Shang Sui had gone back to get his pajamas and wash up. Shi Qi waited in the room.
He scrolled through his phone for a while but quickly realized he couldn’t concentrate—none of the words on the screen registered.
He hadn’t felt anything strange when he told Shang Sui to stay, but now, alone in the room, Shi Qi couldn’t help glancing at the bed.
Sleeping together with Shang Sui…
Chu Tao had booked a single room for him. The bed was large, but it only had one blanket.
If he asked Shang Sui to bring another, it would not only be troublesome but also feel overly deliberate.
It should be fine to share one blanket.
Shi Qi comforted himself with the thought.
After all, he’d shared a bed with Lin Yan before. Back in high school, Lin Yan had gotten obsessed with watching horror movies in the dormitory and started climbing into his bed every night out of fear.
The two of them would squeeze into one of the narrow dorm beds. It was summer, and Shi Qi was already irritable from the heat, but he still couldn’t bring himself to kick the trembling Lin Yan off.
And because they slept so close together, Lin Yan had realized that Shi Qi’s insomnia was worse than he’d imagined. Often, after Lin Yan had already fallen asleep, Shi Qi would still be lying there wide awake, staring into space.
One night, unable to stand seeing him suffer like that, Lin Yan made a suggestion, “Maybe you should get a boyfriend?”
Shi Qi stared at the ceiling in boredom. “Why?”
“I heard that when an Omega sleeps next to a highly compatible Alpha, they sleep a lot better.”
Just imagining a rock-hard Alpha lying beside him, Shi Qi looked disgusted. “No way. None of them smell good.”
At their school, half the students were Betas, around thirty percent were Alphas, and Omegas were the rarest.
Because Shi Qi was beautiful, Alphas would often release pheromones at him just walking by, like water balloons ready to burst at the slightest touch.
Whenever Shi Qi put on a cold face, those rowdy Alphas would only get more excited, even whistling at him. Lin Yan would always tense up, terrified that Shi Qi would go beat them up.
Shi Qi thought of something. “And what’s the point of compatibility? Fu Siyue is so stinky. You smell way better than him.”
“Of course I do. I’ve always smelled good.” Lin Yan’s pheromones smelled like fig, which Shi Qi actually quite liked.
“Forget Fu Siyue. His unlucky pheromones are a special case… So, what kind of scent do you like?”
“I like sweet ones.”
“You’re doomed, baby,” Lin Yan said with great pity. “Sweet-scented Alphas are already rare enough, and if you want them to also be good-looking and know how to coax people, that kind of creature is probably extinct by now.”
“…”
Just then, someone knocked on the door.
Shi Qi pushed aside the mess in his head, shuffled over in his slippers, and answered, “Coming.”
Shang Sui stood outside. His hair was half-tied at the back and still looked a little damp. He must’ve come over right after washing up.
Remembering Lin Yan’s words, Shi Qi silently argued back in his mind.
Well, there’s still one left, isn’t there? Not completely extinct.
Maybe it was because of the memories flashing through his head just now, but Shi Qi subconsciously twitched his nose.
The Alpha in front of him had his pheromones restrained, and he only faintly smelled of irises from his shampoo and body wash.
Shang Sui noticed he was just standing in the doorway. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” Shi Qi snapped out of it, feeling embarrassed to admit what he’d been thinking. “Come in. I’m going to take a shower.”
Maybe he could ask Shang Sui to release some pheromones while they slept later.
What if it actually helped? He hadn’t had a proper night’s sleep in years.
With that thought in mind, Shi Qi showered quickly. While he was changing into his pajamas, his phone suddenly rang.
When he picked up, Shi An’s voice came through from the other end. “What are you doing, baby?”
Shi Qi replied while drying his hair, “Just finished showering.”
“Are you alone?” Shi An acted casual. “It’s pretty late. Aren’t you with your boyfriend?”
He had always been skeptical about Shi Qi’s sudden new boyfriend. If it weren’t for that unbelievably high compatibility, Shi An might’ve assumed the guy was a hired actor.
