You Taste Better

Chi Li noticed a news item about Si Jinyan while browsing the optical computer Si Jinyan had given him.

There was no need to search for it deliberately. In an extremely prominent spot on a semi-official news website, several eye-catching words were displayed: Shocking! The Imperial Marshal and the Royal Princess to Enter a Political Marriage

Clicking into it revealed a photo of the two together, accompanied by the words "a match made in heaven."

A strange, unpleasant feeling rose from the depths of Chi Li's heart, only to vanish in an instant.

Chi Li read the entire article from beginning to end.

Marriages between nobles were usually tied to politics, especially when one party was Si Jinyan. Chi Li looked up the other person's identity and found that she was indeed closely related to the Emperor.

For some reason, Chi Li actually felt relieved.

When Si Jinyan returned that afternoon, he found that Chi Li was not in the living room.

At this time in the past, Chi Li would always wait for him in the living room. The moment he heard the door open, he would run over and give Si Jinyan a hug.

Si Jinyan did not think much of it and went to look for Chi Li in the bedroom. Sure enough, he found Chi Li sitting in a recliner facing the balcony, reading a book. Even when he heard footsteps, he did not turn around.

Si Jinyan wrapped his arms around Chi Li from behind. "Reading that seriously?"

Si Jinyan was tall and broad, and Chi Li was not short either, but Si Jinyan still enveloped him with ease. Chi Li paused for a moment, then turned the page and gave a muffled hum.

Even someone as slow to notice things as Si Jinyan could tell something was wrong with Chi Li.

He sat beside Chi Li and pulled him into his arms. Chi Li always carried a faint cream scent, mixed with a light milky fragrance and the smell of sunshine. It was fragrant and sweet.

"What's wrong?" Si Jinyan asked.

Perhaps because of the pheromones, Chi Li actually liked leaning against Si Jinyan's chest like this.

Unlike usual, Chi Li did not cling to Si Jinyan and act cute today. He merely said in a muffled voice, "Nothing."

Si Jinyan squeezed Chi Li's lean waist and felt that he was still too thin. He picked Chi Li up. "Let's eat first."

Chi Li said nothing. He simply raised his arms around Si Jinyan's neck and let Si Jinyan carry him downstairs.

The servants and butler had long since become accustomed to such scenes.

At first, Chi Li had felt awkward about it. Later, he realized that his discomfort did not affect Si Jinyan in the slightest. Si Jinyan still did whatever he pleased.

It was only when Chi Li was drinking soup with a spoon that Si Jinyan noticed the red mark on the back of his right hand. It was nearly half the size of a palm.

Si Jinyan frowned. "How did that happen?"

Chi Li did not speak.

Si Jinyan became certain that Chi Li was upset with him today.

This was the first time Chi Li had shown his little emotions so clearly in front of Si Jinyan.

Si Jinyan was not angry. He called the butler over and asked what had happened that day.

Only then did Chi Li look up at Si Jinyan, then at the butler. In a quiet voice, he said, "Uncle Yuan..."

Si Jinyan smiled. "You won't even let Yuan Ru tell me?"

Yuan Ru gave Chi Li an apologetic smile and told Si Jinyan everything that had happened that day. Chi Li had wanted to make Si Jinyan a cream cake, but clumsily burned himself. He had also asked Yuan Ru who the princess marrying Si Jinyan was, and whether the Marshal was really going to enter a political marriage.

At Si Jinyan's command, Yuan Ru also brought out the little cake Chi Li had not wanted to show anyone.

The small cake, uneven and not particularly pretty, appeared on the dining table. Chi Li had initially been unwilling to take it out, but when Si Jinyan picked up his fork, anticipation and nervousness still appeared in his eyes.

Si Jinyan did not like sweets at all. He hated things that were as sickeningly sweet as cream, yet the research institute had determined that he had a high pheromone compatibility rate with cream-scented pheromones.

Yet when Si Jinyan had first come into contact with Chi Li's pheromones, an intense desire unlike anything he had ever felt before had surged through his mind. He had wanted to swallow this little omega, who gave off such a cloying cream scent, in a single bite.

Later, Si Jinyan came to feel that the cream scent on Chi Li was the most special of all. There would never be another cream-scented pheromone quite like it.

Si Jinyan took two bites before commenting under Chi Li's faintly expectant gaze, "It tastes good."

Chi Li's eyes lit up.

After a pause, Si Jinyan added, "But not as good as you." Naturally, Si Jinyan knew why Chi Li had chosen to make a cream-flavored cake.

A faint flush rose to the tips of Chi Li's ears. Si Jinyan had teased him again. Somewhat annoyed, Chi Li looked away.

Even later that night, when Chi Li lay in Si Jinyan's bed and was held in his arms, he remained silent.

Ointment had been applied to Chi Li's right hand by Si Jinyan himself. Si Jinyan had also held him while bathing him, carefully avoiding the wound.

