Chapter 33
byChapter 33
033
Loss of a Cat
"M30 is extracted from the dilute solution of Sunset's Afterglow. Current experiments show that this substance has a significant effect in slowing down human aging..."
"Little Li, give me Experiment Sample Number Two... Little Li?"
The familiar voice pulled Chu Li back to reality. He jolted upright, accidentally knocking over the beaker beside him.
A crisp shattering sound filled the air as the beaker, filled with liquid, toppled and broke into several pieces, spilling its contents onto the floor.
Chu Li finally realized that he was in the laboratory, and Professor Wen was summarizing their experimental results from the past period. He hurriedly stood up and apologized, "Sorry, I got a bit distracted. I'll clean it up right away..."
He fumbled for cleaning tools but was stopped by Wen Renjian.
Wen Renjian looked at Chu Li with a furrowed brow. "Little Li, you've been distracted these past few days."
Chu Li bowed his head, muttering for a while but failing to speak.
Wen Renjian sighed. "You're an intelligent child. You have your own boundaries in everything you do. If you don't want to talk about it, then so be it. But with your current state, you can't continue staying in the lab. I'll give you two days off. Go back and rest."
Instantly, Chu Li grew anxious. "Professor, I'm fine. It's just that..."
"Enough," Wen Renjian interrupted. "Our experiment is temporarily concluded. I need to go back and write my thesis. You, Jiaqing, and Xiaoliu can all take a break. If you feel like you're wasting time, use the holiday to handle your personal matters and then return to the lab. If you remain in this distracted state, I'll have to discipline you."
Wen Renjian's words filled Chu Li with guilt. He had let his personal affairs affect the experiment and forced his teacher to consider his feelings, even granting a holiday to the others as well.
Lowering his head, Chu Li whispered, "I'm sorry, Professor. I'll get myself back on track."
Seeing his demeanor, Wen Renjian became even more concerned. "Did something troublesome happen to you?"
Chu Li shook his head. "No, it might just be from being too exhausted during the recent military drills."
Wen Renjian sighed. Clearly, there was something on the boy's mind, yet he refused to share it.
He didn't wish to push the matter, so he offered a few more words of advice before allowing Chu Li to leave.
Exiting the laboratory, Chu Li couldn't help but force a bitter smile. He understood his professor's concern, but how could he put it... Jing Baiyuan's disappearance was a secret within the expeditionary force. Ya Lan's decision to share this with him was already an exceptional favor. He couldn't divulge this information.
Moreover... no one could comfort him regarding the matter of Little Li Hua Cat. He had to digest it on his own, silently.
Three days had passed since Ya Lan came to find him.
Chu Li returned to his dorm in a daze, only to see a car parked at the entrance, just as expected.
The car window rolled down, revealing Ya Lan's face, as she struggled to find the right words.
She seemed eager to console Chu Li, but any comfort at this moment would be meaningless to him.
Before she could speak, Chu Li said, "I'll go get the cat."
Ya Lan: "..."
Watching Chu Li's departing figure, Ya Lan felt even worse. She whispered to Hong Feng beside her, "Shouldn't we have avoided disturbing the Admiral like this...?"
What was this feeling of abruptly disrupting someone's family?
Hong Feng was also sporting a bump on his head. "If we don't disturb him, are we just going to let the Admiral remain a cat? This Omega has already been marked. Whether it was the Admiral who did it or not, when his rut comes and he can't find his Alpha, he'll either have to go to the hospital to remove the mark or end up there anyway… Do you think that's appropriate?"
Of course, it wasn't.
So there was no way they could avoid disturbing Chu Li.
But that didn't stop Ya Lan from feeling that they were overstepping.
At this moment, Feng Yichen said, "Everyone is innocent in this matter; it's just an unfortunate coincidence. There's nothing we can do about it. Once the Admiral wakes up, he'll understand our intentions."
Upon hearing this, Ya Lan could only sigh and accept it.
Before long, Chu Li emerged from the room.
He hadn't used any tools; he was simply cradling the cat in his arms.
Seeing this, Ya Lan hesitated to speak.
In truth, they had prepared a cage and a pet carrier, anticipating that the Admiral, in his feline form, might not cooperate.
Seeing Chu Li like this, it was clear that he didn't want anyone else to touch his little cat.
Ya Lan swallowed her words back and simply said to Chu Li, "Get in the car."
Ya Lan was driving, with Wind Suppression Dust in the passenger seat, while Hong Feng was alone in the back row.
