Just as he hit send, Shang Sui leaned over.
Shi Qi lowered the phone screen to make it easier for Shang Sui to see.
As soon as “1717177” posted the new update, a flood of comments rushed in. Everyone was either charmed by Shi Qi’s caption or drawn in by the photo.
[Breaking news! 17 has picked himself a super handsome keeper. Starting today, he’s a taken cat!]
[No wonder someone said earlier that the two had equally matched looks. I always thought Xiao Qi looked like a delicately carved doll, and this one’s appearance is just as unreal.]
[Such an adorable official announcement photo! Two beautiful faces!]
[I thought 17 would go for a more conventionally handsome Alpha? But his boyfriend looks like the opposite of that hahaha. But surprisingly, they really match. Like a cat and a butterfly, a flower and a snake, an angel and a devil.]
[And the way he looks at Lord Cat is just too doting. So doting it’s almost criminal. Mama is very satisfied! Mr. Keeper, please feed this cat well!]
Shang Sui’s eyes carried a smile. “I’m your keeper?”
When Shi Qi had typed that phrase, it hadn’t felt strange, but when it came out of Shang Sui’s mouth, it somehow sounded suggestive, like he was referring to something far less proper.
Shi Qi’s eyes flickered, and he pressed his lips together, saying nothing.
When he wasn’t showing any expression, he tended to look indifferent, but Shang Sui knew he was just shy.
Shang Sui reached out and brushed aside his soft platinum-blond hair, rubbing Shi Qi’s flushed ear. “What do you want to eat tonight?”
Thinking about how Shi Qi had posted their photo on his own, Shang Sui was obviously in a great mood. Smiling, he added, “I’ll fulfill my keeper duties properly.”
“Anything’s fine.” Shi Qi paused for a moment. “After dinner, I want to go back to my dorm.”
Shang Sui: “?”
The smile on his face slowly faded, replaced by a look of grievance. “Are we really going to live apart on the first day of our relationship?”
“Final exams are next week. I want to go back and study.”
“I promise I won’t even show up while you’re studying. Will that work?”
“No.” Shi Qi rejected him flatly.
Shang Sui couldn’t bear to be apart from him and clung to him like he had no bones in his body. “Why not? Don’t leave, I promise I won’t get in your way.”
“Xiao Qi, Xiao Qi—”
The way he called his name nearly turned Shi Qi’s legs to jelly. In that instant, he understood why ancient emperors skipped morning court, and he almost nodded in agreement.
At the last second, Shi Qi regained his rationality. “Because I can’t stay in the same space with you right now. As long as you’re near me, all I want to do is kiss and cuddle. I can’t even think straight.”
He said it all in one breath without pausing, then saw Shang Sui freeze. “Do you get it now? I can’t control myself.”
“I get it.” Shang Sui stared at him and said in a captivated way, “You’re so cute.”
Shi Qi: “?”
Crazy.
Shi Qi made the final call. “Alright, that’s it then.”
Shang Sui saw how firm Shi Qi’s attitude was and had no choice but to agree.
He reluctantly let go of him, as if it would be the last time they’d ever see each other. Shi Qi almost burst out laughing.
He had to admit, the other’s reaction was very satisfying.
Before they got together, there were times Shang Sui wouldn’t contact him for several days. Shi Qi had thought he was the only one who couldn’t bear to be apart, but it turned out Shang Sui might have it even worse.
Shi Qi took the initiative to say, “We can still see each other during the day, eat together and stuff.”
Shang Sui suddenly said, “Xiao Qi, can you promise me one thing?”
“Hmm?”
“After the exams are over, can we do what we did last night again?” he added softly. “When you’re fully sober.”
Shi Qi went quiet for a moment. “Okay.”
He just wanted to make it up to Shang Sui.
It definitely wasn’t because he was curious.
The corners of the Alpha’s lips curled into a smile, and he leaned against Shi Qi’s shoulder, rubbing his neck. “You’re the best. I really like you.”
Shi Qi’s body tensed slightly, but in the end, he gave a quiet response.
When he returned to the dorm, he reached out and touched the side of his neck, which was still slightly red.
It was like he had been put under some kind of spell, and whenever his guard was down, he would remember the other person’s sweet whispers.
Shi Qi muttered, “Good thing I didn’t stay with him.”
He forced himself to settle down and pulled out a textbook.
Close to curfew, Lin Yan returned to the dorm.
