After lunch, the office returned to silence.
Gu Qing sat on the sofa beside Milton’s desk, leisurely flipping through military files. Every so often, he glanced at the clock, as though waiting for something.
Milton had long since finished reviewing his report. He only pretended to remain busy, checking the same page again and again.
From the corner of his eye, he stole a glance at Gu Qing.
His sleeves were rolled neatly to his elbows, revealing strong forearms. His posture was relaxed, dark hair falling casually over his forehead. He looked effortlessly handsome—dangerously so.
The words from earlier echoed again in Milton’s mind.
I only want to take care of you.
You are the only one I am willing to stay for.
So direct. A little domineering.
And yet… Milton realized with quiet frustration that he liked it.
He lowered his gaze, fingers brushing the edge of the document. After a long moment, he stood and walked toward the sofa.
Gu Qing noticed immediately and looked up, about to speak—
—but Milton said nothing. He simply sat down beside him, shifted slightly…
…and gently rested his head against Gu Qing’s shoulder.
Gu Qing’s eyes flickered. The file in his hand stilled.
“This is…?” His voice was soft.
“I am sleepy,” Milton said calmly, though a faint strain of embarrassment hid beneath the words.
“It is only a lunch break,” he added, as if defending himself—perhaps giving himself permission to lean closer.
Gu Qing did not laugh. Instead, he quietly wrapped an arm around his shoulders.
“Lean in a little more. Do not strain your neck.”
Milton gave a soft hum and did not move again. His hair brushed lightly against Gu Qing’s collar; his breath warmed the hollow near his collarbone. He curled there silently, like a small animal finally at ease.
In that moment, he no longer questioned whether Gu Qing had loved someone before. He no longer feared whether he was “enough.”
Because right now, Gu Qing belonged to him.
And for the first time, he allowed himself to set aside rank, coldness, and restraint—offering this small, vulnerable piece of himself to the male he trusted.
Gu Qing looked down at him, lips curving faintly, and said nothing. He simply held him as sunlight poured through the window, bathing them in warm gold, the air so still it felt as though time itself had slowed.
—
In the middle of the afternoon, Yi’er burst toward the general’s office, shouting as he ran:
“General, lunch break is over! Lord Gu Qing said he would take the lunchbox back and—wait? Why is the door still—”
The door creaked open.
He leaned inside—
—and froze.
Gu Qing sat on the sofa, one arm naturally around the general.
And the usually distant, composed general was fast asleep against his shoulder, brows relaxed, expression soft—almost… blissful.
Sunlight streamed through the curtains, casting a gentle glow over them like a painting.
Yi’er’s heart detonated on the spot.
“—!!!!!”
He stumbled back three steps, slamming into the doorframe with a loud thud.
“G-General?!” he stammered, eyes locked on the scene.
His communicator was already halfway out of his pocket. He raised it instinctively—
—and immediately met Gu Qing’s lazy gaze.
“Mm?” Gu Qing smiled faintly. “Planning to commemorate lunch break?”
Yi’er’s hands trembled. “N-No! I just… I wanted to… preserve the moment… it is… it is too precious…”
He knew this softness was rare. Rarer than any medal.
Behind him, Feili happened to pass by. Seeing Yi’er frozen at the doorway, he leaned in curiously.
Then he saw it too.
Three seconds of silence.
“…Apologies for the disturbance,” Feili said calmly, and turned to leave without hesitation.
“Hey! That is your reaction?!” Yi’er grabbed his sleeve. “The general! In Gu Qing’s arms! You are not shocked?!”
“I was,” Feili replied evenly. “I finished being shocked. Was this not inevitable? You think Lord Gu Qing delivers lunch every day as a mere courtesy?”
Yi’er sank into a squat, clutching his head. “I thought he just liked cooking… I did not realize he was staging a romance!”
Down the corridor, several military females peeked in, stifling shrieks.
