Shang Sui was smiling so happily that Shi Qi couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to that sentence than it seemed.
On the way back, he asked Lin Yan.
“When someone says they’ll be your dog, what does that mean?” Shi Qi guessed. “Is it like being a pet?”
“…” Lin Yan had been absentmindedly scrolling through videos. His phone dropped onto his chest with a thud. “You ran into another pervert?!”
They had just gotten rid of Yu Zhiling, and now there was another one?!
“No, I was just asking.”
“If anyone ever says that to you, just tell them to get lost.”
“Oh,” Shi Qi said honestly, “But I don’t want to tell him to get lost.”
Lin Yan stared at him in shock. After a few seconds, a suggestive smile slowly crept across his face.
“Didn’t expect this from you, baby. So you’ve got such a wild kink hidden inside.”
“But Shang Sui doesn’t seem like the type who can be controlled. You’re playing a bold game. What if he turns the tables on you…” Lin Yan looked at that angelically pure face in front of him and sighed. “That wouldn’t be too bad either. Kinda sexy.”
“?”
Shi Qi was completely confused and asked what exactly he meant.
But Lin Yan refused to explain, only telling him he’d figure it out on his own eventually.
Compared to the trip here, everyone was exhausted on the way back. Coming back to the A University dorms from Qijiang’s flower fields felt like returning to winter overnight. Even Shi Qi, who normally adapted well, felt the contrast was overwhelming.
“Send me back to Qijiang. That’s my real hometown,” Lin Yan groaned while rushing through his social practice report. “I’m done with this place. I almost slipped on an icy patch downstairs just now.”
The three-day New Year’s holiday was approaching, and the department required them to hand in their reports before the break. Shi Qi didn’t know the first thing about the social practice activity and could only make things up. Lin Yan wasn’t much better and half-assed it while asking, “Are you going home for New Year’s?”
Shi An had specially called earlier, saying that since Shi Qi hadn’t been home for half a year, he absolutely had to return this time.
Shi Qi had avoided going home before because he didn’t want to hear Shi An nag him about marriage, but now that he had a “boyfriend,” and since he also wanted to bring up the matter with Yu Zhiling to Jiang Youning, he agreed to go.
“Then I’ll go home too. Staying alone in the dorms is no fun.” After asking about New Year’s plans, Lin Yan added, “What about Christmas on Friday? Want to play mahjong with us?”
Mahjong on Christmas?
Shi Qi quipped, “Your way of celebrating is unique.”
Lin Yan chuckled. “A fusion of Chinese and Western cultures, battling ‘til dawn.”
Shi Qi had other plans. He shook his head and gave Lin Yan his most sincere blessing. “Hope you win.”
After rushing to finish, Shi Qi finally completed his report on Christmas Day and ended the torture.
Since returning from Qijiang, he hadn’t seen Shang Sui again. Shi Qi opened their chat, just about to ask if he wanted to spend the holiday together, when a message from Shang Sui arrived first.
Ss: [Merry Christmas, want to grab dinner ><]
Shi Qi’s fingers paused, and the corners of his lips lifted slightly.
17: [Okay, where should we meet?]
As night approached, light snow began to fall from the sky.
Shi Qi didn’t see a familiar figure at the gate of A University. While he was looking around, the window of a dark-colored Cullinan rolled down.
“Xiao Qi, over here.”
Shang Sui sat in the back seat, eyes curved in a smile as he waved at him.
After getting into the car, Shi Qi had the feeling Shang Sui had just come from somewhere else. He was about to ask, but then thought Shang Sui had no obligation to explain his whereabouts to him.
Noticing what he was thinking, Shang Sui took the initiative to say, “I went to my parents’ place this afternoon.”
A while ago, he had asked his family to help investigate matters related to banned substances, and Yu Wan took the opportunity to call him home for a visit.
Yu Wan had always been very concerned about his rut, and now that Shang Sui had received his psychological assessment results, it was a good chance to bring it back and put her at ease.
Sure enough, after reading the report, Yu Wan visibly relaxed. Beside her, Shang Yao seemed to remember something and asked, “Your third rut this year still hasn’t come?”
Alphas usually experienced three to four ruts a year. Shang Sui had only gone through two so far.
“Shen Qianyu said it might be because I recently came into contact with a highly compatible Omega. Things have been relatively stable, so the rut was delayed as a result.”
But accordingly, he would experience two ruts in close succession in the near future. Shen Qianyu had told him to be prepared.
