I'll Walk You Home

Ji Chi's fingertips tightened, then relaxed. His gaze was resolute. "I'm not afraid."

Honestly, he was. A little.

But as long as Huo Jin didn't suppress him, there was no way Huo Jin could walk away from a fight with him unscathed. His pheromones had long since become Schrödinger's Cat to Ji Chi.

Ji Chi wouldn't accept even a one-percent chance.

"Then why are you avoiding me?" Huo Jin looked straight at him. "Hmm?"

His words were so gentle, yet he silently took another step forward.

The distance between them closed again, reaching the limit.

Ji Chi's eyes darted about, unable to find anywhere to focus. Below was Huo Jin's prominent Adam's apple; above were his handsome eyes and brows. Finally, Ji Chi settled on a middle ground and looked at Huo Jin's lips. "I'm not."

That was even worse.

He heard Huo Jin chuckle, but couldn't even make sense of the trailing note.

"If you're not, stand right here. Don't move."

Ji Chi: "..."

Fuck.

I'm getting a little nervous.

But I can't let it show.

He lifted his eyes slightly. To prove he wasn't afraid of Huo Jin, he even took a small step closer. "It makes no difference where I stand."

Huo Jin lowered his eyes to Ji Chi. "Look at me."

Ji Chi raised his wavering gaze, waves of heat surging inside him.

What the hell was Huo Jin getting at?

This was so fucking annoying.

Would he only be happy once I admitted I was a little afraid of him?

Could all Enigmas just die?

Come on, you stupid brain. Think of an excuse.

Ji Chi's eyes flickered away before meeting Huo Jin's. His words were guilty yet earnest. "I'm hungry..."

The moment he said it, Ji Chi wanted to slap himself across the face.

If I couldn't keep the conversation going, couldn't I just stay quiet? That had nothing to do with anything.

Was that how you changed the subject?

Couldn't I say I wasn't afraid?

Ji Chi, you're so fucking embarrassing!

But the words were already out, and Huo Jin actually seemed to have been sidetracked.

He no longer seemed intent on continuing their verbal tug-of-war.

It... actually worked?

Huo Jin released Ji Chi, and the conversation abruptly changed direction as he picked up Ji Chi's remark.

"Let's eat."

With that, Huo Jin let go of Ji Chi and headed out on his own.

Ji Chi slowly followed him.

As soon as he stepped out of the office, Ji Chi saw two Alphas pass beside him.

"Judge Huo." The two greeted Huo Jin respectfully, then cast subtle glances at Ji Chi.

Ji Chi hated being watched so furtively.

He lifted his chin, his eyes cold. "Never seen an Alpha before? Should I stand over there and let you get a good look?"

Ji Chi looked arrogant, even downright unreasonable.

The two hurried away at his words.

Huo Jin glanced over. "I rarely bring anyone to the Laboratory, so they're probably curious."

Ji Chi spoke casually. "Maybe they've even started a rumor that I'm your wife?"

Huo Jin abruptly turned around at that.

"Don't listen to their nonsense. That talk will die down in a few days."

Ji Chi didn't respond. He slipped both hands into his pockets. "I don't care what they think."

"As long as you don't think that."

Huo Jin's gaze darkened as he moved closer, making Ji Chi's heart flutter with anxiety.

Huo Jin lowered his eyes, his words seeming to carry an echo. "What if I said... that's exactly what I think?"

Ji Chi froze. As his expression shifted, his heartbeat surged violently. His steady breathing fell into disarray in an instant.

What was he saying?

A complicated, unreadable emotion crept into Ji Chi's cold eyes.

Ji Chi straightened and gave a joking laugh, but before he could speak, Huo Jin turned away, his expression dimming.

"I was joking."

"Let's go." Huo Jin walked ahead.

Ji Chi let out a long breath. That was terrifying.

If Huo Jin really had feelings for me...

That would be too frightening.

But he had accepted Ji Chi's proposal that they wouldn't interfere with each other, so he surely wasn't interested in him.

Judging by Huo Jin's behavior lately, he truly had never done anything out of line.

He had never even suppressed Ji Chi the way an Alpha suppressed an Omega.

He was gentle with him, too, cultured and courteous in his speech. Suddenly, a dissenting voice played an obscene remark in Ji Chi's head.

[We haven't had sex in almost two months.]

Fuck off.

Not cultured or courteous at all!

Ji Chi patted his cheeks. That one doesn't count for now.

He was the one who had broken their agreement by coming to ask Huo Jin for help this time.

Ji Chi watched Huo Jin's back and followed him.

Huo Jin chose the restaurant this time.

It served homestyle food, and unexpectedly, every dish suited Ji Chi's tastes.

Seeing that Huo Jin hadn't touched his chopsticks, Ji Chi felt bad. He was supposed to be hosting and should look after him. He placed a piece of fish in Huo Jin's bowl. "Why aren't you eating?"

Huo Jin pressed his lips into a straight line. "I don't have much of an appetite."

Ji Chi was a little surprised. He had chosen the restaurant himself, yet now said he had no appetite.

Previously, Ji Chi had specifically asked around about Huo Jin's tastes so he could treat him to a meal.

Ji Chi glanced at the table full of Jinjiang Cuisine.

Why did it feel like he'd ordered everything specifically for me?

Ji Chi served Huo Jin a few more dishes he liked himself.

Once he had done his part,

he began eating on his own.

When he was almost finished, he noticed that Huo Jin still hadn't reached for any food, but had eaten everything Ji Chi had served him.

Was he hungry or not?

Seeing Ji Chi put down his chopsticks, Huo Jin asked gently, "Full?"

Ji Chi nodded. "Is the food not to your taste?"

