Did You Come to Save Me?

Shi Sheng had a memory he had treasured for many years.

That year, he could still speak. He had been a lively, warmhearted child, just like his older brother.

That year, the Empire did not yet have the War God Elaine, and it was far less stable than it was now.

Shi Sheng had been traveling with his parents when the area was suddenly attacked by an enemy nation, sparking a small-scale war.

As the people around him gradually stopped breathing, Shi Sheng, separated from his parents, truly thought he was going to die.

He was pinned beneath a corpse that still retained some warmth, with only one eye barely able to see the low clouds overhead.

So much time passed that he could barely feel himself breathing.

In his despair, he suddenly heard a very faint sound.

"Help..."

His voice was truly soft and weak.

But the footsteps stopped.

"Elaine, what are you doing? We're pulling out!"

A voice called from afar.

Then another, closer voice spoke, somewhat coldly.

"There's a survivor."

Shi Sheng struggled to move his hand, wanting to call for help from the owner of that silhouette.

After an unknown amount of time, blinding sunlight flooded Shi Sheng's eyes.

He could not help but cry. Through his blurred vision, a figure bent down toward him.

"You're still awake?" The owner of the voice sounded slightly startled, but quickly softened his tone. "Don't be afraid. Give me your hand."

Only after his eyes adjusted to the sunlight did his vision gradually clear.

Shi Sheng saw a handsome young man.

The other boy's eyes were like the sunrise that never set over the capital.

"...Big brother..." Shi Sheng's voice was hoarse and timid. "Did you come to save me?"

"Imperial Capital Military Academy Third Action Squad." The young man's voice was cool, yet carried a reassuring strength. "The enemy has retreated. You're safe now."

With that, he held out his hand to Shi Sheng. "I'll take you out."

Shi Sheng opened his arms and was carried out of the pile of corpses by the young man.

The military uniform buttons against his cheek felt cold and hard, yet Shi Sheng suddenly stopped being afraid.

He wrapped his arms around the young man's neck, and only after escaping danger did he belatedly feel wronged.

"It smells... so bad."

He had been trapped in the pile of corpses for too long and felt as though he was covered in the unpleasant stench of blood and decay.

Shi Sheng sniffled, holding back his tears. "It was so dark. I want my mom."

The young man's hand paused, then briefly stroked the top of Shi Sheng's head. "Talk less. Your body will become dehydrated."

Shi Sheng obediently said, "Oh," and quietly curled up in the young man's arms.

Before long, he could not help asking in a soft voice, "Big brother, what's your name?"

"My name isn't important."

That was how the young man had answered back then.

But Shi Sheng had actually already known.

Capital First Medical Center.

Shi Sheng's memories were interrupted by intense pain, but he had not fully regained consciousness.

The doctor had already treated his wounds quickly. Fortunately, when Shi Sheng pulled Yumian away, he had been facing the magical beast head-on, so its most vicious swipe had not injured his gland.

But it had nearly struck the artery in his neck, and he had lost a considerable amount of blood.

Shi Sheng kept struggling in his unconscious state because of the pain, leaving the doctor no choice but to administer a painkiller.

"Two doses were given an hour ago. If he's still in this much pain, I'm afraid this one won't have much effect either."

The doctor's expression was grave as he spoke to Elaine.

Because Shi Sheng was struggling so violently, Elaine propped him up and held him in his arms to make things easier for the doctor.

The Alpha's face was dark, but his movements as he held Shi Sheng were exceedingly careful.

"My compatibility with him is one hundred percent." Elaine's gaze was dark as he asked, "Would pheromone soothing alleviate it? Would it make him uncomfortable?"

The doctor said, "With compatibility this high, he won't feel uncomfortable. But it may not work. It would be best to give him a mark."

Those words made Elaine fall silent.

The person in his arms suddenly convulsed. Elaine bent down and held him tighter, disregarding whether it might be improper as he clasped Shi Sheng's icy hand.

"Don't be afraid."

The Alpha soothed him in a low, gentle voice. "Bear with it a little longer. It'll stop hurting soon."

Shi Sheng's body, writhing in pain, temporarily calmed somewhat.

"Good boy."

Elaine wiped away the tears at the corners of Shi Sheng's eyes. His strong fingers clasped Shi Sheng's hand, giving the Omega somewhere to vent his pain.

The doctor left. Only Elaine and Shi Sheng remained in the hospital room, along with the fragrance of Champagne Rose filling the air.

The pain made it impossible for Shi Sheng to control the leakage of his pheromones, and Elaine was finally able to learn the Omega's scent.

It truly was the scent of the flowers he had given him that day.

But Elaine could not bring himself to be happy about it. Recalling the doctor's words, his heart, always so steadfast, felt hesitant for the first time.

The Omega in his arms was slender, his icy hand still clutching Elaine tightly.

To a tall soldier, Shi Sheng was so small that he could shatter with ease.

An Omega should be cherished, carefully cradled in one's hands, never allowed to suffer the slightest harm.

Elaine closed his eyes, then lowered his head toward Shi Sheng's neck.

The slender neck was wrapped in layer after layer of bandages.

His cold lips stopped just short of touching the Omega's skin.

Elaine did not mark him, not even temporarily.

Only the hand holding Shi Sheng's seemed to show distinct veins from his forced restraint.

Fortunately, the person in his arms seemed to have been soothed nonetheless. His hand finally stopped gripping so tightly and slowly slipped from Elaine's palm.

But Elaine quickly caught Shi Sheng's hand again and held it carefully.