His tone was offhand, but the effect of those words hit like a thunderclap out of nowhere.
Yu Wan suddenly turned to look at him, and Shang Yao was also stunned. “What does that mean?”
For a family like theirs, marriage and children carried immense importance, and Shang Sui was the only son of both sides.
But after those hard times, the couple only hoped their child could be happy.
As long as Shang Sui liked someone, it didn’t matter whether it was an Omega, a Beta, or even another Alpha. But over the years, they had never seen him show interest in anyone. Not wanting to pressure him, they didn’t bring it up and had privately prepared themselves for the possibility that he might spend his life alone.
To suddenly hear this, both of them were genuinely delighted.
Especially Yu Wan, who couldn’t hide her joy and bombarded him with questions: how did you meet, had you confirmed the relationship yet?
“No, I’m still…” To say “pursuing” felt inaccurate, since he had never expressed his feelings to Shi Qi. Calling him a friend sounded overly pretentious, so Shang Sui compromised, “We’re still getting to know each other.”
Shang Yao seemed to realize something. “The thing you asked me to look into—is it related to the person you like?”
Yu Wan also made the connection and teased with a smile, “No wonder. I was wondering why you were in such a rush.”
She hesitated for a moment, then couldn’t help but ask, “Does he know you have…?”
“A special rut? He knows.”
Hearing Shang Sui’s answer, Yu Wan unconsciously eased her breath.
As if she had never imagined such good fortune, she cautiously confirmed, “He doesn’t mind the special rut?”
Shang Sui nodded, though as he thought of what had happened before, some hesitation appeared.
It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Shi Qi. It was just…
He couldn’t control himself. He couldn’t behave like a normal person.
“I just don’t know how he’ll feel once he actually sees it.”
Yu Wan expressed her understanding. “It’s true that seeing it with your own eyes is different. As long as he doesn’t mind under normal circumstances, it’s already a good thing. You can stay apart during the rut.”
Although she said that, there was a hint of sadness in her eyes.
If possible, what Alpha wouldn’t want an Omega by their side during their rut? Let alone Shang Sui, whose ruts were far more difficult than the average person’s.
“Haven’t Xiao Sui’s ruts been stable these past few years?” Shang Yao gently patted her arm and turned to smile at Shang Sui. “It’s fine. Maybe things will keep getting better, and it won’t be a problem anymore.”
Compared to six years ago, he had improved significantly. Even during his ruts, he could control himself most of the time.
But rather than letting Shi Qi see that side of him, he’d rather endure it alone.
It only happened three or four times a year. As long as Shi Qi didn’t see it, he wouldn’t scare him away.
He could get through it by himself.
Thinking that, Shang Sui pushed aside the chaotic thoughts.
He handed the bag next to him to Shi Qi. “A Christmas present.”
Shi Qi froze for a second, a bit embarrassed. “I didn’t prepare anything for you.”
Shang Sui smiled and shook his head, signaling that it didn’t matter. “I just thought it looked beautiful and really suited you, so I bought it. Want to open it?”
Shi Qi opened the gift box tied with a red ribbon bow. Inside the velvet-lined gift box, the jewelry sparkled brilliantly.
A long and a short gold chain were looped together, each link adorned with shimmering rubies. The central pendant was also inlaid with colored gemstones, the gold lace setting like melted starlight, highlighting the red main stone like stars surrounding the moon.
Just as Shang Sui had said, it was indeed beautiful.
However…
Shi Qi roughly measured it by eye. “This necklace is super long.”
Shang Sui laughed. “It’s a waist chain. You wear it around your waist.”
Shi Qi opened his mouth, looking hesitant. Shang Sui lowered his eyes. “You don’t like it?”
Hearing the slight disappointment in his voice, Shi Qi immediately said, “I like it.”
As long as it was from Shang Sui, he liked anything.
“But it’s too extravagant,” Shi Qi said honestly. “I don’t usually wear this kind of jewelry, so I don’t know how to style it.”
Shang Sui glanced at him. Today, Shi Qi was wearing a thick black down jacket, with just a white shirt underneath. Knowing him, the shirt was probably loose-fitting.
“What you’re wearing today would go with it.”
Seeing that Shi Qi didn’t respond, Shang Sui didn’t want to make things difficult for him.
“It’s okay. Just think of it as a decoration—”
“Then I’ll wear it later.”
