A faint scent of disinfectant lingered in the air. Shi Qi’s eyelashes trembled slightly. In a daze, the beige ceiling came into view, and a surprised voice suddenly rang out by his ear.
“Xiao Qi!” The president rushed over first, nearly in tears. “You’re finally awake!”
Lin Yan leaned in from the other side. “You slept for so long—it’s completely dark now! We were about to take you to the hospital if you didn’t wake up…!”
Overwhelmed with emotion, the president clutched one of his hands, while Lin Yan grabbed the other. They both held on tightly, and Shi Qi felt like a rag doll being hoisted up by two golden retrievers. He could only protest weakly, “Don’t cling to me. It’s hot.”
But neither of them heard him. Lin Yan even wrapped his arms around his shoulders. “You scared me to death! Do you know what it’s like to go from being blown away by how cool you looked to being terrified the next second? If something had happened to you, how would I explain it to Uncle Xiao An—”
The president was also tearful. “Wuwuwuwu! If something bad happened to you, what would be the point of winning first place!”
Both of them were being ridiculously dramatic. Amid the chaos, Shi Qi barely caught the keyword “first” and repeated it, “First?”
“Yes, yes!” the president replied. “I was shocked too when I heard. Weren’t we just aiming to muddle through the event at the start?”
Still, after the initial surprise, she quickly accepted the result.
Unlike the dazed Shi Qi, she had clearly felt the crowd’s emotions being stirred and the electric atmosphere by the latter half of the performance.
Besides, the dance club members had given it their all for this competition. Since joining, Shi Qi had often practiced late into the night. Although he only ever pushed himself, everyone could see his dedication. Even the laziest few started showing up at the studio whenever they had free time, not wanting to drag him down.
“Want some water?” Shang Sui’s voice cut in at that moment.
Shi Qi looked up to see Shang Sui holding a disposable paper cup from the infirmary, filled with warm water.
There were red marks on the back of Shang Sui’s hand, as if he’d been clawed with force. Faint traces of blood had seeped through. He seemed to have washed them thoroughly, as his hands were still slightly damp.
Shi Qi nodded, then asked, “What happened to your hand?”
Before losing consciousness, he vaguely remembered being held by Shang Sui. To ease his discomfort, Shang Sui had covered his face and released pheromones.
The thought brought a faint trace of frustration to Shi Qi.
He had almost no memory of what happened during that time. It was rare for him to get the chance to smell Shang Sui’s pheromones, and yet he couldn’t recall the exact scent.
Other than that time at Huijian, he’d never really had the chance to take in Shang Sui’s scent properly again. He could only catch fleeting whiffs of honey mixed with sandalwood during their interactions, making the one time he’d gotten a full breath of it all the more precious.
The enticing scent in his memory scratched at Shi Qi’s heart like a cat’s paw, leaving him restless.
But suddenly saying, “I want to smell your pheromones,” would’ve sounded really strange and rude.
Shi Qi stared at the wounds on Shang Sui’s hand, suspecting he might’ve scratched him by accident in the heat of the moment.
He was self-aware enough to know he could do all sorts of outrageous things when not fully conscious, and the guilt was clear in his eyes.
“It’s nothing, just bumped it.” Shang Sui paused briefly, as if he had guessed what Shi Qi was thinking. “You didn’t do it.”
As he spoke, Lin Yan and the president both stood up, naturally making room for him.
Snapping back to himself, Lin Yan felt a moment of confusion.
Since they were young, Shi Qi had always been a bit slow and not great at looking after himself, so Lin Yan had gotten used to caring for him. Likewise, when Lin Yan was in trouble, Shi Qi was always the first to step in.
They had grown up helping each other like this. Neither had ever said it out loud, but in Lin Yan’s mind, looking after Shi Qi had always been his responsibility.
Now, Shang Sui stood beside the bed, gently pressing the cup to Shi Qi’s lips, feeding him water little by little. Lin Yan started to think that maybe it didn’t matter who did the caring. After all, Shang Sui was doing a good job of it.
After finishing half a cup of warm water, Shi Qi gradually regained clarity and couldn’t help but confirm again, “We really got first place?”
As he spoke, the corners of his mouth unknowingly curled up.
Even if he hadn’t cared much about rankings, being recognized by everyone still made him genuinely happy.
“The real deal.” The president proudly flipped her hair. “Sorry, we were just too good. That first place is ours.”
