Chapter 25: Signature Cocktail

The Western restaurant Xiao Mu had booked was right by the riverbank. As Qiu Sui sat down and gazed at the river view outside the window, he inappropriately recalled the barbecue joint Shen Zhixiao had chosen last time they treated him—the place was across the river, not too close.

Xiao Mu hadn’t picked this restaurant just for the stunning scenery and views. It was also because it was hyped online as a prime dating spot, with romantic indoor lighting, music, and table setups.

In the sunset glow, he clutched the menu and carefully observed the person across from him. Qiu Sui was lowering his head, sweeping the decorative rose petals off the tabletop with his hand.

He shifted the gathered petals to the edge of the table. Looking at the now-clean surface, Qiu Sui felt much more at ease.

Qiu Sui wasn’t big on Western food. When Xiao Mu pointed to the romantic rendezvous duo set next to the standard couple’s meal and shyly asked if that one was okay, Qiu Sui glanced at the similar dishes in both and nodded without much thought.

After ordering the date set, Xiao Mu’s expression turned bashful as he pointed to the aperitif, saying the restaurant’s signature cocktail was better than the wine in the set. He wanted to add two glasses of cocktails.

The other was the birthday boy, so Qiu Sui had no objections and said sure. Xiao Mu happily placed the order. Amid the gentle piano melody, he set down the menu, propped his hands on the table, and began venting his recent troubles to Qiu Sui.

Soon, two glasses of the signature cocktail arrived.

Qiu Sui usually only drank canned fruit wine with Qiao Keren and the others at most. He eyed the pale blue liquid in the tall glass curiously and took a sip.

The initial alcohol hit was a bit choking, but soon his tongue was left only with thick, sweet fragrance.

Across from him, Xiao Mu watched Qiu Sui, his eyes gleaming faintly under the soft yellow light. “Does it taste good?” he asked with concern.

Even with syrup and soda water added, the booze was still booze. Since it was the other’s recommendation, Qiu Sui savored the lingering sweetness in his mouth and said it was pretty good.

At least it was sweet.

Hearing Qiu Sui’s verdict, Xiao Mu shyly took a sip from his own glass with a bashful smile. Watching Qiu Sui slowly eat his salad, he suddenly started talking about his high school days.

Qiu Sui listened attentively. After a drink, his emotions stirred more easily than at the start. When Xiao Mu mentioned being bullied by the Alphas in his class during sophomore year, Qiu Sui’s face grew grave and stern.

After all that buildup, seeing Qiu Sui resonate, Xiao Mu finally revealed his true intent.

With hesitation, he looked at Qiu Sui and said softly, “I don’t know if it’s because of what happened in high school, but maybe I’m being too sensitive.”

Qiu Sui saw him trailing off and urged him to continue.

Xiao Mu gave a strained smile laced with unease and finally spoke: “I just feel like that Alpha friend of yours doesn’t like me much.”

Qiu Sui’s first reaction wasn’t sure who he meant until Xiao Mu added that the guy had glared at him maliciously while waiting for him at the dorm entrance that afternoon. Then he realized it was Shen Zhixiao.

“Maybe it’s because I drank his soy milk at breakfast before, so he might be upset…” Xiao Mu smiled apologetically, studied Qiu Sui’s expression, and quickly added, “Or maybe I’m overthinking it.”

Qiu Sui frowned instinctively at his words. Why would Shen Zhixiao dislike Xiao Mu for no reason? They’d barely interacted beyond chance encounters. Besides, Shen Zhixiao didn’t seem the type to show malice openly.

Seeing Xiao Mu look at him like he’d said something wrong, Qiu Sui thought that S-Rank Alphas naturally carried a dangerous, oppressive aura. Xiao Mu had been bullied by Alphas before, so it was normal to feel sensitive around Shen Zhixiao.

He reassured him: “He might just look scary with a blank face. I was actually a bit scared of him the first time I met him too.”

Speaking of being scared of Shen Zhixiao made Qiu Sui chuckle involuntarily.

“Is that so?” Not getting the response he hoped for, Xiao Mu looked a bit chagrined.

He smiled faintly and said maybe he was overthinking it, then changed the topic.

As Qiu Sui listened, he took a few more sips of the cocktail when he felt thirsty.

It wasn’t as harsh as the first taste anymore; once you got used to it, it was actually decent.

The cocktail’s alcohol content wasn’t low. Xiao Mu kept watching Qiu Sui’s state and noticed the faint flush on his cheeks—he seemed a little tipsy. His own heart grew tense.

The cake Xiao Mu ordered arrived after the meal. It was small and simple, with a silver candle stuck into the English inscription at the bottom.

After making his wish, his eyes sparkled as he gazed at Qiu Sui. “Guess what I wished for.”

The alcohol hit Qiu Sui belatedly. He somewhat regretted those extra sips, his reactions sluggish. He hummed vaguely and said dryly, “Wishes don’t come true if you say them out loud.”

Xiao Mu fidgeted shyly, covering his mouth lightly with a soft laugh. “What if saying it makes it come true?”

