Chu Tao was half-carried, half-dragged by Jiang She back to the room and, somehow, muddled his way into taking a shower. With no change of clothes, he ended up flopping onto the bed stark naked and promptly fell asleep.

When Jiang She emerged from the bathroom, damp and wearing a soaked bathrobe, he found Chu Tao sprawled across the bed, completely defenseless, lying with arms and legs spread wide, making no effort to cover himself.

Jiang She’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed, his fingers pressing against the joints of his index finger until a faint cracking sound broke the silence.

He removed his clothes, adjusted the air conditioner to a warmer setting, and sat beside Chu Tao.

Feeling the bed shift, Chu Tao half-opened his eyes and patted the mattress, murmuring, “Come up here.”

Jiang She leaned in closer, brushing his fingers along Chu Tao’s shoulder. “Come up where? On top of you?”

Chu Tao’s black, glistening peach blossom eyes curved with a playful glint. “You could sleep on me too.”

Jiang She’s hand slid down Chu Tao’s arm to his elbow, then trailed further along his back. Chu Tao, sensitive on his right side, squirmed on the bed, trying to evade Jiang She’s hand.

“Too tired, too tired,” Chu Tao mumbled.

With a firm pull, Jiang She lifted Chu Tao’s upper body and planted a deep kiss on his lips. “Happy birthday, baby.”

Chu Tao let out a muffled sound, his eyes slowly closing again.

Jiang She flipped over and nimbly landed beside him on the bed. Struggling to pull up the blanket, he tucked Chu Tao securely inside, then embraced his back and kissed him gently along the neck. Being cautious about his pheromones, Jiang She avoided the gland area altogether.

Chu Tao quickly drifted off, his breathing steady and soft. His messy hair pressed against Jiang She’s chin.

In the dark, Jiang She murmured, “Looks like I’ll have to ply you with drinks more often—how are you so easy to handle?”

Chu Tao spent the entire night sleeping in Jiang She’s room.

The next morning, he woke up groggily, the effects of the alcohol completely gone. After lying there for a moment, he finally began piecing together the events of the previous night.

They had spent an extended amount of time “washing up” in the bathroom, which left Chu Tao both clean and utterly exhausted. Jiang She had then carried him to bed, and they had fallen asleep together.

Throughout all this, he hadn’t checked his phone once. He had no idea if his parents or brother had sent him messages.

If Song Mian had gotten it into her head to check on him during the night…

This was almost guaranteed to happen.

Song Mian had a habit of worrying—about everything from big things like school and work to small things like clothes and socks. Stopping by their rooms before bed to remind them of something was entirely in line with her habits.

If she found out he wasn’t there…

Chu Tao jolted upright in bed, startling Jiang She awake.

Jiang She lazily stretched an arm over, pulling Chu Tao back into his embrace. “Go back to sleep. It’s still early.”

The mountains delayed the sunrise, and though faint light was now seeping through the curtains, it was evident that the hour wasn’t as early as Jiang She claimed.

Leaning against Jiang She’s chest, Chu Tao patted his face. “What time is it?”

Jiang She, not knowing, casually replied, “Around five.”

Normally, Saturdays were their chance to sleep in. They rarely got up before nine or ten.

Chu Tao wriggled out of Jiang She’s arms, grabbed his phone from the bedside table, and checked the time.

It was already nine in the morning.

The screen showed several messages and missed calls, with Song Mian’s at the top.

She had called him three times and sent several WeChat messages:

[Tao Tao, what are you two up to? I came to drop something off, but no one was there.]

“Rest well, get up early tomorrow, breakfast at 8.”
“It’s already 7:30, what are you doing?”
“It’s 8 o’clock! Still sleeping! Open the door!”
“Your dad and I are going to eat first. When you two wake up, message me back.”
“Just finished breakfast! Why are you two still sleeping?”
…

Then came a message from Chu Xingning, showing it was sent at 10 PM the previous night.

“Tao Tao, don’t wait for me, I’m not sure when I’ll be back.”

Chu Tao rubbed his temples and lifted the blanket, ready to get out of bed.

Only when he got up did he realize he was completely naked. His swimming trunks were tossed aside, and the used bathrobe was carelessly draped over the rack.

His clothes were still in the room—he hadn’t brought any up with him.

Chu Tao: “…”

He turned around. “Jiang She, I don’t have any clothes to wear.”

Jiang She opened his eyes, propped himself up on the bed, moved up to lean against the pillow, and silently looked at Chu Tao, then chuckled.

“No way, I see you’re wearing clothes, and they look pretty good on you.”

He unabashedly eyed Chu Tao’s back, waist, and muscle lines.

Chu Tao narrowed his eyes: “Am I wearing the emperor’s new clothes?”

Jiang She spread his arms wide, asking for a hug: “My new clothes.”

