[A dating guide? So these actually exist? Is Your Highness really that skilled at this?]
Ji Chenxi couldn’t shake the feeling that Chi Zhuo’s question had an edge to it. He tried, ever so slightly, to defend his own innocence.
[Not skilled exactly, just know a little.] he replied.
[Well, then why don’t you tell me what you do know?]
Ji Chenxi blinked lightly. He had never actually seen any so-called dating guides before, and Chi Zhuo’s sudden question caught him off guard for a moment. But in just a second, he regained his calm. With one hand, he answered, [Of course], while the other hand switched screens and casually skimmed through the dating guides.
Most of these were guides for alphas on how to pursue omegas. A few were about how omegas could pursue high-ranking alphas, but even those were all methods for omegas to “serve” the alpha: either showing off their omega charm, pretending to be weak, using pheromones to tease while resisting, or manipulating a strong alpha’s heart…
Just a few glances were enough for Ji Chenxi to close them with a touch of distaste. Could these guides really not spoil the innocent feelings of young omegas and alphas? He was full of doubts.
Turning back to the other screen—the one with the thing he had agreed to—Ji Chenxi, after an awkward silence, decided he might as well act like he had never replied to Chi Zhuo’s message at all.
Perhaps sensing Ji Chenxi’s hesitation, Chi Zhuo, who had been quietly waiting for a reply, surprisingly spoke up:
[Looks like Your Highness isn’t just a little knowledgeable, huh? Still no clear answer yet.]
A smile involuntarily tugged at Ji Chenxi’s lips. He sent a voice message slowly and casually: “Yeah, yeah, I really don’t know what to tell you. There’s just too much I know. Chi Zhuo, if you knew even a little, you’d know this isn’t how you send someone home.”
“Didn’t Your Highness say to stay low-key?”
Ji Chenxi immediately regretted even using the word ‘low-key’. Could anyone be this low-key?
He shook his head with a wry smile, realizing now that he had gotten off the hovering car just to wait for Chi Zhuo—what a waste.
Still, shaking his head didn’t mean he was too disappointed. Having a lover follow behind him, escorting him home, wasn’t so bad—it had its own charm.
As Ji Chenxi walked toward the estate at roughly the same pace as before, this time he could clearly sense another person behind him—not just a vague trace of pheromones.
He wasn’t walking fast, just slowly, almost as if waiting for someone, and at the same time savoring the calm beauty of the night. Chi Zhuo followed at a distance that was neither too close nor too far, the rustle of clothes brushing against grass and the crunch of dead leaves underfoot quietly reminding Ji Chenxi that he was there.
Ji Chenxi, who had deliberately waited for someone, was slightly annoyed that the other hadn’t shown up sooner—but at the same time, he found it funny that Chi Zhuo hadn’t exactly said, “I’m here to escort you home.”
Alright, he retracted his earlier thought. Maybe Chi Zhuo wasn’t entirely clueless after all.
Actions that came purely from the heart far outweighed anything written in a so-called dating guide.
A cold night breeze swirled gently, sending a chill down his back. Ji Chenxi, dressed lightly as usual, rubbed his hands together in response. The chill made his steps quicken slightly without him noticing, and once he realized it, he forced himself to slow down, regaining control over the reflex.
It was a brief moment, and just as Ji Chenxi resumed his previous pace, a presence approached brazenly.
He was slightly surprised; he had thought Chi Zhuo would keep his distance.
Chi Zhuo, who hadn’t persisted in keeping his distance, brought over Ji Chenxi’s coat and draped it over him. “It’s pretty chilly tonight. Your Highness should have brought a coat,” he said.
“I didn’t feel cold when I left. By the way, Chi Zhuo, why are you here? Not continuing your silent flower-guarding act?” Ji Chenxi teased with a smile.
Chi Zhuo remained expressionless, tightening the coat around him. “A flower guard should step in when the delicate flower is in trouble, not just trail behind it.”
Another gust of wind blew, scattering some sand along the path. Ji Chenxi blinked, giving Chi Zhuo a small piece of bad news.
“Some sand got into my eyes.”
Blinking rapidly from the discomfort, his vision quickly blurred with a thin mist of tears. He instinctively reached up to rub his eyes, and the corners quickly turned slightly red.
Before Ji Chenxi could touch his eyes again, Chi Zhuo promptly grabbed his hand, stopping the movement. “There are bacteria on your hands.”
Half-closing one eye, Ji Chenxi didn’t pull his hand away but frowned instead. “My eyes hurt.”
“I’ll check them for you.”
Warm breath brushed against his cheek. Ji Chenxi wasn’t sure if Chi Zhuo had noticed the sand in his eyes; all he could focus on was feeling the hand gently holding his eyelids open, the careful, almost fearful movements that seemed worried about hurting him.
Finally, Ji Chenxi’s eyes shed a single tear from the discomfort. His lids were half-closed as it slid down his cheek.
As the tear fell, a kiss landed softly on his face.
“Taking advantage of me, are you?”
Chi Zhuo, using his thumb to wipe away the tear, this time pressed his lips to Ji Chenxi’s. His voice was muffled in the kiss: “Or… maybe you’re just irresistible.”
Hello, everyone ヾ(＾∇＾). I hope you enjoyed the story! If you’re feeling generous, please buy me a coffee, share/comment on my translated works! Check out the link below for early chapters. (๑>ᴗ<๑)
