Captured By The Cold Detective (BL)-Chapter 471: How Cute

In the guest room of Marius’ villa, darkness engulfed the space, save for a faint ray of light streaming in through the open window. The curtains billowed due to the wind, allowing glimpses of a meticulously cared-for garden outside.

He Juan leaned against the headboard, closed his eyes and relished in the soothing rhythm of Mu Yuze’s breathing. "No," he chuckled. "Don’t worry, I’m not asleep yet. How about you? It’s already so late. Why are you not sleeping?"

Mu Yuze’s voice became softer, as if he was mumbling a secret. "You asked me to give you a call. Besides, I have already slept so much so I’m wide awake now..."

He Juan let out a hum and lowered his gaze, his lashes obscuring the flickering emotions in his silver eyes. The boy’s quiet voice caressed the shell of his ear like the touch of a feather, making it feel hot and ticklish. Even then, He Juan held the phone close to his ear, yearning for more, just like how a moth was still drawn to the flame despite knowing that it would be burned to ashes.

They fell into a stretch of silence. Rather than awkward, there was an indescribable ambiguity that lingered in the air, akin to the faint fragrance of wine that could make one feel intoxicated.

Until Mu Yuze spoke to break the spell, his voice equally hushed, "Gege..."

"Hmm?"

He Juan waited, but no response came after two full seconds. A frown appeared between his brows as he opened his eyes, "What’s wrong? Do you feel unwell? Is Mr. Ma still there with you?"

This time, Mu Yuze was quick to answer, "No, no, I’m fine. I told him to go because I’ve recovered. On the other hand, it’s you..." his voice dipped low, and somehow He Juan could imagine it vividly; Mu Yuze clutching the phone while fidgeting nervously in his seat. Did his ears flush red? What was running through his mind right now? Oh, how He Juan wished that he could live in Mu Yuze’s head, even if it was only for one minute, so he could bask in the boy’s thoughts and emotions. "How is your fever? Last night, you..."

He trailed off, but He Juan immediately knew what he wanted to say. Last night, it was him who caught a fever, but Mu Yuze was the one who ended up getting a heat. Moreover, because He Juan was an Alpha, he had to evacuate the house as soon as possible to prevent any unwarranted accident. Judging from Mu Yuze’s personality, he must have felt guilty for chasing He Juan out in such a condition.

"It’s not your fault," He Juan reassured him softly. "Xiao Ze’s manifestation is late, so it’s about time for you to experience your first heat. As long as you’re feeling okay, then everything is fine."

"...En," came Mu Yuze’s soft answer.

He Juan thought for a bit and decided to speak a few more words to lay the boy’s worry to rest. "I’m staying in Marius’ villa right now. You remember him, right? Marius Morningstar? He has been taking care of me, so don’t worry, okay?"

"Oh..." He Juan heard a loud exhale from the other side, and his lips unconsciously quirked into a smile.

He had indeed acknowledged his bond with Mu Yuze, and he knew that from now on, the pull of attraction between them would grow even stronger, especially now that Mu Yuze had experienced his first heat. It was as if his Alpha could sense that his other half was ripe and mature to be devoured, and it relentlessly urged He Juan to claim the flower for himself before anyone else could even gaze upon him. But He Juan knew better than to let his primal instinct dictate his actions. He believed he was more than just instinct and pheromone. He was a man capable of weighing his choices with logic, and for that, he had to remain in control and remind himself again and again that Mu Yuze was still a minor.

For God’s sake, Mu Yuze was nine years younger than him!

He was still so young, so innocent and pure. It would be a sin to taint such purity with his own color. He must take it slow to avoid scaring the boy away.

That little kiss on the forehead shouldn’t count, right? It was the result of He Juan mustering every single drop of willpower he had within him. Otherwise, he could not imagine what would become of Mu Yuze right now.

But why didn’t Mu Yuze bring it up? Had he... forgotten it, by any chance?

He Juan picked on the frayed edges of the bandages around his hand, hesitated for a bit, before he decided to test the water. "What are you doing right now?"

"Um... talking to you?"

He Juan couldn’t help but chuckle when he heard that. How cute. How could his mate be so cute? He must be the luckiest person alive for God to bestow such a sweet and pretty little bunny upon him. Mu Yuze must have realized that his answer sounded awfully ridiculous because he hastily tried to rectify, "I–I meant! I was just—"

"I miss you..." He Juan exhaled. "It’s only been a day, but how can I miss you so much?"

Mu Yuze let out a choked voice on the other side, but He Juan continued to urge him without giving him a chance to respond, "How about you? Do you miss Gege too? Hmm?"

"I... I..." Mu Yuze stuttered, yet he could not get anything past that one word.

Unable to help it, He Juan lowered his head and laughed again. Goodness, he was really too cute to be true.

"You’re teasing me again!" Mu Yuze seethed angrily.

Oops, He Juan blinked. Had he said his thoughts out loud? He was telling the truth, though. Alas, for fear that he would scare a certain bunny away, he could only admit his mistake, "My bad, my bad. Gege doesn’t do it on purpose."

Mu Yuze let out a harrumph, and again, his image was reflected vividly behind He Juan’s eyelids. The sullen pout of his lips, his angrily flushed cheeks. And if He Juan thought more, he seemed to be able to smell the boy’s sweet and intoxicating pheromones...

He Juan snapped back to his senses, feeling his throat go dry all of a sudden. He cleared his throat to alleviate the discomfort, but Mu Yuze instantly mistook it as him still feeling a little unwell. Under the boy’s persistent urging, He Juan finally promised to take a good rest, and they hung up the call soon after.

The traces of a smile still lingered on his lips even after the call ended. He played with the phone in his hand and said without raising his head, "Come in. Or do you enjoy eavesdropping on other people’s calls?"

Jia Molei opened the door and stepped in, rolling his eyes in exaggerated motion. "You fucking make me want to retch with how sweet and cloying your voice is. Even a deaf knows that you must have been talking to that brat. Though I have to admit, it’s admirable how you two are still in touch after all of these years."

He Juan’s heart skipped a beat when he heard that. For a split second, he wondered if Jia Molei knew something he shouldn’t, but upon further thought, it seemed like... he had always acted like this toward Mu Yuze? Unreasonably gentle, kind, biased, always teasing him with every chance he got...

He Juan couldn’t help but reflect on himself. Had he been acting like a scumbag all this time, even before Mu Yuze manifested as an omega? But soon, his attention was diverted by the sight of Jia Molei’s arms which were no longer held in casts. Stunned, he inquired gingerly, "Your arms... have they healed? Are you planning to leave soon?"