But I’m Just a Beta 32

32 

Qi Zhao wasn’t sure if it was because the scene of Qi Wei saying those words was too impactful.

So, as Qi Wei went to cook and Qi Zhao returned to his room to change, his hand on his belt buckle, his mind replayed the scene.

The alpha, head bowed, kissing the back of his hand.

Whispering words of love as if bewitched… but it was Qi Wei who was the devil, the one doing the tempting.

At this moment, Qi Zhao slightly regretted telling Qi Wei that they could sleep together from now on.

What had possessed him to say such a thing?

Sleeping with Qi Wei…

Was truly dangerous.

Dinner was still tailored to Qi Zhao’s taste. Afterward, they each attended to their own matters. Qi Zhao reviewed the bidding documents, and when it was time, he washed up and went to bed.

His tense nerves were finally about to face their trial.

But Qi Wei told him, “Ah Zhao, you sleep first. I have an international conference call.”

Qi Zhao paused, relieved.

Lying in bed together while fully awake would truly make him feel at a loss.

It had been a tiring day, and due to his repeated anxieties about Qi Wei, coupled with the subtle influence of Qi Wei’s pheromones, which he was unaware of, Qi Zhao quickly fell asleep.

The person who claimed to have a meeting quietly washed up in the next room and then slowly entered the bedroom, carefully lifting the blanket and pulling Qi Zhao into his arms.

Qi Wei knew about Qi Zhao’s nervousness, and he knew that even if there was a small flame in Qi Zhao’s heart for him, it wasn’t enough yet.

Not enough for Qi Zhao to fully accept his closeness.

So he still had to take it slow.

Qi Wei held Qi Zhao in his arms, lowered his head, and kissed his hair softly, whispering, “Good night.”

For several days, Qi Wei let Qi Zhao sleep first, but when Qi Zhao woke up in the morning, he was always in Qi Wei’s arms. Qi Zhao understood that Qi Wei was deliberately letting him sleep first.

So… Qi Wei’s actions touched Qi Zhao’s heart again, and he silently adjusted his bedtime, going to bed a little earlier so Qi Wei could rest earlier too.

Qi Wei naturally noticed Qi Zhao’s thoughtful gesture. He smiled, looking at the sleeping Qi Zhao, but didn’t say anything, tacitly maintaining the unspoken agreement.

The day of the business trip finally arrived.

The bidding was tomorrow, but Qi Zhao had to leave today.

He and Qi Wei weren’t on the same flight. Qi Zhao’s flight was booked by the company, and Qi Wei didn’t insist on arriving at the same time.

He just told Qi Zhao, “See you in Huating City, Ah Zhao.”

Qi Zhao’s eyes curved into a smile. “Okay, I’ll go experience the Huating heat for you first.”

However, Qi Zhao didn’t expect such a coincidence. The hotel booked by Tang Sheng happened to be the same one Qi Wense was staying at.

And when Qi Zhao and Tang Huaiyuan’s assistant arrived, they ran into Qi Wense in the elevator.

They exchanged glances. Qi Wense moved his lips, as if wanting to say something, but ultimately remained silent. Qi Zhao simply nodded in greeting and entered the elevator.

He messaged Qi Wei to tell him he had arrived at the hotel.

After some consideration, he added—

[Qi Zhao: Qi Wense seems to be staying at the same hotel.]

The alpha, still on his way, paused, the air pressure around him plummeting instantly.

Qiu Ji froze and bowed slightly. “Boss?”

“Just because I finished my rut, you think you can slack off?”

Qi Wei looked up, his usual gentle facade gone, his tone and gaze indifferent, not exactly cold, yet it made Qiu Ji kneel before him on the spot.

Qi Wei’s tone was still calm, as if it were a simple inquiry. But only Qiu Ji and those close to Qi Wei knew that the calmer he was, the bigger the problem.

Not to mention, the alpha’s pheromones were already raging, threatening to tear everything apart. The instantly expanding pheromone territory, if not for the latest isolation devices installed on the plane, would have been a disaster.

But everyone serving in the cabin could sense their “lord’s” fury. “How could Qi Wense be staying at the same hotel as him?”

