Wheat Seedlings - Chapter 32

Mai Miao Parallel Side Story (13)

When he withdrew from the young man's body, he was still hard, his entire length and sac swollen with the pent-up energy of a grown man who hadn't released in over two months.

As he pulled out, thick, white fluid spilled from the swollen entrance, filling the room with the musky scent of a man.

For a companion who had never been with a man before, having his first time with Chen Li—and not even during his heat—was sheer torment. No amount of skill could make it enjoyable.

Luckily, Chen Li knew how to cherish his partner. Even if he hadn't had his fill, he didn't push for a second round.

He pulled the young man close, kissing and nibbling affectionately before briskly grabbing a basin to fetch hot water downstairs. When he returned, he scooped the person on the bed into his arms and carried him to the washroom.

When he spread those legs again, the figure in his arms squirmed and protested in a thick, nasal voice, "No..."

"Not doing it, not doing it," Chen Li soothed in a low voice. "Just cleaning you up so you can sleep."

Kneeling down, Chen Li tended to his little companion with dutiful devotion.

He looked between Mai Miao's legs—the entire area was flushed red, like a flower that had just bloomed, its swollen core puffy from being penetrated, the plump petals rising and falling with each breath.

He parted the lips with his fingers. There were no injuries, but he had shot too much inside earlier, and the small frame couldn't handle it. With the slightest movement, it trickled out, looking both salty and obscene.

Chen Li cleaned Mai Miao up first, then carried him to bed.

Returning to the bathroom, he turned on the faucet. Ice-cold water poured over his head as he roughly tugged down his pants, his sharp canines biting down hard on Mai Miao's sweat-drenched shirt.

Chen Li returned to bed still damp, his arm naturally reaching out to pull his spouse close.

Mai Miao was still a little awkward. Having just experienced sex for the first time, he was dazed and disoriented. Yet the moment he caught the man's scent, he inexplicably felt at ease, instinctively burrowing into those sturdy arms.

Mai Miao had already fallen into a deep sleep, but the man was still wide awake.

He leaned down, his palm silently stroking the slender nape.

The sweet fragrance that once emanated from Mai Miao was now entirely mingled with his own scent. Even if it was only temporary, it was enough to satisfy Chen Li in this moment.

—After all, they were already legally married. This last step was bound to happen sooner or later.

Less than three hours later, dawn broke.

Normally by this time, Chen Li would already be up doing his exercises. But today, for the first time, he lacked the energy. After tightly drawing the curtains, he climbed back into bed, hugging his fragrant, soft companion.

This was what it meant to start a family.

The man lazily turned over, burying his face in the youth's hair, and drifted back into a comfortable sleep.

By the time he opened his eyes again, it was well past noon.

Mai Miao was the first to wake, roused by the heat. He pushed aside the heavy arm draped over him, blinking groggily before scratching his neck.

He rolled over, about to get out of bed, when Chen Li—sensing the emptiness beside him in his sleep—suddenly sat up.

The abrupt movement startled Mai Miao.

The two stared at each other for a long moment.

Chen Li had slept shirtless last night. Light seeped through the gaps in the curtains, illuminating his muscular chest in the sunlight, reminding Mai Miao once again of the frantic heartbeat and wild movements from the depths of the previous night.

The youth's face flushed red. Gripping the blanket, he stammered, "I-I need to... pee..." But the moment his feet touched the floor, his legs gave out, and he plopped back onto the bed.

"Don't move." Chen Li snapped awake immediately, scrambling out of bed and slipping on his shoes.

They ate lunch together outside—pork patties with preserved vegetables.

Mai Miao now understood—his man hadn't lied to him. Every meal really did have meat in it. The patties even had pork stuffed inside.

After the meal, Chen Li pushed the cart and said, "I'll take you home first, then swing by the dorm to move my things over." The moment Mai Miao heard he was being left behind, he refused outright, insisting on going with him.

Chen Li couldn't resist that pitiful little look. He stopped the cart and glanced around.

