But I’m Just a Beta 54

54

Qi Zhao’s response was to pull his hand free from Qi Wei’s arm and push him away, his hand against Qi Wei’s head.

He didn’t say anything, momentarily speechless from Qi Wei’s outrageous request.

His tongue was still throbbing with pain, the tip stinging… The few words he had just managed to utter were already his limit.

Despite being rejected, Qi Wei wasn’t displeased at all. He even chuckled softly, no longer nuzzling Qi Zhao’s neck, just holding him, his muffled laughter filled with amusement.

He held Qi Zhao so tightly that Qi Zhao could feel his strong heartbeat against his chest, even the vibrations of his laughter clearly transmitted.

It was a little unsettling.

Qi Zhao didn’t understand what he was laughing about, but he didn’t ask.

It was better than Qi Wei getting upset and having another episode after being rejected.

Qi Wei didn’t hold him for too long, remembering that Qi Zhao hadn’t eaten dinner yet, and eating too late wasn’t good for his stomach.

So after releasing him, he leaned down and kissed Qi Zhao again before saying, “I’ll go cook first.”

“…Okay.”

Qi Zhao’s voice was slightly slurred due to the lingering soreness in his tongue. “I’ll go change.”

Qi Wei always changed out of his suit at the company. As the boss, he could wear casual clothes to work, only needing formal attire for important occasions.

—Even tailored suits were uncomfortable to drive in.

When Qi Zhao came downstairs after changing, Qi Wei’s phone rang. “Your phone.”

He glanced at the screen. “…It’s Nan Yangsha?”

Qi Wei raised his voice slightly. “Ignore it, I’ll answer it later.”

“Okay.” Qi Zhao replied and took a bottle of yogurt from the refrigerator, poking a straw in and taking a sip.

He watched Qi Wei prepare the ingredients from a distance. The crabs were already clean, no need to wash them, and the other vegetables had already been washed by the machine; they just needed to be cut.

Qi Wei glanced at him, about to suggest he go to the living room and rest, when Qi Zhao, misinterpreting his intention, asked, “Do you want some?”

Qi Wei’s gaze fell on the thin straw.

Qi Zhao had a habit of chewing on straws; there were already faint teeth marks on it, slightly flattened. “Yes,” he said.

So Qi Zhao walked over and held the yogurt to Qi Wei’s lips.

He was very natural about it, as if it were the most normal thing in the world, making Qi Wei feel both happy and a little jealous.

Would Qi Zhao… do this with others too?

Qi Wei sipped the slightly sour yogurt and looked at Qi Zhao.

Qi Zhao tilted his head, puzzled, his eyes questioning.

Qi Wei also wanted to give Qi Zhao the same trust, but it wasn’t that he didn’t trust Qi Zhao, it was just… Qi Wei lowered his eyes, unable to control his twisted emotions. “…Ah Zhao, would you do this with others?”

Qi Zhao paused, realizing what he meant, and sighed. “Of course not.”

He met the alpha’s gaze, slightly embarrassed, but still said gently, “Because you’re my partner, so…”

He didn’t need to say more; Qi Wei naturally understood.

So Qi Wei smiled and moved his lips, holding back his words for now. “Go to the living room and sit down.”

“Okay.”

Qi Zhao casually tossed the empty yogurt bottle into the trash can and left the kitchen.

Since Qi Zhao wanted spicy crab, there was only one main dish tonight, but it was a hearty one.

Besides crab, there were also lettuce strips, tofu, winter melon, and beef rolls, the combination incredibly fragrant and visually appealing.

Qi Zhao took a picture, thought for a moment, and posted it.

He wasn’t hiding anything, and Qi Wei’s hand was also in the photo.

Qi Zhao had many friends on social media, many of whom were also friends with Qi Wei.

Those who saw the post naturally recognized the watch—Qi Wei was very fond of that watch and almost always wore it.

So some teasing comments were inevitable.

[Is this takeout, or did Second Young Master cook it himself?]

[Reply: Most likely Second Young Master cooked it himself. Didn’t he take cooking classes every weekend?]

[As expected of Brother Zhao, a bunch of alpha followers in school, and now a super S-rank alpha as his personal chef after graduation. [Thumbs up][Thumbs up]]

After dinner, Qi Zhao saw dozens of notifications on his post, and clicking on it, he saw the comments, amused and slightly helpless.

Qi Wei, having finished cleaning up, came up behind him and hugged him.

One arm around his waist, the other around his neck, his possessive nature evident.

Qi Zhao reminded him, “Nan Yangsha called you earlier.”

“Oh.”

Qi Wei responded but didn’t immediately let go.

So Qi Zhao had to ask again, “Is it not important?”

Qi Wei lowered his head, burying his face in the crook of Qi Zhao’s neck and inhaling deeply, his voice muffled. “You’re more important.”

Qi Zhao: “…”

So alphas really did have special genes.

“…What’s wrong?” Qi Zhao put down his phone and asked, slightly worried, “Is your gland uncomfortable?”

Qi Wei had been fine just now, and now he suddenly seemed dazed, as if possessed, making it hard not to worry.

Qi Wei knew that if he nodded now, he could easily get all sorts of special treatment from Qi Zhao.

Perhaps not just another bite, but even have Qi Zhao bite his gland. But hearing Qi Zhao’s gentle tone, Qi Wei suddenly wanted to be “honest” for once.

