42
Qi Wei had been worried that Qi Zhao would be unhappy.
But after Qi Zhao agreed, he waited patiently for him to calm down before suggesting they wash up.
He followed Qi Wei into the bathroom without saying anything, just asking if he had any work to do tonight.
The people Qi Wei paid millions in salary weren’t incompetent; Qi Wei could leave the company unattended for a few days without any problems. So naturally, there was no urgent work.
Therefore, after washing up, Qi Wei once again slept with a fully conscious Qi Zhao.
Everything seemed normal; Qi Zhao’s attitude towards him was no different than usual.
But Qi Wei felt inexplicably tense, even a little guilty.
This made him hold Qi Zhao even tighter. Qi Zhao, in his sleep, dreamt of suffocating, like being entangled by seaweed and pulled into the deep sea, unable to struggle.
So Qi Zhao woke up a little early the next day.
Partly because he had slept for so long in the car.
But the moment he opened his eyes, he felt Qi Wei holding him tighter than usual, his arms and legs wrapped around him like chains, his own hands resting on his body, trapping him completely, unable to move.
Qi Zhao: “…”
Had agreeing to let Qi Wei have him surveilled made him even more insecure?
No.
Qi Zhao wanted to retake Alpha Behavioral Studies.
He hadn’t missed a single class, hadn’t failed the course, and had even gotten good grades, yet he couldn’t understand Qi Wei.
Were super S-rank alphas this unique?
Qi Zhao moved, but as soon as he did, Qi Wei, as if startled awake, abruptly tightened his embrace.
The already tight embrace became even more constricting, squeezing Qi Zhao to the point of making him gasp involuntarily, his voice strained. “Qi Wei!”
Qi Wei, as if jolted awake from a dream, loosened his grip slightly.
Qi Zhao could finally breathe and, unusually, was a little angry. “What are you doing?”
Qi Wei paused, lowered his head, and tried to bury his face in Qi Zhao’s chest. Not being pushed away, he sighed in relief, but didn’t speak.
Qi Zhao felt a headache coming on. Alphas were said to be strong, yet also sensitive and vulnerable.
But they usually only showed this side to their partners… Forget it, for Qi Wei, even if he hadn’t agreed, he was already considered his partner.
Qi Zhao sighed softly, his gaze sweeping across Qi Wei’s neck.
From this angle, he could only see a small part of it, but it was enough to remind him of Qi Wei’s gland problem.
Was it because of his gland?
Qi Zhao moved his hand.
Qi Wei suppressed his instincts, letting Qi Zhao pull his hand out of his embrace. But his pheromones were raging uncontrollably; if they could materialize, they would probably destroy the entire room in an instant.
However—
After pulling his hand free, Qi Zhao placed it on Qi Wei’s head, unconsciously speaking in a gentle voice, like a spring breeze, a winter sun, or a calm sea.
Soft and all-encompassing.
Qi Zhao asked softly, “Is your gland uncomfortable?”
Qi Wei’s lips moved, and he finally asked the question, “Ah Zhao, do you… hate me?”
Qi Zhao paused.
He finally realized something, and after a moment of silence, his feelings were complicated.
Qi Wei knew that what he did was wrong, but he still wanted to do it?
“…No.”
Qi Zhao thought for a moment, then answered honestly, following his heart. “I know you’re also trying to protect me, and that’s enough.”
What he wanted had always been simple, yet difficult to obtain.
But at least until now, Qi Wei had been doing everything right. Qi Zhao hadn’t told him the correct answer, yet it seemed… Qi Wei himself was the correct answer.
Was he?
Qi Zhao was still hesitant, unsure. More importantly, he hadn’t yet figured out his own feelings.
“I won’t hurt you.” Qi Wei raised his head and said seriously, “Ah Zhao, I will never hurt you.”
Qi Zhao met his gaze and smiled faintly. “Yes.”
He said, “That’s enough.”
As long as Qi Wei wouldn’t hurt him, it was enough for Qi Zhao.
Let the cage be small.
He wasn’t a kūnpéng(a mythical giant bird, symbolizing boundless freedom), nor a hawk.
He was just a small fish, a small bird.
Too much space, and he would be lost, confused.
Now that they had talked it out, Qi Wei finally calmed down a bit.
But while they were washing up and preparing for breakfast, Qi Zhao still asked, “Is your gland alright?”
“It’s fine.” Hearing his question, Qi Wei habitually touched the side of his neck. “It’s more stable when you’re with me, I can control it.”
Qi Zhao heard this for the first time and couldn’t help but feel both curious and amused. “You make it sound like your gland isn’t a part of you.”
Qi Wei looked at his smiling face, his eyes darkening slightly, but his tone remained unchanged. “It is a part of me.”
He said, “Precisely because it’s a part of me, I can control it when you’re with me.”
Qi Zhao froze, realizing a moment later the profound implication of Qi Wei’s words, and suddenly felt the toothbrush in his hand burning hot.
This man… why did alphas have such an advantage in romantic gestures?!
Just because they had to court omegas?!
Qi Zhao fell silent, but Qi Wei wasn’t nervous.
He looked at Qi Zhao’s slightly reddened ears, his lips curving into a genuine smile.
His Ah Zhao wasn’t avoiding him this time, wasn’t pursing his lips with that lost-for-words expression, but… he was shy.
