72
For a moment, Qi Zhao thought he had misheard.
So he paused, looking at Qi Wei uncertainly, and Qi Wei’s repeated words confirmed that he hadn’t misheard. “Ah Zhao, I won’t do anything, I’ll just help you change.”
Qi Zhao: “…”
He really wanted to ask Qi Wei if he believed his own words.
He firmly rejected him. “No.”
Qi Zhao thought Qi Wei would stop there.
Just like before, they would always tacitly maintain a certain “distance.”
But this time, Qi Zhao didn’t know what had gotten into Qi Wei. After being rejected, he didn’t just say okay, but asked, “Why?”
Qi Zhao: “…?”
He was the one who was truly puzzled. “I have hands and feet… And don’t think I don’t know what you’re thinking.”
Qi Wei wasn’t as gentle and considerate as he appeared.
Qi Wei’s tone was still slow and soft, carrying a sense of innocence, making him seem harmless. If Qi Zhao hadn’t fallen for his tricks a few times and gradually come to understand him, he would have truly doubted whether he was being unfair to him. “Ah Zhao, what am I thinking?”
Qi Zhao: “.”
He glared at Qi Wei and turned to leave, not wanting to argue with him.
Qi Wei didn’t follow, just thinking about Qi Zhao’s lively expression, unconsciously licking his canines, a husky chuckle escaping his lips.
So cute.
He was truly hopeless.
Especially the way he would seriously argue with him, even though he knew Qi Wei was being deliberately provocative… He wanted to take a bite out of him.
Qi Wei licked the base of his canines again and exhaled.
They itched.
Not just his teeth, but his heart, even his blood, as if a tiny, elusive ant was crawling inside him, an itch that went down to his bones.
***
After dinner, Qi Zhao watched as Qi Wei took out his medicine and paused. “Qi Wei.”
Qi Wei stopped. “Hmm?”
Qi Zhao frowned slightly. “You changed your medicine again?”
“The side effects of the last one were too strong,” Qi Wei said in a low voice, “although it was somewhat effective, the side effects were also a form of hidden damage. The lab reformulated it.”
Qi Zhao pursed his lips. “Does this one have new side effects?”
Qi Wei sighed inwardly. Having such an intelligent partner was both a blessing and a curse. He knew he couldn’t lie to Qi Zhao; it would only displease him. “Yes.”
So Qi Wei could only be honest. “This medicine helps regulate my pheromones. Unlike before, when I just waited for the medicine to take effect, I have to actively control my pheromones now. But it’s not a big deal.”
He said, “It won’t be like last time. Just some discomfort in my gland.”
There was no way around it; Qi Zhao couldn’t stop him from taking his medicine.
Qi Zhao could only stay with him. After he took the medicine, he asked softly again, “Qi Wei, what exactly is your problem? Pheromone disorder?”
Pheromone disorder was a common ailment among alphas and omegas who used suppressants long-term without proper pheromone relief from a compatible partner.
Although it didn’t sound serious, it could be life-threatening.
Because an alpha or omega’s pheromones were present throughout their body, intertwined with their flesh, blood, and bones. A “disorder” in their pheromones was like a disorder in their bodily functions.
Qi Wei tasted the bitterness of the medicine, amplified by his heightened senses, and softened his voice. “You could say that, but it’s not entirely a pheromone disorder.”
Qi Zhao didn’t understand. “So it’s…?”
Qi Wei thought for a moment. “I can’t say exactly what it is. Alphas and omegas are unique, and the symptoms can vary from individual to individual. My problem isn’t as serious as you think.”
He cupped Qi Zhao’s face in his hands, kissed him lightly, and then said, “Ah Zhao, this medicine is really bitter.”
Qi Zhao didn’t want him to change the subject, but he looked up at Qi Wei, who seemed a little pitiful, and sighed, initiating a kiss.
He wasn’t heartless; he wouldn’t just turn around and find Qi Wei some candy.
He knew what Qi Wei wanted.
Because of Qi Wei’s clinginess, Qi Zhao seemed less proactive, but in reality, he rarely had the opportunity to be.
His kiss was inexperienced, and because the alpha’s aura was so strong, he instinctively felt a sense of danger, wanting to escape.
But the moment Qi Zhao kissed him, Qi Wei tightened his embrace, holding him captive, guiding and controlling the kiss.
Soon, it became Qi Wei gently biting Qi Zhao’s lip, not letting him pull away, chasing after him for another kiss.
Qi Zhao took a step back, but his upper body was trapped, his legs slightly braced against the island counter.
He tilted his head back, his heart pounding, unsure if it was from the lack of air or because of Qi Wei… It didn’t matter.
And more importantly, amidst the dizzying sensations, he felt that Qi Wei was being more forceful than usual, as if on the verge of losing control…
Qi Zhao had to act, lightly hitting the alpha’s back to make him let go.
Qi Wei snapped back to his senses and released Qi Zhao, but because it was so abrupt, he forgot to control himself, and a transparent strand of saliva connected their lips. Qi Zhao, seeing this, froze, his words caught in his throat, his face flushing instantly.
Qi Wei, as if anticipating this, pulled him closer, lowering his head to lick away the moisture on Qi Zhao’s chin. “Ah Zhao.”
His voice was hoarse, as if suppressing something. “…Ah Zhao.”
