87
At the end of December in Kyoto, heavy snow fell.
The white snow, like cotton, piled up layer upon layer, a thick, heavy blanket covering the trees and rooftops.
Having grown up in Kyoto, Qi Zhao wasn’t particularly excited about the snow; he was used to it. So as he stood by the window with a cup in his hand, enjoying the snowy scenery, he had no desire to go out and play.
He was already seeking out Qi Wei’s hand for warmth whenever they went out; playing in the snow was out of the question.
When Qi Wei came over, he saw Qi Zhao standing by the window, his back straight, dressed in a simple black T-shirt and light gray pants, his figure seeming slender, the faint bite marks on the back of his neck a testament to their recent intimacy, and upon closer inspection, the faint red marks on his earlobe—
Left by Qi Wei’s canines.
Qi Wei hugged Qi Zhao from behind, wrapping his arms around him. “Aren’t you cold?”
The window was slightly open for ventilation, the freezing temperature outside mixing with the warm air inside, creating a draft. Qi Zhao’s skin felt slightly cool.
So when Qi Wei pressed against him, Qi Zhao felt like he had fallen into a furnace, or like when he was a child in the south, disliking air conditioning, relying on electric heaters in the winter, the electric blanket warming his bed, the cozy warmth incredibly comforting.
Qi Wei’s embrace felt similar.
So Qi Zhao’s eyes curved into a smile, not realizing how suggestive his words were. “I was waiting for you to hug me.”
Qi Wei froze, his breath hitching.
His arms tightened around Qi Zhao, and he couldn’t help but lower his head.
He lifted one hand, cupping Qi Zhao’s chin, turning his head slightly, then kissed him, his posture twisted and possessive, like a snake coiling around its prey.
The cup in Qi Zhao’s hand wobbled slightly amidst their entangled embrace, thankfully, it was almost empty; otherwise, the milk would have spilled.
It was a rare day off, so naturally, they had to relax.
That morning, Qi Zhao, nestled in Qi Wei’s arms, watched a newly released movie with him. It was a foreign animated film, a series Qi Zhao used to enjoy, but he had been too busy with his studies and work to keep up with it. Many of the characters in this theatrical version were new to him, even the art style seemed different.
Qi Wei explained who was who, the new characters, their relationships with the main characters…
Even the characters Qi Zhao vaguely remembered, Qi Wei could identify them and briefly explain their backstories.
Qi Zhao’s only reaction was, “…How do you know so much?”
Although he guessed that Qi Wei probably knew about this series because of him, this was a bit excessive.
Qi Wei chuckled softly. “Because I watched it from beginning to end.”
An alpha’s memory, naturally, was unquestionable, especially a super S-rank alpha’s.
Qi Wei played with Qi Zhao’s ring finger, seemingly lost in thought, or perhaps just speaking slowly, his voice soft. “I’ve always looked forward to the day I could watch the theatrical version with you, so I could tell you about the characters you don’t know, the ones you’ve forgotten.”
At the time, Qi Wei hadn’t imagined he could hold Qi Zhao like this, so he had only imagined Qi Zhao’s bright eyes, his smile as he said, “You have such a good memory.”
Just imagining this had been enough for Qi Wei back then.
But now…
Qi Wei sighed inwardly, criticizing himself.
He truly wasn’t a good person, so greedy and insatiable.
Getting a little, he wanted more, his desire growing to the point of wanting to devour Qi Zhao completely.
Qi Zhao, seemingly oblivious, just commented, “I truly envy an alpha’s energy.”
Qi Wei smiled. “If you had it, you would definitely use it for work and studying.”
Qi Zhao added, “And sleeping.”
Qi Wei thought of Qi Zhao’s years of hardship, even though he had tried his best to help, some things were unavoidable, and he couldn’t help but feel a pang of heartache. “Ah Zhao, you don’t have to work so hard anymore.”
Qi Zhao didn’t say he liked it, just leaned against his neck and hummed in agreement. “I know.”
He said, “Things are different now.”
The future would also be different.
He no longer had to struggle, searching for, or building, a home for himself.
Someone had already given him a home.
Actually, Qi Zhao didn’t have many desires; this was all he had ever wanted, and Qi Wei had given it to him, so he could finally settle down.
Thinking of this, Qi Zhao said to Qi Wei, “I worked so hard before, just to find a place to belong.”
Before going abroad, he had hoped that Qi Mu and the others would recognize his abilities, not necessarily fully accepting him, but at least giving him a stable home.
After going abroad, he had wanted to build a stable life for himself.
Although he occasionally enjoyed excitement, engaging in extreme sports and racing, deep down, he preferred a peaceful life.
A place where he could relax and unwind without any worries, leaving everything behind.
Qi Zhao looked up at Qi Wei and asked softly, “Qi Wei, I’ve heard many people say that for alphas ranked A or above, the higher their rank, the stronger their need for an exclusive partner. You’re a super S-rank. If you like me, you’ll only like me, for the rest of your life, right?”
The question itself already contained the answer.
An alpha who rejected a 99% compatible omega for him didn’t need to be asked such a question.
But Qi Zhao wanted to hear Qi Wei say it.
As soon as he finished speaking, Qi Wei nodded without hesitation. “Of course.”
He lowered his head and kissed Qi Zhao’s temple, his warm breath against his ear, his voice hoarse, the weight of his words undeniable.
“I’ve only had eyes for you since I was eleven.”
From that moment on, Qi Wei was destined to never love anyone else.
Because the best person in the world had already walked into his heart that night, amidst the dazzling, intoxicating lights.
Qi Wei’s words were too touching, and Qi Zhao, not made of stone, was naturally moved.
So, in the end, they didn’t finish the movie, accidentally turning it off amidst their entangled embrace.
