66
After returning to his workstation, Qi Zhao finished his work, then used the remaining time to search for information about Liu Feng and Qi Wei.
Searching for both names together did yield some results, but the content was just about them attending meetings and banquets together, along with other news, but nothing that proved they were friends or that there was a superior-subordinate relationship between them, not even speculation.
—Of course, there wouldn’t be such speculation; it would be too presumptuous.
Qi Zhao couldn’t find anything, and after checking his social media, he realized there was no one in their circle he could ask.
…Was this Qi Wei’s intention?
Qi Zhao lowered his eyes.
All his friends were connected to Qi Wei, even closer to him than to Qi Zhao. Even if they knew something, they probably wouldn’t tell him.
Just like Xu Chenzhou.
Qi Zhao sighed inwardly.
Now, even facing Hua Tang, he wondered if he was also a pawn placed by Qi Wei, and Qi Yi Liu, who had helped and cared for him a few times… what was her role in all of this?
After all, Qi Yi Liu hadn’t contacted him once since he returned.
He had initially thought it was because Qi Mu was in power, and Qi Yi Liu had to avoid him for her own safety, but now that he thought about it… perhaps even the familial warmth he felt from Qi Yi Liu was fake.
Qi Zhao couldn’t describe his feelings.
Ridiculous?
Or anger?
Neither, it seemed. He mostly felt lost.
A kind of confusion, not knowing what to do, what his purpose was.
He knew Qi Wei was somewhat extreme and manipulative, he knew Qi Wei had spun a large web around him, and he even vaguely suspected Qi Wei’s involvement in the Qi Yi Liu matter.
Just like he had said, if Qi Wei truly wanted to resolve it, there would have been no need for him to return to Z Country, to struggle and find a solution, to sit before Qi Wei and sign a contract, for Qi Wei to use this matter to keep him by his side.
But he hadn’t expected that this matter was targeted at him from the very beginning, a trap set by Qi Wei.
Perhaps Qi Wense was trying to sow discord?
No… Qi Zhao couldn’t lie to himself.
He still remembered Qi Wei’s expression when he received that call while talking about the tracking device.
He had mentioned Qi Yuanyu.
Qi Zhao closed his eyes.
He was incredibly intelligent and almost instantly guessed that Qi Yuanyu had probably discovered the connection between Qi Wei and Liu Feng and, with some ulterior motive, had contacted the Qi family, revealing this information to Qi Wense.
So now what?
Was it Qi Wei’s intention to let Qi Wense relay this message to him, or was it an oversight?
Qi Zhao didn’t know.
He only knew that it was time to get off work, time to see Qi Wei.
He would deal with it after seeing him.
Qi Zhao turned off his computer and unconsciously rubbed the small round ball hanging around his neck.
It contained Qi Wei’s pheromones, freshly replenished this morning.
Qi Zhao was a beta and couldn’t smell them, but he could always faintly smell the perfume made with Qi Wei’s pheromones.
That strong, aggressive, intoxicating scent, like the smoky aftermath of an intimate encounter, was unique.
Qi Zhao packed his things and entered the elevator, just as other members of Project Group One finished their work.
Fang Xingxing said to Qi Zhao with a smile, “Team Leader, I heard that after this project is finished, we’ll get a few days off for a team-building trip!”
Qi Zhao raised an eyebrow slightly. “Tang Sheng offers such good benefits?”
Fang Xingxing nodded. “Yes, and we won’t be starting a new project immediately afterward… Team Leader, are you coming too?”
She added, “We can bring our families.”
“I’ll see,” Qi Zhao didn’t immediately refuse or agree, “I’ll check the schedule.”
“True,” Fang Xingxing sighed, “we’re all working people. I wanted to bring my mother, but she probably won’t have time.”
They chatted briefly as they exited the elevator. Qi Zhao said goodbye to Fang Xingxing and walked towards Qi Wei’s usual parking spot.
His expression was natural. After getting in the car, Qi Wei, as usual, handed him the egg waffles he had requested during his afternoon break, his favorite cheese egg waffles, with a gooey, cheesy center.
After taking a couple of bites, his previously conflicted feelings eased considerably.
Qi Zhao offered the egg waffle to Qi Wei at a red light, letting him have a bite. “These are quite good. Is it a new shop?”
Qi Wei smiled. “I made them at the company.”
There was a stove in the lounge next to Qi Wei’s office, and there were special tools for making egg waffles, no open flame required, and it wasn’t too difficult.
Qi Zhao liked his egg waffles filled with cheese and on the sweeter side, which were hard to find in Kyoto. Qi Wei had tried many places and found them lacking, so he had decided to make them himself, experimenting until he found the perfect recipe for Qi Zhao’s taste.
And he hadn’t just done it today; he had been preparing for a long time.
Qi Zhao froze, suddenly feeling the egg waffle in his hand burning hot.
This was common for Qi Wei, it wasn’t the first time this had happened, but Qi Zhao was always touched by his actions.
Like a branding iron, repeatedly searing Qi Wei’s mark onto his heart.
Qi Zhao didn’t say anything, just finished the egg waffles with Qi Wei and chatted about random things.
