Free Web NovelChapter 221: WHERE DOES IT HURT?
Night quietly settled over the estate, bringing with it the familiar stillness that always followed a long day.
Beyond the balcony, the countless lights scattered across the gardens gradually disappeared one after another until only the pathways remained illuminated beneath the silver glow of the moon.
Guiying finished drying his hair before changing into a loose sleep shirt. By the time he climbed onto the bed, Liuxian had already put aside the book he had been pretending to read, his entire attention immediately shifting toward the person settling beside him.
A helpless smile spread across Guiying’s face as Liuxian wrapped an arm around his waist before he had even finished adjusting the blanket. "You really have become impatient," Guiying said, laughing softly as he rested comfortably against him. "I haven’t even found a comfortable position yet."
Liuxian looked entirely unapologetic.
"I’ve been waiting for you all evening."
He gently brushed his fingers through Guiying’s hair before pressing a light kiss against his forehead, his expression carrying the quiet contentment that had become so much more common since Guiying returned home.
Guiying couldn’t help smiling.
"I suppose I’ve created a monster."
"You did."
Liuxian answered without hesitation, his voice carrying just enough amusement to make Guiying laugh again.
"And I have absolutely no intention of changing."
The laughter gradually faded into a comfortable silence as they remained quietly in each other’s arms.
Outside, the gentle breeze stirred the curtains, carrying the faint fragrance of the gardens into the bedroom while the rhythmic ticking of the clock blended naturally with the sound of their breathing.
After several peaceful moments, Liuxian’s smile slowly faded.
His brows drew together ever so slightly before he lowered his gaze to Guiying, who remained comfortably tucked against his chest. Instead of speaking immediately, he leaned down and took a slow breath, his expression becoming noticeably more thoughtful.
Guiying noticed the change almost at once.
"What is it?"
Liuxian gently brushed the back of his fingers across Guiying’s cheek before letting his hand linger there for another moment.
The warmth beneath his fingertips wasn’t alarming, but it was enough to make him pause.
"Your pheromones have changed."
Guiying lowered his eyes before quietly nodding.
"I noticed them this afternoon."
He absentmindedly played with the sleeve of Liuxian’s sleep shirt while speaking, his movements slow and relaxed.
"I thought I was imagining it at first, but they became stronger as the day went on."
Liuxian gently intertwined their fingers beneath the blanket.
"You think your heat is getting close?"
Guiying let out a quiet laugh before shrugging helplessly.
"Probably."
A smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Then again, you know how my cycle is. It has never followed any sort of pattern, so I stopped trying to predict it a long time ago."
Liuxian nodded in understanding.
Neither of them looked particularly worried.
An irregular heat wasn’t something new to either of them, and after everything they had experienced together, this simply felt like another ordinary conversation before bed.
Guiying shifted slightly beneath the blanket, intending to make himself more comfortable.
Instead, he unconsciously moved even closer until his forehead rested beneath Liuxian’s chin.
Neither of them seemed to notice at first.
Liuxian smiled.
"You’ve been following me around all day."
Guiying blinked before looking up at him.
"I have?"
Liuxian chuckled softly.
"You have."
His thumb lazily stroked the back of Guiying’s hand.
"Every time I turned around, you somehow ended up beside me."
Guiying thought about it for several seconds before eventually laughing to himself.
"I really didn’t notice."
He looked down at their joined hands before smiling sheepishly.
"I suppose my body noticed before I did."
Liuxian’s embrace instinctively tightened just a little.
"I don’t mind."
He rested his cheek lightly against Guiying’s hair before closing his eyes.
"You can stay as close as you like."
Guiying smiled without answering.
The warmth surrounding him gradually eased the strange restlessness that had lingered inside his body since the afternoon. Listening to Liuxian’s steady heartbeat, he slowly closed his own eyes as the quiet sounds of the estate faded further into the distance.
Time slipped by unnoticed.
The moon climbed higher above the estate before beginning its slow descent toward the western horizon. The warmth left behind by the evening gradually gave way to the cool chill that always settled over the gardens during the early hours of the morning, while the bedroom remained wrapped in peaceful silence.
Beneath the blanket, Guiying unconsciously curled a little closer.
His breathing remained slow and even, yet the sweet fragrance of his pheromones gradually became richer as the hours passed. The familiar scent quietly spread through the bedroom, becoming more noticeable than it had been only a few hours earlier.
Liuxian’s brows slowly knitted together.
Still half asleep, he instinctively reached toward Guiying, intending to pull him a little closer against his chest before drifting back to sleep.
The moment his hand settled against Guiying’s arm...
He frowned.
"...Guiying?"
The skin beneath his palm felt unnaturally warm.
Liuxian’s eyes opened completely.
The bedroom remained dark, illuminated only by the pale moonlight spilling through the balcony doors. He lowered his gaze immediately and found Guiying curled tightly beneath the blanket, one hand gripping the sheets while his breathing came in slow, uneven breaths.
Another strained breath escaped Guiying’s lips.
It was soft.
Almost inaudible.
As though he was trying very hard not to wake the person beside him.
Liuxian immediately pushed himself upright.
"Guiying."
This time his voice carried unmistakable concern.
Guiying slowly opened his eyes.
His gaze wandered for several seconds before finally settling on Liuxian, and despite the obvious discomfort written across his face, he still managed a tired smile.
"Sorry..."
Liuxian gently brushed the damp strands of hair away from Guiying’s forehead.
"What are you apologizing for?"
"I woke you."
Guiying’s voice came out little more than a whisper.
"I was trying not to."
Liuxian didn’t answer.
Instead, he rested the back of his hand against Guiying’s forehead.
The heat beneath his fingertips immediately made his expression change.
Without another word, he switched on the bedside lamp before opening the drawer beside the bed.
He returned moments later with a thermometer and a glass of water, then carefully slipped one arm behind Guiying’s back to help him sit upright.
The simple movement made Guiying draw in a sharp breath.
His fingers instinctively tightened around Liuxian’s sleeve while his shoulders stiffened, as though even sitting had become unexpectedly painful.
"Where does it hurt?"
