Secrets of the Blossom

Chapter 8

"Wake up," Huai En says shaking Xiao Bao. The omega only gives a sulky mutter and rolls himself deep into the blankets until only the top of his head is sticking out. Huai En had been awake for hours, but he had let Xiao Bao sleep until dawn. Normally he would have already been on the road by daybreak. However, they have a long trip ahead of them, and they aren't far enough from the Jin estate to relax.

"So, you really aren't going to wake up?" Huai En says with a grin. He is feeling uncharacteristically good this morning, Huai En pulls the blankets out from under Xiao Bao, dumping him onto the floor. Xiao Bao sits up glaring like a grumpy puppy, but then he catches Huai En grinning down at him. The omega's face lights up at this sight and suddenly Huai En feels shy. He quickly turns away pretending to check that his bag is ready to go, even though he packed it earlier.

"Get dressed," he tells Xiao Bao gruffly. "You have five minutes or no breakfast." Xiao Bao is still smiling as he gets up and throws the blankets back onto the bed. He quickly pulls on his robes and runs a comb through his hair before fixing it with his usual ornate hairpin.

At breakfast Xiao Bao keeps putting food on Huai En's plate for him to try and refills his tea. "You eat too." Huai En tells him, frowning. "We probably won't eat this well for a while."

Xiao Bao nods, but first searches through the dish for another plump and tender looking piece of chicken to lay on Huai En's plate. Only when he is satisfied that Huai En has the best bits of every dish does he serve himself. If someone else had done this, Huai En would have rejected the food assuming the person was trying to curry favor with him. Xiao Bao, however, seems to do everything without a second thought of what he can gain for himself.

While they eat, Xiao Bao keeps up a steady stream of chatter. "When we return home, I will tell my parents you took me to find the herb that my father needed. They will be so grateful; they will have to let us marry. If they don't, I will cry and pout to my mother. My father may not be happy because Su Yin has him convinced that I need to marry a high-ranking alpha, but I know my mother will come to our side. I will persuade my mother that someone from a business family like yours will be best for the Jin money gang. We don't need more money or prestige from someone of rank, I have enough for both of us. Besides, they promised to accept the person I wanted. It won't matter that the time agreed upon is up, I chose you before then."

Huai En has only been half listening; he has been surreptitiously watching a man in the corner of the inn. While the man hadn't glanced their way once, Huai En can't help but feel like there is something off about him. Xiao Bao's last sentence draws his attention. "You chose me? Where was the choice?"

"Didn't I come to you when I was in heat?" Xiao Bao asks. "I didn't know what was wrong with me, but getting to you was the only thing I wanted that night. If it was just the instincts of an omega looking for an alpha, wouldn't any alpha have suited my needs? Therefore, I chose you."

Huai En had never understood why Xiao Bao had come to find him that night, but he had assumed that Xiao Bao had gone into heat after he had reached his uncle's estate and that his uncle had just taken advantage of the situation. The implication that Xiao Bao had already been in heat and had sought him out leaves him stunned and elated.

His good mood only lasts until they leave the restaurant. Outside there is a group of delicate looking omegas dressed in revealing costumes. They are performing a complicated belly dance for a crowd, apparently trying to drum up business for a show that has just come to town. Xiao Bao's eyes grow wide, and he moves forward watching the omegas dance with interest.

Huai En growls as he is hit by a wave of jealousy. He grabs Xiao Bao roughly by the arm and pulls him away from the dancers. At first Xiao Bao looks surprised but when he sees the anger on Huai En's face his expression changes to a sheepish smile. "I was just admiring their...style."