These past days, vomiting has happened more than once. Zhou You was already used to it.
But for Xing Hui, who was seeing this for the first time, it was clearly a shock. It reminded him of the very beginning, when Zhou You would also vomit after they finished. The thought sent a chill through his heart.
Hadn’t he already stopped resisting this?
Xing Hui’s expression visibly darkened. He took a deep breath, placed both hands on Zhou You’s shoulders and restrained himself with considerable effort, forcing his voice to stay calm. “You… did it flare up again?”
Zhou You’s eyelids drooped, his entire demeanor listless. Probably.
His silence only made Xing Hui’s face turn even worse. They had slept together for five years already and he was still rejecting him? He had only been away from home for half a month and Zhou You’s body had already grown unaccustomed to his? That was something Xing Hui found utterly unacceptable.
His expression tightened as he prepared to take Zhou You to the hospital.
“No need.” Zhou You pulled his hand back from Xing Hui’s grasp and said softly, “I want to take a shower. You go out.”
How could Xing Hui possibly let him shower alone? He tried to reason with him, his tone almost coaxing. “You haven’t even waited two hours since washing last time. You didn’t vomit anything dirty, can you skip it this time?”
Zhou You insisted, “I want to wash. Go out.”
From head to toe, it felt like he had been soaked in roses several times over. Even after washing, the smell wouldn’t come off. His mouth was filled with it too. Now that he had vomited again, it had to be because of Xing Hui’s pheromones. The scent clinging to his body was entirely Xing Hui’s.
Xing Hui frowned. Zhou You was always like this, every time they finished, he would wash himself repeatedly. Wasn’t that blatantly showing disgust toward him? Suppressing his anger, he said, “I’ll wash with you. Your body is rejecting me right now, so it needs to get more familiar again.”
Zhou You lowered his gaze and said nothing.
Xing Hui continued, “I didn’t touch you for half a month and now you’re rejecting me. What does that mean? It means our bodies need to be more honest with each other. It means your body needs me.” As he spoke, he reached out to help Zhou You remove his bathrobe.
Zhou You suddenly seemed to get a little angry. “I’m not washing anymore.” Then he turned around and left the bathroom.
Xing Hui stared at Zhou You’s retreating back, displeased and muttered, “Then don’t wash! What are you throwing a tantrum for!”
Zhou You acted as if he hadn’t heard him. He went to the water dispenser and poured himself a cup of water. Seeing Xing Hui walking over, he moved to the cabinet instead and took out some preserved plums.
Xing Hui followed him to the cabinet and stood beside him, staring at him for a few seconds before shifting his gaze to the preserved plums in Zhou You’s hand. Clearing his throat, he switched to a gentler tone. “I’ve been watching you on the cameras. You’ve been especially fond of these lately. Are they good?”
Zhou You was silent for a moment before nodding.
Seeing that Zhou You was finally giving him a bit of a good attitude, Xing Hui immediately said, “Let me try one.”
Zhou You handed him the bag of preserved plums.
“Get one for me.” Xing Hui pushed his luck.
Zhou You lifted his eyes to look at him. There was a hint of hesitation but he still took one out.
Xing Hui immediately lowered his head, opened his mouth and took the plum directly from Zhou You’s fingers, even going so far as to lick his finger afterward.
Zhou You didn’t react much. His face stayed stiff, lips pressed tightly together.
Xing Hui chewed the preserved plum contentedly, still staring at Zhou You. At some point, he couldn’t help leaning over and pecking Zhou You on the cheek.
Zhou You visibly frowned. Xing Hui immediately said, “I’m going to my dad’s place. He probably wants to see me about something.” Watching the flush spread across Zhou You’s face, his mood lifted, the corners of his lips curving upward. “I’ll be back before dinner.” Before leaving, he quickly pecked Zhou You on the lips again.
The moment Xing Hui arrived at the Xing family’s old residence, he was met with a round of disdain from his father.
Xing Hui smiled obediently. “Dad, why didn’t you tell me ahead of time when you came over to my place?”
“I called you yesterday. You didn’t answer. Then I called the house and was told that the moment you got back, you went straight into the bedroom and never came out. I waited a whole day, thinking you’d come out eventually.” At that point, Xing Mingyuan stopped, letting out a sigh.
Xing Hui laughed. “Dad, you have to understand, absence makes the heart grow fonder.”
Xing Mingyuan clenched his teeth. “Pathetic.”
Xing Hui kept smiling and got to the point. “Dad, did you need something from me?”
Xing Mingyuan brought up matters concerning the Northern Theater, sternly criticizing Xing Hui and scolding him for not knowing the gravity of the situation. Alliance international affairs were not something to be handled recklessly.
Faced with his father’s reprimand, Xing Hui listened quietly.
