest ached with ,a ball of anger and sadness rising in his throat, hot and sharp. This wasn't over. Not until he got an explanation.