Will He Kiss Him?

Even after they had finished choosing all the collars, Shi Sheng was still thinking about that Alpha.

Hovis gave him a strange sense of familiarity, but it did not seem to come from the information he knew about the Huo family.

He must have seen Hovis somewhere else before.

Shi Sheng thought about it for a long time but could not remember. Then, when the car passed a famous ice cream shop in the capital, his attention was instantly drawn away.

Elaine noticed where he was looking. "Want some?"

Shi Sheng wanted to nod, but when he saw the long line outside the shop, he regretfully typed into his voice device, "Forget it. Too many people."

Elaine made an adjustment and had the self-driving car pull over. "It's fine. We have plenty of time today."

He fastened the seat belt Shi Sheng had unbuckled again. "The wind is strong. Wait here."

By the time Shi Sheng reacted, Elaine had already crossed the street and joined the end of the line.

Elaine is lining up to buy me ice cream!

That realization slowly made Shi Sheng's face turn red.

If the seat belt had not restrained him, he might have rolled around in excitement.

Goddess of Love above, if this isn't a date, then what is? This is totally a date!

Shi Sheng giggled and rolled down the car window, wanting to get a better look at Elaine's back as he stood in line.

To his surprise, he saw an unlucky face passing by outside the window.

"Oh? Isn't this our little Shi Yi?"

Shi Sheng's smile instantly vanished.

Ji Sui walked over with Lowell on his arm. "Out by yourself? That's rare."

Smiling, he said to Lowell, "It's been years since we last saw him out in the sunlight."

Expressionless, Shi Sheng raised the car window, but Lowell reached out and pressed it. The window sensed his hand and automatically stopped rising.

"Xiao Sui is talking to you." Lowell still looked arrogant as he glared at Shi Sheng in displeasure. "Why are you still so rude?"

Shi Sheng could not be bothered with them. He spread his empty hand, indicating that he had not brought his voice device.

"Oh, what are we going to do with you?" Ji Sui sighed. "The military academy starts in a few days. You can't stay mute forever, can you?"

As if he were genuinely concerned, he bent down and leaned closer to Shi Sheng. "Have you heard anything about your brother lately? Everything else can be discussed, but if he isn't here, what will you do about the mech operating program due when school starts?"

Only then did Shi Sheng remember that Ji Sui and Shi Yi were in the same major.

His brother, Shi Yi, had always ranked first in their major. Ji Sui must have been holding back his resentment for a long time.

Yet Ji Sui still wore a worried expression. "You can fake a face and a name, but it'll be a little harder to fake ability. Little cousin, if you have any difficulties at school, remember to tell your cousin."

Shi Sheng rolled his eyes and pressed the window button again.

Ji Sui's hand happened to be resting on the window, and he instantly cried out in pain.

"What are you doing?" Lowell immediately looked distressed and sternly snapped at Shi Sheng, "Shi Yi, get out and apologize!"

Shi Sheng looked at the pained Ji Sui in confusion.

The window had stopped automatically when it sensed Lowell's hand just now. How could it have pinched Ji Sui?

Seeing that he did not move, Lowell became so angry that he kicked the car door. "Didn't you hear me tell you to get out?"

"Shi Yi, you—"

Ji Sui suddenly shrieked, his voice and anger cutting off at once.

Shi Sheng had no idea what had happened. He only felt as though Ji Sui had nearly deafened him, and he raised his head speechlessly.

A small but clearly razor-sharp curved blade was hovering beside Lowell's neck.

If he moved even slightly, his throat would be slit at once.

"Who are you yelling at?"

A cold male voice drew closer. Shi Sheng immediately rolled down the window and poked his head out.

Elaine slowly walked over. His golden eyes beneath the bite guard were icy, but he held an ice cream in his hand.

He handed the ice cream to Shi Sheng, his tone gentle. "Chocolate and strawberry. Is that okay?"

Smiling, Shi Sheng gestured his thanks and accepted the ice cream. Then he looked at Lowell and Ji Sui, whose faces had gone pale with fright.

The little curved blade still seemed to be controlled by an invisible hand. Wherever Lowell shifted, it followed.

Ji Sui gritted his teeth. "Marshal..."

Elaine did not even seem to see him. He merely looked coldly at Lowell. "The cabinet nags all day long, yet it has not taught its own sons how to be polite."

Sweat was already trickling down Lowell's forehead.

Shi Sheng noticed passersby gathering around them, some filming with their wristbands.

He did not want Elaine to become the subject of gossip again, so he leaned out with his voice device and tugged gently at Elaine.

"Hungry. Let's go eat."

Elaine moved his right hand, and the curved blade instantly flew back into his hand before sliding into his sleeve.

He ignored those two and opened the car door, sitting down beside Shi Sheng.

Then he bent down and used a handkerchief to wipe the cream from the corner of Shi Sheng's lips.

Shi Sheng froze for a moment, then smiled with curved eyes and thanked Elaine.

The window rose, and the last image the onlookers captured was his smiling face.

Elaine waited until Shi Sheng had finished his ice cream before asking, "Your cousin... you two don't get along?"

Shi Sheng nodded solemnly. "He's jealous of me."

After typing those words, he quickly glanced up at Elaine, like a sly little animal.

Elaine chuckled. "Is that so? Why?"

Shi Sheng did not forget his current identity. "My grades are better than his. I'm a genius."

"I remember that the opening assignment for the military academy's information technology major is an automatic mech-driving program." Elaine used that to shift to another topic. "You can take leave, but the assignment must be handed in within the academic year."

He did not say anything else, only subtly reminded Shi Sheng.

