36
“You…”
Qi Zhao was speechless for a long time, a stark contrast to his articulate and quick-witted self during the bidding. He finally managed to stammer, “It’s a pity you didn’t join the debate team in university.”
Qi Wei chuckled, his heart melting completely, turning into a ball of cotton that Qi Zhao could manipulate at will.
This time was different from the last. Qi Zhao hadn’t said, “I just said I don’t dislike it, not that I like it.”
He knew Qi Zhao. If his feelings hadn’t changed even slightly, Qi Zhao would have definitely said that.
Qi Zhao was… soft-hearted, but he didn’t want to lie, to avoid any misunderstandings, afraid of giving him false hope.
That’s why Qi Wei was so happy.
So happy that he lowered his head, his back hunched as he buried his face in the crook of Qi Zhao’s neck, making no further movements.
However, he had already done enough.
The hand Qi Zhao had used to shake hands with others was now held captive in Qi Wei’s palm, their skin touching.
His waist was encircled by Qi Wei’s arm, his body pressed against Qi Wei’s through their clothes, leaving him with no room to move, completely trapped.
But Qi Zhao didn’t feel any discomfort, not even the stiffness and helplessness from before.
He looked down at Qi Wei, who was completely relaxed in his embrace, and inexplicably thought that Qi Wei was like an exhausted office worker returning home after a long day, collapsing onto the comfortable sofa or bed…
That sense of relaxation and comfort.
As if just lying down could wash away all the fatigue, allowing one to “recharge.”
Qi Zhao suddenly understood why novels often described hugging a loved one as “recharging.”
For Qi Wei, hugging him was like recharging, wasn’t it?
It just so happened that the alpha could soothe his gland by holding and smelling him.
This analogy was truly apt.
Qi Zhao raised his free arm and placed it on Qi Wei’s back, hugging him.
Qi Wei paused, then couldn’t help but tighten his embrace. And since Qi Zhao didn’t object, his restless pheromones completely calmed down, gently wrapping around Qi Zhao, just like Qi Wei’s heart.
Qi Zhao let him hold him all the way until the car parked in the underground garage and they reached the restaurant. Only then did Qi Wei finally let go.
Qi Zhao moved his shoulders.
Qi Wei noticed his movement and raised his hand to massage his shoulders. “Uncomfortable?”
Qi Zhao didn’t hide it, saying with a smile, “I’ve been too busy these past few days, haven’t had time to exercise, and my shoulders are a little sore.”
Hearing this, Qi Wei continued massaging him.
His technique was good. Qi Zhao wasn’t new to massages; he wouldn’t moan from just a few rubs, but he did feel relaxed.
He wanted Qi Wei to continue massaging him.
“I’ll come to your room tonight.”
Qi Wei seemed to know what he was thinking. “A massage chair isn’t as comfortable as a human massage. Tell me if you have any other discomfort.”
“Hmm…”
Qi Zhao’s mind wandered for a moment. As Qi Wei let go of him and got out of the car, he wondered how Qi Wei knew how to do this.
Did he learn it while studying medicine?
Did medical school teach this?
And then Qi Zhao didn’t realize that Qi Wei had successfully climbed into his bed.
Qiu Ji wasn’t joining them, so Tang Huaiyuan’s assistant was arranged to eat with him.
Perhaps because the world was truly small, Qi Zhao and Qi Wei ran into Aunt Chu when they entered the restaurant. Besides Aunt Chu, there were also Qi Wense and several other people who had participated in the bidding.
They seemed to have made plans for dinner. Although they were “friendly competitors,” it wasn’t unusual for them to discuss business.
Especially since some of them had undeveloped land, and if someone’s land happened to be within their planned project area, it was common for them to exchange or collaborate.
Qi Zhao didn’t notice them at first. It was Qi Wei, with his sharp alpha senses, who sensed their presence and immediately released Qi Zhao’s hand.
Qi Zhao paused and, as he turned to look at Qi Wei, saw Qi Wense and the others walking towards them.
There were also alphas among them, who naturally noticed Qi Wei’s presence and immediately went up to greet him.
This was Qi Wei, after all.
Aunt Chu also came up to greet him, a hint of respect in her tone. “Second Young Master.”
Qi Wei’s attitude towards them was noticeably colder.
He nodded slightly, not bothering to ask them anything, just gesturing vaguely. But there were always people who wanted to get close, especially seeing Qi Zhao standing beside Qi Wei, and some alphas even smelled the faint lingering scent of Qi Wei’s pheromones on Qi Zhao.
Plus, it was no secret that Qi Wei had sought out Qi Zhao before he went abroad, and there was also the recent incident of Qi Wei inviting Qi Zhao for dinner upon his return…
Someone used a joking tone to mask their probing question. “Xiao Zhao, so you had an appointment with Second Young Master. No wonder you declined our dinner invitation.”
He was considered Qi Zhao’s elder, so calling him “Xiao Zhao” wasn’t inappropriate.
But before Qi Zhao could speak, Qi Wei said, “I was the one who asked him out.”
Almost without hesitation, he dropped the bombshell in front of everyone. “I’m pursuing him.”
His tone was calm and distant. “Excuse me, everyone, I don’t want to talk about work during my personal time. Please enjoy yourselves.”
He then turned to Qi Zhao, his tone softening. “Shall we go?”
And it was a question.
Qi Zhao glanced at him helplessly, then looked at the elders, who were staring at him with wide eyes. His gaze didn’t linger on Qi Wense for too long. He just nodded at Aunt Chu. “Sorry, Aunt Chu, we’ll have dinner together another time.”
