38
Qi Wei’s answer was completely unexpected.
It made him recall Tang Huaiyuan’s words, “Look at Qi Wei. He liked you so early on, and he still likes the current you, which means you haven’t changed.”
In Qi Wei’s eyes, had he always been this exceptional?
So exceptional that even Qi Wei, a super S-rank alpha, the true head of the Qi family, even disregarding these two factors, whose own excellence placed him on a pedestal most could only look up to…
Even this Qi Wei could say such words.
Just how wonderful was he in Qi Wei’s eyes?
Qi Zhao’s lips moved.
He had so much he wanted to say to Qi Wei, but his emotions were bottled up.
Like a sealed jar, closed for so long that the lid had fused with the opening, the contents trapped inside, unable to be released with a simple twist.
Qi Zhao lowered his eyelids and finally just asked, “Are you sleepy?”
Let’s sleep.
Qi Wei lowered his voice. “You sleep first.”
Before he could offer his usual excuse, Qi Zhao tightened his embrace. “You’ve already washed up.”
Qi Wei had indeed already washed up.
Qi Zhao: “I have too, so let’s turn off the lights and sleep.”
Qi Wei paused.
He was intelligent and naturally understood what Qi Zhao meant.
So Qi Wei reached out and turned off the lights without hesitation, holding Qi Zhao and getting into bed.
Qi Zhao paused slightly, amused.
He was held in Qi Wei’s arms, not sleepy at all, even clearly feeling Qi Wei “subtly” wrapping his legs around his.
And for some reason, Qi Zhao wasn’t nervous, but rather resigned, letting Qi Wei entangle him like a snake.
He had become accustomed to Qi Wei’s scent over the past few days, and even the dominant, aggressive quality no longer felt dangerous, but rather reassuring and warm.
Perhaps because its owner had never caused him any pain, but had helped him many times instead.
People generally didn’t dislike those who were good to them, unless the kindness offered wasn’t what they wanted.
And Qi Wei gave him everything he wanted and needed.
Both materially and emotionally.
Like a safe harbor.
Qi Zhao thought.
Qi Wei was like his safe harbor.
Perhaps because the lights were off and the room was dark, the feeling of being watched disappeared, and the silence between him and Qi Wei was filled only with the sound of their breathing and heartbeats.
So Qi Zhao closed his eyes, nestled in Qi Wei’s arms for a moment, and then suddenly spoke the words he had been holding back—
“Qi Wei, I’m thinking… maybe after this busy period, I’ll go see a doctor.”
Qi Zhao had long been aware of his psychological issues.
He was too “detached,” as if he wasn’t truly connected to this world. And besides that, there were many other big and small problems.
But Qi Zhao had never truly faced or addressed them.
He hadn’t intended to deal with them, living like a walking corpse, without a goal.
And now… things were a little different.
His teacher had been wrong about one thing.
He himself didn’t feel tormented by his problems. After all, he was already numb, so how could he feel tormented?
The ones truly suffering were those who loved him.
Qi Wei lowered his eyes slightly.
An alpha’s night vision was exceptional. Even in the pitch-black darkness, Qi Wei could still see Qi Zhao clearly.
But Qi Zhao was nestled in his arms, his expression hidden.
Qi Wei didn’t know what Qi Zhao’s expression was like right now, but he knew that facing one’s own problems wasn’t easy, especially deciding to see a doctor.
Qi Wei tightened his embrace and asked softly, “Ah Zhao, do you want to be asked those questions by a stranger?”
“…Honestly,” Qi Zhao smiled wryly, “I don’t.”
Qi Zhao paused, his voice muffled against Qi Wei’s chest. “But I don’t want to be like this anymore.”
He had to move on, didn’t he?
Qi Wei thought for a moment. “Then do you want to… try talking to me about it?”
He chuckled softly. “I’ll admit it first. Ah Zhao, I just don’t want you to open your heart to anyone else.”
Qi Wei truly had a strange magic.
Qi Zhao thought.
The originally somewhat heavy atmosphere was dispelled by his words, replaced by an amused helplessness.
Qi Zhao said, “That ‘someone else’ would be a professional doctor.”
Qi Wei said matter-of-factly, “But I also studied medicine. I have a double degree.”
“…”
He had indeed forgotten about that.
Qi Zhao couldn’t help but ask, “Don’t tell me you studied medicine just for this day?”
That was truly accusing Qi Wei wrongly.
Qi Wei studied medicine only to become the perfect assistant for Qi Zhao.
“I didn’t expect it to be so coincidental.”
Qi Wei asked for Qi Zhao’s opinion. “So, Ah Zhao, are you willing?”
Qi Zhao hesitated. “…Okay.”
He truly didn’t realize that his casual words could stir an alpha’s heart to the point of wanting to rip it out and present it to him, to show Qi Zhao the sins he had committed, his heart pounding almost to the point of explosion. “Compared to talking about these things with someone else, I do feel more comfortable talking to you.”
After all, Qi Wei probably already knew everything.
What Qi Zhao needed wasn’t necessarily guidance, but to simply express himself.
