Kapitel 4: Gentle Affection

It was just past 2:38 am in Fenglong City, the sprawling capital of the Dragon Country. Even at such a late hour, the city showed no signs of slumbering. The streets buzzed with activity, the pavements still teemed with people, and buildings were illuminated by glowing lights.

Within the penthouse on the highest floor, soft moonlight filtered through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a subtle glow upon a vast bed swathed in silky black sheets. Lou Yan was still wide awake, his broad back leaning to one side as he gently cradled a slender youth in his embrace.

He has finally come to a realization that…even amidst a new world, his struggle with falling asleep has not disappeared. He was left wide awake late into the night.

To make matters even worse, the little villain was restlessly stirring throughout the night. Looking down, his pajamas shirt had long been crumpled by the youth's tightly clenched fist. The top buttons were loosen, exposing a patch of bronzed skin.

When he couldn't sleep, he would normally go to the balcony for a smoke, enjoying the view, or he would push himself to the edge of exhaustion at the gym, hoping exhaustion would put him to sleep.

But this….

Lou Yan felt a sense of helplessness for the first time. He propped himself up onto his elbow and with the pajamas shirt tugged down by the person in his arms, he leaned over and gently pried off the little guy's fingers.

Lou Yan pondered whether this much contact would be sufficient to provide relief to the youth?

Despite his dislike for physical contact, he didn't find it unpleasant when he spent half the night embracing Wen Yu.

Lou Yan felt that the room was sufficiently saturated with his own pheromones, he thought it should be enough so he stood up, intending to step outside for a smoke.

However, before he could even take a step, the corner of his clothes was suddenly grabbed, stopping him in his tracks.

Lou Yan gazed downward and was met with a pair of watery amber eyes, softly blinking up at him in the dim light. He was caught off guard by the sight, stunned into momentary stillness.

How to say it….It was truly strange.

In that moment, the character he had only known from the pages of a novel seemed to come to life right before his eyes. The amber depths of his eyes mirrored only his own figure with great focus.

Up until now, the young man had either been unconscious or asleep. In a sense, this was truly their first time looking directly at each other.

"You're awake?" Lou Yan deliberately softened his voice. This time, he didn't attempt to pull away from the young man's grasp. Instead, he stood motionlessly in place, patiently awaiting his response.

Wen Yu's pale lips moved, parted and closed again, a silent struggle evident in his hesitation. So many questions welled up within him.

Why did the man help him? Did he have ulterior motives? His embarrassing scars…did he see it all? During his painful nightmares, had it been his calming snow sandalwood pheromones that enveloped him?

Waiting for so long yet receiving no response, Lou Yan sighed. He gently held the youth's hand in his own and crouched down to meet his gaze. He could see the other's inner turmoil through his eyes.

"My name is Lou Yan. I saw you were wronged by those people so I helped you. Do you dislike it?" Lou Yan's sharp blue eyes were steady, if the young man showed even the faintest hint of displeasure or revulsion, he was ready to release his grip.

Wen Yu's unspoken questions were stumped in his throat. Deep down, he knew that the man's eyes held an air of sincerity, that his intentions were honest. Yet, after being stung by betrayal and facing the cruel reality of the world, even his own judgment were shrouded in doubt.

The man he had once loved deceived and betrayed him, his own family abandoned him, and his so called 'friends' turned their backs on him. In this relentless world, had there truly been anyone who had ever shown him genuine kindness?

Staring at his hand being held, Wen Yu was silent. In fact, before this, a morbid thought had taken root in his mind. He had wanted to exact revenge upon those who wronged him. He has yearned to make those people suffer tenfold, to shatter their lives as they had his.

A dark expression flashed across Wen Yu's face. He did not wish for those who had wronged him to have a happy life.

Sensing the youth's emotional turmoil and the way his face twisted, Lou Yan frowned. He wrapped his arms firmly around the other's slender waist, hoisting him up with a fluid movement. With ease, he lifted him off the bed, supporting him against his chest with a strong hold.

Startled, Wen Yu hastily lifted his gaze to meet the man's eyes. In the dimly lit room, the man's dark hair was nearly indistinguishable from the surroundings, only the piercing pair of light blue eyes shone through the darkness. Wen Yu briefly glanced down and noticed the man's muscular chest partly exposed by the unbuttoned shirt. For a brief moment, his frenzied thoughts quieted.

Lou Yan paid no mind to the silly villain's little thoughts, he was focused on spreading his pheromones and soothing the agitated omega.

Wen Yu turned as quiet as a puffed-up kitten with its bristling fur now lying flat and smoothen down. He didn't dare to mutter a word.

After all, who would hate being treated so gently? When he first found out his fiancé was only using him and had been cheating on him, he felt betrayed and got angry, but what was Yang Chen's reaction?

All he received in return was indifference and derision, a look of repulsed disdain as though he was nothing more than a piece of dirt destined to be trampled upon. The bitterness of the memory caused Wen Yu's expression to turn sour.

Though he longed to remain in the comforting embrace, to revel in the soothing pheromones, fear and trepidation tugged at his heart. He was terrified….terrified of becoming too attached. Especially while he was currently in such a vulnerable state. As such, he pushed the man's chest away.

Lou Yan was taken aback, looking down at the younger man in his arms. He didn't know what kind of thoughts were cooking inside that little brain but….it seems, he will have to take a step back, at least for now, before the young man grew too frightened and run away.

Lou Yan gently carried the young man back to the bed, carefully setting him down. He glanced down at the other's panicked face before offering an apology. "I'm sorry. Did you dislike it? The doctor mentioned your condition is unstable, and suggested I do so."

Deep down, Wen Yu yearned to shake his head and vehemently deny it. Did he really hate it? No, in truth, he relished the tender embrace, the comforting pheromones that enveloped him. It was so soothing, so pleasant.

But...he couldn't allow himself to become accustomed to it. He preferred to simply have never experienced it than to know its sweetness, only to ultimately be left heartbroken and disappointed. Such gentle affection...it was never meant for him.