Wearing his clothes

Ning Chunchi had already gone back to his bedroom to shower. Meanwhile, the omega he thought had obediently gone to sleep after a goodnight kiss was staring blankly at the ceiling, his almond-shaped eyes wide open, exactly as Jiang Yumiao had done at home last night.

The second male lead's kiss had jolted him completely awake.

Why had he suddenly kissed him again! And right when he had just woken up and was at his groggiest!

Jiang Yumiao's heart fluttered wildly, driving away every trace of sleepiness. He pushed aside the blanket the second male lead had tucked around him before leaving and sat up.

He checked the time. It was eleven at night. Great. His sleep schedule was officially nocturnal now-sleepy during the day and wide awake at night.

Jiang Yumiao thumped his head. He should never have given in to the bed's temptation and come here to sleep! Who would have thought he would end up dealing with jet lag without even leaving the country?

His stomach growled, and only then did he remember that he had not eaten dinner.

He wondered whether Ning Chunchi had eaten... It was so late. He probably had, right?

Just in case, Jiang Yumiao knocked on Ning Chunchi's bedroom door to ask whether he had eaten. There was no response. He was probably showering and had not heard him.

Jiang Yumiao wandered into the kitchen, opened the refrigerator, and fell silent for a moment at the sight of all the premium ingredients packed inside.

He only wanted a simple late-night snack. He really could not bring himself to use any of these ingredients.

He rummaged around and finally managed to find a few eggs, then decided to cook some noodles.

After his shower, Ning Chunchi heard movement in the living room and frowned slightly. Hadn't he already given him a goodnight kiss? Why was Jiang Yumiao up again?

As soon as he left his bedroom, he caught the aroma of food. When he reached the dining room, sure enough, Jiang Yumiao was eating.

Jiang Yumiao was enthusiastically devouring his noodles. At the sound of footsteps, he lifted his head from his bowl and saw the alpha approaching in a black bathrobe, his hair still damp.

"Did you go to sleep without eating earlier?" Ning Chunchi asked.

"I was too sleepy," Jiang Yumiao said. "I thought I'd take a quick nap and eat with you when you got back. I didn't expect to sleep this late."

A flicker of guilt crossed Ning Chunchi's eyes. "I should have told you beforehand that I'd be home late today. Next time, eat when you're hungry. You don't need to wait for me." He was still thinking like someone who lived alone. It had not occurred to him that someone would now be waiting at home to eat with him.

"I wasn't hungry then anyway, and I should have asked you myself," Jiang Yumiao said with a smile. "Have you eaten?"

"I ate at the office. Is this all you're having?" Ning Chunchi glanced at Jiang Yumiao's plain noodles, and his guilt deepened. Although he had asked his assistant to stock the refrigerator with all kinds of food in advance for Jiang Yumiao, he had only just arrived and might have been too shy to touch any of it.

He should have put work aside and come home to eat with Jiang Yumiao.

Jiang Yumiao took a bite of noodles, then said, "It's just a late-night snack. Something simple is fine. Eating too much would make me uncomfortable. I saw lots of ingredients in the fridge just now. Will you be home for dinner tomorrow? I'll make you a feast!"

As soon as he said it, he grew a little uneasy. The place felt cold and impersonal, and it clearly did not see much cooking. Could Ning Chunchi have someone who prepared his meals, making his offer completely unnecessary?

The second male lead, who had been sitting across from him watching him eat all this time, froze for a moment at his words, then smiled, his eyes filled with a tenderness that stole his breath.

It was the gentlest smile Jiang Yumiao had ever seen on Ning Chunchi's face.

He heard that deep, lovely voice say, "I'm looking forward to it."

Ning Chunchi's gaze lingered lovingly on Jiang Yumiao's face. No one had ever genuinely wanted to cook a meal for him before.

His birth mother had hoped to use him to gain entry into the Ning Family, while his birth father despised his existence but now had no choice but to bow to his wishes. They had always made him feel that a home was something he could take or leave.

