44
The small town Qi Wei brought him to had its own unique charm.
After parking the motorcycle, Qi Zhao took off his helmet.
His hair was a little messy, so Qi Wei naturally reached out and smoothed it.
After he was done, Qi Zhao took off Qi Wei’s helmet for him.
He no longer cared whether the alpha could do it himself or not. It was just a simple gesture, and if Qi Wei liked him doing these things for him, then so be it.
However…
Qi Wei lowered his head slightly, offering his head to Qi Zhao without saying anything, but his intentions were clear.
Qi Zhao sighed inwardly, having to engage in this public display of affection.
He raised his hand and smoothed Qi Wei’s hair, the previous scene flashing through his mind, and couldn’t help but say, “It looks good even when it’s messy.”
There was a messy kind of beauty, and if Qi Wei’s gaze weren’t so intense, there might even be a sense of vulnerability.
Qi Zhao also had a protective instinct.
Sometimes, the vulnerability Qi Wei displayed before him did evoke a desire to protect, to pull him behind him, to shield him with his wings.
Even though he knew the alpha before him was a super S-rank, the most powerful person in the world, he still had this urge.
Qi Wei remained still, just looking up at Qi Zhao.
He was only two years older than Qi Zhao, after all. When he wasn’t deliberately suppressing his emotions, his expression was bright and open, making his already handsome face even more captivating.
“Ah Zhao,” Qi Wei asked with a soft smile, “you like my face, don’t you?”
If he didn’t, he wouldn’t say his messy hair looked good.
Qi Zhao: “…”
As if burned, he retracted his hand and turned away, not looking at Qi Wei, holding his helmet. “Why do you always connect everything to ‘liking’?”
Qi Wei, watching his small actions, smiled even more deeply and reached out to take Qi Zhao’s hand. “I know the answer.”
Qi Zhao: “.”
He knew, so why did he have to say it?
So annoying.
Qi Wei happily held Qi Zhao’s hand, even the scenery of the small town seemed different now. “I was born here.”
Qi Zhao paused and turned to look at Qi Wei.
Qi Wei’s eyes still held a faint smile, as if he was telling someone else’s story. “This is where Qi Zhi Zhang met my mother.”
He paused, glancing at the sky, then at his watch. “I’ve booked a table at a restaurant. Let’s talk while we eat.”
Only a little over a decade had passed; many things here hadn’t changed.
As Qi Wei walked through the streets, looking at the shops and the scenery in the distance, everything felt both familiar and strange.
But there were also many new things, like a grand, glittering hotel.
The restaurant Qi Wei booked was inside, a semi-open-air restaurant on a high floor, already cleared out.
He held Qi Zhao’s hand as they entered; there was no need to change into formal wear. Because—
“Second Young Master.”
The staff, having received prior instructions, bowed in unison, not looking at them or speaking, just leading them upstairs.
Qi Wei didn’t delve into his family’s not-so-secret secrets yet, just saying to Qi Zhao in a casual tone, “I wonder if you’ve tried the hot pot here, Ah Zhao. It’s different from other places.”
Qi Zhao had been to Guangtang before, but he hadn’t tried the hot pot, so he was interested.
When they reached the restaurant, the staff had already set up the pot and the meat, quietly retreating through another passage.
During dinner, Qi Wei didn’t continue the previous topic, but chatted with him about lighthearted things, and about Qi Zhao’s motorcycle racing.
Since it didn’t involve opening up about his feelings, Qi Zhao didn’t avoid the conversation. Or perhaps… even if Qi Wei tried to get him to open up now, Qi Zhao probably wouldn’t avoid it anymore.
After they finished eating, Qi Wei stood up and extended his hand towards Qi Zhao, and Qi Zhao naturally placed his hand in his.
He followed Qi Wei, thinking he was going to be taken somewhere, but Qi Wei just led him to the railing.
From this high vantage point, they could overlook most of the town. The night view was beautiful, the night breeze cool and refreshing, like riding a motorcycle.
Then Qi Wei said, “This is where Qi Zhi Zhang met my mother.”
Qi Zhao paused.
He didn’t know who Qi Wei’s omega mother was.