Seeing Shi Qi, he thought he was seeing things. “Why did you come back?”
“Finals,” Shi Qi answered simply. “For the sake of my scholarship.”
“So inspirational, baby.” Lin Yan looked at him with admiration.
Shi Qi’s grades ranked among the top in their major. Several professors in the department assumed he studied hard every day, but Lin Yan knew that Shi Qi just had insomnia like in high school and used textbooks as a sleep aid.
But considering Lin Yan would black out just from glancing at a book when he was tired, in the end, it was clear Shi Qi’s brain simply worked better.
“You’re really one clever cat.” Lin Yan affectionately patted his fluffy head. Then he got carried away, messing up Shi Qi’s soft hair until it was all over the place.
Shi Qi endured it and didn’t swat his hand away for the sake of the compliment.
“But I’m surprised Shang Sui actually let you leave. His self-control must be strong.”
Seeing Shi Qi’s puzzled look, Lin Yan explained, “Aren’t you two a 100% match? And you just got together. The last time I saw a couple with an 80% compatibility, they went at it for three days straight once they got together. Forget finals—even if the world ended, they’d still be clinging to each other and nibbling at one another.”
“…”
Ever since they got together, Shang Sui had felt like a magnet to him, making Shi Qi want to be close all the time.
That unfamiliar, overwhelming feeling felt a little out of control, and Shi Qi instinctively found it unsettling. Since finals were coming up, he figured a short break would do them both some good.
“Running off like this is practically playing hard to get. He’s definitely thinking about you day and night.”
Shi Qi thought back to how Shang Sui had acted when they parted. He was definitely clingy, but not as dramatic as Lin Yan made it sound. “I doubt it’s that bad.”
“Remember to show him some care.” When he saw Shi Qi looking confused, Lin Yan kindly reminded him, “Alphas are more driven by desire to begin with. If you don’t give him a little sweetness, he might go crazy from holding back after a few days.”
After saying this, Lin Yan went to take a shower. Shi Qi was still trying to figure out whether those words were true when his phone suddenly buzzed.
Jiang Youning: [Is our darling there?]
17: [1.]
Jiang Youning: [I just saw your post.]
Jiang Youning: [Papa Xiao An happened to be next to me. He leaned over to look, but I blocked your account ID at the crucial moment. Pretty loyal of me, right!]
17: [Super loyal.]
17: [Thanks, jiejie.]
Jiang Youning: [But he saw the photo of you and your boyfriend.]
Jiang Youning: [He said you looked like a butterfly spirit, totally frivolous.]
17: [?]
Jiang Youning: [I mean, I get fox spirits, but what does a butterfly spirit even mean?]
Just as Shi Qi was about to seek justice for Shang Sui, Jiang Youning added: [But Papa Xiao An admitted that he does have good looks. He said he couldn’t blame you for being blinded and completely infatuated.]
Shi An had always been stubborn with his words. For him to admit someone had good looks only meant there really was nothing to criticize about Shang Sui’s face.
Shi Qi was just about to reply, “That’s more like it,” when Jiang Youning continued:
[I don’t know why, but I vaguely sensed your boyfriend didn’t seem entirely pleased. It almost feels like… how do I put it, like he and I had clashed before?]
[Logically, with your boyfriend’s looks, if we’d met recently, I’m sure I’d remember.]
17: [No way? He’s got a good temper.]
Jiang Youning: [I really can’t remember. You know my memory is bad.]
Jiang Youning: [Just take it as me being unwilling to let another Alpha steal you away. Hmph.]
–
The days of review passed in a blur. Remembering Lin Yan’s words, Shi Qi would occasionally send a message or two to Shang Sui, or meet for a meal now and then.
After five days, he didn’t notice anything strange about Shang Sui and figured Lin Yan had been talking about an exception.
What he didn’t know was that ever since they parted, the days dragged on unbearably for the other person, wishing he could open his eyes and find it was already the day the exams ended.
Like someone who had long been starved finally obtaining a long-coveted treasure, only to be forced to part with it, without Shi Qi around, Shang Sui had lost interest in everything.
The art academy had just finished its term, and he had nothing urgent to do. Professor Xie had previously asked him to prepare at least three pieces for an exhibition, so Shang Sui simply went to his studio.
The studio at home was too small to store paintings conveniently. His parents’ house was spacious, but Shang Sui didn’t like the decor of the old house. Since Ningshan District had the best scenery in the city, he had set up a studio by the lake there.
