But I’m Just a Beta 76

76

It wasn’t until Qi Zhao’s official last day that Fang Xingxing and the others learned of his resignation.

They were incredibly surprised and asked him repeatedly why he was leaving.

Qi Zhao patiently answered their questions but didn’t reveal the true reason, not even mentioning Qi Wei.

Fang Xingxing: “So, Team Leader, you won’t be coming to the team-building trip?”

Qi Zhao nodded. “Most likely not.”

Fang Xingxing wailed. “Okay QwQ I thought I could finally hang out with you, Team Leader.”

Qi Zhao smiled. “There will be other opportunities.”

As he packed his things, he suddenly realized he might have sounded too distant.

He recalled a conversation with a classmate abroad. “Qi, I really find you unapproachable. We’re friends, but it doesn’t feel like it. I don’t know anything about you, and you always avoid my questions. You never tell me if you need anything or if something’s bothering you. Even if you knew I could help, and I wouldn’t mind helping. Qi, are we truly friends?”

Qi Zhao couldn’t remember his reply, but they lost contact after graduation.

…His relationships had always been like this.

So when Xu Chenzhou came to pick him up that day, he had been truly surprised. And he had vaguely thought of Qi Wei, especially when Xu Chenzhou mentioned that Qi Wei knew he was coming.

Qi Zhao didn’t have many belongings. He told Qi Wei not to come upstairs.

There were many people here, several alphas, and Qi Wei’s condition had been unstable recently. Qi Zhao was worried he would be triggered and become uncomfortable.

After clocking out, Qi Zhao carried his box downstairs to find Qi Wei.

Qiu Ji was driving today, and Qi Zhao sat in the back seat.

As soon as he got in, Qi Wei moved his things aside and took Qi Zhao’s hand, holding it in his palm, then, as if that wasn’t enough, he placed Qi Zhao’s hand against his neck.

—Qi Zhao didn’t allow Qi Wei to use his gland as a hand warmer, because it could truly harm his gland. But Qi Wei was the type of person who… if you told him that his death would benefit Qi Zhao, he would stab himself without hesitation.

They had argued about this before, and Qi Wei had finally relented.

Now, with Qi Wei holding his hand against his neck, the warmth spreading, Qi Zhao looked at him and couldn’t help but ask, “Qi Wei, do you think I’m cold?”

Qi Wei immediately replied without blinking, “No.”

Qi Zhao felt that he seemed to understand what he meant, but he wasn’t sure. “I’m not talking about my hand.”

“I know,” Qi Wei looked up at Qi Zhao, “Ah Zhao.”

He reached out and touched Qi Zhao’s chest. “You’re not cold here either.”

Qi Wei chuckled softly. “Very warm, very warm, a bright, burning flame that once warmed a crybaby’s heart.”

Qi Zhao froze, flustered and slightly embarrassed by his words. “You…”

His fingers curled slightly, brushing against Qi Wei’s neck, the heat making him avert his gaze. “Why don’t you have any shame when saying such things?”

Qi Wei smiled faintly. “Perhaps because it’s from the heart.”

He said, “Just like how Ah Zhao sometimes can’t help but say I’m handsome, that my cooking is good, that I’m amazing.”

Qi Zhao: “…That’s not the same.”

Qi Wei said with certainty, “It is.”

He looked at Qi Zhao intently. “For me, it’s the same.”

Qi Zhao’s praises were more touching than any love confession.

After leaving Tang Sheng, Qi Zhao didn’t immediately start working for Qi Wei.

Firstly, he wanted to take a short break, and secondly, Qi Wei’s condition had been unstable recently. He was usually clingy, but recently, it had reached a strange level.

He had to be very close to him even when washing up, and he wanted to hold him during meals.

This behavior was similar to his rut. And because of Qi Wei’s condition, and the lack of an omega to provide soothing pheromones, his ruts were always irregular, so he had to start preparing in advance whenever he felt unwell.

He had also been spending less time at the company, and after Qi Zhao’s resignation, he simply stayed home.

This made Qi Zhao feel like a doll in Qi Wei’s hands, carried around everywhere, Qi Wei clinging to him, nuzzling him constantly.

“…Qi Wei.”

Qi Zhao wasn’t uncomfortable; he was just worried about Qi Wei’s state. “Do you want me to touch your neck?”

Qi Wei’s eyelashes fluttered, and he immediately offered his neck.

An alpha’s gland was their most vulnerable spot, a place they never let others touch. Some insecure alphas even wore collars to protect it.

But Qi Wei always readily offered the side of his neck to Qi Zhao, as if placing himself at his mercy.

Qi Zhao sighed and, raising his hand, said, “Tell me if you’re feeling unwell.”

Qi Wei responded, and Qi Zhao placed his fingers on his neck.

As expected, Qi Wei tensed up, his body trembling like a provoked beast, but Qi Zhao wasn’t like before; he wasn’t afraid of Qi Wei anymore.