Lin Yan: “We’re taking that 10,000 yuan too.”
Shi Qi raised his hand. “I request a good meal.”
“No problem!”
“Shi Qi has made a great contribution. Tonight, he’s our one and only emperor. Your Majesty, choose whatever you want to eat!”
“It’s past nine. At this hour, it’s either barbecue or hotpot.”
“Hotpot, hotpot! I heard it’s going to snow tonight. First snow calls for something fun!” The girl speaking suddenly remembered something and looked at Shi Qi eagerly. “Is that alright, Your Majesty?”
Everyone laughed, and Shi Qi gave a modest nod. “Granted.”
Feeling rested enough, Shi Qi got out of bed and moved his limbs a bit to make sure everything was okay.
Lin Yan reminded him, “The doctor said you need to be extra careful. The special suppressant was way too strong, and there might still be side effects after waking up.”
He’d also mentioned that Shi Qi wouldn’t be able to use regular suppressants during his next heat. Shi Qi responded without much concern.
Anyway, he didn’t go into heat many times a year. He’d deal with it when the time came.
“By the way, where’s Gu Cheng?” Just before they headed out, someone realized one person was missing.
“He said he was going to the bathroom—left around the same time as Sui-ge, but he never came back.” The guy speaking turned to Shang Sui. “Ge, did you see him?”
Thinking of Gu Cheng kneeling on the ground, crying and begging for mercy, Shang Sui smiled casually. “Nope.”
Lin Yan had never liked Gu Cheng much. The moment he heard he was gone, he said, “Maybe he didn’t want to hang out with us and left on his own. Let’s just respect that.”
“I’ll transfer his share of the prize money to him. Let’s leave him out of the dinner.” The president paused. “To be honest, Gu Cheng… usually skips these gatherings anyway.”
Gu Cheng wasn’t particularly close or distant from the others. He handled social situations well enough, but the president had always sensed that he found their activities childish. Most of the time, he preferred hanging out in nightclubs or doing his own thing.
There was a commercial district near the school, so the group picked a highly rated hotpot place nearby.
Once they were seated, Shi Qi and Shang Sui naturally ended up next to each other. Shang Sui called him over, and the two shared one phone to scroll through the menu together. The president couldn’t help but glance at them more than once.
Shi Qi didn’t like heavily flavored food, so once the dishes arrived, he mostly ate from the clear broth side of the pot. Shang Sui helped him scoop ingredients with the communal spoon, letting him choose what he liked.
Shi Qi seemed perfectly used to it. Watching them, the president couldn’t hold back any longer. She cleared her throat dramatically and flashed a gossipy smile when Shi Qi looked up.
“Come on, tell me the truth! What exactly is going on between you two?”
One of the quick-witted guys immediately chimed in, “Your Majesty, we can’t allow outsiders at this royal banquet!”
He paused for dramatic effect before adding, “—Unless he has a special relationship with you, of course. Then that’s a different matter.”
Since everyone had enjoyed the desserts Shang Sui brought earlier and he had helped Shi Qi out too, the dance club members were more than welcoming. “Yeah, yeah, Sui-ge’s alright! We can make an exception.”
Then someone asked Shang Sui with a laugh, “Ge, aren’t you a teaching assistant at the art academy?”
Shi Qi looked surprised. “How did you know that?”
He clearly remembered only introducing Shang Sui by name the other day.
“Xiao Qi, do you not go on forums or check the school confession pages?”
When Shi Qi shook his head, the guy who asked the question got even more excited. “On his first day, news about him spread like wildfire. The super handsome teacher at the art academy! If you don’t believe me, ask him. Tons of people sneak into his classes, and students from other schools even come just to catch a glimpse.”
Shi Qi blinked in surprise. “Really?”
He was that popular?
Shang Sui smiled. “It’s not that exaggerated.”
“So modest! Are all handsome guys this low-key?”
“Isn’t it super hard to get a TA position at the art academy? I heard most people don’t get in until they’re well into their thirties, but Sui-ge looks about our age.”
“Yeah, right. He’s like a thousand times more impressive than you. Don’t try to hype yourself up by comparison.”
Amid all the laughter, someone circled back to the original topic and boldly asked, “Ge, are you pursuing Shi Qi?”
Before Shang Sui could answer, Shi Qi replied coolly, “Pursuing what?”
The president quickly shot a look at the guy who’d asked, who immediately thought he’d crossed a line and was about to apologize.
