The Only One

With Lin Yan's reminder, everyone gradually caught on.

'I also thought Xiao Qi seemed a little different today, but I couldn't put my finger on what. So it was the clothes.'

The president of the Dance Club was a tall girl with long grapefruit-pink hair. Smiling, she praised her. 'Looks great! Feels like you could debut on the spot any second.'

'Why'd Xiao Qi suddenly change styles?' The speaker was an Alpha dressed all in white, with a sunny, handsome face. 'I always said pale colors suited you. Looks like I was right.'

Shi Qi nodded, not particularly bothered. The smile on the Alpha's face deepened.

For some subtle reason, Shang Sui looked at him one moment longer.

Compared with Shi Qi, who noticed nothing at all, Lin Yan was much sharper. He cut in, 'Like you needed to say it, Gu Cheng. Shi Qi looks good in anything to begin with.'

Lin Yan was not especially polite, but Gu Cheng's smile did not change. 'True. Shi Qi is the face of our Dance Club, after all.'

'Right, right. I'm going to be her fansite master.'

Amid the laughter, someone asked with shining eyes, 'Lin Yan, who's the handsome guy next to you?'

'His name is Shang Sui,' Shi Qi said before anyone else could. 'He's my friend.'

Friend?

Shang Sui lifted a brow.

It was no surprise that Lin Yan knew about their fake dating; he and Shi Qi were close. But in front of other people, he still preferred to be Shi Qi's 'boyfriend.'

But seeing the faint pink at the tips of Shi Qi's ears, he decided not to make trouble for now.

Shang Sui smiled at everyone, walked over to face Shi Qi, and was about to copy her and sit on the wooden floor.

Lin Yan had been making such a racket earlier that Shi Qi had not noticed Shang Sui was wearing the jacket she had given him.

Under the black-and-orange varsity jacket was a light knit top, the collar cut just as low, with a fine collarbone chain slipping down from it.

That swaying chain drew Shi Qi's eyes more than once. When she came back to herself and noticed what Shang Sui was doing, she stopped him at once. 'That side was stepped on. It's dirty.'

Shi Qi patted the clean empty space beside her. 'Sit here.'

Obediently, Shang Sui sat down beside Shi Qi.

This little patch of floor was really too cramped for such a tall Alpha. Shang Sui could not stretch out his long legs, so he simply sat half cross-legged. At the same time, he reached out and naturally straightened Shi Qi's collar for her. 'Your collar's a little messy.'

Compared with Shi Qi's skin, still warm from the heat, Shang Sui's fingertips were much colder.

His long fingers brushed, deliberate or not, across the back of her neck, like the cold soft wings of a butterfly grazing her there. The movement lasted less than two seconds, but Shi Qi's body tensed on reflex.

Just a little closer and Shang Sui would have touched her gland...

'You look very good right now.' The voice at her ear was soft, for Shi Qi alone. 'Even prettier than I imagined.'

He meant how she looked in these clothes, right?

For some reason, that gentle praise made Shi Qi tremble slightly. She stared without moving at the wooden floor of the studio, gave a muffled sound of acknowledgment, then added out of courtesy, 'You don't look bad either.'

Shang Sui could not help it. He laughed low by her side.

Gu Cheng took it all in and could not help frowning.

'Welcome, welcome, hello new friend!' The president did not notice the hard-to-name atmosphere at all and greeted him warmly. 'We're trying to rope Shi Qi into joining the competition and she won't agree. Yanyan, you and this super handsome guy come help us persuade her.'

Shang Sui sounded interested. 'What competition?'

'This whole area is University Town, right? In two weeks there's a joint Dance Competition for the major universities. No restriction on dance style. It's more like an exchange event between schools.'

'We'd already been rehearsing for half a month, but yesterday the guy in center position twisted his foot playing basketball. The doctor said he'd better not get out of bed for at least a week.'

The president pressed her palms together in prayer. 'Xiao Qi, only you can save us now!'

Shi Qi had heard of the competition before. Individuals or groups that placed in the top three all got prize money, but because the weather was cold, she could not be bothered to move.

When the president had encouraged everyone to sign up, Shi Qi had said nothing. If she suddenly joined now, and as the center at that, no matter how she looked at it, it did not feel appropriate.

Shi Qi suggested, 'Why don't you rework the choreography?'

Gu Cheng joked, 'Reworking it would be too hard. Just figuring out the staging when we learned the dance nearly killed She Zhang.'