Qi Zhao’s hand gently covered the side of Qi Wei’s neck, his fingers caressing his skin.

His palm and fingertips were calloused, not rough, but the touch was still distinct against the sensitive skin of his neck.

Especially this particular spot.

Qi Wei’s pheromones leaked out slightly, uncontrollably. He felt an itch, a tingling sensation like being pricked by tiny needles.

But as his pheromones clung to Qi Zhao, the strange sensation turned into a deeper longing.

Not the instinctive craving of an alpha’s genes, because that instinct only craved pheromones, and Qi Zhao didn’t have any.

So it stemmed from Qi Wei’s feelings, his intense, overwhelming emotions, making him seek something more from Qi Zhao.

He couldn’t smell Qi Zhao’s pheromones, so he wanted something else.

As if this way, he could obtain them.

—But Qi Zhao didn’t have any pheromones.

“Ah Zhao.”

Qi Wei turned his head slightly, rubbing the side of his neck against Qi Zhao’s palm, his voice strained. “Mark me, okay?”

This time, his question wasn’t a leading one.

But Qi Zhao could sense Qi Wei’s yearning.

He wasn’t an alpha, or an omega; biting someone’s neck was a strange concept to him. But he could accept Qi Wei’s constant urge to bite him, attributing it to an alpha’s instincts.

But Qi Wei asking him to mark him…

Qi Zhao’s fingers curled slightly, and he asked softly, “Will it make you feel better?”

Qi Wei nodded. He knew Qi Zhao wouldn’t normally have such thoughts, so he would let Qi Zhao know what he needed to do to help him, so he could get what he wanted. “Yes.”

Qi Zhao was still a little hesitant. “But I don’t have pheromones.”

He knew that marking involved injecting pheromones into the other person’s body, mingling with their pheromones, which was the most effective way to provide comfort.

But he could only bite Qi Wei’s neck; would that be effective?

“It’s the same.”

Qi Wei held Qi Zhao, his hand rarely leaving his, his voice soft and coaxing. “Ah Zhao, didn’t I tell you? An alpha’s pheromones are largely controlled by their emotions. Although you don’t have pheromones, I love you. I want to exchange everything with you.”

Even a mark.

Qi Wei caressed the bite mark on Qi Zhao’s neck, which hadn’t completely faded yet. “Alphas have good genes; the mark you left on me last time disappeared by noon the next day. Can you bite a little harder this time?”

He said, “I want a mark just like yours.”

Qi Zhao: “…”

He was truly a little scared. “I’m afraid of hurting you.”

Qi Wei: “You won’t.”

He suppressed the urge to press Qi Zhao’s head against his neck and force him to bite. He said gently, “Ah Zhao, I’m not that fragile. I’ll tell you if it truly hurts.”

He leaned closer to Qi Zhao and kissed him lightly on the lips. “I won’t joke about my own health.”

Honestly, Qi Zhao didn’t believe his last statement.

But since Qi Wei had said so much, he couldn’t refuse or hesitate any longer.

Qi Zhao sighed softly, then leaned closer to Qi Wei.

Qi Wei, suppressing his excitement, placed his hand on the back of Qi Zhao’s head.

As Qi Zhao opened his mouth and bit down on the side of his neck, a sudden surge of possessiveness arose within him, then quickly dissipated as he smelled Qi Zhao’s scent, his hair brushing against his skin.

His nerves thrilled at the thought of Qi Zhao willingly marking him, his voice slightly strained. “Ah Zhao, you need to bite harder.”

Qi Zhao didn’t know how strong Qi Wei’s pheromones had become. The moment he bit down, Qi Wei’s pheromones surged, swirling around his lips and teeth.

Since Qi Zhao didn’t have pheromones to suppress them, Qi Wei’s pheromones raged uncontrollably.

Qi Zhao used a little more force.

Even though Qi Wei had said it was okay, he still didn’t dare bite too deep.

Biting someone’s neck was truly a strange thing to do.

Qi Wei, sensing his hesitation, as Qi Zhao’s saliva inevitably moistened his neck, his hand on Qi Zhao’s waist moved.

His hand wandered lower, and before Qi Zhao could react, he pressed his fingers against the base of his spine, his fingers tracing the curve of his lower back, the slight pressure through his clothes making Qi Zhao tense up, his bite tightening instinctively—

The metallic tang of blood spreading across his tongue, Qi Wei’s eyes curved into a smile, a satisfied sigh escaping his lips.

He even patted Qi Zhao’s head, a gesture of both reward and comfort, his other hand returning to Qi Zhao’s waist, preventing him from jumping away in shock.

Qi Zhao released his bite and looked at him incredulously. “You…!”

But his words died in his throat as he saw Qi Wei’s expression.

Lust filled Qi Wei’s eyes, a dark, dangerous glint in them.

But his expression was also light and cheerful, clearly having found an outlet for his pent-up emotions, no longer the brooding, restless alpha from recent days.

…It was truly effective.

But!

How could Qi Wei touch him… there?!