But the bite mark from yesterday looked way too real to be fake. After thinking it over, Shi An had decided to make a surprise inspection.
Shi Qi opened the bathroom door. “He’s outside.”
“Are you on the phone?”
Shang Sui had changed into his pajamas and just finished blow-drying his hair. He was sitting leisurely on the couch, playing with his phone, and looked up when he heard the noise.
The hotel couch was a good size for Shi Qi, but it looked a bit cramped with Shang Sui sitting there, and his long legs had nowhere to go.
Hearing an unfamiliar man’s voice, Shi An finally started to believe that Shi Qi might actually be dating someone.
After a moment of silence, Shi An suddenly said, “If you don’t mind, I’d like to have a word with your boyfriend.”
Shi Qi hesitated, then looked at Shang Sui. “My dad wants to talk to you. He tends to overreact, so it’s fine if you don’t want to.”
“What nonsense are you saying, baby?” Shi An’s tone was gentle, but it carried a hint of threat.
Shang Sui held out his hand. “It’s fine. Give it to me.”
Thinking about how Shang Sui was even afraid of thunderstorms, Shi Qi felt even more strongly that he couldn’t let him deal with Shi An on his own.
“I put it on speaker.” Shi Qi set the phone on the coffee table and stayed beside it. He warned, “I’m listening too, so don’t bully him.”
“…”
In a burst of anger, Shi An muted the phone and grabbed Jiang Li, who was sitting next to him. “Am I that scary?”
Jiang Li, whose arm was being tightly gripped, smiled and said, “Of course not! …Um, darling, you’re squeezing a little too hard.”
Once he calmed down, Shi An unmuted the phone. “Hello, I’m Xiao Qi’s father. What’s your name?”
“Hello, I’m Shang Sui.”
“Xiao Shang, right? Are you two sleeping together tonight?”
Shang Sui replied, “Xiao Qi just got through his heat. Sleeping together tonight should help him feel more comfortable.”
Shi An caught the implication.
Because Shi Qi had just passed his heat, this Alpha who had whisked his son away wouldn’t try anything—they really would just sleep.
His words were tactful enough, but when Shi An thought of the temporary mark on Shi Qi’s neck, his brows furrowed.
“I heard from Xiao Qi that you gave him a temporary mark last night?” Shi An’s tone carried an undercurrent. “You bit a little too deep.”
A mark made too deep could make an Omega feel like they were suffocating. Over time, they might even become addicted to that sensation. It was a form of intimacy, and to some extent, a subtle form of conditioning.
This branding-like act made Shi An especially displeased. He felt that the Alpha Shi Qi had chosen was far too possessive. What made it worse was that Shi Qi had foolishly taken photos of the bite mark, completely unaware of what it implied.
“My apologies,” Shang Sui replied gently. “I’ll be more careful next time.”
Shi Qi couldn’t listen any longer and grabbed the phone. “Why are you blaming him? I told him to bite me. I like it deep.”
Shi Qi was blatantly siding with Shang Sui. Shi An couldn’t understand what kind of spell this kid had fallen under. Frustrated, he once again dug his fingers into Jiang Li’s arm.
Jiang Li could only endure the pain and said, “This is also Xiao Qi’s decision. Try not to stress… Maybe pinch a bit lighter? Don’t tire yourself out.”
After venting, Shi An calmed down a bit. He recalled that last time he’d asked how long the two had known each other, Jiang Youning had interrupted. So he asked again, “Xiao Qi said you two knew each other before?”
Shi Qi froze and instinctively glanced at Shang Sui.
Crap. They hadn’t had time to come up with a backstory yet.
No one answered right away. Just as Shi Qi was about to search online for “how to make up a story about how a couple first met,” Shang Sui softly spoke.
“The first time we met, it was in midsummer. I guess… you could say I was on vacation, living in the mountains for a while.”
“My parents were busy. It was just me and a few bodyguards assigned by my family.”
“Xiao Qi got lost and wandered into the garden. He was still very young at the time. The Endless Summer hydrangea field had a narrow path, and the bodyguards didn’t notice him right away.”