But now, watching Jiang Yumiao take small bites of noodles under the warm light, Ning Chunchi suddenly understood what a wonderful place a home could be.

He no longer wanted to work overtime every day. He wanted to come home on time.

After finishing his meal, Jiang Yumiao washed his bowl and cleaned up the kitchen. When he came out after finishing his chores, Ning Chunchi was still sitting there.

"Ning... Your hair's still wet. Aren't you going to dry it?" Jiang Yumiao opened his mouth, then swallowed the form of address the second male lead disliked.

Noticing the change, Ning Chunchi curled his lips teasingly, an urge to toy with him rising. "Will you dry it for me?"

Sure enough, the omega turned pink again. He was so easy to tease.

Jiang Yumiao could not refuse any request Ning Chunchi made of him.

Now, in the master bedroom, the tall alpha sat on the edge of the bed in his black bathrobe, enjoying the omega's VIP hair-drying service.

Slender fingers threaded through his black hair, making Ning Chunchi narrow his eyes in comfort.

Once his hair felt mostly dry, Jiang Yumiao switched off the hair dryer. The second male lead had certainly enjoyed himself, but Jiang Yumiao had been so careful that his hands were aching.

Satisfied, Ning Chunchi let Jiang Yumiao go and allowed him to return to his room to sleep.

Once Jiang Yumiao returned, he was just about to collapse onto the bed when he suddenly realized he was still wearing his daytime clothes.

Fuck, he had nothing to wear!

The second male lead had whisked him away in such a hurry that he had brought nothing with him.

Ning Chunchi was still savoring Jiang Yumiao's gentle touch with his eyes closed when he suddenly heard a knock at the door.

He straightened up and said, "Come in."

Jiang Yumiao entered with his face bright red and stopped at the foot of Ning Chunchi's bed, too embarrassed to stand any closer.

"What is it?" Ning Chunchi asked.

Jiang Yumiao lowered his eyes and fidgeted with his fingers. After working up his courage for a while, he finally spoke softly.

"Big brother, could you lend me your pajamas to wear?"

Ning Chunchi felt as though Jiang Yumiao was going to drive him mad. He was so innocent, yet he kept saying things that tempted him like this.

Even more absurdly, a single sentence could make his eyes redden and his body burn with desire.

Once the words were out, Jiang Yumiao also realized how they sounded and hurried to explain. "I didn't bring any clothes, and I don't want to sleep in what I wore all day. That's why I came to ask you."

Ning Chunchi closed his eyes briefly, as though trying to restrain the beast desperately straining to escape its cage within him.

He got up and led Jiang Yumiao to the master bedroom's walk-in closet, telling him to pick whatever he wanted to wear.

Jiang Yumiao looked around. Most of the clothes were obviously expensive tailored suits and shirts, followed by impeccably cut coats.

"Just find me something to sleep in," Jiang Yumiao said. "Something you've worn is fine. It doesn't need to be new. I don't mind." He only needed to make do for one night anyway.

Ning Chunchi: "..."

He really could not take much more.

President Ning let out a rare sigh. "I sleep naked."

Jiang Yumiao: "..."

He understood what the second male lead meant now. He did not own any pajamas at all, so Jiang Yumiao could only choose something from these neatly arranged clothes.

Resigned, Jiang Yumiao began searching. At last, he spotted a folded white T-shirt in a corner.

He took it out and showed it to Ning Chunchi. "Can I wear this?"

Ning Chunchi's gaze traveled from his slender, pale hands to the shirt, and his pupils contracted.

He had bought that shirt in his sophomore year of college. Back then, he had paid little attention to himself, worn out by his studies and starting a business. He had simply worn whatever was at hand.

That white T-shirt had been with him for three years. Even though he had not worn it in a long time now, every inch of it must once have been steeped in his pheromones.

Looking at the unsuspecting omega, Ning Chunchi said quietly, "Change here before you go. If it doesn't fit, you can pick something else without having to go back and forth."

The alpha's ulterior motive was plain as day.

He simply wanted to see Jiang Yumiao wearing his clothes. If he let him return to the guest room, he would miss the sight.