Shi Qi’s cheeks were flushed, and intermittent sounds came from his throat.
His consciousness had become muddled, and the passage of time blurred into chaos. He had been on top, but somehow Shang Sui pulled him down, and their positions were completely reversed.
The one who had just called him “master” had now torn away that sweet, harmless facade, revealing his true self.
Even with his face pressed deep into the pillow, Shi Qi instinctively assumed a cooperative posture.
He couldn’t deny that whether he was the one dominating Shang Sui, or the one being dominated, both brought him overwhelming satisfaction.
But the physical gap between an Alpha and an Omega was too great, and Shang Sui was freakishly strong even for an Alpha. Once the initial rush faded, Shi Qi gradually found himself unable to keep up.
A permanent mark was far more complicated than a regular bond. It had taken them a long time to find the right way forward.
Worried about hurting him, Shang Sui had been thorough in his care, gentle yet unyielding, stretching the sweet torment out to its limit.
In a daze, Shi Qi heard a sound by his ear. It took him a beat to realize that Shang Sui was speaking to him.
“You’re shaking. So cute.” Shang Sui’s fingertips carried that intoxicating scent as he caressed Shi Qi’s cheek. “Do you know what you look like right now?”
“Your face is so red, glistening with sweat. That expression and your voice are so adorable, I could just eat you up.”
Shi Qi instinctively curled up under his praise, but Shang Sui pulled him open again, praising without reservation, “Every part of you is beautiful.”
After a brief struggle, Shi Qi gave in to Shang Sui’s force and let himself be guided. Lured in, he looked up at him.
The Alpha’s gorgeous, seductive face was lightly sheened with sweat. The black collar around his neck hung heavy, the chain drooping down and trailing across Shi Qi’s chest, its cold touch sending shivers through him.
Shi Qi couldn’t tear his eyes away, and thought in his head.
You’re beautiful too. Do you know that?
Led by Shang Sui, he forgot everything until the final step.
It was as if he had been completely branded, in body and soul, no longer belonging to himself. Invisible shackles wrapped around his limbs, dragging him down into the depths.
Omega instinct screamed at him to escape, and suddenly Shi Qi began to struggle uncontrollably.
But that brief resistance was swiftly subdued. Shang Sui pinned his wrists to the bed, one on each side, fingers interlacing tightly.
Shang Sui’s breathing was equally erratic, yet his voice stayed as gentle as possible. “Xiao Qi, look at me.”
“…Ah!!”
Shi Qi’s flushed eyelids and thick lashes were soaked with tears, his platinum hair splayed in disarray across the pillow. He looked heartbreakingly beautiful.
“From today on, we’ll be together forever. Isn’t that wonderful?”
“Yes,” Shi Qi gradually stopped resisting, and replied with sobs, “I-I want to be with you forever.”
“Good boy, you’re doing so well. Just hang in there a little longer—”
Shang Sui gently wiped the tears from his face, trying to let his own emotions reach him. “Soon you’ll be my baby and mine alone. I’m so happy.”
“Okay…” Shi Qi couldn’t hold back his tears. The instinctive fear slowly faded, and he was completely possessed by Shang Sui. It felt as if their souls had formed a bond of absolute intimacy. “I’m so happy too.”
Through his tears, Shi Qi said, “I love you.”
In his eyes, liking someone was a feeling as light and transparent as crystal. But love was more suspended, more sticky, heavier, and indivisible.
“I love you too,” Shang Sui responded immediately. “I love you the most.”
Shi Qi’s breath came in ragged gasps. His soft lips parted slightly, as if yearning for a kiss.
He no longer had the strength to make a sound. Shang Sui leaned in and took his petal-shaped lips into his own.
A sweet, rich scent of pheromones flooded all his senses, and the tender kisses made him feel completely enveloped. Shi Qi suddenly had a dreamy thought.
Compared to honey, every other sweet treat seemed forgettable.
Am I broken?
Shi Qi thought blankly.
But maybe being broken felt better. As long as Shang Sui was there, it didn’t matter if he lost himself completely.
…
Shang Sui gave his forehead one last kiss and mumbled something in an indistinct voice.
Shi Qi’s face was covered in tears, his eyes unfocused. After a while, he let out a soft sob. “I-Is it over?”
