17
Qi Zhao didn’t know how long Qi Wei held him like that.
He only knew that his tense body gradually relaxed over time, but Qi Wei hadn’t loosened his grip at all. The breath against his neck was still hot and heavy.
Qi Zhao’s mind had even started to wander to the Tang Sheng land issue, yet Qi Wei still showed no sign of letting go.
Because Qi Wei was leaning most of his upper body weight on him, Qi Zhao called out uncertainly, “Er-ge?”
He wondered if Qi Wei had fallen asleep—alpha behavioral studies mentioned that alphas easily fell asleep after their pheromones calmed down, especially if they were accompanied by a highly compatible omega.
Although Qi Zhao wasn’t an omega, since Qi Wei, an alpha, could be soothed by smelling him, he thought perhaps it wasn’t only omegas who had a hypnotic effect.
But Qi Wei wasn’t asleep. Hearing Qi Zhao call him, perhaps because he was too relaxed, or perhaps because his pheromones were in disarray due to prolonged suppression…
Qi Wei nuzzled the side of Qi Zhao’s neck.
His hair was coarse, and the touch was not only itchy, but the implication behind the action also made Qi Zhao’s scalp tingle.
Qi Zhao froze again.
Qi Wei knew he was stiff, but he couldn’t help himself.
And in his eyes, Qi Zhao’s reactions were so adorable that he wanted to pick him up in his mouth, carry him back to his nest, and pin him down…
“…Ah Zhao.”
Qi Wei lowered his head, his face half-buried in Qi Zhao’s shoulder, pressing against him tightly through his clothes, stealing a kiss. “Let me hold you for a little while longer.”
Qi Zhao could only hum in agreement; he didn’t dare say anything else.
He was afraid Qi Wei would nuzzle him again.
After a long while, Qi Wei finally released him reluctantly. “…Can I hold your hand?”
Qi Zhao was a little dazed. “…Yes.”
Qi Wei’s eyes curved into crescents. He was well aware of Qi Zhao’s avoidance, so he proactively changed the subject. “What do you want to eat later?”
“…” Qi Zhao admired his ability to compose himself so quickly. He exhaled softly. “Hot pot.”
Qi Zhao lowered his voice. “I haven’t had it in a long time.”
In Qi Zhao’s opinion, the hot pot at home just wasn’t as flavorful as the ones outside. He had always found the hot pot he had with friends abroad lacking.
Qi Wei said okay and, holding his hand, led him out of the room.
Qi Zhao followed Qi Wei. He always walked at a slower pace, even though he had long legs, he liked to drag his feet. Surprisingly, Qi Wei did too.
Perhaps because he was used to being in a position of power, he was casual and unhurried.
With his status as a super S-rank alpha, even if his family background were ordinary, the country would still provide for him.
—An alpha’s rank wasn’t just a simple ranking; more importantly, in the event of war, the higher the alpha’s rank, the greater their role on the battlefield. Throughout history, every super S-rank alpha had been overwhelmingly powerful, capable of taking on an entire army single-handedly.
As Qi Zhao’s mind wandered, he suddenly remembered an omega friend telling him that supposedly, the higher the alpha’s rank, the more likely they were to seek out an omega of the same rank. Otherwise, their partner might actually die in bed.
At the time, Qi Wei’s status as a super S-rank alpha was widely known, and his omega friend had joked, looking at the news, that for a super S-rank like Qi Wei, the “might” could probably be removed.
Qi Zhao: “…”
His hand, which had been passively held by Qi Wei without reciprocating, unconsciously tightened its grip. His fingertips brushed against the back of Qi Wei’s hand, making Qi Wei pause.
Qi Wei turned his head. “Ah Zhao?”
His tone was the same as that day on the cliff. Not just that day, but every time he called him “Ah Zhao,” even the earlier “Junior,” it was always this tone.
Gentle as the sea, but the sea was also dangerous and turbulent.
Filled with endless indulgence and pampering, yet also seeming like it would unleash monstrous waves in the next second, capsizing and drowning one in the depths.
