Chapter 66: Addicted to Licking

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Karai

“Is something wrong?” Lu Yao asked with difficulty, feeling his tongue go numb from the intense menthol.

“You…” Zhou Yunchen’s words faltered, then he realized there was no need to ask the trivial question of “Are you okay?” It was obvious—Lu Yao was in a rough state.

Having rarely touched cigarettes, Lu Yao’s single drag sent snow-blue smoke curling into the air, immediately triggering a violent cough that flushed his face crimson.

In the pale night and bright city lights, Zhou Yunchen stood by the craft’s window. Lu Yao leaned against it, a cigarette clamped between his fingers, looking up at him. His skin was almost translucent, icy in appearance. His eyes, usually clear, were clouded gray-blue, the whites streaked with red and intermingled with water. He looked fragile and painfully sharp.

The smoke floated upward, forming a thin barrier between them and creeping into Lu Yao’s nostrils, reddening his nose further.

Zhou Yunchen raised his hand. Lu Yao, unsure of his intent, instinctively recoiled. But Zhou Yunchen cupped the smoke in his palm, pressed down, and extinguished the burning tip within his rough, calloused hand. Smoothly, he plucked the mint cigarette from Lu Yao’s fingers.

Startled, Lu Yao followed Zhou Yunchen’s hand with his gaze until it met his deep, ink-dark eyes. “You don’t like the smell of smoke?”

Zhou Yunchen said nothing. The menthol smoke didn’t smell like burned tobacco at all; it was more like a sharp mint aromatherapy, amplified for intensity. Its scent even carried subtle notes reminiscent of Lu Yao’s pheromones. How could he dislike it? He even felt his heart flutter at the red marks from Lu Yao’s cough.

But he couldn’t bring the cigarette back to Lu Yao’s lips. If he did, the menthol would sting his eyes again, drawing tears. Some things were not simply his to claim.

“No,” Zhou Yunchen said at last. “I want to ask if we can schedule your adaptation training soon. Three days from now, would that work?”

Lu Yao, considering Zhou Yunchen’s likely fleet rehearsal preparations, nodded. “That’s fine. I’ll tell Dr. Elaine. Anything else you need to say?”

Zhou Yunchen pursed his lips and extended a hand. This time, Lu Yao did not shy away. Zhou Yunchen smoothed the wind-tousled strands from his face, tucking them behind his ear. His thumb brushed against Lu Yao’s cheek, unintentional yet warm.

“Nothing. Go home. Be careful on the way.”

Zhou Yunchen’s calloused fingers were rough, dry, and surprisingly warm. Lu Yao’s lashes drooped, following the hand as it withdrew, capturing the last trace of warmth in his vision.

“Okay, leaving now.” Lu Yao pressed the control, and the craft’s canopy slid back into place, concealing his profile inch by inch.

He pressed the accelerator. The craft’s engine roared to life, the powerful engine—usually reserved for starships—propelling it forward in a blaze. Through the rearview mirror, Zhou Yunchen’s figure shrank rapidly into a dark blur, disappearing into the city lights.

As Lu Yao rounded the corner, out of sight, Zhou Yunchen immediately activated his own craft, engaging maximum acceleration, cutting into the military corridor, racing toward the plains of Sector Eight. The craft tore through the air, producing a loud sonic boom, startling the nearby military pilots.

“Is that General Zhou’s craft?” one officer asked, heart still racing.

“Yes. Why is he in such a hurry?”

“There was an emergency meeting at headquarters this afternoon about exercises in the Rose System. He’s probably preparing for that.”

“Working overtime this late… General Zhou really doesn’t take it easy,” the other officer remarked.

The relentless Zhou Yunchen chased Lu Yao’s craft toward Sector Eight. Once in the open plains, he engaged tactical stealth mode, hiding from Lu Yao. But he was too late. Through the window, he glimpsed the mountaintop villa. Lights were on. Lu Yao paced the porch, looking left and right, clearly searching for something.

The snow leopard was missing. Zhou Yunchen’s heart clenched. He swerved the craft toward the villa. If Lu Yao couldn’t find the snow leopard, he would check the AI records. Though Zhou Yunchen had already altered them, any discrepancy might alert Lu Yao to tampering.

Cold sweat ran down his back. Today was not the day for truth. A thundering thud startled him—the silver mass of snow leopard appeared on the driver’s seat, throwing the craft into a spin. A thick, massive paw slammed the autopilot button.

“Cabin anomaly detected. Initiating clearance protocol,” the craft AI announced coldly. Snow leopard’s eyes went wide. Wait!

