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Qi Zhao felt that he must be truly tired, to be so oblivious to Qi Wei applying ointment to him for several nights in a row, only realizing it the next morning.
However, after a few days of rest, Qi Wei didn’t push him any further, just holding him close, kissing him gently and tenderly.
The atmosphere between them was intimate, and Qi Wei, to take better care of Qi Zhao, had even been working from home these past few days. Yet, Qi Zhao still felt a lingering sense of unease.
And this unease wasn’t from him, but rather, as if transmitted from someone else.
“…”
Qi Zhao, sitting in the armchair, turned to look at Qi Wei, who was working on his computer.
Sensing his gaze, Qi Wei immediately looked up, his eyes questioning.
Qi Zhao shook his head, but Qi Wei still took off his headphones and walked over. “Uncomfortable? Or do you want something to eat?”
Qi Zhao: “…I’m fine.”
He sighed, the indescribable unease intensifying. “I just suddenly wanted to see you.”
Qi Wei’s eyelashes seemed to flutter, but then he smiled and, since he was half-kneeling before Qi Zhao, conveniently rested his head on Qi Zhao’s lap.
Qi Zhao moved his hand, putting down his book and placing it on Qi Wei’s head, gently running his fingers through his hair. “Your hair is quite coarse.”
“Have you heard the theory that alphas might have evolved from wolves, Ah Zhao?”
“Yes.”
Qi Zhao, stroking his hair, couldn’t help but ask, “Is wolf fur also this coarse?”
Qi Wei hummed in agreement. “I’ll take you to touch some next time we have the chance.”
Qi Zhao: “…?”
Touch what?
“…Yang Shou has a wolf, a snow-white one,” Qi Wei’s eyes were downcast, his expression hidden in the dim light. Qi Zhao couldn’t see what he was thinking, and his words seemed like ordinary, casual conversation. “He rescued it at the border. You can see it if you go to his house. We’ll have to visit sometime.”
Since they were all friends, they would occasionally get together. If they wanted to avoid being photographed, they would go to someone’s house, usually Yang Shou’s. Many government and military officials lived there, so the security was tight, and the media wouldn’t dare intrude.
Qi Zhao said okay, then asked, “Didn’t you say Ming Jingsong has a strong aversion to alphas?”
“It’s fine as long as we don’t get too close. A safe distance of three meters is no different from how we usually interact,” Qi Wei said. “We can tolerate it for a photo op, but he can’t.”
Qi Zhao understood, then felt a flicker of curiosity, but he wasn’t sure if he should ask.
He was afraid of making Qi Wei jealous, so he remained silent.
Qi Wei raised his head slightly, his chin resting between Qi Zhao’s knees, the posture reminding Qi Zhao of those videos of dogs resting their heads on their owners’ laps.
Qi Wei asked softly, “Ah Zhao, you want to ask about Ming Jingsong’s condition, don’t you?”
Qi Zhao hesitated, then hummed in agreement, his hand still in Qi Wei’s hair.
Qi Wei said, “I don’t know the details either. It seems to be a congenital genetic defect. Yang Shou is always very protective of him, so we only know a little. It’s said that his condition wasn’t so bad initially, but it worsened after he differentiated and then experienced something traumatic.”
He then nuzzled Qi Zhao’s hand with his head, as if he was the one in control, even though it was Qi Zhao whose hand was on his head.
Especially when Qi Wei asked softly, “Ah Zhao, are you… afraid of me?”
Qi Zhao paused and pursed his lips. “I’m just worried you’ll be unhappy.”
“…” Qi Wei looked up, meeting Qi Zhao’s gaze, and didn’t speak for a moment.
Qi Zhao blinked and finally said, “…I am a little afraid of upsetting you, but not… terrified.”
He leaned down slightly, his tone softening. “I just don’t want you to be unhappy.”
Qi Wei reached up and gently caressed the back of Qi Zhao’s neck. “I know you’re worried about my health.”
Before Qi Zhao could relax, Qi Wei added, “But I don’t like all this politeness between us.”
He had hinted at this several times, but Qi Zhao hadn’t understood, so he decided to be direct.
Qi Zhao was stunned.
He didn’t think he was being overly polite, but since Qi Wei said so, he instinctively replayed their interactions in his mind.
“…I,” Qi Zhao said, “I don’t think I’m being polite.”
He was genuinely puzzled.
Qi Wei sighed inwardly. “Ah Zhao.”
He moved his hand down, holding Qi Zhao’s, and played with his fingertips. “You’re always considering my feelings, not your own. You said you would tell me if you didn’t like something, but you never insist on knowing things you’re curious about. You always consider my feelings before doing anything.”
Qi Wei looked at Qi Zhao and said seriously, “I admit, it does please me, but I’d rather you be more unrestrained.”