Qiu Ji didn’t say that Qi Zhao’s hotel room was booked by Tang Sheng and that it wasn’t easy for them to interfere. It was indeed their oversight. “We’ll rearrange it immediately.”

“Don’t bother.”

Qi Wei typed a gentle reply to Qi Zhao as he spoke. “Rearranging it now would be too obvious.”

Qi Zhao currently had no idea about Qi Wense’s filthy intentions, and he wouldn’t let him find out.

They had to be strangers. Qi Wense wouldn’t get even a sliver of Qi Zhao’s affection, no matter what kind.

And…

Qi Wei lowered his eyes, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly.

The same hotel, then let it be. Wasn’t it a perfect opportunity to let Qi Wense see them together and give up completely?

[Qi Wei: I’ve arrived. Have you had dinner?]

[Qi Wei: I wonder if Team Leader Qi would be free to have dinner with me?]

Qi Zhao received Qi Wei’s messages after finishing organizing the materials he needed for tomorrow.

He paused, then smiled slightly and said to Tang Huaiyuan’s assistant, “Get some rest.”

The assistant was stunned. “That’s all for today?”

“We’ve prepared everything we need. Over-preparing can lead to nervousness.” Qi Zhao smiled as he put away the documents. “Rest is also a form of preparation.”

The assistant didn’t question him, because Tang Huaiyuan had instructed him to follow Qi Zhao’s arrangements. “Okay.”

He then asked, “Mr. Qi, what would you like for dinner? Do you need me to buy you something?”

“No need.”

Qi Zhao handed him the organized documents. “I have an appointment.”

The assistant understood. “Okay, enjoy your dinner. Feel free to call me if you need anything.”

Qi Zhao thought that the assistant Tang Huaiyuan had assigned him was probably one of the best by Tang Huaiyuan’s side. It showed how much Tang Huaiyuan valued this bidding.

Indeed.

If they won this bid, Qi Mao’s capital chain would be completely broken, and it would be difficult for them to recover, leaving them heavily in debt. If they continued to mismanage their business, they might even declare bankruptcy.

Tang Sheng and Qi Mao were direct competitors. If they could crush Qi Mao in this bidding, Tang Sheng’s future would be much smoother. It meant eliminating a powerful competitor.

But if Qi Mao won this bid, it was hard to say how many more years Tang Sheng and Qi Mao would be entangled.

Qi Zhao didn’t wear a suit but went downstairs in casual clothes.

He originally planned to call Qi Wei and ask where he was, but when he reached the hotel lobby, he saw Qi Wei and Qiu Ji.

Qi Zhao paused, quickening his pace, and at the same time, Qi Wei stood up and walked towards him.

Qi Zhao was about to ask him why he arrived so quickly when Qi Wei suddenly pulled him into a hug.

Because this hotel was expensive, there weren’t many people in the lobby, but there were still some staff members present.

They all knew what kind of VIP Qi Wei was. From the moment he sat down, people had been busy discreetly creating a “protective barrier” around him, preventing others from getting too close.

Especially since Qiu Ji had warned them in advance that Qi Wei wasn’t in a good mood today.

But now…

The alpha, who was supposedly in a bad mood, not only hugged another alpha, but it wasn’t a forceful or aggressive hug. He simply held the person in his arms, a gentle and comforting smile on his face.

…How strange.

Qi Zhao paused for a moment when Qi Wei suddenly hugged him.

He glanced at Qiu Ji, who was standing there tensely with his head lowered, and guessed that Qi Wei’s pheromones might be unstable. So he didn’t push Qi Wei away, nor did he mention the presence of others. He just raised his hand and hugged Qi Wei back lightly, then patted his back, speaking in a soothing tone.

“I’m very hungry. Let’s go eat first?”

He wasn’t lying. Qi Zhao had guessed that Qi Wei would come to him as soon as he landed, that he would want to have dinner with him, so he hadn’t eaten yet, just having some biscuits and bread with his assistant before organizing his materials, to free up time for Qi Wei.

Besides worrying that Qi Wei would be upset if he was rejected, it was also because… he wanted to have dinner with Qi Wei in Huating.

The scenery in Huating was different from Kyoto. Qi Zhao had seen it when he was young, but his memories were now somewhat blurred, and the city had changed a lot. Sightseeing alone was boring, but with someone… Qi Zhao could only think of Qi Wei.