“He’s family,” Shi Qi said naturally. “My boyfriend.”
Contrary to his calm tone, his fingers curled into a fist under the table. Saying those words in public still felt like they burned on his tongue.
But pursuing someone always came with hardship and effort, and Shi Qi didn’t want any misunderstandings, nor did he want Shang Sui to be seen that way by others.
Besides, Fu Siyue was also at A University, and word would spread sooner or later. If things looked even slightly ambiguous, Shi Qi was sure Fu Siyue would run straight to Shi An and tattle.
“That’s right.” Shang Sui suddenly wrapped both arms around him and clung to Shi Qi with a radiant smile. “I’m in this kind of relationship with His Majesty.”
His striking, seductive face already drew attention, but now, with a smile on his lips, even his eyes seemed to sparkle with flirtation.
It was rare to see an Alpha this clingy with an Omega. Compared to Shi Qi, who sat there dazed, nodding like he was on autopilot, everyone had the same thought flash through their minds: Seducing the ruler with beauty.
With Shang Sui leaning on him, Shi Qi felt a wave of dizziness.
It wasn’t like the blackout he’d experienced on stage; this felt like standing on soft clouds, his whole body wrapped in a lazy, intoxicated haze.
In that daze, he thought he caught a faint whiff of honey in the air. It made his mouth water.
Finally, someone raised their glass. “So it’s the empress! My apologies, my apologies!”
“Damn, hahahaha! Who gave your brain permission to work that fast??”
“Xiao Qi, if you’d said earlier he was your boyfriend, we would’ve toasted ages ago! Come on, let’s toast—wishing you two a lifetime of happiness!”
As everyone raised their glasses, Shi Qi asked in a low voice, “How long are you planning to keep holding me?”
Even though he said that, he remained still, letting the other person cling to him without any intention of pulling away. Instead, he awkwardly reached for his glass with his free hand.
At that moment, Shang Sui let go and pushed the cup toward him with a sweet smile. “Let me help you, Your Majesty.”
Shi Qi: “…That’s enough.”
Shi Qi was drinking cola, and Shang Sui didn’t touch any alcohol either.
After that topic passed, the atmosphere grew even livelier.
The dizziness that made his legs go weak refused to go away; in fact, it was getting worse. Shi Qi belatedly remembered Lin Yan mentioning that when he had taken a special suppressant before, it had made him feel drunk, prone to rambling nonsense and clinging to people.
He was just about to ask Lin Yan about it when he spotted him clinging to the president, holding his drink in both hands and getting all sentimental. “Xiao Tao-jie, I’m drinking this one for you! If you hadn’t recognized my talent and brought me in back then, I wouldn’t be who I am today!”
“Yan’er!”[mfn]adding 儿 (ér) to a name is a way to sound affectionate/familiar, kind of like how “Tom” might be called “Tommy” in English.[/mfn] The president’s eyes were brimming with tears as she refilled her glass. “I know, I’ve always known. Every time you were gaming in the back, I knew your heart was still with all of us!”
Shi Qi: “…”
It seemed the two of them were no longer sober.
“By the way, didn’t you two go to an amusement park together and run into an Alpha in a special rut?” a girl asked, looking at Shang Sui and Shi Qi with a smile. “I saw that heroic rescue video online—tons of people were shipping you two! Now you’re really together. It’s what the people wanted, hahaha!”
Someone nearby picked up the topic and joined in, “Speaking of that, Alphas in special ruts are really unstable. Over ten years ago, there was a serial killer case. The murderer was an Alpha in a special rut disguised as a Beta. He had a sadistic kink. Damn, it was terrifying. I didn’t sleep for three days after watching the news as a kid.”
“I remember that case too!” another guy added, shuddering. “If you ask me, even though their lives aren’t easy either, if someone like that was around me, my first instinct would be to stay far away.”
“After all, they’re unpredictable. And I’ve heard their physical abilities are different from regular Alphas. They’re like… a more advanced species? Or maybe monsters?”
Shang Sui’s expression didn’t change, but his fingers slowly curled around his glass.
Realizing he’d unconsciously applied force, he quickly loosened his grip.
It would’ve been way too fitting if, right after someone mentioned Alphas in a special rut having abnormal strength, someone immediately crushed a glass with their bare hand.
“Your hand,” a clear, untainted voice suddenly rang out, “looks like it hurts.”
