After dinner, Qin Yanren gave Zuo Chi a big red envelope, then handed Qin Xu a black card and asked him to take Zuo Chi to pick out an engagement ring.
When they entered the jewelry store, a consultant eagerly approached them. “Are you two here to buy rings?”
Qin Xu replied, “Yes, we’re here to buy an engagement ring.”
The consultant served them tea and inquired about their requirements and preferences. Qin Xu turned to Zuo Chi. “Chi?”
Zuo Chi shook his head. “I don’t know much about this.”
The consultant brought out several rings to recommend. “All our rings are exclusively designed. This gentleman has slender fingers, so a slightly narrower band might look better. Would you like to try one?”
Zuo Chi looked over, and under the store’s lights, every ring sparkled brilliantly. He extended his hand, allowing the consultant to slip a ring onto his middle finger.
Noticing a mark on Zuo Chi’s middle finger, the consultant asked, “Do you usually wear rings, sir?”
Zuo Chi denied it. “No.”
The consultant then changed the topic, praising how the ring’s style accentuated the beauty of his finger lines.
Qin Xu leaned in closely, seemingly satisfied, and whispered in Zuo Chi’s ear, “It suits you perfectly.”
Zuo Chi felt nothing special. He recalled the last engagement ring, which he had taken off during a trip and put in a small pocket of his luggage. After returning, he could never find it.
Maybe it was destiny.
The consultant had Zuo Chi try several more rings, and each time, Qin Xu said they looked great.
Seeing Zuo Chi raise an eyebrow at him, Qin Xu said, “Really, they all look good. Why don’t we buy a couple more and switch them out?”
Zuo Chi smiled. “They’re expensive.”
Qin Xu pulled two cards from his pocket, neither of which were the one Qin Yanren had given. “I’ve got money.”
Zuo Chi dismissed his playful suggestion and ultimately chose the first ring he had tried on. They recorded the size of his middle finger and the consultant noted down his phone number, saying they would notify him when the custom ring was ready.
Qin Xu then turned to picking out wedding rings, frequently asking for Zuo Chi’s opinion, as if they were a loving couple.
Zuo Chi, uninterested, said, “Isn’t it a bit early for wedding rings? No need to rush.”
“True. There might be new designs by then,” Qin Xu agreed, but his eyes remained fixed on the rings in the display.
They spent two hours in the jewelry store and then went to the cinema to watch a newly released movie.
Though it was supposed to be a mystery film, it awkwardly included too many romance plots, making the story confusing and pretentious. The popcorn was very sweet; Zuo Chi took a bite, then drank half a cup of cola to wash down the sweetness, but it only made it sweeter.
Qin Xu, however, was engrossed in the film. After they left the cinema, he tried to discuss the plot with Zuo Chi. “Was that Beta hiding in the closet? Did you see him leave the room?”
“…,” Zuo Chi replied, “Um…”
Qin Xu laughed. “Chi, was it boring? Next time, we won’t watch a movie. We’ll do something you like.”
“It wasn’t that boring, I might just be a bit tired,” Zuo Chi said. “No need to cater to me.”
Qin Xu replied earnestly, “Dates should be enjoyable for both people.”
Despite Zuo Chi’s insistence that he didn’t need it, Qin Xu insisted on taking him home.
“It’s not because you’re an Omega that I’m taking you home. I just want to spend more time with you.”
Zuo Chi thought that Qin Xu probably felt they needed to get to know each other better, so he went along with it.
Qin Xu escorted him to the entrance of his apartment building, and they said goodbye.
“Chi.”
“Hmm?” Zuo Chi turned around.
Qin Xu walked briskly back to him and, before he could react, planted a quick kiss on his left cheek.
Zuo Chi was stunned. “Is that a habit of yours?”
At university, he had international classmates who liked to express respect and friendliness with kisses.
“No,” Qin Xu said without a hint of embarrassment. “I just wanted to kiss you. Good night.”
For the past twenty-something years, Zuo Chi had only ever liked Sheng Li, who filled his heart completely. Although he had been in a few relationships, he wasn’t some naive boy, and a kiss on the cheek didn’t fluster him.
“…Good night.”
Qin Xu happily turned away, waving at Zuo Chi from his car. “I’ll text you when I get home.”
Zuo Chi replied softly, “Okay.”
He watched Qin Xu’s car drive away before heading inside. After exiting the elevator and rounding a corner, he saw a familiar figure standing in front of his door.
Sheng Li’s handsome face was filled with anger, and his tone carried a hint of fury. “I saw him kiss you.”
Zuo Chi responded, “Oh. So what?”
Sheng Li advanced step by step, his amber pheromones becoming oppressive. He grabbed Zuo Chi’s chin, his thumb rubbing the spot where Qin Xu had kissed, applying slight pressure. “I’m not happy about it.”
