Later, Luo Hai drifted into a hazy sleep.
It wasn’t so much falling asleep as it was succumbing to sheer exhaustion, slipping into unconsciousness beyond his control. Even in sleep, his mind didn’t rest—he kept dreaming, one nightmare after another. Either the fire from his childhood or the days of captivity under Doyle. Finally, he dreamed of Eugene, alive and well, finding him again. Just as he was about to rush forward and embrace him, Doyle, standing behind him, pulled the trigger.
The shock jolted him awake, his body drenched in cold sweat.
Before his eyes were fully open, his hand instinctively reached for the other side of the bed. It was still warm—but empty. Eugene wasn’t there.
Luo Hai sat up abruptly, his breath unsteady. In the dim moonlight, he finally spotted Eugene standing a few steps away by the window, gazing quietly at the nighttime streets of Nantes.
“What’s wrong?” Hearing movement, Eugene turned his head. He was wearing only a pair of shorts and had a loosely draped jacket over his shoulders. His well-defined chest was faintly visible in the dim light.
Luo Hai exhaled slowly, easing the tension in his body, and leaned back against the headboard. “…Nothing.”
Eugene walked over, pressing one knee onto the soft mattress, his arms circling Luo Hai. He reached up and gently wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. “A nightmare?”
Luo Hai’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly before he reluctantly responded with a low, “Mm.”
Eugene tightened his embrace, rubbing his chin against the crook of Luo Hai’s neck in a comforting motion. “Don’t be scared, I’m here. Close your eyes and get some proper sleep, or you won’t make it through tomorrow.”
Luo Hai was quiet for a moment. “By the time I open my eyes tomorrow, you won’t be here anymore.”
Eugene faltered slightly, then let out a helpless sigh. “Then what should I do? Stay awake all night so you can keep staring at me until sunrise? And then watch you collapse at work from exhaustion the next day?”
“I’m not a child,” Luo Hai murmured, raising his arms to wrap around Eugene’s neck and pulling him closer. “Just hold me a little longer—that’s all I need. I’m easy to comfort.”
Eugene let out a muffled chuckle and lowered his head, like a large, loyal dog allowing Luo Hai to pet and play with him however he pleased.
Luo Hai ran his fingers from the top of Eugene’s head down to the back of his neck, then let them glide from his temple to his ear, finally resting at his earlobe. He rubbed the cool metal of the small earring between his fingers.
Eugene had always had a particular fondness for earrings. Ever since he had regained his freedom and rid himself of his shackles, Luo Hai had seen him change out his earrings many times. If anyone else wore them, they might have seemed out of place, but on Eugene, they somehow softened his sharpness and gave him a grounded, composed air.
Especially tonight—those blue earrings shimmered in the cold moonlight, as deep and mesmerizing as the ocean.
Eugene placed his hand over Luo Hai’s. “What is it? Do you like my earrings?”
“I do.” Luo Hai idly rubbed the cold metal. “Take them off and give them to me.”
Eugene chuckled. “You don’t even have your ears pierced. What would you do with them?”
“Then pierce them for me,” Luo Hai said.
Eugene raised an eyebrow in surprise. He clearly hadn’t expected the ever-composed Luo Hai to make such a request. “Does the prosecutor’s office even allow piercings?”
“If I say it’s allowed, then it’s allowed.” Luo Hai narrowed his eyes slightly. “What, is Doyle going to fire me over it?”
Eugene laughed for a long time before finally pulling Luo Hai’s hand away from his ear. “Alright, then. Next time, I’ll take you to a proper place to get it done…”
But Luo Hai suddenly grabbed his wrist. “Not next time. Do it now.”
Eugene froze for a moment. “Now?”
Luo Hai sat up, flipping open the bedside drawer and pulling out a medical kit. He rummaged through it and laid out alcohol, cotton swabs, and a needle meant for suturing wounds on a clean piece of gauze.
“We have time now, and we have the tools.” Luo Hai turned on the bedside lamp, adjusting it to its brightest setting. “Do it now.”
Eugene frowned and caught Luo Hai’s hand before he could reach for the alcohol. “Don’t joke around. You can’t just use a needle like that. I know a professional—next time, I’ll take you to him.”
Luo Hai lifted his gaze, his dark eyes reflecting the light as he stared straight into Eugene’s. “And when is ‘next time’?”
Eugene tightened his grip. “Next time is next time. When I promise you something, I keep my word. It’s not like we won’t see each other again. Why are you so insecure?”