They spoke almost at the same time. Shi Qi was a step quicker and said, “I’m not brushing you off. It really is beautiful. It’s just that the last time I wore something like this was for a performance, so I’m not used to it.”
Afraid Shang Sui wouldn’t believe him, Shi Qi put the waist chain away and hugged the box close to his chest. “Thank you for the gift. The color suits Christmas really well.”
Watching how earnest he looked, Shang Sui found him incredibly adorable, yet he couldn’t help feeling a little defeated.
Setting aside an overly obvious ring, he had deliberately chosen a waist chain over more typical pieces like a necklace or bracelet. To anyone else, it clearly carried an unusual implication, yet Shi Qi hadn’t noticed at all.
Just as expected, still a cat baby.
He only knew how to cuddle, completely blind to ambiguous hints.
Shi Qi suddenly thought of something and said, “I have a feeling we won’t get to eat this meal.”
“Why?”
“Haven’t you noticed? Every time we try to eat, something happens. Last time it was Shen Qianyu calling you for a check-up, and the time before that was dance club rehearsal. This time…”
As if in response to his words, Shang Sui’s phone suddenly lit up.
Seeing the caller ID, Shang Sui was silent for a moment, then declined the call as if nothing had happened. “I can ignore it.”
“…Okay.”
But the phone rang again immediately after being hung up. Jiang Yan was more persistent than expected, and Shang Sui furrowed his brow slightly.
“He seems pretty anxious,” Shi Qi said hesitantly. “Maybe you should answer?”
As soon as the call connected, Jiang Yan’s wailing came through from the other side. “—Why did you take so long to answer, ge!”
“Do you need something?”
“It’s an emergency! Can we meet up? Maybe at Huijian?!”
Shang Sui hinted, “I’m with Shi Qi.”
He thought Jiang Yan would get the hint and back off, but unexpectedly, the other person ran with it. “Perfect! Bring him along! The more the merrier. My head’s about to explode!”
“I know interrupting someone’s date should be punished by thunder and lightning, but this is really hard to explain…” Jiang Yan stopped mid-sentence, suddenly realizing who he should be asking. “Um, Shi Qi, are you there? Please, please, bring Shang Sui here!”
Shi Qi had always responded better to softness than force, and Jiang Yan did sound genuinely pitiful.
“Hang in there,” Shi Qi said. “We’re coming.”
Apparently not expecting him to agree so quickly, Jiang Yan was nearly in tears. “Really? Wuwuwu!”
He accidentally let his real thoughts slip. “You’re so nice! Unlike Shang Sui who wouldn’t save a dying man… Oh no no, I mean—just hurry up, I’ll get you guys some good food!”
“…”
After hearing that disjointed outburst, Shi Qi thought to himself that it was no wonder Shang Sui wanted to hang up on him.
If it were truly an urgent matter, who would still be thinking about food?
–
Stepping into the doors of Huijian again, Shi Qi couldn’t help but smile. He said to the person beside him, “Your old workplace.”
Before Shang Sui could respond, a whirlwind of a figure rushed over. “You’re finally here!”
Jiang Yan looked at the two of them as if seeing a savior and immediately dragged them toward a private room. Just as he was about to speak after sitting down, his gaze happened to pass over the strawberry parfait on the table.
Remembering he had specifically asked the pastry chef to make it, he pointed it out to Shi Qi as if to take credit. “I heard from Shang Sui that you like sweets, right? Try this, it’s our Christmas special.”
By all counts, this was only Shi Qi’s third time meeting Jiang Yan, but the guy acted like they’d known each other for years.
Shi Qi mentally put Jiang Yan in the same category as Qin Shuhe. He picked up a small spoon and asked, “What happened to you?”
Jiang Yan froze for a second, as if only just now remembering the issue at hand.
“His brain is single-threaded,” Shang Sui explained quietly. “He can only process one thing at a time. Any more, and he crashes.”
Shi Qi: “…”
It was obvious he was already glitching.
As if his system had finally rebooted, Jiang Yan clutched his face in anguish. “…Shen Qianyu confessed to me.”
Shang Sui said, “Congratulations.”
Shi Qi paused in surprise and echoed, “Congratulations?”
“?” Jiang Yan looked at the two of them in despair and pointed at himself. “No! I’m an Alpha, and he’s also an Alpha!”
“Then I told him it was impossible because we’re the same gender. Do you know what he said? He said he could have his glands removed and have artificial Omega glands installed. Their hospital just performed a similar surgery recently, and he’s already confirmed the procedure.”
