Extra 1: Returning Home
Although Qi Zhao and Qi Wei had rings on their ring fingers, they weren’t in a hurry to get their marriage license.
Qi Zhao’s gender was still listed as Alpha; he wanted to change it to Beta before officially registering their marriage. Yang Shou, however, told them there was no rush, as they were still “fishing.”
“There’s been some movement on that side,” Qi Wei put the call on speakerphone, and Yang Shou’s voice came through. “Jingsong found out someone illegally entered the country. We’re not making a move yet; we’ve dispatched a special team to monitor them. Sorry to make you wait.”
“It’s fine,” Qi Zhao said, “there’s no rush.”
Yang Shou chuckled. “You’re not in a hurry, but Qi Wei is. He’s been eagerly waiting for the day he can get a marriage license with you, to have ‘Partner: Qi Wei’ listed on your identification.”
Qi Zhao, still not used to being teased, coughed slightly, unable to respond for a moment.
Ming Jingsong’s voice came from the background, slightly muffled. “Stop being so mushy and come help.”
Yang Shou acknowledged Ming Jingsong, then said to Qi Zhao and Qi Wei, “That’s all for now. I’ll let you know if there are any updates I can share.”
He reassured Qi Wei, “Don’t worry, I’ve also made arrangements. Nothing will go wrong.”
Since they were using Qi Zhao as bait, Yang Shou, as the “older brother,” had to take responsibility.
Qi Wei hummed in agreement, not saying anything more.
Yang Shou’s arrangements were necessary, but he had also made his own preparations, so he was relatively at ease.
Especially since Qi Zhao was by his side now. Besides occasional business trips, they were always together, even if something did happen, he would be there with him.
After the call ended, Qi Wei pulled Qi Zhao close, burying his face in his shoulder, his lips against the messy marks he had left on his neck, and whispered, “Ah Zhao, don’t be afraid.”
Qi Zhao paused slightly, feeling Qi Wei’s warm breath against his skin through the thin fabric, and smiled. “I’m not afraid.”
He said, “Because you’ll protect me.”
Qi Wei paused, his grip tightening, and then responded, “Yes.”
He would protect Qi Zhao with his life.
Although they weren’t getting their marriage license yet, the rings on Qi Zhao and Qi Wei’s fingers were a dazzling display when they returned to work after Qi Wei’s rut ended and his pheromones stabilized.
Especially since Qi Zhao was wearing two rings.
Both on his left ring finger, one from him, and one from Qi Wei.
Qi Wei was also wearing two.
Anyone with a bit of sense could tell that they had exchanged rings.
The single people in the company were envious. “When will I be able to get two rings after a rut?”
A colleague: “…Find a partner first.”
And the secretary in charge of PR was particularly perceptive. Qi Zhao had just left Qi Wei’s office with some documents to deliver to the assistant department when she stopped him at the door. “Assistant Qi!”
Holding her phone, she asked with a smile, “Should we suppress the news, or announce it?”
Qi Zhao didn’t understand at first, then, seeing her excited expression, he realized what she meant. This secretary was a bit older than him, like an older sister, and although she wasn’t teasing him, he still felt his ears burning. “…Ask Qi Wei.”
He always addressed Qi Wei by his name in front of them; no one found it strange.
So the secretary said, “Alright, I’ll go ask Second Young Master~”
Asking Qi Wei meant announcing the news, of course.
And quickly.
By the time Qi Zhao left the assistant department, he received a news notification—
[Double Qi’s rut ends, sweet ring-wearing appearance at the company!]
Qi Zhao: “…”
Why did the headline sound like something from a southern media outlet?
He knew it was Qi Wei’s doing. Qi Zhao sighed helplessly, a sweetness spreading through him as he took the elevator to Qi Wei’s office.
He pushed open the door; Qi Wei had told him there was no need to knock.
Qi Zhao walked in, closing the door behind him, and sighed. “You truly want to announce it to the whole world with a loudspeaker, don’t you?”
Qi Wei, not embarrassed at all, but rather proud, sat in his office chair, looking up at Qi Zhao with a smile. “If you agree.”
Qi Zhao: “…Don’t even think about it.”
It wasn’t a suggestion, but a warning. “You’re not allowed to do that.”