Qi Zhao coughed slightly and averted his gaze, his shorter hair unable to hide his slightly reddened ears. “It’s nothing.”
Qi Wei didn’t understand. Although it was related to him, it wasn’t something he had initiated. He even glanced down at his hand, which was being lightly held by Qi Zhao, thinking that Qi Zhao was embarrassed because of this.
He discreetly ground his canine teeth, the ones used for marking, the itch making him want to leave his mark on Qi Zhao, but he could only imagine it.
Qi Wei tightened his grip on Qi Zhao’s hand, not asking further, but slowly leading him out.
The hot pot restaurant he wanted to take Qi Zhao to wasn’t here. While in the car, Qi Wei had messaged Qiu Ji to book a private room.
But unexpectedly, they ran into Tang Huaiyuan when they arrived.
Qi Zhao had just gotten out of the passenger seat when he saw Tang Huaiyuan getting out of his car not far away.
Seeing him, Tang Huaiyuan paused, then greeted him, “Qi Zhao.”
He smiled. “Long time no see.”
Qi Zhao nodded but first looked back at Qi Wei, who was getting out of the driver’s seat behind him.
Tang Huaiyuan immediately understood that this was a “private outing,” so he also greeted Qi Wei, “Brother Qi.”
Qi Wei glanced at him.
Tang Huaiyuan understood. Alphas didn’t like their dates with their beloved being interrupted, and Tang Huaiyuan naturally wouldn’t be so insensitive as to intrude at this moment. But he still had something to say. “Brother Qi, are you going to the Meng family’s omega coming-of-age ceremony next Saturday?”
Qi Zhao’s eyelashes fluttered slightly.
Qi Wei didn’t answer immediately but walked around to Qi Zhao’s side, looked down, and asked, “Do you want to go?”
Qi Zhao knew who Tang Huaiyuan was referring to, the omega he had almost been engaged to. But Qi Wei probably didn’t know this, and neither did Tang Huaiyuan.
So Qi Zhao answered honestly, “If you’re going, I can go with you.”
“…The Qi family has to show some face.”
Qi Wei said calmly, “But I don’t really want to go. I’ll have Qi Yuanyu go.”
Qi Yuanyu was Qi Wei’s older brother, his uncle’s son, an alpha who already had an omega.
Qi Zhao keenly sensed that the alpha’s mood was slightly off, so he replied hesitantly, “Okay?”
Qi Wei reached out to him again, lowering his head. The dim lighting in the parking lot made his face look even more dangerous and intimidating, like a beautiful, sharp blade about to be pressed against one’s throat. “Ah Zhao.”
He said softly, “Can I hold your hand?”
Qi Zhao found it strange that he always asked this question, so he couldn’t help but say, “…You can just hold it, no need to ask.”
Qi Wei raised an eyebrow slightly, his mood finally improving a little. “Okay.”
He slowly took Qi Zhao’s hand, his fingers interlacing with his, holding it firmly in his palm, as if this way, he could completely hold onto Qi Zhao, whether it was the past, present, or future.
Only then did Qi Wei look at Tang Huaiyuan, who had been shaking his head silently. “Qi Yuanyu will go. Talk to him.”
Tang Huaiyuan made an “okay” gesture. “Alright.”
Qi Wei left with Qi Zhao, and only then did Tang Huaiyuan’s secretary dare to get out of the car.
Tang Huaiyuan gave him a disapproving look. “Your boss is out there ‘fighting,’ and you’re hiding in the car?”
“Second Young Master Qi’s aura was too terrifying!”
The secretary cried out in injustice. “When you went to greet Mr. Qi Zhao, I could feel the killing intent even from inside the car. If I hadn’t hidden, I would have knelt down on the spot and embarrassed you.”
He was an alpha; of course, he could sense it.
Tang Huaiyuan tugged at the corner of his mouth, thinking of the oblivious Qi Zhao—high-ranking alphas could control their pheromone signals, meaning they could exert pressure on a specific individual in a crowd, or specifically shield someone from it. So Tang Huaiyuan sighed softly. “Pitiful.”