“What the hell, is he insane? Does he even know that once you replace your glands, you’ll only live to forty or fifty?!”
Shi Qi also showed a shocked expression. He hadn’t expected the seemingly polite and mild-mannered Shen Qianyu to act so wildly. He was just starting to think this situation really was a bit tricky when Shang Sui suddenly laughed.
“It makes sense.”
“?”
“You can’t remove your glands, and you can’t accept being with another Alpha, so he can only make some adjustments to himself.”
“…How is that a small adjustment??”
“Isn’t it great?” Shang Sui said, seemingly amused by the whole thing. “He can even have your children.”
“You’re insane too.” Jiang Yan was dumbfounded. “Turning an Alpha into an Omega and even talking about having kids? You and Shen Qianyu should battle it out for the title of King of Perverts.”
Shang Sui shot him a smiling glance. “Watch your mouth.”
Jiang Yan felt a sudden chill under his gaze and finally remembered there was someone else in the room.
The first two times he met Shi Qi, he had unintentionally rubbed him the wrong way. Because of that, he felt guilty and had been especially warm toward him.
And due to those two encounters, Shi Qi had always seemed cold and distant in Jiang Yan’s mind.
But now, seeing the Omega eating while listening to their conversation, he seemed nothing like that untouchable image. Instead, he looked obedient and cute, like a little doll in a glass case that needed careful protection.
“Please, don’t break up with him just because he’s a lunatic,” Jiang Yan pleaded. “Otherwise, I’ll definitely be the first one to suffer.”
“…”
Shang Sui’s friends all seemed to think he wasn’t entirely normal.
Considering that Shang Sui and Jiang Yan were more familiar with each other, Shi Qi finished his parfait and decided to give them some space. “I’ll go put this on. You two talk.”
As he spoke, he picked up the gift Shang Sui had given him and went into the restroom inside the private room.
The waist chain was more complicated than he had imagined. It took Shi Qi a while to figure out that the ruby pendant was meant to be tied at the side of the waist, with one long and one short chain closing above it, creating a shape like butterfly wings.
The shorter chain cinched tightly around his waist, while the longer one draped down to his hip bone. The blood-red gemstones swayed with every movement, catching the light in a brilliant flash.
Just as Shang Sui had said, the waist chain unexpectedly paired well with the loose, minimalist white shirt Shi Qi was wearing.
Ever since he stopped working as a model, Shi Qi had rarely worn overly elaborate jewelry. Although the effect wasn’t bad, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he looked like he was about to walk a runway.
Feeling unaccustomed as he looked at himself from different angles, he took a photo that didn’t show his face and sent it to Lin Yan.
17: [Does it look good?]
When no reply came for a while, Shi Qi finally remembered that Lin Yan was currently deep in battle at the mahjong table.
After a brief hesitation, Shi Qi logged into his social media account and posted the photo.
@1717177: [Shared an image]
[Oh my god! Thank you for the Christmas gift 17. This is a work of art.]
[Baby, why didn’t you write anything? Are you asking if it looks good? It looks good! Beautiful!]
[Succubus, fairy? How can someone’s waist be this tiny??]
[Such a complicated design doesn’t seem like something Xiao Qi would buy for himself. If someone else gave it to you, gifting something like this for Christmas is definitely shady. Be careful!]
[Can I please see a full-body shot? I’m begging you, seriously begging you.]
Just then, Lin Yan’s reply popped up.
Yanyan: [Holy shit! That’s fire! Not even my rare mahjong win just now is this hot.]
Yanyan: [The white shirt makes it look pure and creates contrast, but it’d look even better if you wore it with nothing else.]
17: [?]
With everyone’s approval and praise, Shi Qi no longer felt strange about his outfit.
He stepped out of the restroom. Shang Sui was absorbed in his phone. Across from him, Jiang Yan had tried to drink his sorrows away but was already slumped face-down on the table after only a little alcohol.
Shang Sui had marked Shi Qi’s account as a special follow, and just after liking the post, the real-life version of the photo appeared in front of him.
Compared to the photo that only showed a small portion, the real thing was far more impactful. Shang Sui straightened up slightly, and before Shi Qi could say anything, he said first, “Xiao Qi, you’re so beautiful, like an angel.”
“What does this have to do with an angel?”
Shi Qi, feeling the weight of his gaze, fidgeted with the waist chain, feeling a little thrown off.