As Xing Mingyuan spoke, he abruptly changed the topic. “Although our Xing family holds decision-making power in the Alliance’s central authority, we do not have absolute dictatorship. You’d better remember that clearly. Do you understand?”
Xing Hui nodded absentmindedly.
“So, you should have a child. With an heir, the family can continue and can grow stronger.” Xing Mingyuan looked at him with a deep, steady gaze. “Having a child is nothing but beneficial to you. If it’s something that brings only advantages, why are you unwilling?”
Xing Hui smiled. “Why don’t you have a few more yourself? Or pick one from the family. There are so many people having children, surely one will satisfy you as an heir.”
Xing Mingyuan stiffened and said nothing.
Seeing his father’s displeasure, Xing Hui sighed helplessly. “Dad, I have plenty of cousins. They share the same surname as us. How could our family ever lack an heir?”
“I want you to give me a grandson!” Xing Mingyuan could no longer hide the anger on his face. “By your logic, why did I even bother having you in the first place?”
“Then why didn’t you have a few more?” Xing Hui replied.
“You unfilial bastard!” Xing Mingyuan was furious. “If your mother were still alive, would I need you to say this?” Feeling that it still wasn’t enough, he roared again, “How did I end up with a son like you? I might as well not have had you at all!”
Xing Hui let the words go in one ear and out the other. When his father finally finished venting, he calmly grasped the key point and said, “Dad, my mom passed away early. All these years, you’ve refused to find someone else because you loved her deeply. In the same way, I don’t want anyone else because I deeply love my wife. In this regard, I’m just like you. You should be happy and you should understand.”
“Does he love you?” Xing Mingyuan’s expression remained grim, tinged with sorrow. “What your mother and I had, what you and he have…” He snorted coldly. “It can’t even be mentioned in the same breath as what your mother and I shared.”
Xing Hui wanted to refute him. His lips parted but he found that he couldn’t say a single word in response.
Did Zhou You love him?
The answer was obvious.
His expression darkened as well and he sat there in silence.
Xing Mingyuan snorted again, clearly wanting to say something harsher but when he saw his son’s face, the words reached his mouth and were swallowed back down.
Even now, he still couldn’t understand why Xing Hui loved Zhou You so deeply, someone who wouldn’t even spare him a proper glance. At times, he even suspected that Xing Hui’s brain hadn’t developed properly, that he was some kind of emotional simpleton, stubborn to the point of foolishness.
After a stretch of silence, Xing Mingyuan spoke again. “The banquet the day after tomorrow, people of status from all circles will be there…”
“I know.” Xing Hui interrupted impatiently. “I’m leaving.”
Xing Mingyuan watched Xing Hui go, frowned slightly, then let out a sigh.
The moment Xing Hui entered the house, from the butler to the servants, everyone could tell he was in a bad mood.
Everyone knew Zhou You was Xing Hui’s emotional regulator, everyone except Zhou You himself.
So the butler quietly reminded Zhou You, who was sitting on the sofa watching television, “Young master has returned.”
Zhou You turned off the TV and stood up. “Then let’s have dinner.”
Despite his foul mood, Xing Hui held himself back from exploding. He sat at the dining table with a dark expression, eating in silence. Deep down, though, he was hoping Zhou You would ask him even a single caring question.
In truth, from the moment Xing Hui walked in, Zhou You had noticed his bad mood. He guessed Xing Hui had probably been wronged or scolded by Xing Mingyuan but he chose to remain silent.
Most importantly, this was a matter between father and son. As an outsider, he didn’t feel it was his place to comment.
Seeing Zhou You focused only on eating, Xing Hui grew even more displeased. He looked at Zhou You and snorted, irritation written all over his face.
Zhou You frowned slightly but still said nothing, only setting his chopsticks down.
Xing Hui glanced at the half bowl of mushroom soup left in front of Zhou You, then at the barely touched dishes. His brows knit together. “Why are you eating so little?”
After spending the entire day in bed, his body filled with Xing Hui’s presence, Zhou You felt bloated and exhausted rather than hungry. He had eaten a bag of preserved plums before dinner and if Xing Hui hadn’t been home, he had originally planned to skip dinner altogether.
“I’m not hungry,” he said softly.
“Not hungry?” Xing Hui’s anger suddenly flared uncontrollably. “You’re a grown Alpha and you eat this little? Are you abusing yourself? I was gone for half a month and you’ve lost weight, so this is how you eat? Are you doing this on purpose to piss me off? Fine, starve yourself to death for all I care!”
Xing Hui’s anger made Zhou You’s frown deepen. He felt that Xing Hui was venting his frustrations from outside onto him. What kind of head of the household was this?
Zhou You pressed his lips together, looked up at him and said, “Are you done losing your temper? If you are, I’m going to rest.” He stood up as he spoke.
Xing Hui stood as well. “What, going on a hunger strike again? I say a few words and you’re unhappy?”
