After hanging up the video call, Shi Qi’s mind was still filled with the image of Shang Sui’s smiling face.
Before saying goodbye, the Alpha had given him a goodnight kiss through the screen and murmured in a clingy voice, “Love you, baby. You’re so sweet.”
Shi Qi couldn’t speak sweet words as easily as he did. He only replied softly, “Goodnight.”
He had been so focused earlier that it was only after standing up that Shi Qi slowly realized just how much the call had affected him.
Though his reproductive cavity was well-developed, due to glandular degeneration, he usually didn’t feel much there. But recently, it had been boldly asserting its presence, reminding him that an Omega’s body differed from the other two genders, which was a sensation he had never experienced before.
He bit his lip, legs still shaky, and shuffled slowly into the bathroom.
Shi Qi unintentionally caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror and froze on the spot.
He had never seen himself with that expression: eyes wet, as if deeply lovestruck.
Was that the face he had just shown to Shang Sui?
It was almost like going into heat.
Shi Qi lowered his head, and the lingering warmth on his face surged back all at once.
This shower took longer than any before. By the time he came out, Shi Qi was completely drained.
He dried his hair and climbed sleepily into bed.
When Lin Yan pushed open the dorm door, he thought for a moment that he had walked into the wrong room.
At this hour, Shi Qi was usually at his most energetic. But tonight, the main lights were already off, and only a small desk lamp, which Shi Qi had deliberately left on for him, cast a soft orange glow.
“Shi Qi?” Lin Yan asked in a low voice, “Are you asleep?”
A faint sound came from the direction of Shi Qi’s bed.
Lin Yan thought he was still awake. “You’re going to bed this early? Tired from studying? Don’t even get me started—I nearly dozed off in the library. My head kept nodding like in high school morning classes.”
Shi Qi softly called out, “Shang Sui…”
“Hm? Did Shang Sui come to see you today?”
After waiting a while with no response, Lin Yan suddenly realized.
Oh! He must be dreaming.
Thinking about it, ever since Shi Qi started dating Shang Sui, he hadn’t seemed to suffer from insomnia anymore.
Half a year ago, when Shi Qi’s condition began to worsen, Lin Yan hadn’t said anything, but he had been silently anxious. No one had expected such an incredible turning point to happen.
Back then, Shi Qi had chosen freedom over a long life. Lin Yan had naturally supported the decision, knowing well that Shi Qi was the kind who couldn’t tolerate being wronged. If he were ever forced to be with an Alpha he didn’t like, one of them would surely end up dead.
The thought that a close friend you grew up with wouldn’t live past fifty was enough to drown someone in loneliness and fear.
The year Shi Qi was diagnosed with glandular degeneration, Shi An had initially forbidden anyone from revealing the condition. Jiang Li couldn’t bring himself to break the news to their youngest son either.
In the end, it was Jiang Youning who directly handed Shi Qi the medical report, believing that her little brother had the right to know the truth about his physical condition.
Shi Qi stayed alone for three days and three nights. Everyone was on edge, terrified he might do something rash.
On the fourth day, Jiang Youning began to regret her moment of impulsiveness. Shi Qi came out of his room behaving as if nothing had happened.
Shi An cautiously asked what he was thinking, and Shi Qi said he had thought it through and could accept his condition.
On the contrary, it was Lin Yan who was constantly worried for a whole month after learning the truth.
He and Shi Qi were both afraid of the dark and ghosts, and when watching horror movies, the two of them had to cling to each other. At that time, with a face still full of youthful innocence, Shi Qi calmly said that he had glandular degeneration. In that moment, Lin Yan felt that Shi Qi was braver than anyone he had ever known.
As a bystander, Lin Yan had felt suffocated countless times. The pressure Shi Qi bore could only have been greater.
At his most fearful, he had even wanted to say to Shi Qi, “Have you thought about just settling with Fu Siyue?”
I want you to live. Even when we’re old and gray, I still want to be good friends with you.
I don’t want to lose you.
…
…
Thankfully.
Lin Yan smiled, and using the small light Shi Qi had left for him, tiptoed off to wash up.
–
On the last day of finals, fine rain fell from the sky.
Shi Qi didn’t bring an umbrella, so he pulled up the hood of his down jacket to shield himself from the rain. Jiang Youning’s voice came through his earphones. “Finished your exams? I’ll come pick you up!”
“I want to stay at Shang Sui’s place for a couple of days first.”
“Ooohhh~ you’re going to see your butterfly.” Jiang Youning dragged out her words. “Once you go, will I even get to see you again?”
“…”
Jiang Youning knew that Alphas and Omegas in the honeymoon phase were always glued together, so she stopped teasing. “By the way, Papa Xiao An was asking where you want to go for vacation this year. He’s thinking of finding somewhere warm, and we’ll just spend the New Year there. Somewhere like an island?”
