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    Inside the hovercar, the atmosphere wasโ€ฆ complicated.

    Yin Rong sat in the driverโ€™s seat, while Rong Shi and Song Yu occupied the back.

    Song Yu slid a sidelong glance at Rong Shi. From the moment they boarded, every look Rong Shi shot the special aide carried a hint of wariness.

    Leaning close, Song Yu whispered into his ear: โ€œHeโ€™s my fatherโ€™s aide. Reliable enough.โ€

    Yin Rong plotted the route, but when he checked the rearview, the first thing he saw was the pair murmuring togetherโ€”and then, unexpectedly, Rong Shiโ€™s sharp eyes meeting his own.

    Sparks filled the air, volatile and ready to ignite.

    Yet Rong Shi said nothing. Instead, he turned his head and pressed a kiss to Song Yuโ€™s lips. โ€œSleep for a while. Iโ€™ll wake you when we arrive.โ€

    Song Yu retaliated by biting his lip. โ€œHow can I rest with you being this tender?โ€

    Rong Shiโ€™s warning was all ice: โ€œComplain of fatigue tonight, and all entertaining activities this month are canceled.โ€

    That was enough. Song Yu nestled against his shoulder. โ€œNow I feel secure.โ€

    โ€œโ€ฆ.โ€ Rong Shi.

    When the cat finally dozed off, the carโ€™s temperature dropped to subโ€‘zero.

    At last, Yin Rong ventured in a low voice: โ€œHis Highness didnโ€™t sleep last night?โ€

    โ€œโ€ฆMm.โ€ Rong Shiโ€™s reply was one syllable.

    The awkward silence thickened until Yin Rong asked again: โ€œโ€ฆYou two seem close?โ€

    With his eyes shut, back against the seat, Rong Shi shut him off flatly. โ€œNone of your concern.โ€

    โ€œโ€ฆ.โ€ Yin Rong. Which ancestor did he inherit this frost from?


    The car descended to a hotel in Xueyan District.

    Rockโ€‘steady calm, Rong Shi studied the snowy vista through the window. In his last life, the military camps had been in Xueba District, far in the southโ€”a โ€œpreparatoryโ€ area.

    Planetary modification took centuries. After stabilizing the artificial atmosphere, mutated flora and fauna had to be cleared generation after generation until threats became negligible. Such zones were marked โ€œwildernessโ€ and barred from settlement; the active clearing zones were โ€œpreparatory,โ€ meant to open in three yearsโ€™ time.

    Snow Leopard zone was the south wild. Here in Xueyan District, central continent, lived the thriving citizens.

    Shutting the engine, Yin Rong asked politely: โ€œYoung Master Rong, shall I book two roomsโ€”โ€

    โ€œNo need to speak to me formally,โ€ Rong Shi cut coldly. โ€œOne room is enough. Iโ€™ll wake him.โ€

    Eyes avoided, Yin Rong slipped out: โ€œโ€ฆThen Iโ€™ll wait in the lobby.โ€

    Inside, Rong Shi lowered his gaze. From here, Song Yuโ€™s lashes looked long and straight. His cat gave off so much warmthโ€”like hugging a living hotโ€‘water bottle.

    โ€œXiao Yu,โ€ he nudged gently. โ€œWeโ€™ve arrived.โ€

    Snoring softly, his cat slept like the dead. No shaking woke him.

    โ€œโ€ฆ.โ€ Too soundly.

    โ€œYouโ€™re already exhausted from barely anything. If I really put my back into it, you wouldnโ€™t get out of bed at all.โ€

    (From the bed: โ€œโ€ฆGo ahead. In the end, who really canโ€™t get up?โ€)

    Yesโ€”Song Yu had woken the moment his name was called. But sprawled feigning sleep, he wanted to see what โ€œhis bunnyโ€ would do. When he felt strong arms slide beneath, lifting him entirelyโ€”his lips twitched upward until he realizedโ€”

    The bastardโ€™s carrying me bridal style?!

    โ€œPut me down!โ€ Song Yu opened his eyes, yanking at Rong Shiโ€™s collar.

    But Rong Shi strode out of the car, door snapped close behind him. โ€œDonโ€™t move. Being carried by your husband is no shame.โ€

    โ€œWhat about me carrying you then?โ€

    Rong Shi chuckled lowly, long legs striding. โ€œStop imagining the impossible. Arenโ€™t you tired? Then stay asleep.โ€

    People were everywhere. Though itching for revenge, Song Yu saw the crowd. He tugged the coat up to cover his flushed face and resigned himself back onto his bunnyโ€™s shoulder.

    โ€œโ€ฆThen when you fall asleep tonight, Iโ€™ll mark you.โ€

    โ€œRidiculous. This is no bridal carry. This is clearly a princeโ€™s carry.โ€

    โ€œโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ Song Yu: fck.*


    Inside the lobby, Yin Rong froze as doors opened wide.

    Through streams of passersby, a tall figure strode in hugging another manโ€”impossible not to notice.

    โ€œMommy, that big brother is carrying another big brother!โ€ a fiveโ€‘yearโ€‘old omega blurted. โ€œShy, Mommyโ€”Mommy?โ€ She blinked. Why was her mom suddenly blushing?

    Though Rong Shiโ€™s hat brim and mask obscured his features, his raw alpha presence had the woman utterly transfixed, pulse racing. Topโ€‘tier alpha, without a doubt. Overwhelming.

    Rong Shi sailed past, face impassiveโ€”while the jealous cat in his arms twitched violently.

    โ€œโ€ฆBooked?โ€ Rong Shi asked Yin Rong, calm as ever.

    โ€œYes,โ€ Yin confirmed, repeatedly glancing at the sight of Song Yu โ€œnestledโ€ in his chest.

