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The night air pierced the skin, the cold wind making Gao Tu tighten his grip on his jacket. He walked quickly after exiting the subway station, his steps firm as if wanting to escape something. His mind only wanted to get home, enter his room, change into warm clothes, and bury his face in the pillow until the cold on his cheeks subsided.
But the sound of another set of footsteps followed him. Shen Wenlang.
Instead of keeping the same pace, Shen Wenlang deliberately slowed his steps. Calm, lazy, as if he didn't care even if the distance between them widened. But strangely, every time Gao Tu glanced back, the young man was always one step behind, his handsome face continuously watching Gao Tu.
"Why are you following me?" Gao Tu couldn't hold back, his voice sounding sharper than intended.
Shen Wenlang simply tucked his hands into his pockets, a faint smile gracing his lips. He tilted his head as if thinking before answering, "If I don't follow you, who will make sure Xiao Tutu doesn't run away from me halfway?"
Gao Tu immediately turned with a flushed face, staring at Shen Wenlang's grinning expression. "W-what do you mean run away?!" Gao Tu snorted, not slowing his pace. "I just want to get home quickly. It's freezing like this, who would even think of running away from you..."
His words sounded sarcastic, but the end of his sentence trembled, clearly afraid that his words might hurt Shen Wenlang. But all that happened was Shen Wenlang chuckling softly behind him, not feeling hurt or offended by Gao Tu's words. Shen Wenlang continued to fix his gaze intently on the small back hurriedly walking ahead of him.
Finally, Gao Tu let out a long sigh, surrendering to Shen Wenlang's attention-seeking behavior. His steps slowed slightly, allowing the distance between them to narrow until they were walking side by side.
The sidewalk that night was quiet, only illuminated by pale streetlights and the continuously cold air brushing against their skin. But strangely, Shen Wenlang's presence by his side made the air feel less piercing. A faint warmth emerged, as if their now synchronized steps managed to fill the emptiness of the night.
Occasionally their shoulders brushed, and it was enough to make Gao Tu's heart race uncontrollably. He didn't say anything, just bowed his head a little deeper, but in his heart he realized—this cold night became more bearable because someone was beside him.
Shen Wenlang didn't talk much, but the small laughs that occasionally escaped his lips when small jokes arose made Gao Tu feel comfortable and laugh along. The quiet path he often walked alone felt more alive now, as if even though the world around them was silent and cold, their steps alone were enough to create their own warm space.
"You don't have to follow me all the way home," murmured Gao Tu, his eyes still fixed ahead. His voice sounded like he was shooing him away, though in his heart there was a slight happiness at being accompanied.
"And miss the chance to escort Xiao Tutu home? Impossible." Shen Wenlang's tone was relaxed, his gaze continuously sweeping over Gao Tu's profile. The corner of his lips lifted mischievously before adding, "If I don't escort you, someone might misunderstand and kidnap you."
Gao Tu glanced at him with a disbelieving look. "I'm not a child," he whispered, but unconsciously his steps slowed, as if secretly accepting that silly reason. Both his hands remained tightly folded in his jacket pockets, trying to withstand the cold air. "If you catch a cold later... don't blame me."
Shen Wenlang chuckled softly. He clearly noticed how Gao Tu's initially firm steps gradually slowed, the small body unconsciously leaning closer, seeking warmth. But instead of letting Gao Tu be the one to approach, Shen Wenlang deliberately shifted himself, ensuring that he was the one closing the distance between them.
"This feels better, right?" Shen Wenlang murmured lowly, then without warning he grabbed Gao Tu's shoulder with one hand and pulled the small body into his embrace.
His shoulder now truly touched Gao Tu's shoulder, a small but undeniable contact. A subtle vibration flowed at that point of contact. His movement was light, full of control, but gave Gao Tu no room to refuse.
Gao Tu's body immediately stiffened, his face heating up. "Wenlang...!" he protested softly, but his voice sounded more like a coquettish whisper than a real rejection.
Shen Wenlang bent down slightly, looking at his profile with a satisfied smile. "Relax, I'm just making sure you don't freeze. Besides, it feels... more fitting like this."
Their shoulders weren't just touching now—Gao Tu's body was completely trapped in the warmth of Shen Wenlang's embrace. The faint scent of iris pheromones emanating from Wenlang was calming, gentle yet binding, making Gao Tu's heart beat even more chaotically.
Gao Tu glanced sideways, suppressing a barely visible small smile. His cheeks were still red from the cold air, but the look in his eyes showed something else—a secret satisfaction. Gao Tu knew very well that Shen Wenlang wouldn't let him be alone, let alone cold. His steps slowed calmly, letting this togetherness flow, secretly enjoying the warmth coming from Shen Wenlang's side.