Chu Tao couldn’t help but laugh, stepping forward and lifting the blanket to cover Jiang She’s face: “You really have no shame. Do you have a throne to inherit?”

Jiang She simply stretched his hand out from under the blanket and tightly wrapped it around Chu Tao’s waist: “I have an empress to marry.”

“Get lost,” Chu Tao laughed and cursed.

Jiang She, taking advantage of Chu Tao’s momentary distraction, gave a sudden force and pulled him back onto the bed, intent on making a move.
Chu Tao raised a hand to press against his chest. “It’s already 9 o’clock. If my mom can’t find me, she’ll start to worry.”
Jiang She pouted in regret.
Chu Tao lifted his hand and pinched Jiang She’s lips. “Lend me some clothes to wear, and I’ll change back and return them to you.”
Jiang She blinked, thinking for a moment, then said, “No need to change, just wear them.”
He sprang up and crouched down to rummage through his bag.
He pulled out a thin sweater, a pair of loose pajama pants, and a pair of boxers.
“The pajama pants can’t be worn outside. You can just take them off when you get back. The rest you can wear.”
Chu Tao glanced at them and picked up Jiang She’s boxers. “Have you worn these?”
Jiang She shrugged. “They’re clean.”
Chu Tao lightly bit his cheek, giving Jiang She a meaningful look, before quickly putting the clothes on.
Before Jiang She had a chance to look again, Chu Tao was already in the pajama pants.
The pajama pants were big and loose, with the pant legs dragging along the top of his feet.
He rolled the pant legs up three times until they were level with his ankles.
The thin sweater was also a bit large, with the sleeves hanging down past Chu Tao’s fingers, and the hem covering his backside.
But since Jiang She was already a bit taller, this effect was expected.
Jiang She looked at him with a half-smile, “Not bad.”
Chu Tao looked up and tugged at his sleeve. “What do you mean ‘not bad’?”
Jiang She leaned close to his ear and whispered, “Next time, let’s play a clothes-changing game.”
Chu Tao’s eyelids twitched, and he tried hard to keep a serious face, muttering, “You change first.”
By the time Chu Tao brushed his teeth and washed his face, it was already 9:20.
He couldn’t delay any longer, so he reluctantly wore Jiang She’s clothes, grabbed his room key, and quietly snuck back to the fourth floor.
This time, he was lucky. He managed to get into the room without being noticed by Song Mian or Chu Jiangmin.
As soon as he entered, Chu Xingning was folding clothes.
Chu Xingning paused for a moment. “You just got back?”
Chu Tao felt a bit guilty. “I drank a bit last night and fell asleep.”
Chu Xingning clearly noticed the luxury brand logo on Chu Tao’s sweater.
He nodded in understanding. “Mom and Dad sent me a lot of messages. I just saw them. Hurry up and get ready, we’ll go out together.”
“Okay.” Chu Tao quickly sat on the bed to change his pants but decided not to change the sweater.
Chu Xingning studied him for a moment, then raised his finger and pointed at the logo on Chu Tao’s chest. “Change the sweater too, Mom and Dad wouldn’t buy this brand.”
Only then did Chu Tao glance down and see the obvious brand logo.
He stuck out his tongue and hurriedly took off the sweater, folded it neatly, and put on his own.
He couldn’t stay in his down jacket indoors; he nearly gave himself away.
“I’ll… return it to Jiang She.”

Chu Tao, holding the clothes he had just changed into, quickly slipped out of the room to return the clothes to Jiang She.
It was only at 9:30 that he and Chu Xingning left together to meet their parents.
Song Mian had already grown impatient: “You two really know how to sleep. The phone ringing couldn’t even wake you up. I’m really amazed.”
Chu Tao yawned. “I was so tired, Mom.”
Song Mian sighed. “Hurry up and eat breakfast! It ends at 10. Really.”
Chu Tao obediently replied, “Okay.”
Chu Xingning asked, “When are we going back?”
Chu Jiangmin said, “After you finish breakfast. Your mom still has to pack the clothes.”
Song Mian added, “Make sure to eat well. There won’t be any lunch!”
While they were having breakfast, Chu Tao received a message from Jiang She.
The driver uncle had come to pick him up, and he couldn’t bear to let the man wait outside, so he was going back first.
Chu Tao replied, “Be safe.”
Chu Xingning, understanding Chu Tao well, casually asked, “Has Jiang She left?”
Chu Tao nodded. “He left.”
Chu Xingning smiled. “Hey, if Mom finds out you’re with an alpha and I’m with an Omega, do you think she’ll get mad?”
Chu Tao thought for a moment, then agreed. “She probably would. So when we go public, we should do it together. That way, we’ll have someone to share the anger.”
Chu Xingning took a sip of milk and thought of Pei Jiang, feeling a sweet warmth in his heart.
“Alright, we’ll do it together then.”