“Okay…”
Qi Zhao gestured to Qi Wei. “Let’s go.”
As they walked towards their private room, Qi Wense suddenly called out from behind, “Brother.”
Qi Zhao paused and turned to look at him, a hint of confusion in his eyes, but only confusion.
It was the look of a stranger. Alphas weren’t the only ones with sharp senses; Qi Wense naturally had them too.
He felt Qi Zhao’s gaze like a knife, stabbing his heart and making him lose the courage to say anything more. “…It’s nothing.”
He lowered his voice. “Just…”
I haven’t called you that since you came back.
Qi Wense couldn’t say those words. After he said “it’s nothing,” Qi Zhao simply nodded and turned to leave.
Just like many times before, he could only watch Qi Zhao’s retreating figure.
Even though he was just a beta.
Even if he had differentiated into an alpha, he could still only watch Qi Zhao’s back.
As soon as they entered the private room, Qi Zhao was, as expected, pulled into Qi Wei’s embrace.
Because Qi Wei’s movements were a bit forceful, he stumbled slightly, but Qi Wei steadied him, trapping him between his arms and the door, leaving him with nowhere to run, the thought itself extinguished.
Qi Zhao’s arms were locked within Qi Wei’s embrace.
Although he wasn’t an alpha or an omega, Qi Zhao could instantly sense Qi Wei’s displeasure, or rather… his jealousy.
Qi Zhao felt a headache coming on.
Not the kind of dislike, but a helpless, what-to-do kind of headache.
Because he felt that Qi Wei was too insecure. He had already given Qi Wei many “assurances,” but Qi Wei was truly like a goldfish, his memory lasting only seven seconds, forgetting that he wouldn’t leave him, getting jealous at every turn.
Every time Qi Zhao saw him like this, he felt like his alpha behavioral studies were useless.
He couldn’t apply any of it.
Qi Wei’s behavior couldn’t be explained by alpha behavioral studies.
“I had to give him some face.”
Qi Zhao took the initiative to explain. “Qi Wei, there were so many people there. Completely ignoring him would have been too rude.”
He wasn’t a child anymore; he had to consider social decorum.
“Yes,” Qi Wei murmured, “I know.”
Of course, he knew, he knew everything, but he was still jealous.
Especially thinking about how Qi Wense had lived under the same roof as Qi Zhao for so long…
Qi Wei tightened his grip on Qi Zhao’s arms.
He wanted to lock him away.
If he couldn’t see them, he wouldn’t have to worry about saving face.
“Ah Zhao.”
Qi Wei murmured, “Am I being too troublesome?”
He was two years older than Qi Zhao, yet so possessive, childish, and clingy in matters of the heart.
Qi Zhao paused.
He looked up at Qi Wei, who was also looking down at him, and said softly, “Actually, I should be the one asking you that. You clearly don’t want to let go, but you have to consider my feelings, whether I’ll be gossiped about, and force yourself to.”
Liking him was tiring.
Qi Zhao knew this himself.
He wasn’t easily swayed, and the kind of love he wanted… not many people could offer it, and he was still somewhat avoidant.
If Qi Wei only wanted a transaction, even if it involved physical intimacy, as long as it was made clear from the beginning, Qi Zhao could do it.
With Qi Wei, and Qi Wei wasn’t promiscuous, only with him… Qi Zhao could accept it.
But he knew that Qi Wei wanted more than just his body; he also wanted his heart.
He was a greedy alpha.
In that case, Qi Wei would be very tired.
His heart was buried deep beneath layers of dark, damp mud, difficult to find, let alone retrieve.
“It’s nothing.”
Qi Wei truly didn’t think it was a big deal, just… He smiled faintly. “I still hope that one day, I can hold your hand and tell them, ‘You’re my partner, my lover, my…'”
“Stop.”
The originally somewhat heavy topic was immediately derailed by Qi Wei’s wishful thinking, the oppressive atmosphere replaced by a smoky ambiguity. Qi Zhao was amused, yet also felt a strange heat, his nerves tingling slightly. “You really…”
Qi Wei tilted his head slightly, his expression innocent and gentle. “Hmm?”
Qi Zhao racked his brains to find the right words. “You’re such a dog.” (A common Chinese internet slang used to describe someone who is whipped or overly doting in a relationship)
Qi Wei: “?”
Qi Zhao smiled. “Don’t question me; you know it yourself.”
He had thought Qi Wei was feeling emotional again, but he hadn’t expected this.
And although Qi Wei hadn’t let them assume that their “transaction” involved anything physical, openly declaring that he was pursuing him… would probably spread throughout their circle tonight.
Wasn’t this also a way of staking his claim, asserting his dominance?
Any naive person would be moved to tears by his “respect.”
It was just a pity that Qi Zhao wasn’t naive.
But!
Looking at Qi Wei, who coughed slightly and then held his hand, not letting go even for the short walk to the dining table, Qi Zhao inexplicably thought that perhaps Qi Wei could truly give him the kind of love he wanted.
Unique, not shared with anyone.
Impossible.
Qi Zhao mocked his own childishness inwardly.
An Xinzhi had shared her love with Qi Mu, and she had gradually withered when she sensed Qi Mu’s love fading. Even though her reason told her to stay strong for her son, she couldn’t.
After An Xinzhi’s death, Qi Mu, influenced by pheromones, fell in love with a highly compatible omega and started a new family…
No one in this world would love only one person.
He himself couldn’t do it; how could he expect others to, let alone expect to receive such love?