Suddenly, the man bent down, and Mai Miao instinctively leaned back.

Chen Li, like a hound with a keen nose, sniffed around Mai Miao's neck.

His unmarked spouse still carried his scent, completely overpowering the sweet fragrance.

The concentration of this pheromone could only be left by a strong alpha male, capable of intimidating others of the same kind. Anyone who dared to harbor ulterior motives would be courting death.

Chen Li glanced at the collar of his shirt—beneath it, the fair neck bore several red marks, all left by his kisses the night before.

Small achievements brought immense satisfaction.

Chen Li had Mai Miao sit in front of the bicycle, his arms encircling the younger man as he gripped the handlebars, practically locking him in an embrace before riding back to the school.

They avoided crowded areas, taking small paths instead. Whether intentional or coincidental, Chen Li ended up cycling with Mai Miao to the very place they had once strolled together.

"Back then, I wanted to hold your hand," Chen Li said with an amused expression, though it had only been a short while ago—now it felt like a lifetime had passed. "But someone kept staring, so I had to settle for letting you grip my sleeve."

This perfectly aligned with his current philosophy—where there's a will, there's a way. He made a mental note of this, deeming it a lesson worth passing down.

Mai Miao's eyes widened in realization.

Chen Li paused, slightly taken aback. "You... didn't know?" So, Miao Miao hadn't seen through his intentions after all.

Mai Miao's face twisted into a mix of shock and complexity. He frowned, looking as though he wanted to return something but couldn't, stewing in silent frustration the entire way before finally letting out a disgruntled huff. Pervert.

Chen Li first went to complete the dormitory withdrawal procedures—just a quick word with the political officer—before bringing Mai Miao to his former dorm room.

"Miao Miao," Chen Li said eagerly, brushing off invisible dust as he gestured for the younger man to sit on his old single bed. "Come, sit here."

Mai Miao clutched his satchel, his curious eyes scanning the room. It was filled with the lived-in aura of a man, tidy but not overly furnished.

His gaze eventually landed on a poster hanging on the wall—one he had also seen back in the commune. The familiarity of it made everything around him feel warm and welcoming.

Just as Chen Li opened the door, he ran into a few of his colleagues.

"Hey, Brother Chen!"

"You're finally back! We heard the news—congratulations!"

"Did you bring the missus? When's the wedding feast?"

Mai Miao heard the clamor of voices outside, loud and boisterous. He turned his head slightly, only to see his man—tall and imposing— blocking the doorway, refusing to let anyone steal even a glance inside, nor allowing Mai Miao to catch sight of other men.

"Don't block the way. Come on, let's talk outside."

Without hesitation, Chen Li shooed them all out, stepping through the door and pulling it shut behind him.

Mai Miao sat on the edge of the bed, his eyes still wandering.

He noticed several books on Chen Li's desk. Picking one up, he flipped through it—filled with words he couldn't understand. He pulled out another, only to accidentally discover a folded sheet of paper tucked between its pages.

Unfolding it, he found a sketch—a rough, hastily drawn doodle.

Mai Miao held the drawing with both hands, turning it around, but couldn't make sense of it.

Suddenly, the door opened, and Chen Li walked in carrying a burlap sack.

He tossed the sack onto the floor. "Find anything interesting?"

Mai Miao handed the drawing back to him. Chen Li wiped his hands before taking it—ah, this one.

He sat down on the bed. "This kind of drawing is called a sketch."

"Let me show you." He patiently explained to Mai Miao, "This part is the wheat field, right here. Yes, exactly where you're pointing. There are two big granaries here."

"There's a road here that leads to the city."

"Look, there's also a small path here..."

This was Chen Li's memory of his hometown.

He left home at fourteen. His father passed away a year after he left. In his twenties, while at the frontlines, he received a telegram—his mother was gone too.

After that, he never dreamed of returning home again.

While Chen Li went to pack his things, Mai Miao kept staring at the drawing.

