Shen Zhixiao listened to Qiu Sui’s somewhat halting words, his fingers gently and reverently caressing Qiu Sui’s cheek. Each stroke mobilized every ounce of strength in his body, yet his fingertips still trembled ever so faintly.
He lowered his head to meet Qiu Sui’s watery eyes, shaking his head as he murmured in a thick nasal voice, “It won’t happen again.”
Tears slid silently down Shen Zhixiao’s cheeks. His voice nearly hoarse, he repeated earnestly, “It won’t happen again. Ever.”
Nestled in Shen Zhixiao’s embrace, Qiu Sui listened to the choked sound of his voice, his churning emotions gradually settling.
He gazed at Shen Zhixiao’s tear-streaked face and sniffled softly, belatedly feeling that his own reaction had been a bit overly dramatic.
He wouldn’t cry as ugly as Shen Zhixiao, would he?
Qiu Sui stared at Shen Zhixiao’s swollen eyelids, unable to accept it. He raised his hand to roughly wipe away the tears, but before he could, Shen Zhixiao leaned down again, carefully and slowly pressing a kiss to the corner of his lips.
Shen Zhixiao’s breath, his body heat, his tears—all pressed against Qiu Sui’s face with the motion. Every sensation made Qiu Sui’s eyelids quiver involuntarily.
He felt Shen Zhixiao’s feverish, dry lips brushing gentle, passionless kisses against his own. His hand, which had been hovering vaguely, slowly dropped to Shen Zhixiao’s neck, grasping the dark blue scarf.
He tilted his face up, lips meeting Shen Zhixiao’s in a seamless, tight embrace.
Their pounding hearts seemed ready to burst through their ribcages and thick fabric, drawing closer in synchronized throbs.
They didn’t know how long they stood there hugging in the cold wind. Qiu Sui’s fingers clutched in Shen Zhixiao’s scarf had turned icy white. When they brushed against Shen Zhixiao’s warm neck, it made him shiver.
Qiu Sui buried his face in Shen Zhixiao’s chest. Sensing the reaction, a mischievous impulse bubbled up. He deliberately poked his fingers against Shen Zhixiao’s neck.
Shen Zhixiao felt the little prank but didn’t dodge. His chin rested on Qiu Sui’s head, letting Qiu Sui’s hands playfully burrow under the scarf. His muscles tensed from the chill.
Qiu Sui’s fingers kept radiating cold inside the scarf, impossible to warm. Even Shen Zhixiao’s neck grew cool from it.
But he simply took Qiu Sui’s hand, slipping it into his coat pocket to warm it, eyes closed as he nuzzled Qiu Sui’s hair and held him close. Only when Qiu Sui reminded him it was time to go did he reluctantly let go.
Qiu Sui checked the time and realized they’d dawdled past eight o’clock—way later than he’d expected. They’d probably reach school around nine-thirty or ten.
Shen Zhixiao, arm around his shoulders, saw it too. He dipped his head to bump against Qiu Sui’s and said warmly, “The apartment’s close by. Want to go back there?”
Qiu Sui hesitated with an “ah,” his lips twitching under the scarf. “I don’t have any spare clothes…”
Shen Zhixiao leaned close to his ear, voice low as he reminded him, “You can wear mine first.”
Shen Zhixiao’s breath tickled Qiu Sui’s ear, making that patch of skin heat up uncontrollably. Qiu Sui caught his meaning, his thoughts wandering to some embarrassing corner. He stiffened, neck flushing with shame.
Getting no response, Shen Zhixiao hummed softly, “Mm?” He nuzzled Qiu Sui’s head again, whispering, “Okay?”
Under the onslaught, Qiu Sui struggled for a while before pretending to be calm, tilting his chin up with a casual, “Fine.”
It had been nearly a month since Qiu Sui last visited Shen Zhixiao’s apartment. Everything inside was just as he remembered: the scribbled draft paper he’d left on the living room table, the little succulents bought on a whim still thriving nearby. Nothing seemed changed, though the paper had curled at the edges from age, and the plants had grown noticeably bigger.
The heater was on, warming the room quickly. Qiu Sui shed his turtleneck sweater, left in just a white base layer, and followed Shen Zhixiao to the walk-in closet for pajamas.
He’d kept clothes here before, but after deciding to cohabitate at the Old Western House, he’d moved them there. Then, on breakup day, he’d hauled them all back to the dorm in one go.
Qiu Sui figured “wear mine” meant Shen Zhixiao’s used stuff. But the closet held rows of new clothes in his exact size—some tags still on.
Shen Zhixiao used to worry Qiu Sui would find these long-prepared outfits. Now, he could finally pull them out openly.
Qiu Sui watched him happily picking pajamas and couldn’t resist kneeing him lightly. “When did you buy all this?”
The clothes had been bought piecemeal; Shen Zhixiao couldn’t recall exact dates for most. The earliest were probably from high school.
Qiu Sui had grown taller since then; those no longer fit. Shen Zhixiao had them recycled and bought replacements.
He didn’t dare tell the full truth, claiming vaguely they’d been from the start of term.