Zhou You felt a wave of irritation. He restrained himself before replying, “Aren’t you monitoring me every day? Don’t you know whether I eat or not? I have no appetite today and don’t want to eat. Are you even going to control that too?”
Xing Hui felt Zhou You was being utterly ungrateful and snapped, “What do you mean, controlling you just to eat? I’m worried about you!”
“Worried about me?” Zhou You looked at him. Thinking of being confined to the house and of Xing Hui taking his anger out on him, his mood soured. As if venting, he continued, “Is not letting me leave the house also your way of worrying about me? If that’s what you call concern, then I don’t want it!”
“Wasn’t it you who said you wanted me to let you go?” Xing Hui grew anxious. “If you hadn’t said that, would I have restricted you from leaving? I’m talking about eating and you’re bringing up something else, are you deliberately trying to pick a fight with me?”
“I stay at home all day, how could I have any appetite?” Zhou You snapped back. “You restrict my personal freedom. If it were you, do you think you’d be able to eat? And when have I ever dared to deliberately fight with you? You, Major Xing, have power and authority. When you’re unhappy, you confine people, detain them, threaten them with guns. When you’re unhappy again, you come home and throw a tantrum. Do you think I dare? Even if you gave me ten thousand times the courage, I wouldn’t dare argue with you! I don’t even dare raise my voice when I talk to you!”
Xing Hui felt his temples throb violently. Those words made his blood boil. His gaze swept over Zhou You’s face again and again as he suppressed his anger repeatedly, finally forcing out, “My voice isn’t even louder than yours.”
Meeting Xing Hui’s eyes, Zhou You turned his head away, refusing to look at him.
Xing Hui’s eyes widened. He reached out and turned Zhou You’s face back toward him, speaking through clenched teeth. “I’m throwing a tantrum at you? You’re the one throwing a tantrum at me!” Then he added, “I just got back. Can’t you stop fighting with me for once?”
Zhou You simply closed his eyes and said nothing.
That made Xing Hui even more unsettled. He shook him, tugged at his eyelids with his fingers but Zhou You still kept his lips tightly pressed together, unwilling to look at him.
Xing Hui finally stopped. He looked at Zhou You’s closed eyes, at the complete lack of warmth on his face, at his gaunt features. In the end, he surrendered.
He pulled Zhou You into his arms and held him tightly, speaking with a mix of anger, frustration and exhaustion. “When you don’t talk to me, when you don’t look at me, it hurts more than someone carving my heart out with a knife and you still say you don’t dare? Zhou You, you dare more than anyone.”
Zhou You’s eyelids trembled slightly. His fingers curled unconsciously. He actually wanted to say something in response but not a single word would come out.
That night, as they were about to sleep, Zhou You finally spoke. “I’m working tomorrow. My supervisor scheduled me for night duty.”
Xing Hui’s brows furrowed. “Which supervisor?” He pulled Zhou You into his arms. “I just got back. Can’t you stay home and keep me company for two days?”
Zhou You lifted his eyes to look at him and said calmly, “You replaced the bed in the staff lounge. If you don’t mind, I’m not stopping you from coming to see me.”
Hearing that, Xing Hui’s expression softened, the corners of his lips even lifting slightly. He cleared his throat, pretending to be serious. “A good bed. Of course I don’t mind.”
Zhou You withdrew his gaze, turned over and faced away from him. “Sleep.”
Xing Hui immediately stuck close, wrapping his arms around him, kissing his smooth shoulder, his lower body pressing closer as well.
Zhou You stiffened and turned his head to glare at him. “Can you let me sleep peacefully for once?”
Xing Hui behaved himself but didn’t let go. He held Zhou You for who knew how long before softly asking, “Wife, are you asleep?”
Zhou You shifted slightly, half-asleep, half-awake. “What is it?”
“You…” Xing Hui hesitated. At the last moment, he felt that the word “love” might be too heavy for Zhou You, so he changed his wording. “Have you ever liked me?”
The drowsy Zhou You slowly opened his eyes in the darkness upon hearing that question.
