Shang Sui stared at him intently. The alcohol had dulled his thoughts, and before the teasing words could register, it was the smile on Shi Qi’s face that first seized his senses.
Shi Qi looked completely different when he smiled. When expressionless, he gave off an intimidating air. But the moment a smile appeared, that icy presence melted into something as pure as thawing spring water, bringing to mind flowers blooming by a mountain stream.
Shang Sui couldn’t resist the urge. Fixing his eyes on him, he pressed, “Say it again.”
When no reply came after a long moment, he discontentedly gave Shi Qi’s hand a squeeze, only for the latter to decisively shake him off.
Shang Sui was stunned for three seconds, disbelief flickering in his eyes.
Shi Qi asked knowingly, “You’re upset?”
“……”
“Why aren’t you saying anything?” As if suddenly finding amusement in it, Shi Qi spoke again. “You look so wronged, gege.”
Their eyes met. The Alpha clicked his tongue.
The hand that had been shaken off earlier now gripped Shi Qi’s chin, turning his face with a grip that allowed no escape.
Shang Sui’s gaze locked onto his lips, drawing closer and closer. Realizing he had gone too far, Shi Qi hurriedly struggled to pull away. “Don’t—!”
Jiang Youning was still right there; one kiss and all the good impression points will be gone!
But Shang Sui ignored everything and leaned in. In his panic, Shi Qi turned his head, and those soft lips brushed against his cheek.
Shi Qi’s face burned hot. He heard Shang Sui say, “Don’t dodge.”
Sure enough, Jiang Youning shrieked, “Hey! What do you think you’re doing in public!”
Shi Qi was almost knocked over. A simple kiss on the cheek clearly wasn’t enough for the Alpha. Shang Sui leaned in again.
Maybe it was the alcohol, but Jiang Youning saw Shang Sui inch closer to Shi Qi; it looked like the guy had hearts floating around his head.
Afraid he’d take things further in front of everyone, Shi Qi hurriedly shoved him away. “Stop messing around!”
But Shang Sui persisted. “Xiao Qi, kiss.”
His voice seemed to drip with honey. “I like you.”
Shi Qi was swayed by his words, his heart fluttering. His grip loosened, and before he realized it, he let Shang Sui lean in again.
Watching this, Jiang Youning suddenly worried about Shi Qi’s future position in the household.
Lock him up? Please. Her dumb younger brother was practically being tricked out of his pants.
“Aiya, Shi Qi, are you even trying! I got him drunk tonight to make things easier for you, not so he could take advantage of you!”
She saw Shi Qi staring dazedly at Shang Sui at the critical moment, clearly bewitched by his looks.
Sighing at how hopeless he was, Jiang Youning blurted out, “Why don’t you just slap him a few times? Swell up his face so you’ll stop going soft on him!”
Li Zhao quickly stepped in to stop her. “What’s one kiss? Don’t make a fuss.”
By the time Shi Qi came back to his senses, the two of them were mere inches apart.
At the last second, he frantically covered Shang Sui’s mouth and whispered, “I’ll let you kiss me when we get back.”
Shang Sui paused his movements, as if weighing whether the condition was worth it.
Under his gaze, Shi Qi felt intense pressure. “Y-you can do other things when we get back too.” He unconsciously released a trace of pheromones. “Just behave for now.”
Shang Sui caught the scent of lily of the valley from his palm. After a moment, he slowly backed away.
Shi Qi let out a breath of relief, only to freeze the next second.
Taking advantage of the fact that no one else could see, Shang Sui gave his palm a quick lick before they separated.
Seeing Shi Qi stunned, Shang Sui smiled at him. “It’s a promise then. I still want to lick you when we get back.”
“…Are you a dog?” Shi Qi complained. “Why do you like licking people so much?”
Shang Sui didn’t argue. He simply reached out and hooked his arms around Shi Qi’s shoulders with satisfaction.
The difference in their height and build made what should have been a tender embrace look more like a python coiling around its prey.
Jiang Youning puffed out her cheeks, watching the scene unfold.
Now, not only did Shang Sui have hearts floating around his head, but he was also surrounded by pink flowers.
Qin Shuhe, worried she might be upset, quickly changed the subject. “Youning-jie, do you want another drink? I’ll join you.”
“No more, no more!”
Jiang Youning tossed her glass aside and dove into Li Zhao’s arms. “I want cuddles too!”
Qin Shuhe: “?”
By the end of the dinner, Jiang Youning was also slightly tipsy.
