80
After his rut ended, Qi Wei looked at the scattered marks on Qi Zhao’s neck with a sense of satisfaction.
Especially recalling Qi Zhao indulging him, letting him bite and nibble, even raising his hand to caress the back of his head…
But he had to maintain a facade.
Qi Wei lowered his eyelids, hiding his pleasure, his voice soft. “Ah Zhao, I’m sorry.”
Qi Zhao, of course, knew what a mess he looked like, and not just his neck.
Because he had let Qi Wei cross many lines, Qi Wei even biting and sucking other places while… which was why he had been feeling uncomfortable these past few days.
He couldn’t not wear clothes, but wearing them inevitably caused friction against the sensitive areas.
Qi Wei’s canines…
Just thinking about them made Qi Zhao feel resentful.
But also aroused.
But honestly, the look of infatuation and desire on Qi Wei’s face because of him also brought Qi Zhao an indescribable pleasure, which was why he always yielded, letting Qi Wei advance, step by step.
Qi Zhao sighed. “You don’t have to apologize.”
He tugged at Qi Wei’s shirt he was wearing and said with a smile, “Just let me change back into my own clothes.”
Wearing Qi Wei’s clothes was truly inconvenient. They were too big and loose, and Qi Zhao always had to roll up the sleeves, which he disliked.
Qi Wei’s eyelashes fluttered. He leaned closer to Qi Zhao and whispered, “I’ll help you change.”
Qi Zhao, who had finally relaxed a bit after Qi Wei’s rut ended, felt a shiver down his spine at these words. “No! You’re not in rut anymore!”
“Oh,” Qi Wei lowered his eyelids, his tone casual, “so Ah Zhao prefers me when I’m in rut.”
His tone sounded like he was seriously considering how to stay in rut permanently.
If it were anyone else, Qi Zhao would have felt threatened, like it was a deliberate provocation. But it was Qi Wei, the madman who diligently went to the lab every week to extract his pheromones and put them in a necklace for Qi Zhao to wear as an alpha disguise—it couldn’t be that simple.
Qi Zhao had told Qi Wei he didn’t need it anymore, but Qi Wei had gently yet firmly refused.
Saying it wasn’t just for Qi Zhao’s disguise, but also to keep others away from him.
If anyone got too close, within shoulder-to-shoulder distance, they would smell Qi Wei’s pheromones on him and instinctively feel repulsed, wanting to move away.
Even omegas would be wary and avoid him.
Not to mention, Qi Zhao naturally kept his distance from omegas.
Qi Zhao had never thought that Qi Wei’s earlier words, “I’ll dig out my gland for you,” were just an exaggeration.
He always felt that if there were a way, Qi Wei would truly do it.
So Qi Zhao, startled, immediately grabbed Qi Wei’s wrist. “That’s not what I meant.”
Qi Wei didn’t look up, seemingly lost in thought. “…But Ah Zhao, you allowed me to do many things when I was in rut, and now that it’s over, I can’t do those things anymore.”
“…”
That was because he didn’t have pheromones, he couldn’t offer any comfort, so Qi Wei had resorted to other methods!
Thinking about it this way, Qi Zhao felt that he shouldn’t restrict Qi Wei so much.
Omegas didn’t just provide comfort to their alphas during their ruts; that would be too cruel.
Like only being willing to hug your partner when they’re sick.
The more he thought about it, the more guilty Qi Zhao felt, and he released Qi Wei’s hand.
He pursed his lips slightly, and Qi Wei looked up at him, tentatively placing his hand on the buttons of Qi Zhao’s shirt.
Qi Zhao stiffened visibly, but didn’t move away.
So Qi Wei slowly unbuttoned his shirt.
His already marked collarbone was now more exposed, revealing the scattered marks on his chest.
Qi Wei had been in rut, not drunk or suffering from amnesia, so he remembered everything clearly.
He remembered where his lips and tongue had lingered as he helped Qi Zhao, he remembered Qi Zhao’s moans and involuntary movements as he was brought to the peak of pleasure.
Qi Zhao worked out, and although his physique wasn’t overly muscular, his defined muscles made him even more alluring, every inch of him captivating, making Qi Wei want to hold him in his palm and play with him forever.
Even the subtle lines of his thighs were beautiful.
Qi Wei didn’t do anything; he just admired his handiwork for a moment before helping Qi Zhao change into his own casual clothes.
Qi Zhao liked wearing T-shirts.
After he was changed, Qi Zhao relaxed a little, then felt Qi Wei’s hand on the side of his neck.
Qi Zhao had become somewhat desensitized to being touched there, so he just paused slightly.
Then he heard Qi Wei ask, “Does it hurt?”
“It’s okay,” Qi Zhao said honestly, “I have a high pain tolerance.”
As he said this, he instinctively dodged Qi Wei’s hand as it reached for his neck again. “It’s itchy.”
Qi Wei chuckled softly, but didn’t withdraw his hand, instead cupping the side of Qi Zhao’s neck, as if supporting it.
