In late autumn, omegas were not tolerant of the cold. By the time Mr. Xuan returned home, Shen Que had found a “little heater” to hold—Little Potato, who obediently nestled in the little omega’s arms, dozing off.
As soon as Sheng Xuanchu stepped through the door, he saw the pair curled up together in the corner of the sofa.
Shen Que’s hair was tousled from sleep, and together with Little Potato, they looked like two fluffy, soft, and squishy balls—perfect for squeezing.
As if guided by some inexplicable impulse, Sheng Xuanchu reached out and pinched Shen Que’s cheek. The fair, tender skin quickly flushed red. Shen Que winced in pain, frowning as he pushed away the clamp-like hand.
The alpha smiled, then unceremoniously tossed Little Potato aside. Bending down, he scooped Shen Que up into his arms. Shen Que must have just taken a bath, as his glands, warmed by the steam, emitted a faint floral scent—surprisingly pleasant.
With the warm “heater” suddenly gone, the sleeping Shen Que instinctively burrowed into the alpha’s warm embrace, nuzzling comfortably against the man’s chest, which only stirred a fire within Sheng Xuanchu.
Sheng Xuanchu pushed open the bedroom door with one hand and laid Shen Que on the bed.
Deprived of his warm support, the omega stretched out his hands but failed to find the expected embrace. Frowning drowsily, he curled up into a ball under the covers.
Experts said this sleeping posture was a sign of insecurity.
Had he not provided enough security?
After changing into his pajamas, Sheng Xuanchu had just settled into bed when the omega beside him sought out the source of warmth, clinging to him like an affectionate kitten, arms and legs wrapping around him.
Sheng Xuanchu felt as if he were holding a block of ice.
He pushed the person away in annoyance.
“Hmm~” Shen Que frowned, shifting closer to the alpha. Only when his hands and feet were enveloped by warm skin again did the irritation between his brows ease somewhat.
Seeing Shen Que cling to him so unconsciously, Sheng Xuanchu didn’t refuse this time. Instead, he wrapped his arms around the soft omega, pulling him close. He had once wished Shen Que would depend on him like Wen Zhibai did—now it seemed that wish had come true.
That night, Shen Que had a long dream. He dreamed he was holding Dreamer for warmth, but Dreamer was uncooperative, always pushing him away. Later, after he acted a little coquettish, Dreamer obediently became his hand warmer.
However, several times in the dream, Dreamer wore Mr. Xuan’s face—cold and seemingly displeased with his hand-warming antics. Yet, he never withdrew his hand, even holding Shen Que tightly at times.
That feeling of warmth, both in his heart and in his embrace, made Shen Que feel utterly captivated.
The next morning, when Shen Que woke up, Mr. Xuan had already left for the company. He noticed that Mr. Xuan was very busy, yet aside from the rumors about Nuofeng, he couldn’t find any information about him online.
During breakfast, a servant inadvertently mentioned Mr. Xuan, causing Shen Que’s cheeks to flush as he recalled last night’s dream.
But then he thought, someone as lofty as Mr. Xuan would surely never warm his hands or feet for him.
It rained that autumn day, and even wrapped in blankets, Shen Que felt chilled to the bone. He had no choice but to soak in a hot bath to warm up.
The bathtub had a constant temperature function, keeping the water warm at all times.
How nice it would be to visit a hot spring.
The thought suddenly crossed Shen Que’s mind, but upon further reflection, he had no friends, and Mr. Xuan was always busy. Going to a hot spring alone would feel lonely.
With that thought, Shen Que dismissed the idea entirely.
The servant hadn’t prepared slippers for Shen Que. With autumn rains falling one after another, he had expected the wooden floor to feel cold. Hunched and shoulders raised, he stepped out of the bathroom, only to discover the floor was warm—an unusually comfortable warmth.
Had the heating been turned on early?
It was only early October, wasn’t it?
It hadn’t been on before his bath, he was sure.
After changing, the entire house felt cozy and warm. Little Potato, curious about the sensation under his paws, dashed back and forth, a toy in his mouth.
“The heating’s on so early this year?” a servant remarked curiously.
“Yes, Mr. Xuan dislikes heat. In previous years, the heating wasn’t turned on until late winter.”
“Mr. Xuan is an alpha, so temperature doesn’t bother him much. But now we have Mr. Shen, don’t we?”
“I remember last year, Mr. Nuo’s glands were damaged from the cold, and Mr. Xuan didn’t seem to care.”
“Do you all understand the consequences if Mr. Xuan finds out you’re gossiping?” The butler suddenly appeared, cutting off their conversation. He then turned respectfully to Shen Que, who had been eavesdropping on the stairs. “Good afternoon, Mr. Shen.”
The servants, unaware of Shen Que’s presence and realizing they had been overheard, lowered their heads and quickly scattered.
The butler said nothing more, only reminding Shen Que not to report their gossip to Mr. Xuan. Anyone dismissed from the Xuan family would never find employment in any respectable household again.
Shen Que had no intention of making an issue out of such trivial matters. He curled his toes, savoring the warmth of the floor.
So, had Mr. Xuan really turned on the heating early for him?
“Butler, I’d like to ask about Mr. Xuan and Nuo Feng.”
The butler paused, a faint, ambiguous smile on his lips. “All you need to know is that Mr. Nuo Feng and Mr. Xuan have never had any relationship—not even physical contact.”
Shen Que was left confused and wanted to ask more, but the butler had already turned and walked away.
Recalling the servants’ words and finding online reports about Nuo Feng’s hospitalization due to gland damage, Shen Que realized Mr. Xuan treated him and Nuo Feng differently—at least in terms of treatment.
As for the butler’s words, Shen Que didn’t quite believe them.
That night, the ambiguous yet intense scent of wine pheromones was definitely not something an omega could emit under normal circumstances.
He had a feeling the relationship between Nuo Feng and Mr. Xuan was far more complicated than just lovers.