Chapter 41

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Jiang Li felt like washing his tongue after that small sip. The bitterness clung to it unpleasantly, but he didn’t even dare frown because Shen Yu was still watching him, a faint smile playing on his lips as if he already knew exactly what Jiang Li was thinking.

It was so bitter... Jiang Li couldn’t understand how people drank this—no, how Shen Yu drank this kind of poison so calmly.

"How is it?" Shen Yu asked.

Jiang Li didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. In the end, he did neither. He couldn’t say it tasted like an aloe vera plant—he didn’t want to hurt him—so he simply cleared his throat, lowering his gaze.

"It’s amazing..." Jiang Li said.

Shen Yu’s brow lifted slightly. He glanced down at his coffee before looking back at Jiang Li.

"Then you can drink the whole thing."

With just those seven words, Jiang Li felt his life flash before his eyes.

...

One hour later, Jiang Li walked out of the café behind Shen Yu, still holding the same cup of black, bitter coffee. He took small, reluctant sips, trying—and failing—to finish it.

When he looked up at Shen Yu, he noticed again how tall the man was. Today, he wasn’t wearing his usual suits but a black turtleneck, black trousers, and a long coat.

Just from the way they dressed, it felt like they belonged to different worlds. Shen Yu looked like a successful adult on his way to a business meeting, while Jiang Li still looked like a university student hiding inside an oversized hoodie.

Jiang Li still drank lattes, while Shen Yu preferred bitter coffee.

Jiang Li wore loose cargo pants and an oversized hoodie that swallowed his entire frame.

The difference between them felt impossibly large.

And yet, Jiang Li’s heart ached to close that distance, because spending time with Shen Yu made him realize just how empty his heart had been without him—how loud his thoughts became whenever he was near.

As he walked, something else began to tug at his attention.

A craving.

Sudden. Strong.

Ice cream.

It hit him so abruptly it almost felt like he’d been craving it since yesterday, and when he glanced up, he immediately found the culprit—a passing billboard advertising ice cream.

His lips pressed into a thin line. The craving grew stronger, almost unbearable, like showing something addictive to someone who couldn’t resist it.

Slowly, he turned his head toward Shen Yu. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

The man was driving silently, one hand resting against the window. After a moment, as if sensing Jiang Li’s gaze, Shen Yu turned his head when the traffic light turned red.

Their eyes met.

Jiang Li’s wide, doe-like eyes stared up at him, bright and almost shining, as if tiny stars had been lit within them—like something straight out of an anime.

Shen Yu frowned slightly.

Was it even possible for someone’s eyes to look like that?

They looked glassy. Dewy.

Beautiful.

He took a slow breath.

In other words—dangerously beautiful.

"Is there something you need, Jiang Li?" Shen Yu asked, turning his gaze forward again as the light turned green.

How did he notice...?

Jiang Li’s lips pursed slightly as he looked down. Had he been staring too much? He really wanted ice cream, but he was afraid of being a burden.

But the craving grew stronger than his hesitation.

His lips moved before he could stop himself.

"I... want... n-no... I would..." he stammered.

Shen Yu’s brow rose.

Jiang Li squeezed his eyes shut, his voice rising slightly with effort.

"I would like ice cream."

Silence filled the car.

Jiang Li’s heart began to race.

Was that too much? Was Shen Yu annoyed?

His hands trembled faintly.

"Is that why you were stammering so much? Just because of ice cream?" Shen Yu said, a soft chuckle escaping him. "Jiang Li, you’re truly something."

Heat rushed to Jiang Li’s cheeks.

"But do you usually eat ice cream in such cold weather? It’s freezing," Shen Yu added.

Jiang Li hesitated. If he said he liked ice cream more in cold weather, it would sound childish.

So he chose something simple.

"I just feel like eating it."

Shen Yu nodded and didn’t question him further.

Silence returned to the car.

Outside, snowflakes drifted gently against the window, the world painted in white. It looked cold—freezing, even—but Jiang Li didn’t feel it.

Maybe it was the heater.

Or maybe...

It was the man beside him.

His thoughts were interrupted by the chime of his phone. He looked down.

Luo Xin.

[Are you okay? You frightened me.]

Ten seconds later, another message appeared.

[Is everything okay with Shen Yu?]

The car came to a stop in front of an ice cream shop. Shen Yu turned, about to ask what flavor Jiang Li wanted, but his gaze dropped to the phone in Jiang Li’s hand.

A small pink bunny charm dangled from it, swaying gently.

Shen Yu stilled.

That question surfaced again—the one he had pushed aside since the day they met.

Was Jiang Li really the bunny boy from that club?

Was he really...?

He wished he could remember his rut clearly. The memories were there, but blurred. He remembered the softness of the omega’s skin, every sound he made—

And the silver bunny mask slipping off.

But just like every time before, the moment he tried to recall the face, everything went dark.

Shen Yu exhaled quietly, brushing his hair back before looking at Jiang Li again.

Jiang Li had already put his phone down.

"What kind of flavor do you like?" Shen Yu asked. "Vanilla? Strawberry?"

Jiang Li shook his head.

"Blue bubblegum flavor."

Shen Yu’s eyes widened slightly. For a moment, he genuinely feared calculating how much sugar Jiang Li consumed in a day.

He shook his head faintly. "You really have the palate of a five-year-old."

His gaze shifted to the unfinished coffee in the cup holder.

"And finish your coffee. It’ll get cold."

"I want it to be cold," Jiang Li said softly, thinking it might taste better that way.

Shen Yu’s brow lifted, but he didn’t argue this time, deciding he had judged the omega enough for one day.

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A/ N : Please check my character profiles, they’re too lonely (^^;)))