Chapter 120: Chapter 112: A Slightly More Intimate Contact May Be Necessary
After using the toilet, Gu Ning dumped the ashes of her sanitary cloth into the bowl and flushed it a few times. Then, she took the odor eliminator and carefully sprayed it in and around the toilet, making sure to leave none of her own scent behind.
Kloer and the others were staying over tonight. Even though Alex had said they wouldn’t use the toilet, she was extra cautious and sprayed more odor eliminator than usual.
The bathroom was now filled with a fresh, clean scent of grass and wood.
This bottle of odor eliminator was a new one Alex had given her. It was incredibly powerful at eliminating odors. Never mind the scent of blood—even the smell of smoke from burning her sanitary cloth vanished.
’If Alex hadn’t told her not to spray it on herself, warning that it would eliminate his scent too, she would have absolutely tried to see if it could get rid of her "female" scent as well.’
After also cleaning the bucket she used for burning, Gu Ning picked up the lantern from the sink and opened the bathroom door.
As soon as she came out, she saw Alex’s tall figure standing guard outside the door.
"Let me," Alex said, catching the scent of the odor eliminator from the bathroom. He was planning to go in and help suppress her scent anyway.
Although he had gotten the formula for a potent scent neutralizer from Lanuo, Gu Ning was currently in heat, so Kloer and the others could still easily smell a faint trace of her.
Gu Ning was about to tell Alex not to trouble himself, but when she glanced over and saw Kloer and Seth already laying out bedding and pillows on the living room floor, she simply stepped aside in silence and let Alex go into the bathroom.
Kloer and the others nimbly moved the sofa and coffee table against the wall, clearing the center of the living room. They spread out their bedding, moving carefully to avoid making any noise.
Seeing Gu Ning standing by the bathroom door, Kloer said half-jokingly, "Little Gu Ning, why don’t you sleep with us? It’s nice and warm."
Gu Ning: "..." ’Thanks, but no thanks. I’m not ready to reveal my identity just yet.’
Jite smacked Kloer hard. "If you’re going to sleep, then get to it! You got nothing to do tomorrow?"
Kloer lay down with a sigh. "I’ve got plenty to do."
"Good night, Little Boss," Seth said to Gu Ning, lying down with a yawn.
To Gu Ning, the living room hadn’t seemed small, but with the three of them lying down, it suddenly felt a bit crowded. Still, there was enough room for them to sleep.
’But... where was Alex going to sleep?’
Gu Ning raised her lantern, shining the beam forward. It looked like they hadn’t left any room for Alex.
Her gaze fell on the sofa in the corner. ’Alex is sleeping on the sofa?’
’For the past few days they had been living together, he had been sleeping on the sofa. But it was far too cramped for someone his size.’
"I’m turning in too." Kloer rolled onto his side to face Gu Ning and patted the space next to him. "Little Gu Ning, Brother Xiong has saved a spot for you. You’re always welcome in my warm embrace."
With that, he lay flat on his back and closed his eyes. Seconds later, thunderous snores echoed through the quiet, dim living room.
Gu Ning: "..." ’He sure fell asleep fast.’
Jite and Seth, who had just lain down, shot upright in unison and stared at Kloer. "..."
Seth kicked Kloer in the ass. "Kloer!"
The snores paused for a second before resuming their rhythmic rumble.
"Let’s drag him to the doorway to sleep," Seth said.
Jite grabbed a pillow and slammed it into Kloer. Kloer woke up groggily, yanked the blanket over his head, and his sleepy voice drifted out from underneath. "Whatever it is, it can wait till morning. Let me sleep."
He had been so busy he hadn’t had a full night’s sleep in days.
"Don’t worry, Little Boss. You go get some sleep. I’ll watch him and make sure he doesn’t snore," Jite said, looking at Gu Ning.
Gu Ning waved a hand at them. ’It’s fine, let him snore. I sleep pretty soundly, so I should be able to get to sleep.’
Once inside the bedroom, Gu Ning closed the door and made a beeline for the bed.
She was exhausted too.
Just as she sat down on the edge of the bed, a soft knock came from the door.
"It’s me," came Alex’s voice.
Gu Ning paused in the act of taking off her jacket and rose to open the door.
"Can I come in and talk to you?"
Gu Ning opened the door a crack, and Alex’s tall, sturdy frame completely filled her vision.
Hearing Alex’s request to come into her bedroom, Gu Ning hesitated only briefly before turning to the side to let him pass.
’He must have something he needs to tell me in private, right?’
Alex entered the bedroom and closed the door.
Gu Ning stood a few feet away, looking up at him and waiting for him to speak.
"Their noses are very sensitive." Alex’s gaze rested on her for a moment before he said softly, "My clothes alone aren’t enough to completely cover your scent."
Hearing this, Gu Ning asked in a slow tone, "Then... what?"
Alex said, "We might need... slightly closer contact."
Huh?
Gu Ning froze, her drowsy mind suddenly clearing a bit.
’Closer contact?’
’Immediately, she thought of how Cook usually helped her mask her scent.’
’Before she went out, the little puppy would lick her.’
’After she got home, the little puppy would lick her.’
She sucked in a sharp breath.
’Was Alex going to help her mask her scent... like that?’
Expressing her confusion, Gu Ning asked Alex to repeat himself. ’Maybe the translation earpiece got it wrong.’
"I need to get my scent on you. That will better help mask your own. You’re in heat right now, and Kloer and the others are too close. I have to help replenish my scent on you," Alex said in a gentle tone. However, Gu Ning felt that his dark eyes were brighter than usual, as if tiny stars were glittering inside them.
Gu Ning was silent for a few moments before saying in a small voice, "Okay." ’It’s just to mask the scent. Just like Cook.’
’It’s fine!’
’But...’
Gu Ning looked Alex up and down—
’He looks way too human. There’s no way I can think of him as just a puppy...’
Hearing her soft "Okay," Alex’s eyes narrowed slightly, a subtle hint of joy flashing within them. He stepped closer and raised a hand to touch her.
The moment he got close, Gu Ning instinctively took a step back.
Alex’s movement froze, and he impassively lowered his hand.
"I..." Gu Ning scratched her head. Seeing Alex standing there, motionless, she felt awkward and at a loss for what to do.
’She knew Alex meant well. When she was sick before, he was the one who had changed her clothes, even her sanitary cloths. He had already seen everything there was to see.’
’But that was all while she was unconscious.’
’Normally, she and Alex always maintained a polite distance. She wasn’t quite ready to accept him licking her all over like Cook did.’
’Cook was a puppy, but Alex...’
Gu Ning looked up at him again, but quickly lowered her head as soon as their eyes met, her cheeks growing a little hot.
’She had never really thought about having any kind of closer contact with Alex.’
’Before her identity was revealed, she lived in constant fear of being mistaken for a Mimic Mixed Species. But even after he found out, Alex hadn’t seemed particularly surprised or curious about her being female. He had always kept a perfectly appropriate distance.’
’Now that Alex had offered to help her mask her scent, she was suddenly struck by a realization: Alex was a male Beastman, and he thought of her as a Female Beastman—possibly even a female from the Wolf Clan.’
’I’m a female, yes, but I’m not a Beastman, let alone a female of the Wolf Clan! Everything on my profile besides my name and age is a lie.’
"It’s just to mask your scent," Alex said, carefully observing Gu Ning’s reaction as he took a small step forward.
