Awake

Ji Chi ran over to Huo Jin.

He closed his laptop again.

He took Huo Jin's hand and pressed it against himself. "Gege."

Huo Jin's gaze fell on Ji Chi's slightly swollen, reddened lips. He cupped the back of Ji Chi's neck and leaned in to kiss him.

"Mmph..." Ji Chi wrapped his arms around Huo Jin's neck, his fingers growing warm.

Dawn broke before Huo Jin had even closed his eyes.

He carried Ji Chi into the bath, washed him, and blow-dried his hair.

Even while having his hair dried, Ji Chi clung tightly to Huo Jin.

His wet head left water all over Huo Jin.

Today was the third day.

Just as he had for the past two days, Ji Chi followed Huo Jin everywhere, never leaving his side.

He did whatever Huo Jin told him.

Huo Jin carved out time to take care of work.

With Ji Chi there, an hour's worth of work dragged on all day without getting finished.

That night.

After coaxing Ji Chi to sleep, Huo Jin tucked him in and kissed his forehead.

He looked up at the clock on the nightstand. 3:50.

Huo Jin stroked Ji Chi's head and kissed him again.

It was almost dawn...

A faint darkness lay hidden deep in Huo Jin's eyes, lightless and without a source, his pupils rippling gently. He kissed Ji Chi and whispered, "Thank you, Ji Chi."

Thank you, Ji Chi.

No one knew what he was thanking him for.

Gradually, the room sank into deathly silence.

Ji Chi woke at 7:20 in the morning.

His long lashes fluttered a few times before his eyes slowly opened.

The first thing Ji Chi felt was agitation.

His brows drew tightly together. As every scene crashed violently through his mind, anger filled Ji Chi's eyes. Nothing but anger remained.

Ji Chi's fingers abruptly clenched, wrinkling the covers in his grip, his nails instantly digging into his flesh.

What had he done?

What had he been doing?

How could it have been so terrifying?

Ji Chi could not bear to revisit any of his memories from the past three days, yet every scene remained so clear. Even the warmth of their bodies was embedded deep in his memory.

It was all driving him insane.

He had become someone weak, subject to another's control, led around by pheromones.

Now he understood what that truly felt like.

There was nothing he could do.

He could not fight it.

Ji Chi found himself more and more ridiculous.

He loathed the feeling of losing control.

After what had happened, the memory buried deepest in Ji Chi's mind was of a group of alphas hurling insults at him.

"He's in heat... Hahahaha..."

"An alpha actually went into heat!"

"His enigma must not want him anymore."

"What a slut."

His mind roared. The pride Ji Chi had spent more than twenty years holding high had been smashed beyond recognition, leaving it a bloody ruin.

Ji Chi closed his eyes briefly, his long exhale hotter than flame.

How ridiculous.

How ridiculous.

Disgusting. Disgusting!

After steadying his breathing, Ji Chi sat dazed in bed for half an hour.

That wasn't him.

Yes, that wasn't him. It was a demon that knew nothing but lust.

Like a carnivore eating raw meat, it was inevitable, not a choice.

And Huo Jin was the one who had caused all of it.

At that thought, Ji Chi's anger toward Huo Jin flared to its peak once again.

He was helpless. People protected their own interests; when crushing anger closed in, everyone tried to absolve themselves. Even if he had been willing while in heat, he would never admit he was at fault.

He had been seduced.

He didn't like Huo Jin.

He had become like a wife yearning for her husband.

He had done nothing wrong.

It was all because of Huo Jin. All because of Huo Jin!

Ji Chi got up, opened the bedroom door, and walked out.

His already cold expression grew colder the instant he saw Huo Jin, a bone-deep frost settling over it. He wanted to flay the man before him alive.

Remembering how he had behaved these past few days, Ji Chi did not dare dwell on it.

He had no right to slap Huo Jin again.

Strictly speaking, they had both consented.

Ji Chi had no way to deal with all his anger, but he had to let it out somehow.

The atmosphere in the house dropped below freezing.

Huo Jin was in the kitchen. Hearing movement, he turned. Their eyes met, a thousand words lodged in their throats.

Neither spoke.

Ji Chi's eyes were sharp as blades, flaying Huo Jin's devotion with a thousand cuts.

He walked toward Huo Jin, step by step.

The unseen tension seemed to swell in waves, surging sky-high.

His frost-filled eyes were utterly cold. He stopped beside Huo Jin.

Huo Jin was making breakfast for two.

"You're awake," Huo Jin said first, his voice calm and unruffled.

*

*

----Author's note:

I wasn't going to say anything, but some of the comments genuinely made me angry. Given Ji Chi's personality, I think you could all have guessed that there would be a storm once he came to his senses.

He's used to a pampered life, used to being above everyone else. He can't accept himself being like this.

He believes he shouldn't be controlled.

His family environment has influenced him, too.

Ji Chi has lived with an entrenched mindset for years. That doesn't change overnight.

However furious he gets, it's normal.

I saw a comment saying that he was the one who eagerly sought Huo Jin out, yet acted like this once he came to his senses, and that the author's writing disgusted them.

Please, I'm begging you, stop reading. You disgust me, too.

I barely make any money and still get insulted. Thanks a lot.

I started writing for happiness, and I want everyone to be happy, too.

I truly love these two characters.

Look at this story from both sides.

Neither of them is perfect, but they're destined for each other.

This story hasn't even unfolded yet!!!!

Anyone calling Huo Jin selfish will absolutely find a huge reversal if they make it to the end.

I've said that this is fundamentally a story about winning back a husband. Huo Jin will definitely turn out to be blameless and someone your heart aches for; otherwise, it wouldn't meet the requirements of that kind of story.

Whether you're fiercely protective of the top or the bottom, approach this one with caution.

I hope everyone will consider both sides.

There's nothing wrong with the main plot.

I hope you enjoy reading. ʕᵔᴥᵔʔ