After a few more steps, as they passed a small grocery store still lit up, Shen Wenlang suddenly stopped Gao Tu's body. His touch was light, just momentary, but firm enough to make Gao Tu halt.
"Wait here for a bit. Don't go without me." His tone sounded light, as if it were just a trivial request. But his gaze was sharp, deep, and unblinking, making those words feel more like an order that couldn't be refused.
"What—" Gao Tu barely opened his mouth, but Shen Wenlang had already turned around, stepping into the store without looking back. The faint iris scent he left behind still hung in the air, but the warmth they'd felt walking side by side slowly faded with his departing steps.
Gao Tu stood silently, tightening his jacket more closely. His body curled up slightly, not just because of the piercing night air, but also because that brief pause felt empty without Shen Wenlang's presence beside him. He stood near the entrance, his eyes occasionally glancing into the store, unconsciously counting second by second, waiting for that figure to return. Those seconds felt slow, as if the night air itself was holding its breath.
Soon, the door chimed softly and Shen Wenlang emerged, carrying two ice cream bars in his hand. A small smile bloomed on his face, looking very relaxed and natural. "For you," he said, offering one to Gao Tu, as if this were the most natural thing to do on such a cold night.
Gao Tu looked at the ice cream, then at Shen Wenlang. There was a faint confusion in his eyes, but the warmth in his chest made him hesitate to refuse. With trembling hands, he accepted the ice cream. The bite of night air felt piercing on his skin, contrasting with the coldness of the ice cream bar he held—and their fingertips briefly touched, enough to make his cheeks redden even more.
"You really..." he murmured softly, his tone half-annoyed, half-embarrassed. "How can you eat ice cream in this kind of cold?"
Shen Wenlang just shrugged, his dark eyes shining with mischief. "Don't know," he answered briefly, but his smile seemed to acknowledge something that didn't need to be said.
Of course he knew—this cold temperature hardly affected an S-level alpha like him. But the real reason was much simpler. Shen Wenlang just wanted to see Gao Tu's innocent and beautiful expression, his cheeks red from the cold air, his lips slightly pursed, and his eyes shining with confusion yet still accepting his small offering. Something about Gao Tu under the streetlight captivated Shen Wenlang—the way the small figure endured the cold, yet secretly sought warmth from him, creating a soft wave of warmth in Shen Wenlang's chest.
And when Gao Tu finally took a bite of the ice cream, his eyes momentarily met Shen Wenlang's, unable to hide the small satisfaction of being cared for in such a sweet way.
The night was cold, but the streetlights cast a pale yellow glow on the quiet sidewalk. Gao Tu held the ice cream in his hand, trying to withstand the cold creeping to his fingertips. Shen Wenlang walked beside him, occasionally glancing at Gao Tu, secretly enjoying his every movement.
When Gao Tu bit into the ice cream, Shen Wenlang couldn't look away from his lips—soft heart-shaped lips, blushing red, looking even softer and fuller with a bit of ice cream at the corner. For a moment, Gao Tu's small tongue appeared to lick the remaining ice cream, a brief movement that made Shen Wenlang hold his breath, almost unable to restrain himself from moving closer.
They stopped under a streetlight. Silent. Only the faint sound of night insects filled the air. Shen Wenlang turned first, standing too close, his gaze examining Gao Tu with an intensity that made the small chest feel tight.
"Wenlang, what is it?" Gao Tu tried to speak, but his voice faded when their eyes met, his lips still slightly wet with leftover ice cream.
Shen Wenlang moved closer, his fingers almost touching Gao Tu's arm. The faint scent of his pheromones began to spread, warm and tempting, faintly clinging to the air around them.
His eyes looked at Gao Tu with soft intensity, trying to read every tremor on that small face. His lips curved slightly, almost as if waiting for permission without words. Shen Wenlang's low whisper sounded like a spell, wrapping around Gao Tu's increasingly choked breath. "Xiao Tutu..."
A moment of silence, the world seemed to hold its breath with him. Slowly, Shen Wenlang leaned in, his lips touching Gao Tu's—soft, relaxed, as if ensuring the kiss was accepted. Slowly, holding back intensity, but enough to make Gao Tu's chest continue to beat uncontrollably.
Gao Tu held his breath for a moment when their lips touched, hesitant, but slowly began to respond. His hands, initially stiff at his sides, now moved slowly, touching Wenlang's shoulders, feeling the warmth beneath his thin jacket. His heartbeat increased, his chest felt tight, but there was a strange satisfaction at being close to Shen Wenlang.
Wenlang felt that subtle response and smiled within the kiss, moving his lips with a gentle, relaxed rhythm, yet still dominant. His tongue danced lightly, exploring Gao Tu's mouth, giving subtle encouragement for Gao Tu to adjust, but without forcing.
