Chapter 70 Marriage Registration Application

Gu Zhen reached out and gently brushed aside the sweat-dampened bangs on his forehead.

"I know you're suffering, but let's try another dose of suppressant, okay?"

He steeled himself and said to Zhu Shinian.

Suppressants... after all, whether you were a commoner or a noble, almost every household used them.

It couldn't really be possible that there were that many... defective, useless medicines.

That was incredibly cruel to say to Zhu Shinian in his state. He watched Gu Zhen walk away, helpless, the comforting alpha pheromones fading away, but he couldn't make him stay.

His memories were hazy; he couldn't quite make sense of where he was. In a daze, he felt like he was back in those early days when he first became Gu Zhen's lover.

Why did Gu Zhen... just leave like that?

Did Gu Zhen dislike him?

Was he going to find someone else?

Zhu Shinian wanted to cry, and the tears came.

The tears streamed down his hot face, soaking the pillow and sheets.

If Gu Zhen wouldn't accept him, what would happen to his mom and grandma?

He had already... sold himself.

Was it because his body was too plain, failing to spark Gu Zhen's interest?

But he couldn't help it—he was an alpha, after all, without the soft, curvy body of an omega that alphas want.

Zhu Shinian struggled to think, trying to figure out how to make Gu Zhen... hate his body less.

At some point, the door was pushed open, and Zhu Shinian caught the familiar scent and felt a bit clearer-headed.

Had Gu Zhen come back?

Gu Zhen walked over and saw what Zhu Shinian was doing.

Stunned, he grabbed Zhu Shinian's hand, afraid he might hurt himself.

........

Zhu Shinian, as if realizing he'd done something wrong, lowered his tear-filled eyes, avoiding Gu Zhen's gaze.

........

"Alright," Gu Zhen looked away and pulled the blanket over him. "I'll give you the suppressant. You'll feel better soon."

The needle pierced his skin. Zhu Shinian blinked, and tears formed in his eyes, spilling over and rolling down his cheeks.

"Don't cry. Just hold on a little longer, it'll pass soon."

Zhu Shinian seemed to trust him completely, nodding slowly and seriously like a child.

It seemed Gu Zhen didn't hate him, Zhu Shinian thought foggily; Gu Zhen was still holding him now.

Gu Zhen looked down and anxiously felt his forehead.

The fever hadn't gone down; instead, the scent of roses grew stronger.

His breathing was still quick and shallow, and his body was still trembling.

"It's not working..." Zhu Shinian said, as if he had done something wrong and feared being blamed. "The suppressant didn't work... I'm not lying, I didn't trick you..."

"I know, I know..." Gu Zhen said, even more flustered than Zhu Shinian.

His hands trembling slightly, he wiped away Zhu Shinian's tears and made up his mind.

Underneath Zhu Shinian's already rumpled pajamas, large patches of his usually pale skin were now flushed red, like he was drunk.

Zhu Shinian's body trembled slightly under his touch, his skin scorching hot, his chest heaving violently, and his knuckles white as he clutched the sheets.

He bit his lip, letting out only broken, breathy sounds from his throat.

"Don't bite your lip," Gu Zhen stopped him, pressing his thumb gently against his chin.

Zhu Shinian's lips relaxed a bit, his eyes closed, lashes wet and stuck together, his face streaked with sweat and tears—whether from pain or just a physical reaction.

Or maybe it was real sadness, real grievance.

Suddenly, his body tensed up, and his hand shot out, grabbing Gu Zhen's arm, nails digging into the flesh, leaving crescent-shaped marks.

His nails digging into his skin should have stung, but Gu Zhen didn't feel a thing.

He just looked down at Zhu Shinian, his gaze dropping, dim and unreadable in the faint light of the room.

"Does it hurt? Tell me if it does..."

"No, it doesn't hurt, but it's a little... weird..."

"Then I'll continue. Just relax, okay?"

Almost instinctively, Zhu Shinian obeyed and nodded.

"Gu Zhen..." Zhu Shinian murmured faintly.

"Help me."

He didn't even know what he was asking Gu Zhen for, but desire crashed over him like a boundless ocean, and only Gu Zhen seemed able to rescue him.

Help me.

...Save me.

Gu Zhen looked down at his face. He knew exactly what Zhu Shinian really needed right now.

Everything he was doing now for Zhu Shinian was just a temporary fix, like drinking poison to quench his thirst.

Zhu Shinian's eyes were half-lidded, wet and glistening, his beautiful face twisted slightly by desire and pain.

Gu Zhen had almost never seen Zhu Shinian like this. It felt unfamiliar, and a mix of emotions swirled inside him.