Shi Sheng imitated Shi Yi convincingly and confidently patted himself. "I can finish it at home. I'll hand it in on time."

Elaine was a little surprised, assuming Shi Yi might have left something behind for Shi Sheng before he disappeared.

What he had originally wanted to say took a turn. "All right. If you need anything, you can come to me anytime."

Shi Sheng smiled in satisfaction again.

Looking at the Omega's smiling crescent eyes, Elaine still had one question he had not voiced.

If that foolish cousin had been jealous of Shi Yi because of his military academy grades...

Then what about Shi Sheng?

What made them treat Shi Sheng that way?

Elaine's expression cooled, but when Shi Sheng turned to call him, his golden eyes became warm again, like sunlight.

They shopped until they had dinner at a restaurant outside before returning to Carlos. Shi Sheng showered first, then opened his wristband and brought up a program he was almost done writing.

His brother really was unreliable. He had not even told him about such an important assignment.

Fortunately, Shi Sheng had prepared for it long ago.

When Elaine came out after his shower, he saw Shi Sheng sitting cross-legged on the bed, staring seriously at the virtual panel in front of him.

Elaine glanced at it while drying his hair, looking a little surprised. "An automatic operation program?"

Shi Sheng nodded, then looked at the towel in Elaine's hand and volunteered by holding out his own hand.

Since Shi Sheng had been injured, he had not helped Elaine dry his hair again.

Elaine paused, but still sat beside Shi Sheng and lowered his head. "Thank you."

Shi Sheng carefully and secretly touched Elaine's long hair, marveling at how silky it was.

But Elaine's gaze fell on the panel Shi Sheng had not yet closed.

"There's a small problem here."

Shi Sheng was happily touching Elaine's hair and froze when he suddenly heard him speak.

Elaine patiently gestured for him to look at the panel. "This value is a little too low. In actual combat, the power needed for a single wing is usually 1.2 times the value shown on the panel."

Shi Sheng understood and quickly made a series of changes.

After all, unlike his brother, he had never systematically studied at the military academy. Everything he could do now had come from years of self-study.

Watching Shi Sheng's practiced movements, Elaine thought of certain things he had uncovered in the past, along with other questions he had never found answers to.

His heart, hardened by years on the battlefield, felt an unusual ache of pity.

Shi Sheng turned around at that moment and looked at him eagerly.

Elaine said gently, "There's no problem now. You're very impressive. This program is perfect."

After being praised, Shi Sheng's cheeks turned rosy again.

He closed the panel and dried Elaine's hair with even more enthusiasm.

Elaine lowered his head, and from one side of his face, he could see Shi Sheng's neck.

Around the Omega's slender neck was the black beast-bone collar Elaine had given him.

Near his collarbone was still a bandage, covering the injury he had suffered in that accident.

Shi Sheng's movements gradually slowed.

Because he realized that Elaine seemed to be getting closer and closer to him.

At that moment, Shi Sheng thought the atmosphere was rather nice.

His heart began to pound, and he even felt that Elaine might want to kiss him.

Will he kiss me? Does Elaine like me?

These days, Elaine had cared for him in every possible way. They clearly got along just like a real legally married couple.

When his wound had not fully healed, Elaine had even soothed him with his pheromones.

Except Elaine had not marked him or said that he liked him.

Shi Sheng felt nervous and confused at the same time.

But perhaps Elaine's kindness toward him was only due to his sense of responsibility.

If his brother had been the one who married into the family, Elaine might have done this much out of responsibility too.

Unless Elaine truly wanted to kiss him right now, then perhaps...

Shi Sheng suddenly realized that he was waiting for an answer, and his nervousness intensified.

Elaine's breath brushed against Shi Sheng's skin, making the Omega tremble involuntarily.

But Elaine merely checked his wound and quickly withdrew his hand.

"It's almost scabbed over." Elaine's voice was slightly low. "Let the doctor take another look tomorrow."

Shi Sheng's heart sank back down. Somewhat disappointed, he nodded.

Elaine gently pressed down on Shi Sheng's hand. "All right, leave it to the robot. You need more rest."

So Shi Sheng had no choice but to reluctantly let go of the Alpha's hair.

Even when he and Elaine lay side by side in bed as usual, each under their own blanket, Shi Sheng was still feeling a little down.

A faint, familiar scent of pheromones lingered in the air.

Afraid that Shi Sheng would sleep poorly because of his injury, Elaine had gotten into the habit of soothing him.

Shi Sheng buried his face in the blanket and quietly sniffed.

Elaine's unintentional gesture just now made Shi Sheng realize that he had become a little too carried away lately.

He had forgotten that he was a fake, forgotten that this time was something he had stolen.

No matter how convincingly he played his brother, even if the program he wrote was more perfect than his brother's—

Sooner or later, he would have to leave Elaine.

Ever since losing face on the street that day, Ji Sui had not seen Lowell again until the military academy started.

But he did not dare to give Lowell the cold shoulder, so he could only perfunctorily deal with him on the Star Network.

Compared with Lowell, Ji Sui cared more about Elaine's and the other members of Carlos's attitude toward Shi Sheng.

It was clearly much better than he had expected!

Shi Sheng was actually doing well in that family? Impossible!

Ji Sui's already foul mood plunged straight to the bottom when he saw Shi Sheng's assignment.

How was that possible? Shi Yi had clearly disappeared, so how could Shi Sheng possibly turn in an assignment?

Seeing that the name he hated so much was still ranked first, Ji Sui clenched his hands.

He would not let Shi Sheng have it easy.

He had worked so hard for so long. Why were those two brothers still haunting him and pressing down on him?