Shi Qi was looking at him. Shang Sui glanced down and finally noticed that the back of his hand, where Guo Cheng had grabbed him earlier, was covered in red marks.
His skin was so pale that the marks were already turning bluish in places, making them look brutal and unsettling.
Seeing Shi Qi staring at him without blinking, clearly worried, Shang Sui lowered his voice like he was sharing a secret and half-joked, “Let me tell you a secret. I actually went and beat up that nonsense-talking rotten grape.”
Guo Cheng’s scent was grape. So, “rotten grape” fit.
“Really?”
Before Shang Sui could answer, Shi Qi scoffed, “Fruits can talk now? Are you trying to coax a kid?”
Shang Sui noticed he was looking a little out of it. He hesitated for a moment, then held up a finger. “How many fingers?”
Shi Qi replied without missing a beat, “Can’t tell.”
Shang Sui: “…”
He remembered that Shi Qi hadn’t had any alcohol. This woozy behavior could only be a side effect of the special suppressant. Shang Sui messaged Shen Qianyu about it.
The response came quickly: the symptoms were mild and nothing serious. Just treat it like drunkenness.
At the end, Shen Qianyu added: [When you have time, could you please honor us with your presence and come do the psychological evaluation? I’m begging you.]
Shang Sui promptly turned off his phone and pretended not to see it.
Just then, he suddenly felt an extra weight on his shoulder.
Along with it came a faint, fresh floral scent. In his dazed state, Shi Qi could no longer resist the temptation and leaned over, resting his head on Shang Sui’s shoulder.
Feeling the breath of another person so close, Shang Sui went completely still, as if spellbound.
By the second half of the dinner, Shi Qi was nearly asleep.
He sat there with half-lidded eyes, basking in Shang Sui’s scent like a cat napping in the sun, his whole body radiating comfort and laziness.
It wasn’t until everyone gradually stood up that Shang Sui leaned over and whispered, “Get up, I’ll take you home.”
Shi Qi gave an “Oh” and obediently got to his feet.
Lin Yan and the president were completely out cold from drinking, with people on either side helping them stand. Compared to that, Shi Qi, who could still walk on his own, was doing remarkably well.
The guy helping with Lin Yan looked relieved and said, “We’re counting on you to take care of Shi Qi, ge.”
Shang Sui gave a nod in reply and, after a brief pause, reached out and took Shi Qi’s hand. “Let me hold your hand, alright?”
It was safer that way, just in case he slipped or bumped into something.
Shi Qi let himself be led without resistance, but once they stepped outside, the chill in the air made him restless.
He fidgeted and gave Shang Sui’s hand a squeeze. When Shang Sui didn’t pull away, he lifted their clasped hands to his cheek and nuzzled them contentedly.
Earlier, the back of Shang Sui’s hand had bled. Pheromones in bodily fluids were extremely potent. Though the wound had closed, the still-healing skin continued to emit a strong, sweet fragrance.
Unnoticed, the others had already walked off. The street in the early hours of the morning was nearly empty, and only the two of them remained under the streetlights.
Shang Sui watched as Shi Qi clung to his hand, mumbling and acting like he wanted to bury his face in it. Amused, he pulled his hand away, ignoring Shi Qi’s attempt to hold on.
Shi Qi hurried after him like a cat chasing a ball of yarn and said something he’d never say if he were sober, “Don’t go. I want to smell your pheromones…!”
“In exchange, I’ll…” Shi Qi struggled to think of something that felt like a fair trade. After a long pause, a flash of inspiration struck him. “I’ll give you a present.”
The surroundings fell quiet. Shang Sui suddenly stopped walking and turned to look at him, his gaze intense.
Shen Qianyu had told him he was overreacting, that this was nothing more than a mild side effect like drunkenness. Still, he had double-checked and confirmed it again and again.
But this… this was clearly a much bigger problem.
Their 100% compatibility had made Shi Qi completely lose his head, overwhelmed by the desire to be close to him.
“A present?” Shang Sui repeated softly, as though afraid to break something fragile. “I’m greedy. There are a lot of things I want.”
He looked into Shi Qi’s dazed expression, fully aware the other wasn’t understanding any of it right now. “I’m afraid you wouldn’t be willing.”
Shi Qi subconsciously followed him, almost managing to catch his hand again. But just as their fingers were about to touch, Shang Sui pulled away, like he was teasing him on purpose.