He had an outgoing personality and couldn't contain his curiosity. After Ya Lan started the car, he kept stealing glances at Chu Li's lap. The expression on his face... his eyes had turned into those of a cat.
Chu Li had been deeply saddened, but seeing Hong Feng's appearance, he couldn't help but chuckle. "Is it strange?"
Hong Feng's eyes widened even more. "You don't think it's strange?!"
Chu Li said, "What's so strange about it? When I met him, he was already a cat."
Hong Feng asked, "How did you catch him? Did you use a cage or lure him with treats?"
It was obvious that Hong Feng had watched quite a few videos about abduction instead of purchase. Chu Li chuckled. "No, he approached me on his own. At that time, I was still at home, and he followed me all the way from there to school. I thought he was too adorable, so I applied for a transfer to my current dormitory and adopted him."
Hong Feng found it even more astonishing and couldn't resist leaning closer to the little Li Hua Cat.
Is it possible that their leader is this... persistent? Ah, no, this proactive?
Yet, just as he approached, Li Hua Cat hissed at him and swiped a paw.
Fortunately, Hong Feng reacted swiftly and dodged the attack.
"What, what, what... What's so lovable about this cat!"
Hearing his outburst, Chu Li chuckled softly and pulled Li Hua Cat closer to his chest.
When they lived together, Li Hua Cat had never once bared its claws at him.
But then, the thought crossed his mind that after today, Li Hua Cat might not be by his side anymore.
The smile on his lips withered instantly.
Seeing him lose his smile, Hong Feng, for some reason, also felt a pang of loss.
Ah, ah, ah, the sight of this Omega not smiling is so heart-wrenching.
For the remainder of the journey, no one spoke. Chu Li lowered his head, silently stroking the soft fur of the little Li Hua Cat, his affection and reluctance evident.
Seemingly aware of what was to come, the kitten nestled obediently in his embrace, silent and tranquil, not making a single sound.
After roughly half an hour, they left the school and arrived at the entrance of a towering building.
Ya Lan announced, "We've arrived."
Exiting the vehicles, Ya Lan took the lead, guiding them into an elevator.
As the lift ascended slowly, Chu Li grew increasingly nervous, his arms holding the kitten a bit tighter.
As if sensing his tension, the little Li Hua Cat turned its head and licked his thumb gently.
Chu Li felt a mix of distress and amusement. He glanced at the kitten—was it so eager because it knew it was about to regain its human form?
But Ya Lan had mentioned that Jing Baiyuan's feline form had no memory of its human self.
His thoughts were merely a manifestation of his unwillingness to accept reality.
Any person who had cared for a cat for nearly half a year would feel like a victim if suddenly told that their pet was not a cat but a human.
Chu Li sighed inwardly and finally accepted his current predicament.
Forget it. For Li Hua Cat, regaining his human form was probably a good thing.
He couldn't possibly hide the truth from the other party forever, especially when they were injured and had lost their memories.
That would make him too despicable.
But he wondered if Jing Baiyuan, once recovered, would remember the events during his time as a cat... If he did, then... that would be incredibly awkward.
No, just the memory of that one night in the dark alley was already awkward enough.
Chances were, he and Li Hua Cat wouldn't cross paths again in the future.
After a bout of random thoughts, the elevator finally reached its destination. Ya Lan exited first without rushing, standing aside with a complicated gaze on Chu Li, obviously waiting for him to mentally prepare himself.
Having sorted out his thoughts, Chu Li didn't waste any more time and followed her out of the elevator.
Ya Lan said, "There's a lounge nearby. Do you... want to stay for a while?"
Her intention was to give Chu Li some last moments with the cat.
But to Chu Li, it sounded like an ominous prelude to a grim fate.
Time together was never enough, and delaying it only prolonged the inevitable. It was a matter of facing the blade sooner or later.
Chu Li shook his head. "No need. Where is your awakening device? Take us there."
Yet Ya Lan replied, "I'm sorry..."
Chu Li froze, then chuckled. "No need to apologize to me... Jing Baiyuan is fortunate to have subordinates like you."
Ya Lan let out a long sigh and led Chu Li down the corridor to its end.
At the end stood a spacious room with frosted glass walls. Through them, one could vaguely make out what resembled a medical pod inside.
Ya Lan explained, "A specific wavelength is required to awaken it. Ordinary humans can't be present during the process, which might... become intense. Would you prefer to wait in the lounge nearby or stay here?"