His body and mind had reached their limit. He trembled, wearing a dazed expression, but he still remembered that, just like him, Shang Sui was now marked for life, bound to him forever.
The overwhelming pleasure surged from deep within, making him tremble. Shi Qi barely managed to reach out, grabbing his shoulder to confirm, “The mark… Did I completely mark you?”
“You did well, sweetheart.” Shang Sui’s voice dripped like honey into Shi Qi’s ears. “I’m yours now.”
Shi Qi felt perfectly content. The moment he relaxed, he lost consciousness and fell into a deep sleep.
–
A long dream slowly unfolded, like a strange, vivid painting.
No matter how the dream world changed, there was always a lingering sweetness around the tip of his nose. The scent that belonged to someone else had seeped deep into his body, bringing him an unmatched sense of peace.
Shi Qi slowly opened his eyes.
What met his gaze wasn’t the dusky pink ceiling of the little villa, but a creamy white.
Someone was holding his hand. When he woke, the hand gave him a light squeeze, like pressing a cat’s paw. “You’re awake?”
Following the sound, he turned his head and saw Shang Sui lying beside him.
Still not fully conscious, Shi Qi thought he was still dreaming. He stared at Shang Sui in a daze.
Shang Sui’s eyes curved as he smiled, and he lightly tapped the tip of Shi Qi’s small nose. “Why do you look so dazed?”
“Where is this…?”
Shi Qi only realized after speaking that his voice was hoarse. He must have cried out too hard earlier.
“This is the house your family is renting. Are you feeling unwell anywhere?”
“I don’t seem to have any strength.”
His limbs were limp, and in a more private area, he could feel the cool, sticky sensation of applied ointment.
“You slept for a whole day. It’s normal to feel weak.” Shang Sui asked, “Do you want some water?”
Shi Qi nodded.
Shang Sui got up, quickly changed clothes, and went downstairs. Shi Qi heard him talking to someone downstairs. Soon, a flurry of footsteps came rushing up from the staircase, and Jiang Youning burst into the room with excitement.
“Xiao Qi! You’re finally awake!!”
She approached the bed and looked him over from left to right, making sure that, aside from the scent, there wasn’t much different about Shi Qi compared to usual.
The pure floral fragrance now carried the sweetness of honey. Maybe because of the permanent mark, his pheromones had become sweeter, and his eyes were also misty, like lilies of the valley in full bloom.
Jiang Youning muttered, “Your pheromones actually match pretty well.”
Shang Sui followed behind her and walked around to the other side of the bed. He carefully fed Shi Qi a milk candy first, then slowly helped him drink some water.
From downstairs, conversation could be heard now and then. After finishing the water, Shi Qi asked, “Are there a lot of people in the house?”
“It’s just the dads, and Shang Sui’s parents. They’re talking about the wedding.”
Wedding…? That fast?
Even though he knew it was bound to happen sooner or later, the fact that both families were already discussing marriage on their first meeting still caught Shi Qi a little off guard.
Shang Sui noticed that Jiang Youning seemed like she had something to say, so he said, “I’ll head downstairs for a bit.”
Shi Qi had intended to call him back, but then figured Shang Sui was probably trying to give the siblings a moment alone.
“Hey,” Jiang Youning crossed her arms once Shang Sui had left, “you two are really good at keeping secrets.”
“Do you know how shocked we were when we got a call from Shang Sui’s parents, and the first thing they said was that he’s in a special rut? And then there was that story about the wristband being thrown. Do you know how scary that sounded!”
Jiang Youning recalled it with lingering fear. “We were already getting ready to rush to Yishan, but Shang Sui’s parents said ordinary people wouldn’t be able to approach him, so they sent bodyguards overnight. Honestly, it sounded like something out of a movie! Papa Xiao An’s face went completely pale.”
“Luckily, Shen Qianyu called shortly after and said you were okay.”
Jiang Youning rattled it all off in one breath, then mock-scolded him by poking Shi Qi’s forehead. “I knew something was up when you were whispering with Li Zhao the other day. Turns out it was this! I even asked Li Zhao, and she knew about Shang Sui’s situation. You all kept it from me.”
For once, Shi Qi didn’t protest when she poked and prodded him. A conflicted expression surfaced on his face.
