Chapter 16: Tell Me
Seeing Qin Huai lean down, Duan Ke sensed he was about to be picked up. Sure enough, the next second, he was steadily lifted by the man, who even patted his back gently.
It was strange. He had known Qin Huai for only a short time, yet he was constantly being carried around by him, to the point where Duan Ke had developed a conditioned reflex to Qin Huai’s preparatory movements.
“Really, no need… I can do it myself.”
After all, it was his first heat; Duan Ke couldn’t predict what he might do.
If he unconsciously hurt Qin Huai, wouldn’t he be breaking the promise he just made? Duan Ke couldn’t do such a thing.
He still wanted to tough it out himself first and explain to Qin Huai after the heat passed.
But Qin Huai clearly misinterpreted his meaning.
He lifted his eyelids, silently looking at the boy lying in his arms.
Duan Ke’s light-colored eyes were covered in mist, the corners of his eyes red from fever. His lips parted unconsciously, and his exhaled breath carried the unique humidity and warmth of a fever.
Burning so hot he can’t stand steadily, yet in a rush to run. Even held in my arms, he won’t settle down.
…Who does he want to show this seductive look to?
Thinking this, Qin Huai’s calm eyes were rapidly dyed with an intense possessiveness. He stared deeply and heavily at the boy from head to toe, yet his face remained as cold and calm as ever.
As if nothing had happened, he asked, “Is there someone at home to take care of you?”
Duan Ke’s head was already spinning; he didn’t notice the dangerous aura of the predator at all, only wanting to leave quickly.
Handed an excuse, he subconsciously went along with Qin Huai’s words, lying indiscriminately in his panic.
“Yes, my roommate is at my house right now.” Duan Ke nodded chaotically. “He will take care of me, so I won’t trouble Brother Qin Huai.”
Qin Huai’s breathing became noticeably heavier. He held him silently for a few seconds, lowering his gloomy eyes to stare at Duan Ke’s guilt-ridden little face.
In the end, Qin Huai said nothing. He just calmly placed Duan Ke on the ground and casually tidied the curly hair he had messed up.
“Go to sleep early when you get home. Rest well.”
How could Duan Ke have the energy to respond properly? He nodded perfunctorily, hummed twice, and fled toward his own home opposite like he was escaping.
He felt his will was extremely shaky right now; one more second and he wouldn’t be able to resist tearing Qin Huai’s clothes off.
But he didn’t know that in Qin Huai’s eyes, this appearance looked like he couldn’t wait a second longer to see the person at home.
Duan Ke hurriedly fished for his keys at his door.
Inside his pocket, the Small Black Ball sighed faintly, hating that its King fell short of expectations, and hating that the Queen Consort fell short even more.
First, it really couldn’t understand why its King was so reserved. He’s a succubus! Food, sex, natureāhow normal is that!
And the heat is almost here; what’s wrong with using his keeper? It’s not like he’s disposable.
Second, the Queen Consort was also a wimp. Lord Duan Ke told a random lie, and he believed it without even trying to make him stay.
The Small Black Ball had barely accepted Qin Huai’s status as keeperāpinching its noseābecause of his super strong physical quality. But now it felt it still needed to guard the gate properly for Lord Duan Ke.
Duan Ke opened the door. A second before entering, the Small Black Ball peeked its head tip out of the pocket gloomily, wanting to observe Qin Huai’s reaction.
The sharp survival instinct of a monster made its whole body bristle. Qin Huai’s eyelids were lazily lifted, his gaze accurately and coldly fixed on the monster in Duan Ke’s pocket. His eyes were sharp, like an unsheathed blade.
But it was only for a second. He looked away, as if having no interest in this monster he had discovered long ago, and looked heavily at Duan Ke’s thin, slender back.
The Small Black Ball dared not let its heart beat. Only after several seconds did it finally manage to breathe, panting heavily like a survivor of a disaster.
Clearly, as a monster, I shouldn’t be afraid of a human. But I inexplicably felt that this human would shoot me without hesitation, or simply crush me to death.
The Small Black Ball looked at Qin Huai in shock and uncertainty. Following Qin Huai’s line of sight, it confirmed a matter that made its hair stand on endāsomething that would often scare it in retrospect.
1:00 AM.
Qin Huai’s room had no superfluous furnishings, only the necessary bed, desk, and wardrobe. The color scheme was entirely black, white, and grayāoppressive and mechanical, tidy but appearing completely devoid of human warmth.
He had city security patrol work early tomorrow morning, followed immediately by interrogating a Class-A monster at the detention center. He didn’t have a single second of free time.
Must rest.
Qin Huai lay stiffly on his back in bed, telling himself this once again. Then he closed his eyes.
But for the umpteenth time, Duan Ke’s pretty eyes, burning bright red, and the words he said today surfaced in Qin Huai’s mind. Like a kitten doing parkour on the bed in the middle of the night and rubbing against people, it made sleep impossible.
An extremely strong memory, almost an instinct after years of training, made Qin Huai recall Duan Ke’s “roommate” again.
Yesterday during the move, that college student had called out “Little Ke” very intimately, and while Duan Ke was talking to him, unreservedly exposed a competitor’s malice toward Qin Huai.
Clearly without title or status, yet thinking of fulfilling a boyfriend’s duties. Simply absurd to the point of laughter.
Now he’s even taken it upon himself to go to Duan Ke’s house?
…That kind of person isn’t reliable at all. He can’t take care of anyone properly.
How can Duan Ke lack vigilance so much, letting people into his home so casually.
The more Qin Huai thought, the tighter his chest felt for no reason. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he let out a light breath. After hesitating for a long time, he couldn’t hold back and turned to look out the window at the opposite side, seeing that the light in Duan Ke’s room was still on.