Chu Li said, "I'll stay here."
He wanted to witness how his little Li Hua Cat would depart from him.
Ya Lan was about to persuade him further, but seeing the determination in Chu Li's eyes, she held back her words.
This Omega before her was exquisite and lovely, yet distinct from any other Omegas she had encountered before.
She sensed that whatever she said, Chu Li wouldn't listen.
So she decided to hold her tongue and simply told him, "I'll go fetch the General's clothes."
Chu Li's eyes widened abruptly. 'Fetch clothes' meant that Li Hua Cat was indeed in a naked state right now?
He had even been hugging it while they slept for so long! The little cat was very clingy and often nestled under his pajamas, pressing tightly against him.
Realizing this belatedly, Chu Li's face flushed slightly amidst his sorrow of parting with the cat. However, he still wanted to witness Li Hua Cat's transformation firsthand, so he pursed his lips and remained silent.
Ya Lan returned shortly, bringing with her a set of military uniform and a white box.
The uniforms of the Blue Vein Star's military were a deep blue-black, reminiscent of Chu Li's fleeting glimpse of space before he came to school. It was then that he realized the significance of his former desk mate's words. The Expeditionary Force was responsible for expanding the empire into new star systems, confronting the most perilous unknowns in the world. They faced not only dangerous cosmic pirates and Alliance forces but also carried out the riskiest tasks in this era of peace.
Chu Li pressed his lips together, feeling conflicted as he recalled his former desk mate's fascination with the Expeditionary Force since having Li Hua Cat around.
Ya Lan, eager for the general's recovery, put aside their conversation with Chu Li after retrieving the clothes. Opening the room door, they placed the attire inside the medical capsule, then stood silently by the entrance, observing Chu Li.
Chu Li pursed his lips but still stepped in, placing the little Li Hua Cat on the bed within the medical capsule.
Ya Lan said, "We can leave now... Whatever happens, you mustn't open this door. When it's all over, the General will push the door open himself."
Chu Li nodded nervously. "I understand."
He glanced back at the little Li Hua Cat one more time. The usually clingy cat hadn't followed him but sat quietly on the bed of the medical capsule, gazing at him with its serene emerald eyes.
For the first time, Chu Li felt that Li Hua Cat wasn't just a cat.
With a determined turn of his head, he followed Ya Lan out of the room.
Ya Lan closed the door and secured the glass with a lock.
"Stay here for a moment," he instructed.
With those words, Ya Lan hurriedly left the scene.
Chu Li stood behind the frosted glass, locking eyes with the little Li Hua Cat inside the room.
He could only faintly discern the cat's silhouette, but he could imagine its expression all too well.
How terrible.
This unbearable experience should end quickly.
With a twinge of compassion, Chu Li averted his gaze. Simultaneously, a mysterious humming resonated throughout the room and even the corridor - this was likely what Ya Lan referred to as the "awakening method."
Unable to resist, Chu Li glanced back at the room. The little Li Hua Cat remained seated on the bed, seemingly unaffected by the commotion.
As time passed, the humming grew louder, and Chu Li felt increasingly uncomfortable, prompting him to lean back against the wall.
Meanwhile, Ya Lan was in the control room, monitoring the situation inside the glass chamber.
Feng Yichen emerged from behind and, noticing that she was alone, asked, "Where's Chu Li?"
Ya Lan replied, "He wanted to witness the Admiral's recovery with his own eyes, so I left him at the entrance."
Feng Yichen's expression shifted. "How could you leave him at the door? He's not like you; he's an Omega!"
"What?" Ya Lan realized the issue then. The radiation was highly impactful on the human body and could extend its effect beyond the confines of the room.
She found it bearable because she was an Alpha, with a physique that differed from both Betas and Omegas.
However, Chu Li is a common Omega, and moreover, he is a student who has not undergone any training!
Ya Lan's expression shifted, and she panicked, "What should we do? I can't leave. You go bring him back!"
Wind Suppression Dust nodded and hurriedly walked towards the corridor.
By the time he arrived, Chu Li had already slid down the wall, his fair face beaded with sweat as his splitting headache intensified.
He bit his lip, steadfastly refusing to take a single step aside.
Inside the room, the little Li Hua Cat seemed to sense the distress, rolling about on the bed.
Wind Yichen rushed over, supporting Chu Li with concern. "The impact here is considerable too. Let's go to the resting room."
"Will it be fatal?" Chu Li asked abruptly. "Or will it cause irreversible damage to my body?"
