WHIF- Chapter 11

Ch. 11 Goodnight

    Yang Chaosheng was confused. All he could see was Ji Xiang’s back hunched over, clutching his stomach. Worried he might be unwell, Yang Chaosheng hesitatingly took a few steps forward, but then restrained himself and stopped at the bedroom door.

    Although Ji Xiang wasn’t an omega, barging into someone’s bedroom without permission, especially on a first visit, was undeniably rude.

    Ji Xiang’s bedroom had a small corner by the entrance where the bathroom was tucked away. So that, from outside, the interior was completely hidden from view. Just as Yang Chaosheng was about to ask from a distance if Ji Xiang was okay or needed help, a loud thud and a sharp hissing noise rang out.

    It sounded like something had crashed.

    Without thinking, Yang Chaosheng stepped inside after saying a polite, “I’m coming in.”

    He found Ji Xiang sitting on the floor at the foot of the bed, holding his head with an almost crying expression. Scattered clothes lay messily on the ground in front of him.

    “Are you okay?”

    Yang Chaosheng bent down, intending to pick up the clothes, but his eyes kept drifting worriedly back to Ji Xiang. He didn’t pay attention to what was actually on the floor.

    Just as his hand reached out, Ji Xiang, recovering from the pain, shouted, “Don’t touch that!”

    Yang Chaosheng froze, but it was too late. His hand had already lifted the clothes, and a couple of light pieces of fabric slipped through the folds, falling with a quiet flutter.

    Ji Xiang wanted to die on the spot. His head was already hurting, and now he was also annoyed.

    Just as expected, panic makes everything worse. Two hits to the back of the head in one day… could that make a person stupid?

    It finally dawned on Yang Chaosheng what was in his hand—some solid-colored thermals, and tucked between them, a few brightly colored cartoon boxers…

    One of them had a grinning Crayon Shin-chan [mfn]Crayon Shin-chan, Japanese cartoon, is a mischievous, cheeky five-year-old whose hilarious antics often push the limits of childhood innocence and adult patience.[/mfn] printed on it.

    Yang Chaosheng froze, along with the underwear hanging from his hand. Picking it up felt wrong. But not picking it up also felt wrong.

    “I’m sorry, I didn’t know…”

    The moment Ji Xiang heard Yang Chaosheng’s slightly apologetic voice, sounding even more embarrassed than he was, he suddenly felt that it wasn’t that big of a deal.

     As long as you are not embarrassed, it will be the others who will be embarrassed.

    “It’s fine. I just hit my head too hard and got a little worked up. Sorry if I scared you,” Ji Xiang said, trying to act composed as he grabbed the underwear. He extended a hand, cheeks still flushed. “Thanks. I’ll take that.”

    Yang Chaosheng handed it over, watching Ji Xiang quickly turn away and neatly fold everything into his closet. His gaze lingered on Ji Xiang’s other hand, which was rubbing the back of his head.

    Yang Chaosheng reached over and gently took Ji Xiang’s hand without asking. His tone was soft, as if coaxing a child. “Let me see.”

    The impact from the wardrobe had been brutal. Ji Xiang felt like a bell had been rung inside his skull, which was still buzzing, his scalp cold from the hit.

    He turned his back to Yang Chaosheng, tacitly allowing him to examine the injury.

    Ji Xiang’s hair was soft and thick. When Yang Chaosheng brushed over it, it felt as if he was petting a fluffy little dog. He gently circled the area Ji Xiang had been pressing earlier. “Here?”

    Ji Xiang tilted his head, obediently lowering it. The motion exposed the gland at the base of his neck, along with a stretch of pale skin that had been hidden under his collar.

    He even took a small step back to give Yang Chaosheng a clearer view. “A bit lower.”

    Betas had glands too, but unlike alphas and omegas, theirs were underdeveloped, sunken and almost devoid of any scent or activity.