1:00 AM. Two people in one room.
What would they be doing?
Qin Huai’s fingers tightened, almost piercing his palm. He actually knew that such groundless, malicious speculation was wrong. He was just Duan Ke’s friend, and only regarded Duan Ke as a friend. He had no reason or status to interfere in Duan Ke’s private affairs.
But I just want to interfere. Why.
He had never experienced such a scene where even his emotions were uncontrollable, unable to explain it with experience for a moment. He could only attribute this possessiveness to the guilt generated from misunderstanding Duan Ke before, just to make himself feel a little better.
Stop thinking. It has nothing to do with you.
Qin Huai tried to close his eyes again.
Five minutes later, he opened his eyes as if accepting fate and turned on the lamp by his hand. Now both facing rooms were brightly lit, looking out of place in the surrounding darkness.
Qin Huai propped up a long leg and leaned against the headboard, opening his phone to process documents needed for tomorrow. But as he worked, he started getting distracted again.
When he snapped back, his phone had been switched to the timer interface.
[42 Hours 12 Minutes]
The countdown to the first kiss he had agreed upon with Duan Ke.
Realizing what he was doing, Qin Huai slammed the phone face down on the bedside table with a snap, supporting his forehead with one hand, feeling a splitting headache.
…Did Duan Ke really not use charm magic on me?
Then why can’t I control my behavior at all right now, my mind full of him?
Qin Huai felt this wouldn’t do, considering the possibility of simply knocking himself out. As he was planning the second option, the light in Duan Ke’s bedroom opposite suddenly went out. The surrounding environment seemed to dim instantly.
Qin Huai’s heart thumped heavily. He quickly turned to look at the pitch-black room opposite where nothing could be seen, his heart rapidly cooling.
A random move from the other side feels like facing a formidable enemy.
…What exactly am I doing right now?
A huge sense of absurdity rose from the bottom of Qin Huai’s heart. The omnipotent Inquisitor rarely felt powerless in a situation.
But he really didn’t know what to do. After all, having been alienated from crowds for too long, he no longer possessed or could distinguish many emotions.
Qin Huai stood up expressionlessly, preparing to turn off the light and rest again.
A gust of cold wind came from behind. Almost instantly, he grabbed the gun he always kept in his clothes, chambered it with one hand, and aimed at the black shadow that had broken in through the window.
“Who.”
Qin Huai’s voice was cold and short as a knife. That black shadow seemed scared by his appearance and began to tremble all over.
The night breeze slipped in through the open window, carrying the faint scent of the orange body wash from Duan Ke’s home to Qin Huai.
Qin Huai recognized almost immediately that it was Duan Ke.
His tense heart instantly relaxed, and he casually placed the gun on the table. Qin Huai walked forward, reaching out to lift down Duan Ke, who was still crouching on the window frame.
“Why come over so late?”
Qin Huai’s voice was slightly hoarse from staying up late. “Not feeling well?”
Duan Ke didn’t speak, neither nodding nor shaking his head, but his body was still shaking. Seeing him like this, Qin Huai frowned and pulled him into his arms without a word. He found Duan Ke’s body temperature shockingly hot, almost burning up.
Qin Huai’s heart, which had just settled, instantly rose to his throat again.
Calmly but quickly, he carried Duan Ke to the bed. “You lie down first; I’ll call an ambulance.”
“No… woo woo…”
Duan Ke’s words carried a distinct sobbing tone. Only then did Qin Huai realize his voice was wet and unreasonably soft.
“Not going to the hospital.” Duan Ke mumbled with blurred consciousness. “Don’t want to go to the hospital.”
“I want…”
Duan Ke seemed too weak; his voice became lower and lower. Qin Huai couldn’t hear what he was saying and immediately stopped changing clothes. Kneeling halfway on the bed, he leaned close to Duan Ke: “I’m here. Speak.”
“I want…”
“I want to…”
Duan Ke tightly grasped Qin Huai’s forearm, unconsciously mumbling that he wanted something, but never saying the specific content.
Qin Huai gently turned Duan Ke’s chin with his free hand, making Duan Ke look at him. With not a hint of impatience, he coaxed patiently.
“Want what? Tell me.”
Duan Ke’s lips were still pressed tight, his pretty, slender brows furrowed. His small face was drenched in sweat, as if enduring something with all his might.
Seeing him like this, Qin Huai very slowly and gently smoothed his brow. Then, calmly, he inserted his thumb, possessing thin calluses, between Duan Ke’s lips, squeezing into the snowy white rows of Duan Ke’s teeth, forcing him to open his mouth, forcing him to confide.
Qin Huai calmly performed the most rough and coercive actions, yet his voice was low and gentle, as if these controlling acts were done by another person.
He coaxed again: “Tell me, hm?”
“…”
Duan Ke seemed calmed by his coaxing. He stopped shaking. Qin Huai looked up, meeting Duan Ke’s amber pupils glowing in the dark night.
It was the feeling of being stared at by a beast in the dark, but Qin Huai didn’t find it annoying.
“I want… you.”
Duan Ke licked his lips, softening his voice like acting coquettishly: “To eat you.”
Qin Huai wasn’t afraid. He was very calm, even wanting to hum a response. But the next second, a warm, soft touch coming from somewhere made his body stiffen, dodging upward in panic.
Duan Ke had pressed on his…
[Author’s Note] The kitten during special periods and the kitten usually are two different forms: During heat, he speaks ruthlessly with a soft voice, has high demands, can eat a lot, and plays wildly with his husband. Usually, he is a pitiful kitten crying and begging to be let off. Both flavors are delicious, slurp. [Pity]
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