Wind Yichen was taken aback. "No, not that. It'll just be very uncomfortable..."
Chu Li smiled. "Then let me stay here. I think I can handle it."
"..." This answer was something Wind Yichen never expected.
This Omega before him seemed truly different from any other Omega he had known.
Wind Yichen could only say, "Then I'll stay here with you."
Chu Li shook his head. "No need, I think I'm okay..."
He didn't want Feng Yichen to stay and suffer alongside him.
This was merely his stubbornness over Little Li Hua Cat's departure; there was no need for others to share in his pain.
Feng Yichen, however, said, "This is part of our training anyway, so I'll just consider it extra practice."
With that, Chu Li didn't argue further.
The intensity of the radiation seemed to be increasing, and the reaction from the small Li Hua Cat inside grew more violent. It writhed and twitched on the bed, its expression one of immense agony, until it eventually fell off!
It landed at the other end of the bed, hidden from Chu Li's sight by the medical pod.
His heart tightened, and he straightened up, ready to step forward.
Just as Feng Yichen was about to stop him, Chu Li froze.
Stunned, he gazed at the frosted glass wall of the room, where a hand reached out from behind the medical pod.
His vision was blurry, only allowing him to see the person's hand gripping the side of the medical pod with force...
Chu Li turned his head away.
He knew that Jing Baiyuan had regained consciousness.
He whispered to Feng Yiding, "I'm sorry, you can take me to the lounge now."
Feng Yiding: "..."
He supported Chu Li and led him to the lounge nearby.
The lounge contained only a coffee table and a sofa. After Chu Li sat down on the sofa, the splitting headache he had been experiencing finally eased.
He took a sip of the water Feng Yiding offered and looked up to see Feng Yiding standing uneasily beside him.
Understanding the situation, Chu Li smiled at Feng Yiding, "I'm alright, go tend to your duties."
Considering Jing Baiyuan had just awakened, there would undoubtedly be numerous reports and matters within their expeditionary force that needed addressing.
As an outsider, Chu Li should not be occupying their time.
Yet, Feng Yichen felt a twinge of guilt. At such times, the more "sensible" and "considerate" Chu Li was, the more it tugged at his heartstrings.
However, there truly wasn't any time to comfort Chu Li right now. With a sense of remorse, Feng Yichen told him, "I'm sorry, we'll send you back after we're done handling things."
"Okay," Chu Li nodded softly.
After Feng Yichen left, he began to stare blankly at the large floor-to-ceiling window beside him.
He had arrived with one person and a cat.
But now, he was leaving alone.
---
In the treatment room, Jing Baiyuan was dressing behind the screen.
Outside the door, Ya Lan and Hong Feng had already arrived, both anxiously watching the room.
After a while, Feng Yichen arrived as well.
Ya Lan was still worried about Chu Li, casting him a questioning glance.
However, Feng Yichen subtly shook his head at her, indicating that they should discuss it later.
They were all trusted confidants of the General, aware of his peculiar condition of turning into a cat. However, the General rarely shared the specifics with them. Would he retain memories of being a cat after reverting to human form, or would those memories vanish? They had no idea.
As for the General's attitude toward Chu Li, it was even more uncertain.
If the General remained cold and distant, regarding his relationship with Chu Li as an accident that needed to be "rectified," they would feel guilty and regretful but ultimately comply.
Until the General expressed his stance, they couldn't afford to get too close to Chu Li.
Amidst the collective unease, the blue curtain of the treatment room was drawn aside, revealing a tall figure. Through the frosted glass, they could only discern a tall, broad-shouldered, and long-legged silhouette, which swiftly approached the entrance.
Ya Lan held her breath, waiting for the man to push open the glass door.
The glass door slid open, revealing that familiar face. His features remained as resolute as ever, with his lips pressed together, giving off an aloof and cold demeanor, especially those deep jade-green eyes that seemed to pierce through you, making one feel as if they were being stared down by a wild beast.
Ya Lan couldn't help but exclaim excitedly, "Admiral!"
Excitement was etched on the faces of the others too.
Jing Baiyuan, however, frowned slightly and commanded, "Attention."
His voice was deep, not loud, yet it carried a heavy weight.
Ya Lan instinctively straightened up.
Jing Baiyuan asked sternly, "What's the current time?"
Ya Lan replied loudly, "Reporting to Admiral, it is the 25th of September in the 679th year of the Star Calendar. It has been five months and sixteen days since your disappearance."