Shi Qi had originally wanted to say “Anywhere’s fine,” but at the last second, he changed his mind. “Qijiang?”
Despite encountering the crazy Yu Zhiling there, overall, he really liked Qijiang, with its blooming flowers and pleasant climate.
“Qijiang? That’s not bad either, and it’s convenient since it’s within the country.”
Jiang Youning remembered something. “We even went to Qijiang when we were little, do you remember?”
“I vaguely recall,” Shi Qi replied. “Was that the year I differentiated?”
Jiang Youning went quiet for a moment and gave a brief reply before changing the subject. “Your sister-in-law was supposed to go on vacation with us, but her mentor passed away recently. He didn’t have many family or friends, just her as a student.”
Jiang Youning’s girlfriend was a journalist who often traveled around the world for work. Sometimes, they wouldn’t see each other for ten days or even half a month.
“She’s busy handling the arrangements. I don’t know if she’ll be able to join us afterward…”
After hanging up the call, Shi Qi checked the time.
Shang Sui had said earlier that he had something to take care of and told him to go home after the exams. He’d even asked if Shi Qi needed a driver. Not wanting to trouble him, Shi Qi called a car himself.
After being caught in the rain, Shi Qi took a quick shower once he got home.
Shi Qi didn’t know where Shang Sui had put his pajamas, so he searched the walk-in closet but found nothing. In the end, he simply pulled out a set of Shang Sui’s pajamas at random.
The pure black silk sleepwear carried a faint scent of hinoki wood. Shi Qi had originally planned to change into the matching pants as well, but the size wasn’t right for him, and stepping on the pant legs made it easy to trip.
Seeing that the top hung down to his thighs, he decided to just crawl into Shang Sui’s bed like that.
Lately, he had been burning the midnight oil every night to prepare for finals. Now that everything was finally over, Shi Qi scrolled on his phone for a bit and began to yawn.
Recalling that when Shang Sui mentioned his plans earlier, he had said he was attending a birthday celebration for an elder in the family. Judging by his tone, it seemed he wouldn’t be back until very late. Shi Qi decided to take a nap first.
Outside, the sky had gone completely dark, and the drizzle had gradually stopped.
In a daze, Shi Qi felt someone caressing his face.
The person’s slender fingers carried the scent of a pheromone he liked, and Shi Qi instinctively leaned into the palm, rubbing against it unconsciously.
His small action pleased the other party. Through the soft blanket, a mountain-like weight suddenly pressed down on him. The Alpha’s long, strong arms braced on either side of Shi Qi’s face, trapping him completely.
Shi Qi couldn’t move. His lips parted slightly, which only made it easier for the intruder.
A soft and agile tongue advanced straight in, entangling with his in an inseparable kiss. Shi Qi’s delicate eyelids fluttered faintly, still immersed in his dream.
Seeing that he wasn’t waking up, the person only grew bolder.
His lips were repeatedly pressed and ground against. Shi Qi whimpered and struggled in his sleep, nearly unable to breathe. The smothering sensation of being possessed finally forced him to open his eyes.
A light blush colored the Omega’s cheeks. Unlike usual, his just-awakened eyes were dazed and bewildered.
Like a child.
“You’re awake?” Shang Sui affectionately tapped the tip of his nose. “You sleep so soundly.”
The voice seemed to hold some kind of magic, pulling Shi Qi out of the remnants of his dream.
Looking into the Alpha’s bright eyes, he finally noticed that Shang Sui was dressed in a suit.
The sharply tailored suit accentuated his figure, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist clearly defined.
Against the contrast of black and white, his features took on a colder edge than usual. As he leaned down, his black tie fell over Shi Qi’s chest.
Even though his outfit was simple, Shang Sui still wore sparkling accessories. His earrings and cartilage piercing were set with white diamonds, and the fingers stroking Shi Qi’s cheek were adorned with stacked rings of varying widths.
Shi Qi couldn’t help but stare at him in a daze.
“Xiao Qi, was it on purpose? Lying in bed dressed like this, and looking at me with those eyes.”
“What?”
Shang Sui said lightly, “Seducing me.”
Shi Qi had just woken up and was completely caught off guard by the accusation. “I wasn’t—”
“Mm-hmm, you weren’t. It’s just me seeing everything as seductive.” Shang Sui went along easily. “I think about you every day. The moment you even glance at me, my soul almost floats away.”
He hooked a finger and loosened his neatly tied tie.
The collar of the dress shirt was slightly open, revealing a small tattoo on the collarbone. Shi Qi stared at him blankly, wanting to ask who exactly was seducing whom.