Secretary: “What?”
Tang Huaiyuan: “Nothing.”
He couldn’t say too much. If Qi Zhao found out through him about the elaborate web Qi Wei had spun just to catch him, this little fish… the Tang family would be the ones to suffer.
Qi Wei was a complete madman.
Qi Zhao followed Qi Wei into the elevator. There was no one else inside, so Qi Zhao glanced at Qi Wei and asked directly, “Er-ge, did you know?”
Qi Wei raised an eyebrow slightly and turned to look at him. “Know what?”
“…About my almost engagement to Meng Shan.”
“…”
Qi Wei’s grip on Qi Zhao’s hand tightened involuntarily.
This made Qi Zhao even more certain—he knew.
But how did Qi Wei know?
This matter had only been discussed between the Qi and Meng families.
As if sensing what he was thinking, Qi Wei said in a low voice, “Meng Li, she’s Meng Shan’s cousin, and my senior. I invested in her lab.”
Qi Zhao understood. “She told you.”
There was nothing strange about this. Qi Wei’s feelings for him seemed to be completely unconcealed; everyone around him knew.
Not to mention, in their circle, there was probably no one who didn’t know about his connection to Qi Wei.
And what Qi Zhao truly cared about wasn’t how Qi Wei knew, but…
“Er-ge.” Qi Zhao said softly, “You’re unhappy, aren’t you?”
Qi Wei paused and sighed softly. “Sorry.”
He knew that his momentary emotional outburst would be detected by Qi Zhao, especially since the question he asked Qi Zhao was too strange.
As they spoke, the elevator reached their floor.
Because there were other people present, Qi Zhao didn’t speak for the time being. He waited until the waiter silently led them through the VIP passage and into the private room before speaking. “Er-ge, why are you apologizing to me?”
He pressed the button on the electronic menu to order and spoke to Qi Wei first.
Qi Zhao said seriously, “I know you like me, so it’s normal to be unhappy.”
Qi Wei’s eyelashes fluttered as he stared at Qi Zhao. “You don’t… dislike it?”
Qi Zhao answered honestly, “It’s alright.”
He knew that alphas were prone to jealousy. He had studied alpha behavior, and many of Qi Wei’s actions matched the descriptions in the books. Within his understanding, he didn’t find anything unusual. Besides, although he had told himself to think of himself as Qi Wei’s medicine, it didn’t mean he could completely brainwash himself. He still remembered the contract they had signed and knew that Qi Wei was pursuing him.
Qi Zhao had never been in love, but he imagined himself trying to secure a project, chatting with the person in charge for so long, becoming almost like brothers, and then suddenly finding out that the person in charge had also been in contact with other competitors… He would be unhappy too.
“Then…”
Qi Wei gently pinched Qi Zhao’s fingertips and said softly, “Ah Zhao, let me ask another intrusive question.”
Qi Zhao waited for a few seconds, but Qi Wei didn’t continue, so he asked, puzzled, “Hmm?”
Qi Wei curled his lips. He loved hearing Qi Zhao make that sound. “Did you ever like her?”
But just mentioning and thinking about this question made Qi Wei’s grip on Qi Zhao’s hand tighten.
Even though he had told himself that Qi Zhao was twenty-four years old, and it was normal for him to have liked someone, even if it was just a fleeting feeling, he still…
“No.” The moment Qi Zhao heard the question, he immediately answered, lest the alpha be tormented by his emotions for too long. “We only discussed that if I differentiated into an alpha, and she differentiated into an omega, we would test our compatibility. If it was high enough, we would consider a business marriage. I didn’t have any special feelings.”
Qi Zhao recalled, “At the time, I was thinking about how to break the Qi family’s limitations in the real estate industry if we formed an alliance with the Meng family.”
These words made Qi Wei’s heart ache, but he also found them amusing.