The room fell silent. Qi Wei sat up slightly, Qi Zhao’s hand on the back of his head, his fingers tangled in his hair, his strength gone.
Qi Wei’s Adam’s apple bobbed, and he licked his lips, savoring the taste, his voice low and hoarse. “Ah Zhao.”
He asked, “Can we… do it here?”
Qi Zhao, after catching his breath, mumbled in agreement.
So Qi Wei knew that although Qi Zhao was shy, he wasn’t strictly limited to the bedroom.
So…
They could do it in the study, in the bathroom, in the car…
In the car, Qi Zhao would be pressed against him so tightly, so close…
Just thinking about it made Qi Wei incredibly excited.
After finishing his last injection, Qi Wei had to go for another checkup.
He always did it while Qi Zhao was asleep, and this time was no exception.
But perhaps because they had been… active during the day, Qi Zhao, despite the calming pheromones, woke up shortly after Qi Wei left him, his energy depleted from their earlier activities.
Finding himself alone, Qi Zhao was instantly wide awake, worried about Qi Wei, remembering his unresolved medical condition. He threw off the covers and got out of bed. “Qi Wei?”
Qi Wei was in the study next door. The alpha’s keen senses alerted him to Qi Zhao’s movements the moment he stirred. Clenching his jaw, he quickly finished injecting the medicine, tossed the syringe and vial into the covered trash can, placed the small box at the bottom of a drawer, and then, his other hand trembling slightly, turned on the computer.
It couldn’t be helped.
It hurt too much.
An alpha’s gland wasn’t made of steel. He could endure Qi Zhao biting him because he wanted Qi Zhao to mark him, both emotionally and physically, and because Qi Zhao’s scent calmed him.
But the medicine was different. Even though the injection wasn’t directly into his gland, but just beneath the skin, it still made his nerves tense, requiring immense self-control to slowly push the plunger.
And because he was afraid of being discovered by Qi Zhao, he had injected it quickly.
Qi Wei’s fingernails dug into his palm. After quickly opening a document on the computer, he got up and walked towards the door—
He couldn’t not greet Qi Zhao; it would arouse suspicion.
But the excruciating pain slowed his movements. Even though he remembered to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead, he was still a step too slow.
“What’s wrong?”
Qi Wei opened the slightly ajar door, and Qi Zhao, confirming he was still there, instinctively hugged him. “…Is there something wrong with the company?”
He noticed the open computer.
“Yes.”
Qi Wei lied without blinking. “There’s an urgent matter with a project overseas. I’m dealing with it.”
Qi Zhao looked up at him, about to say that he was fine, just that he hadn’t seen him, when he sensed something amiss with Qi Wei.
He couldn’t explain it, but he just knew.
So Qi Zhao frowned instantly. “Qi Wei, are you having an episode?”
Qi Wei paused, then said no. “Ah Zhao…”
“Qi Wei.”
Qi Zhao interrupted him and called out to the AI butler, “Lights on, full brightness.”
At this moment, Qi Wei finally realized the inconvenience of having an AI butler.
If it were a regular light switch, he could just stop Qi Zhao from turning it on, but with the AI, the moment Qi Zhao spoke, the previously dimly lit study became as bright as day!
Qi Zhao, who had just wanted to see his face, instantly noticed the small needle mark on the side of his neck.
—Even an alpha’s fast healing abilities weren’t supernatural; a needle mark wouldn’t disappear instantly.
Qi Zhao stared at the small hole in disbelief, instinctively raising his hand to touch it, then stopping himself, afraid of hurting Qi Wei.
Qi Wei couldn’t lie to him about this. He knew one thing very clearly.
“Qi Wei,” Qi Zhao’s voice was cold and dark, a storm brewing beneath his calm exterior, “alphas don’t inject medicine into their glands unless it’s a serious condition. Even suppressants are injected around the gland, or more commonly, into the arm… What exactly is wrong with you?”
Qi Wei’s eyes flickered, the beads of sweat on his forehead making it difficult for him to immediately realize the gravity of the situation, his instincts urging him to hide the truth. “Ah Zhao…”
But the moment he spoke, Qi Zhao knew what he was going to say.
So Qi Zhao couldn’t control his temper any longer. His anger flared, and he grabbed Qi Wei by the collar, his words mostly out of anger, but to the alpha, they were like a nightmare. “If you hide anything from me again, we’re over!”
Qi Wei froze.
Then, in the next second, before Qi Zhao could react, Qi Wei grabbed his wrist, and with a click, his arm went around Qi Zhao’s back, slamming him against the door.
Qi Wei’s voice was even more terrifying than his, a storm brewing within.
“Ah Zhao, you promised you would never leave me, no matter what.”
Qi Zhao didn’t feel any pain, but he was slightly dazed from the sudden push. He looked up and met Qi Wei’s intense gaze, his eyes dark and deep like black holes, threatening to swallow him whole.
A chill ran down Qi Zhao’s spine as he felt Qi Wei’s grip tightening.
This Qi Wei was terrifying, but the moment he met Qi Zhao’s eyes, he lowered his head, burying his face in the crook of his neck, his lips moving as he took a deep breath before finally speaking.
The alpha’s previously imposing aura was gone, replaced by a choked, trembling voice.
“Ah Zhao.”
Qi Wei held Qi Zhao tightly, his hand pressing against his ribs, even though he knew Qi Zhao wasn’t trying to escape, a desperate fear of losing him gripping his heart. “Don’t leave me… I’ll tell you everything, just don’t say that.”
He closed his eyes, the emotional turmoil triggering a pseudo-rut, a hot tear landing on Qi Zhao’s collarbone, mingling with the bite marks and bruises from earlier.
“If you leave… I’ll die.”