“No.”

Qi Wei whispered, “I just saw your post and wanted to hug you, to kiss you.”

He couldn’t explain why, but he just felt like it.

It was just a social media post, yet it filled him with an immense sense of satisfaction.

Qi Zhao paused, his ears feeling a little warm.

Qi Wei truly liked him very much.

He had known this for a long time, but Qi Wei was constantly raising the bar, exceeding his expectations.

Finally, after letting Qi Wei hug him for a while, Qi Wei returned the call.

Qi Zhao sat on the sofa, watching the news, and glanced at Qi Wei.

Qi Wei was standing on the balcony. Since it was completely dark, and he hadn’t turned on the lights, his figure was shrouded in darkness, only a vague outline visible, making him seem even more mysterious and dangerous.

Usually, Qi Wei wouldn’t avoid him during phone calls, even for work-related matters.

So… was it about the Qi family?

Qi Zhao turned his attention back to the TV and sighed inwardly.

Let Qi Wei handle it. If it made him feel more secure, then so be it.

Nan Yangsha’s call was indeed about the Qi family.

The bank was suing Qi Mao for unpaid debts, publicizing the fact that Qi Mao Real Estate owed them billions. The mastermind behind this was indeed Qi Wei.

And Qi Zhao didn’t know that Qi Mu had actually tried to have people intercept him at Tang Sheng Real Estate today, but the people he sent were taken away by Qi Wei’s men before they could cause any trouble.

Nan Yangsha’s tone was slightly grave. “Boss, Qi Mu seems to have contacted Qi Yuanyu tonight.”

Qi Wei’s eyes flickered.

He knew his subordinates well. Nan Yangsha using the word “seems” meant they weren’t certain if Qi Mu had actually contacted Qi Yuanyu. Their movements must have been very secretive.

“He’s courting death.”

Qi Wei said coldly, “Go and tell Qi Zhiwen what his good son is doing. And remind him that he’s still the head of the Qi family because I don’t want to be bothered with such trivial matters, I want to focus on my relationship. But now that I’ve won him over, if they insist on courting death, I don’t mind shaking things up in the Qi family.”

Nan Yangsha acknowledged, and Qi Wei added, “Tighten the security around him. Don’t let the Qi family or Qi Yuanyu get anywhere near him.”

“Yes, sir.”

After hanging up, Qi Wei looked at the dark, silent night and exhaled silently, composing himself before turning back to the living room.

He sat down beside Qi Zhao, and when Qi Zhao looked at him, Qi Wei wrapped his arms around his waist, burying his face in his embrace.

Qi Zhao raised his hand and stroked his hair, wondering if he should ask what was wrong, when Qi Wei’s muffled voice came from his chest, “Ah Zhao, do you hate me being like this?”

Qi Zhao paused slightly. “…What do you mean?”

Qi Wei: “.”

They were both intelligent. Qi Wei naturally understood from this question that Qi Zhao had seen through his act, which made him feel even more dejected.

Was his acting that bad?

But Qi Yuanyu and Qi Zhiwen, even Qi Zhao’s friends, had been completely fooled by him before.

Qi Wei murmured, “I’m always jealous, always asking you those questions…”

He was being sincere. “I also want to trust you like you trust me… Ah Zhao, I don’t know how to explain it, I just…”

Qi Zhao listened patiently, and when Qi Wei’s speech quickened slightly, he said, “I know.”

He interrupted Qi Wei, not entirely surprised that Qi Wei cared about this, just… Qi Wei becoming so concerned about this after he said he trusted him was so in character.

So Qi Zhao chuckled. “Qi Wei, you don’t have to imitate me or try to be like me. I think you’re fine the way you are.”

And… because he knew Qi Wei was like this, if one day Qi Wei suddenly stopped caring, he would suspect that Qi Wei no longer liked him, or that his feelings had weakened.

“Everyone expresses love differently. What matters isn’t changing ourselves, but finding someone who understands and accepts us, isn’t it?”

“…No.”

Qi Wei rarely contradicted Qi Zhao. He said softly, “If it’s something you can’t understand or accept, I can change. I can change anything… So Ah Zhao, if one day I do something that upsets you, please give me a chance, tell me about it, okay?”

Qi Zhao paused slightly. “…Okay.”

After he agreed, Qi Wei finally raised his head, his dark eyes like deep pools, their swirling depths threatening to suck Qi Zhao’s soul in. “Ah Zhao.”

He asked, “Then have I done anything you dislike so far?”

He had so many flaws, so many questionable actions… Had Qi Zhao ever hated him?

Qi Zhao: “…”

He instinctively sensed that Qi Wei’s question was like a sharp scalpel, about to cut through his skin, peeling away his flesh, blood, and bones.

A probing attempt to lay bare his heart.

But this time, unlike his previous avoidance and discomfort, Qi Zhao just felt helpless.

Helpless at Qi Wei’s eagerness, helpless that Qi Wei, having just officially become his partner, already wanted to control every aspect of him.

“No.”

Qi Zhao didn’t avoid his gaze, looking into his eyes and saying seriously, “Nothing so far.”

So… Qi Wei didn’t have to be so insecure.

Even Qi Wei’s “failed” attempt seven years ago, in Qi Zhao’s eyes, had been like an axe breaking through the darkness, its sharp blade glinting, piercing deep into his heart.