✦ ✧ ✦
Vynellia
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
(´｡• ᵕ •｡`) ♡ a little coffee would be lovely
☕ BUY THEM A COFFEE →
✧ (づ｡•ㅅ•｡)づ ☕ ✧
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ChaptersChapter 1 · You can’t tag meChapter 2 · Give it to me, I want itChapter 3 · Yes, but only my wife can give birth to it.Chapter 4 · Find me a little Omega dadChapter 5 · We are legalChapter 6 · I want to divorce him and leave this placeChapter 7 · 3 million compensationChapter 8 · Enemies from a past lifeChapter 9 · My wife’s leftovers, so fragrant.Chapter 10 · Did you ever like me?Chapter 11 · Is he pregnant?Chapter 12 · Still two linesChapter 13 · Ultrasound resultsChapter 14 · False pregnancy reactionChapter 15 · A person changes after just one night’s sleep?Chapter 16 · I have to take responsibilityChapter 17 · Of course we’re arresting youChapter 18 · Lie on the bedChapter 19 · It felt like a fire was burning inside my bodyChapter 20 · Disgusting pervertChapter 21 · Did you force him?Chapter 22 · Do you expect me to feed you with my mouth?Chapter 23 · Let’s add each other. It’ll be easier to stay in touchChapter 24 · What are you looking at so intently?Chapter 25 · You lawless monster!Chapter 26 · What a coincidenceChapter 27 · So happy?Chapter 28 · You really don’t want to be with me?Chapter 29 · You’re living inside?Chapter 30 · I don’t want to be a bed partnerChapter 31 · Divorce after marriageChapter 32 · Welcome HomeChapter 33 · You’re hurt?Chapter 34 · Don’t disgust me!Chapter 35 · The first year after marriageChapter 36 · Xiaoyou ran away again?Chapter 37 · If killing me will calm you down, then do whatever you wantChapter 38 · If only he were an omegaChapter 39 · Xiaoyou: It’s not a kiss, it’s artificial respirationChapter 40 · Xiaoyou called him “husband” for the first timeChapter 41 · Choose one: call me ‘husband’ or…..Chapter 42 · They didn’t argue on their second wedding anniversaryChapter 43 · In the third year of their marriage, everything seemed perfectChapter 44 · Xiaoyou was actually on the verge of collapse.Chapter 45 · Would Xing Hui even listen?Chapter 46 · You’re nothing but a hooligan and a scoundrelChapter 47 · I’M A MANChapter 48 · Why is it that every single time I see you, you’re fighting?Chapter 49 · You’re the heavens. You’re the lawChapter 50 · Have You ever love me?Chapter 51 · What makes them any different from the couples on the street?Chapter 52 · You Actually Dare to Hit Him?!Chapter 53 · I don’t want you anymoreChapter 54 · Taking advantage of Xing Hui’s love?Chapter 55 · Who is Zhou You?Chapter 56 · It’s not good for you to be pregnant without your partner by your sideChapter 57 · Haven’t we met somewhere before?Chapter 58 · Zhou You?…. Yu Miao?Chapter 59 · He’s called Miao You nowChapter 60 · Are you about to give birth?Chapter 61 · Xing Hui: Wife, you are my attending physicianChapter 62 · Am I treating you better than before?Chapter 63 · You Miao, can I pursue you?Chapter 64 Part 1 · Memory recovery countdown…Chapter 64 Part 2 · Memory recovery countdown…Chapter 65 Part 1 · After five years of marriage, what is Xing Hui’s greatest advantage?Chapter 65 Part 2 · After five years of marriage, what is Xing Hui’s greatest advantage?Chapter 66 · You Miao suddenly found himself unable to resistChapter 67 · Yes, the incredibly soft-hearted You Miao loves him.Chapter 68 Part 1 · Is he about to give Birth?Chapter 68 Part 2 · Is he about to give birth?Chapter 69 · The baby has been born safely!Chapter 70 · Baby’s name revealedChapter 71 · Can you promise me that?Chapter 72 · AphrodisiacChapter 73 · Are you willing to marry me again?Chapter 74 · If I push my luck, I’ll force you into marriageChapter 75 Part 1 · Has this person traveled back in time?Chapter 75 Part 2 · Has this person traveled back in time?Chapter 76 Part 1 · Wishing the young couple a long and happy lifeChapter 76 Part 2 · Wishing the young couple a long and happy lifeChapter 77 · Finding the Diamond RingChapter 78 Part 1 · Put It on MeChapter 78 Part 2 · Put It on MeChapter 79 · My Future HusbandChapter 80 · IF route side story (1)Chapter 81 · If Route Side Story (2)Chapter 82 Part 1 · If route Side Story (3)Chapter 82 Part 2 · If route Side Story (3)Chapter 83 · If route Side Story (4)Chapter 84 Part 1 · IF route side story (5)Chapter 84 Part 2 · IF route side story (5)Chapter 85 Part 1 · IF route side story (6)Chapter 85 Part 2 · IF route side story (6)Chapter 86 · If route side story (7)Chapter 87 Part 1 · I’ve been thinking about itChapter 87 Part 2 · I’ve been thinking about itChapter 88 Part 1 · Happy Qixi FestivalChapter 88 Part 2 · Happy Qixi FestivalChapter 89 · You Miao’s Pregnancy SicknessChapter 90 Part 1 · Xinghui’s Pregnancy NauseaChapter 90 Part 2 · Xinghui’s Pregnancy NauseaChapter 91 Part 1 · The wedding is setChapter 91 Part 2 · The wedding is set