Before everyone parted ways, she pulled Shi Qi aside and handed him a small pouch.
“The delivery box was inconvenient to carry, so I opened it. But I didn’t touch the gift box inside… What did you buy? Jewelry?”
“The jewelry set you recommended.”
“You actually bought it.” Jiang Youning choked up for a moment. “Are you giving him the bracelet or the anklet?”
“Let him choose,” Shi Qi said without much thought. “It’s his gift after all.”
“No, you take the bracelet. Most Alphas have dirty minds. If you wear the anklet, who knows what twisted things he’ll start thinking.”
Looking at Shi Qi’s face, as innocent as a flower bud, Jiang Youning said worriedly, “If he gets ideas and develops a thing for bondage or captivity, aren’t you the one who’s going to suffer?”
Shi Qi: “…?”
What does that have to do with the set?
Before he could figure it out, Jiang Youning reluctantly added, “But Shang Sui’s not bad.”
Seeing Shi Qi’s surprised look, Jiang Youning raised an eyebrow. “You didn’t think I was giving him a hard time on purpose, did you? I was just testing him for your sake, to see what kind of temper he has.”
She spoke righteously, but Shi Qi remained unmoved. “Oh, really.”
The siblings locked eyes.
Jiang Youning admitted, “Fine, I didn’t like him at first. But after getting to know him, my impression changed. Overall, he might not be as gentle and considerate as me, but for an Alpha, he’s decent enough…”
Shi Qi suddenly said, “Gentle and considerate? You? If you’re drunk, just say it.”
“—Shi Qi!”
Shi Qi turned and ran away.
Shang Sui had been chatting with Qin Shuhe. The two stood side by side in a narrow alley. Qin Shuhe was smoking, and Shang Sui had a lollipop in his mouth.
Without warning, Shang Sui was yanked away.
Shi Qi: “Run! Jiang Youning’s out for blood!”
Shang Sui: “?”
This farce ended with Jiang Youning catching Shi Qi and roughly ruffling his hair.
After a rowdy farewell, they returned home close to midnight.
As they stepped inside, the motion sensor light in the entryway suddenly lit up. Shi Qi took off his thick coat.
A small portion of the Omega’s pale back was exposed. The strap tied at the nape of his neck happened to cover his glands, and the pearl chain on his back shimmered faintly, making him look like a gift waiting to be unwrapped.
After an entire day, Shi Qi had gotten used to the faint jingling sound the pearls made as he moved and didn’t notice the gaze from behind glued to him, trailing inch by inch across his snow-pale skin.
The sensor light quickly went out. Just as Shi Qi was about to turn on the main light, Shang Sui grabbed his hand in the darkness with unerring precision and stopped him.
A rich honey scent enveloped him. The Alpha, like a nocturnal creature freed from its shackles, wrapped his arms around him from behind with deep satisfaction. “Finally, it’s just us.”
For most people, light brought more comfort than darkness.
Shi Qi patted his arm and reminded him, “Turn on the light.”
Shang Sui didn’t move. His chin rested on Shi Qi’s shoulder. “Someone asked me for your contact info today.”
Shi Qi paused. “When?”
“After Professor Xie called me over, the accompanying photographer said you were beautiful and kept asking about you.”
The photographer was a young Alpha, seemingly just out of school.
He repeatedly complimented Shi Qi’s looks and said his temperament sparked creative inspiration. Only after noticing Shang Sui’s odd expression did he belatedly ask what their relationship was.
When Shang Sui said they were a couple, the photographer was stunned, then quickly apologized.
Even knowing Shi Qi had always attracted admirers, Shang Sui still felt a pang of jealousy. “Why is Xiao Qi so popular?”
“Aren’t you the same?”
Shang Sui didn’t respond to that, instead bringing up another topic. “I heard you talking to Jiang Youning today. You like me for my face.”
“?”
Shi Qi recalled that Shang Sui had been signing an autograph for Li Zhao at the time and was genuinely impressed at his ability to multitask.
Shang Sui hugged him tighter and pestered unreasonably, “If there were an Alpha better-looking than me, would you leave me, Xiao Qi?”
Shi Qi had the feeling he’d heard this line before. It sounded just like something from one of those over-the-top dramas Lin Yan liked to watch. Only in their case, the genders were the opposite of those in the shows.
Amused, Shi Qi deliberately said, “I might consider it.”
“……”
“Better-looking than you? That’d be really tempting. Maybe I wouldn’t be able to resist.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, Shi Qi’s expression changed slightly.