So Qi Wei rubbed his thumb against the back of Qi Zhao’s hand and chuckled softly, a hint of helplessness in his voice. “Ah Zhao, it’s a pity you’re not a CEO.”
Qi Zhao paused slightly.
He had heard similar sentences many times before, but most of them were “It’s a pity you’re not an alpha.” But Qi Wei…
Qi Zhao lowered his head and curled his lips slightly. “It’s alright. When I left the Qi family, I did want to compete for the position of head of the family. But after being away for so long, I feel like it doesn’t matter anymore whether I become the head or not. Compared to being a CEO, I’d rather work for a good boss, clock in and out every day, and work on projects. CEOs have too many things to worry about. I’d rather have my own holidays, take annual leave occasionally, and travel.”
These words were true. If he could go back to when he was seventeen, he might have agreed to assist Qi Wense.
“…So you think Tang Huaiyuan is a good boss?”
“I can’t say he’s good, but at least we knew each other before. He knows a little about my work style, so there will be less trouble.”
Qi Wei said, “I see,” and looked at Qi Zhao, saying nothing.
Although he was just a beta, unable to “hear” the signals in an alpha’s pheromones, Qi Zhao could understand what Qi Wei wanted to say from his eyes. So he unconsciously curled the fingertips that were still being held by Qi Wei.
Especially when Qi Wei sensed his movement and saw him avert his gaze, he asked, “I also understand you very well. Ah Zhao, if you want to change jobs, will you consider me first?”
Qi Zhao felt that there was a hidden meaning in his words, but he didn’t quite understand.
Given their current relationship, there was no need for Qi Wei to speak in riddles.
“…I haven’t even started working yet.”
Qi Zhao lowered his voice, using humor to dispel the sudden awkwardness. “Are you already trying to poach me?”
Qi Wei chuckled softly. “Yes, capable employees have companies lining up for them. To avoid being too far back in the queue, I’m reserving the number one spot in advance, okay?”
Qi Zhao couldn’t stand Qi Wei using that tone of voice with him; it made his veins itch. He coughed slightly and still said, “Okay.”
If he were to leave Tang Sheng in the future, Qi Zhao would truly consider Qi Wei first.
The Qi family’s business was vast now, and Qi Zhao was tempted. As for why he wasn’t going there now, firstly, he still wanted to explore his work options, and secondly… he didn’t want to see Qi Wei all the time, even at work.
It was a little distracting.
They ate their fill of hot pot, and Qi Zhao truly felt like he was the “young master” being served, because Qi Wei kept cooking and serving him meat the entire time, his movements practiced and skilled.
Apart from his preference for clearing out places, Qi Wei didn’t usually act like a spoiled young master. He was a good cook, and he cooked the hot pot meat perfectly.
Qi Zhao genuinely felt that he was a little too perfect.
Was this the norm for high-ranking alphas?
He seemed so perfect that he was almost inhuman.
Since they both had to work the next day, they didn’t go anywhere else that evening.
After returning home, Qi Zhao felt that he smelled too strongly of hot pot and went to take a shower.
Qi Wei took this opportunity to receive the delivered suits.
In high-end ready-to-wear suit shops, the display suits and the ones for trying on were the same style but not the same set.
And every suit that a customer tried on would be disinfected—because alphas and omegas could easily leave their scent on them.
So although they were expensive, the service was impeccable.
Therefore, the suits that were delivered, which Qi Wei had specifically requested not to be disinfected, still carried a faint trace of Qi Zhao’s scent.
Especially the shirts and trousers.
So…
Unbeknownst to Qi Zhao, after exchanging goodnights with the alpha, a certain alpha nested with the clothes that carried Qi Zhao’s faint scent. Even though he wasn’t in rut, he was more restless than some alphas in rut. He buried himself in the pile of clothes, even secretly taking Qi Zhao’s changed clothes from the washing machine and holding them in his arms before finally falling asleep.
—This wasn’t the first time he had done this. It was just that Qi Zhao didn’t wake up as early as him, so every time, Qi Zhao received his clothes freshly washed and dried by the washer-dryer.
