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Qi Zhao didn’t even click on the news, just swiped it away and checked the stock market before arriving at Qi Wei’s office.
Before he could knock, Qi Wei opened the door and hugged him, burying his face in his neck and inhaling deeply.
Although they were alone, being embraced like this by Qi Wei while wearing a suit, and at the office entrance, made Qi Zhao slightly embarrassed. “Qi Wei.”
He said, “Let’s hug inside.”
So Qi Wei held him as he stepped back, then closed the door with his hand, his arm still around Qi Zhao’s waist.
Qi Zhao was both amused and exasperated, but he let Qi Wei have his way.
He looked down at the top of Qi Wei’s head, a little worried. “Are you feeling unwell?”
With his improved mental state and the medication, Qi Wei hadn’t felt unwell in a long time.
Of course, it could also be because they had been practically inseparable during the holiday break, Qi Wei incredibly clingy, even wrapping his arm around his waist while brushing his teeth.
Qi Zhao couldn’t even tell what the alpha’s true condition was anymore.
Qi Wei shook his head slightly, his voice muffled against Qi Zhao’s chest. “Just missed you.”
It had only been a morning.
Qi Zhao confirmed that Qi Wei wasn’t reacting to the news about Qi Mao, so he didn’t mention it, just patting Qi Wei’s back and ruffling his hair. “I can work by your side after I finish the handover.”
He knew that Qi Wei had placed his desk in his office; he had already seen it.
Qi Wei hummed in agreement but didn’t let go immediately. It was only after Qi Zhao said, “Qi Wei, I’m hungry,” that he finally released him.
“Have some snacks first; Qiu Ji is downstairs picking someone up.”
Since Qi Zhao had said it was too cold to go out, Qi Wei had ordered food from a private kitchen to be delivered.
He ordered all of Qi Zhao’s favorite dishes, and even some desserts.
They went to the dining table in the lounge area, and Qi Wei opened a small cake, asking, “How’s it going?”
Qi Zhao knew he wasn’t asking about his work, but his feelings. “It’s going well, Assistant Xia is truly capable, and your assistant team is excellent. No wonder they can manage the company during your ruts.”
Qi Wei chuckled. “It’s all thanks to money.”
He added, “Old Xia is capable, but he’s not quite cut out for such a large company. He’s been following me for years, hasn’t slept well, and sometimes struggles with difficult problems, most of which still require my approval. So he requested a transfer a long time ago, but there’s no one else suitable for the position.”
Qi Wei needed not just competence, but also loyalty and trust.
And sometimes, the latter two were even more important.
Qi Wei said casually, “It’s perfect timing for you to take over. He can finally go home and get married. And you’ve already demonstrated your abilities during the new year period; everyone is convinced.”
Qi Zhao hadn’t been worried, but hearing Qi Wei’s words still gave him a sense of security.
Perhaps because… when he had started helping Qi Mu with Qi Mao’s business, Qi Mu hadn’t bothered explaining things to him, just throwing him to the assistants and saying, “This is my son,” without any further instructions.
It took Qi Zhao a few days to complete the handover with Assistant Xia.
Assistant Xia wouldn’t leave immediately, but would stay for another month, just to make sure there were no problems.
And now that he had officially started working, Qi Zhao occasionally had to go on business trips. He didn’t mind; he enjoyed the busy schedule.
Especially since he could go home with Qi Wei after work, have dinner together, chat, and if he wasn’t too tired, Qi Wei would… pester him.
It was a simple, everyday life, yet it made Qi Zhao feel at peace.
And because of these unavoidable business trips, Qi Zhao finally had the opportunity to order the rings.
Given an alpha’s personality, he would definitely prefer something unique, preferably designed by him.
Qi Zhao felt like a secret agent, doing this behind Qi Wei’s back.
He had already contacted the jeweler. Since the design didn’t include any diamonds, it wasn’t difficult to make, and it wasn’t very expensive either.
But Qi Zhao couldn’t get it done in time for Valentine’s Day, so he had to wait.
And then, Qi Wei’s rut arrived.
This time, it was even calmer than the last, the only problem being that he still couldn’t let go of Qi Zhao.
Qi Zhao tried to reason with him. “I just want to take a shower, I’ll be quick.”
Qi Wei’s arms were like chains, holding him tightly.
He buried his face in Qi Zhao’s embrace, desperately absorbing his unique scent, his voice muffled. “Ah Zhao, we’ve showered together before.”
They had, but…
“You’re in rut now.”
Qi Zhao’s ears felt warm. “Qi Wei, you won’t be able to control yourself.”
Although Qi Wei had become more unrestrained over time, sometimes touching him roughly, Qi Zhao could still sense his restraint. But now that he was in rut…
He was afraid it would be like Pandora’s Box, once opened, unstoppable.
Qi Wei didn’t say anything, but raised his head and, for the umpteenth time, bit down on Qi Zhao’s neck, leaving a new mark amidst the already messy bite marks and bruises.
Qi Zhao sighed, exasperated. “Stop biting… Mmm.”
His nerves tensed, his voice slightly hoarse. “I agree… but you can’t…”
He didn’t finish his sentence, but Qi Zhao believed that even in his rut, Qi Wei understood what he meant.
And Qi Zhao insisted on hearing Qi Wei’s agreement before letting him carry him into the bathroom.
—He had learned his lesson.
