Chapter 49: Can't Help But Kiss

“It’s okay. I’m here.”

Ji Feng’s voice was so gentle, so reassuring, that it made one want to lean on him. His embrace was warm, and Moore found himself unwilling to leave it. Only now did Moore truly look into his own heart and realize his growing dependence on Ji Feng—his quiet affection that had taken root without him noticing. But why did he realize it only now?

Moore’s emotions had been suppressed to the extreme, and in that moment they had burst out in irrational behavior. Once Ji Feng calmed him in his arms, shame began to creep in.

Breaking free awkwardly, Moore was immediately consumed by embarrassment and annoyance. He dared not meet Ji Feng’s eyes. Even he was shocked at his own fragility; he had always believed himself strong enough.

“Won’t you tell me what happened?” Ji Feng asked, tilting his head to catch Moore’s face. But Moore lowered his gaze deliberately, avoiding him.

“It’s fine,” Moore muttered, shaking his head. Yet his voice betrayed him, hoarse and uneven, and he quickly fell silent.

Ji Feng noticed at once. He half-forced his arm around Moore, tilting his head until he caught sight of Moore’s reddened eyes.

“Crying?” Ji Feng asked softly, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

“No!” Moore snapped instantly, his denial sharp.

But Ji Feng had already seen it—the redness in his eyes, the weariness etched across his face. When Moore tried to turn away, Ji Feng’s hand pressed gently against his cheek, forcing him to meet his gaze.

“Don’t deny it. Look—your eyes are red.” Ji Feng’s slender fingers brushed lightly at the corner of Moore’s eye.

The touch startled Ji Feng himself. In more than three hundred years, he had never shown such intimacy to anyone, yet it came so naturally now. And he realized he liked it—liked being close to Moore, liked speaking to him in such a tender way.

Moore’s long lashes trembled, still damp. He turned his head quickly, trying to escape Ji Feng’s fingers. Though they had shared closeness before—waking in Ji Feng’s arms, leaning on him in moments of weakness—Ji Feng had never spoken to him like this, never looked at him with such heat. It was not the gaze of a “fake husband.”

Ji Feng’s eyes were different now. In the past, his gaze had been calm, detached, no different than when he looked at Kerry. But now, his eyes burned with something else, something that made Moore blush uncontrollably.

Ji Feng’s hand remained on his cheek, gentle yet firm. Moore’s strength seemed to vanish, his struggles weak, unable to escape the fingertips brushing his tears away.

“Didn’t Su Qi tell you?” Ji Feng asked softly, wiping the corners of Moore’s eyes.

Moore blinked, confused, his deep blue eyes lifting to meet Ji Feng’s face. Their faces were so close that Ji Feng could see the faint mist clouding Moore’s gaze, the vulnerability replacing his usual fierceness.

Ji Feng froze, his heart pounding. His gaze slipped from Moore’s eyes to his lips.

Moore’s lips were thin, his features exquisite, his expression usually cold and rejecting. Yet up close, his lips were perfectly shaped, naturally red, and impossibly alluring.

Instinct took over. Ji Feng lowered his head and kissed him.

The coldness was only surface. Moore’s lips were warm, soft, intoxicating—pulling Ji Feng into an abyss he could not escape.

Moore froze. His mind went blank, unable to think. Only when the heat of Ji Feng’s lips registered did he realize—he was being kissed.

Though Moore was a celebrated mecha commander, a young major general, in matters of emotion he was utterly inexperienced. His heart ignited instantly, his face burning red to the base of his neck, overwhelmed by shyness.

He tried to retreat, but Ji Feng’s arm held him close, his hand still cupping Moore’s cheek. Moore managed only to pull back slightly, breaking the kiss but not the closeness.

Ji Feng looked at him—blushing, flustered, avoiding his gaze—and smiled faintly. He did not press further. He knew Moore was easily shy, and he was patient.

Instead, Ji Feng returned to the earlier topic, his voice softer than ever, resonating deep within Moore’s heart. “Didn’t I ask Su Qi to tell you I’d come to pick you up?”