When he used to return to China, aside from staying at his parents’ house, he spent most of his time sleeping here.
The studio had three floors in total. Half of each floor was made up of transparent one-way floor-to-ceiling glass. The slanting sunset poured into the room, making the open space seem submerged in a tide of warm golden light.
While selecting the artworks, Shang Sui hesitated repeatedly, and in the end, went up to the third floor.
He walked to the innermost area with practiced ease, pulled a painting from the storage rack, and after a long time, took it down and carefully wrapped it up.
He picked out two more paintings and ordered takeout.
By the time he finished everything, it was completely dark outside. Thinking he might as well spend the night there, Shang Sui took a shower and sent Shi Qi a message.
Ss: [Your Majesty, how’s the reviewing going tonight? Got time to bestow some favor on me ><]
There was no reply for the time being. He tossed the phone aside and lay on the sofa, staring into space.
He really wanted to see him.
Maybe it was because they had just gotten together and were already apart, or maybe it was that particularly meaningful painting from the afternoon. Even though he knew they wouldn’t be separated like six years ago, he still couldn’t suppress the anxiety from creeping in.
Among the three paintings he selected, two were nearly complete pieces from the past couple of years. The other one was from six years ago, mixed with a kind of selfish intent he couldn’t fully explain.
The reason he chose that painting was because…
Shang Sui stopped his thoughts, sensing a slight overflow of pheromones, and was momentarily surprised by it himself.
But very quickly, he naturally accepted the fact that he was about to lose control.
He wanted to hear Shi Qi’s voice, to see his face.
He wanted to touch and kiss him; better yet, press him underneath and mark every inch of his skin.
Shang Sui’s fingers twitched slightly, and his breathing became unsteady.
Thinking of the night they made their relationship official, Shi Qi had been pushed to the point where he cried and asked why Shang Sui was rubbing against him like a dog. Shang Sui couldn’t help but laugh, desire filling the depths of his eyes.
He really was like that.
If he could, he would have liked to lick every part of Shi Qi’s body.
The phone screen suddenly lit up. Realizing what that meant, Shang Sui sat up and grabbed it.
His baby, whom he had been longing for, had replied reservedly.
17: [I can.]
He tapped the video call button, and the other side picked up quickly.
“Shang Sui?” Shi Qi’s face appeared on the screen, his clear and bright eyes sweeping over Shang Sui’s face, pausing slightly.
The Alpha’s eyes were tinged red at the corners, with a blush under them like peach blossoms. The gaze he cast over was thick with emotion.
Shang Sui’s expression made his heart race for no reason. Shi Qi quickly thought of his rut and couldn’t help but worry, “What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”
“I’m fine. I just wanted to see you.”
He spoke, his voice sluggish. “What are you doing, Xiao Qi?”
“Just finished some homework.” As Shi Qi replied, he placed the phone on a stand. “Wait a sec, I’m going to get some cake.”
After a short while, Shi Qi reappeared on the screen.
There was heating in the dorm, so he was only wearing a white graphic T-shirt and black shorts, walking back and forth in slippers.
Shi Qi had beautiful legs—long and straight, with just the right proportions. His Achilles tendons were especially long, and his ankles were thin enough to wrap a single hand around.
Shang Sui still remembered how those legs felt.
Soft, the snow-white skin smooth like satin, very tempting.
He suppressed the surge of desire and asked gently, “Did you not eat dinner?”
“Mm.” Shi Qi responded and put on his Bluetooth earphones. He bit down on a small fork as he opened the packaging, revealing a four-inch strawberry cream cake.
The sweet flavor made Shi Qi squint his eyes in satisfaction, momentarily forgetting the string of torturous linear algebra problems in his mind.
“Lin Yan went to the library. He said reviewing in the dorm makes him sleepy.” Thinking of Lin Yan’s miserable expression, Shi Qi laughed unkindly. “He gets dizzy just from looking at a book, and even his spine, tailbone, and temples hurt.”
Watching Shi Qi take small bites of the cake, cream sticking to the corner of his mouth, the desire Shang Sui had forced down resurfaced again, even stronger this time.
Shang Sui absentmindedly asked, “Is it serious?”
“Very serious,” Shi Qi commented. “Only a round of mahjong can cure all his ailments.”
Shang Sui gave a faint smile, but his gaze quickly shifted to Shi Qi’s exposed collarbones.