During a lunch break at the company, Qi Wei had kissed him until he was… aroused, and offered to help him. Qi Zhao had wanted to refuse.
The office wasn’t exactly… an appropriate place.
But Qi Wei was very persuasive, and Qi Zhao, in a daze, had agreed, but not without setting boundaries, which Qi Wei hadn’t verbally agreed to, just starting to use his hand.
But as he continued, he had leaned down, his hand moving elsewhere.
Although Qi Wei hadn’t… his hand was still too much!
And the combination of his mouth and hand was truly overwhelming. Qi Zhao had felt like he was dying, just…
So now, Qi Zhao insisted on a verbal confirmation from Qi Wei before agreeing to anything.
But he had forgotten one thing.
The one agreeing to his terms now was Qi Wei in rut.
And he was truly too soft-hearted.
So when Qi Wei pleaded with him, his voice soft, complaining of his discomfort, he still agreed.
And then…
Qi Zhao finally understood the saying, “Don’t feel sorry for an alpha.”
Because when the bathtub was half-empty, he couldn’t even struggle, any movement controlled by the alpha.
Not to mention the unprecedented sense of suffocation that made him give up after just a few weak attempts to escape.
By the time Qi Wei lifted him out of the water, he was too exhausted to even speak, his mind blank, while the alpha was still full of energy.
After checking him for injuries, he even changed his clothes and put him to bed—
In Qi Wei’s pajamas, of course.
Qi Zhao hadn’t felt much pain, and Qi Wei had been relatively restrained, although he was still aroused after they finished, but he hadn’t… continued.
But it was precisely because this time was more intense than ever before that Qi Zhao felt so exhausted.
Before, Qi Wei had always been considerate of his feelings, but this time…
When Qi Zhao woke up the next day, he felt like he had been… taken.
He even unconsciously touched his abdomen, the feeling still…
…vivid.
But it seemed that because of this, Qi Wei’s rut subsided much faster this time.
Because when Qi Zhao opened his eyes, Qi Wei, clearly realizing what he had done, apologized profusely, holding him carefully. “Ah Zhao, I’m sorry… I overestimated myself.”
He truly had.
Qi Zhao paused.
It felt like the first time, even more terrifying, but…
“I don’t blame you.”
Even though his voice was hoarse from crying out last night, he wasn’t angry. “I just think… alphas are truly crazy.”
Qi Wei felt even more guilty. “Ah Zhao…”
Qi Zhao truly didn’t blame him. He leaned against Qi Wei’s chest and whispered, “It’s only a few times a year anyway.”
He paused, his ears burning, his voice softening. “You’re always considerate of me… A few times a year when you… it’s not a big deal.”
His words were broken and muffled.
But Qi Wei instantly understood.
He paused, then smiled, hugging the still sore and exhausted Qi Zhao tightly, and kissed his hair. “Ah Zhao.”
He murmured, “You’re too good.”
Qi Zhao coughed slightly and mumbled, “I’m going back to sleep.”
Qi Wei nodded obediently.
Perhaps because rutting sex was different from usual, Qi Wei’s rut ended quickly this time.
Finally free from Qi Wei’s constant clinging, Qi Zhao breathed a sigh of relief.
—Qi Wei was truly heavy.
As he was getting dressed, watching Qi Wei clean up the mess on the floor, he suddenly didn’t want to wait for a special occasion anymore.
He called out to Qi Wei, “Qi Wei.”
Qi Wei put the clothes on a chair and walked over. “What’s wrong?”
Qi Zhao opened his nightstand drawer, took out the small box hidden inside the perfume box, and placed it in Qi Wei’s hand.
He couldn’t bring himself to do the cheesy one-knee proposal, so he just said softly, “I said we would talk about this after your rut ended.”
He paused, slightly flustered, since this was his first time. “…Do you… want to get married?”
Qi Wei froze, his breath hitching.
His hand instinctively tightened, accidentally pressing the small button on the box, opening it.
A pair of rings was revealed, their warm, gentle glow sparkling under the light.
Qi Wei, half-kneeling, looked up at Qi Zhao, his dark eyes, usually carrying a hint of danger, now filled with pure, burning love.
“…Ah Zhao.”
He took a deep breath, calming his racing heart, and then said, “I already bought the rings.”
He confessed his original plan. “I was going to propose after my condition improved…”
Qi Zhao’s heart ached.
He knew why Qi Wei had wanted to wait, Qi Wei… was truly a good person.
So Qi Zhao placed his hand over Qi Wei’s, lowering his head, his voice serious. “There’s no need to wait.”
He said, “Western wedding vows often mention ‘in sickness and in health, in joy and in sorrow, for richer, for poorer’… I agree with that.”
Qi Zhao looked at Qi Wei, his gaze steady, his voice soft yet carrying a weight that made Qi Wei’s soul soar with happiness. “I love you.”
Not “like,” but “love.”
He had fallen in love with Qi Wei.
So he wanted to be with him, now and forever, to spend his life with him.
Qi Zhao: “So… do you?”
It was a rhetorical question.
Qi Wei picked up one of the rings without hesitation, holding Qi Zhao’s finger and slowly sliding it on. “It’s not just ‘yes’.”
He held Qi Zhao’s hand tightly, looking up at him with a devout, fervent gaze. “It’s a dream come true, a wish finally fulfilled, after so many years of longing.”
Qi Zhao’s heart warmed, and he smiled, leaning down to kiss him. “You have it now.”
Main Story —The End—