Qi Wei knew he should comfort Qi Zhao, who was probably startled, but the throbbing pain in his gland was unbearable, and his words became, “I feel so uncomfortable.”
Qi Zhao paused, his heart clenching. “Where do you feel unwell?”
Qi Wei took his hand, wanting his lover to soothe the agonizing pain in his neck. “Ah Zhao… Ah Zhao…”
He couldn’t form a coherent sentence, but Qi Zhao understood.
Qi Zhao didn’t hesitate. Although his fingertips trembled slightly, he gently touched the burning skin on the side of Qi Wei’s neck.
It was throbbing, and Qi Wei’s pained expression showed how much he was suffering.
Qi Zhao pursed his lips and carefully caressed the alpha’s most vulnerable spot, his palm covering it.
His palm was slightly damp with sweat from the earlier kiss, when he had struggled and gasped for air.
But Qi Wei, as if sensing something, his pheromones, amidst the agonizing pain, started to release, clinging to Qi Zhao’s fingers and palm.
Like snakes, coiling around him, threatening to constrict him.
Qi Wei pressed Qi Zhao’s hand against his neck, then bent down slightly, his arm hooking Qi Zhao’s leg, and before Qi Zhao could react, he lifted him and placed him on the island counter.
The counter was relatively high, so Qi Zhao was now half a head taller than Qi Wei, making it easier for Qi Wei to bend down and bury his face in his embrace.
Qi Zhao raised his other hand and gently stroked the back of Qi Wei’s head, asking softly, “Qi Wei, are you alright?”
“…Not really.”
Qi Wei took a moment to answer. “It hurts a lot.”
Qi Zhao froze, his voice tinged with urgency. “…Your gland hurts a lot?”
Qi Wei didn’t answer, then added after a few seconds of silence, “No, not that much.”
As if realizing he had misspoken, he quickly corrected himself.
Qi Zhao’s chest tightened, suppressing his anger, not questioning him further, but asking, “Qi Wei, what can I do to make you feel better?”
He wasn’t an omega, he couldn’t offer soothing pheromones, he couldn’t even tell if Qi Wei’s pheromones were being released properly.
He could only ask helplessly, “Is there anything I can do?”
Qi Wei’s eyelashes fluttered, his eyes dark and unreadable.
The pain was real.
This medicine was forcing out the pheromones that had been blocked inside his body due to the prolonged use of suppressants, like forcefully removing a stone that had become embedded in his flesh and blood.
Anesthesia was useless; it would also numb his pheromones, keeping them trapped.
But… since he was already in pain, it would be a waste not to take advantage of the situation.
Qi Wei’s Adam’s apple bobbed, his voice hesitant. “…I kind of… want to bite you.”
He asked softly, “Is that okay?”
Qi Zhao paused. “…Yes.”
He even tilted his head slightly, exposing the side of his neck, before Qi Wei raised his head.
So Qi Wei looked up and saw Qi Zhao like this.
Like a pure, innocent lamb, his posture of willing submission greatly satisfying the alpha’s possessive instincts.
Qi Wei, suppressing the urge to bite down immediately, said, “Ah Zhao, tell me if it hurts.”
He paused, his voice hoarse, “Just tell me, don’t try to hide it… I’m afraid I won’t be able to control myself.”
Qi Zhao understood what he meant and, slightly embarrassed by his explicit words, replied softly, “Okay…”
Then, in the next second, he felt Qi Wei’s breath against his skin, his soft lips, and a sharp sting.
Qi Zhao frowned slightly, knowing that Qi Wei was biting harder this time, probably because he was truly losing control.
His canines sank deep; Qi Zhao was certain that he had broken the skin, because the pain was different this time.
Like something piercing his flesh, pinning him down.
But Qi Zhao didn’t move or cry out in pain.
He just raised his hand and gently hugged Qi Wei.
He couldn’t smell it, so he didn’t know that the alpha’s pheromones, released uncontrollably, were so strong that they were almost forming a territorial barrier, a cage surrounding him, trapping him like a cocoon.
The feeling of being bitten on the neck was strange, so he hadn’t allowed it since that first time.
And now, forced to agree, he still found it strange.
Especially…
Perhaps because he was losing control, the arm Qi Wei had around his back, after biting him, started to wander.
The alpha’s palm was large and hot, moving across his back, his waist, and then lower…
“Qi Wei!”
Qi Zhao was startled, snapping out of his daze, instinctively tensing up and pushing forward, his groin accidentally rubbing against Qi Wei’s arousal.
The alpha instantly pinned him down on the island counter, his muscles tense like a predator ready to pounce, biting down on his neck again.
But this time, it wasn’t just a simple, ineffective temporary mark on a beta, but a bite filled with lust and possessiveness, the alpha’s hot breath and the pulsing vein on his neck against Qi Zhao’s skin.
Qi Zhao opened his mouth to speak, but the word “stop” died in his throat as Qi Wei bit down on his Adam’s apple.
He heard a strange, dangerous growl from the alpha’s hoarse throat, making him want to run, to escape this villa—
“Ah Zhao.”
Qi Wei pulled one hand from behind him, his fingers curling around the waistband of Qi Zhao’s pants, his knuckles rubbing against the smooth fabric. “You’re… aroused. Let me help you.”
This time, it wasn’t a question, but a forceful command.