Shang Sui’s pheromones… seemed to be out of control.
The sweet scent surged like a tide, wrapping around his body heavily.
Shi Qi’s knees buckled involuntarily, his glands began to burn, as though invisible hands were tightening around his throat. Omega instincts made every nerve in his body scream for surrender.
If Shang Sui weren’t holding him up, he had no doubt he would’ve already collapsed.
In the darkness, he heard the Alpha behind him speak softly, “If that really happens, I’ll make him disappear, then mentally manipulate you into forgetting him.”
“But I’ve never tried brainwashing before. If I’m not careful, you might forget everything—your family, your friends… You’d forget all of them and only remember me.”
Shi Qi had thought Shang Sui’s drunkenness had already worn off, but now he realized something was off.
Or rather, maybe this was his truest self.
Shi Qi opened his mouth. “You…”
He was about to ask him if he was okay, but Shang Sui reached out and gently pinched his earlobe.
The touch sent a tingling sensation through him. Shi Qi let out a soft hum, momentarily forgetting what he’d meant to say.
If it weren’t for the situation, he might’ve even asked Shang Sui to move a bit lower and touch his neck with the same pressure.
“This is fine too.”
Shang Sui spoke slowly, which only made him sound more convincing.
“I’ll find a place where no one can interrupt us, and be with you forever.”
It was like someone had poured out-of-control Alpha emotions straight into his brain. A chill ran through Shi Qi, almost thinking he was listening to a ghost story.
But that feeling of dread quickly turned into an inexplicable ache.
It seemed like Shang Sui was truly afraid. Whether drunk, claiming he felt so happy, or now, he always seemed to lack a sense of security, constantly afraid Shi Qi would leave him.
“Don’t be mad. I was joking,” Shi Qi quickly said. “To me, no Alpha is better-looking than you.”
Trying to calm him down, Shi Qi turned toward Shang Sui despite the heavy pressure weighing on him and leaned in.
In the darkness, he couldn’t see clearly. He had aimed for his lips, but ended up kissing his chin instead.
“I only like you.”
With that kiss, the suffocating pressure vanished instantly.
If not for the way his glands still throbbed slightly from the stimulation, Shi Qi would’ve thought the sudden surge of pheromones was just his imagination.
Emotions could be forcibly restrained, but pheromones weren’t so easily controlled.
Even knowing Shang Sui wasn’t like most Alphas, this kind of emotional swing was too strange. Shi Qi felt slightly lost, unsure whether Shang Sui was happy or upset, so he leaned forward tentatively, wanting to try kissing him again.
“Thank you, baby, but I wasn’t joking.” Shang Sui tightened his hold on him in the dark. “Without you, I’d go insane.”
Before Shi Qi could respond, Shang Sui exerted a bit more strength and easily lifted him up in his arms.
The fuzzy slippers he had just put on dropped to the floor with a soft thud, and Shi Qi clutched the small pouch in his hand as he was carried all the way into the living room. Moonlight spilled in from the floor-to-ceiling windows, letting them see their surroundings more clearly than in the entryway.
Shang Sui tossed him onto the plush, shaggy sofa, then pressed down eagerly, wrapping him in a kiss.
Another person’s lips and tongue dominated his breath. Every inch of Shi Qi was licked and nibbled in detail, as if Shang Sui wanted to devour his skin and bones.
Shi Qi’s whole body burned. Between kisses, he murmured indistinctly, “Turn on the light… I want to see your face.”
This time, Shang Sui listened to him. He reluctantly sucked on Shi Qi’s lips one last time, then got up.
The sudden brightness of the light made Shi Qi close his eyes. After a moment, he slowly opened them.
He saw a faint flush beneath Shang Sui’s eyes. The light brown pupils seemed like whirlpools of emotion. Just meeting his gaze made Shi Qi feel as if he were drowning.
“What’s in the bag?”
“It’s a gift.” Shi Qi had been unconsciously clutching the pouch. He came back to his senses. “It was supposed to be a confession gift.”
“Xiao Qi, you even prepared a confession gift?” Shang Sui looked slightly surprised. “So cute.”
Shi Qi felt a little embarrassed by the compliment and offered, “Do you want to see it?”
As he spoke, he opened the bag and handed over the gift box inside.
A long and a short silver chain were set against black velvet, adorned with pale pink and peacock green gemstones. A long connecting chain was placed separately to the side.
