Stealing a Kiss

The aircraft soon stopped at the Capital Police Bureau headquarters.

Hovis was still wearing his police uniform jacket loosely, an e-cigarette between his fingers as he waited at the entrance.

When he saw Elaine accompanying Shi Sheng over, he merely raised an eyebrow slightly, not particularly curious.

By procedure, Shi Sheng could only go in alone to be questioned.

Elaine did not use any privilege. He merely helped Shi Sheng fasten his coat again. "Don't be afraid. It'll be fine."

Shi Sheng's heart was still immersed in their earlier conversation. At that moment, he felt that nothing could frighten him anymore.

He tried his best to let Elaine see his smile.

Elaine's lips curved as well.

Hovis took his last drag from the e-cigarette. "All right, go on in."

When Yumian got out of the car, all he saw was Shi Sheng's retreating figure as he followed Hovis away.

"They're really investigating?" Yumian only withdrew his gaze after the two vanished from sight. "Wasn't it just an accident? Wouldn't giving that student some money settle it?"

Yumian spoke in confusion, somewhat displeased. "Who knows who's stirring things up? Star Network is full of people cursing Shi Sheng. When we get back, I'll find someone to ban all their accounts."

"Yumian." Elaine interrupted his younger brother, his expression cold. "Don't let him hear you say that."

Yumian froze. "What's wrong with saying that?"

Ever since their mother died, Elaine had spent most of his time on the battlefield. There truly was no one in this world who could restrain Yumian.

No one had ever taught him what kind of moral standards a person should have.

Elaine had always known about the flaws in his two younger brothers' natures.

But he himself was no good person either, so naturally, he did not know how to teach his brothers.

Carlos had been branded a monster from the day he was born.

Yet at that moment, Elaine suddenly did not want Shi Sheng to see this side of them.

Marrying into the Carlos family was unfortunate enough.

Seeing that his eldest brother had fallen silent, Yumian did not dare ask any further.

He had always only been able to obey Elaine, never daring to argue.

But Yumian found it a little funny. Was his eldest brother afraid Shi Sheng would think those words excessive? That they were, as people cursed them on Star Network, arrogant, domineering, cold-blooded, and cruel nobles?

But that was what they were.

Yumian's gaze passed through the glass window and fell inside the Capital Police Bureau. Figures moved about within, but he could not see the familiar person he was looking for.

He thought, everyone clearly knew that this was what they were like.

Through Hovis's explanation, Shi Sheng finally understood the situation completely.

He pulled up the source file for the program from his wristband and handed it to the Capital Police Bureau for comparison.

Judging from the data, it was indeed the same version he had submitted.

Shi Sheng's expression was serious. In front of the police, he ran his program again, and there were no issues.

He requested the student's operation recording from that time.

"Isn't it automatic driving?" Hovis leaned against the table. "Could an operational error still cause an accident?"

Shi Sheng shook his head and took out his voice device. "The operation is simple. The possibility of error is low."

"But there could be errors in the program matching."

Hovis was not proficient in information technology, but unlike what his appearance and temperament suggested, this Alpha was unexpectedly patient. "You mean there could be a compatibility issue between the program file and the mecha equipment?"

Shi Sheng nodded, then added, "It's only a possibility."

"I'll have the Forensics Department continue investigating." Hovis indicated that he understood, then glanced at Shi Sheng's voice device. "That thing is pretty interesting."

At that moment, the people from the Forensics Department ran Shi Sheng's program again and confirmed there was no problem.

"All right, you can go back for now." Hovis escorted Shi Sheng to the door. "Thanks for your cooperation."

Shi Sheng turned around and seriously pressed his voice device. "If there are any problems, I will cooperate. You can find me at the Carlos family."

Hovis smiled indifferently. "I wouldn't dare go there."

Yumian turned his head upon hearing them, but he remained where he was, only glancing at Hovis.

Hovis lowered his eyes, opened another e-cigarette, greeted Elaine, and turned to head back inside.