Jiang Youning chuckled. “Alright, I was just teasing. This kind of thing should be kept secret.”
“What did the dads say?”
“Dad Jiang was the same as always. He’s practically achieved enlightenment. As long as you’re happy, he thinks everything’s fine. As for the other one…” Jiang Youning had witnessed Shi An go from shocked, to worried, to eventually accepting. “You two already completed a permanent mark. What else could he say?”
Shi Qi agreed completely. “That’s true.”
Jiang Youning lowered her voice slightly. “I think Papa Xiao An is very pleased with Shang Sui.”
Shi Qi looked surprised. “Really?”
He knew Shi An had a good impression of Shang Sui as he’d behaved very well during all their previous meetings, but still…
“You know the secret about the special rut, right? They can only ever mark one Omega for life.” Jiang Youning recounted the scene vividly. “Once they confirmed you were safe, Ms. Yu brought it up. After hearing it, Papa Xiao An covered his mouth and said, ‘Oh my God! Then our Xiao Qi will definitely take responsibility!’… But do you know why he covered his mouth?”
Shi Qi guessed, “Was he trying to hide his smile?”
Jiang Youning: “Correct!”
The siblings burst into laughter at the same time.
Shi Qi was at a bit of a loss for words, but also felt it was entirely in line with Shi An’s personality. After a pause, he admitted honestly, “But I’m really happy, too.”
“I know. You’ve been very domineering since you were little. Of course you’d want your Alpha to belong to you completely.”
They chatted for a while longer until Shang Sui came upstairs and knocked on the door. “Hungry? There’s food downstairs. Since you just woke up, everything’s pretty light.”
Jiang Youning left first. Just as Shi Qi was about to get up, Shang Sui walked over to him. “Baby, let me wipe off the medicine for you.”
“Oh.” Shi Qi nodded, then hesitantly asked, “Should I…?”
Even after everything that happened, Shi Qi still felt a bit embarrassed.
His glands, now fully marked, gave off a tingling warmth. Shang Sui’s presence was even more attractive than before. Shi Qi couldn’t help but keep staring at him.
“There’s a little swelling.” Shang Sui lowered his eyes. “But thankfully, there’s no injury.”
He began slowly cleaning the area with a damp wipe. Near the end, Shi Qi unconsciously pressed his thighs together, trapping Shang Sui’s hand.
Realizing what he’d done, Shi Qi quickly released him. “I didn’t mean to.”
Because of the permanent mark, his instincts made him want to keep Shang Sui close, no matter what it took.
Shi Qi looked up and met a pair of glimmering eyes.
Shang Sui had kept his head down while wiping the ointment, and only now did Shi Qi notice the faint, unnatural flush on his cheeks.
As if bewitched, Shang Sui’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly, and then, he actually brought his fingers to his nose and inhaled.
Shi Qi froze on the bed, his ears rapidly turning red.
“There’s still a little ointment left.” Shang Sui spoke again, but this time his voice was low and clinging. “How about we try a different way to clean it up?”
After the permanent mark, he had become completely susceptible to Shi Qi’s pheromones; calling it an addiction wouldn’t have been an exaggeration.
He had always been captivated by Shi Qi’s scent, though it was more of a psychological affection. But after the marking, the lily of the valley fragrance overwhelmed his senses, becoming the only scent in the world that could dominate him—body and soul.
With just the slightest curl of Shi Qi’s finger, he would find himself dizzy and disoriented.
While Shi Qi slept, Shang Sui had woken several times, wanting to kiss him, caress him, possess him all over again. But each time, he forced himself to suppress that unbearable desire.
When he saw that Shi Qi didn’t resist, Shang Sui climbed onto the bed.
A pillow was placed under his waist, and his long, slender legs trembled uncontrollably.
Afraid the sounds would be heard downstairs, Shi Qi covered his mouth as he whimpered, feeling like he was about to melt from the overwhelming pleasure.
…
Afterward, Shang Sui went to rinse his mouth, while Shi Qi lay limp on the bed.
Once he calmed down, he slowly got out of bed. Just as he finished changing clothes, Shang Sui emerged from the bathroom and naturally took his hand.
As they came downstairs, they ran into the two elders.
