40
Tang Huaiyuan’s assistant returned to Kyoto first. Qi Zhao’s return ticket was handled by Qi Wei.
However, Qi Wei didn’t buy a ticket back to Kyoto, but to Guangtang City. Qi Zhao had vaguely heard about Qi Wei’s past and knew that his omega mother was from Guangtang.
Was Qi Wei… taking him to the place where he grew up?
Qi Zhao, led by Qi Wei through the VIP passage and onto the plane, had a hunch about Qi Wei’s intentions.
So when Qi Wei sat on the bed and asked if he wanted to sleep for a while, Qi Zhao didn’t say much, just climbed onto the bed, leaned against Qi Wei’s arm, and said, “I can’t really sleep.”
He had slept for a long time last night.
“Then how about a movie?”
Qi Wei picked up the remote and turned on the TV screen. “What do you want to watch?”
They were on a Qi family airline.
The first-class cabin was a private compartment with a bed, a small desk, and an ergonomic chair.
There were even “double rooms” for couples.
The bed in the double room was larger, but still much smaller than a regular double bed. Qi Wei alone practically occupied the entire bed, and with Qi Zhao… it was truly cramped.
But Qi Wei didn’t mind; he was happy to be squeezed together with Qi Zhao like this.
Since lying down wasn’t very comfortable, Qi Wei had Qi Zhao sit in front of him, between his legs, leaning against his chest, using him as a backrest, contentedly wrapping his arms around him.
Qi Zhao didn’t have anything particular in mind, so Qi Wei randomly chose an older crime movie.
Qi Zhao had actually seen it before, with Qi Wense at home. They had even made a bet on who the murderer was. If Qi Wense won, he wouldn’t have to call Qi Zhao “brother” anymore, and Qi Zhao would have to accompany him on his junior high graduation trip. If Qi Zhao won, Qi Wense would have to obediently call him “brother,” not just “Qi Zhao,” and wouldn’t be allowed to enter his room without permission.
Naturally, Qi Zhao had won.
Otherwise, even if he had been sent abroad, he would have returned to fulfill his promise to Qi Wense.
Speaking of which, Qi Wense was only nineteen years old this year.
—Qi Zhao would turn twenty-five this winter, and Qi Wense was six years younger, turning nineteen in the spring. Alphas were quick learners, and in their social class, most alphas who differentiated before fourteen would complete their studies and obtain a university degree before eighteen.
Qi Wei hadn’t because he differentiated between nineteen and twenty. And even though he was designated a super S-rank alpha, it was a time of peace, and Qi Yuanyu and the others naturally had their own agendas, preferring Qi Wei to be a symbolic figurehead, so there were some disagreements.
Anyway, Qi Zhao didn’t mention the bet with Qi Wense to Qi Wei. He had a feeling that Qi Wei didn’t like Qi Wense very much, especially hearing about him from Qi Zhao.
Qi Zhao didn’t understand why.
Perhaps Qi Wei thought that because Qi Wense was his blood-related younger brother, he might be persuaded by Qi Wense to leave him; or perhaps it was because they were both alphas, so he was particularly averse to him.
But the second possibility… Qi Wei had a decent relationship with Tang Huaiyuan; they had even been photographed fishing together in the news. And his relationship with Xu Chenzhou also seemed quite good; Xu Chenzhou had been by his side for a while.
So it was probably the first reason.
Qi Zhao tilted his head slightly and looked up at the man who seemed to want to be attached to him at all times.
Qi Wei noticed his movement and gaze and looked down, a hint of confusion in his eyes. “What’s wrong?”
“…Nothing,” Qi Zhao said. “I just want to eat something.”
Qi Wei pressed the call button. “What do you want to eat?”
“Some fruit or snacks?” Qi Zhao wasn’t picky. “Whatever’s available.”
They were on a plane, after all.
Then… a flight attendant came over with a food cart.
And when she knocked, and Qi Wei said, “Come in,” he didn’t let go of Qi Zhao. He still had his arm around Qi Zhao’s waist, his head resting on his shoulder, his body pressed against Qi Zhao’s back, his possessiveness evident.
Qi Zhao just paused when he heard Qi Wei say “come in,” not saying anything.
They weren’t doing anything inappropriate. Qi Wei was just holding him, both of them fully clothed, not even their shoes off.
Qi Zhao truly didn’t mind letting others know about their relationship.
The flight attendant, trained by the Qi family, wouldn’t even glance at the passengers, just professionally introducing the food and drinks on the cart.
There were several kinds of fruit, all expensive, and the snacks weren’t just ordinary snacks either. The long list of descriptions made one’s head spin, and Qi Zhao knew that from the moment Qi Wei boarded this flight, all the staff were on high alert.
So Qi Zhao said helplessly, “Just the grapes and cookies, please.”
The flight attendant replied, “Yes, sir,” placed the two plates on the small table pulled down from above, and left with the cart.
After she left, Qi Zhao teased Qi Wei, “I always thought my previous life was quite extravagant, but today I’ve learned there’s always someone richer and more influential.”