Huh?
Shi Qi was a little stunned.
A story set in a forest and a sea of flowers, like something straight out of a movie or a fairy tale, wasn’t that a bit much?
But as Shang Sui continued, the image of a blooming hydrangea field slowly began to take shape in Shi Qi’s mind. He could almost smell the sun-warmed scent of the plants, as if he really had once walked down that flower path, as dazzling as clouds at sunset.
“I was painting on the balcony at the time.”
“Because of the guards downstairs, Xiao Qi thought… I was locked up there.”
Shang Sui paused there and subtly observed Shi Qi’s reaction.
Shi Qi seemed to think the story was well-crafted, giving him an approving look and a thumbs-up.
Shang Sui: “…”
Shang Sui sighed inwardly, unsure of what he was feeling.
Sometimes, he wished Shi Qi could remember the past, because to him, those memories that only he was left to carry were deeply precious.
But at the same time, he also wished Shi Qi would forget it all.
Maybe that memory being precious was just his own wishful thinking. Perhaps it was actually better that Shi Qi didn’t remember.
Steadying his emotions, Shang Sui continued, “Xiao Qi climbed in through the windowsill, and that’s when we said our first words to each other.”
—What are you doing here alone?
Back then, he had been completely absorbed in his painting, not noticing someone had silently landed beside him. It was only when he heard the voice that he turned his head.
A black-haired, gray-eyed boy was looking at him with curiosity. His delicate features still carried traces of childishness.
Probably because he often climbed through windows and over walls, Shi Qi had been especially good at doing things like that, just like a cat slipping past the windowsill.
Upon hearing this part, Shi An finally spoke. “So that’s how it happened. I understand now.”
“It’s getting late. You two should head to bed.”
He paused slightly before adding meaningfully, “If there’s a chance, I’d like to meet you in person.”
“Okay. Same here,” Shang Sui replied. “Sleep well.”
After hanging up, neither Shi An nor Jiang Li spoke for a moment.
Then Shi An asked, “What do you think of Shang Sui?”
“He knows how to behave properly, neither too humble nor too arrogant,” Jiang Li replied cautiously, still a little wary of Shi An’s pinching. “Judging from what he said, his family background seems pretty good.”
Shi An’s focus was elsewhere. “That’s not what I meant.”
“I used to suspect he was just an actor Shi Qi hired to ease the pressure to marry, but now it seems Shi Qi might actually have feelings for him.”
Jiang Li hadn’t expected Shi An to change his view so quickly. “Why do you say that?”
When talking about Shi Qi as a child, Shi An’s gaze softened. “He used to love fairy tales, didn’t he? Even though he’d grown up a bit by the time he met Shang Sui and was no longer at an age to believe in them… that’s just how Shi Qi is. The things he likes never change.”
“If it were one of those arrogant, self-important Alphas, he’d kick them to the curb.”
“But if it’s someone beautiful and pitiful, he’ll want to save them.”
Summer. A sea of flowers. Bodyguards arranged by the family. A stranger who looked like he was locked away in a tower, painting in isolation…
“Based on Shang Sui’s story, he sounds tailor-made for Shi Qi…” Saying it was a “trap” felt too harsh, so Shi An settled for a softer term, “Like someone who fulfills every fantasy.”
Almost as if proving Shi An right, Shi Qi’s face lit up with fascination. Even though the call had already ended, he still asked eagerly, “And then? You’re pretty good at making up stories.”
Seeing how he really thought it was just a story and was listening with such interest, Shang Sui felt a little conflicted.
He didn’t want to talk about it anymore and said flatly, “Next time.”
“…”
Even though he was still curious, Shi Qi figured it was already impressive that Shang Sui had come up with so much on the spot, so he didn’t press him to continue.
A sudden clap of thunder rumbled outside the window.
The first drop of rain burst against the glass, followed by a rapid patter. The downpour came pouring like a flood, lightning tearing across the night sky.
