35
Upon hearing Qi Zhao’s request, Qi Wei understood that he needed the money to repay Qi Mu and why he was borrowing it from him. He paused, then asked softly, “Ah Zhao, have you thought this through?”
Qi Zhao smiled faintly, knowing exactly what to say to satisfy the alpha’s innate desire for control. He didn’t mind giving Qi Wei this pleasure. “Of course, I don’t want to drag this out. And you’re the only one I can borrow from.”
As expected, Qi Wei’s tone lightened considerably at his words. “I’ll transfer it to you later.”
A mere hundred million was nothing to a top alpha like Qi Wei, with his vast wealth.
But the true satisfaction Qi Wei derived wasn’t from establishing a more entangled “relationship” with Qi Zhao, but from… Qi Zhao asking him for something.
Qi Zhao didn’t mind owing him, but he minded owing Qi Mu and the others. This meant that in Qi Zhao’s eyes, Qi Wei’s position far surpassed theirs.
So naturally, he didn’t have to worry too much about Qi Wense anymore.
Qi Wei held Qi Zhao, lowering his head and burying his face in his hair. Before Qi Zhao could say anything, he murmured, almost in a trance, “Ah Zhao.”
Every time he spoke like this, Qi Zhao’s scalp tingled. He always felt a subtle sense of danger around Qi Wei, making his hair stand on end.
But Qi Wei wasn’t actually doing anything, just holding him like a large bear, clinging to him, reminding Qi Zhao of a cartoon he had seen before.
A cute, large bear hugging someone, its fluffy body completely enveloping the person, its head resting on theirs… very cute.
Qi Wei’s current posture was very similar to that cartoon.
So Qi Zhao couldn’t help but chuckle. “Hmm.”
Qi Wei raised an eyebrow. “So happy?”
“I suddenly think… you’re a little cute.”
Qi Zhao didn’t realize what he was saying, just smiling. “Like a child.”
Clinging tightly to what he liked, overly attached.
And eager to prove his abilities and skills.
Truly like a child.
“…Ah Zhao.”
Qi Wei felt a little dejected, a hint of helplessness in his voice. “I’m older than you.”
Qi Zhao smiled. “I’m not saying you’re childish, just… you have a cute side, like a child.”
He liked that childlike side. Straightforward and simple, without all the complicated interests and calculations, without all the pretense and “decorum.”
Sometimes, Qi Zhao really disliked “decorum.”
He acknowledged that a mature adult should always leave themselves a way out, not making things too ugly.
But sometimes, he was truly tired of being a mature adult.
Qi Wei lowered his eyes, inhaling Qi Zhao’s scent, immersing himself in it, and even though he knew Qi Zhao’s answer would be a rejection, he still asked, “Then, do you like it?”
Qi Zhao had just said “I don’t want to lie to you,” hinting that Qi Wei shouldn’t ask him such questions, shouldn’t expect any emotional reciprocation from him right now.
But… Qi Wei, knowing this full well, still asked.
He was like a goldfish, forgetting what had happened just seconds ago, still asking with hopeful anticipation.
Qi Zhao, not repulsed by Qi Wei, was deeply touched by this pureness.
So this time, he didn’t say he didn’t want to lie to Qi Wei, but he didn’t lie either.
“Yes.”
Qi Zhao replied, then added, “But I mean…”
“I know.” Qi Wei rarely interrupted him, holding Qi Zhao even tighter, murmuring, “You just like this kind of personality. If someone else…”
He couldn’t continue.
Because the rest of the sentence was, “If someone else had this side to them, you would like them too.”
Not romantic love, but a form of appreciation.
But even though Qi Wei knew everything, he would still be jealous, his heart bubbling with acidity.
Qi Zhao hadn’t expected that someone could make him feel jealous.
He felt a little helpless, and after a few seconds of silence, he raised his hand and hugged Qi Wei, silently comforting the slightly disgruntled alpha.
Qi Wei’s emotions were truly volatile, and this volatility stemmed from him.
That afternoon, on their way to the venue, Tang Huaiyuan’s assistant got into Qi Wei’s car, sitting in the passenger seat, with Qiu Ji as the driver.
