12
Such words were also a form of harassment.
An alpha’s pheromones had two uses: one was as a symbol of status and power, a weapon of oppression and even mental attack; the other… was a silent tool for courting their omega partners.
But—
This signal only worked when sent to an “omega.”
Qi Zhao was just a beta. Although he had learned about these things before, after being confirmed as a beta, he gradually faded out of this “circle.” Some things had become less clear to him. Even if he still remembered, he would naturally think—it didn’t matter since he was a beta, not an omega.
He was genuinely curious about what Qi Wei’s pheromones smelled like.
Besides, given his current relationship with Qi Wei, smelling his pheromones didn’t seem like a big deal.
Sometimes Qi Zhao was surprisingly perceptive, and sometimes he was bafflingly obtuse.
Perhaps this was ultimately the advantage and disadvantage of being a beta.
Qi Zhao nodded. “I am quite curious.”
He said, “Although it’s said that your pheromones smell like liquor, I know that’s just a category.”
Every alpha’s pheromones were unique. Qi Wei’s pheromones were said to smell like liquor, but even if you searched all the liquors in the world, you wouldn’t find one that matched his pheromones exactly.
Because it was just “liquor-type.” Just like mint-flavored pheromones weren’t just the smell of mint.
The fact that Qi Wei’s pheromones were described as “liquor” was probably because they did have the scent and feel of alcohol, but the actual smell couldn’t be simply summarized by the word “liquor.”
Qi Zhao had met S-rank alphas, but not super S-rank, so he was curious about what Qi Wei’s pheromones smelled like.
Qi Wei chuckled softly. “Indeed.”
He tapped the island countertop lightly with his index finger, his mood clearly good. “We’ll go back to the room after dinner, and I’ll give it to you.”
Qi Zhao felt that these words were a bit strange, but since Qi Wei wouldn’t force him to do anything, he nodded. “Okay.”
Qi Wei’s lips curved upwards, his lowered gaze sweeping across Qi Zhao’s face, tracing his features in the blink of an eye, lingering on his thin lips for a moment before flitting away like a butterfly.
But the pollen had already been scattered; he had left his mark, and he would return for a closer look sooner or later.
After dinner, Qi Zhao replied to a message.
It was about his work abroad. He hadn’t worked there for long, as he had only recently graduated. But because he was returning to Z Country, he had already submitted his resignation. He had mostly completed the handover, but his replacement hadn’t understood a few files he had left behind and was asking him for details.
Qi Zhao sat at the island, waiting for Qi Wei to clear the table, and sent a voice message.
In Country A, they naturally spoke a foreign language, within the English language family, but with a Country A accent. However, Qi Zhao’s accent wasn’t from Country A. His former tutor was from Country E, with an extremely elegant accent, which Qi Zhao had perfectly imitated. Coupled with his slightly low voice and the gentle tone he used when teaching, it made the alpha not far away’s ears itch.
It was as if an ant had crawled into his ear canal and then somehow made its way into his heart.
He wanted to… kiss Qi Zhao like this.
Qi Zhao finished explaining and looked at Qi Wei, who was walking towards him, smiling habitually. “Er-ge.”
He put away his phone and said proactively, “It was about my previous job. The colleague who took over didn’t understand a few of my notes and asked me for details.”
He had been working in venture capital. He had resigned just as a project ended, so he hadn’t caused too much trouble. There were just some follow-up matters to deal with.
Qi Wei actually knew about this, but knowing and hearing Qi Zhao proactively “report” to him were two completely different feelings.
He paused slightly, his eyes curving into a smile, his usually intimidating face softened with tenderness, but upon closer inspection, one could still sense the danger hidden beneath. He subtly ran his tongue over his teeth and pressed it against his lip.
Qi Zhao didn’t see Qi Wei’s actions and naturally didn’t realize the pleasure and greed the alpha displayed after he spoke.
They entered the elevator together. Qi Wei used another topic to suppress his thoughts, which were threatening to spiral out of control. “Do you still want to work in venture capital in the future?”
Qi Zhao knew that as long as he wanted to, as long as he asked, Qi Wei could arrange any position for him. But, “I want to rest for a while first.”
Qi Zhao shook his head and sighed. “Working on projects in venture capital, I was running around so much…”
He smiled wryly. “Fortunately, I was lucky. I didn’t encounter anything particularly difficult, nor any complicated drinking parties. Plus, perhaps because they knew I was just an employee, no alpha gave me a hard time for being a beta.”
Qi Wei raised an eyebrow slightly, then lowered his eyes and smiled gently. “Ah Zhao.”
He reminded Qi Zhao half-jokingly, “You’re an alpha now.”
Qi Zhao paused. “Right, I almost forgot…”
He stepped out of the elevator, reaching their floor, and smiled faintly. “It doesn’t feel real. I always forget.”
“I’ll think of a way to see if I can make it possible for betas to smell pheromones too.”