Yet he did not mention the political marriage again.

A small warm yellow lamp was lit in the room, and the atmosphere was intimate and quiet. Si Jinyan checked Chi Li's burn once more and asked, "Why did you buy so much medicine for heart disease?"

Si Jinyan actually knew that Chi Li had a grandmother with heart disease.

Si Jinyan pulled Chi Li's hand out from beneath the blanket to inspect it. As soon as he finished, Chi Li quickly withdrew it again, carrying the childish air of someone sulking and determined to draw a clear line between them.

Chi Li said softly, "It's for Grandma."

Si Jinyan actually found Chi Li rather adorable like this. Chi Li rarely displayed any emotion other than happiness in front of him, but from Si Jinyan's perspective, Chi Li was still just a child. In an unfamiliar place, he ought to have many other feelings, but he had hidden and disguised them all himself.

Si Jinyan rubbed Chi Li's head. "Tomorrow, I'll have someone send over more medicine. When there's time, we'll take Grandma for a checkup."

Chi Li's eyes brightened. He looked at Si Jinyan as though he could not believe it. "Really?"

Si Jinyan smiled. "When have I ever lied to you? I'll have someone pick Grandma up when the time comes."

As if recalling something, Chi Li lowered his head again and said dejectedly, "Maybe not. Grandma wouldn't like it. And if she found out what I'm doing, she definitely wouldn't be happy..." In the old woman's eyes, an omega doing this was frivolous.

After saying that, Chi Li suddenly seemed to realize something. He whipped around to look at Si Jinyan, flustered. "Marshal, I didn't mean anything else. I'm not saying you're bad, and I'm not saying this is bad. It's just Grandma... no, that's not it either..."

Chi Li explained incoherently, looking terribly afraid that Si Jinyan would get angry because of it.

"Now you know to be scared?" Si Jinyan's expression was gentle.

Chi Li lowered his head, turned around, and burrowed closer to Si Jinyan. He buried his face in Si Jinyan's chest, looking as though he knew he had done something wrong but did not want to be scolded, instead pleading and acting cute.

Chi Li said in a muffled voice, "No..."

Si Jinyan placed a hand on Chi Li's back and patted it gently, as if soothing a child to sleep. He showed no sign of anger.

After a while, sensing Si Jinyan's calm attitude, Chi Li remained in that position and suddenly said, "Marshal, I want to go home and see Grandma."

As though afraid Si Jinyan would refuse, he added, "Just for one day. I'll come back very soon."

Curled up in Si Jinyan's arms, Chi Li's voice was muffled and slightly hoarse. His warm breath brushed against Si Jinyan's chest as he spoke, making it itch.

Si Jinyan's hand paused briefly on Chi Li's back. Thinking that Chi Li had not returned in a long time, and that a trip home might improve the child's mood, he said, "Go ahead. Do you need me to send someone to take you?"

"No, thank you, Marshal."

A few days later, Chi Li finally let out a breath of relief after smoothly leaving the estate and arriving in the slums of West City.

Half a month ago, Chi Li had begun to feel occasional heart palpitations, weakness in his limbs, and swelling and pain at the back of his neck. These were signs that he needed a supplementary injection. Based on how often he used his body to soothe Si Jinyan, what should have been an injection every six months had been moved forward by a full two months.

Chi Li had expected Si Jinyan to ask why he was buying medicine. He could use visiting his grandmother as an excuse to return home and get his injection. It just so happened that the political marriage matter came up, so Chi Li took the opportunity to put on an act.

But Si Jinyan only asked him once why he had bought the medicine and never pressed further. Si Jinyan had probably investigated his family situation long ago.

Chi Li looked at the three bodyguards escorting him. "My home is right beside the alley entrance, not far away. It's too cramped inside, so could you wait here? I'll come back down soon. Sorry to trouble you."

After giving them his instructions, Chi Li hurried into the alley.

Chi Li first settled the old woman. She had lost a grandson long ago, and after her mind became muddled, she had always believed that her grandson was still alive. Although Chi Li had been an officially selected candidate, he had still taken great care of her during the time they lived together.

Then Chi Li dug out an old piece of equipment from a corner of the dilapidated house. It was an advanced communication device disguised on the outside, no larger than a palm, but it had excellent communication and anti-eavesdropping functions.

Chi Li activated the real-time communication system. A blue light screen as tall as a person appeared before him. He then took off his clothes and scanned his physical condition into it. By the time he had dressed again, the other side had connected.

Chi Li's attending physician, Wen Jie, instructed him to administer the injection. At the end, seeing the mottled marks on Chi Li's body, Wen Jie did not forget to make a teasing remark.

Chi Li glared at him. "Shut up."

Then Chi Li began reporting the relevant information.

A sudden commotion came from outside. Chi Li swiftly shut down and concealed the communication device. The next second, the door was kicked open, and a tall man pointed a gun at him. "Hands up, then get out."