The next morning, Ji Yanzhi woke before Ji Ting.
Polar morning light filtered through the glass dome. He turned onto his side and watched Ji Ting, who was still fast asleep beside him, tucked the blanket around him, then pressed a light kiss to his smooth forehead.
When he got out of bed to wash up, he happened to notice the box of "family planning supplies" sitting quietly on the bedside table, its size clearly labeled. Ji Yanzhi picked it up, shook his head helplessly, and gave a soft chuckle.
Ji Ting had handled all the packing before their trip to the Arctic. His meticulous Academician Ji had prepared survival gear for every kind of extreme environment, yet left out the most essential accessory.
If he had done the packing, there would never have been a shortage of such "strategic supplies." No, there was no point in ifs now. Ji Yanzhi thought, Next time, I'm definitely doing the packing. Not only will I bring everything we need, I'll make sure it's the best available.
After washing up, he called to order breakfast. Ji Ting woke just as the server delivered it to their room.
Ji Yanzhi walked over, ruffled his hair, and asked softly, "Are you still sore?"
Ji Ting paused, then realized what he meant and awkwardly averted his eyes. "Not anymore."
"Really? Don't hide it from me."
"Really."
Only after repeatedly making sure Ji Ting wasn't uncomfortable did Ji Yanzhi finally relax.
Breakfast consisted of smoked salmon, whole-grain bread, and berry yogurt. After finishing their Nordic-style meal, they gathered their things and got ready to head out.
Before they left, Ji Yanzhi noticed Ji Ting slipping something hard and distinctly shaped into the pocket of his insulated trousers.
"What's in your pocket?" Ji Yanzhi asked curiously.
Ji Ting