Qiu Sui still didn’t guess. Xiao Mu looked disappointed and said okay, then split the little cake evenly.

After eating his slice, Qiu Sui felt even fuzzier-headed. He checked the time—already 9:30. He just wanted to get back to the hotel and rest.

The hotel Xiao Mu booked was a ways from the restaurant. They strolled out slowly toward the dimly lit intersection to catch a cab.

Xiao Mu had nearly finished his cocktail. The booze had his nerves buzzing excitedly. Seeing the somewhat drunk Qiu Sui beside him, he felt the moment was right. His hand twitched restlessly, and when Qiu Sui paused, he grabbed it.

Qiu Sui took a few sluggish seconds to register it felt off and pulled his hand back, staring at Xiao Mu in bewilderment with a slight furrow of his brows. “What’s up?”

Xiao Mu’s pupils dilated as he stared fixedly at him, in a state of tense excitement, his mouth opening and closing.

“If… if I told you my birthday wish from earlier, would you make it come true for me?” he asked, voice nearly shy.

Qiu Sui frowned in confusion. The alcohol dulled his brain; he didn’t spot Xiao Mu’s oddity right away or grasp the meaning immediately. “What?” he blurted.

Gazing at Qiu Sui’s handsome, flushed face, Xiao Mu breathed raggedly, suppressing nerves and thrill. “I wanted you to guess my wish earlier because… it’s about you.”

His tone turned fidgety. “My wish is actually… to be your boyfriend.”

Xiao Mu took a deep nervous breath and stepped slightly closer, saying earnestly, word by word: “I like you, Qiu Sui.”

“I’ve thought about it for so long—whether I should tell you. But I’m really scared you’ll never know how I feel, treat me just as a friend, and someone else will take you away. So I couldn’t wait to tell you. Even if you don’t like me back right now, it’s okay…”

Xiao Mu’s words came too fast for Qiu Sui’s boozy state, but he caught “like.” He stared in stunned surprise.

The other likes me?

Xiao Mu finished his fervent confession, a spark of hope rising as he watched the dazed Qiu Sui. As if afraid to startle him, he slowly placed a hand on Qiu Sui’s shoulder, leaning in while whispering, “Do you… like me a little too…?”

Qiu Sui’s mind fogged heavily. He didn’t dodge right away when Xiao Mu closed in. The next second, a sinister voice boomed from above like thunder crashing into the two Betas’ ears.

“Like what?”

Xiao Mu’s face drained of color. Before he could react, a powerful force yanked him back hard, foiling his attempt to kiss Qiu Sui’s cheek.

Qiu Sui froze as he watched the guy before him get grabbed by the shoulder and jerked back several steps. In the next instant, a large hand firmly clasped his nape, long fingers brushing his jaw.

Shen Zhixiao slowly turned Qiu Sui’s drunken, sluggish face toward himself. His expression nearly hateful, his voice icy and rigid: “Didn’t I say to be careful out there? Why don’t you take my words seriously?”

Qiu Sui’s vision abruptly filled with a handsome face, cold and furious. The alcohol-gnawed nerves in his brain jolted awake, pounding as his eyes widened to the max.

He stayed unresponsive for a long moment. Then his world spun wildly. His whole body floated into the clouds, feet dangling in void, utterly unable to move as Xiao Mu’s shouts rang in his ears.

Only when he thudded heavily onto something did Qiu Sui dimly react amid the dizziness. He lifted a hand to struggle, but it was seized tight at the wrist.

The car door shut firmly, muffling Xiao Mu’s voice outside. The vehicle’s lurch as it started made Qiu Sui’s head spin worse. His brain couldn’t process the whirlwind of events normally.

Shen Zhixiao stared at the dazed, feverish Qiu Sui before him. The emotions he’d bottled all evening were about to shatter his reason. His rampaging Pheromones surged to peaks inside, making the Pheromone Ring at his neck blare overburdened warnings.

Ignoring the agony of his churning Pheromones, he bent down in near-resentment, almost nose-to-nose with Qiu Sui.

Qiu Sui’s eyes fluttered open, half-lucid between reality and dream, as a blurry shadow loomed closer. Those eyes gleamed like a nocturnal beast’s, and an icy, furious question exploded by his ear: “Didn’t you say you didn’t like that Beta? Why didn’t you dodge when he tried to kiss you just now?”

Qiu Sui’s brain couldn’t process inputs properly. Grimacing in confusion at the reality, he stared into those fierce eyes for ages before reacting irrelevantly: “Dizzy.”

“Dizzy?” The voice echoed lightly.

Suddenly, a warm touch pressed his cheek, taking the spot Xiao Mu had aimed for, trailing slowly to his ear. A gruff rumble: “Yeah, dizzy makes sense. That cocktail’s no lightweight—you had half a glass.”

By the end, the voice seethed with anger: “You got duped, silly baby!”

Feeling the breath on his ear, Qiu Sui squirmed uncomfortably. Finally recognizing the voice, he subconsciously called out the name.