71
Because the news had spread far and wide last night, Qi Zhao inevitably attracted attention when he arrived at Tang Sheng today.
He was used to being the center of attention, so he didn’t feel anything in particular.
It was his colleagues’ reactions that amused him.
As soon as he stepped inside, Fang Xingxing blinked and called out hesitantly, “Team Leader?”
Qi Zhao, puzzled, replied, “Hmm?”
Fang Xingxing: “Are you here to resign?”
Qi Zhao: “?”
The others also chimed in, “Team Leader, you’re not leaving?”
Qi Zhao: “…Why would I leave? The project isn’t finished yet.”
“But the whole world knows about your relationship with that super S-rank alpha now. We all thought you wouldn’t come to work anymore.”
“Yeah, Team Leader, you’re so good at hiding things!”
Qi Zhao said helplessly, “Stop reading so many novels. It’s not the ‘whole world’… And even if it were, I still have to work. Just because you know he’s my partner, does that mean I don’t have to live my life anymore?”
They thought about it and agreed, then went back to work.
That afternoon, after receiving the pudding Qi Wei brought him, Qi Zhao joked, “What should I do? I’m having second thoughts.”
Qi Wei knew what he was referring to and that he was just joking, so he chuckled softly. “Then wish for me to awaken a special ability that can erase everyone’s memory.”
Qi Zhao: “…”
He glared at Qi Wei playfully. “Are you treating me like a child?”
Qi Zhao knew that no alpha or omega could awaken such an ability.
Even if alphas and omegas had abilities, they were related to pheromones, like the pheromone territory they developed at a certain rank. This ability was different from a pheromone territory. Currently, the only recorded ability was pheromone mimicry.
This was different from the pheromone mimicry most alphas could do, mimicking an omega’s pheromones. This ability allowed them to completely change the scent of their own pheromones.
Qi Zhao had found it quite interesting when he read about it.
Qi Wei smiled faintly, reaching out and taking his hand. “Maybe I’ll be an exception, being a super S-rank?”
Qi Wei wasn’t driving today; Qiu Ji was, so he could do as he pleased.
Qi Zhao: “There have been super S-rank alphas in history, but only one awakened an ability. I remember her ability was pheromone materialization?”
“Yes.”
Qi Wei sighed softly, playing with Qi Zhao’s fingers. “Ah Zhao, you know a bit too much about alphas.”
Qi Zhao paused.
He finished the last of his pudding, and Qi Wei took the empty container, tossing it aside, then took out a hua bing (flower cake).
Osmanthus-flavored, appropriate for the season, not too sweet, a light, refreshing sweetness with a soft, moist texture, Qi Zhao’s favorite.
Qi Zhao took a bite and shared the cake with Qi Wei. “…Actually, when I chose to study alpha behavior, besides wanting to know my enemy, I also considered disguising myself as an alpha.”
He wasn’t a good person; he would also resort to certain methods to achieve his goals.
But Qi Zhao wasn’t feeling anxious or uneasy mentioning this now.
Because he wasn’t worried that Qi Wei’s feelings for him would waver because of this, or perhaps…
Qi Wei probably already knew.
And it was true.
Qi Wei wasn’t surprised at all, just smiling and saying, “That’s good.”
He slowly swallowed the flower cake, savoring Qi Zhao’s taste from the shared bite, the lingering scent making him crave more, his voice becoming slightly languid. “It’s coming in handy now.”
Qi Zhao smiled slightly.
Qi Wei, seeing his expression, realized something. “Ah Zhao, you don’t care anymore, do you?”
Qi Zhao paused slightly. “…Actually, I’m not sure.”
He tilted his head. “Although you changed my secondary gender, after living as an alpha for a while, I feel… no different from when I was a beta.”
He wasn’t referring to whether his life was better or not, but that he could have achieved his current life even if he wasn’t an alpha.
It seemed that the changed secondary gender only served to vent the resentment he had held towards Qi Mu for seven years.
Qi Zhao felt a little embarrassed. “Thinking about it now, it’s only been two months… and I feel like I was so childish back then.”
Qi Wei considered it. “Were you?”
He wasn’t trying to placate Qi Zhao, but genuinely puzzled. “I don’t think so.”
Qi Zhao, recalling the signals Qi Wei’s pheromones had sent that night, said earnestly, “Because you’re also childish.”
Qi Wei wasn’t offended by this assessment, but instead asked with a smile, “Then, Ah Zhao, do you like childish people?”
The conversation had once again shifted to the topic of liking or disliking.
Qi Zhao looked at Qi Wei, who seemed like a lovesick schoolboy, his mind filled with thoughts of “like” or “dislike,” wanting to confess his feelings countless times a day.
Thinking of this, Qi Zhao’s embarrassment dissipated, turning into a smile. “…Yes.”
