He listened to Qiu Sui’s steady breathing, lowered his head to press against Qiu Sui’s cheek, and tried calling out softly, “Baby.”
The person in his arms kept his eyes tightly shut with no reaction—he was clearly fast asleep.
Shen Zhixiao reluctantly planted a kiss on his cheek, then reached out to fiddle with his ear. Unable to hold back, he whispered “Baby” once more.
Seeing no response from Qiu Sui, Shen Zhixiao began carefully kissing the corner of his lips while gently rubbing his ear with one hand. His breath came out rough and hot as he murmured, “Can I use Baby’s hand? Just once…”
As he spoke, seeing Qiu Sui remain completely still, his fingers slid from behind Qiu Sui’s ear down his neck, inching toward the gland at the nape. He pressed lightly against that thin patch of skin.
The sleeping man reflexively shifted his head with a low, unconscious hum.
Afraid of waking Qiu Sui, Shen Zhixiao eased up, gently massaging his nape as he asked softly again, “Is that okay? Baby?”
Qiu Sui let out another comfortable, unconscious hum, as if responding.
Shen Zhixiao’s whole body heated up instantly. He grasped Qiu Sui’s hand buried in the sheets and kissed the seam of his lips, whispering tenderly, “Thank you, Baby. I’ll wipe it clean.”
“…” The sleeping man only shrank his shoulders slightly with faint hums, nothing more.
Shen Zhixiao didn’t dare go too far—he was terrified of waking Qiu Sui—so he only loosely entwined their hands.
It had been over half a month since such intimate contact with Qiu Sui. Just touching his palm had Shen Zhixiao so stimulated he was dizzy with arousal.
Before he could steady his ragged breathing, Qiu Sui’s fingers reflexively gripped tight upon sensing the object.
Shen Zhixiao’s body jerked violently, electricity surging through him, scalp tingling. He couldn’t hold back a low cry and panicked as he stole a glance at Qiu Sui.
The Beta had his head tilted into the pillow, lashes drooping innocently. The dim bedside lamp cast a soft glow on his face.
Qiu Sui seemed to have unconsciously grabbed a corner of the blanket in his sleep, holding on without moving.
Shen Zhixiao broke out in sweat, heart pounding as he hugged Qiu Sui’s waist, not daring to move recklessly.
He held the pose, slowly grinding away until he finally exhaled a hot breath. Then, cautiously, he hooked Qiu Sui’s fingers and slipped out of bed.
Shen Zhixiao meticulously wiped Qiu Sui’s hand twice with a warm, damp towel. Seeing the flushed palm and fingertips, that burning ache threatened to return.
He froze for a moment, not daring to linger. He tiptoed to the bedside, blowing cool night air for a few minutes before climbing back in.
The instant he pulled Qiu Sui into his arms, Shen Zhixiao felt his blood run hot all over. An overwhelming sense of relief exploded in his chest uncontrollably. After so many days, he could finally sleep soundly.
They hadn’t set an alarm and slept until they woke naturally—past late morning.
While brushing his teeth after getting up, Qiu Sui kept feeling like his right hand just wouldn’t grip the toothbrush right.
Remembering how he’d dozed off mid-kiss last night, he curiously nudged Shen Zhixiao’s shoulder. “When did you fall asleep last night?”
Shen Zhixiao’s movements stiffened as he washed his towel. Feeling inexplicably guilty, he met Qiu Sui’s eyes in the mirror and said vaguely, “Just a little after you.”
Seeing no suspicion from Qiu Sui, Shen Zhixiao relaxed. Once Qiu Sui finished washing up, he got carried away and pinned him against the vanity for a kiss.
Qiu Sui was slow to react fresh out of bed, even more so after the kiss. He propped his hands on the counter island, watching Shen Zhixiao cook pasta. The Alpha had set out plates and sauce right in front of him, like a house cat ready to be fed, checking every half minute with a curious, “Is it done yet?”
“Not quite.” Shen Zhixiao grabbed his hand trying to fish out the noodles and leaned in to kiss his cheek.
Qiu Sui’s eyes were fixed on the pot, utterly indifferent—like the boiling pasta was his real partner.
Shen Zhixiao nuzzled kisses for a bit, then caught Qiu Sui’s other hand reaching for the steamer lid. His lips brushed close as he chuckled softly, warm breath sprinkling Qiu Sui’s cheek with a faint blush. “Just a little longer…”
With both hands captured, Qiu Sui couldn’t move. Staring at the bubbling water, he couldn’t resist saying, “Did you set the temperature too low? It’s taking forever.”
“No, Baby—it’s only been two minutes.” Shen Zhixiao buried his face in Qiu Sui’s shoulder, his hand wandering restlessly over his body.