Shi Qi turned to look at Shang Sui. At that moment, the rare winter thunderstorm turned everything into stark black and white. Flickering light danced across the Alpha’s expressionless face, while the muffled thunder rolled in his ears like distant drums.
Shi Qi asked hesitantly, “Are you okay? Do you want me to comfort you?”
Shang Sui looked at him and nodded.
Shi Qi hadn’t expected him to actually say yes, and for a moment, he had no idea what to do.
Maybe have him cover his ears?
Or wear noise-canceling headphones?
Shi Qi racked his brain and suddenly remembered how Shi An used to comfort him when he was little. He decided to give it a try. “Try thinking of it this way? When it rains like this, it’s just nature dancing. The lightning is the stage lighting, and the thunder is the sound of drums—”
Halfway through, even Shi Qi felt how childish it sounded. One glance at Shang Sui’s expression, and he couldn’t go on. “What’s that look on your face? Are you really scared or not?”
He would’ve been better off not asking. As soon as he did, Shang Sui couldn’t hold it in anymore and laughed.
Shi Qi: “…”
Damn it, this guy deserved a beating.
Realizing he might’ve gone too far, Shang Sui chuckled and explained, “I wasn’t laughing at you. I just think you’re really cute like this…!”
He was laughing so hard he nearly cried. All of Shi Qi’s sympathy evaporated in an instant. He turned toward the bed. “Sleep on the couch by yourself.”
“No, don’t. I won’t fit on the couch. I really don’t like thunderstorms.” Shang Sui finally calmed down, his eyes still glistening with laughter as he added, “Thank you, Xiao Qi. People don’t usually comfort me like this.”
Shi Qi didn’t respond, but he paused mid-step.
Could it be that no one ever coaxed Shang Sui at home?
Then again, Shi An always treated him and Jiang Youning like kids. Once, when Jiang Youning said, “Dad, I’m already a differentiated Alpha. Can you stop patting my head all the time?” Shi An reluctantly agreed, then just turned around and aggressively patted Shi Qi, who hadn’t grown up yet.
Maybe Shang Sui had been raised to be a lot more independent.
That thought softened Shi Qi again.
He kicked off his slippers and climbed into bed, patting the spot beside him. “Come on.”
Shang Sui walked over obediently, then suddenly remembered something. “Should I say, ‘thank you for your grace’?”
Before Shi Qi could respond, Shang Sui smiled at him, those naturally affectionate eyes full of warmth. “Much obliged, Your Majesty, for granting me the honor of serving you in bed.”
“…If you keep acting like that, I’m kicking you off.”
Shang Sui knew when to quit. “Then I’ll turn off the lights?”
“Mm,” Shi Qi murmured, curling slowly into the blanket. “Go ahead.”
Click—
The room went dark, leaving only the sound of thunder and the flash of lightning outside the window.
The mattress dipped slightly under the Alpha’s weight. Just a moment ago, they’d been joking around, but once Shang Sui got into bed, Shi Qi suddenly felt an indescribable pressure.
He inched silently toward the edge, then a little more.
“The bed’s only so big,” came a clear voice in the darkness. “If you keep moving away like that, aren’t you afraid of falling off?”
Shi Qi was nailed to the spot by that sentence.
Maybe it was all of Shang Sui’s teasing getting to him, but Shi Qi suddenly lost his temper.
This was his bed. If anyone should get off, it ought to be Shang Sui.
With that thought in mind, Shi Qi moved boldly back toward him and finally voiced the question that had been circling in his head. “Can you release a bit of your pheromones?”
Shang Sui didn’t answer directly. Instead, he asked, “What, you really want me to serve you?”
His tone was light. Shi Qi felt his ears prick, his earlobes instantly burning.
He mumbled a quiet explanation. “Our compatibility is high. I heard it makes sleeping together more comfortable.”
The Alpha, only inches away, chuckled. “I’d like to feel a little more comfortable too.”
Shang Sui was acting like he’d taken the wrong medicine. Every word carried a subtle aggression, like a provocation, and it made Shi Qi’s heart pound.
