Chapter 35

Chapter 35

035

Indeed, a punctual and good little cat.

That day, they strolled until the afternoon when Jing Baiyuan sent Chu Li back home.

Chu Li thought that one outing would suffice.

To his surprise, Jing Baiyuan came again the following day.

After some consideration, he still went out with him.

In the following days, Jing Baiyuan would come to visit him. Sometimes, they would go out for leisure, and other times, just for a meal together.

When he couldn't make it, Jing Baiyuan would always inform him through his personal terminal.

Actually, Chu Li hadn't quite figured out their relationship. It was perplexing how the little Li Hua Cat's attitude had abruptly changed after turning into a human. He found it hard to adapt to this sudden shift. However, Jing Baiyuan seemed to interpret his subtle emotions as reliance. Whenever Chu Li showed the slightest dissatisfaction, the other would respond accordingly.

It gave Chu Li the illusion that he was truly spending time with Jing Baiyuan.

But did he genuinely want to fall in love in this world, accept its romantic ideals, and plan to spend his life with an Alpha?

Of course not.

However, when that Alpha turned out to be the little Li Hua Cat, everything became subtly complicated.

Chu Li couldn't figure it out, so he decided to give up and let things unfold naturally without overthinking.

In the middle of the day, he received another message from Jing Baiyuan, inviting him out for a meal.

Coincidentally, his work in the lab had reached a lull, so he requested leave from his professor in advance.

Zhan Jiaqing, sitting beside him, looked at him with a teasing smile. "Why have you been going out so often these few days?"

Chu Li paused for a moment. He didn't think there was anything wrong with revealing this, so he replied, "My Alpha is back, and I'm spending time with him."

"Oh—" Chu Li's Alpha had always been an enigma, only heard but never seen. Now that he finally mentioned his return, Zhan Jiaqing's eyes lit up with gossip as he leaned closer, smiling. "He must be incredibly busy. It's the first time I've heard you say he's back. When are you going to introduce him to us? I'm extremely curious about the person who can win you over."

With a smile on his face, Chu Li thought to himself, Thank you, but I'm not ready yet.

However, Jing Baiyuan's return was likely still unknown to the public.

Chu Li apologized, "I'm afraid that's not possible for the time being."

The more he said this, the more curious Zhan Jiaqing became. "Not even a meeting?"

Chu Li shook his head. "I'm sorry, his identity... it's rather inconvenient."

No one could have imagined that his Alpha was actually the general of the expeditionary force who had been missing for half a year. Zhan Jiaqing assumed that the man was involved in some sort of secretive profession and chuckled. "Alright then, when it's convenient for you two, be sure to invite me out for a meal."

Chu Li replied, "Of course."

---

Exiting the laboratory, Chu Li suddenly recalled that the clothes he had purchased a few days ago had arrived.

He made his way back to the dormitory to change into his new outfit.

Exiting the dormitory, he tugged at his new shirt, feeling quite uncomfortable. There was no need for all this fuss, but for some reason, he had insisted on going through with it.

Walking slowly towards the school entrance, he passed by the Omega Academy and bumped into an old acquaintance.

Chu Li suspected that the other person did nothing all day at school but stalk him.

Wanting to pretend he hadn't seen him and walk past, Chu Heyang beat him to it, saying, "Where are you off to now?! Chu Li, who have you hooked up with this time?"

Chu Li: "…"

Indeed.

He had hooked up with his own cat.

The other person stood in his way, preventing him from moving forward. Chu Li reluctantly halted his steps. "What's it to you?"

With reddened eyes, Chu Heyang asked, "Little Shu broke up with me; you've already gotten what you wanted! Why don't you treat him better? Running around, flirting with this one and that one... Do you have any regard for Little Shu?"

Chu Li nodded understandingly.

No wonder Chu Heyang had been causing such a ruckus lately – it turned out they had broken up.

He drawled, "Congratulations."