    Alphas and omegas often used barrier patches to suppress their pheromones and protect their glands from damage. But for betas, glands were practically dormant, and most didn’t bother with such patches.

    Yet for someone like Yang Chaosheng, an alpha raised to view glands as a secondary sexual characteristic, Ji Xiang’s unconscious move could easily be misinterpreted.

    Yang Chaosheng’s throat tightened. He forced his eyes away and gently pulled Ji Xiang’s collar back up to cover his neck.

    Ji Xiang felt the tug and thought that Yang Chaosheng wanted to speak, so he asked, “What’s wrong?”

    “Nothing,” Yang Chaosheng said, his fingers moving to the lower right side of Ji Xiang’s head. His voice had gone hoarse. “Is it here?”

    “Ahh! That hurts!”

    Ji Xiang almost sprang straight up. In the rush of movement, he lost his balance and fell backwards, right into Yang Chaosheng’s arms.

    His feet slipped, landing heavily on Yang Chaosheng’s feet, sending them both stumbling. Yang Chaosheng instinctively caught him, but his heel hit the bedpost, resulting in them collapsing onto the bed in a clumsy heap.

    In the sudden tumble, Ji Xiang’s hair brushed against Yang Chaosheng’s nose. He caught a whiff of jasmine, probably his shampoo.

    Yang Chaosheng cushioned Ji Xiang, holding him in his arms, and turning his body protectively to shield his head from further bumps.

    The sudden closeness made Ji Xiang panic. He tried to get up but couldn’t find the right leverage. In the end, his palm firmly ‘slapped’ on Yang Chaosheng’s chest and pressed hard.

    Ji Xiang: “…” Shit. Now he’s going to think I am a hooligan and that I did it on purpose.

    Yang Chaosheng inhaled sharply for no reason, but then calmly helped Ji Xiang back to his feet.

    “Sorry, I pushed too hard.”

    “Sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you.”

    In the quite room, the two people apologized at the same time.

    Yang Chaosheng gave a soft laugh. “Offend you?”

    Ji Xiang rubbed his nose, ears as red as a tomato. “I mean… I accidentally stepped on you, then fell onto you and made you fall too…”

    “It’s fine. As long as you’re okay,” Yang Chaosheng said, brushing the back of Ji Xiang’s head. “But it looks a bit swollen. You need to ice it. Do you have ice at home?”

    “Yeah, in the freezer…”

    Yang Chaosheng fetched a towel and wrapped some ice cubes in it. He had Ji Xiang sit sideways on the sofa and held the cold compress against the swelling. “Does this feel better?”

    Ji Xiang gave a soft “mm.” A full-length mirror stood nearby, and through it, he could see Yang Chaosheng focused intently on the bruise while icing it.

    Feeling guilty, Ji Xiang said, “I can do it myself. Your arm must be sore.”

    After a pause, Yang Chaosheng handed him the compress. “The doctor said you should eat light these few days. I noticed your fridge doesn’t have any fresh food, and so you can’t cook porridge.”

    “Ah… It’s fine. I’ll order groceries later and cook.” Ji Xiang smiled to reassure him, telling a small lie so Yang Chaosheng wouldn’t worry.

    In truth, unless it was instant food that just needed some steaming, he rarely cooked.

    “Thanks for everything today. I’ve taken up too much of your time. You should head home, I’ll be fine.”

    Yang Chaosheng saw Ji Xiang swiping earnestly through his phone after taking the ice pack. He really did look like he was choosing groceries.

    It shouldn’t be a big deal.

    “All right.”

    “I’ll walk you out.”

    Ji Xiang started to get up.

    Yang Chaosheng stopped him. “No need.”

    “Then, don’t forget to take what Uncle Wan gave you.”

    Yang Chaosheng nodded and picked up one of the gift boxes on the floor. He was going to remind Ji Xiang to get some fruit—apples, bananas, pears, when he caught a glimpse of Ji Xiang’s phone screen.

    “Five meats, five veggies, super spicy hot pot.”