Ask whatever he wanted to ask, insist if he didn’t get an answer… He wanted Qi Zhao to be more demanding around him.
But Qi Zhao truly didn’t understand.
It wasn’t that he didn’t comprehend the words, but he didn’t see the difference. After all, he wasn’t unhappy, and if he truly was, he would tell Qi Wei.
So, after meeting Qi Zhao’s gaze, Qi Wei sighed softly, then suddenly leaned forward, his hand on the armrest beside Qi Zhao, and kissed him.
The sudden kiss was forceful and possessive, as if wanting to devour him whole. It had been a few days since Qi Wei had kissed him like this, making his scalp tingle, but what was even more overwhelming was that Qi Wei seemed to want more than just a kiss.
His hand moved lower, and he almost lifted Qi Zhao into his arms during the kiss.
Qi Zhao, initially dazed, even being half-lifted didn’t alarm him, after all, Qi Wei wouldn’t let him fall, but he suddenly snapped back to his senses when he felt Qi Wei’s fingernails grazing his skin. “…Qi Wei!”
He grabbed Qi Wei’s shirt, pushing him away, his eyes wide, his voice tense.
But his warning didn’t stop Qi Wei, who was still trying to move his hand lower, making Qi Zhao instinctively kick his knee, scolding him, “It’s broad daylight…!”
Qi Wei pulled back slightly, chuckling despite his arousal.
He looked at the flustered Qi Zhao, casually rubbing his knee, then grabbed Qi Zhao’s ankle and pulled his leg apart, trapping it against the armrest.
Seeing him leaning in again, Qi Zhao, without thinking, quickly grabbed his hair and pulled his head back.
It definitely hurt, but this “passionate” scene made Qi Wei laugh, a muffled chuckle escaping his lips, making Qi Zhao want to call him crazy. “What are you doing?!”
He released Qi Wei’s hair as he spoke, and Qi Wei stopped moving, just hugging him, burying his face in his embrace, his voice light. “Ah Zhao, you see, you do have a temper, why suppress it?”
Qi Wei’s voice then lowered, a slight tremor in it that he hadn’t even realized himself. “I know I have many bad habits, I know I’m petty and jealous, but… please don’t treat me like you treat Qi Mu and the others, okay?”
He was truly afraid.
Afraid that one day, Qi Zhao would just give up on him.
Qi Zhao paused and sighed softly.
Qi Wei knew him very well. This had its advantages, of course. Their interactions were smooth and comfortable, Qi Wei knew all his preferences, knew his boundaries and never crossed them, or if he did, he would hide it carefully, not flaunting it, allowing Qi Zhao to pretend to be unaware.
But there were also disadvantages.
Because he knew him too well, Qi Wei would become afraid like this.
Was it because of this that Qi Wei saw him as a phantom? Or was it because of this that Qi Wei was afraid of losing him?
Qi Zhao pursed his lips and hugged him back, his voice slightly muffled against Qi Wei’s chest. “You’re different from them, of course.”
He whispered, “I know you… love me very much.”
Qi Zhao continued slowly, “That’s why I don’t want to upset you. But if you don’t mind, I won’t be so cautious anymore.”
Qi Wei: “Ah Zhao, I just don’t want you to be so careful around me.”
It made him feel uncomfortable, even though it was towards him.
Qi Zhao seemed to hear his unspoken words, his heart softening, his heartbeat quickening.
Then he heard Qi Wei say, “Your heart is beating so fast.”
Qi Zhao was slightly embarrassed. “…Of course.”
But he didn’t explain why “of course.”
Qi Wei knew anyway.
Qi Zhao felt Qi Wei’s arousal against his knee, his ears burning, and asked stiffly, his voice soft, “Do you… need help?”
Qi Wei’s eyes flickered, glancing at his canines. “Sure.”
He leaned in and kissed Qi Zhao again, the soft cushion of the armchair sinking beneath them. As Qi Zhao’s hand brushed against him, Qi Wei bit down on his neck.
But the alpha was truly insatiable. Qi Zhao’s hands were weak and numb, not much help at all, perhaps even a hindrance.
Qi Zhao, trembling, was brought to release by Qi Wei’s hand.
In the end, Qi Wei lifted his leg, coaxing him, and used him, his flat stomach tensing slightly.
It couldn’t be helped; it was painful at first, how could it not be?
But he quickly relaxed under Qi Wei’s gentle ministrations, and later, when he was more alert, he couldn’t even remember what he had said—
It must be because Qi Wei was always saying those things, always attentive to his feelings during those moments, like a dedicated masseur, asking him questions to ensure he was comfortable.
So when Qi Wei kissed him again, soothing him, he had whispered, his ears burning red…