Jing Baiyuan frowned and said, "It took you this long to find me?"
Ya Lan: "..."
It seemed that the General had fully recovered.
However...
Ya Lan's expression turned awkward. "General, you know how fast you can run. If you'd taken off, we wouldn't have been able to find you. We're lucky we didn't have to keep you as a cat for life."
Encountering Chu Li was unexpected, but fortunately, he was understanding and willing to cooperate.
Otherwise, the General would have been stuck as a cat for life.
Jing Baiyuan's pause indicated that he too had recalled something, his expression uneasy.
Ya Lan studied Jing Baiyuan's facial expressions carefully, sensing that there might still be hope for the General to find a partner.
Excitedly, she approached him. "General, it seems like you've been staying at an Omega's house named Chu Li during this period. Do you remember anything from before? He's still waiting for you in the lounge. Would you like to meet him?"
Jing Baiyuan abruptly stopped in his tracks.
How had he not noticed before that his adjutant talked so much unnecessary nonsense?
He appeared calm as usual, but there was an indiscernible stiffness in his brows that others wouldn't notice.
After a moment of silence, Jing Baiyuan said, "Begin with the military report."
Ya Lan pouted in dissatisfaction.
---
Chu Li initially thought he would be able to leave soon.
However, no one came to summon him even after an hour had passed. He almost thought he had been forgotten. As he was feeling anxious and about to get up to check, footsteps suddenly echoed at the door.
Chu Li was startled and hastily sat back down on the sofa.
The door was knocked on, and Chu Li paused before dryly saying, "Come in."
The door opened, and Ya Lan peeked in first. Seeing that Chu Li was still obediently sitting on the sofa, she whispered to him, "The General wants to see you."
Chu Li: "..."
So, was he still expected to go and meet him?
As he pondered this, Ya Lan entered, followed by several others. Familiar faces like Feng Yichen and Hong Feng were among them, while the ones trailing behind were strangers to Chu Li.
Their solemn expressions made Chu Li feel tense as well.
Uneasy, he was about to stand up when Ya Lan glanced at him, gesturing for him to stay seated.
After everyone had entered and stood in two rows by the door, a deep silence reigned. Then, a figure dressed in a dark navy military uniform walked in.
He was over six feet tall, with sharp, detached features. Yet, his emerald-green eyes held a hint of familiarity.
Only at this moment did Chu Li realize that his little Li Hua Cat was no more. In his place stood this man, a stranger to Chu Li.
Upon catching the man's gaze, Chu Li trembled slightly. For some reason, memories of that night in the alleyway flooded back to him.
His body involuntarily shook, and he instinctively tried to avoid that piercing stare.
Yet he hadn't done anything wrong, so why should he avoid them?
This was Chu Li's stubborn nature, forcing his gaze to remain steady and unwavering.
But after staring for a while, the man didn't react at all. They were clearly locking eyes, but Chu Li couldn't glean any information from the other's eyes.
Chu Li's lips pursed slightly.
Then Ya Lan spoke, "General, are we leaving?"
The military man finally turned his head, glanced at the people standing nearby, and softly replied, "Mm."
Ya Lan quickly signaled for the others to leave. Before they exited, two unfamiliar faces cast curious glances at Chu Li.
Chu Li's lips pressed together tightly. What was there to be curious about?
The door clicked shut gently, and the room fell silent swiftly. Jing Baiyuan remained standing in place. Chu Li felt awkward enough to carve out a three-bedroom apartment. After a moment of hesitation, he said, "Sit down."
Only then did Jing Baiyuan walk over to the sofa opposite and take a seat.
He sat with his back perfectly straight, an air of gravity that seemed at odds with the casual nature of a sofa. Chu Li couldn't help but feel sympathetic for the strain he must be under.
And then, his words came as a surprise to Chu Li.
"Hello, my name is Jing Baiyuan," he said.
Chu Li: "..."
Expecting him to continue, Chu Li waited patiently, but the man remained silent.
And his gaze remained fixed on Chu Li.
So, was he waiting for him to introduce himself?
Chu Li had no choice but to say, "My name is Chu Li."
Yet, after he spoke, the other party remained silent.
"..."
"..."
After an extended silence, Chu Li could no longer contain himself and was about to speak, "I..."
"I..."
Their voices overlapped in the air.
Jing Baiyuan swiftly said, "Go ahead, you speak first."
Chu Li: "..."