Qi Wei held Qi Zhao’s hand, their fingers interlaced, suppressing his pheromones, preventing them from clinging to Qi Zhao, lest it attract attention.
He dropped Qi Zhao off at the entrance of the venue, not immediately letting go of his hand, but saying softly, “Call me if anything happens.”
“Okay.”
Qi Zhao replied, then smiled. “You’re making it sound like I’m going to war. It’s just a bidding.”
Qi Wei’s eyes curved into a smile. “I’m not worried about your performance; I trust your abilities. I’m just… a little disappointed that I can’t be there.”
Qi Zhao paused.
Qi Wei was indeed different from many other alphas.
Most alphas were chauvinistic, wanting their partners, their omegas, to focus on the family, to take care of them and love them wholeheartedly, to be homemakers.
So many omegas learned skills related to this.
Cooking, housework, socializing…
But Qi Wei seemed to be a fan of his career.
Whenever Qi Zhao was working, Qi Wei would watch him quietly and intently, his eyes sparkling, making Qi Zhao feel a little at a loss, like a squid tentacle dropped into boiling water, instinctively wanting to curl up.
Qi Zhao lowered his head, unable to describe his feelings. He just smiled. “There will be many more opportunities in the future.”
When it came to work, Qi Zhao was absolutely confident.
“Yes.”
Qi Wei slowly released his hand. “I’ll come pick you up.”
“Okay.”
Qi Zhao opened the car door and looked back at him. “You can also call me if you feel unwell.”
He had a feeling that Qi Wei was the type to bottle things up, especially if he had important matters to attend to. Qi Wei would be “considerate” and not disturb him.
Qi Wei smiled. “Okay.”
Qi Zhao was concerned about him.
Besides Tang Sheng and Qi Mao, several other well-known real estate companies participated in the bidding.
They were all “friendly competitors,” naturally acquainted, so some small talk was unavoidable.
Especially towards Qi Zhao.
The news of Qi Zhao’s secondary differentiation into an alpha had spread. He was now an A-rank, the same as Qi Wense, but he wasn’t working for Qi Mao anymore. He had even left his family and joined a “rival” company, helping them compete against his own father and younger brother…
“Xiao Zhao.”
A man smiled and shook Qi Zhao’s hand. “Did you change your contact information? I sent you an email two weeks ago, but you didn’t read it.”
Qi Zhao chuckled. “Sorry, I was in rut that week.”
He didn’t specify whose rut it was, keeping the information vague. “I didn’t check my emails, and I mostly used my foreign email address while abroad. I forgot to log into my domestic one.”
“It’s fine, not a big deal.”
The man released his hand. “It was just an invitation to a banquet. Now that you’ve settled down in Kyoto, there will be plenty of opportunities.”
Another person approached, taking off her sunglasses and extending her hand. “Xiao Zhao, long time no see.”
“Aunt Chu.” Qi Zhao shook her hand. “It’s been a while.”
Aunt Chu chuckled. She was an alpha, not particularly high-ranking, but with the genetic advantages of an alpha, she was almost as tall as Qi Zhao. “Tang Huaiyuan is truly clever, poaching you, having you take charge of the Yancheng project and solve his problems, and even sending you to participate in this bidding. If it were anyone else, being thrown into the deep end like this, I would have my doubts, but it’s you.”
She smiled and shook her head. Even after seven years, she still had absolute faith in Qi Zhao’s abilities. “It seems we’re just here to make up the numbers today.”
Qi Zhao humbly demurred. Aunt Chu said with genuine regret, “It’s a pity my company isn’t in Kyoto. Otherwise, I would have been the first to recruit you.”
She was hinting at whether Qi Zhao would be interested in working for her.
Qi Zhao did have a good relationship with her. They had “crossed swords” a few times, and although Qi Mao had snatched a few projects from her, she didn’t blame Qi Zhao. On the contrary, she admired him. She always attended Qi Zhao’s birthday banquets, bringing thoughtful gifts, and often saying it was a pity he wasn’t her child.
She had some health issues and, despite being married to an omega partner for many years, had no children.
Qi Zhao knew that if he agreed, Aunt Chu would definitely offer him a high position.
