Luo Ran’s hands were pinned above his head, leaving him unable to move.

He suppressed the nervousness rising inside him, thinking that he hadn’t gone into heat before passing out, so there shouldn’t be any pheromones on him. Xia Zhi hadn’t let anything slip, either. Everything should be fine.

“I’m not.” Luo Ran looked straight at Lucas. “I wouldn’t lie to you.”

Lucas raised an eyebrow.

“If I ever lied to you, then I’d…” Luo Ran abruptly stopped.

Although he appeared calm on the surface, he was still feeling guilty inside.

“Then you’d what?”

Luo Ran braced himself and said, “…Take your surname.”

He still didn’t dare make a more extreme oath, such as being struck by lightning or dying a horrible death. What if he really did get struck by lightning?

Lucas stared at Luo Ran expressionlessly.

Luo Ran stared right back.

The two remained locked in a stalemate for quite some time before Lucas finally gave in. He snapped, “If anything is wrong with your health, whether you’re tired or sick, you have to tell me. You’re not allowed to lie to me.”

“Okay.” Luo Ran breathed a sigh of relief, realizing that Lucas truly hadn’t noticed anything. He raised his hand. “I promise.”

Lucas released his grip on Luo Ran.

Luo Ran said, “Then I’ll head home now.”

“Sleep here. Stop running back and forth.” Lucas pointed toward his office. “You can have the bed.”

“…”

Lucas stood in front of Luo Ran like a door god. Luo Ran didn’t even need to think about it—there was no way Lucas would let him leave.

If their positions were reversed and Lucas were sick, Luo Ran wouldn’t want him running around either.

Luo Ran paused, then tried to explain himself. “Actually, collapsing today wasn’t that big a deal. I…”

“Go rest.”

…

With no choice, Luo Ran reluctantly followed Lucas inside.

Lucas took off his military uniform and changed into clean clothes.

The air was filled with the restless scent of tobacco. Finding an opportunity, Luo Ran slipped into the restroom outside and quickly administered a suppressant, just in case.

By the time he returned, Lucas had already washed up and was sitting on the sofa, still looking displeased.

“What’s your relationship with that Xia Zhi?”

Luo Ran: “?”

“Xia Zhi. The name you called out before you fainted.”

Lucas had moved his own pillow and blanket to the sofa, making it obvious that the bed was meant for Luo Ran. Luo Ran cautiously sat down on the edge of the bed before answering, “Xia Zhi is my friend, and he’s also a doctor. That’s why I thought of him. You should have met him before, General. When you were younger, he used to accompany your uncle’s troops on campaigns.”

Lucas tapped his fingers lightly against his knee without saying a word.

The atmosphere fell silent once again.

After a long while, seeing that Lucas showed no reaction, Luo Ran turned around and made the bed. He used the spare blanket and pillow kept in the cabinet. The blanket was a little thin, but it would do.

Just as Luo Ran was about to lie down, Lucas’s voice came from outside again.

“So you like that type? You like Omegas?”

…?

Luo Ran said helplessly, “General, what are you thinking? Xia Zhi may look young, but he’s practically old enough to be our elder.”

Lucas nodded in agreement. “Good. At least you know that. He’s old. Even if he’s an Omega, his body can’t keep up anymore.”

“Besides, he’s not good-looking, and he’s terribly nagging. Even when Lu Cheng and I visit him, he never stops lecturing us.”

Luo Ran thought that if Xia Zhi were here to hear this, he would probably be so angry he’d cough up blood.

Not good-looking? Honestly, Xia Zhi is one of the Empire’s famous beauties. After he broke off his engagement with Shen Xiluo, his admirers practically lined up around the block.

Lucas sat stiffly on the sofa and spoke in the same rigid tone. “As your superior, I hope you’ll focus on your work instead of spending all day thinking about dating and marriage.”

Luo Ran: “…”

But I’m not?!

“The Empire’s chief secretary should act like a proper secretary. Just do your job well.”

Luo Ran: “…”

………………

After hearing Lucas’s words, Luo Ran rested his chin on his hand and asked, “Is the General worried that I’ll resign once I get married?”

“You wouldn’t dare!”

Luo Ran chuckled.

“Don’t worry, General. I’ll always be your secretary. I’ll keep working for you until you retire.”

Even if he got married or anything else happened, he would still continue working.

Lucas was reluctantly satisfied.

Luo Ran lay down, feeling as though he had sunk into cotton candy, or perhaps a soft, fluffy cloud.

This was Lucas’s bed, so naturally, it was saturated with his rich pheromones. Nestled inside, Luo Ran felt as though he were being embraced by them.

For a moment, his mind grew hazy.

It was so comfortable.

It was as though every nerve in his body had relaxed and stretched out. The restlessness and discomfort inside him gradually faded away, too.

The person himself was just outside, not far away, while the scent beneath the blankets carried the earthy bitterness of the land.

Luo Ran secretly rubbed himself against the bedding, then pulled up the blanket and wrapped himself in it.

During this special period, being able to receive such an abundance of pheromones—second only to those obtained through intimate mating—was nothing short of a lifeline in the middle of a snowstorm. Luo Ran was so content that his fingers nearly curled up with pleasure.

“Good night, General…”

“Mm.”

The surroundings fell completely silent.

Inside the office, Lucas slept on the sofa, his tall frame unable to stretch out comfortably. Meanwhile, Luo Ran was curled up in the bed, looking thoroughly at ease. The sight was somewhat incongruous.

But Luo Ran was too exhausted to think about it. He soon fell asleep.

Lucas got up and glanced at the person in the inner room.

When Luo Ran had collapsed earlier that day, Lucas had caught him.

Luo Ran had smelled of white tea, its delicate fragrance subtle, fresh, and elegant. Lucas thought it might have been the incense in the office.

It was the first time Lucas had realized just how light Luo Ran was. His entire body had felt soft and pliant, and when he lost consciousness, he had looked rather fragile.

It was quite different from his usual flawless image. After all, Luo Ran was always gentle yet distant, as though nothing in the world could ever defeat him.