Luo Hai was silent for a long time before he finally looked away. His voice was low and soft—so soft that Eugene almost didn’t hear it. “If you were an Omega who couldn’t be marked because of a biological defect, you’d feel insecure too.”
For a moment, Eugene didn’t know what to say. “Luo Hai…”
“Leave a mark on me,” Luo Hai murmured. “Something to prove that I’m yours.”
In the quiet of the night, the sound of their hearts skipping a beat was almost deafening. Eugene took a deep breath and leaned in, steadying Luo Hai. Luo Hai obediently rested against the headboard, like a devoted believer offering himself in sacrifice, willing to endure any price for the god before him.
“Silly. Even without any proof, what’s mine is mine,” Eugene lowered his gaze at Luo Hai. “But if you really want me to mark you, I’ll grant your wish. This is your last chance to regret it—don’t start crying and begging me to stop later.”
Luo Hai laughed, his clear eyes carrying a hint of provocation beneath his long lashes. He lowered his voice. “Don’t pretend you don’t want to make me cry.”
Only Luo Hai would still dare to provoke him at a time like this.
Eugene straightened up and calmly reached for the tools on the gauze. The only sounds in the quiet room were those of him disinfecting and preparing. A moment ago, Luo Hai had been full of bravado, but now, he suddenly started feeling a bit weak.
“Don’t move.” Eugene held Luo Hai’s chin, positioning his head properly. Luo Hai instinctively closed his eyes, feeling a sudden coolness on his right earlobe. A faint scent of antiseptic filled the air, making his breathing unconsciously quicken.
He couldn’t tell if his racing heartbeat was due to fear or excitement. As Eugene moved closer, he could catch the faint scent of gin lingering on him, tinged with drowsy satisfaction.
Losing his vision only amplified the oppressive presence of the Alpha. He felt Eugene’s fingers pinch his earlobe, warmth gradually approaching.
Just when Luo Hai’s nerves were stretched to their limit, Eugene’s voice sounded near his ear. “It’s done.”
Luo Hai opened his eyes in confusion. “What?”
“It’s already pierced. Feel it.” Eugene took Luo Hai’s hand and placed it against his own ear.
Luo Hai’s fingers moved blankly, touching a small, cool piece of metal on his earlobe. On Eugene’s left ear, one earring was now missing.
“But…”
But he hadn’t felt any pain at all—just a bit of numbness.
“I used my own anesthetic on you. The stuff in your first aid kit wouldn’t do much if you were actually injured.” Eugene gently pinched the newly pierced earlobe. “You’ve endured enough pain already. No need to add another.”
……
That night, despite Luo Hai’s efforts to stay awake a little longer, exhaustion from the past few days eventually caught up to him, and at some point, he fell asleep in Eugene’s arms.
When he opened his eyes again, sunlight had already spilled into the bedroom from the window. The other side of the bed was empty and long devoid of warmth.
Luo Hai forced himself to push away all emotions and thoughts, going about his morning routine as usual. But when he faced the mirror, he couldn’t help but raise his hand to touch the newly placed earring.
The blue gemstone reflected a dazzling light in the morning sun, perfectly matching the cufflinks from before.
Just knowing that this earring had once been in Eugene’s ear made heat rise uncontrollably from Luo Hai’s lower abdomen.
He quickly lowered his head, turned on the faucet, and splashed cold water on his face.
He couldn’t keep going on like this. The plan was not yet complete. There were still too many things left undone. Until everything was settled, he couldn’t allow himself to have any expectations.
After washing up, Luo Hai walked out of the bathroom, only to find a carefully steamed bowl of egg custard sitting on the dining table.
Underneath it was a note. Luo Hai pulled it out and recognized Eugene’s handwriting.
— I give up on you. I searched the whole fridge and only found three eggs. I wanted to make something better for you, but you don’t have the luck for it, so you’ll have to make do with steamed eggs. Make sure to heat it up in the microwave before eating—no cold food. Also, who told you to throw away all the seasonings I bought? You have three days to replace every single one of them. The wind is strong today—wear extra layers when you go out. And don’t overwork yourself.
P.S. Keep the piercing dry for a week. Apply iodine three times a day. No seafood, spicy, or greasy food.
Luo Hai couldn’t help but laugh. Just reading the note, he could vividly imagine Eugene nagging at him.
He put the egg custard in the microwave to heat it, then scooped out a small spoonful and took a bite.
The smooth custard melted instantly on his tongue, reminding him of the taste from long, long ago—Auntie Ai’s cooking at the orphanage.
“Too much sugar,” Luo Hai muttered under his breath. “It’s way too sweet.”