Him representing Tang Sheng here was a clear message that his relationship with the Qi family had broken down. Not to mention, he and Qi Wense had no contact now.
But…
“It is a pity.” Qi Zhao smiled. “I won’t be leaving Kyoto.”
Unless Qi Wei left Kyoto. He would definitely follow Qi Wei.
After exchanging pleasantries, the bidding began.
The bidding process involved presenting their proposals and answering questions from the government representatives.
So it was quite time-consuming.
There were five companies participating, each with only fifty minutes, a true test of their abilities.
But after it was over, everyone knew the outcome.
Tang Sheng would most likely win.
Qi Zhao was too composed, and Qi Wense, as the person who knew him best, knew very well that Qi Zhao must have revised the proposal; it wasn’t entirely Tang Huaiyuan’s work…
He quietly looked at Qi Zhao, who was sitting not far away, and lowered his eyes.
He had once thought that if he differentiated into an alpha, while his brother was just a beta, he would be able to surpass him, to prove that he was stronger, and to win his affection.
But the reality was that a brilliant pearl didn’t need any embellishment; it shone brightly on its own.
After some discussion, the government representatives announced the results—they chose Tang Sheng.
Qi Zhao, as the representative, naturally shook hands with them, expressing his pleasure at their cooperation.
One of them even said, “Mr. Qi’s proposal was truly comprehensive, addressing some issues we hadn’t even considered. I can see that everyone is convinced.”
He was referring to the other participating companies, who had no objections to Tang Sheng winning the bid.
More polite exchanges followed.
After the event ended, Aunt Chu called out to Qi Zhao, “Xiao Zhao, want to have dinner together?”
Qi Zhao shook his head. “Sorry.”
He smiled apologetically. “I have an appointment tonight.”
“So busy?”
Aunt Chu didn’t press him. “Then you go ahead. We’ll make plans another time.”
Qi Zhao left and, as expected, saw the car waiting outside.
He and the assistant got into the car. He sat in the back seat, and as soon as he did, he was pulled into Qi Wei’s embrace.
Qi Zhao paused slightly, not pushing Qi Wei away, but stiffening slightly from the alpha’s hot body temperature.
It was still very hot today.
Qi Wei also held his hand, his liquor-scented pheromones, undetectable to Qi Zhao, wrapping around him, washing away the other scents clinging to him.
The alpha didn’t speak, but Qi Zhao could guess what he was thinking.
He hesitated, wondering if he should say something to Qi Wei, when Qi Wei spoke first—
“Sorry.”
Qi Zhao was stunned. “…Why are you apologizing to me?”
Qi Wei said softly, “You were discussing business, shaking hands and even hugging out of courtesy is unavoidable, but I still mind it.”
Qi Zhao truly felt that Qi Wei, a super S-rank alpha, was always so humble in front of him.
“…But didn’t you tell me to stay away from them?”
Qi Zhao said honestly, “I don’t mind if you just use your pheromones to cover up the other scents on me.”
Qi Wei lowered his eyes, his grip on Qi Zhao’s waist tightening. His tone was still slow and gentle, as if trying to appear harmless. “Ah Zhao, you should know what it means for an alpha to cover someone in their pheromones.”
It was a territorial claim.
Qi Zhao knew, of course. “…Yes.”
So, this meant he didn’t mind being claimed by Qi Wei, being considered his possession.
Qi Wei moved his lips, the words “Do you perhaps like me a little too?” circling on the tip of his tongue before turning into a soft sigh. “Ah Zhao, don’t indulge me like this.”
It would truly make him even more greedy.
Qi Zhao understood Qi Wei’s hint. He paused, feeling the need to correct the alpha. “I’m not indulging you. If I didn’t like it, I would push you away.”
Just like how he had blocked Qi Wei when he tried to kiss him.
However, Qi Wei’s focus shifted.
Qi Wei raised an eyebrow, a playful smile on his lips, his tone light and cheerful. “So, Ah Zhao, you truly like me hugging you, smelling you, and sleeping with you.”
Qi Zhao was rendered speechless by his triple confirmation of affection. “…?”
Where did this logic come from?
