Don't You Miss Me?

Wan Ying's face darkened as he released his pressure, and everyone slunk away.

At last, it was quiet around him again.

Much easier on the eyes.

Bian He rubbed his nose and said softly, "Bro, the mint scent is so strong."

This time, the mint pheromones carried a trace of vinegar.

Was he jealous because Bian He had stood too close to those people?

Wan Ying sat in his seat and pushed the drink toward him.

He snapped, "Didn't you say you liked the smell of my pheromones? Why do you think they're too strong this time?"

Had Bian He taken a liking to someone else's pheromones and decided his mint scent smelled bad?

He never should have brought him out. Little Treasure, with that wagging tail, always attracted so many people's affection.

He was too pretty, making Wan Ying feel threatened. What if Little Treasure found the food he gave him unappetizing and ran off to someone else?

If that day really came, he would break all four of Little Treasure's limbs, and that filthy thing trying to seduce him... could accept the law's cleansing.

Wan Ying watched Bian He obediently drink his juice, a ring of it staining his lips...

Even the most casual movement was brimming with allure.

Pretty Little Treasure had every reason to be tempting.

Wan Ying tightened his grip on the water bottle. Thinking of how he had to leave on a business trip tomorrow, what if Little Treasure was home alone and harassed by other Alphas?

Bian He might be capable, but prolonged exposure to an S-rank Alpha's pheromones would still make him uncomfortable.

What if it affected him and brought on his heat early?

The unit had rules: family members were not allowed during assignments.

What was he supposed to do?

Perhaps he should buy enough ingredients for several days and leave him at home alone.

Only by keeping him penned in would he not run off, nor would other people set their sights on him.

Countless thoughts flashed through his mind.

Then he looked at that happy smile...

"Are you unhappy? It's not that I don't like the smell of your pheromones. It's just that there are too many of them, and they make me feel a little strange."

Strange?

Wan Ying raised his eyes and saw those reddened cheeks, suddenly understanding what he meant.

He had nearly forgotten the pheromone compatibility between him and Little Treasure.

He could be affected by Little Treasure's pheromones, and Little Treasure could be controlled by his.

With that connection between them, how could Bian He possibly take a liking to another Alpha so easily?

Once he sorted out his thoughts, his mood improved as well.

"Are you full?"

Bian He lowered his head to look at the empty plate before him and obediently nodded. "I'm full. A little too full, actually."

Wan Ying picked up the drink. "Let's go. Time to head back."

After eating and drinking his fill, he should take a nap.

They returned home.

There were no unnecessary eyes to disturb them.

Wan Ying sat at the edge of the bed, looking at the bathroom door. Through it, he could imagine him washing inside.

Little Treasure was still a clean freak. After eating, he had to wash himself clean.

He casually pressed down on his coat and felt a cufflink on it.

Picking up the coat, he examined the style of the cufflink...

Just who was his Little Treasure?

He had willingly run right to Wan Ying, and even pretending to be a Little Treasure never seemed to bore him.

"Bro, there's no body wash left."

The bathroom door opened a crack, and a wet little Puppy face poked out.

Wan Ying set down the coat and took a new bottle of body wash from the cabinet.

"Bian He, stay home obediently these next few days. I'm heading out tonight, and I might not be back for several days."

Bian He took the body wash, tilting his head as he peered out. "You're going far away? Can't you take me with you?"

He looked adorably silly.

If he brought him along, the trip probably would not be so boring.

"The unit has rules. I can't bring family members. And if we run into danger on the road, I might not be able to protect you in time."

Wan Ying pinched his cheek. "Don't be too clingy."

Before Wan Ying had even started, Bian He was already being so obedient.

How could he possibly bring himself to use harsher methods?

He figured that as long as he said it, Bian He would obediently do as told.

He clearly did not like obedient ones, so why was he raising one?

Maybe because he was kindhearted?

Wan Ying concealed his thoughts and lightly tapped Bian He's forehead. "Go finish your bath. If you catch a cold later, I won't take care of you."

With a splash.

A quiet grumble sounded along with the closing door. "Hmph! I don't believe Bro could be that heartless."

He sounded quite righteous about it.

Even Wan Ying was not sure whether he would take care of him. Where did that confidence come from?

Wan Ying spread open his palm, mint pheromones spilling out as a mint leaf totem appeared on the back of his hand.

If they kept getting along like this, could he still guard his heart?

Even an overly obedient Little Treasure could endear himself to people.

It would disrupt the rhythm of Wan Ying's life.

He had already allowed Little Treasure into his circle of life. The deeper he seeped in, how was Wan Ying supposed to wrap things up in the end?

A thread of troubled thoughts wound around an answer he could not avoid.

Wan Ying let out a breath, opened his backpack, and began packing his luggage.

He simply packed a few changes of clothes and toiletries.

Everything had been packed, just as usual.

He sat before the computer desk, fiddling with the little ceramic dog.

Why did he keep feeling as though he had forgotten something?

What had he failed to pack?

His phone, charger, flashlight, compressed biscuits, canned luncheon meat, water, climbing rope, coat, dagger...

What else was missing?

Wan Ying closed his eyes and mentally went over what he might have forgotten while packing his clothes.

He thought it over again and again.

What exactly was missing?

"Bro, I'm done washing."

The sudden voice interrupted his train of thought.

Wan Ying lifted his eyelids and looked at the Little Treasure before him.

His wet hair made him look a little pitiful.

His hair was not purely black; under sunlight, it carried a faint golden sheen.

Before Wan Ying, Little Treasure's eyes were pale blue.

He was truly beautiful.

"Why didn't you dry your hair again? Are you determined to make yourself sick?"

Bian He lowered his head and rested it on Wan Ying's lap. "I already towel-dried it. I don't like blow-drying my hair. It's such a hassle."

So he was raising a lazy Little Treasure too.

Wan Ying bent down, took a hair dryer from the drawer, and plugged it in.

"I've spoiled you. How can you be this lazy? How tiring can drying your hair be?"

Though he complained, one hand held the hair dryer while the other ran through the loose strands until his hair was completely dry.

"Bian He... I bought you a few clothes. Go try them on and see whether they fit."

Bian He shook his head, abruptly stood up, and threw himself into Wan Ying's arms.

The two of them fell onto the bed together.

Wan Ying's gaze turned cold, anger rising within him.

Because of his identity, he did not particularly like sudden movements. They could trigger his instinctive reactions, and he could easily hurt Puppy by accident.

"Bro, come back quickly. I'll miss you."

All of his anger vanished with that aggrieved sentence.

Wan Ying closed his eyes and wrapped an arm around his waist.

"..."

The cold, quiet house seemed to hold a trace more anticipation because Little Treasure was in it.

He would miss him? It felt as if Wan Ying had not even left yet, but already a hint of reluctance had arisen.

Wan Ying furrowed his brow tightly.

He was biting him again.

Harder than usual.

Bian He propped himself up and looked at him. "Bro, you didn't say you'd miss me. This is the first time we've been apart. Don't you miss me?"