    โ€œโ€ฆDid he agree?โ€

    โ€œObviously,โ€ Rong Shi said, with full seriousness. โ€œHe canโ€™t sleep if Iโ€™m not holding him.โ€

    Song Yu: โ€œโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€
    Yin Rong: โ€œโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€

    On the stairs, snowflakes dotted black hair. The gleam stabbed at eyes; Yinโ€™s hand twitched, reaching to brush it off.

    But Rong Shi sidestepped instantly, glare cutting.

    โ€œIโ€”there was snow,โ€ Yin Rong withdrew casually.

    โ€œโ€ฆIโ€™ll handle it.โ€ Cold.

    Then he added, as if justifying: โ€œXiao Yu doesnโ€™t like anyone touching me. His jealousy is fierce.โ€

    Yin Rong: โ€œโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ Never missing a chance to show off.


    By the time they reached their room, Song Yu was โ€œback asleepโ€ again, still sulky. Yin Rong didnโ€™t linger.

    But at the door, Rong Shi stopped him. โ€œWait. I have questions.โ€

    โ€œโ€ฆI never agreed to share intelligence.โ€ Yin Rongโ€™s brows sank.

    โ€œYou deliberately bumped into us.โ€ Rong Shi tucked a quilt securely around his sleeping cat. โ€œYou wanted to join us. Without information, we wonโ€™t move with you.โ€

    Silent pause. Then Yin Rong turned toward the hall. โ€œโ€ฆIโ€™ll only answer what I can.โ€


    Snow stretched endless in every direction. White, unbroken, no end in sight.

    Feet heavy, Song Yu staggered through. He didnโ€™t know where he was going, only that some voice warnedโ€”hurry, hurry, or it will be too late.

    Cold like a thousand frozen needles pierced skin, bone, and lungs. His limbs went numb. Exhaustion howled at him to stop.

    Itโ€™s pointless. Youโ€™ll never find it. Give up.

    But he forced on.

    And thenโ€”blood. A scarlet stain against snow. His pulse thundered.

    Stumbling faster, but no matter how he pushed, the bloodstain never grew closer.

    โ€œBlood? Whoโ€”whose blood?โ€

    โ€œโ€ฆMine.โ€

    A voice cut from behind.

    Spinning, Song Yuโ€™s pupils widened.

    Five paces backโ€”Rong Shi in ruined battle armor, sodden red. Blood reeked, his lips were pale, and he coughed until more stained his mouth.

    Internal bleeding?

    Pain, sharp and suffocating, consumed Song Yu.

    โ€œRong Shi!โ€ He lunged, but Rong Shiโ€™s hand lifted, halting him.

    โ€œXiao Yu,โ€ the man rasped with a faint curve of his lips, โ€œseeing youโ€ฆ is enough.โ€

    Enough?! Terror clawed Song Yuโ€™s chest apart. Never had he felt this fear.

    โ€œDonโ€™t leave. Donโ€™t you dare leave me!โ€

    He jolted awake, breath harsh, drenched in cold sweat. Only a nightmare.

    โ€œRong Shi?โ€ He searched the room. Empty.


    Out in the lounge, Rong Shi was talking with Yin Rong.

    As the aide rose, he stopped at the door. โ€œYou know royals must have heirs. Especially him.โ€

    Rong Shiโ€™s eyes narrowed, cold. โ€œSo?โ€

    โ€œA youthful fling means nothing. Donโ€™t gamble both your futures on it. For your own goodโ€”โ€

    From inside the room came a crashing sound, and they both turned.

    Song Yu stumbled out, paler than before. Barefoot, drenched in sweat.

    โ€œYouโ€™re shakingโ€”did I leave the temp too high?โ€ Rong Shi caught him instantly.

    But the touch told him otherwise. Song Yu was burning.

    [01: Temp 37.8โ„ƒ. Sponsor Daddyโ€™s running a slight fever!]
    [00: 37.8โ„ƒ. Masterโ€™s mood dangerously low.]

    Ignoring Yin Rong, Song Yu clutched tightly to Rong Shi, burying his face in his neck, inhaling his scent like an anchor.

    โ€œYouโ€™re not allowed to leave me.โ€

    His bunny stroked damp his hair, murmuring, โ€œA nightmare?โ€

    โ€œPromise me!โ€ Song Yu growled.

    โ€œโ€ฆFine. I wonโ€™t leave.โ€

    Grinding his cheek against warm skin, Song Yu muttered hoarsely: โ€œThen Iโ€™ll think of every wayโ€ฆ every trickโ€ฆ to keep you dangling, never satisfied.โ€

    โ€œโ€ฆWhat?โ€ Rong Shi blinked. Dangling?


    Authorโ€™s Note:

     Rong Bunny: โ€ฆHow exactly do you plan to โ€˜dangleโ€™ me?
    Song Cat: With a rope. Around the rabbit ears. Hang him on the tree outside. [slurp]
    Rong Bunny: โ€ฆCongrats, youโ€™ve invented cured rabbit jerky.

    โ€œYour Highness, it has been three days. The Madam is still hanging outside.โ€

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    1. Depressedhedgehog
      Apr 22, '26 at 12:20 am

      โ™กโ™กโ™กThanks for the Translation, Translator-san๐Ÿ’™๐Ÿฉต๐Ÿค!!! แ“šแ˜แ—ข โ™ก เซฎ๊’ฐ หถโ€ข เผ โ€ขหถ๊’ฑแƒโ™กโ™กโ™ก
      ๐Ÿ˜ตโ€๐Ÿ’ซ๐Ÿ˜ต๐Ÿ˜ตโ€๐Ÿ’ซ๐Ÿ˜ต๐Ÿ˜ตโ€๐Ÿ’ซ๐Ÿ˜ต

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