Shang Sui quickly figured out how the set was meant to be worn, and his gaze froze slightly. “Why did you think of giving me this?”
“My sister recommended it. I thought it was pretty. Do you like it?”
Hearing his answer, Shang Sui confirmed that Shi Qi simply found the jewellery aesthetically pleasing.
Even though it was such a suggestive gift…
“I like it,” Shang Sui replied quickly. “I think it’s beautiful too. Xiao Qi, you’re really good at picking gifts.”
Anyone would be happy to hear that their gift was liked, and Shi Qi was no exception.
“This is a couple’s set, right?” Shang Sui’s eyes curved in a smile. “Which one do you want me to wear—the anklet or bracelet?”
Seeing him smile, Shi Qi accidentally forgot all of Jiang Youning’s earlier warnings.
“Either is fine. Which do you like?”
“I want to see you wear the anklet.”
Shi Qi nodded.
Shang Sui picked up the longer, more elaborate chain. “Let me help you put it on.”
Shi Qi’s slippers had already fallen off earlier when Shang Sui carried him over.
Now he sat barefoot on the sofa. When he heard that Shang Sui was going to help him put on the anklet, he cooperatively placed his feet on the fluffy pink sofa, with his hands hanging down at his sides.
Shang Sui looked at him with an unreadable expression. Once again, Shi Qi felt that same heavy pressure, as if his entire body was wrapped in Shang Sui’s pheromones.
Was Shang Sui still a little drunk?
But he didn’t seem much different from usual.
Shi Qi couldn’t tell what state he was in, so he set the question aside for now and asked, “Is this position inconvenient? Should I change it?”
“No need,” Shang Sui replied, his tone layered, “It’s just right.”
As he spoke, he bent down, grasping Shi Qi’s ankle with one hand.
It was an incredibly gentle touch, yet Shi Qi felt as though he couldn’t break free. The anklet wrapped around him didn’t feel like an accessory, but more like a beautiful shackle.
Click—
A soft sound accompanied the clasp locking into place. Shang Sui gave his ankle a squeeze and sincerely praised, “It suits you perfectly.”
The anklet was more intricate than the bracelet, designed as a double-layered chain, with teardrop-shaped colorful gems hanging from both layers. It resembled a delicate and translucent garland, making the already slender ankle of the Omega appear even thinner.
The alternating pink and green gemstones were unforgiving on most skin tones, but Shi Qi’s fair complexion complemented the bright colors effortlessly. Even the faint blue-purple veins on the tops of his feet looked like part of the decoration.
Shi Qi shifted slightly, trying to get used to the weight around his ankle. A few delicate sounds came from the anklet, and the pearl chain on his back also gave off a faint jingle.
Suddenly, Shi Qi said, “I look like a hardware store.”
Shang Sui laughed and replied, “No way. What kind of hardware store looks this good?”
As he spoke, he leaned in and kissed Shi Qi’s cheek.
Unlike the deep, heated kisses from earlier, these were light and scattered, stopping just short of indulgence, yet they still carried the same possessiveness.
His voice, soft as a feather, brushed over Shi Qi’s heart. “Xiao, Qi, you’re so beautiful.”
“So beautiful, and all mine. I’m so happy.”
Shi Qi felt dizzy under the kisses and compliments. He lifted his arms and wrapped them around Shang Sui’s shoulders.
He didn’t know how long they had been kissing, but when they finally pulled apart, he remembered the matching chains weren’t fully worn. “Let me help you put on the bracelet?”
Seeing Shang Sui nod, Shi Qi reached for the remaining chain in the box.
In contrast, the single-layer bracelet was much simpler, but the ornate pink and green gemstone pendant still marked it as part of a couple’s set.
Shi Qi opened his palm, holding it out like he was teaching a dog to shake hands. “Come on, give me your hand.”
He teased Shang Sui deliberately, but the other played along with a smile. “Alright.”
Shang Sui placed his hand into Shi Qi’s, the Alpha’s palm clearly larger in comparison. Seeing Shi Qi’s surprised expression, Shang Sui teasingly hooked his fingers. “What’s wrong? I’m always this obedient.”
“Yeah, right.” Shi Qi patted his hand, exposing him ruthlessly. “Be honest with me.”
As he spoke, he wrapped the chain around Shang Sui’s wrist and fastened the clasp.
The faint click of the lock made Shi Qi’s lips curve into a small smile.
No wonder Shang Sui had been so happy just now.
Helping someone you like put on jewelry really felt like marking them.