"It smells awful." Yumian suddenly said with disgust. "Big Brother, can we go home now? I hate the smell of smoke."

Shi Sheng was a little puzzled. It seemed Hovis had not even taken a puff before leaving.

On the way back, Shi Sheng opened Star Network and took a look. He found that the matter had already spread through the military academy, and quite a few people were cursing him.

Ji Sui's handiwork was obvious among them.

[I've disliked Shi Yi for ages. Just because he's a genius, he always ignores school rules.]

[He's clearly relying on his looks to play all the Alphas at school around in circles.]

[Exactly. He acts like he has prince syndrome.]

[They bragged about him so much, and then he went and caused a huge mess.]

[I wanted to say this too. I saw him bullying his cousin before. You could tell at a glance that he wasn't easy to get along with.]

[And yet Ji Sui's program didn't have any problems.]

[Shi Yi has to take responsibility for this, right? Is the school not taking any action at all?]

[Careful what you say. He's the Carlos family's spouse now.]

[Sure enough, people of a kind flock together. This Carlos family is truly terrifying.]

Shi Sheng had been calm at first, but when he saw them speaking badly about the Carlos family, his expression gradually cooled. He looked up the IP addresses of those people and prepared to hack into their Star Network accounts to give them a small lesson.

He was a law-abiding person, but he did not want others talking about Elaine and the others like that.

Hmph. I'll plant a dancing tentacle monster virus in your accounts and see how you like spreading rumors!

"Do you need me to handle it?"

Elaine's voice sounded beside him, bringing Shi Sheng back to himself.

The Alpha glanced toward the Star Network forum, and only then did Shi Sheng realize that his expression must have caused Elaine to misunderstand.

He shook his head. "I can handle it myself."

Ji Sui had caused trouble again and again. Shi Sheng had not cared before, but now he had no intention of tolerating it any longer.

Besides, before his brother came back, he still had to protect what belonged to his brother.

Ji Sui would regret it. He should not have underestimated Shi Sheng.

That night, Shi Sheng lay properly wrapped in the blanket as usual, but his heart was beating quickly.

This was the first time he had lain beside Elaine as himself.

The faint scent of body wash lingered around him.

Shi Sheng had not smelled Elaine's pheromones for some time.

He seemed to have a little insomnia, yet he did not dare disturb Elaine. Carefully, he turned over to face the wall.

But Elaine's voice came from behind him. "Can't sleep?"

Shi Sheng abruptly turned back, meeting Elaine's eyes in the moonlight.

He stared at him in a daze.

At that moment, a question suddenly popped into his mind—

The Carlos family estate was so large. Why had Elaine never let him sleep in another room?

They were in a family-arranged marriage, not spouses joined together because they loved each other.

Seeing Shi Sheng lost in thought, Elaine propped his head up with one hand and looked down at the Omega with a smile in his eyes. "What is it?"

Oh no, Elaine's face is bewitching me again.

Is Elaine some kind of demon? Does he become especially handsome at night?

Shi Sheng, Shi Sheng, how can you let beauty distract you like this?

A trace of surprise flashed through Elaine's eyes. He found the Omega's expressionless face and rich inner thoughts truly adorable.

He was trying hard to think of a topic Shi Sheng might like.

But then Shi Sheng reached beneath his pillow and took out his voice device. "Elaine, I want to ask you a question."

Elaine asked, "What question?"

Shi Sheng was quiet for a while. He looked down at the voice device, then slowly lowered it again.

Elaine thought he had decided not to ask after all, but then Shi Sheng seemed to make up his mind and slowly gestured with both hands.

The room was completely quiet.

Shi Sheng knew Elaine could not understand. He smiled and picked up his voice device again.

But then he heard Elaine say, "Perhaps not."

Shi Sheng's movements paused as he looked at him in surprise.

Elaine said, "Actually, I don't know whether this counts as being good enough. I often worry that you aren't used to living here."

Shi Sheng hurriedly shook his head.