While Shi Qi was distracted, Shang Sui gently lifted his head.
The tie threaded between his fingers slipped around the back of Shi Qi’s head, and by the time Shi Qi came back to his senses, everything before his eyes had turned pitch black.
Shang Sui had blindfolded him, tying a pretty knot.
Shi Qi wasn’t used to it and instinctively reached out.
Before he could grab the tie, both his hands were taken and held. Shang Sui interlaced their fingers and pressed his hands into the pillow on either side of his head.
The vulnerable position made Shi Qi purse his lips. “What are you doing?”
The other didn’t answer directly, instead murmuring with clear infatuation, “Your skin is so white.”
The Omega, pinned beneath him, was like a captive belonging only to him. Platinum-blond strands scattered messily across the pillow, and his delicate, upturned nose and full lips were bathed in flowing light, every inch of his features flawless.
“…You’re the same.”
“I’m going to ask you something. Answer honestly, okay?” Shang Sui gently stroked his chin. “That day, after we hung up, did you touch yourself?”
Shi Qi wasn’t good at lying. He remained quiet for a long time, saying nothing.
Shang Sui gave his waist a pinch to prompt a response.
Shi Qi let out a muffled grunt and finally spoke. “I tried.”
Before Shang Sui could ask more—
“But I couldn’t,” Shi Qi whispered in his arms, just like he had given up that day. “I tried for a long time, but I couldn’t do it myself.”
It took Shang Sui a moment to fully understand what he meant.
The unexpected answer made his eyes widen slightly. A surge of intense pleasure overwhelmed his rationality, like an electric current shooting up his spine.
If this happened more and more often, until it became a habit…
Would Shi Qi never be able to leave him?
Luckily, Shi Qi couldn’t see and didn’t know what expression he was making now.
An almost wicked expression crept onto the Alpha’s face, with a light that could lead one to ruin shimmering from deep within his pupils.
“Poor little baby.”
Shang Sui’s tone was full of pity, but he chuckled softly. “It must’ve been hard, right? Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of you from now on.”
His words made Shi Qi’s back go numb. His whole body, even his heart, felt bound by a pair of invisible hands.
He understood what Shang Sui’s “take care” meant, and his body began to heat up involuntarily.
Shang Sui lifted Shi Qi’s face, forcing him to tilt his head back halfway. Another deep, lingering kiss fell.
Shi Qi was kissed until he felt dazed. He suddenly remembered what he had promised Shang Sui after the exams, and the fingers pressed beneath the pillow slowly curled.
Ding dong, ding dong—
Without warning, the doorbell rang.
The unceasing chime made Shi Qi part his lips, snapping him out of his haze. “Someone’s looking for you.”
Shang Sui had no intention of dealing with it. Between kisses, he whispered, “Let them wait.”
After a while without a response, the person outside started calling.
Shang Sui’s phone was always on silent. Only the screen lit up, showing the name Jiang Yan.
Blindfolded with a tie, Shi Qi couldn’t see what was going on but felt Shang Sui’s movements pause, followed by a low curse.
It was the first time he had heard Shang Sui swear.
Shang Sui was thoroughly annoyed. After waiting so long for Shi Qi to finish his exams, that nuisance Jiang Yan just had to come stir up trouble—
Feeling Shang Sui’s hand sliding to his waist, clearly not interested in dealing with it, Shi Qi couldn’t help but say, “He seems pretty urgent, maybe you should check it out… Mmph!”
The doorbell rang continuously like a death knell.
Seeing that Shi Qi was still thinking about the person outside, Shang Sui had no choice but to get up.
Before leaving, he untied the tie over Shi Qi’s eyes, kissed his flushed face, picked out a suitable hoodie set for him from the bedroom closet, and then finally went to open the door.
Jiang Yan was standing outside, hearing nothing from within for a long time.
He had called several times with no answer. Shang Sui wasn’t one to reply to messages, but he would always answer a call. Jiang Yan was hesitating when the door suddenly swung open from inside.
Shang Sui stood at the doorway, one hand on the knob, staring at him with a stormy expression.
Jiang Yan was startled. The man before him looked like a vengeful ghost. He gave a sheepish smile and greeted him.
“Uh, Xiao Sui-gege, good evening.”
Shang Sui raised an eyebrow.
Jiang Yan was about to ask if he had interrupted his sleep, but why did he look like he was seething with resentment?
“Unless it’s something urgent. Like Shen Qianyu trying to rape you, and you came to me for help—”
Without caring about Jiang Yan’s suddenly flushed face and stammering voice, Shang Sui coldly finished the sentence, “Otherwise, don’t blame me for throwing you out.”
Author’s note:
2s: What kind of nonsense is happening every single day