Qiu Sui hadn’t eaten breakfast yet, so his stomach was empty and flat, the outline of his abs palpable.
Already hungry and heartburn-y, Qiu Sui jabbed an elbow into Shen Zhixiao. The Alpha grunted in pain and finally behaved.
Qiu Sui shot him a puzzled glance, thinking, I didn’t hit that hard—why’s it so effective? Is he faking to play pitiful?
Shen Zhixiao sucked in his waist and abs—the wound from when Qiu Sui had hit him during their breakup hadn’t fully healed, and this new blow would probably need days more.
The pasta boiled furiously—it was finally done.
Qiu Sui waited as Shen Zhixiao portioned it into his plate with sauce, then leaned back in his chair, ravenous, and dug in.
When starving, people eat fast—especially Qiu Sui, who scarfed food anyway. But eating too quickly wasn’t good for the stomach, so Shen Zhixiao periodically tugged his nape to remind him to slow down.
No classes, no cramming—exams were still about a week away. Shen Zhixiao figured they’d hole up in the apartment, so he was caught off guard when Qiu Sui said after breakfast he was heading back to school.
“Not studying doesn’t mean skipping books entirely. I need a few hours to review at least, or I’ll forget everything.”
Qiu Sui patted Shen Zhixiao’s head—room enough in there for romance but not grades—and thought, You don’t care about GPA, but I do. Bad scores make me uneasy.
Shen Zhixiao drove obediently, but thinking of dorm beds that night—cramped, rickety, unbearable for two—Qiu Sui might even kick him out for space. No constant closeness, no warming the bed… Terrifying. At red lights, his gaze kept drifting to the passenger seat.
Qiu Sui was tilted, chatting with Qiu Shun and Qiao Keren about getting back together, oblivious to Shen Zhixiao’s turmoil.
As the light turned green, Shen Zhixiao licked his lips and called tentatively, “Baby… we’ll head back to the apartment tonight, right?”
Qiu Sui hummed in denial. “Mm? Running between apartment and school every day is too much hassle.”
Not every day—just until exams next week…
Shen Zhixiao swallowed the words.
He put on an understanding front with an “Oh,” brain already scheming dorm alternatives. Smiling warmly, he suggested, “Then let’s stay at the Old Western House. Easier for exams too…”
Qiu Sui wasn’t thinking the same—he recalled Shen Zhixiao’s Susceptible Period hitting early last time. In a couple days, it’d be that time again.
He set down his phone and looked at the driving Alpha. “Your Susceptible Period’s coming up, isn’t it?”
Shen Zhixiao met his gaze instinctively, only to get a fierce reminder to focus on the road. He stared straight ahead, throat bobbing with a low hum.
His cycle was already unstable, plus the Potent Inhibitor—Qiu Sui knew it’d worsen things without guessing.
If Shen Zhixiao weren’t driving, Qiu Sui would’ve thwacked him. Instead, he warned, “No more Potent Inhibitor. Side effects are huge.”
The Alpha looked obedient—until the Old Western House mention, when he perked up eagerly and nodded.
It was close anyway, handy for exams. Qiu Sui packed his notes and laptop too.
The previous mess was cleared; bedroom restored, minus two Aroma Diffuser Cups on the desk. Qiu Sui placed the two perfumes from Shen Zhixiao in their spot.
Seeing the other bottle, Shen Zhixiao blinked in surprise, then lit up, chest tightening. “Baby… you kept the perfume after all…”
Qiu Sui nearly admitted he’d just forgotten to toss it during cleaning, but seeing Shen Zhixiao’s reddening eyes sapped his will.
Afraid to hurt that fragile heart, he mumbled a vague hum.
Shen Zhixiao sniffled, hugging him tight from behind, nuzzling his head in emotion. But Qiu Sui had unpacking to do, no time for emo.
Even so, Shen Zhixiao clung like a sticky plaster, a 1.9-meter frame shadowing every move—heavy even standing still. Qiu Sui dug out the photo album from his luggage and shooed him off.
Shen Zhixiao handled it like treasure, flipping through at the coffee table.
He hadn’t expected his own photo inside—one he had a copy of, taken with his camera back then.
Pinching it, Shen Zhixiao couldn’t name the feeling.
He’d thought Qiu Sui forgot him, the photo long gone. But here it was, carefully preserved—every past mistake stabbed like arrows, breath catching.
Just teary over perfume, now crying over an album?
Qiu Sui finished unpacking and glanced over curiously, then approached. Spotting the gripped photo, he chuckled, snatching it teasingly. “What, pissed off by your old awkward self?”
![Strange God [Infinite Flow]](https://i2.wp.com/dobynovels.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/gd.jpeg?resize=151,215 "Strange God [Infinite Flow]")