"Y-You!" Chu Heyang's eyes reddened with fury at his words, and he tugged on Baiyuan's arm to prevent him from leaving.

Not wanting to say another word to Chu Heyang, Chu Li kept his head down and pressed forward. But Chu Heyang wouldn't let go, instead shouting, "Students aren't allowed to leave campus without permission! Where are you going? Don't think I didn't notice – that day, you got into a car with a man and left school!"

It was Jing Baiyuan who had always handled the matter of leaving school.

But now, he couldn't reveal Jing Baiyuan's true identity.

Just as he was in a dilemma, a deep voice sounded from behind him, "Little Li?"

Chu Li turned around to see Jing Baiyuan standing beside a sleek, all-black hovercar, dressed in a black trench coat. With a frown, he looked over in their direction.

Probably due to spending extended periods in the low-light environment of space, Jing Baiyuan's skin was even paler than the average person's. Tall and slender, he enveloped himself meticulously in his black coat, exuding an icy aura from afar.

Upon seeing this, Chu Heyang subconsciously loosened his grip on Chu Li's arm.

Perhaps he wasn't even aware that a hint of panic shimmered in his eyes.

Jing Baiyuan strode over with his long, eye-catching legs, standing tall and straight as he approached Chu Li step by step. He first shot a frown at Chu Heyang before reaching out to grab Chu Li's wrist, pulling him closer to himself.

His towering figure blocked Chu Heyang's view entirely, casting a shadow over Chu Li – a barrier that also served as a shield.

Lowering his head, he asked Chu Li, "What's wrong?"

Only then did Chu Li snap out of his daze. He shook his head. "Nothing... Why are you here?"

Jing Baiyuan replied, "You're late."

Chu Li glanced at the time and realized that two minutes had already passed since their agreed meeting time.

He couldn't help but chuckle.

Truly a punctual little kitten.

When Jing Baiyuan looked at Chu Li, his gaze was always so focused, as if nothing else could fit within the depths of his eyes.

Normally, it wouldn't have been an issue, but being held half in his arms and gazed at like this made Chu Li feel a little embarrassed. He had even momentarily forgotten about Chu Heyang. Blushing slightly, he coughed softly and said, "Sorry, we can leave now."

Jing Baiyuan took another deep look at him before leading him towards the car.

Chu Heyang, who was left behind, had wanted to say something.

But when his eyes met Jing Baiyuan's towering figure, all his words were swallowed back.

He didn't dare.

In front of this person, he didn't even have the courage to speak!

---

Once they were in the car, Chu Li realized belatedly that Jing Baiyuan had revealed himself to others.

Even if Chu Heyang didn't usually follow social news and was unaware of the General of the Expeditionary Force's appearance, there might have been other people who saw Jing Baiyuan just now.

He asked quietly, "Is it okay for you to go out like this?"

Jing Baiyuan Ting said, "It's alright, Ya Lan will handle it."

Chu Li: "..."

It seemed that being the second-in-command to a general wasn't an easy task either.

Ever since their meeting, Jing Baiyuan Ting had maintained this composed demeanor as if everything was under control.

One had to admit that such a person was indeed very captivating.

On the way, Jing Baiyuan was driving, and Chu Li couldn't help stealing glances at him.

At first, it was just fleeting glimpses, but as he noticed Jing Baiyuan's focused driving, not detecting his surreptitious looks, Chu Li began to openly admire him.

This man was truly handsome – his nose was straight, his lips were pale with an alluring shape, and even his eyelashes were more curled than most people's.

Speaking of which, Little Li Hua Cat had long eyelashes too.

Wouldn't you be surprised? Even cats can have luscious lashes.

Chu Li didn't know how long he had been staring until the car came to a halt.

Jing Baiyuanting suddenly said, "Why have you been looking at me?"

His face flushed abruptly.

He was caught!

Embarrassed, Chu Li turned his head away. After pondering for a while and failing to come up with an excuse, he pretended not to hear and looked out of the car window, asking, "Where are we?"

