When Mu Yan woke up the next morning, he had no symptoms of a hangover other than a lingering headache.
His physical reactions were still a bit sluggish, but his mind was exceptionally clear and sharp. Mu Yan frowned and pondered for a long time. His memories of last night were a complete blank starting from the moment he left the bar. He could not recall how he had gotten home or changed his clothes.
However, a faint, sweet milk scent still lingered in the room. The Omega had likely spent a long time in his room last night.
Thinking of this, the Alpha felt deeply satisfied, yet also somewhat uneasy.
Did he do anything inappropriate last night?
Mu Yan frowned as he contemplated this.
Of course, he had.
When Ruan Nian woke up, his hand still ached.
The memories of last night made his face burn just thinking about them.
How could this Alpha be like that when he was drunk?
The man who had gripped his hand tightly and refused to let go, who had tossed and turned under the comfort of pheromones until he finally drifted off to sleep late at night, was that really the honest, rule-abiding, cold-faced high-ranking officer who usually treated everyone with a stay away attitude?
Recalling Uncle Rong’s satisfied expression last night, Ruan Nian was almost too embarrassed to go downstairs for breakfast.
How did things end up like this?
Ruan Nian silently began to organize his thoughts.
He hadn’t been able to get through to Mu Yan when he called at the bar entrance, but Uncle Rong had given him Tang Xian’s contact number before he left.
He could have simply dropped off the suppressants at the entrance and let Tang Xian come out to collect them. Yet, he hadn’t even considered that possibility. He had gone inside himself to find the man.
If it weren’t for the pull of physiological instinct, Ruan Nian wouldn’t believe it.
But even if it were just because he wanted the Alpha’s pheromones, Ruan Nian couldn’t bring himself to accept that excuse.
The Omega felt a moment of bewilderment.
A reason vaguely surfaced in his mind, but Ruan Nian didn’t have the courage to acknowledge it yet.
He unconsciously placed his fingers on the back of his neck, recalling the Alpha’s pitying, restrained kisses last night and the scorching breath so close to his skin.
When he saw the Alpha last night, he could feel that the Alpha’s pheromone state was at its absolute worst, yet he had forcibly suppressed it with willpower. The Alpha desperately needed the comfort of pheromones, yet because of Ruan Nian’s flimsy rejection, he had stopped immediately.
But back inside the flight vehicle, the Alpha had dropped all his defenses, ignoring Ruan Nian’s resistance and pulling him tightly into his arms, almost greedily plundering the scent of sweet milk.
The cold, self-contained officer and the willful, demanding Alpha. The more he understood this person, the more tightly he was drawn in and the deeper he sank.
The Alpha’s care and intentions had evolved from initial caution to blatant expression. It made no sense, yet it felt natural.
Ruan Nian felt as if he were about to be pulled apart by these contradictions.
The defenses he had built were effortlessly broken by the Alpha’s every breath. In front of him, Ruan Nian felt as though, aside from his emotions and instincts, he had nothing left.
This feeling of emptiness.
It made him want to run away.
The Omega pulled the duvet over his head and retreated back into his own corner.
So much for letting things take their natural course.
He just wanted some peace and quiet right now.
Days passed in their usual leisurely pace, but Mu Yan began to notice that something was wrong.
Apart from mealtimes, the Omega was nowhere to be seen. He was either in the art studio or out in the courtyard.
At first, Mu Yan thought he had done something offensive that night, so he sincerely apologized to the Omega. However, Ruan Nian just waved him off, saying it was fine, and refused to discuss what happened that night.
The next day at work, Mu Yan asked Tang Xian about it. But the honest assistant had conscientiously opened the partition between the front and back seats while driving that night and claimed complete ignorance of what happened between his boss and his boss’s wife.
The Alpha felt restless even while working.
He wanted to get along well with the Omega and slowly change the relationship between them, but every time he got a little bit closer, the Omega would immediately run away.
He stopped looking at the art books in the study, and he abandoned the painting tools scattered by the French window.
Every sign indicated that the Omega was deliberately avoiding him.
This felt like a very bad omen.
He couldn’t go on like this.
After diligently finishing the work piled up at headquarters, the Alpha finally found his opportunity.
Ruan Nian planned to go to the main star’s largest flower and bird market today.
The design for the glass greenhouse had been completed quickly over the past few days, largely driven by the Omega’s escapism. Most of the plants had already been selected, but there remained a small variety of flowers that Ruan Nian was still hesitating over.
