Chapter 45
Shi Xiaowang ran upstairs, giving Jian Mo no chance to leave.
Instead of seeing Jian Da Meow, he saw Jian Mo, and his eyes widened in surprise.
“Jian Mo? Why are you here? When did you come back? Why didn’t you come downstairs to eat with us?”
Shi Xiaowang’s lips moved, opening and closing, while Jian Mo stared at him, eyes full of unspoken desire.
“What’s wrong? Are you not feeling well?”
Not hearing an answer, Shi Xiaowang furrowed his brow and stepped closer.
“Jian Mo, you…”
Suddenly, his wrist was grabbed by the person in front of him. With a sharp pull, he was pressed into Jian Mo’s arms.
Jian Mo held Shi Xiaowang close, speaking softly into his ear.
“You smell so good…”
“???”
Shi Xiaowang’s eyes went wide at the warmth near his ear. His heart raced, and he pushed at Jian Mo helplessly.
“Jian Mo… what’s wrong with you…”
Jian Mo allowed a small distance when Shi Xiaowang pushed, his gaze traveling from Shi Xiaowang’s nose to his lips.
The space between them gradually closed again. Shi Xiaowang instinctively gripped his clothes, yet he did not pull away from the kiss that brushed against his lips.
From gentle to aggressive, Shi Xiaowang’s mind went blank. Only when Jian Mo’s fingers explored beneath his shirt did he begin to tremble instinctively, scattering the catnip he held across the floor.
Jian Mo suddenly paused, pulling back slightly but still burning with a fervent gaze, sticking tightly to him.
It took Shi Xiaowang a while to calm down. When his scattered thoughts refocused, he nervously pressed his lips together and met Jian Mo’s gaze without retreating.
“Not running?”
Jian Mo’s voice was hoarse in an unprecedented way.
Shi Xiaowang flinched slightly, still gripping his clothes.
“Why should I run?”
That one sentence fanned the fire already burning in Jian Mo’s eyes.
“You know what’s going to happen, right?”
Shi Xiaowang bit his lip, suddenly bold, pulling Jian Mo by the collar and kissing him back, his tone soft.
“I know… so what?”
Jian Mo didn’t reply, gripping his waist and laying him down on a soft bed.
But the softness beneath him did nothing to counter the strength in front.
Jian Mo seemed like a different person; all his usual gentle care turned into a raging storm, relentlessly sweeping over Shi Xiaowang.
He finally reached the snow-white target he had longed for, tracing through the metaphorical snow to taste the sweetness of the plum blossom, leaving a trail of crimson petals on the way, drifting toward the lily waiting to be plucked.
The intensity made Shi Xiaowang want to call it off, yet it also sparked a confusing sense of competitive thrill. In the end, his resistance crumbled entirely, melting into muffled sobs he couldn’t hold back.
It felt as if he had fought a war. At first, he could grit his teeth and resist, but the opponent’s strength was overwhelming. Eventually, he had no choice but to collapse, surrendering completely.
Yet the enemy was merciless, showing no care for a captive. Even when he cried out in pain or fainted briefly, he was forced awake and drawn back into the battle, until utterly exhausted.
Shi Xiaowang’s voice went hoarse, his eyes red, fingers too tired to move. When Jian Mo finally let him sleep, the birds outside were already chirping in the morning.
Just before drifting off, he couldn’t help thinking:
Was the catnip really this strong? Could it last all night?
And why do humans even react to catnip? What kind of human is Jian Mo?!
When he woke again, it was dark outside.
Shi Xiaowang moved cautiously and, besides sleepiness, felt no other discomfort.
He was puzzled—was his adaptability really this strong?
Yesterday, he had felt utterly overwhelmed by Jian Mo, yet after a night’s sleep, he had fully recovered?
He lifted his shirt to check—no marks at all.
…Wow, he truly had a naturally resilient body.
Suddenly, a soft cough accompanied by laughter came from beside him. Jian Mo finally spoke.
“I took you to the medical pod… three times already…”
Oh, that explains it…
Shi Xiaowang paused, realizing something.
Jian Mo had still been there? Jian Mo had guessed what he was thinking?!
His ears instantly turned red.
“Th-thank you then…”
Jian Mo raised an eyebrow at the shy thanks.
“For what?”
Shi Xiaowang clicked his tongue and glanced at him.
Where’s your EQ, Jian Mo, Grand Marshal?
Jian Mo smiled and picked up a bowl of porridge on the desk.
“Hungry? You’ve slept all day, have some food first. Uncle Ye made porridge to fill you up.”
“Oh.”
Shi Xiaowang slowly sat up, taking the bowl.
“Still feeling unwell anywhere?”
Seeing him move, Jian Mo frowned instinctively.
“No.”