Jing Baiyuanting glanced at Chu Li in confusion—was there something wrong with his previous question? Why wasn't he getting an answer?

He assumed that Chu Li had been staring because there was something on his face.

Observing Chu Li's slightly reddened ears and his awkward attempt to change the subject, Jing Baiyuanting felt that Chu Li was more like a cat than he was.

A dignified and proud cat.

After some thought, Jing Baiyuanting decided to answer Chu Li's question. "It's a restaurant recommended by Ya Lan. You mentioned last time that you wanted to try Huaxia cuisine."

Chu Li paused.

This topic was something they had discussed during their previous meeting.

Currently, many planets were inhabited by humans, and their lifestyles often starkly contrasted with Chu Li's previous existence, including their cuisine.

Chu Li found it unpalatable, so during their meals, they had discussed his preferences.

From what Chu Li had shared about his tastes, Jing Baiyuan deduced that he enjoyed Huaxia cuisine.

However, it had been a fleeting conversation, and Chu Li hadn't expected the other to take it to heart.

To be honest, he was somewhat moved.

He followed Jing Baiyuan out of the vehicle.

All the way until the dishes were served, Chu Li still couldn't quite grasp the reason behind it all. He couldn't help but ask, "Why... are you so invested in our affairs?"

Jing Baiyuan paused.

He had long felt that they had different understandings of their relationship, and now was the perfect opportunity to clarify. He put down his chopsticks and asked earnestly, "As the Omega with whom I've formed a permanent bond, and the person who will spend the rest of my life with me, shouldn't I be concerned about you?"

Chu Li was stunned.

"Spend the rest of our lives together."

Those four words sounded so heavy.

He had never imagined spending his entire life with someone. It was only due to the uniqueness of the permanent bond that they couldn't easily part ways.

Thinking they could just make do for now... until they found their true loves.

He was sure he wouldn't find true love anymore, the only variable being Jing Baiyuanting.

Yet... Jing Baiyuanting was now talking about spending the rest of their lives together.

Chu Li replied, "But we got to know each other through a misunderstanding, and that bonding... was my fault. Are you really willing to accept an Omega who was accidentally bonded to you?"

Even if Jing Baiyuan could accept it, Chu Li didn't want to.

Contemplating the idea that someone would commit to "spend a lifetime" with him merely due to a mark, Chu Li felt an indescribable discomfort.

Perhaps he was being overly sensitive, but at such moments, he couldn't help but wonder if his partner was only with him because of the permanent mark, and even if it weren't him, the mark itself would have sufficed.

It felt as though his existence in this relationship was being overshadowed by that single mark.

Although Chu Li could accept a superficial, mutually beneficial relationship, he couldn't tolerate such a beginning in a genuine emotional bond.

Seeing the severity on Chu Li's face, Jing Baiyuanting immediately sensed the gravity of the situation.

He frowned and said, "Why would you think that? I believe my decision was made thoughtfully and with responsibility toward myself."

Chu Li also furrowed his brow. "Our initial acquaintance was a misunderstanding, and your sense of responsibility... is it to commit to anyone who bears your permanent mark for a lifetime?"

Just as he was about to say that he didn't need such cautiousness, Jing Baiyuanting interrupted him.

"No," Jing Baiyuanting replied. "If it wasn't you, I wouldn't have said that. The reason I asked if you were willing to make our relationship public is because I believe I can spend a lifetime with you. If it were someone else, even if they accused me of being irresponsible, I wouldn't be with them."

In other words, —it wasn't about anyone; it was specifically because it was Chu Li.

Initially, it was just a vague notion, but during their time together, he had become increasingly certain of his feelings.

The fact that Little Li Hua Cat followed Chu Li home was unexpected.

But following him to school was not. It was a choice the little cat made after their brief but intimate days together.

Small creatures like this were highly perceptive. Though they lacked human intelligence, they knew who genuinely cared for them.