The back-and-forth drove Shi Qi nearly crazy.
Just as his frustration peaked, Shang Sui ran a fingernail across the already-bruised skin on the back of his own hand. The scab tore open, and fresh blood welled up again.
The scent of pheromones in the blood was especially strong. Shi Qi was instantly drawn in, his eyes glazed with longing, his tongue unconsciously licking at his teeth.
Meeting Shi Qi’s gaze, Shang Sui spoke. “I want a promise.”
Even though he knew it was just nonsense, blurted out in a haze under the influence of pheromones, he still wanted to use this little trick to hear Shi Qi say something that sounded like a promise. Even if it meant nothing.
Call it a placebo. Something to make me feel better.
Shang Sui thought, indulging in his own amusement.
“I hope… you won’t be scared of me.”
There was a faint dampness brushing his lashes, as something delicate and cold melted silently away.
Shang Sui looked up. Snow was falling from ten thousand meters above. The pure white flakes danced like little spirits, gently shattering the stillness of the dark, uneventful midnight.
Just as the weather report had said, the first snow of the year had arrived.
Shi Qi was quiet for a moment, then suddenly asked in return, “What about you is there to be scared of?”
To Shi Qi, the person standing in front of him wasn’t a dangerously abnormal Alpha, but a gift that belonged to him.
He smelled so good, sweet all over—Shi Qi just wanted to eat him up.
“Yeah,” Shang Sui murmured to himself, then let out a soft laugh. His voice carried a low, bitter edge. “During my rut, I become weird… I can’t control myself.”
“I’m not afraid of you.” The nonexistent gift couldn’t be given, so Shi Qi simply said, “You already have that. Pick something else.”
Shang Sui was stunned. That long-lost feeling, like something tugging at his heart, slowly resurfaced.
While he had been seducing Shi Qi, he was also being seduced in return by Shi Qi’s words. Unwittingly, his thoughts wandered to things even more daring.
If he asked for a kiss as a gift, would Shi Qi agree?
If it were something even more intimate, how would he react?
Even though they were trailing behind everyone else, no one found it strange. After all, Shi Qi had said himself that they were a couple. The only person who knew the truth, Lin Yan, was dead drunk.
Right now, Shi Qi was like a puppet in Shang Sui’s hands, completely at his mercy. With just a bit of pheromones, he’d follow him anywhere. He might even be tricked into bed, foolishly agree, and perhaps even allow him to leave a permanent mark.
Shang Sui watched him, his expression unreadable. Snowflakes landed on Shi Qi’s head, and he looked uncomfortable, shaking his head to get them off.
That childish gesture made him seem younger, like he’d slipped back into the past for a moment.
“I want a hug.”
Shang Sui’s voice was soft and slow, almost pleading. “Xiao Qi, hug me.”
As he spoke, he raised his hand in front of Shi Qi’s eyes. The vivid red blood stood out starkly against his pale skin, giving off a sweet pheromone scent—a blatant lure.
He had always been good at this: showing just enough vulnerability, playing the part of someone pitiful, all while using whatever means necessary to seduce.
Almost as soon as the words left his mouth, Shi Qi stepped forward and threw his arms around him.
Shang Sui stood frozen, stunned by how quickly the gift came.
He had expected Shi Qi to reach for his hand first. After all, pheromones with a 100% match were more tempting than he himself was. But instead, the other had chosen a full, wholehearted embrace.
It took a moment for Shang Sui to adjust. His stiff body gradually relaxed, and, following his heart, he closed his eyes.
So warm.
Being held by Shi Qi felt like melting, just like the snow drifting down around them. And from the warmth of the soul holding him close, Shang Sui drew a courage he’d never known he had.
He opened his eyes again and cautiously reached out, slowly wrapping his arms around Shi Qi in return.
Smelling even more of that rich, sweet fragrance, the person in his arms leaned in with pure happiness.
…This is really nice.
Shang Sui thought.
To receive such an intimate embrace on a snowy night—this was more than enough.
Author’s note:
Happy New Year! Sending New Year wishes with the cuddly babies
May you all, just like this little couple, have many moments so full of happiness that all your worries melt away.
–
Just a heads-up, 2s’s ruts are a bit weird. He’s kind of sick.
![Who Are You Calling A Canary? [Transmigration]](https://www.freenovels.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250108211651_200_280.jpg "Who Are You Calling A Canary? [Transmigration]")