This gesture was even stranger, but considering it was Qi Wei, it wasn’t surprising.
Qi Zhao looked at him helplessly, and Qi Wei, amidst this gentle atmosphere, couldn’t resist leaning down and kissing him.
He liked Qi Zhao so much.
This feeling couldn’t be simply expressed with the words “I love you.”
Qi Wei always felt that even giving his heart to Qi Zhao wouldn’t be enough.
To Qi Zhao’s surprise, Qi Wei didn’t mention marriage after his rut ended.
But it made sense. At the time, Qi Wei had probably been desperate for a sense of security, unable to mark or possess him.
It was an alpha’s self-preservation instinct.
But Qi Zhao wouldn’t misunderstand Qi Wei; he didn’t think he had just been caught up in the moment.
He knew Qi Wei, he would definitely want to propose properly, perhaps even with a ring.
Qi Zhao smiled, a sense of anticipation rising within him.
He just had to wait.
Qi Wei would definitely bring it up again.
A few days after his rut, Qi Wei, having dealt with the accumulated work at the company, had to go to the hospital.
He had navigated this rut even more smoothly than the last, without even needing medication. To check on his condition, a visit to the hospital was necessary.
So Qi Zhao said, “Qi Wei, I want to go with you.”
Qi Wei paused, then bent down, wrapped his arms around Qi Zhao’s waist, and half-knelt before him, looking up. “Why don’t you wait for me at home? It’ll be quick.”
Qi Zhao held his hand and stared at him. “I said I want to go with you.”
Qi Wei found it difficult to refuse any of Qi Zhao’s requests, especially when he was being so assertive.
So in the end, Qi Wei could only take Qi Zhao with him.
Qiu Ji, of course, knew where they were going, so when he saw Qi Zhao getting into the car, he was stunned for a moment, then immediately understood.
He had been with Qi Wei the longest, chosen as his personal assistant not only because he was a low-ranking, “inferior” alpha, whose pheromones didn’t clash as strongly with Qi Wei’s, but also because he was always attuned to Qi Wei’s wishes.
Qiu Ji called the hospital while waiting at a red light, to prevent anything from being revealed in front of Qi Zhao.
The hospital wasn’t far; most hospitals in Kyoto also had laboratories and research institutes.
This particular hospital was a private Qi family enterprise, a large facility where Meng Li and Teacher Wu worked.
The car drove straight towards the research institute. Normally, it was off-limits to unauthorized personnel, requiring a key card for entry, but for Qi Wei, his car’s license plate was enough.
The smell of disinfectant in the air made Qi Zhao slightly uncomfortable when they arrived.
He didn’t like hospitals; they reminded him of An Xinzhi.
So he tightened his grip on Qi Wei’s hand.
Qi Wei held his hand and turned his head, asking, “Uncomfortable?”
…Did Qi Wei even know this?
This thought flashed through Qi Zhao’s mind, then he said, “No.”
He was just worried about Qi Wei.
Since Qi Wei was the boss, Meng Li came out to greet them.
Qiu Ji had warned her in advance, so Meng Li didn’t immediately start lecturing him about neglecting his health, but nodded to Qi Zhao first. “Hello, I’m Meng Li.”
Qi Zhao greeted her back. Meng Li didn’t say much to Qi Zhao, to avoid further agitating the already unstable alpha.
She just said to Qi Wei, “The equipment is ready.”
Qi Wei turned to Qi Zhao. “I’ll go for the checkup. Will you wait for me in the lounge?”
Qi Zhao: “Can’t I go with you?”
“Your presence will affect his pheromone levels,” Meng Li said objectively, “we need to check his pheromones when you’re not around.”
Qi Zhao understood. “Okay.”
Qi Wei squeezed Qi Zhao’s hand, restraining himself from kissing him, and led him away. “I’ll take you to the lounge first.”
He then asked, “Do you want anything to eat? I can have Qiu Ji buy something. There’s a decent lu zhu huo shao (boiled offal) place nearby.”
Qi Zhao said helplessly, “No, thank you.”
Qi Wei said okay, and after escorting him to the lounge, he asked, “Should I leave some pheromones at the door?”
Qi Zhao: “…”
Here we go again.
Meng Li, following behind them, frowned, her brows furrowed deep enough to crush a fly.
Yes, an alpha’s possessiveness could be truly pathological.
And this was a genetic flaw, an instinct to claim their partner.
But a normal alpha wouldn’t do this without a “rival.”
Even a super S-rank alpha.
Meng Li had seen countless cases. A normal alpha would only do this if there was a rival, a significant threat.
But Qi Wei…
Who said his condition was improving?
Judging by this alone, it hadn’t improved at all.
What made Meng Li even more concerned was Qi Zhao, the other person involved.
He not only didn’t refuse Qi Wei, but even agreed helplessly.
Meng Li: “…”
She was truly speechless.
Qi Zhao’s current behavior was like a mischievous dog asking its owner if it could tear up the house, and the owner saying yes… Such indulgence was definitely not okay!