Of course he was happy to be praised, but based on what Lin Yan said, he’d thought he might come across as… at least a little hot, right?
Why didn’t Shang Sui seem to think so?
Angels didn’t exactly sound seductive, especially since they didn’t have a gender. He’d worn this flashy chain for so long; could Shang Sui be brushing him off?
“How should I put it…” Shang Sui paused for a moment and praised sincerely, “You shine like an angel. You could pull off anything.”
“If possible, I’d like to see you wear even more types of jewelry.”
He couldn’t tell Shi Qi that the moment he saw him walk out, his mind was full of all kinds of inappropriate thoughts.
If he said that out loud, he’d really sound like a pervert.
Shi Qi was coaxed into a good mood by that one line and decided that being called an angel wasn’t so bad after all.
Before they left, Shang Sui spoke with the manager of Huijian, asking them to take care of the drunken Jiang Yan.
Shi Qi hadn’t expected him to be leaving just like that. “Is it really okay to just go like this?”
Jiang Yan looked deeply troubled. Even after drinking, it didn’t seem like the problem had been resolved.
“They’re always like this.” Shang Sui was used to it. “Shen Qianyu is two years ahead of us. Ever since high school, one moment they’re so close you’d think they can’t be apart, the next they’re like enemies.”
To be fair, when things weren’t going well, it usually looked like Jiang Yan was the only one sulking.
“And even if they’re just friends, interfering too much in someone else’s relationship isn’t appropriate.”
“I gave him some advice. The rest should just happen naturally.”
Shi Qi nodded. He felt that what Shang Sui said made sense.
They walked out of Huijian, and a wave of cold air hit them. Shang Sui held the sleeve of Shi Qi’s down jacket, waiting for him to put it on.
Because of this small gesture, Shi Qi suddenly realized how much Shang Sui had always taken care of him.
It had been so natural that sometimes he hadn’t even noticed.
Out of nowhere, Shi Qi said, “Actually, Shen Qianyu didn’t have to confess.”
“They’ve known each other for so many years. If they stayed good friends, couldn’t they be together forever?”
Not knowing whether he was speaking for Shen Qianyu or someone else, Shi Qi blurted out, “It’d be such a shame if they couldn’t even be friends anymore.”
Shang Sui didn’t respond for a long time.
Realizing he might have been making assumptions, Shi Qi added, “I don’t really know them that well. Maybe I’m wrong—”
“Because he couldn’t accept it,” Shang Sui said softly.
Shi Qi was stirred by his words and looked up at him.
“Friends can hug, but only lovers can touch places that are intimate, leave marks on each other.”
“Leaving the scent of one’s pheromones on someone else, boldly announcing to the world with that smell, ‘This person is mine’… Those things aren’t something friends can do.”
“So of course it’s not enough.”
With every word Shang Sui said, Shi Qi felt himself sink deeper, like he was being slowly pulled under and losing himself.
Only then did he realize: compared to being a special friend, lovers could be far more intimate.
Touching each other’s bodies…
His gaze unknowingly fell to Shang Sui’s neck. He remembered that during his last heat, when he’d been out of his senses, he had bitten Shang Sui’s glands. Just a bit lower was the Alpha’s broad, firm chest and lean, powerful waist.
“Besides, Alphas have strong desires.”
“You’re an Omega, Xiao Qi, so maybe you don’t quite understand. If I could, I’d keep the person I like tied to me, be tangled up with him every day.”
“Seeing the person right there but not being able to touch—it really drives a person crazy.”
Shi Qi’s glands were starting to burn, and his lower body was weak and aching. The other’s sultry, indulgent words wove around him like spider silk, binding him with just a few phrases.
His senses sharpened without warning, as if he were the one being pushed to the edge, unable to control himself.
Shi Qi almost took a step back.
“…I see,” he said, forcing himself to stay calm.
Ah, his pheromones are leaking. Silly Xiao Qi. You remembered to keep a blank expression, but your pheromones are anything but calm.
“There were also lingering kisses, sticking together while making love, using all sorts of ways to possess each other’s body and heart…”
“For example,” Shang Sui’s tone suddenly changed, like a brilliantly colored serpent finally revealing its venomous fangs, locking directly onto its desired prey, “you and I couldn’t do something like that, right?”
Author’s note:
The truth is revealed—2s is here to lure the cat again.
I really like scenes where the top dresses up the bottom. Rest assured, the waist chain is only the beginning.