As soon as he finished speaking, Qi Wei hugged him even tighter.
Qi Zhao hissed softly. “What are you doing…”
Then he heard Qi Wei murmur, “Ah Zhao, I’m so happy.”
He said with a smile, “I’m no longer a stranger in your eyes.”
Qi Zhao paused. “…If you were a stranger, you wouldn’t be holding me like this.”
If Qi Wei insisted on asking whether he liked him or not, Qi Zhao would probably find it difficult to answer.
But as for whether Qi Wei was a “stranger,” Qi Zhao could give a definite answer—no.
Qi Zhao said, a little helpless, “Do you think I’m some heartless jerk?”
Whether it was because of the contract or because Qi Wei held a special place in his heart, Qi Wei was definitely not a stranger.
Qi Wei apologized, tightening his embrace. “I’m just very happy.”
He whispered, “I like you relying on me.”
Qi Zhao’s lips moved, but he couldn’t say the words that were on the tip of his tongue.
He… also liked the feeling of being relied on.
“It’s late.”
Qi Wei didn’t rush to pry open Qi Zhao’s heart, but instead, just as he was about to reach the finish line, he paused. “Ah Zhao, let’s sleep.”
His voice was gentle. “When we get back, I’ll take you somewhere.”
Qi Zhao had three days off after the bidding.
After all, the Yancheng project didn’t require his constant attention. It was currently under review, and there wasn’t anything else for him to do for now.
“Okay.”
Qi Zhao was a little curious. “Where?”
“You’ll know when we get there.”
“…Keeping me in suspense like this will keep me awake.”
Qi Zhao felt that Qi Wei’s thought process was sometimes truly different from ordinary people. This shouldn’t be because he was an alpha, right? Hearing this, Qi Wei raised an eyebrow and asked, “Will it make you dream of me?”
Qi Zhao: “…”
He closed his eyes again, pretending he hadn’t heard. “Let’s sleep. Good night.”
He took the initiative to say goodnight.
Qi Wei couldn’t resist, secretly kissing Qi Zhao’s hair, even twirling a strand around his tongue, his chest vibrating with a muffled chuckle. “Good night.”
Qi Zhao slept well that night, without even dreaming.
When he woke up in the morning, it wasn’t his biological clock that roused him, but his ringing phone.
Qi Wei quickly grabbed the phone and hung up after the first ring, but Qi Zhao was already awake.
He groaned softly, unconsciously nuzzling closer to Qi Wei, inhaling his comforting scent, his voice hoarse and sleepy. “Who was that?”
Qi Zhao’s small action stirred Qi Wei’s already heightened morning arousal. He tightened his grip on Qi Zhao’s back. “I didn’t notice.”
That wasn’t true.
An alpha’s eyesight was exceptionally sharp. He had seen the name “Qi Mu” on the screen when he hung up.
“Sleep a little longer.” Qi Wei gently rubbed Qi Zhao’s back through his clothes under the pretense of comforting him.
But Qi Zhao couldn’t fall asleep anymore.
He was worried it was something about the company, and…
Qi Zhao moved his legs. “…Can you… loosen your grip a little?”
It was awkward.
Not just for Qi Wei, but for him too…
It was normal for a man to have morning wood.
But the problem was that Qi Wei was pressed against him, which was particularly…
Qi Zhao became increasingly awake, his body flushing.
And the alpha, instead of loosening his grip, held him even tighter, seemingly oblivious, his tone calm and collected, his voice incredibly hoarse, perhaps from just waking up, or perhaps from not having slept yet. “Ah Zhao, sleep a little longer.”
He refused to let go. “It wasn’t the company.”
Qi Zhao: “…”
Honestly, if he hadn’t felt Qi Wei pressed against him, trembling slightly with arousal, he would have truly believed that Qi Wei had just been woken up.
And alphas didn’t need that much sleep.
“…Qi Wei.”
Qi Zhao gritted his teeth slightly. “Let go.”
Qi Wei hummed in acknowledgment and finally loosened his grip a little.
Qi Zhao could finally breathe, and was about to move out of Qi Wei’s embrace to avoid the awkwardness they both knew, when the alpha holding him murmured, “Ah Zhao.”
His tone was incredibly innocent. “Should I help you?”
Qi Zhao: “…?”
He looked up at Qi Wei incredulously, then felt Qi Wei’s hand moving. Almost instinctively, he grabbed Qi Wei’s hand, preventing him from moving. “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re thinking… No need!”
Qi Wei still looked innocent. “I won’t charge you.”
Qi Zhao said flatly, “Because for you, this is a benefit.”
He could allow Qi Wei to touch his neck during a massage and charge him for it, he could allow him to sleep in the same bed, but he couldn’t allow this… this was too much for Qi Zhao.
Qi Wei: “.”
Fine.
He obediently released Qi Zhao, letting him slip out of his embrace.
Ah Zhao wasn’t ready to be tricked into this.
He watched Qi Zhao get up and go to wash up, his back turned to him, and smiled.
His Ah Zhao was truly adorable.
Although it was a pity he didn’t get to touch him.
But…
He could try again next time.^^