Until they arrived home, Qi Zhao took off his shoes, and Qi Wei closed the door, locking it casually, still talking about ordinary things. “Ah Zhao, what do you want for dinner?”
Qi Zhao heard the click of the lock.
Although it wasn’t the first time Qi Wei had locked the door upon entering, he usually only did it if he remembered. If he forgot, he would lock it later. But today, whether it was because of what he had learned, or something else, the sound seemed strangely unsettling.
Qi Zhao was silent for two seconds, then simply said, “Do we have any curry? I want curry.”
Qi Wei nodded. “Okay. Chicken or fish balls?”
“…Both.”
Qi Zhao added, “And some fried chicken cutlet.”
Qi Wei went to cook, and Qi Zhao went upstairs to change.
As he unbuttoned his shirt, he sighed softly.
He wanted to ask Qi Wei, but he didn’t know how to bring it up.
He felt that the best scenario was for Qi Wei to not know that he knew, and for them to just continue like this, one pretending not to know, the other pretending to be unaware.
The moment this thought arose, Qi Zhao understood his own heart.
He put on a T-shirt and smiled, unable to describe his feelings.
Qi Zhao pressed his palm against his forehead and sighed silently.
He didn’t actually care.
He had called Qi Wei extreme, but wasn’t he the same?
Qi Zhao pressed his hand against his heart.
Not only did he not care, but he even had a strangely twisted thought—
Qi Wei truly loved him.
Realizing where his heart lay, Qi Zhao no longer hesitated.
So when they sat down for dinner, he asked directly, “Qi Wei, don’t you have anything to ask me?”
He didn’t believe that with Qi Wei’s desire for control, he wouldn’t know that someone beyond his control had contacted him.
Qi Wei paused, poured Qi Zhao a glass of milk, then lowered his head as he capped the bottle, his lowered eyelids hiding his emotions. He didn’t say anything, just asking the question he cared about most, “Ah Zhao, are you leaving me?”
Because of his ugliness, because of his schemes.
“…I think I’ve said this before,” Qi Zhao turned to look at Qi Wei, a soft smile playing on his lips, “I won’t leave you, no matter what happens.”
Qi Wei keenly caught the underlying message in his words and reached out, tentatively hooking Qi Zhao’s fingers.
Qi Zhao didn’t pull away; some things went without saying.
But the insecure alpha still needed confirmation. “Ah Zhao, you’re not saying you won’t leave me just because you promised, but genuinely, you won’t leave me, right?”
Qi Zhao sighed inwardly.
Qi Wei was even more insecure than he had imagined.
“You can ask it differently,” Qi Zhao said softly. “You can ask if I won’t leave you because I like you.”
Qi Wei’s eyelashes trembled noticeably.
But he still didn’t dare look at Qi Zhao, his voice hoarse and strained, almost mechanical. “So…”
“Yes.”
Qi Zhao took his hand, and Qi Wei finally raised his eyes, meeting Qi Zhao’s gaze.
Unlike the silence and hurt he had expected, Qi Zhao’s eyes held a gentle helplessness, like a stream flowing slowly under the spring sun, sparkling and inviting.
Qi Wei had always liked seeing Qi Zhao’s helpless expression, because it was a silent form of indulgence.
Because he felt there was nothing he could do with him, because he would indulge him, that’s why he felt helpless.
Qi Wei tightened his grip on Qi Zhao’s hand, holding it firmly, and heard Qi Zhao say, “I’ve always been a rational person. I know you orchestrated my return to Z Country, and I know that even if I didn’t come back, you wouldn’t actually let Qi Yi Liu marry Liu Feng. You would have found another way.”
“…Qi Wei, I admit I don’t really like your methods.”
Qi Zhao lowered his voice. “I truly don’t like your manipulative tactics. But… I like the love you’ve given me.”
Although it was suffocating, it was precisely because of this intensity that Qi Zhao could truly feel his love.
Qi Zhao said slowly, “So, can you tell me what your relationship with Liu Feng is?”
Qi Wei opened his mouth, his voice still slightly hoarse. “He’s my employee.”
“…Then he knows about Qi Yi Liu and me, right?”
“Yes.”
“Is there anything else you’re hiding from me?”
“…Qi Yi Liu.”
Qi Wei lowered his head again. “I used Qi Yi Liu to show my concern and help you.”
Qi Zhao wasn’t surprised; he had guessed it.
He just sighed inwardly. Qi Wei still wasn’t mentioning his illness.
Qi Zhao didn’t speak immediately, and Qi Wei apologized softly, “Sorry.”
“You don’t have to apologize.”
Qi Zhao genuinely meant it. “Although it was a pretense, at least, for me at the time, it brought some warmth and happiness. Isn’t there a saying about ‘white lies’?”
He said to Qi Wei, “You just told me a few white lies.”
Qi Wei took a deep breath, then, unable to help himself, pulled Qi Zhao into his arms. “Ah Zhao.”
He murmured, “You’re truly going to spoil me.”
Qi Zhao’s eyes curved into a smile. “If that can make you feel more secure, I don’t mind.”
Insecurity could easily destabilize an alpha’s pheromones.
He still hoped that Qi Wei could feel a little more secure.
Even a little would be enough.
He wanted Qi Wei to recover soon, to suffer less.