He sighed and said, "If there's nothing else, please have someone send me back. I'm not familiar with these roads, and I wouldn't be able to find my way back to school on my own."
"No," Jing Baiyuan said, "That's not what I meant."
Chu Li looked at him. "Then what are you implying?"
Having raised the cat for several months, it was now gone, and he himself was pulled into an alley for such unspeakable acts... Even if he hadn't been more careful at the time, not administering the suppressant himself...
For the first time, Jing Baiyuan felt the situation was delicate. The annoyance in the Omega's eyes was gradually intensifying. If he didn't say something soon, Chu Li might really leave.
Jing Baiyuan steeled himself and said, "I still remember what happened in the past few months."
"Remember?" Chu Li almost sneered. If he remembered, why was he treating him like this?
All those months of pampering the cat were for nothing? What about when he used to stick to him and beg for affection every day?
Jing Baiyuan sensed an invisible pressure. The strong desire to survive urged him to quickly finish his words, "I was wrong back then. I should've taken you to the hospital, but due to my severe injuries, I lacked control and couldn't hold on. I'm sorry."
He was referring to their first encounter in the alley.
In such an awkward situation, Chu Li's anger dissipated instantly upon hearing that.
He let out a long sigh and said, "Forget it. It wasn't your fault anyway. I should've taken better care of my body."
Jing Baiyuan frowned. "Why did you go into heat outside?"
Chu Li also frowned. "Is that important?"
Jing Baiyuan said, "Yes, I want to make sure if you were intentionally harmed by that family."
Chu Li was taken aback, his expression softening as he shook his head. "No, it was my fault for forgetting to inject the suppressant. It was dark, and I got lost, wandering into that alley by mistake."
Chu Li paused, speaking with difficulty. "That day, even if it wasn't you, someone else would have been there. So, there's no need for you to apologize for this. If anyone should apologize, perhaps it should be me."
Jing Baiyuan's hand clenched on his pants.
There would've been someone else even without him?
That sounded like an unpleasant topic.
But he didn't comment on it. After all, it was Chu Li's life, and he only wanted to ensure there were no potential dangers around him.
"That's good then."
Upon hearing this, Chu Li glanced at him. Seeing that Jing Baiyuan had fallen silent again, he prepared to bring up leaving once more.
Unexpectedly, Jing Baiyuan Yuanting spoke up before he could, "Thank you for taking care of me during this time. I know you're eager to break away from the family that adopted you. I can help you with that."
Chu Li paused but didn't refuse. "Thank you."
Observing Jing Baiyuan Yuanting evade the subject of their relationship, Chu Li was about to make his exit once more.
This time, Jing Baiyuan Yuanting beat him to it, "And about the two of us."
There was a brief pause before he continued, "Are you willing to make our relationship public?"
"What?" Chu Li was utterly stunned this time.
For the first time, Jing Baiyuan Yuanting appeared nervous. He gazed intently at Chu Li, licking his lips.
After a moment, Chu Li finally registered what had been said. He chuckled softly and helplessly, "You... are too cunning."
He inquired, "Is this how Alphas pursue Omegas in this world? By skipping the pursuit and confession and going straight to making the relationship public?"
That's too convenient, isn't it?
Jing Baiyuan Ting pursed his lips again. He wanted to say something, but Chu Li spoke first, "I understand what you mean. We didn't meet through conventional AO channels, yet we have this troublesome permanent mark. I can publicly acknowledge our relationship and cooperate with you, but I hope you'll respect my right to cleanse my gland in the future."
Jing Baiyuan Ting was taken aback.
What did that mean?
Agreeing to go public but reserving the right to cleanse the gland?
It didn't sound like a typical AO partnership.
But Ya Lan had repeatedly warned him before he came not to treat Chu Li as a subordinate, or else he might scare away this delicate Omega.
Although, based on Jing Baiyuan's experience as a cat, he didn't think Chu Li enjoyed being described as "delicate," he still instinctively placed himself in a protective role when it came to him.
When it came to dealing with Omegas, he was completely clueless.
Ya Lan suggested he could inquire if Chu Li was willing to maintain and make their relationship public. If Chu Li agreed, it would be a good thing, but they needed to take things step by step and not rush into anything.
Thus, despite the strangeness, Jing Baiyuan didn't comment further and simply nodded in agreement. "Alright."
Author's Note:
This chapter is quite lengthy.
I suddenly realized halfway through writing that I seemed to have unintentionally dropped a plot twist ('innocent face').
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