Psycho little snake tamed by the dragon king

Extra - A late-night visitor to the demon hunting bureau

"So hungry" Pei Siheng muttered as he looked at the moon after practicing martial arts. "I'm too lazy to make food right now."

"How about Ying Lei's special spicy noodles?" a voice said.

"Sounds amazing" Pei Siheng replied excitedly. There was a brief silence before he spun around to see where the voice came from.

"Ying Lei!" he shouted, running to the boy and leaping to hug him.

"Wait, wait, the noodles" Ying Lei warned, but it was already too late. The hug knocked the bowl of noodles from his hands, spilling them everywhere.

"You really came back" Pei Siheng said, holding him tightly. "I missed you so much"

Ying Lei sighed, brushing noodles off his clothes. "I can tell that" he said. "But seems like you'll need to hold your hunger for a little longer"

Pei Siheng stepped back, grinning sheepishly. "I don't mind"

Ying Lei shook his head, amused. "Alright, I'll cook another bowl."

Pei Siheng grabbed his wrist before he could turn toward the kitchen. "Forget the food for now. Let's take a walk."

Ying Lei raised a brow. "Didn't you just say you were starving?"

"I am" Pei Siheng admitted, "but we never got to do stuff like this before. We were always too busy dealing with missions when you were here." He smiled, blue eyes shining under the moonlight. "Come on"

Ying Lei hesitated, glancing down at his noodles stained clothes. "...Fine, but I need to change and I don't have any clothes"

Pei Siheng grinned. "Easy. You can wear mine."

Before Ying Lei could protest, Pei Siheng had already disappeared into his room, returning with a neatly folded set of robes. "Here, put these on."

Ying Lei gave him a skeptical look but took the clothes anyway. A few moments later, he emerged from the room, adjusting the robe's sleeves with a frown. "It's kind of big."

Pei Siheng leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. "Of course it is. I'm taller than you."

Ying Lei scoffed. "No, you're not."

Pei Siheng's lips twitched. "I definitely am."

"You just have fluffier hair." Said ying lei putting both hands on his waist.

"That's not how height works, Ying Lei." Pei Siheng laughed, stepping closer and placing a hand on top of Ying Lei's head. "See? I'm taller."

Ying Lei slapped his hand away, refusing to acknowledge it. "Whatever, Let's go."

Pei Siheng chuckled but didn't push further, letting Ying Lei tug him out the door.

The city was still full of life despite the late hour. Lanterns of all sizes hang from the eaves of buildings, casting a warm golden glow over the bustling streets.

"Oh, look, A late-night food shop" Pei Siheng said, pointing. "Come on." He grabbed Ying Lei’s hand and pulled him toward it.

"Boss, two bowls of spicy noodles" Pei Siheng said as he sat down.

Ying Lei frowned at him. "I came all the way here with noodles for you" he said. "And now we’re eating noodles at some random shop."

"For me?" Pei Siheng rested his chin on his hands and smiled. "You said you'd only come when you missed human food."

Ying Lei huffed and looked away.

***

"Come on, it's only been a few hours" Pei Siheng complained as Ying Lei prepared to leave. "Can't you stay a little longer?"

"If my grandfather finds out I'm not there, I'm going to be in big trouble" Ying Lei said. "I'm the grandson of the Mountain God. If other demons find out I sneak out like this, both my grandfather and I will be in trouble. And there's no one to save me."

"Then when will you come back?" Pei Siheng asked, looking down.

"Not for a long time" Ying Lei said. "I can't risk getting caught."

But even though he said that, Ying Lei started visiting the Demon Hunting Bureau late at night more and more often. It became their little secret or so they thought. Pei Sijing had already noticed how excited her brother was whenever he sneaked out at night.

***