Jing Baiyuan thought that perhaps he shouldn't have hesitated from the start, because this decision was one he had already made long ago.

Chu Li, on the other hand, was left speechless.

For a moment, he didn't know what to say.

After a brief silence, a flush returned to his cheeks, growing redder by the second, completely beyond his control.

Moments later, Chu Li looked at Jing Baiyuan with a blushing face, tears glistening in his eyes as he tried to sound composed. "Are you joking with me?"

Jing Baiyuan replied, "No, I'm very serious and have given it careful thought."

Chu Li: "..."

What should he do? This wasn't what they had agreed on.

Chu Li's hand holding the chopsticks trembled. He had no idea how to respond. In his confusion, his mind went blank, and he blurted out, "So are you confessing your love to me right now?"

Jing Baiyuan stopped for a moment before saying, "Strictly speaking, no."

They had just met, and their relationship was far from reaching the level of 'love.'

Still, he had already set his sights on this person. There wasn't a clear reason or explanation; it might be due to their compatibility in pheromones, their permanent marks, or perhaps Chu Li's affectionate care when he was in his cat form.

If feelings could be dissected into 'what' and 'why,' perhaps they couldn't truly be called feelings.

Chu Li pressed his lips together.

If Jing Baiyuan were to say he loved him at this moment, Chu Li would have found it insincere.

Yet, the honesty in acknowledging that it wasn't love struck a chord within him.

What should he do?

Why was this cat so skilled?

None of his responses were the best, but to Chu Li, they were all irresistible.

Perhaps... he should give it a try?

Chu Li's face grew even redder. Who could have imagined that just a few months ago, he was busy matchmaking men and women, convinced that he would never be with another man... yet here he was today, blushing under the straightforward advances of another man.

What could he do? He was just as desperate.

Attempting to grasp a dish on the plate, Chu Li's hand was weak, and he failed to lift it.

He gave up, lowering his head as he softly said, "Then... I understand your meaning."

Jing Baiyuan watched him intently, believing that this time, Chu Li truly did comprehend.

Only then did he pick up his chopsticks again, resuming their meal together.

After dinner, Jing BaiyuanYuanting accompanied Chu Li back.

This time, he saw Chu Li all the way to the entrance of his dormitory. As Chu Li got out of the car and turned around, he found Jing BaiyuanYuanting following suit.

He was still gazing at Chu Li with that profound look, causing Chu Li's heart to tremble. He asked, "Is there something else you need?"

Jing BaiyuanYuanting replied, "You're willing to continue our interactions, aren't you?"

Although he used a subtle choice of words, after hearing his remarks during the meal, Chu Li understood what he was asking.

The flush on his face threatened to rekindle as Chu Li stood by the door, at a loss for words.

At that moment, Jing Baiyuan approached him softly and inquired, "May I hug you?"

Chu Li hesitated but eventually nodded.

In the next instant, he was pulled into a firm embrace. A scent, both unfamiliar and nostalgic, enveloped him, leaving him slightly dazed and lightheaded.

What was this aroma? Why did it smell so pleasant, even stirring a sense of longing within him?

Unknown to Chu Li, that was the scent of pheromones. After marking, AOs became more sensitive to each other's pheromones, and the higher their compatibility, the greater their reliance on one another's scent.

As Jing Baiyuanting drew closer, he detected a subtle sweetness in the air. He found it difficult to restrain himself, tilting his head slightly towards the nape of Chu Li's neck. Upon noticing the pale bite mark on Chu Li's neck, he suddenly regained his composure, respectfully releasing him and smoothing out the disarrayed collar of his shirt.

"Rest early. Good night."

With those words, Jing Baiyuanting stepped back. The flush on Chu Li's face lingered, and he dared not lift his gaze, softly uttering, "Goodbye."

In a fluster, he pushed open the small door before him and hurried inside.

Watching Chu Li's retreating figure, the corners of Jing Baiyuanting's lips curved upward slightly.