He had heard too many rumors about this past event. Some said Qi Wei’s mother was completely innocent, others said she wasn’t, that it was deliberate. There were even rumors that Qi Zhi Zhang had been drugged first and then happened to encounter Qi Wei’s mother, whose compatibility with him was so high that he couldn’t control himself…
There were various theories, which Qi Zhao had heard but never paid much attention to.
Because none of them were recounted by those directly involved; they could all be false.
And what truly mattered was that Qi Wei’s status, even to this day, hadn’t changed, even though no one dared mention it to his face anymore, and many even avoided it behind his back.
He was an illegitimate child.
He and his omega mother, along with Qi Zhi Zhang, had broken a family.
And caused Xiao Bai’s death.
She was the omega Qi Zhi Zhang was legally married to.
Qi Wei had met Xiao Bai when the news of his existence as an illegitimate child was revealed.
Xiao Bai had personally invited him to their home.
“…I still remember what he looked like,” Qi Wei said softly. “He didn’t like me very much, but that was natural. But he wasn’t like Qi Yuanyu and the others, who either used me, or hated and resented me. He just asked how my mother was doing, and if I had a difficult childhood.”
A single omega raising a child alone would indeed have a hard time.
Especially since omegas needed an alpha’s pheromones during pregnancy.
Qi Zhao recalled, “I’ve also met Mr. Xiao.”
Of course, he had; they were in the same social circle. “In my memory, he was a gentle yet resolute person. But his marriage to Qi Zhi Zhang was a business arrangement; there were no feelings between them. He moved out not long after Qi Yuanrong was born. Everyone in the circle knew they were just putting on a show, and he never interfered with Qi Yuanrong’s upbringing.”
Qi Wei hummed in agreement and lowered his eyelids. “I don’t know what he was thinking, but…”
Qi Zhao knew what came after that “but…”
Xiao Bai, the day after meeting Qi Wei, stabbed his own gland with a knife and died.
Because of this, Qi Wei was thrust into the spotlight. If it weren’t for Qi Yuanyu and the others needing to use him, he would have probably been consumed by the Xiao family’s wrath.
Qi Zhao felt that Qi Wei’s grip on his hand was weakening, so he tightened his hold and looked up at Qi Wei.
He didn’t say, “It’s not your fault,” but rather, “I’ve always thought the Xiao family was ridiculous.”
Qi Wei turned his head, Qi Zhao’s image reflected in his eyes.
Qi Zhao stood in the soft glow of the lights, his tone calm yet gentle, like a god looking down at the mortal world, commenting on its follies. “Everyone knew that Mr. Xiao and Qi Zhi Zhang weren’t compatible, and it had been that way for years. Yet they never divorced, and they never questioned the Qi family. What’s the point of crying and wailing after he’s dead? If anyone in the family had truly cared about Mr. Xiao, I think, given his personality, he wouldn’t have reached that point.”
“People always like to blame others for their own mistakes.”
Qi Wei said softly, “That’s human nature; it’s hard to avoid.”
He spoke of this past event, not without emotion, but no longer as intensely as before. “Actually, he said one thing to me before he died. He said I was a good child, better than Qi Yuanrong.”
Qi Zhao paused slightly, then instantly understood. “…He wanted to end this ‘war’ with his death, hoping that Qi Zhi Zhang would marry your mother and give you a home.”
But at the time, Xiao Bai was no longer thinking clearly, forgetting that this wasn’t just between him and Qi Zhi Zhang.
Qi Wei hummed in agreement.
Qi Zhao looked at Qi Wei, his heart aching for him.
He moved his lips and asked, “Then your mother and Qi Zhi Zhang…”
“It was an accident.”
Qi Wei lowered his voice. “My mother’s heat had started, and she had taken suppressants. But she had used them too many times, and they weren’t as effective. Qi Zhi Zhang was also drugged that day… I’m still investigating who did it.”
Not for Qi Zhi Zhang, but for the truth.
Qi Zhao pursed his lips slightly.
He knew that Qi Wei’s mother had passed away a couple of years ago, from an illness that couldn’t be cured.
He was usually good at comforting people; otherwise, his friends wouldn’t come to him to cry and pour out their woes.
But facing Qi Wei… Qi Zhao felt as if his throat was clogged with glue.
He was still thinking about what to say when Qi Wei suddenly chuckled. “Ah Zhao, don’t worry. Actually, my relationship with my mother wasn’t very good. To her, I was a stain on her life. I showed signs of differentiating early on, and perhaps because she was my mother, she sensed that I would become an alpha, so she rejected me. When she wasn’t feeling well, she would often chase me away, not letting me come home.”
As for why he was still willing to work illegally to earn money for her medical expenses, despite their strained relationship… because she was his mother.
His only family at the time.
Qi Zhao looked at Qi Wei, his voice soft. “Weren’t you sad?”
Recalling his young and helpless self, being used as a tool, wouldn’t he feel sad and angry?
Qi Wei paused, lowered his head, his eyes downcast, his expression hidden. “…There were times, of course.”
He seemed to chuckle, but there was a hint of bitterness in his voice, fading towards the end. “I’m a super S-rank alpha, yes, but I’m also human.”
Qi Zhao felt as if someone had punched him in the heart, especially when he recalled the rumors and gossip surrounding Qi Wei after he was brought into the Qi family…
And Qi Wei murmured at this moment, “I always… I just wanted a home.”
This simple sentence struck Qi Zhao right in the heart.
Qi Zhao raised his hand and hugged Qi Wei.
Qi Wei’s eyes were downcast, and he hugged Qi Zhao back the moment he was embraced.
He even tried to lighten the heavy, oppressive atmosphere with a casual tone. “Ah Zhao, I like this kind of comfort from you.”
Every step, every word, all calculated.
The story was true, but the sadness was fake. What sadness? He no longer had such emotions.
But he displayed these emotions just for this—
“But you doing this always gives me the illusion that we’re in a relationship. It makes me want to kiss you.”
Perhaps it was the exhilarating afternoon of riding, his adrenaline still high; perhaps it was Qi Wei’s words, “I just wanted a home,” that struck a chord deep within Qi Zhao, his soul screaming and roaring in empathy…
So Qi Zhao was affected.
At this moment, he broke free from his cocoon, his wings spread, ready to fly. His wings, confined in darkness, hadn’t lost their brilliance. The moment he cut through the silk threads, the light was dazzling, breathtaking.
He was still him.
Still the same stubborn Qi Zhao.
So what if he was a beta?
Even as a beta, he could still shine so brightly that even alphas couldn’t help but bow their heads.
Qi Zhao tilted his chin slightly, and like a butterfly taking flight, he gently brushed his lips against the corner of Qi Wei’s mouth.
He closed his eyes and whispered, “We can try.”
Qi Wei froze.
He had just wanted to trick him into a kiss; it wouldn’t have mattered if he failed, but…
He watched Qi Zhao open his eyes, the same vibrancy and spirit in them as before. “Being in a relationship with me will be tiring… but I still want to ask, are you willing to try?”
The alpha’s pheromones went completely out of control at this moment.
They raged, not even knowing what signal they were sending.
Joy?
Excitement?
Elation?
Pride?
He didn’t know.
Like madness, all the erupting pheromones frantically swirled around Qi Zhao, as if wanting to burrow into his skin. If they could speak, Qi Zhao would definitely hear their frantic screams and crazed noise.
But their owner held Qi Zhao’s hand tightly, his arm around his waist, his dark eyes fixed on him, his voice gentle yet incredibly serious, each word distinct. “Ah Zhao, ‘being in a relationship with me will be tiring’ should be my line.”
He said softly, “If we just maintain our current relationship, you can refuse many things, but if… I’m not a saint; I have all the flaws of a human being.”
Greed, the root of all evil.
“So I should be the one asking you again.” Qi Wei’s grip tightened despite his words. “Are you willing to try with me?”
Qi Zhao noticed, of course.
But this wouldn’t make him reconsider. Wasn’t it precisely because of Qi Wei’s possessiveness that he was falling?
“Yes.”
Qi Zhao smiled. “I am.”
