74
After confirming that Qi Wei was alright, Qi Zhao told him to go shower.
He found that after that, Qi Wei became especially obedient.
—The already obedient man became even more subservient to him.
Usually, when he told Qi Wei to shower, Qi Wei would linger, clinging to him, kissing him and nuzzling him before reluctantly letting go.
Every time, Qi Zhao would tense up, bracing himself for the inevitable “Want to shower together?”
But today, Qi Wei went immediately.
While Qi Wei showered, Qi Zhao washed up.
Standing before the mirror, he finally noticed how deep the bite mark on his neck was. It wasn’t a big deal; he could just cover it with a bandage. But besides that, there were also scattered kiss marks and bite marks on his neck and collarbone, some faint, some darker.
Although there weren’t many, they were still noticeable against his fair skin. The marks on his collarbone were even more… intense, not just bruises, but also teeth marks.
Qi Wei’s canines were truly sharp, but Qi Zhao, recalling the moment, realized he hadn’t felt much pain.
More like…
Qi Zhao’s grip on the toothpaste tightened—
Squeezing out too much.
He quickly caught the excess with Qi Wei’s toothbrush and then fell into thought.
He would have Qi Wei brush his teeth again later.
Qi Wei was very obedient today and probably wouldn’t ask why.
Qi Zhao’s ears felt warm as he touched the deepest mark on his neck, then lifted his shirt and looked down.
As expected, there were faint red marks on his abdomen, and further up as well.
He vaguely remembered Qi Wei repeatedly kissing him there, only stopping when he ran out of… places to kiss.
He really liked kissing him.
When Qi Wei came out of the shower, Qi Zhao did ask him to brush his teeth again, and Qi Wei, without questioning, obediently took the toothbrush and brushed his teeth under Qi Zhao’s watchful gaze.
Qi Zhao leaned against the doorframe, watching him, a sense of peace settling in his heart.
He said, as if to himself, “Qi Wei, I never thought I would be so entangled with an alpha one day.”
Qi Wei paused, his grip on the toothbrush tightening. If it weren’t for the emotional fulfillment he had received from Qi Zhao earlier, he would have probably crushed the toothbrush.
He spat out the toothpaste and turned to look at Qi Zhao, who was now smiling. “But I feel quite good now.”
He hadn’t thought he would like someone of the same sex, let alone an alpha, especially after being confirmed as a beta.
But thinking about what it would be like to be with Qi Wei… Qi Zhao was just a little scared, after all, he wasn’t an omega, he couldn’t physically handle an alpha, and Qi Wei was clearly… But he wasn’t repulsed.
He truly felt it was good.
Qi Wei relaxed, his tone slightly teasing, “Ah Zhao, you did that on purpose.”
Qi Zhao was puzzled. “?”
Qi Wei: “Saying such sweet words to tease me while I’m brushing my teeth.”
Qi Zhao: “…”
He was flustered by Qi Wei’s blunt words. “…It was just a random thought.”
Not intentional, okay?
Qi Wei smiled, finished brushing his teeth, and then leaned closer to Qi Zhao, the fresh scent of toothpaste filling the air. He kissed Qi Zhao, his voice a soft murmur. “Ah Zhao, I also never thought you would actually fall for me.”
Qi Zhao paused, then wrapped his arms around Qi Wei’s waist and said softly, “Qi Wei, you should have more confidence in yourself.”
He said seriously, “You’re exceptional… You’re so wonderful, it’s hard for me not to like you.”
Qi Wei’s eyelashes fluttered, and after taking a deep breath, he expressed his love with a deep kiss.
Qi Zhao tilted his head back, letting Qi Wei plunder his mouth, taking everything he offered.
In the end, dizzy and disoriented, he was lifted into Qi Wei’s arms and carried to the bed.
Qi Zhao’s fingers twitched slightly, and Qi Wei reached out and turned off the lights, then kissed his forehead softly. “I won’t do anything.”
Qi Wei himself didn’t realize how gentle he was at this moment. “Ah Zhao, go to sleep. I’ll just hold you.”
He couldn’t really sleep; alphas didn’t need that much sleep, but he wanted to hold Qi Zhao.
Qi Zhao’s heart softened. He mumbled in agreement and nuzzled closer to Qi Wei, his arms no longer trapped within Qi Wei’s embrace, but wrapped around his waist, his hands against his firm abdomen, his mind slowly calming down as he drifted off to sleep.
Qi Zhao had a strange dream.
He dreamt of being seventeen again, arguing with Qi Mu. Their fight had been so intense that the news of him being a beta spread throughout their circle, and everyone knew that Qi Mu was sending him abroad.
The reason was that he was fighting with Qi Wense over the inheritance, and Qi Mu didn’t want the Qi family to fall apart.