Qi Wei’s heart itched unbearably, so he hugged Qi Zhao from behind.
Qi Zhao paused, not pushing him away, just saying a little embarrassedly, “…At least wait until I’m done washing up before hugging me.”
Clinging to him like this every day was no different from being in rut.
Was Qi Wei in rut 365 days a year?
Qi Wei smiled faintly, unable to help himself. “Ah Zhao.”
He murmured softly, a hint of longing in his voice, “I want to kiss you.”
He really did.
He was going crazy with wanting to.
His Ah Zhao was so cute.
Qi Zhao: “…No!”
“Oh.”
It’s okay.
Qi Wei thought.
This time, he hesitated for two seconds before saying no.
He would keep asking; perhaps one day, he would agree.
Qi Zhao had assumed that after breakfast, Qi Wei would take him to places related to his childhood, but Qi Wei asked him if he wanted to go for a ride.
“Motorcycles?”
Qi Zhao did know how to ride. He wasn’t surprised that Qi Wei knew. He had even participated in motorcycle races abroad because he didn’t want to use Qi Mu’s money. Some international races offered high prize money, but the risks were also high.
Qi Zhao wasn’t afraid; he was a skilled rider and had won many times.
He had thought Qi Wei wouldn’t want him to do such dangerous things.
Even Qi Zhao himself didn’t recommend it to others. Hua Tang had asked him to teach him, but he had refused, telling Hua Tang to stick to four wheels; his life was more important.
But Qi Wei nodded. “Yes.”
He said casually, “The highway here is famous. Many motorcycle enthusiasts like to come here. You probably haven’t ridden here before, Ah Zhao.”
Qi Zhao hadn’t.
When he was still the young master of the Qi family, he had been too busy. Even when he had time to travel, he didn’t have the opportunity to go to a city over three thousand kilometers away from Kyoto just to speed on the highway.
So Qi Wei smiled and asked, “Do you want to go?”
Qi Zhao had to admit, he was tempted. “Yes, have you booked the motorcycles?”
Qi Wei smiled. “Come with me. I have a surprise for you.”
Qi Zhao followed him into the elevator and heard Qi Wei say, “Ah Zhao, close your eyes.”
Qi Zhao obediently closed his eyes, but couldn’t help but ask, “So mysterious?”
“Since it’s a surprise, of course, it has to be mysterious.”
Qi Wei held Qi Zhao’s hand. “I’m holding your hand; you won’t fall.”
Qi Zhao trusted Qi Wei completely. “Okay.”
He joked, “You’re making such a big fuss, aren’t you afraid I’ll be disappointed?”
“No.”
Qi Wei didn’t say, “You’ll definitely like it,” but rather, “If you don’t like it, it means I didn’t choose well, and I’ll try harder next time.”
He said, “But if you do like it, the feeling of a perfectly executed surprise will be very satisfying.”
Qi Zhao’s heart was touched again.
The scent of the underground parking lot wafted in as Qi Wei led Qi Zhao out.
Qi Zhao, eyes closed, listened to Qi Wei’s soft instructions, “Turn,” “There’s a step,” following him closely, not afraid even when he heard cars whizzing past.
He knew Qi Wei wouldn’t hurt him.
When they stopped, Qi Wei said, “Okay, you can open your eyes now.”
Qi Zhao opened his eyes and saw a pitch-black motorcycle parked before him.
It was a heavy motorcycle. Although it looked new, upon closer inspection, it wasn’t a brand new model, just very well-maintained, with some legally modified parts.
Qi Zhao stared at the motorcycle, his throat suddenly dry.
He reached out and touched the handlebar, speechless for a moment.
This was his motorcycle.
Or rather… the motorcycle that Qi Mu had sold after he went abroad, his most prized possession.
He had modified it himself, won competitions with it, and even engraved his name discreetly on a customizable part.
This motorcycle held immense significance for Qi Zhao.
It represented his entire youth, or, in a more dramatic sense, the past Qi Zhao.
Because after that, he never rode his own motorcycle again, only borrowing from friends for competitions.
And he didn’t compete for fun or to show off his skills, but to earn money.
“…You bought it?”
“Yes.”
Qi Wei smiled. “I borrowed money from the President to buy it.”
The “President” he was referring to wasn’t the President at the time.
Qi Wei had a very close relationship with the President; everyone knew this, including Qi Zhao.
But hearing that Qi Wei had actually borrowed money from the President to buy it… he felt a mix of amusement and disbelief. “You don’t even ride. Didn’t he say anything?”
“No.”
Qi Wei rarely showed such childish pride in front of Qi Zhao. “He knew I bought it for you.”
Qi Zhao was stunned. “He… knew you liked me that early on?”
Qi Wei raised an eyebrow.
Ah Zhao could finally say such words now.
“Yes,” Qi Wei said, “when I borrowed money from him, he even teased me, saying that if I didn’t win you over, he would make fun of me for this for the rest of my life.”
Qi Zhao couldn’t help but ask, “Then, what did you say?”
Qi Wei was a little surprised that he asked, but he hid it. He smiled, a knowing look in his eyes, but his expression remained casual. “I told him to laugh all he wanted.”
“It’s worth a little ridicule to pursue my future boyfriend.”
