Noah leaned against Ethan's chest, inhaling the faint scent of oranges, which somehow calmed the restlessness and unease in his heart.
He really liked hugging.
Whenever they embraced, Noah always found strength in the wide, warm arms of Ethan.
This strength could be comforting, encouraging, or simply a way for them to communicate without words.
"We should eat."
Noah felt that if they kept this up, the ingredients that had been washed on the stove might end up soaking in water overnight.
He said this, but his hands didn't let go of Ethan's waist; he remained firmly wrapped around him.
Ethan didn't call him out on it, though. Instead, he held Noah in the same position and slowly walked toward the stove.
The fridge was only a few steps away, given Ethan's long legs, yet Noah couldn't hold back anymore and broke free as soon as Ethan took his second step.
It was just too embarrassing.
"I'll find a pot."
Tonight's dinner was simple—a steaming hot pot.
Noah said he'd find the pot, but his steps led him toward the bathroom.
He turned on the tap, and before the water had even heated up, he splashed his face with a handful of water until it became warm.
He didn't mind physical contact before, but now, the situation was different. It wasn't just that he didn't mind—it seemed like he'd even started to enjoy the closeness.
Noah touched the glands on his neck, still noticeable under the barrier patches, deep in thought.
Should he go to the hospital for a full check-up?
After all, the glands and pheromones had appeared suddenly, and it was something he'd never experienced before.
Noah grabbed a face towel, wiped his face dry, then took a fresh towel to dry his damp hair.
Only then did he walk out of the bathroom.
"Let's sit, dinner's ready."
Ethan was already picking up his chopsticks, stirring the dipping sauce in his bowl.
"Sesame paste, sesame oil, and minced garlic. I've also prepared some chopped green onions, cilantro, and bird's eye chilies." He placed the small bowl down and pulled out a bottle of aged vinegar from behind. "You can adjust the flavor as you like."
The broth in the pot had begun to bubble and hiss, and the fragrance of the hot pot escaped through the small gaps.
The ingredients were neatly arranged, even the thinly sliced tripe forming little peaks like small hills.
Noah loved sesame paste, so he added some chopped scallions, chilies, and a spoonful of vinegar. After mixing it, he tried a bite—just right.
When he opened the lid, the spicy fragrance mixed with the sweet scent of tomatoes, quickly filling the air.
"You're not eating much," Ethan said with concern, noticing that Noah's portion was noticeably smaller.
Noah shook his head and reached for the cake in the fridge.
"I'm saving room for this."
With a plastic knife in hand, he found it unexpectedly difficult to cut through the cake.
Why wasn't the animal cream smoother?
As he struggled, Noah managed to cut out a reasonably sized piece.
As he lifted the piece with the knife, he couldn't help but chuckle. Who made a cake where there was more fruit than cake layers?
He looked at the thin cake layers, barely holding up the mountain of fruit, and couldn't help but feel a little sorry for it.
Trying to suppress his smile, he said, "This one's for you."
At that moment, Ethan had already stopped eating, and his eyes were filled with soft affection. "You noticed?"
Noah couldn't help but laugh lightly. "I mean, I can run a coffee shop with my skills. If I didn't notice this, it'd be pretty unbelievable, right?"
The cake was a six-inch size, just right.
The cream was light, not too sweet, and the fruits were of good quality. The cake itself, however, wasn't as soft and delicate as it should have been, but it was fine.
It was the first attempt, and it was already pretty good.
"Well?" Ethan's hopeful gaze was fixed on Noah, his eyes not even blinking.
Seeing Noah furrow his brows and stop chewing, Ethan hurriedly got up and grabbed two napkins, his face full of concern. "If it doesn't taste good, you don't have to eat it."
Despite his refined appearance, Ethan wasn't picky at all about food. He even preferred simple dishes like bean sprouts and tofu.
Noah met Ethan's gaze, and under his attentive eyes, he slowly opened his mouth, then quickly closed it again.
His throat bobbed as he swallowed the cake.
"Why are you so nervous? I'm just surprised. Not only are you good at cooking, but you also have some talent when it comes to baking cakes."
Noah took the napkin from Ethan's hand, gently folding it to wipe the sweat from his forehead.
Ethan caught Noah's delicate wrist, his face nuzzling against it like a kitten, rubbing it twice. "Can you stop scaring me like that?"
He half-closed his eyes, a soft, almost teary look in them. "I'm not good at being scared."
Noah unconsciously bit his lower lip. It was the first time he saw such an expression from a tall, imposing alpha, and it felt utterly natural.
In that moment, Noah's heart clenched with a gentle ache.
"I got it."
Noah couldn't say no to Ethan, not when he was like this.
The next day, Noah rubbed his slightly rounded stomach, remembering how he'd finished the last piece of cake from last night. It seemed like breakfast wasn't necessary today.
He had a meeting with Jay at the shop in the morning, and Noah found himself a bit distracted, almost feeling like he was back at the time of their first meeting.
"Long time no see."
Jay greeted Noah with a handshake and a smile. "Still a latte?"
After a bit of small talk, they finalized the details, and by midday, the contract was signed.
By the afternoon, Noah was officially on the job.
It was Noah's first time working with Jay, and it was very easy and stress-free.
Since Jay had already run a shop before, he was familiar with the processes.
However, someone must have leaked the news, as the shop became bustling with customers, and the place was packed.
Because it was so busy, Jay ended up working overtime on his first day.
They didn't finish until the night had fallen and the glass cases were filled with only a few crumbs.
Both of them finally let out a sigh of relief.
"I'll make sure to pay you overtime. Thanks for your hard work today."
Jay wiped the sweat from his face casually and laughed. "Sure, but make sure to pay me well."
He was exhausted. After lazing around at home for so long, he'd been thrust into high-intensity work—who could handle that?
Jay rubbed his sore wrists, lowering his head.
"What are you doing here?"
Jay looked up at the voice and froze, locking eyes with Ethan. He awkwardly looked away first.
He had been paid to work, but now here he was, face-to-face with the "real boss."
"I came to see you."
Noah dried his hands. "I'm done, just need to turn off the power and lock up."
The awkwardness lingered until Jay looked at their entwined hands, his face frozen in shock. He was stunned—his mind buzzing with the realization.
He'd been scrambling to make excuses, but little did he know, they'd already been in bed together.
"Well, we'll leave now. Please take care of the closing."
Jay nodded mechanically, watching them walk away, their hands still tightly linked.
He couldn't help but feel like the biggest fool—completely out of the loop.