Just like how people put name tags on beloved pets, when it came to people, it was as if to say: this one’s mine.
Before Shi Qi could fully savor this subtle feeling, Shang Sui pulled over the long connecting chain and linked his bracelet to Shi Qi’s anklet.
With a slight tug, Shi Qi was pulled forward by the ankle, his whole body moving involuntarily.
Shang Sui saw him freeze and mischievously tugged again.
Shi Qi had to lift his leg and finally realized something was wrong. “Wait, why is it like this? I want to pull you too—”
Shang Sui didn’t answer. Instead, he seized Shi Qi’s ankle again.
Shi Qi reflexively straightened his leg, and the slanted chain shimmered with each movement.
Shang Sui saw that, apart from being a little surprised, he didn’t resist being treated this way, and a smile spread in his eyes.
The more he touched him, the more he could feel how indulgent Shi Qi was toward him, as if there were no boundaries.
If it were shackles or restraints, with a bit of coaxing, Shi Qi might even agree to wear those too.
Unfortunately, he couldn’t keep him chained forever.
Before Shi Qi could once again suggest switching roles, Shang Sui knelt down in front of him.
Shang Sui was only wearing a thin white dress shirt today. He had already undone the buttons at the chest during the dinner gathering. The simplicity of his outfit only served to accentuate his broad, straight shoulders and well-built frame.
Even kneeling before Shi Qi, he was still tall.
“What are you doing?”
Shi Qi was stunned, assuming he was just adjusting the anklet. “Isn’t it already on properly?”
“Do you remember what you promised me before?”
Seeing that Shi Qi seemed to have forgotten completely, Shang Sui kindly reminded him, “When you asked me if I was a dog.”
“What?”
Shang Sui kissed his lips, like an affectionate signal, and then slowly began to move downward.
At first, Shi Qi didn’t understand how the two things were connected, until the large hand gripping his ankle slid upward and took hold of his knee.
…
Shi Qi’s gaze darted about, from Shang Sui’s pronounced brow bone to his lowered lashes, and then…
Without warning, the other looked up. Those fox-like eyes stared at him infatuatedly, unexpectedly revealing a fragmented smile.
Shi Qi abruptly averted his gaze and looked up at the ceiling in a panic, but a sticky sound reached his ears.
How could Shang Sui…!
He finally understood the connection between the two things and why Shang Sui had said it was convenient to have his foot on the sofa.
He couldn’t take it and quickly lost all reason. His foot, adorned with the gemstone chain, unknowingly stepped on the Alpha’s shoulder, and soon began kicking wildly.
The fine pearl chain on Shi Qi’s back swung with his movements, emitting crisp clinking sounds.
…
Shi Qi’s breathing fell apart, slowly turning into sobs. It took a long time before he came back to himself.
The air was thick with the scent of lily of the valley. When he realized exactly what Shang Sui had done, Shi Qi’s eyes widened, his face flushing so red it seemed it might drip blood.
By the time he finally recovered from the intense stimulation, he realized that Shang Sui, in the process of tending to him, had inevitably become affected as well.
Shi Qi hesitated for a moment, then stood up on unsteady legs. “I… I’ll help you too?”
Before Shang Sui could respond, he mimicked what the other had done earlier and knelt down on the carpet.
The fine chain gave off sounds as Shi Qi moved. Along with his actions, a gentle tug was transmitted through the connection to Shang Sui’s wrist.
Seeing Shi Qi tilt his head up to look at him, Shang Sui’s gaze darkened. He reached out with long fingers to untie the ribbon at the back of Shi Qi’s neck.
Before they left earlier, he had personally tied the beautiful, symmetrical bow, just enough to cover the glands.
The tied shirt loosened and slipped downward, exposing a broad stretch of snow-white, smooth back. The delicate outlines of Shi Qi’s shoulder blades showed in perfect symmetry, like a mermaid washed ashore beneath the moonlight.
“Good boy, you’re doing so well…”
Shang Sui let out a quiet hum and touched the back of his neck.
The Omega’s fragile glands were hot and slightly swollen. Shang Sui’s slender fingers moved around to the front, brushing over Shi Qi’s slender collarbone and then continuing downward.
Shi Qi heard Shang Sui’s low voice from above his head. “Let me touch you. You like it when I do this, don’t you?”
He did like being touched, but in this context, it clearly meant something more.
Shi Qi couldn’t make a sound. The high compatibility of their pheromones had left him dizzy. His mind felt like butter being heated in a frying pan, melting softly.