Sheng Changyu, seeing Sheng Li’s willingness to work seriously, had taken him on a business trip, saying he could learn a lot. Sheng Li, eager to grow quickly, followed the project closely, barely sleeping at night.
Every day he was away, he thought about Zuo Chi—what Zuo Chi was doing, if he was working overtime, if he missed him. In the past, he could always visit Zuo Chi at school or work, so he never knew what it felt like to miss someone so intensely.
During Zuo Chi’s two-month trip, Sheng Li first experienced the pain of missing someone. Now that he had clarified his feelings, it was even more agonizing because he didn’t know if Zuo Chi was out with Qin Xu while he was making small talk with clients.
The moment he got off the plane, he took a taxi straight to Zuo Chi’s place. When there was no answer at the door, he waited outside. The hallway window gave a view of the building’s entrance, and he waited for Zuo Chi to return. Eventually, he saw Qin Xu bringing him home.
When he saw Qin Xu kiss Zuo Chi’s cheek, he nearly exploded. If Qin Xu hadn’t quickly gotten into his car, Sheng Li would have rushed out to fight him.
Sheng Li, in a fury, exclaimed, “How long have you known him? And he’s already taking advantage of you! He’s not a good person!”
Zuo Chi turned his face away, avoiding Sheng Li’s hand. “Qin Xu is now my fiancé. Even if we kiss or sleep together, there’s nothing wrong with that.”
Something snapped in Sheng Li’s mind. He grabbed Zuo Chi by the collar, “What the hell did you just say?!”
Zuo Chi looked him straight in the eye. Despite the overwhelming Alpha pheromones making his cheeks flush, he tried to remain calm. “What? Are you going to fight me?”
How could he ever bear to fight Zuo Chi? Even in kindergarten, he swore to protect Zuo Chi from bullies.
Sheng Li released his grip, his beautiful peach blossom eyes misting over, his voice tinged with a sob, “Ah Chi, you can’t treat me like this.”
Zuo Chi couldn’t remember the last time he saw Sheng Li cry. Maybe it was in kindergarten, or maybe a few grades in elementary school. Since Sheng Li had differentiated into an Alpha, Zuo Chi had never seen him cry.
For a moment, he softened, wanting to hold the person he had liked for years and comfort him. But then he snapped back to reality, “We need to take a break. You’re just acting out of Alpha pride, unable to accept that I got engaged to Qin Xu and so you mistakenly think you like me.”
Sheng Li’s eyes were bloodshot. “Bullshit! I do like you! You have to believe!”
Like. This was the second time Sheng Li had told him he liked him. It was almost laughable to Zuo Chi. “We’ve known each other for over twenty years. If you liked me, would you date other Omegas in front of me? If you liked me, would you be so against getting engaged to me? If you liked me… why did you only realize it after I gave up on our engagement? You don’t like me. This isn’t love; it’s just possessiveness.”
Zuo Chi continued, “Even if you like me now, how long can it last? A week? A month? A year? You’re not that constant. Your liking isn’t that remarkable.”
Sheng Li’s mind went blank. He stared at Zuo Chi, the searing pain nearly driving him to collapse.
He had offered his true heart, admitted defeat, yet Zuo Chi dismissed his love as worthless.
He didn’t know how to prove his feelings, especially since it took him so long to understand them himself. But he knew his love for Zuo Chi was different from what he felt for anyone else. It was precisely because it was different that he hesitated to confirm it, leading to this mess.
His love for Zuo Chi wasn’t for a week, a month, or even a year—it was for a lifetime.
He would love Zuo Chi for a lifetime, always treat him well, but Zuo Chi didn’t believe him.
Sheng Li’s voice was hoarse, “I know I was wrong before. You can blame me all you want. You don’t have to believe me now, but I’ll show you with my actions. Just don’t outright reject me. Give me some time.”
“Why should I? Does the world revolve around you?” Zuo Chi chuckled, his stubborn expression showing his firm refusal.
Sheng Li restrained his pheromones, not wanting to make Zuo Chi uncomfortable. He stepped aside, his eyes dim, “Get some sleep. Good night.”
Zuo Chi didn’t move, seemingly waiting for him to leave.
Sheng Li retreated to the corner before Zuo Chi took out his key to unlock the door. Once it was open, he quickly went inside and shut it firmly behind him.
Standing outside, Sheng Li thought about the sofa bed in Zuo Chi’s home theater. Had Zuo Chi already planned to exclude him from his future when he was renovating?
He also remembered the time the locks were changed. Did Zuo Chi feel the same despair when his key didn’t work?
Despair, hopelessness, confusion.
He smelled the faint scent of blackcurrant in the air, dreading to think about the pain he had caused Zuo Chi, fearing Zuo Chi might never forgive him.