Gao Tu closed his eyes, letting the kiss captivate him. Bit by bit, his courage grew; he pressed his lips more certainly, following Shen Wenlang's lead, though still with a shyness clearly visible on his cheeks and the tips of his ears.
Shen Wenlang's faint yet warm pheromones enveloped him, making Gao Tu's body feel relaxed and comfortable—as if they were in their own world, accompanied only by each other's breath and heartbeat.
When Shen Wenlang finally slowly withdrew his lips, Gao Tu's eyes were still closed, his face flushed, his breath ragged. Shen Wenlang looked at him with a gentle gaze. Their warm breath still remained, creating white puffs in the cold air, heavy and mixed. A faint smile lifted the corner of Shen Wenlang's lips, clearly satisfied with Gao Tu's red face now burning under the streetlight.
Gao Tu could barely move. His lips were slightly parted, his eyes trembling, his body still enveloped by the faint iris pheromones that continued to cling, warm and dominating without truly swallowing him.
Suddenly, something cold touched the corner of his lips. Gao Tu jolted slightly and opened his eyes, realizing that what touched his lips was Shen Wenlang's ice cream.
Shen Wenlang, who had pressed the ice cream to Gao Tu's lips, was full of a mischievous smile. "Xiao Tutu, wake up. Before you really faint in my arms."
"W-Wenlang...!" Gao Tu hurriedly pushed away, but only became more flustered, especially hearing the low laugh that escaped the man's lips.
But before he could retreat further, Shen Wenlang's arm had already circled his waist, holding the small body warmly and firmly. Gao Tu froze for a moment, realizing that his attempt to distance himself was futile—he was truly trapped near Wenlang.
Shen Wenlang just smiled mischievously, leaning his body a little closer, maintaining the perfect distance to remain dominant yet comfortable. With a slow but controlled movement, Shen Wenlang bit the end of his own ice cream, letting the cold liquid melt in his mouth before pressing his lips back to Gao Tu's. This touch was different—more demanding, warm, and full of temptation, as if he wanted to emphasize that this small happiness belonged only to them.
Their lips met, the sweet vanilla flavor mixing with increasingly rapid warm breath. Shen Wenlang's tongue gently swept Gao Tu's lips, as if inviting play, teasing courage from those small lips. Gao Tu closed his eyes tightly, his body trembling, then slowly followed the rhythm guided by Shen Wenlang. Shy, nervous, but never truly refusing.
The melting ice cream made the sweetness stick to their lips, and every time Wenlang's tongue moved to lick the remaining cold liquid, Gao Tu jolted slightly, his eyes trembling, his chest feeling as if it too was burning. As if the coldness of the ice cream only intensified the heat spreading through the kiss.
Wenlang's iris pheromones also crept faintly into the air, not dominating, but enough to make Gao Tu's head feel light, his heart race faster, and his body lose the strength to refuse. Every breath felt sticky, every second seemed to pull him deeper into Wenlang's embrace.
Shen Wenlang smiled between kisses, suppressing a low laugh that sounded like a hum in his chest. He deliberately teased, his tongue continuously sweeping the sweetness left at the corner of Gao Tu's lips before slipping deeper. "Mm... even better than ice cream," he whispered briefly between breaths, then returned to devouring Gao Tu's lips, this time more boldly.
The kiss varied, sometimes soft and sweet, sometimes demanding and wild, with small bites that made Gao Tu gasp shortly. Gao Tu's body tensed, his hands clenched on Shen Wenlang's jacket, but there was a comfort he couldn't deny—a sense of security that only appeared when he was in Shen Wenlang's grasp.
When Shen Wenlang finally pulled back slightly, his lips were still wet, his breath slightly ragged. He looked at Gao Tu's face flushed red to his ears, his eyes glistening, his lips slightly swollen from kissing. That mischievous smile remained on Wenlang's lips, enjoying the sight that only he could possess.
When Shen Wenlang saw melted ice cream still at the corner of Gao Tu's lips, he immediately leaned his head, a mischievous smile adorning his face. "Hmm... there's still vanilla on your lips, Xiao Tutu," he whispered, then licked slowly, making Gao Tu suppress a laugh while letting out a small moan as ticklishness and embarrassment mixed into one.
"Wenlang... you're so naughty!" murmured Gao Tu, his hands pushing against that broad chest with minimal strength. But even though his lips complained, his body remained attached, as if reluctant to truly break away.
Shen Wenlang just chuckled lowly, his eyes examining every inch of that small face. "Then..." his voice lowered full of temptation, "I'll make it even sweeter."
Shen Wenlang bent down, giving soft kisses one by one: on Gao Tu's forehead, on his cheek, on his trembling eyelids, to the tip of his nose red from the cold. Each light touch made Gao Tu smile exasperatedly, his face growing hotter.