“Oh my stars… the general is smiling in his sleep!”
“Gu Qing is even blocking the sunlight for him—what kind of elite-tier devotion plot is this?!”
“I cannot take this. I am posting on the forum—no, wait, I need to secure next week’s mental coordination appointment first!”
The internal military chat group exploded:
【Breaking news! General sleeping sweetly in Lord Gu Qing’s arms! QAQ Spare the single females!】
【Who said Lord Gu Qing was oblivious to romance? He is terrifyingly smooth!】
【Requesting one identical male, one identical lunchbox, one identical nap!】
【From today onward, I believe in love.】
Inside the office, Milton had actually woken up long ago.
He simply did not want to move.
Hearing the muffled commotion outside, his face grew warm. He buried it slightly deeper against Gu Qing’s chest.
“…Why did you not push me away?” he murmured.
Gu Qing chuckled softly. “Because I like it when you sleep against me. It makes me feel… needed.”
“…If you say another word, I am getting up.”
“Then let me rephrase.” Gu Qing leaned close, voice low and dangerous. “If you move away, I will kiss you right here until the entire headquarters gathers to watch.”
“Gu Qing!”
Just then, Milton’s communicator chimed sharply—signaling the end of lunch break.
Gu Qing patted his back soothingly. The office door closed, muffling the outside noise.
Milton finally sat upright, face burning.
“…The entire headquarters saw.”
Gu Qing reclined lazily. “Morale seems excellent. Those screams outside nearly penetrated the walls.”
“You could have woken me!” Milton protested. “I am a general! I fell asleep in a male’s arms and got photographed!”
“Not photographed,” Gu Qing corrected mildly. “Documented. Shall I help you select the best angle for your new profile picture?”
“Gu! Qing!”
His tone was fierce; his ears were crimson.
Milton’s communicator chimed again.
He glanced down—and went rigid.
【Trending Thread: ‘Can You Believe It? The Coldest General Sleeps Sweetly in a Male’s Arms!’】
【Top Comment: I would trade three years of salary for that nap.】
【#SweeterThanRations #MilitaryRomanceChronicle】
Gu Qing leaned closer. “The composition is quite good.”
“You still dare to look?!”
“It was not taken by me,” Gu Qing replied calmly. “But I would not mind arranging better lighting next time.”
“I will issue a disciplinary notice!”
“For what?” Gu Qing asked innocently. “Banning romance? Or banning males from being too gentle?”
Milton opened his mouth—and had no answer.
“You are… seducing a general into dereliction of duty!” he snapped.
Gu Qing nodded seriously. “Then I suppose I am guilty. After all, when you leaned into me so obediently, how could I refuse?”
“—!”
Unable to endure it any longer, Milton threw the blanket over Gu Qing’s face.
“Be quiet!”
Muffled laughter echoed from beneath the fabric.
After a while, Milton inhaled deeply and returned to his desk, forcing his expression back into official composure.
Yet the trending photo still blinked on his screen.
It was embarrassing. Undeniably so.
And yet… his lips curved faintly.
In that image, he looked more at peace than ever before—as if his entire world consisted only of the warmth and steadiness of that embrace.
…Fine. It had already exploded across headquarters.
Quietly, he saved the photo into an encrypted folder.
—
At that exact moment, a lazy voice echoed inside Gu Qing’s sea of consciousness.
“Tut, tut, Gu Qing, you sly old fox. Even delivering lunch is a calculated seduction strategy.”
The little spiritual entity rolled around dramatically.
“The general thought he leaned in first, but you paved the way all day long. Lunch prepared. Blanket ready. Even the nap angle optimized. Are you waging romance like a tactical campaign?”
Gu Qing’s mood was excellent. He did not respond aloud, but a faint smile rippled through his consciousness.
The little being huffed.
“Still… I approve. Let the entire headquarters drown in sweetness. Serves the general right for falling straight into your lunchbox trap.”