“Fine,” Qi Wei said, slightly disappointed, “I understand.”
He watched Qi Zhao sit down at the desk beside his and then asked, “What do you want to eat later?”
He was asking about lunch; Qi Zhao knew that. As he saved the documents, he replied casually, “Whatever you want.”
Qi Wei sighed inwardly. With Qi Zhao working, he was completely sidelined.
During the lunch break, his friends messaged him, asking him to treat them to lunch.
Qi Zhao knew what he meant, asking if he wanted to join them. “Sure.”
As Qi Wei peeled a shrimp for him, he asked, his voice slightly muffled, “Where?”
“The bowling alley at the clubhouse.”
Qi Zhao’s interest piqued. “Okay.”
He smiled. “I haven’t played in a while either.”
Qi Zhao wasn’t very good at bowling, not as skilled as he was at snooker, but it was about the fun, not winning.
So he was still excited.
Since the clubhouse was close by, and they went there right after work, they were the first to arrive.
The place had been cleared out in advance, so there was no one there, just a waiter leading them to the bowling alley.
Qi Zhao picked up a ball, casually tossed it, and it veered off course halfway, barely hitting any pins.
Qi Wei, watching him, applauded without blinking. “Ah Zhao, you’re so amazing.”
Qi Zhao: “…Stop blindly praising me.”
Qi Wei said seriously, “My eyes are wide open.”
Qi Zhao: “.”
He gestured to Qi Wei. “Your turn.”
Qi Wei took the ball, weighed it in his hand, looked at the lane, bent down, and threw it—
It veered off course from the very beginning, missing all the pins.
Qi Zhao chuckled, exasperated. “Qi Wei, can you be serious?”
Playing mind games even in a simple game?
Qi Wei looked innocent. “I am being serious.”
Qi Zhao: “Do you think anyone would believe you if you said you couldn’t even hit a single pin?”
Bowling required aim, and Qi Wei’s aim couldn’t possibly be that bad.
Qi Wei turned his head, met Qi Zhao’s gaze, and asked, “Then… is there a reward if I play seriously?”
Qi Zhao: “?”
Some alphas were truly shameless.
Qi Zhao scoffed. “It’s just a game, and you want a reward?”
He gestured for Qi Wei to move aside. “Play or don’t play.”
Qi Wei smiled, genuinely liking this slightly annoyed Qi Zhao.
So he bent down, wrapped his arms around Qi Zhao, who was about to pick up another ball, and said softly, “Ah Zhao, I was wrong.”
He had deliberately provoked Qi Zhao.
Because he liked seeing him like this.
This Qi Zhao, his expression lively and unrestrained, unlike his previous reserved demeanor, the current Qi Zhao had sharp edges, and it was precisely because of these sharp edges that he felt real.
Qi Zhao also knew that Qi Wei was like a cat with mischievous paws, deliberately pushing things to the edge, just to get his attention.
But knowing this didn’t stop him from “settling the score” with Qi Wei, especially since he knew Qi Wei wouldn’t find him troublesome or think he had a bad temper, but would only like him even more… Initially, Qi Zhao had felt bad about getting angry with Qi Wei, but after being repeatedly provoked, he gradually became more unrestrained.
…He also liked it when Qi Wei coaxed him.
Qi Zhao had said that because he knew how Qi Wei acted when he liked him, he would use this to confirm his affection.
If one day Qi Wei stopped trying to appease him, not just once or twice, then he would know that Qi Wei no longer liked him.
So Qi Zhao remained silent, his eyes lowered, but he let Qi Wei hug him from behind, a smile in his eyes.
Qi Wei lowered his head, his face half-buried in Qi Zhao’s hair. “Ah Zhao.”
He called his name, nothing else, just his name.
An alpha’s voice was naturally low and magnetic, so when he spoke softly, it was even more alluring, especially when he repeated it like this, leaving Qi Zhao completely disarmed.
He shifted slightly, and Qi Wei loosened his grip, allowing him to turn around.
Qi Zhao turned to face him, and meeting Qi Wei’s smiling eyes, there was no need for words.
He leaned in and kissed Qi Wei lightly, and just as their lips touched, the door opened.