There was only one blanket. The two of them inevitably touched, and when Shi Qi realized their thighs were pressed together, he tried to shift away. But Shang Sui’s next words made him freeze.
“I like sleeping with something in my arms. Let’s help each other out.”
“What do you mean?” Shi Qi thought it over, but couldn’t figure out what Shang Sui might want to hold. He asked warily, “You want my pillow?”
“…” For the first time, Shang Sui couldn’t take his slowness. “I want you.”
The bluntness of it made Shi Qi’s heart skip a beat. He glanced around uneasily, thinking to himself how suggestive that sounded.
Amid the swirl of emotions, his eyes gradually adjusted to the darkness. He could just make out the Alpha’s features, and he could feel Shang Sui watching him, waiting for an answer.
Be his human pillow?
Hesitation flickered in Shi Qi’s eyes. He was worried that sleeping in each other’s arms might ruin their rest.
But Shang Sui didn’t rush him. A faint sweetness began to fill the air, as elusive as mist. The subtlest trace of pheromones drifted out, yet it stirred an irresistible yearning.
Shi Qi instinctively clutched his pillow tighter.
“Come here, Xiao Qi.” Shang Sui’s pleasant voice wrapped around him like spider silk, impossible to escape. “This way, we’ll both be comfortable.”
Shi Qi resisted for thirty seconds. Then, with resolve, he burrowed straight into Shang Sui’s arms.
The honey scent thickened instantly. Shi Qi pressed close, feeling a deep sense of satisfaction, though he still felt the need to grumble, “Even Lin Yan isn’t as clingy as you.”
As if responding to that remark, Shang Sui’s warm palm slowly traced along his back, drawing him fully into his embrace, leaving no space between them.
The heat at Shi Qi’s ears crept higher. For a moment, he even wanted to ask Shang Sui to keep touching him.
When it came to people he disliked, Shi Qi hated physical contact.
But if it was someone close, he actually enjoyed being touched. The best feeling was when someone stroked him from the nape of his neck down to his tailbone—gentle strokes that sent tingling currents through his whole body.
But as he got older, he’d become too embarrassed to ask for that.
Especially after Jiang Youning had rejected Shi An’s head-patting, Shi Qi had copied her. Even when Shi An tried to touch him, he’d run far away.
His thoughts drifted in and out as drowsiness quietly crept over him.
His body slowly relaxed in the sweet fragrance, and even his always-overactive brain began to settle, no longer so tense.
It felt like there could never be a place safer than this embrace.
Time passed. Outside the window, the rain only grew heavier.
A massive flash of lightning tore through the night sky, followed by rolling thunder, as if signaling the end of the world.
Half-lost in sleep, Shi Qi still remembered that Shang Sui was afraid. He reached out and gently covered the other’s ears, mumbling drowsily, “Don’t be scared, I’ll stay with you…”
Unlike Shi Qi, Shang Sui never fell asleep.
After all these years, lying in the same bed again and sharing fragments of their past, his emotions tangled into something too complex to name. A flood of thoughts roared through his mind.
But the moment Shi Qi reached out and covered his ears, everything suddenly went quiet.
A long while later, for the first time that night, Shang Sui finally closed his eyes.
When he was younger, he had once wished never to live through nights like this again. On stormy nights, he always felt like he was an unfixable mistake.
But because of the warmth in his arms, just like six years ago, he once again felt that if the world stopped at this very moment, it wouldn’t be so bad.
“I really am afraid.”
But it wasn’t the thunderstorm he feared.
Holding the sleeping Shi Qi close, Shang Sui whispered softly into the dark, “Don’t leave me again.”
Author’s note: I’ll never leave you again
Congratulations to Sui’er for attending to the emperor’s bed again after six years. The Cat Emperor slept soundly and expressed a desire to do it again.
![I Mistook the Paranoid Gong for a Shou [Book Transmigration]](https://www.freenovels.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/WhatsApp-Image-2024-09-12-at-01.24.02_47d1acd0.jpg "I Mistook the Paranoid Gong for a Shou [Book Transmigration]")