Yu Wan greeted them warmly. “Xiao Qi’s come down? How was your rest?”
Shi Qi responded with an “Mm” and curiously glanced at the man beside Yu Wan. The man’s features closely resembled Shang Sui’s, though his temperament was much colder and more imposing. He looked noticeably younger than in the photos from the news.
Noticing Shi Qi’s gaze, Yu Wan introduced, “This is my husband, Xiao Sui’s father, Shang Yao.”
After the introduction, she nudged Shang Yao. “Isn’t Xiao Qi beautiful?”
Shang Yao nodded and smiled. “And impressive. None of us expected someone would actually dare to throw away the wristband.”
Recalling the chaotic scene from that time, Shi Qi felt a little apologetic. “I’m sorry, Uncle, Auntie, for all the trouble.”
“No trouble at all! We’re absolutely thrilled.” Seeing the two of them holding hands, Yu Wan looked increasingly pleased. She asked with a glowing smile, “Where would you two like to have the wedding? Xiao Sui told us you met in Qijiang. Qijiang is lovely, but it’s not exactly quiet. I bought a small island a few years ago. The scenery is quite nice there, or maybe you’d prefer somewhere with more flowers? Like a forest?”
Shi Qi was immediately overwhelmed by the barrage of choices and hesitated. “Are all of those okay?”
Shang Yao spoke up at the right moment, “Let’s talk about it later. Xiao Qi hasn’t eaten yet since waking up.”
Yu Wan let out a small “Ah!” and quickly said, “Look at me, getting carried away. We’ll go talk to your father first!”
“Mm.” Shang Sui continued holding Shi Qi’s hand. “We’ll join you in a bit. I’ll handle the wedding planning.”
Seeing someone take the heavy responsibility, Shi Qi felt as if a burden had been lifted. “Then you pick. Time to put your taste to the test.”
Both Yu Wan and Shang Yao laughed. After they left, Shang Sui was just about to accompany Shi Qi to the dining room when his phone suddenly lit up.
Seeing Li Zhao’s name on the caller ID, Shang Sui hesitated.
“Is it Xiao Li-jiejie calling? It must be something important.” Shi Qi took the initiative to say, “Go ahead and take the call. Come find me after.”
Shang Sui nodded and stepped aside to answer.
Li Zhao’s gentle voice came through the phone. “Youning told me about everything, congratulations.”
“Thank you. We’ll definitely invite you to the wedding.”
“Then it’s settled. I’ll be there for sure.” After that lighthearted exchange, Li Zhao shifted to updating him on their progress. “I’ve coordinated with the Haicheng police. It took some time going back and forth, but they’ve ultimately decided to fully cooperate. The final decision came from a deputy director in Haicheng—her surname is Fang. Back when the case happened, she was with the Major Crimes Unit.”
“Are you free right now? I just finished speaking with Director Fang. I’m outside her office. She said if there’s a chance, she’d like to speak with you directly.”
Shang Sui quickly realized who she meant and agreed without hesitation.
The female officer’s voice bore the marks of time, yet remained as crisp and decisive as he remembered. “Shang Sui, isn’t it? It’s been a long time.”
“Hello,” Shang Sui said sincerely, “Thank you for what you did for me.”
Director Fang spoke with him for quite a while. She confirmed that the publication of the report was his own intention and assured him that she would fully support Li Zhao’s work.
In the end, she asked, “Do you remember? I told you back then that maybe one day you’d be able to let go, and it might be because of a moment, a certain event, or a person.”
“To bring this case back into the light, I suppose you’ve already let go?” She sounded genuinely happy for him. “What was the turning point?”
Shang Sui looked up and gazed outside.
Shi Qi seemed to want to bask in the sun and had pushed open the folding doors between the dining room and the garden. The setting sun cast a dreamlike, crystalline rose hue across the space, gently enveloping him in its glow.
Shi Qi sat at the tea table, head lowered as he slowly ate. Clusters of vibrant Eden roses bloomed beside him.
Years ago, the courtyard that Shi Qi’s family rented also bloomed with these luscious and dewy flowers.
Back then, he had stood in that courtyard, waiting for Shi Qi to climb out of the window so they could head off together to the midsummer night’s festival.
In a soft voice, Shang Sui said, “It was my beloved.”