Qi Wei hummed in agreement, contentedly lowering his head and discreetly inhaling the scent of the person in his arms, before slowly letting go. But he still held Qi Zhao’s hand, leading him out. “I’ve booked a table at a private restaurant. Their specialty is seafood hot pot.”

Qi Zhao did like that dish. “Spicy?”

Qi Wei chuckled. “Yes, I know you like it. But I didn’t ask them to make it too spicy, in case you get a sore throat. You have work tomorrow.”

Qi Zhao was touched by his thoughtfulness and couldn’t help but say, “You’re more like my assistant.”

Qi Wei raised an eyebrow slightly, as if joking. “It’s my honor.”

As they walked out, Qi Zhao followed Qi Wei, not daring to look at the alpha’s dazzling face, so he didn’t notice Qi Wei glancing at Qi Wense, who had also come downstairs, with a cold look in his eyes, even as he smiled and spoke to Qi Zhao.

The moment Qi Wense met his gaze, his fists clenched. If it weren’t for the huge difference in their alpha ranks, his glands and pheromones instinctively fearing Qi Wei, he would have lost control from the provocation.

He knew Qi Wei was doing it on purpose.

Deliberately hugging Qi Zhao in front of him, deliberately holding his hand.

To assert his dominance.

They were both alphas; they both understood.

Qi Wei led Qi Zhao out, already thinking about how to deal with Qi Wense.

Qi Wense was intelligent, but too young.

He had been able to keep quiet back then because Qi Zhao was far away in Country A, out of sight, out of mind.

But now that Qi Zhao was back, not only were they in the same city, but they also happened to be at the same bidding, the same hotel… As an alpha, Qi Wei naturally understood what Qi Wense was thinking.

Alphas mostly believed in fate. So many “coincidences” would naturally make him waver.

Especially with him obstructing them, there were still so many coincidences between Qi Zhao and Qi Wense… Tsk.

Qi Wei couldn’t help but tighten his grip on Qi Zhao’s hand.

They were about to go down the steps, and Qi Zhao felt that the alpha’s grip wasn’t just holding his hand anymore; there was a possessive undertone. He didn’t understand what had suddenly happened. He had told Qi Wei about working in the same room as his assistant, what he ate and drank, even the brand and flavor.

Surely Qi Wei didn’t need to know which foot he used to enter the room?

Qi Zhao paused, turning to look at Qi Wei. The dim, colorful lights made it difficult to see his expression clearly, but it also highlighted the dangerous aura around him. “Qi Wei.”

Qi Zhao asked softly, “What’s wrong?”

Qi Wei lowered his eyes slightly. “Nothing.”

He opened the car door, leaned in to let Qi Zhao get in, and then said jokingly, “I just suddenly feel that our connection is a bit weak.”

Why, after all the webs he had spun, could Qi Wense still run into them?

Qi Zhao: “…?”

He froze, looking at Qi Wei, and suddenly thought of Qi Wense.

It was indeed quite a coincidence that he kept running into Qi Wense.

…But that was his half-brother. Was Qi Wei jealous of that too?

Qi Zhao paused, looking at Qi Wei’s hand still holding his, a little helpless. “But I think our connection is the strongest.”

Qi Zhao didn’t realize he was saying something romantic; he just wanted to reassure the alpha. “We met because of a banquet. I didn’t know you at all, but I heard so much about you.”

“Even later, in Country A, I often heard about you from various people.”

Qi Zhao said seriously, “It feels like, even though we haven’t met many times face to face, I somehow know a lot about you. Isn’t that amazing?”

Qi Wei’s lips slowly curved upwards.

Actually, there was nothing amazing about it. He had been making efforts, putting himself in front of Qi Zhao, making sure Qi Zhao heard about him from time to time. Even though they had only exchanged a few words, he wanted Qi Zhao to never forget him, to hear about him often, to constantly reinforce the name “Qi Wei,” the person… in Qi Zhao’s mind.

But he was still happy because of Qi Zhao’s words.

Because Qi Zhao was willing to appease him.

“Yes.”

Qi Wei smiled and repeated, “Our connection is the strongest.”