Qi Wei smiled and pulled the small table closer, placing it in front of Qi Zhao, then wiped his hands with a hot towel. “It’s okay, you’re the young master of the ‘young master’.”
As he spoke, he picked up a grape, peeled it skillfully, and held it to Qi Zhao’s lips.
Qi Zhao couldn’t turn his head or move back; Qi Wei had him completely trapped, leaving him no space to escape.
An alpha’s possessiveness…
Qi Zhao had no choice but to open his mouth and let Qi Wei feed him the grape.
The first thing Qi Zhao felt was the sweetness of the grape. It had been chilled in the refrigerator, and the cool sensation was refreshing.
However… as Qi Wei pulled his hand back, his fingertip seemed to brush against Qi Zhao’s lips unintentionally.
His fingertips were burning hot, just like his embrace. The air conditioning on the plane was set quite low, but being held like this by Qi Wei, Qi Zhao was already starting to feel warm.
Qi Zhao paused and said, “Qi Wei, I can do it myself.”
Qi Wei had already picked up another grape, peeling it as he said softly, “It’s not convenient for you like this, and I’m quite good at peeling grapes, so let me do it.”
Qi Zhao: “?”
There was so much fuss over peeling a grape?
“…If you let go of me, it’ll be convenient for me.”
His words made sense, but Qi Wei lowered his eyes, his voice softening.
“Ah Zhao, I don’t want to hide it from you, so… my gland has been a little uncomfortable these past two days.”
Qi Wei continued slowly, “The medicine isn’t working either. Although I felt much better after holding you last night, I feel a little… anxious when you’re not with me.”
It was that tone again, carefully choosing his words, afraid of scaring him. Even though Qi Wei’s tone wasn’t particularly cautious or humble, it still tugged at Qi Zhao’s heartstrings, so much so that he didn’t even suspect that Qi Wei’s words were a bit too deliberate.
After all… Qi Wei’s gland problem was real.
Qi Zhao pursed his lips slightly. “…Why didn’t you tell me?”
“You were busy these past few days.” Qi Wei lowered his head, resting it on Qi Zhao’s shoulder again, his soft and gentle tone sounding particularly considerate, so considerate that it made one’s heart ache. “This problem isn’t new; the discomfort is common. It’s just a few days; it’s not a big deal. It’s just that perhaps because you weren’t by my side before, and now you are, I’ve become… addicted to your comfort…”
He stopped at just the right moment, not saying more. Qi Zhao was intelligent, and intelligent people had their drawbacks, they were difficult to deceive, but they also had their advantages; they didn’t need much prompting to overthink.
Qi Wei’s tone was casual. “But it’s fine. Now that I can hold you, it’s fine.”
Qi Zhao: “…”
Whether Qi Wei’s words were true or not, at least one thing was certain.
When Qi Wei held up the second grape and asked if he wanted more, Qi Zhao opened his mouth, letting the opportunistic alpha hand-feed him.
His fingertips brushed against Qi Zhao’s lips, then grazed his lower teeth, lingering on his lips before casually peeling the third grape.
As if, as long as Qi Wei didn’t say it, and Qi Zhao didn’t mention it, the growing arousal pressing against Qi Zhao’s back didn’t exist.
Deliberately ignoring the obvious.
Qi Zhao calling him a “dog” truly wasn’t wrong.
It was the same with the cookies. Because they weren’t bite-sized, and Qi Zhao didn’t like stuffing his mouth, he had to take two or three bites when Qi Wei fed him, resulting in unavoidable contact.
It was almost like he was actively kissing Qi Wei’s fingertips.
As for stopping?
Impossible.
Because the alpha seemed to be indulging in some strange habit, wanting to feed him like this. When Qi Zhao said he was full, he gently pressed his palm against Qi Zhao’s stomach through his clothes. “Are you full?”
Qi Wei’s tone was still gentle, like a patient pediatrician or teacher, his dark heart hidden beneath a caring facade. “You can’t move around on the plane. Let me rub your stomach for you.”
For Qi Zhao, between the two options, it was better to let Qi Wei feed him.
Because having his stomach rubbed was…
He hadn’t had anyone rub his stomach since he was a child, except for doctors during checkups!
Not to mention the “weapon” pressing against him from behind!
So in the end, when Qi Zhao recalled the crime movie, he no longer remembered the bet he had made with Qi Wense.
His mind was filled with Qi Wei.
Qi Wei’s heartbeat, Qi Wei’s body temperature, Qi Wei’s breath against his neck, Qi Wei’s scent, Qi Wei’s fingertips brushing his lips, Qi Wei’s…
Although it wasn’t the first time he felt it, Qi Zhao still found it overwhelming.
An alpha’s genes, a super S-rank alpha…
He thought he could never take that step with Qi Wei.
Even if he did fall for Qi Wei one day, he probably wouldn’t be able to accept it.
Because he couldn’t.
He wasn’t an omega; his body couldn’t handle an alpha.
He would die.