Whether or not one could smell pheromones was the biggest difference between alphas, omegas, and betas.
So Qi Wei’s words were truly shocking.
It was as absurd as saying he would find a way to make a male beta pregnant. The key was that Qi Wei seemed serious.
…Just because he mentioned it casually?
Qi Zhao unconsciously pinched his left wrist, feeling the indescribable ache again. He said helplessly, “Er-ge, there’s no need… I think it’s fine not being able to smell them.”
He said, “An alpha friend told me that being able to smell pheromones isn’t a pleasant experience at all. Lower ranks are suppressed by higher ranks, and those of the same rank repel each other. They also can’t stand the scent of other alphas and wish they could wear masks all the time.”
These were all true, but it mostly applied to alphas who had just differentiated. After getting used to it, they wouldn’t feel that way anymore and could even appreciate the benefits of being an alpha.
Qi Wei glanced at him. “That friend of yours is Xu Chenzhou, right?”
Qi Zhao paused slightly. “…Yes.”
Qi Wei tugged at the corner of his mouth slightly. “Ah Zhao.”
He lowered his voice. “You don’t have to avoid him so much in front of me. I know you have a good relationship.”
He said slowly, “Although I do get jealous, you being so careful to avoid him makes me even more…”
He didn’t say what he felt, but Qi Zhao already understood. “Okay, I understand.”
Qi Zhao didn’t apologize at this moment because he knew Qi Wei didn’t like it. It would only make the sensitive alpha feel worse.
Qi Wei’s tongue pressed hard against his itching canine teeth, the ones used for marking.
So obedient.
Good.
And not so good.
They entered another large study. As Qi Wei opened the safe, he glanced at Qi Zhao. “What are you thinking about?”
Qi Zhao looked up, not surprised by his perceptiveness, and smiled. “I was just thinking that fate hasn’t been too bad to me.”
He said, “After I became a beta, I went to Country A. Although I encountered many difficulties, I always managed to overcome them. There was always a bit of luck.”
Qi Zhao smiled. “Maybe I’m actually a very lucky person.”
Qi Wei’s eyes curved slightly. “That’s good.”
It was enough that Qi Zhao considered himself lucky.
Qi Wei took out the perfume from the safe. The perfume bottle was beautifully crafted, shaped like a ship, with a black body and intricate details.
Qi Wei extended his hand towards Qi Zhao, and Qi Zhao placed his hand in his.
Qi Wei’s body temperature was still very high. As Qi Zhao’s mind wandered, the cool perfume was sprayed onto his wrist.
But Qi Wei didn’t let go of Qi Zhao’s hand. He held it, bringing it to Qi Zhao’s nose for him to smell.
This gesture felt strange, instinctively making Qi Zhao’s scalp tingle, but he still obediently lowered his head and sniffed slightly.
The scent wasn’t too strong, but it was distinct.
The scent of alcohol was unavoidable, but within it, there were more complex notes.
Qi Zhao didn’t have a hobby of appreciating fragrances, so he couldn’t distinguish the individual notes, but he could sense that this rich and fragrant scent seemed to carry a hint of gunpowder smoke, making it aggressive and oppressive.
Just smelling this fragrance made one involuntarily think of a superior looking down from their high position, making one shudder and tremble with fear, while also feeling slightly dizzy from the scent of liquor, easily falling to their knees in submission.
Qi Zhao’s eyelashes fluttered as he met Qi Wei’s intense gaze. Before Qi Wei could ask, he answered, “It smells good.”
Honestly, it did smell good.
But Qi Zhao, slightly dazed by the scent of alcohol, forgot that telling an alpha “your pheromones smell good” was tantamount to flirting and hinting.
So Qi Wei tightened his grip on his hand and couldn’t help but lower his head, moving closer. His overflowing pheromones were visible only to alphas and omegas.
The thick white pheromones, which had materialized in their eyes, were like thorns and ropes, climbing up Qi Zhao’s body, tightly binding him from head to toe, not even sparing a single strand of hair.
“…Do you like it?”
Qi Wei asked Qi Zhao in a low voice.
Qi Zhao was a little dizzy and subconsciously nodded first.
Qi Wei’s voice became even softer, like a devil whispering, enticing his beloved mortal to willingly offer his soul and sign a lifelong contract of unwavering devotion.
“Then Ah Zhao, use this perfume from now on, okay?”
—He had indeed given Qi Zhao his pheromones, but others could smell them, while Qi Zhao couldn’t.
But if he used this perfume, Qi Zhao would be able to smell them too.
And… because Qi Zhao didn’t have glands, his pheromones could only linger on the surface, easily dispersed by the wind.
But perfume seeped into the skin, smelling as if it emanated from within.
Although there was still a difference, unless it was an alpha or omega of his rank, they wouldn’t be able to tell the difference, and he was the only super S-rank.