He said softly, without hesitation, “I do.”
He… liked Qi Wei.
He could even say he liked him very much.
Qi Wei had only been teasing him, but he hadn’t expected to be caught in his own trap.
He froze, then abruptly turned and leaned closer to Qi Zhao, one hand still holding Qi Zhao’s, the other reaching around him, pressing against the seat behind him, pulling him into an embrace.
The alpha’s voice was slightly urgent, tinged with uncertainty. “Ah Zhao, what did you just say?”
He lowered his head, his forehead nudging the end of Qi Zhao’s eyebrow, his voice almost against his lips. “Can you say it again? More clearly.”
This kind of leading question again.
Qi Zhao sighed, his nerves tightening slightly.
Qi Wei was too close. He couldn’t smell pheromones, but he could feel Qi Wei’s body heat, his breath against his skin, the familiar scent that lulled him to sleep every night.
Qi Zhao shifted, turning his head and kissing Qi Wei lightly on the lips, his voice warm as he said, “Qi Wei, I like you.”
He couldn’t say the word “love” yet; it was too heavy.
But he definitely liked him.
He liked Qi Wei, which was why he indulged him so much.
Qi Zhao wasn’t someone who liked being controlled, or being treated as a possession.
He was independent, and deep down, despite everything he had been through, there was still an unyielding pride, a resilience that prevented him from being a delicate flower confined within walls.
He was destined to soar, to reach for the sky.
But if it was Qi Wei who wanted to keep him within walls, Qi Zhao didn’t mind.
Perhaps because Qi Wei wouldn’t build a roof, just walls around him, rising with him.
Qi Zhao’s lips moved, but before he could say anything more, Qi Wei’s breath hitched, and he captured Qi Zhao’s lips in a deep kiss.
As Qi Zhao’s back touched Qi Wei’s arm, he was gently pushed down, held captive in Qi Wei’s embrace.
The alpha, with his large frame and hands, easily cupped the back of his head, holding him firmly in place, then plundered his breath forcefully and possessively.
Qi Zhao was truly impressed by Qi Wei.
Even something consensual could be turned into a forceful act by his body language.
By the time Qi Wei released him, they were almost home.
He was truly a little afraid of Qi Wei’s kisses now, so when Qi Wei leaned in again, even though he was weak and breathless, he still protested weakly, “Qi Wei…”
Qi Wei paused and just kissed away the moisture on his lips, murmuring, “Ah Zhao.”
He lowered his head, burying his face in the crook of Qi Zhao’s neck, inhaling deeply, controlling his pheromones. “I love you.”
He murmured, “I truly love you so much.”
It wasn’t the first time Qi Zhao had heard these words, but no matter how many times, his ears still burned, the fire lit by Qi Wei burning even brighter.
He wanted to curl up, but Qi Wei, holding him down, restricted his movements, leaving him only able to twitch his fingers.
Qi Zhao didn’t speak, and Qi Wei didn’t mind, just murmuring his name repeatedly, like a man possessed.
Qi Zhao used to feel at a loss, but now he understood.
This was Qi Wei’s way of soothing his emotions and restless pheromones. He could respond, or not, and Qi Wei would find a way to control his overwhelming feelings, to suppress them, to calm the turbulent waves threatening to consume him.
By the time they arrived home, Qi Zhao had calmed down considerably, but Qi Wei’s arousal was still evident.
So Qi Zhao asked softly, “Can we go inside?”
Qi Wei hummed in agreement, pulling Qi Zhao up with him. “I want to go home with you.”
Qi Zhao inexplicably felt that what he truly wanted to say was “I want to lock you up at home.”
But since Qi Wei didn’t actually say it, or do it, he just remained silent, pretending not to know, amidst Qi Wei’s low, husky voice.
Qiu Ji naturally didn’t follow them inside.
Qi Zhao wasn’t sure if Qi Wei’s condition was stable, so he let him hold his hand, interlacing their fingers. “Should I cook?”
For Qi Wei, this was his nest, especially with Qi Zhao here, within reach, so his restless gland could calm down a bit. “…No need.”
Qi Wei lowered his head and kissed Qi Zhao again.
He never held his breath when kissing Qi Zhao, his warm breath against Qi Zhao’s face, always giving him the strange feeling of a wild beast sniffing him.
But Qi Wei’s voice was gentle. “I’m feeling alright. I’ll just take my medicine after dinner.”
—The medicine couldn’t be taken on an empty stomach.
Qi Zhao said, “Okay, then I’ll go change first.”
This was their daily routine now, a comfortable, intimate ritual.
But perhaps influenced by something, Qi Wei finally voiced the words he had been holding back. “…Ah Zhao, I want to help you change, okay?”