Shi Xiaowang shook his head, his voice soft, lazy even though he wasn’t actually unwell.
They ate in silence.
Yesterday’s events had been too sudden. After clearing his head, Jian Mo felt a little regretful.
A gentleman turned beast—he realized he might have gone too far.
What if next time… there’s a lingering psychological shadow?
And this was far from his planned progress; he hadn’t even officially wished Shi Xiaowang a happy birthday yet.
“Yesterday, I…”
Jian Mo started to apologize but was interrupted.
“I thought about it. Yesterday you were probably affected by the catnip. Catnip contains substances similar to my purification ability, and since you have purification ability too, the interaction may have caused that effect. But it’s a normal physiological reaction; I don’t mind, so you don’t need to either.”
Jian Mo froze at that.
“You don’t mind?”
“Mm.”
Shi Xiaowang focused on his porridge.
“And since your loss of control was due to my purification ability, just consider it part of the aftercare service.”
That phrase nearly made Jian Mo explode, but he couldn’t get mad at Shi Xiaowang. The anger was almost laughable.
“So last night… was just aftercare?”
Jian Mo couldn’t help questioning again.
Shi Xiaowang paused, hugging his bowl, eyes wide with mock fear.
“You… isn’t it enough?”
Jian Mo looked at him, exasperated but laughing at the same time.
“…Enough. More than enough.”
Shi Xiaowang exhaled in relief.
Good… if it happened two more times, he might have ended up in the medical pod.
He looked around but didn’t see his lion.
“Have you seen Jian Da Meow? I need to find him. He was upset last night; I didn’t check on him. He must still be upset. I need to comfort him…”
“Don’t bother.”
Jian Mo pressed him back, sighing.
“I’ll find him for you.”
He had no intention of revealing Jian Da Meow’s identity right now.
Even if he did, it didn’t matter to him.
He didn’t mind—those words hit Shi Xiaowang like a bucket of cold water.
Jian Mo left the flower room. Soon after, only a listless Jian Da Meow came up.
Shi Xiaowang looked back, waited, but no one else appeared.
“Where’s your owner?”
He pinched the lion’s ears, frowning.
“Did he leave again?”
Seeing the frown, Jian Da Meow sighed.
Shi Xiaowang’s brain suddenly received a message from Jian Mo:
[I went to the research institute. Yesterday… happy birthday. The gift is already on your wrist. If I didn’t say it, you probably wouldn’t have noticed.]
Gift?
Shi Xiaowang looked at the red cord on his wrist, noticing the tiny rose charm.
Like the longevity lock he made with Wang Shuxue, the silver pendant wasn’t exquisitely crafted but detailed, clearly made with care.
Though he just saw it, he replied confidently:
[I see it! I was just admiring it! It’s beautiful! I really like it!]
Distracted, Shi Xiaowang lightly fiddled with the rose, smiling again.
So yesterday’s arrangements… were all set up by Jian Mo.
[I also liked yesterday’s gift, the rose fireworks.]
Shi Xiaowang added.
Jian Mo, seeing Shi Xiaowang’s smiling eyes, felt the anger dissipate, leaving only helpless disappointment.
After Jian Mo “left,” they had gone several days without contact.
Shi Xiaowang’s life was normal—farming, livestreaming, cooking, and petting cats.
But during each activity, he kept glancing at the tiny rose on his wrist, lost in thought.
The lion lay beside him, watching him absentmindedly, flicking its tail.
Jian Mo had been too anxious that day, lost in his own emotions, and ignored Shi Xiaowang’s reactions.
Even believing his excuse that last night was just “aftercare.”
He had crossed boundaries, confused their relationship. Shi Xiaowang’s hesitation or refusal was normal. Jian Mo had given him no time to react; how could he expect him to match his pace?
Shi Xiaowang needed time—and Jian Mo should give it.
But no matter what, he would never let go again.
Shi Xiaowang was still a little conflicted.
At first, he hesitated; in his eyes, Jian Mo had always been a true gentleman, who had signed a gentleman’s pact with him. Yet because of catnip, that night was ruined. Jian Mo probably regretted it too.
But then he realized Jian Mo could be childish and argumentative. Not entirely a gentleman. Even if it was catnip’s fault, he would still be bullied no matter if he pleaded or resisted. Jian Mo just wanted to see him cry!
This guy… deep down, he wasn’t a good person!
Suddenly, Shi Xiaowang grabbed the lion’s head, meeting its confused gaze, and mercilessly ruffled its fur into a mess.
“Jian Da Meow! Your owner is a jerk!”
![After Waking Up I Inherited the Earth [Interstellar]](https://i1.wp.com/panda-translations.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/20220822190944_300_420.jpg?resize=151,215 "After Waking Up I Inherited the Earth [Interstellar]")