Qi Zhao immediately pulled back, but he was still pressed against Qi Wei’s arm, who hadn’t let go.
And Yan Shuang, who had opened the door… “…”
He met Qi Wei’s dark gaze, his teeth aching from their sweetness, and said, “Should I leave and come back after you’re done?”
Qi Zhao: “…”
He was truly speechless now, not even daring to look at Yan Shuang, his ears burning red.
Qi Wei glanced down at the person practically melting in his arms, his body subtly shielding Qi Zhao’s flustered state. He truly wanted to tell Yan Shuang to get lost and continue kissing Qi Zhao, but he knew Qi Zhao wouldn’t be able to handle it, so he just chuckled softly, not answering.
Yan Shuang slipped inside, still saying, “I really didn’t know, I wouldn’t have come in if I knew… Qi Zhao, don’t worry, I didn’t see anything, I really didn’t.”
Qi Zhao: “…”
Qi Wei: “Shut up.”
Yan Shuang smiled, knowing that Qi Zhao was probably about to explode, so he didn’t continue teasing him. A little teasing was fine, but too much, for an alpha, was crossing the line.
But since Yang Shou had also arrived, when Yan Shuang heard that Qi Zhao and Qi Wei weren’t getting their marriage license yet because of their efforts to capture the black market organization, he exclaimed, “Hey, Yang Shou, that’s not very brotherly of you. How can you let catching criminals affect your brother’s marriage?”
Not just him, but Pei Lechuan, who happened to be in the country, and Tang Huaiyuan also joined in the teasing, making Yang Shou hiss softly, “Fine, fine, fine, I’ll approve it internally first, I’ll stamp it, okay?”
He wasn’t truly annoyed, but smiling.
And when they finally raised their glasses for a toast, their blessings were sincere.
They had known Qi Wei for a long time, and as fellow high-ranking alphas, they could sense that Qi Wei’s current state was much better than a year ago.
Before, Qi Wei had carried an air of decay, like a dying tree planted in barren soil.
And now, he was clearly thriving.
Because of Yang Shou’s words, when they returned home, after Qi Zhao finished showering, he saw Qi Wei holding his physical identification card.
He said, amused, “That eager?”
Qi Wei, pulling Qi Zhao into his arms, nodded. “Of course, if Yang Shou wasn’t busy tonight, I would call him right now and urge him to stamp it.”
Qi Zhao sighed and took the ID card from him, flipping through it. “You looked good with a buzz cut too.”
This photo was taken shortly after Qi Wei differentiated into an alpha, probably around nineteen or twenty, his features still carrying a youthful look, his eyes lowered, a hint of ruthlessness in his gaze.
Qi Zhao smiled and turned the page, his eyes skimming over Qi Wei’s pheromone type, “Liquor,” then pausing on the next line.
[Pheromone Name: Returning Home]
Qi Zhao: “…”
He looked at Qi Wei, stunned. “You…”
He had just gone abroad at that time.
And Qi Wei had carved his greatest wish onto his identification card, even into his soul.
Qi Wei’s expression was a mix of relief and exasperation. “Ah Zhao, you knew alphas had the right to name their own pheromones, yet you never asked me.”
Qi Zhao clutched the ID card tightly. “I… I forgot about it.”
He wasn’t a real alpha, after all; he didn’t remember these things.
Especially since he couldn’t smell Qi Wei’s pheromones.
Qi Wei held his wrist. “It’s okay.”
He looked up and said softly, “Ah Zhao, if you agree to my request from last night, I’ll forgive you. I’m easy to please.”
Qi Zhao: “…”
Qi Zhao: “.”
Qi Zhao: “?”
He smiled faintly. “Is this what you call easy to please?”
Qi Wei had wanted to… role-play last night!
And with Qi Zhao as the dominant one… how could he possibly agree to wear a collar and be pulled around by him?!
But in the end, whether Qi Wei’s dream was fulfilled or not… well, he fell asleep that night, contentedly holding Qi Zhao, who was covered in marks from his slightly out-of-control “frenzy.”
His neck also bore hickeys and scratches.
The alpha didn’t mind.
Not just because they would heal by tomorrow, but he even felt a little… reluctant for them to heal.
He truly loved the fierce look in Qi Zhao’s eyes…
So handsome.