He stood up, walked to the window, and held it up against the sunlight.

—So, this really was their village.

Mai Miao didn't say it out loud. His simple little mind didn't find it strange at all. His world was uncomplicated—he just thought the drawing was so well done, so lifelike.

Carefully, he folded the drawing and tucked it into his satchel.

Miaomiao had to keep it safe.

His gaze soon drifted to another object on the table.

It was a black metal box.

Mai Miao had never seen anything like it before. He picked it up with both hands, surprised by its weight.

Chen Li paused his packing. "That's a radio." He walked over as he spoke. "This thing can pick up radio signals—you can get news, listen to stories, or hear music."

Over the past decade, policies had gradually relaxed, and electronic products were becoming more common among civilians. Some wealthy families in the city even had black-and-white televisions at home.

Chen Li took the radio, pressed a few buttons, and extended the antenna. But no matter how much he fiddled with it, all he got was static. He said they'd have to try again in the evening.

Chen Li didn't have much to take with him. He packed a burlap sack and gave the still-usable basins, kettles, bedding, and other miscellaneous items to the neighbors on the same floor.

He only took a stack of old books, clothes, shoes, and a tin box of medals, stuffing them all into his military-style travel bag.

And so, the man carried his olive-green travel bag on his back, while Mai Miao sat in front, cradling the radio like a treasure. His satchel held a pinwheel, their marriage certificate, and one of Chen Li's sketches.

These were all the belongings of this newlywed couple.

By the time they returned to the guesthouse and finished organizing their things, the sky had already darkened.

The guesthouse had a kitchen. Chen Li cooked two bowls of noodles, each with a poached egg and a sprinkle of scallions. Though there was no proper meat, the broth had a touch of lard, and Mai Miao ate with relish.

Chen Li kept stealing glances at his little partner, as if he could never get enough of looking at him.

From then on, he cooked for Miaomiao every day, convinced he could fatten him up.

At night, Miaomiao lay in bed fiddling with the radio, pressing buttons randomly but only picking up static.

"Let me." Chen Li sat on the edge of the bed and took the radio, realizing the channels were all scrambled.

After adjusting the antenna for a while, he finally tuned into a station.

Miaomiao perked up instantly, leaning in eagerly. Chen Li pulled him back slightly. "You'll go deaf." He tweaked the antenna again, and the sound grew clearer.

Miaomiao's eyes widened in awe. At that moment, Chen Li seemed larger than life—no one could match his skills.

The station mostly played revolutionary songs, a couple of which Miaomiao could even hum along to.

Only after nine in the evening did the music shift to softer, lyrical tunes.

"You ask me how deep my love for you is..."

"How much do I love you?"

Miaomiao slowly sat up straight. He had never heard anything like this before.

Chen Li stepped out of the bathroom, drying his hair.

Only the bedside lamp was on. In the dim glow, Miaomiao hugged a pillow, leaning close to the radio, utterly entranced.

"A tender kiss alone has touched my heart..."

Chen Li climbed onto the bed and silently settled beside the young man, tucking a loose strand of hair behind his ear.

One listened to the song; the other watched him.

"Think about it, take a look..."

"The moon represents my heart."

A song was fleeting, yet its resonance lingered.

Miaomiao sighed. "So beautiful."

He lacked the words to describe it, but in that moment, his spirit soared. He felt the music's depth, resonating with its emotions.

Then, an arm wrapped around him, pulling him close.

Miaomiao turned his head. In the golden lamplight, he saw the man's strong features.

Chen Li was undeniably handsome—not strikingly so at first glance, but with a subtle, rugged charm. His thick lashes framed eyes that could be teasing one moment and smoldering the next.

At his core, he was a deeply romantic man.

Miaomiao closed his eyes.

Their lips met, the kiss deepening from tender to fervent, warmth giving way to desire.

Suddenly, Miaomiao pulled back. His gaze flickered downward before lifting to meet Chen Li's.

His voice was hoarse. "You... sick again?"

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