    “Double-fried chicken combo (with cola).”

    “Crispy, juicy salt-and-pepper ribs.”

    All sitting in his cart, all selected.

    Ready to order.

    Just then, Ji Xiang heard footsteps and was about to get up to say ‘take care’, when he turned around and locked eyes with Yang Chaosheng.

    His heart almost leapt out of his chest.

    It was like being caught red-handed doing something that he shouldn’t be doing.

    Yang Chaosheng slowly set the gift box back down and, with kind intentions, said gently, “You can’t eat that stuff right now. I’ll make you something before I go.”

    At this point, Ji Xiang would have been heartless not to accept.

    He painfully exited the takeout app and began browsing for porridge-friendly groceries.

    But Yang Chaosheng was faster. Before Ji Xiang could decide between baby bok choy or cabbage, Yang Chaosheng had already picked everything, placed the order, and even paid.

    It was simply a blessing for an indecisive and chronic procrastinator like him.

    Though Ji Xiang rarely cooked, his kitchen had all the basic tools.

    Watching Yang Chaosheng in a formal suit, wearing a floral apron, squeezed into the tiny kitchen and simmering porridge, Ji Xiang inexplicably felt a sense of responsibility that he must work even harder from tomorrow to earn more money to support the family and not let down his virtuous wife.

    “Ji Xiang.”

    Through the steam behind the glass sliding door, Yang Chaosheng called his name.

    Hearing that, Ji Xiang immediately jumped up from the sofa. “Coming.”

    He leaned on the kitchen door. “What happened?”

    Yang Chaosheng held out a spoonful of thick mushroom pork congee. “Can you taste it for me?”

    “Oh, sure.”

    Without thinking, Ji Xiang leaned in and took a sip straight from the spoon Yang Chaosheng held.

    Yang Chaosheng paused, he had expected Ji Xiang to take the spoon.

    “It’s delicious,” Ji Xiang praised. “I didn’t think Lawyer Yang could cook this well.”

    Yang Chaosheng snapped back to the moment, warmth rising in his eyes. “Glad you like it. Not too salty?”

    “Not at all.”

    Yang Chaosheng dished out the porridge and vegetables; he’d even made egg custard and stir-fried cauliflower, and brought everything to the table.

    “Remember to apply the ointment before bed.” Before leaving, Yang Chaosheng took out the medicine prescribed at the hospital, labeled it carefully, and even stuck a reminder, just in case.

    He’d thought of everything so considerately, Ji Xiang felt bad about letting him leave hungry.

    So, he sincerely asked, “Lawyer Yang, why don’t you stay and eat with me?”

    It was late, and the idea of an alpha and a beta alone together…

    Yang Chaosheng hesitated, “It’s okay, I—”

    Ji Xiang cut in, sensing he was about to decline. “…I can’t finish it all by myself anyway.”

    Yang Chaosheng gave in.

    As long as Ji Xiang kept talking, he’d always give in—effortlessly, without question.

    Because he wanted to fulfill Ji Xiang’s every wish.

    After dinner, Ji Xiang rubbed his full belly in satisfaction and took the initiative to load the dishes into the dishwasher. When he came out, he saw Yang Chaosheng placing fresh fruits into the long-empty fruit basket in the living room.

    With the last orange placed, Yang Chaosheng stood up, ready to say goodbye. Ji Xiang picked up the gift box to see him off, but was stopped at the door.

    “Go back inside. See you next time.”

    “See you.”

    As Yang Chaosheng waited for the elevator, Ji Xiang leaned against the door, watching him go.

    When the elevator dinged, Ji Xiang called out, “Yang Chaosheng!”

    Yang Chaosheng turned his head.

    Looking at him, Ji Xiang grinned. “Thanks for today. And Goodnight.”

    Yang Chaosheng smiled back, his calm and mellow voice echoing down the hallway.

    “You’re welcome. Goodnight, Ji Xiang.”