An alpha's gland burned from the omega's intense pheromones, but Gu Zhen only felt miserable.

It shouldn't have been like this.

His reunion with Zhu Shinian after so long... shouldn't have been like this.

He wanted to kiss Zhu Shinian, to feel his warmth, his scent. He wanted Zhu Shinian to feel good too, to want him just as much as he wanted Zhu Shinian...

But it shouldn't have been like this.

"Zhu Shinian."

"Then..." Gu Zhen said with difficulty, each word seemingly forced from his throat, "Can you please not hate me?"

Zhu Shinian's gaze was unfocused and dazed, as if he couldn't understand what he was saying.

Hate?

Why would he hate him?

Zhu Shinian only knew that he was in agony.

His body burned like a high fever, as if insects were crawling over him.

Only Gu Zhen was cool, soothing, with a faint woody scent.

He wanted Gu Zhen to come closer, to breathe in more of that comforting smell.

"I'm in pain," Zhu Shinian said weakly, his voice barely a whisper, already drained of strength. "Gu Zhen, I'm in pain..."

Gu Zhen lowered his head, pressing his lips to Zhu Shinian's sweat-damp hair, gently kissing it.

"It's okay," he said softly. "I understand."

Zhu Shinian tilted his head back, raising a hand to hook around Gu Zhen's neck, pulling him down.

By now, Zhu Shinian had little strength left, the movement so light it was almost imperceptible, but Gu Zhen still stiffened all over.

It didn't matter. Even if he hated him, even if he resented him. It was fine.

After all, he was about to leave, about to be free.

Then Zhu Shinian lifted his chin, pressing his lips to Gu Zhen's.

The kiss was light, like a feather grazing his lips.

The scent of cypress wood and thousand-leaf rose intertwined, sweet and cool.

It was an absurd daylight scene.

.......

Gu Zhen knew Zhu Shinian's body well, better than anyone at making him feel good.

The constant stimulation felt like an electric current, traveling from his tailbone to his brain.

It made him crave more pleasure, more abandon.

He couldn't withstand the relentless, sustained pleasure, and soon passed out in Gu Zhen's arms.

When he woke again, it was midnight. The heat had faded, leaving his whole body sore and weak.

He was also hungry. Zhu Shinian went to the kitchen to make some instant noodles.

His legs ached like he'd done a thousand squats. He touched the back of his neck. Gu Zhen hadn't marked him, not even a temporary one.

After he passed out, Gu Zhen hadn't marked him. Instead, he'd found another suppressant.

His head was a little dizzy, his throat dry—probably side effects from the unfamiliar suppressant.

Zhu Shinian had always used Jiang's suppressants, which had the fewest side effects and best user experience in the Empire. Other brands were harsher.

But somehow, the suppressant he'd used for so long failed today.

...It didn't matter, really.

Zhu Shinian didn't understand why Gu Zhen refused to mark him, why he'd rather knock him out and find a new suppressant.

He had already agreed to stay. No matter how Gu Zhen treated him, it was fine.

Even a permanent mark, even being treated like a toy—it was all fine.

Let alone just a temporary mark.

He slowly descended the spiral staircase, holding the rail, and saw some documents on the music stand of the black grand piano.

Gu Zhen had gone out in the morning—he must have come back in a hurry and left them there.

Out of habit, Zhu Shinian walked over and picked up the documents, intending to see what they were and put them away for Gu Zhen.

As he lifted them, he suddenly remembered something and stopped, shocked.

Waking up in the middle of the night had left him a bit disoriented.

He was no longer Gu Zhen's adjutant, nor his colleague, friend, or lover.

He was no one to Gu Zhen. He had no right to organize his papers. He was now a Resistance commander, a prisoner of the Empire. If anyone found out, Gu Zhen could be charged with treason...

"Imperial Marriage Registration Application."

The document's header stood out in gold lettering.

"Applicant Names: Gu Zhen, Zhu Shinian."

"Applicant Gender: Male Alpha, Male Omega."

"Pheromone Types: Cypress Wood, Thousand-leaf Rose."

"Pheromone Compatibility: 83%"

"..."

On the application, Gu Zhen's information was printed in standard Song font with black ink, like any normal form. But Zhu Shinian's part was handwritten.

The handwriting was familiar to Zhu Shinian—it was Gu Zhen's hand, elegant and bold.

He didn't know how Gu Zhen had gotten this official form, stamped with a seal, half blank, and then filled in Zhu Shinian's name and details.

At the bottom was the official seal of the Ninth District Marriage Registry, giving it legal force under the Empire.

It meant the two people named were officially married.

Just like Gu Zhen had personally promised a year ago.

Author's note: