52
Because of the bandage, and because everyone was a considerate adult, especially after working together for a while, they had all tacitly agreed that although Qi Zhao seemed approachable, he wasn’t one of them.
It wasn’t about his status, but the strong sense of detachment around him. Even the most perceptive person would find that, despite working together for so long, attending so many meetings, and discussing so many issues, they still didn’t truly know Qi Zhao.
From this, they could deduce that Qi Zhao wasn’t someone who liked to share his secrets.
So they tacitly didn’t ask. Besides, it wasn’t a secret that Qi Zhao had a partner. His information indicated he was an alpha, so they could guess that the mark was probably left by his omega.
However, they wouldn’t pry, but Tang Huaiyuan, who was much closer to Qi Zhao, didn’t have such “restraint.”
Qi Zhao walked into the pantry, pouring himself a glass of milk, a hint of exasperation in his voice. “You come find me once a week on average. Are you truly not afraid of the ‘connection’ rumors spreading in the company?”
“Of course not,” Tang Huaiyuan said, “you clearly got in through your own abilities… So you really agreed to be with Qi Wei? You weren’t tricked?”
“…”
Qi Zhao’s lips moved, and he sighed softly. “Tang Huaiyuan, you’re not stupid, are you?”
Tang Huaiyuan definitely knew that his alpha status was questionable.
So naturally, he also understood that he wouldn’t be influenced by pheromones like alphas and omegas, that an alpha or omega couldn’t manipulate his feelings with pheromones.
—An alpha’s oppressive pheromones, their territory, even hypnosis and other such manipulative tactics were indeed effective on betas, who couldn’t smell them and therefore couldn’t defend themselves. But these were considered “attacks.”
Courting, manipulating emotions with pheromones… these were tactics used by alphas and omegas on their partners. Their pheromones could only have this effect if they truly loved someone.
It wasn’t exactly a good thing, but generally, only those with a compatibility rate of over 90% would be affected.
A compatibility rate of over 90% was incredibly high, practically a “match made in heaven.”
Statistics even showed that throughout history, only a tiny fraction of couples with such high compatibility didn’t end up together.
In this case, Tang Huaiyuan definitely knew that Qi Zhao had genuinely agreed to be with Qi Wei.
Tang Huaiyuan raised his paper cup in a toast to Qi Zhao and said sincerely, “It’s not for any other reason, just like you said.”
He smiled. “We’re friends. Just checking in, showing some concern, and…”
He looked at Qi Zhao. “It’s good that you’ve moved on, that you two are together.”
Tang Huaiyuan was genuinely happy for Qi Zhao and Qi Wei.
Whether as old friends or new, he didn’t want anything bad to happen to either of them.
Qi Zhao sensed something from Tang Huaiyuan’s words, but he lowered his eyes, looking at the milk in his glass, and didn’t say anything.
And Tang Huaiyuan added, “Speaking of which, the bank is suing Qi Mao. Did you know?”
Qi Zhao was stunned, snapping out of his previous emotions. “…I didn’t know that.”
While he was with Qi Wei, he had no time to pay attention to other things; most of his attention was captured by the alpha.
Especially since Qi Wei was truly clingy, always attached to him, and even when holding his hand, he liked to squeeze it from time to time.
Qi Zhao hadn’t said anything, but that didn’t mean he hadn’t noticed.
Every one of Qi Wei’s actions would distract him. Although they seemed normal, if Qi Zhao had to discuss complex business matters at those times, his mind would go blank.
So naturally, he didn’t have the time or energy to pay attention to other things.
Of course, it was also because he knew Qi Wei didn’t like him paying attention to the Qi family’s affairs.
It sounded a little ridiculous, but Qi Zhao didn’t feel any displeasure at being restricted, perhaps because the Qi family was a mess, and he truly wanted to sever all ties with them.
So if Qi Wei didn’t like it, he wouldn’t pay attention to it.
…But, if Qi Zhao had to be honest, he did think Qi Wei was being a bit excessive.
After all, even disregarding their personal relationship, news about Qi Mao was still industry news, and it was normal for Qi Zhao to stay informed.
But still.
If Qi Wei didn’t like it, and Qi Zhao didn’t mind accommodating him, then it wasn’t a problem.
Tang Huaiyuan guessed that Qi Zhao probably didn’t know, mainly because of Qi Wei…
The first time he met Qi Wei, he knew he was someone not to be trifled with.
It wasn’t because of anything Qi Wei did, but as a fellow alpha, his… his gland had trembled when he met Qi Wei’s eyes.
Especially after Qi Wei finished talking to his father and looked at him thoughtfully, saying, “I remember you.”
Tang Huaiyuan wasn’t an ordinary person either. As the sole heir of Tang Sheng Real Estate, his family was no longer just in real estate; they had influence in other industries as well, and Tang Huaiyuan himself had been in the news countless times.
After all, A-rank alphas were rare.
So it was normal for Qi Wei to remember him, but his words were a bit strange.
Most people would say “I know you” or “I’ve heard of you,” not “I remember you.”
But they had never met before!
It was only later, due to business dealings, that Tang Huaiyuan had to interact with Qi Wei, despite his fear. As they became more acquainted, he found that Qi Wei wasn’t as terrifying as he had imagined, and they gradually became friends.
After becoming friends, they inevitably chatted about various things, and Tang Huaiyuan hadn’t noticed anything at first, because Qi Wei was very good at guiding the conversation.
He was only two years older than Tang Huaiyuan, but he effortlessly made Tang Huaiyuan feel like he was both a friend and a mentor, unconsciously bringing up old memories, and then subtly steering the conversation towards Qi Zhao.
At the time, Tang Huaiyuan hadn’t realized Qi Wei’s feelings for Qi Zhao. This went on for three years, until one seemingly casual gathering among friends, which was actually an exchange of business intelligence. Everyone was drunk.
At the time, Tang Huaiyuan thought that Qi Wei, who was always gentle, composed, and impeccably mannered, the perfect “child of someone else’s family” often portrayed in dramas and novels, must also be drunk.
Otherwise, why would he, after a long silence, say to him, “About the question earlier…” when they were alone?
Tang Huaiyuan was already half-drunk, relying on his alpha genes to keep him conscious. “Hmm? What?”
He looked at Qi Wei. Looking back now, he couldn’t remember Qi Wei’s expression that night, but he knew that Qi Wei was staring intently in one direction. “Actually, I lied.”
Tang Huaiyuan was silent for a moment. “…Which question?”
Qi Wei seemed to smile slightly. “I said there wasn’t anywhere I wanted to go most.”
Tang Huaiyuan said, “That’s normal. These kinds of games… True confessions? Impossible. It’s all a mix of truth and lies… Everyone lies.”
He couldn’t hold on any longer and collapsed onto the floor, the words he had been holding back finally spilling out. “You haven’t played this game before, so it’s normal that you don’t know. There’s no need to dwell on a single lie… but honestly, you probably don’t care either.”
“Then what did you lie about?”
“Me?”
Tang Huaiyuan sighed. “So many things… you didn’t just tell one lie, did you?”
He found it ridiculous, but Qi Wei didn’t answer directly, just asking, “Does Qi Zhao also lie when he plays this game with you?”
That was the first time Qi Wei had directly mentioned Qi Zhao. He usually just subtly guided the conversation, and Tang Huaiyuan would naturally bring up Qi Zhao.
Although Tang Huaiyuan was half-drunk, he wasn’t completely mindless. At that moment, his alpha instincts were activated, and he instantly realized something. After a moment of silence, he asked in return, “Where is this place you want to go?”
“…”
Qi Wei seemed to realize he had misspoken, turning his head back to look in that direction, saying nothing more.
But Tang Huaiyuan couldn’t pretend he hadn’t heard. He sat up abruptly, his mind clearing up considerably. Despite his fear of Qi Wei, he asked seriously, “Qi Wei, where is this place you want to go?”
He took a deep breath, feeling his blood run cold. “You’re friends with me… because of Qi Zhao, right?”
Tang Huaiyuan thought of Xu Chenzhou, who was currently working under Qi Wei. “Including Xu Chenzhou… Xu Chenzhou is also Qi Zhao’s friend, and they’re even closer than we are.”
Qi Wei didn’t speak for a moment, then finally sighed softly. “…Yes.”
At the time, Qi Wei’s expression revealed a hint of helplessness and awkwardness, unable to hide it any longer. “Sorry, if you feel uncomfortable about this, we can stop being friends.”
But at the time, the alcohol hadn’t completely worn off, and Tang Huaiyuan didn’t realize that Qi Wei hadn’t mentioned the consequences of “if you tell Qi Zhao.”
His mind was blank, unable to comprehend that Qi Wei’s target was Qi Zhao, even less so how they were even connected. “Y-you… why…”
As he asked, he heard Qi Wei say, “I like him.”
Qi Wei looked at him, and at that moment, Tang Huaiyuan knew he was telling the truth. “I like him very much.”
Tang Huaiyuan always felt that Qi Wei’s last sentence, “I like him very much,” was also strange, but it wasn’t until a few weeks later, after he sobered up, when he took the initiative to tell Qi Wei about Qi Zhao’s past, that he vaguely realized that Qi Wei had probably deliberately revealed his feelings that night.
Why choose that moment?
Because they were already friends. Hearing that Qi Wei liked Qi Zhao, Tang Huaiyuan’s first reaction was that his good brother liked his old friend, not the initial reaction of a stranger hearing a super S-rank alpha express interest in his friend.
Especially since Tang Huaiyuan wasn’t that close to Qi Zhao. Compared to Qi Zhao, he was closer to Qi Wei.
And that sentence, “I like him very much,” wasn’t just emphasizing his affection, but also its twisted nature.
The true meaning of that sentence was—
“I like him so much that I can’t control myself, I can’t make myself not like him.”
So Qi Wei had done so much, all for Qi Zhao.
Was it a good thing?
Tang Huaiyuan wasn’t sure.
But the young master Tang, after realizing everything, had broken out in a cold sweat, instinctively wanting to contact Qi Zhao, who was clearly avoiding them, to warn him.
But the moment he picked up his phone, he realized that Qi Wei had given him a choice but hadn’t said he could tell Qi Zhao.
Qi Wei at the time wasn’t just an alpha with a super S-rank title.
Tang Huaiyuan admitted that he was selfish.
He couldn’t accept the consequences of “leaking” this information, so he wouldn’t tell Qi Zhao, not then, not now. All he could do was distance himself from that monster.
And now…
Tang Huaiyuan looked at Qi Zhao, who seemed to be unconsciously touching the bandage on his neck, and smiled.
Qi Zhao didn’t continue the conversation, not because he couldn’t, but because he didn’t want to.
But Qi Zhao wasn’t the type to avoid information related to Qi Mu just because of their strained relationship, so… he didn’t want to talk about it because he already knew.
There was no need for him to worry about Qi Zhao.
His friend was more intelligent than anyone realized.
Qi Zhao had already guessed that it was Qi Wei’s doing.