Although it was convenient to view 3D simulations of flowers on the Star Network, Ruan Nian, being a perfectionist, wanted to see the real things before making a choice.
Uncle Rong suggested visiting the largest flower market on the main star.
Although the main star’s extreme day-night temperature difference and distinct seasonal climate were not ideal for growing flowers, as a major transit port for interstellar trade, one could find many exotic plants from other planets there.
It was originally supposed to be a weekend trip with Uncle Rong, but Ruan Nian’s companion was replaced by Mu Yan.
Oh, Niannian. Qin Mo just called me, and I suddenly remembered I have a medical check-up at the hospital today! I’m so sorry. The child has been urging me for a long time, and I’ve been feeling a bit stiff in my legs lately.
The old man spoke with an apologetic tone. Ruan Nian quickly expressed his understanding. After all, at Uncle Rong’s age, his health was the priority.
Just as Ruan Nian was about to say that he would be fine going alone, Uncle Rong changed his tone: How about letting Xiaoyan accompany you today? He’s off duty anyway.
Let Mu Yan go with him?
Ruan Nian subconsciously glanced at the Alpha on the other side.
Mu Yan, who was in the middle of drinking coffee and already dressed for work, paused. He quickly realized the situation and nodded slightly.
Buy whatever you like, and have Xiaoyan pay the bill. After all, he’s decorating his own house, so he should contribute too. The old man said this with a smile, and his logic was impeccable.
With Uncle Rong putting it that way, Ruan Nian had no choice but to agree.
After breakfast, both of them went upstairs to change into casual clothes. The Omega wore a thin white sweater and a beige trench coat, as the weather was quite warm today and he didn’t need a scarf.
But when he saw Mu Yan, Ruan Nian was momentarily stunned.
The man was still wearing a white shirt, but without a tie, with the top buttons casually undone. Outside, he wore a dark gray long trench coat that emphasized his tall, well-proportioned figure, looking understated and refined.
The Alpha, who was waiting for him at the entryway, seemed a bit surprised as well, though he quickly masked it.
The cuts of their coats were somewhat similar, and they were both wearing the same colored base layers, making them look as if they had deliberately dressed as a couple.
The atmosphere grew strange from that moment on.
Mu Yan drove himself today. As soon as Ruan Nian got into the car, he closed his eyes and pretended to rest, avoiding any potential conversation. Mu Yan didn’t call him out, letting the Omega have his moment of escape.
After all, they had the whole day ahead of them.
There was no rush.
Ruan Nian had rested well the night before. He was only pretending to rest at first, but later he truly fell into a drowsy sleep.
When Mu Yan woke him up, he was still a bit dazed.
The Omega’s hair was a little messy from being pressed down, his eyes were misty, and he looked at Mu Yan blankly, presenting the complete picture of someone who hadn’t fully woken up.
He was incredibly cute.
A smile flashed in the Alpha’s eyes. He reached out to help him tidy his messy hair. The physical touch instantly woke the Omega up. I can do it myself, he whispered. He immediately turned his head, quickly smoothed his hair, and got out of the car.
He didn’t see the Alpha’s meaningful gaze behind him.
The flower market was just ahead.
What Uncle Rong called a market was actually a long street. It was a bit remote, so the drive had taken a long time. But the scene before him was so beautiful that Ruan Nian felt the long journey was worth it.
At the entrance stood a massive glass flower rack. Flowers of various colors were arranged like waterfalls, each emitting its own fragrance. It was completely different from a typical commercial street, featuring no neat, standardized shop fronts. The plants weren’t displayed on shelves but planted directly into the soil.
Entering the street felt like stepping into an otherworldly paradise of sunshine and plants. Sections separated by wooden fences were small, carefully crafted gardens tended by flower lovers. Various plants were meticulously cared for and pruned, forming all sorts of patterns and shapes, some elegant and some cozy, creating a unique atmosphere within this small world using only plants.
People weren’t just buying flowers. It felt more like visiting old friends in their beautifully maintained gardens.
The light in the Omega’s eyes was brilliantly bright, clearly showing how much he loved this place.
Ruan Nian threw the earlier awkwardness to the back of his mind and strode forward. He had only taken two steps when he realized Mu Yan was still standing still.
Now entirely focused on the flower street before him, he turned back without a second thought and tugged on the Alpha’s sleeve.
The Omega’s voice was soft and sweet, the tail end filled with anticipation and excitement.
Hurry up.
Mu Yan was pulled forward by him. The stifling mood of the past few days was dispelled by this small action, and he could no longer maintain his facade of indifference, a clear arc forming on his lips.