Qiu Sui didn’t press; digging deeper might trace back to Shen Zhixiao’s first text. Besides, what did it matter now? After a full day out, a beloved movie, and a cryfest, he just wanted to wash off the exhaustion and crash.
From the moment Qiu Sui agreed to reconcile, Shen Zhixiao’s nerves buzzed with extreme excitement.
After fussing in the bathroom, he emerged to see Qiu Sui propped against the headboard, scrolling his phone. Another surge of blood rushed through him.
But he knew to hold back. He chugged ice water before climbing into bed.
As he drew near, his nose twitched faintly. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he rasped low, “Baby.”
Qiu Sui glanced up from his phone, then heard Shen Zhixiao’s husky voice: “Did you use my perfume?”
“…”
Qiu Sui’s calm expression froze.
Wasn’t the perfume scent the same as Shen Zhixiao’s Pheromones? How could he tell? He couldn’t have gone without releasing Pheromones after removing the Neck Ring, right?
Puzzled, Qiu Sui’s eyelids fluttered awkwardly. Feigning composure, he huffed, “What about it?”
The apartment reeked of Green Tea Pheromones, and the perfume on Qiu Sui matched perfectly, blending seamlessly. But Pheromones weren’t just scent—they carried their owner’s emotions. Perfume? Just smell, no more.
Amid possessive Pheromones laced with inert Green Tea notes, it stuck out to Shen Zhixiao like toy fish in a school of real ones.
Thrilled that Qiu Sui had used it, he met Qiu Sui’s eyes with feverish intensity, licking his lips softly. “If baby likes it, I’ll extract Pheromones for perfume from now on.”
Shen Zhixiao’s burning gaze felt too blatant. Qiu Sui’s fingers tightened on his phone. He mumbled a dry “ah,” dodging the look to stare at his screen, forcing casualness. “I-It’s fine. I just wanted to smell it. Online says extracting Pheromones hurts—don’t do it often…”
Sensing Shen Zhixiao inching closer, he tensed instinctively.
Shen Zhixiao’s arm slid gently around his waist, pulling him into a side hug. Blissfully nuzzling his shoulder, he chuckled low, “I’m not afraid of pain.”
Every sense locked on the alpha, Qiu Sui felt him press against his neck. His heart twinged sourly.
Shen Zhixiao savored Qiu Sui’s warmth and pulsing vein, rubbing slowly into the hollow of his neck. His voice muffled against skin, he murmured like seeking confirmation, “Does baby think my Pheromone scent smells bad…?”
The breath ghosting his neck sparked fierce itchiness. Qiu Sui ignored his phone, lips dry as he admitted truthfully, “It smells good.”
Shen Zhixiao tightened his hold excitedly, as if to embed Qiu Sui into his body. Lips against skin, he murmured “baby” endlessly.
Qiu Sui pursed his lips in shy embarrassment, face and neck heating. The rubbing made his neck burn hotter.
Hearing the restless calls, he couldn’t resist shoving Shen Zhixiao’s head away, turning to snap “What are you—” but froze. The alpha gazed like an energetic hound, sprawled on his shoulder, dark eyes brimming with raw emotion ready to spill over.
Qiu Sui’s lips quivered. No words came.
His phone slipped onto the sheets, forgotten. He turned, eyes closing, to kiss Shen Zhixiao.
Unlike the soft outdoor peck, this was fierce and urgent. Shen Zhixiao’s tongue plunged deep, swirling desperately, probing further each time, pinning Qiu Sui’s fragile root with nowhere to hide.
He kissed like devouring him whole, intensity mounting until Qiu Sui faltered, head retreating—only for Shen Zhixiao to cradle his nape and pull him back.
Shen Zhixiao had bottled up too long. Now, like a corked bottle uncapped, urges flooded out, leashed only by a thread of reason.
He could only clutch Qiu Sui’s cheeks for deep, heavy kisses, grasping slivers of solace.
Qiu Sui’s lips parted laboredly, senses overwhelmed on his mouth. Numbness flooded his brain, body going limp—he didn’t recall when he’d lain back.
Dazed and flushed at eyes and cheeks, he panted atop the pillow, head thrown back.
Shen Zhixiao pecked his lower lip, cooing “baby” endlessly. Qiu Sui, still hazy from the bliss, didn’t react right away.
Shen Zhixiao trailed kisses down Qiu Sui’s jaw to the spot he’d craved all day.
He latched onto Qiu Sui’s Adam’s apple, licking and nipping relentlessly. Qiu Sui arched reflexively.
Qiu Sui swallowed instinctively, breath hitching. His fingers scrabbled the sheets before yanking Shen Zhixiao’s head.
The alpha obeyed instantly, lifting to kiss his lip corner again.
Such messing around couldn’t stay innocent.
But Qiu Sui was exhausted. Relaxing, sleep tugged at him. The soft lip brushes half-lidded his eyes.
Shen Zhixiao kissed a bit longer, then panicked at Qiu Sui dozing off. He fondled his ear.
Qiu Sui hummed pleasurably, awareness blurring. Only the vigorous Shen Zhixiao remained, propped on an elbow, gazing at him with ragged breaths, aching with need.
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