But the AI couldn’t discern a growl. The next moment, the door opened, and the snow leopard was flung outward! Five meters above the villa roof, instinct took over. Snow leopard twisted midair, spreading his limbs to increase air resistance, slowing his fall. BANG! The massive snow leopard landed on the roof. Thick muscles and plush fur acted like a spring, bouncing him twice across the tiles.

After Lu Yao got home, Torque quickly came running at the sound of his voice, flopping dramatically as if to gain attention. He scooped up the little white cat, rubbing its belly while scanning the room for any sign of snow leopard.

Normally, when Lu Yao stepped out of the elevator, the first thing he’d see would be snow leopard sitting in a corner. If the big cat had left its territorial scent, Torque wouldn’t dare come close, waiting instead on the kitchen island until Lu Yao moved to cook. Sometimes, if snow leopard was napping in the yard and missed the chance to greet Lu Yao first, Torque would get there before him.

Tonight, however, Lu Yao walked through the yard, the cool breeze brushing against him, and found no trace of the big cat.

“Baby… come here, sweetie,” he called, returning inside, while Torque chirped and mewed, trailing after him like a sticky little shadow.

“Where are you, sweetie pie?” he asked again, pacing the first floor. The elusive snow leopard remained absent, hidden somewhere, playing its own game of hide-and-seek. Lu Yao was about to head upstairs when a loud BANG echoed from above, reverberating along the metallic walls like a giant bell.

“Meow!!!” Torque leapt from Lu Yao’s arms in terror, shooting down the stairs and disappearing into the shadows beneath the sofa.

Lu Yao frowned and quickened his pace toward the source of the noise. The bedroom was empty—no one, not a single animal. Yet faint sounds continued from the ceiling, hinting at something above.

Activating the roof’s single-pane glass perspective mode, Lu Yao finally spotted the snow leopard: a fluffy belly and round, chocolate-padded paws teetering on the edge. Somehow the big cat had climbed onto the roof but couldn’t figure out how to get down. His long tail dragged across the glass, making Lu Yao’s heart twitch with both worry and amusement.

The snow leopard paced anxiously, and Lu Yao imagined biting a paw, nibbling the tail, unable to resist the urge.

Switching the glass to dual-mode, Lu Yao flooded the roof with interior light, dimming even the stars above. Startled, snow leopard leapt, nearly slipping off the roof’s edge. Lu Yao’s heart jumped, but the big cat scrambled, claws digging into the surface.

Peering down at Lu Yao, he lowered his head, sniffing and nuzzling the glass with a low, mournful growl. His striped tail thumped joyfully, but realizing he couldn’t reach him, he grew restless, scratching at the glass with its rough, elastic pads.

“Awooo… awooo…” snow leopard mewed plaintively, gray eyes full of longing.

Lu Yao, resisting the urge to admire the pads through the glass, pressed a button. A small circular section of the ceiling lowered. Snow leopard’s ears pricked at the mechanical sound, and he bounded toward the opening, leaping inside.

As the glass dropped to shoulder height, Lu Yao reached out, grasping his paw, fingers pressing into the rough yet springy pads. The snow leopard nearly stood upright, head just below Lu Yao’s shoulder.

Lu Yao placed his paw on his shoulder for support and scooped the big cat into his arms, holding him as one would a person. “You won’t get down once you’re up here.” Snow leopard awooed. “Scared, huh?” Lu Yao said, cupping his ears and giving a gentle shake.

His face remained icy, his voice calm, but the snow leopard could detect a teasing warmth beneath. He flinched slightly. The truth behind the snow leopard’s identity was a secret Zhou Yunchen had yet to decide how or when to reveal.

Seeing the big cat’s anxious, guilty expression, Lu Yao couldn’t resist stroking his cheeks. “Don’t be afraid, baby. You’ll always come back to me.”

He exhaled a soft puff of menthol-scented breath. Snow leopard, drawn to the soft warmth of his lips, suddenly licked from Lu Yao’s chin to his cheek.

“Ugh!” Lu Yao stumbled back, loosening his hold on the big cat. Snow leopard landed on the floor, raising his head to watch Lu Yao wipe the traces of water from his face, then leaned closer, smearing the damp onto his fur.

“Not so keen on grooming yourself, but love licking me, huh?” Lu Yao didn’t mind if the cats occasionally licked his hands, but his face was another matter. The flying tongue smearing across nose and mouth was far less pleasant. He could only endure it for now, planning to wash up later.

Snow leopard rarely licked his face, knowing Lu Yao didn’t like it. But… if another human touched Lu Yao’s soft, cool lips? The big cat sat at Lu Yao’s feet, eyes growing deeper, more contemplative.

 

 

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