As he moved while eating, Shi Qi’s straight collarbones dipped inward. Under the flowing light, they shimmered like small lakes.
Shi Qi didn’t notice at all. He ate the bright red, plump strawberry on top of the cake, then licked the cream off the fork, curiously glancing at the background behind Shang Sui. “Where are you? Your couch at home isn’t that color.”
“At the studio.”
Shang Sui finally couldn’t hold back, and his hand slid downward.
“I miss you so much.”
Hearing those words suddenly, Shi Qi felt a little embarrassed and, after a moment, softly responded, “I miss you too.”
“Mm…”
Shi Qi felt there was something odd about his voice—it sounded stickier than usual, like syrup that could stretch into strands.
Shang Sui parted his lips, his eyes shimmering. “Baby, I really want to hold you.”
Shi Qi thought he meant a hug and wondered why Shang Sui was suddenly being so clingy. Ears reddening, he echoed, “I want you to hold me too.”
The Alpha on the screen squinted slightly, as if stimulated, and stayed silent for a long time.
An absurd thought flashed through Shi Qi’s mind, and he couldn’t help but ask, “What are you doing?”
There was a long pause.
Shang Sui panted lightly and replied without answering the question, “Hang up if you don’t want this.”
The absurd suspicion was confirmed. Shi Qi froze in place, Lin Yan’s words flashing through his mind:
If you don’t give a little sweetness, an Alpha will go crazy holding it in.
He had thought Shang Sui hadn’t been affected much, but it turned out…!
Shi Qi’s mind was a complete mess. In his panic, he accidentally knocked over the phone stand, then immediately picked it up.
The moment the screen flipped over, he was caught off guard by Shang Sui’s face.
The other man was staring straight at him like a long-waiting predator, eyes half-lit and half-shadowed, brimming with intense aggression.
So, so beautiful.
Shi Qi stared at him in a daze, and after a long moment, asked as if compelled by some invisible force, “Do you… want me to do something?”
Shang Sui’s lips curved slightly, and his voice came through the earphones, gentle as if murmuring in a dream. “Put the phone back and point it at your face.”
Shi Qi moved like a puppet in his hands, following the instructions one by one, even adjusting the height of the stand on his own.
“Good boy. So thoughtful.”
Sweet praise came from the other end, followed by, “Keep eating the cake.”
Eat the cake?
Oh, eat the cake.
Shi Qi’s fingers trembled slightly as he gripped the fork and continued eating slowly, one bite at a time.
But unlike before, Shi Qi now felt a prickling on his back. The sweet and sour taste of the strawberry cream seemed to turn into something even stickier, like honey sliding down his throat drop by drop.
He had turned on noise cancellation while studying earlier, so the earphones blocked out all outside sound, leaving only his and Shang Sui’s voices. The Alpha’s breathing, mixed with alluring gasps, felt close enough to touch.
Shi Qi’s ears burned red, and he wanted to bury his head.
“Look up.”
There was a faint sound through the headphones. Shi Qi paused mid-bite, then glanced up at him.
On the screen, the Alpha was lazily holding his phone, reclining on the sofa.
But despite his seemingly relaxed posture, his gaze was locked onto Shi Qi, revealing undisguised excitement.
“…”
Shi Qi bit down on the fork, unable to obey, and quickly averted his gaze.
Fortunately, Shang Sui didn’t press him.
Shi Qi kept eating while thinking.
This had to be the slowest he’d ever eaten a piece of cake.
By the time he finished, the other side still wasn’t done.
Shi Qi remained seated, motionless. After a long while, he finally mustered the courage to glance up.
When their eyes met, Shang Sui’s voice came through with a rough edge to it, his breath uneven. “Are you full? …How did the cake taste?”
“I’m full,” Shi Qi whispered. “It was really sweet.”
His cheeks were flushed a rosy pink, like heavy peach blossoms hanging on a branch.
As he spoke, the tip of his tongue flickered briefly, and combined with his current state, just watching him was enough to stir endless thoughts.
Shang Sui let out a soft hum.
Shi Qi’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly, and his gaze was unconsciously drawn to the Alpha’s seductive face.
“Thanks for the treat.” At the last moment, Shang Sui smiled at him, eyes crinkling. “I’m full too.”
Author’s note:
2s, tell me, who’s getting all heated up now?
Round two. 17 ended up as the side dish again.