But this time, it was Gao Tu who couldn't take it anymore. With cheeks as red as pomegranates, he stood on tiptoe, his hands rising and grabbing the collar of Shen Wenlang's jacket. That small pull forced the tall man to bend down closer.
"My turn..." whispered Gao Tu softly, almost inaudibly, before landing a quick kiss on Shen Wenlang's lips. Briefly, then moving to his cheek. Then to his temple. Then to his chin. One by one, hurried but sincere, making Shen Wenlang fall silent for a moment, then chuckle softly because he didn't expect Gao Tu to be so bold.
Shen Wenlang's iris pheromones seeped softly, warming the cold night air. Every time Gao Tu pressed his lips, the pheromones seemed to respond, enveloping them with a comfortable warmth.
Until finally, Gao Tu returned to his lips—this time longer, slightly nervous, but with a courage born from the happiness exploding in his chest. Their lips met, wet with the remains of sweet ice cream, and this time the kiss wasn't just temptation, but also laughter between messy kisses, sweet smiles, and unrestrainable feelings.
And when Gao Tu returned to his lips, the ice cream in his hand almost fell because he was too busy standing on tiptoe and pulling Shen Wenlang. Fortunately, in one reflexive movement, Shen Wenlang grabbed that small hand with one of his, supporting the tilting ice cream, while maintaining their kiss.
Gao Tu chuckled between still-attached lips, his face continuously reddening to his ears. "You even saved my ice cream..." he whispered shyly.
"I could have let the ice cream fall," Shen Wenlang answered in a low voice, his smile mischievous. "But you... I won't let you fall."
Gao Tu fell silent for a moment, then hid his face in Shen Wenlang's chest, his small laughter bursting forth accompanied by a warm heartbeat. The remaining sweet ice cream felt like nothing compared to the sweetness filling his chest now.
They staggered slightly, until finally pressing tightly together under the pale yellow streetlight. The cold night vanished, replaced by a warmth only they knew—as if the world had stopped, leaving only the two of them, with melting ice cream in hand and melting happiness in their hearts.
Shen Wenlang finally held Gao Tu's hand tightly. The touch was light and warm, but enough to make Gao Tu press closer, enduring the piercing cold of the night. Gao Tu still carefully held his ice cream, though now it didn't taste as sweet as the heartbeat in his chest. His face was red from the previous kisses, but his heart felt light—happy, comfortable, accompanied by large steps beside him.
Shen Wenlang walked leisurely, as usual, occasionally turning just to look at the small face beside him. A faint smile continuously lingered, a smile that made Gao Tu have to bow his head so as not to be caught how nervous and happy he was simultaneously.
When they finally arrived in front of Gao Tu's apartment door, both their steps slowed. Shen Wenlang stopped, standing just a few steps from him. The streetlight fell obliquely on the man's face, highlighting the mischievous glint in his eyes.
"We're here," said Wenlang, his tone relaxed, but his gaze deep.
Gao Tu swallowed, his fingers tightening on the almost-melted ice cream stick. "Thank you for accompanying me," he answered softly, sincerely, quieter than intended.
Shen Wenlang smiled sweetly, then leaned his body slightly. His lips almost touched Gao Tu's cheek, his warm breath felt on his skin. "Then... see you tomorrow, Tutu. Sleep well, hm?" he whispered. Before Gao Tu could respond, a soft kiss landed on his forehead—light, brief, but felt like it lingered longer than it should.
Shen Wenlang retreated slowly, still with a faint smile on his lips. Gao Tu stood frozen, his cheeks blushing, his heart beating fast not because of the cold night, but because of the warmth still clinging to his chest. It felt safe, valued, and a little... pampered.
But before the man truly turned away, Gao Tu mustered the courage to call out, his voice soft but sincere, "Wenlang... be careful. It's late, the air is colder too... without me."
The sentence slipped out, making his own ears burn. He quickly bowed his head, hoping the streetlight shadows were enough to conceal his increasingly red face.
Shen Wenlang fell silent for a moment, then burst into crisp laughter—free, warm, full of life. "Haha, alright, Tutu." His gaze shone mischievously as he added the final sentence, making Gao Tu even more afraid to raise his head.
Watching the tall back moving away, Gao Tu unconsciously smiled slightly, bowing to cover his increasingly hot face. The ice cream in his hand had melted, dripping at the end, but he didn't care at all. Tonight had been sweet enough.
Shen Wenlang walked away, leaving a faint trail of pheromones swirling in the air, calming yet tempting. And for Gao Tu, the cold night world felt warmer than before—because he knew, behind all the teasing, gazes, and light kisses, there was someone truly waiting for him tomorrow.
That night, in front of a simple apartment door, their small story ended with a warmth that would continue to cling. A sweet beginning that made Gao Tu believe tomorrow would be just as beautiful.