His hair was so soft too.
The anxious unease that had been gnawing at him vanished like magic the moment he saw his gege’s peaceful, sleeping face.
A moment later, Chu Xingxiao finally lifted his head. Someone was standing not far away, calmly watching him… or rather, watching the Chi Zhan nestled in his arms.
Chu Xingxiao took off his coat, spread it on the ground, and gently laid his brother down before walking over.
The two chose a spot where they could talk without waking Chi Zhan, yet still keep him in sight.
“You’re slower than I expected,” Chu Xingxiao said, leaning against a tree. “But even if you managed to find us, it’s useless. He’s already asleep.”
“You trying to unilaterally tear up our agreement?” Qi Song’s gaze landed on Chi Zhan in the distance, his expression icy. “Sneaking off while I wasn’t paying attention, using pheromones to disrupt tracking—what a childish stunt.”
Ordinary people would have been intimidated by that frigid tone, but Chu Xingxiao, long used to his demeanor, merely gave a dismissive smile.
“And who was it that broke the agreement first? Weren’t we clear—Chi Zhan can’t know our real identities? So who went and told him their real name first? Don’t go pulling the gege act on me just because you were born a few days earlier. I don’t buy it.”
Qi Song’s brow twitched subtly at that.
“He told you?”
“He let it slip. Not like you warned him not to say anything to others. You call me reckless, but you’re no better,” Chu Xingxiao narrowed his eyes. “Always playing the upright act, making him think I’m the only troublemaker. I just didn’t feel like exposing you.”
“If the person who overheard that name hadn’t been me, but the Crown Prince of the Empire… that would’ve been a real show. The name Qi Song is a thorn in the royal family’s side. You’d be thrown in jail the next second. But it’s fine—he already promised me he wouldn’t tell anyone. So, does that make us even now?”
Qi Song reined in his expression, looked away, and said coolly, “Thanks. But tomorrow morning, you’re not to follow him anymore.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Chu Xingxiao replied, impatient.
He returned to the fire and carefully cradled Chi Zhan again. His gege’s brows furrowed—he seemed to be having a bad dream.
What could be troubling him so much that even in sleep he looked this distressed? Chu Xingxiao wondered, heart aching.
He couldn’t bring himself to sleep either. Moments like these—where he could just watch his brother up close—were too rare. He didn’t want to waste even a second.
His hair was all fluffy, with one stubborn tuft sticking up. So cute.
His collar was buttoned up so tightly—wouldn’t that be uncomfortable to sleep in?
Chu Xingxiao reached up and loosened a button. Just as he was about to pull his hand back, his gaze suddenly fixed on something.
From Chi Zhan’s collar, he plucked out a tiny grain-sized object and held it up to the firelight. After examining it for a few seconds, his expression abruptly darkened.
In the next instant, he crushed it without hesitation.
Deep into the night, after taking down a few thugs who’d thought targeting a medical student would be easy prey, Cen Chi heard his earpiece emit constant lost-signal alerts. He plucked the headset off with a resigned chuckle.
“Looks like they found it…”
Catching a flicker of firelight in the distance, he paused, eyes narrowing as he stared toward it, lost in thought. After a few seconds, he turned and walked in the opposite direction.
It wasn’t the right time yet.
Too many eyes on the prize—one wrong move and the whole plan would be blown.
Still, it hadn’t been a wasted night. On the contrary—
The intel he’d gathered was astonishing.
Including the illustrious Crown Prince and his brother, who pretended to be smitten with an Omega. But what he truly wanted… was someone else entirely.
He must’ve put on that act to throw others off the scent.
All the more reason not to back down.
Stealing away the one he loves—only then might he slip up.
Although… even thinking that, Cen Chi didn’t feel particularly satisfied.
On the contrary, there was a dull weight pressing down on his chest, as heavy and suffocating as the thick clouds blanketing the night sky.
At dawn, the clouds finally broke, and warm sunlight spilled down from above. Chi Zhan woke up.
Ugh… didn’t sleep well.
His dreams had been a string of jumbled, broken images—strange and disorienting. His brain had been spinning all night, but the moment he opened his eyes, it was as if none of it had ever happened—like rain-washed ground, not a trace left behind.
He stared blankly for a while before realizing he was lying on the ground, with someone’s military jacket serving as his pillow. The place was completely empty—not a soul in sight.
Chi Zhan sat up, rubbed his temples, and looked around. By the fire, he spotted a lunchbox with a note tucked underneath.
The box was still warm.
He pulled out the note. The handwriting was messy but oddly elegant:
Gege, I had to leave for something. When you wake up, don’t forget to eat breakfast—it should still be hot.
Eat every bite!
There was even a little kissing face doodled at the bottom.
Classic Xing Xiao.
So… he left?
Chi Zhan had spent the whole night racking his brain, trying to figure out how to shake off this clingy tail, but the guy had already up and gone. He exhaled in relief.
If he’d kept tagging along, that really would’ve been a headache…
Inside the box were slices of luncheon meat, potatoes, and rice—still fresh. He had no idea where Xing Xiao had managed to find this stuff.
Ever since he’d met Xing Xiao, food had never been a problem. The guy always had some tasty surprise tucked away.
But… why?
Chi Zhan couldn’t figure it out. He hadn’t wanted to keep mooching off him—taking food for free felt wrong—but wasting it would be worse. After a moment’s hesitation, he started eating, one bite at a time.
Time to get serious.
Chi Zhan buttoned up his collar, took a deep breath, and told himself—Come on, Chi Zhan. You’ve got this.