But Moore’s mind was still reeling from the kiss. He could not meet Ji Feng’s eyes, could not process his words. He only hummed faintly in reply.

“Then why didn’t you wait for me? Why come here alone?” Ji Feng asked.

Moore stayed silent, calming himself. 'Wait for him to pick me up? What does that even mean? I don’t need anyone to fetch me. I know the way home.' Ji Feng’s words felt inexplicable.

Ji Feng’s lips curled mischievously. “Was it because you cried when you woke up and didn’t see me?”

“No!” Moore snapped, his face darkening as he finally glared at Ji Feng.

What nonsense was he saying? He was not a child who cried when he couldn’t find his father.

Moore raised his eyes and found Ji Feng looking at him with a teasing expression. The words were clearly meant to provoke him, and Moore grew slightly angry. He turned his gaze aside, refusing to look at him.

“Then, tell me when you’re ready,” Ji Feng said gently.

Moore’s condition was obvious. Judging by his appearance, he had likely sat on the sofa all night without sleep. Ji Feng worried about him, but since Moore did not want to speak, he would not force him. When Moore was ready, Ji Feng knew he would learn the truth.

After Ji Feng’s lighthearted teasing, Moore felt unexpectedly calmer. The emotions that had been on the verge of erupting eased, and he realized he could not bring himself to say those painful words now.

“Alright,” Moore murmured.

Seeing him nod, Ji Feng smiled faintly, then straightened and held out his hand. “Look at my hand.”

Moore glanced at Ji Feng’s outstretched palm, wide yet elegant, with long straight fingers. His hands were beautiful, refined rather than rough, and Moore felt a faint stir in his chest.

The next moment, an oversized ice cream appeared out of thin air in Ji Feng’s hand.

Its sweet fragrance immediately reached Moore’s senses. Several scoops of different flavors were stacked high, sprinkled with chocolate crumbs. A pink, heart-shaped scoop faced Moore directly, outlined with chocolate, making the treat even more enticing.

Most striking of all, Moore recognized the taste—it was the same cone sold in Banai City’s Central Park.

“Try it?” Ji Feng asked, noticing the way Moore’s eyes lit up, though he tried to hide it.

Moore blushed. “I’m not Kerry.”

Ji Feng chuckled. “Of course you’re not Kerry. But don’t you like it? You said it was delicious last time.”

On his way back, Ji Feng had found a vendor selling the same cones, with even more flavors than before. He had remembered Moore’s enjoyment and bought one especially for him.

“This isn’t something a robot could make. It took me a while to buy it. Go on, try it.”

Moore looked at the ice cream, then at Ji Feng’s expectant face. Somehow, the sight of Ji Feng holding such a sweet, colorful thing was oddly endearing.

“Why did you suddenly buy this?” Moore muttered, embarrassed. Eating ice cream so early in the morning felt strange, but at least they were at home.

“Because it’s delicious,” Ji Feng replied simply. “Don’t you like it, Moore?”

Moore glanced at him. “You like it yourself.” He did think it was good, but Ji Feng seemed to enjoy it even more.

Ji Feng blinked, then took a bite himself. “It’s sweeter than Banai City’s. Moore, we should make it ourselves sometime.”

Moore sighed lightly.

“Try it,” Ji Feng said again, holding the cone to Moore’s lips.

Moore hesitated, then finally took a small bite. The sweetness melted instantly, rich with chocolate, filling him with unexpected happiness. It was just like his feelings now—sweet, nostalgic, impossible to describe.

“Good?” Ji Feng asked.

“Yes.”

“Take another bite.”

Moore hesitated again, but obeyed, tasting it once more.

“Really good,” Ji Feng said with satisfaction, rubbing Moore’s head.

“I’m not a child,” Moore muttered, exasperated.

Ji Feng only smiled, stroking Moore’s silver hair a few more times before eating a few bites himself. Then he looked at Moore mysteriously. “After this, I’ll take you somewhere.”

“Where?” Moore asked, puzzled.

Ji Feng’s smile deepened. “You’ll know when we get there.”