Elaine's earlier answer had thrown his thoughts into disarray. Only after a while did he pick up the voice device and ask, "Did you understand the sign language just now?"

Elaine hummed. "I've been learning these past few days. I can already understand the general meaning."

Shi Sheng's eyes widened in astonishment.

Elaine was so busy. Did he still have time to learn sign language?

But why was that necessary? Was it only because of him?

Elaine's gaze softened as he tucked Shi Sheng's blanket around him. "All right, go to sleep."

"May the Dream Goddess watch over you."

Shi Sheng felt as if his soul had drifted up at the sound of Elaine's deep voice.

At that moment, the attraction of their 100% compatibility seemed infinitely magnified.

But all his courage had been used up just getting close to Elaine. When he truly faced Elaine, he instead did not dare voice many of his questions.

Just like earlier, he could only quietly ask by using a method he thought Elaine would not understand.

He had asked Elaine whether, if his brother had been the one to marry into the family, Elaine would have treated his brother just as well.

Perhaps he would have. Elaine was already a very good person.

But Shi Sheng was an ordinary person. He would always want more.

During these days, Elaine had given him a neck ring, eaten breakfast with him, and soothed him with pheromones when he felt unwell.

He cared about him and told him not to be afraid.

Shi Sheng had always been greedy. At first, he wanted to get close to Elaine. Later, he wanted to marry him.

And now, he wanted Elaine's kindness toward him to be more than just the kindness Elaine showed because he was a good person.

Shi Sheng stared blankly at the dark ceiling, not knowing how long he had been thinking.

Something pounded fiercely in his chest, and an impulse rose in his body.

—He and Elaine were legally bonded partners. Wanting a little more would not be too much, would it?

It was late at night. No one would know.

Shi Sheng's hand beneath the blanket clenched and loosened, loosened and clenched again.

Reason told him that Elaine had already been good enough to him, and that he could not do something that would trouble the other man.

But another, devilish Shi Sheng in his heart said, Just secretly. Elaine won't know.

How long could he hold on to this title? Though Elaine had told him to stay at the Carlos family without worry, what if...

What if Elaine met an Omega he liked in the future?

At that time, the only thing Shi Sheng would have would be the marriage trapping Elaine.

Just once. Let him be willful just once.

Shi Sheng, you had nothing to begin with. Holding on to just a little of what you want is not too much.

Shi Sheng sniffed and forced back the inexplicable tears in his eyes.

At last, he made up his mind and carefully moved closer to Elaine.

In sleep, Elaine's profile looked like the Dream Goddess's most painstakingly crafted sculpture.

Shi Sheng slowly raised himself a little and studied Elaine carefully in the moonlight.

The gland at the back of his neck was faintly hot, and a primal impulse drove Shi Sheng onward.

Just be selfish once.

Having made up his mind, Shi Sheng squeezed his eyes shut, lowered his head, and very lightly, very briefly, touched Elaine's lips.

Perhaps because it was too brief, it did not make him happy.

Shi Sheng felt sad at his own dissatisfaction.

Like someone who had done something wrong, he retreated back beneath the blanket, though his gaze remained on Elaine's face.

After staring blankly for who knew how long, Shi Sheng slipped into a dream without realizing it.

Moonlight spilled across the pristine white silk quilt.

Elaine opened his eyes, his golden gaze hidden in the darkness.

He was better than Shi Sheng at telling whether someone was truly asleep.

The Alpha's expression was calm, while emotions Shi Sheng would not understand even if he were awake filled his eyes.

The dragonfly-like touch still lingered on his lips, and Elaine let out an unprecedented sigh.

He reached out and gently pulled the sleeping Omega, whose brows were furrowed, into his arms. After a pause, his fingers briefly touched the gland at the back of Shi Sheng's neck.

It was a little hot. Even in his dreams, this would make Shi Sheng uncomfortable.

His pheromones slowly seeped out bit by bit, until the gland's temperature returned to normal.

Elaine lowered his head and gently kissed away the slight furrow between Shi Sheng's brows.