Tang Huaiyuan and the others asked him if it was true, and Qi Zhao, annoyed, created a group chat, replied with a simple “yes,” then left the group, leaving the others to look at each other, knowing he was in a bad mood, not daring to disturb him further.
Qi Zhao returned to school, listening to the familiar language, looking at the school he had attended for so many years, the fear of going to a foreign country washing over him, his usual defiance replaced by a heavy silence.
He didn’t know what to do.
Qi Mu was his father, but he had also ceased to be his father long ago.
He walked aimlessly, a final farewell.
He would be flying abroad next week.
As he was about to leave the school, someone stopped him.
Qi Zhao looked at the person blocking his path and paused slightly.
He knew who he was, but they had never met.
Qi Wei, the illegitimate son of the Qi family. He had heard that he was still in the process of differentiating, most likely a low-ranking omega, his fate bleak.
Before Qi Zhao could address him as “Senior” or ask what he wanted, the young man, head lowered, his gaze fixed on him, pleaded, “Don’t go abroad, okay?”
He said earnestly, “Wait for me, wait until I finish differentiating. I can give you my gland; you don’t have to go abroad, don’t leave…”
Qi Zhao’s eyes widened in disbelief. He couldn’t remember clearly what Qi Wei said after that. In his memory, it was all blurry, because Qi Wei’s words had stunned him.
He looked at Qi Wei, noticing his tightly clenched fists, his tense body, as if he was restraining himself.
The real him, frustrated and upset, had just called him crazy and left.
But the him in his dream, looking at this Qi Wei, felt an inexplicable pang of sympathy, and he reached out, taking his wrist, and said softly, “Don’t worry.”
His tone was gentle, a gentleness he hadn’t even realized himself. “I’m not leaving, tell me slowly.”
…
When Qi Zhao woke up, he found himself lying on top of Qi Wei.
He was lying sideways, half on top of Qi Wei, and Qi Wei hadn’t pushed him away, but was holding him tightly, as if his weight wasn’t a burden at all.
Qi Zhao moved, and as expected, Qi Wei tightened his embrace.
Qi Wei didn’t let him go, his legs wrapped around him, holding him captive, his voice gentle. “Ah Zhao, the alarm hasn’t gone off yet.”
He glanced at the clock on the opposite wall. “We can sleep a little longer.”
Qi Zhao relaxed and closed his eyes again.
But he couldn’t fall back asleep. He just lay still in Qi Wei’s arms, and after a while, he asked, “Did you… want to stop me back then?”
Qi Wei froze, realizing what he was asking after a moment. “…No.”
He smiled, his lips nuzzling Qi Zhao’s hair. “I wanted to hold you, to carry you away.”
This was the truth.
Qi Wei had desperately wanted to take Qi Zhao away from Kyoto, from the Qi family, from this entire circle.
He wanted to ask if Qi Zhao would be willing to go with him.
But… they were practically strangers; he couldn’t ask.
Whether it was in response to Qi Wei’s words, “to carry you away,” or because he had guessed his true intentions, Qi Zhao whispered, “I would have.”
Qi Wei froze, his arms tightening around Qi Zhao, then he flipped them over, Qi Zhao now beneath him, his large frame casting a shadow over him.
Qi Zhao looked up at Qi Wei, meeting his deep, turbulent gaze, and smiled silently, letting Qi Wei kiss him randomly before gently pushing him away. “Wait.”
Qi Zhao said, “I have one more question… Let me finish first.”
Qi Wei paused, kissing Qi Zhao again before reluctantly stopping.
Qi Zhao hesitated, carefully choosing his words, then slowly asked, “Qi Wei, have you… been bothered by it for a long time?”
He added, “Me calling you ‘crazy’.”
Qi Wei wasn’t surprised by the question.
He chuckled softly, burying his face in the crook of Qi Zhao’s neck, inhaling his scent, a contented laziness in his voice. “You weren’t wrong.”
Qi Zhao pushed him lightly. “Answer the question.”
Qi Wei sighed inwardly. “Ah Zhao, you don’t have to worry about it. Although I did mind it for a long time, if it weren’t for you, I might truly be a madman now, my actions reckless and destructive… The situation wouldn’t be so peaceful.”
It was because of Qi Zhao’s words that Qi Wei had learned to hide his true nature.
Qi Wei raised his head and said seriously, “I wasn’t hurt.”
Qi Zhao was relieved and wrapped his arms around Qi Wei’s neck. “That’s good.”
Qi Wei smiled. “Then Mr. Qi, can I kiss you now?”
Qi Zhao’s ears felt warm, but he said, “The other Mr. Qi, I think… I’ve already given you my answer.”
Qi Zhao moved his hand, mimicking Qi Wei, his palm resting on the back of his head.
Qi Wei, as if pulled down by his touch, kissed him deeply, their tongues tangling.