Instead of answering, Huo Jin stood and changed the subject.

"I signed Boshen's testing application. Three days at the earliest."

Results in just three days?

"Three days?" Ji Chi looked grateful. "That fast?"

Ji Chi had thought it would take several weeks at best. Huo Jin's answer was completely unexpected.

It was help arriving at exactly the right moment.

An almost imperceptible smile curled Huo Jin's lips as he looked down at Ji Chi. "What? Never pulled strings before?"

This really was Ji Chi's first experience with something like this.

Emotion stirred in Ji Chi's eyes. "Never."

"Thanks to my father." He held the glass of lemon water before him, turning it as his sharp gaze struck at the heart of the matter. "In Jiang City, I'm the one who pulls the strings."

Under the light, the skin around Ji Chi's nose looked translucent. His faintly haughty expression carried an innate nobility.

Unattainable was a word that could always describe Ji Chi.

Huo Jin's brows shifted subtly. It was true enough.

He chuckled, his rich, languid voice bewitching. "In that case, it's an honor to be able to help you."

Ji Chi stood. "I rely on my father. I could never stand on equal footing with you, Mr. Huo."

"I admire you, and you're what I aspire to be. I hope one day I can stand beside you and speak as an equal through my own abilities."

Ji Chi's gaze was sincere. Huo Jin's achievements were something countless people could only look up to.

Ji Chi knew he couldn't compare.

The gulf between them was like an ant looking up at the sun.

Huo Jin's status alone destined him to stand above others.

The suppressive strength of Huo Jin's pheromones could even qualify him for the Supreme Authority's military alliance.

No one dared disobey an Enigma administrator. Huo Jin was so powerful that he inspired heartfelt respect, something Ji Chi lacked.

But the inferiority that bred self-belittlement and self-denial had never belonged to Ji Chi, not since the day he was born. So what if Huo Jin sat high above him? He, too, would face tomorrow unbowed, proud and radiant as the sun, looking down imperiously upon the countless people beneath his feet.

"You're doing very well." Huo Jin's voice was gentle.

Ji Chi furrowed his brows and didn't pursue the subject. The more they spoke, the wider the gap became.

"Let me take you home, Mr. Huo."

Huo Jin didn't refuse. Instead, he said softly, "I live nearby."

"Then I'll walk you home."

Perhaps because Ji Chi couldn't find a way to repay Huo Jin, he kept wanting to do a little more.

Huo Jin walked ahead. "Are you treating me like an Omega? Afraid I'll get lost on the way if you don't take me home?"

Ji Chi's gaze swept discreetly over Huo Jin. "You don't want me to walk you home?"

Huo Jin denied it immediately. "I didn't say that."

"So you do?"

"Are you flirting with me?" Holding his jacket, Huo Jin looked at Ji Chi.

Ridiculous.

"You've misunderstood, Mr. Huo."

"Then talk less, Ji Chi."

"What the fu..." ck is going on in your head?

This seemed to be the first time Huo Jin had called him by name. Ji Chi was speechless. He hated being subtly pushed into a disadvantage, whether in business or, even more so, in love.

"You're the one whose heart isn't calm, Mr. Huo."

"My heart isn't calm," Huo Jin admitted plainly. "So talk less."

Many things had neither shape nor scent. The faint spoils of victory in the air drifted back to Ji Chi.

Huo Jin was afraid of him.

A faint smile curved Ji Chi's lips as he followed behind Huo Jin.

Once they left the restaurant, Ji Chi stayed beside Huo Jin.

Beyond the glittering nightlife stretched the long Banyan Tree Road.

The trees on either side scattered and screened the streetlights. Beneath their yellow glow, a couple was kissing.

Ji Chi hurried past.

Wet, muffled sounds continued to echo.

"Walk faster. Don't disturb them." Ji Chi tugged Huo Jin briskly forward.

"They're kissing," Huo Jin said.

Of course I fucking know!

"What's it to you!"

Huo Jin looked at Ji Chi's lips.

I want to kiss, too.

Ji Chi caught where Huo Jin was looking. "Where the fuck are you looking?"

The irritable words burst out in a roar, his damp fur bristling. Ji Chi immediately felt he was behaving badly. Huo Jin had only just signed the application, and he was already cursing at him. How was that any different from a scumbag who showed his true colors right after getting married?

He glared at Huo Jin, then ignored him and walked ahead.

Gradually, no one else remained in sight along the road.

The quiet, deserted surroundings offered the comfort of a peaceful life.

Two long shadows overlapped, yours holding mine, mine holding only you. It was impossible to tell who was chasing whom. One ran ahead; the other used the light to measure the waist of the man before him.

"Thank you..." Ji Chi said suddenly.

Huo Jin hummed softly and turned to look at Ji Chi beside him. The injuries on his face had faded a little more.

"Then... let's keep things the way they were before." Ji Chi couldn't wait to draw a clear line between them.

"I won't bother you again."

"Until the mark fades, you're still mine," Huo Jin said.

Ji Chi froze for a moment. Did he see me as his responsibility?

The yellowish glow of the streetlights stung Ji Chi's eyes. Resigned to his fate, he said, "I'll pay for my own mistake."

"And I certainly won't cling to you."

Huo Jin stopped abruptly, standing in front of Ji Chi.

"To be precise, it wasn't your mistake."

The wind rustled, sending fallen leaves drifting. They stopped beneath a tree, their gazes finally colliding after so long apart. They stared at each other, their highly compatible pheromones mingling with the fresh scent of leaves, hunting each other.

Huo Jin's gentle eyes held a surging galaxy of stars, yet their sharpness made Ji Chi's heart tremble. "I was fully lucid when I marked you."