'It really did nearly kill me. I honestly can't choreograph it a second time,' She Zhang added. 'We're just joining for fun and picking up a few credits on the side. This piece was originally for male dancers. We didn't have enough people, so Jiajia and I got added in. Now it's mixed.'

The Dance Club had never had many members to begin with, and with midterms lately, students with heavier course loads had not signed up for activities.

When Shi Qi stayed silent, She Zhang simply started coaxing her. 'Come on, Xiao Qi. There's a dance break in the middle where we'd be partners, just right. Come on, come on!'

Maybe because of Jiang Yoning's influence, Shi Qi had no defense against girls acting cute. She grew embarrassed under it and was almost ready to agree.

Gu Cheng cut in, 'Xiao Qi hasn't practiced choreography in a long time, right? Last time was back in early autumn. If you don't move much for too long, be careful you might get rusty.'

After saying that, he deliberately added, 'Though you're so good, you'll probably get familiar with it fast.'

...

She had not meant to mind it, but this person kept hopping around again and again. It was genuinely irritating.

Shang Sui pressed down his temper. When he spoke to Shi Qi, his tone was still gentle. 'I want to see it too. I haven't seen you dance in person yet.'

Without anyone noticing exactly when, the people around them had started looking over. Feeling the expectation in their eyes, Shi Qi held Shang Sui's gaze for a moment, then finally agreed. 'All right. I'll join.'

-

Time was tight, and She Zhang grabbed Shi Qi on the spot to go over the choreography. Dinner would have to wait until next time.

With the change of plans at the last minute, Shi Qi could not help feeling apologetic. Shang Sui, however, did not seem to mind much. He only said, 'Xiao Qi.'

'Mm?'

'Are there a lot of people who can call you Xiao Qi?'

For one instant, Shi Qi actually thought she heard a trace of grievance in Shang Sui's voice.

Shi Qi shook her head inwardly and kicked the absurd thought away. 'They're just pretty quick to get familiar. Somehow they all started calling me that.'

She Zhang was a senior in her third year, one grade above them. Since she often called her Xiao Qi, the club members who knew Shi Qi a little better had all started calling her that too.

'I see,' Shang Sui said.

'Are you upset?' Thinking of how Shang Sui had been waiting all this time, Shi Qi felt it really was unfair to stand him up. 'How about we go eat first, then come back and rehearse—'

'Who's eating? No one eats tonight!' She Zhang, sharp-eared, caught their whispering at once. 'I'll treat everyone to late-night snacks later. Hurry up and get over here to rehearse! ...Center? Did the little center hear me?'

'Go rehearse. It's fine,' Shang Sui said. 'Seeing each other next time is the same.'

Once she was sure Shang Sui truly did not mind being stood up because of the accident, Shi Qi nodded.

She made a note of it in her heart, thinking that later, when there was a chance, she would treat Shang Sui to a meal. She Zhang was urging her hard from the side, so Shi Qi could only say goodbye to Shang Sui and throw herself into practice.

Just as She Zhang had expected, Shi Qi only needed to go through the choreography once to remember most of the moves.

Though she swallowed quite a few of the little details because she could not remember them clearly, by the third run-through she could already keep up with everyone's rhythm.

Every time She Zhang saw Shi Qi, she felt that the need for talent in dance was displayed on her with absolute clarity.

...

...

After training, She Zhang was so tired she collapsed straight onto the floor. 'After tonight's practice, I feel like this routine might actually be salvageable.'

'Not just salvageable. With Shi Qi here, do you think we can make a run at top three? Even third place gets two thousand in prize money.'

'I think we can.' She Zhang sat upright with a start, then saw that Shi Qi had not joined in and assumed she was not interested. 'Look how calm Xiao Qi is. She isn't going around with prize money on her mind. That's what a real expert looks like.'

Shi Qi did not join in their joking, but she knew in her heart that everyone was placing their hopes on her.

She said nothing, but she stayed longer in the studio to practice, and in her spare time she kept watching the choreography video, reviewing every detail again and again.

Once she had agreed to join, she wanted to do it as well as she could.

Days of nothing but classes and dance practice slipped by in a flash, and the competition drew closer and closer. Wednesday afternoon was the school-wide general elective block, and after class everyone gathered in the studio to rehearse.

During a break, Gu Cheng casually lifted his shirt to wipe away his sweat, revealing firm abs.

In his impression, there were only a few things Omegas liked, and a body good enough to make legs go weak was naturally one of them.

He had only just finished thinking that with complete confidence when Shi Qi walked right past him.

Gu Cheng: '...'

Shi Qi took the water from Lin Yan's hand. 'Thanks.'

Noticing that Lin Yan's phone was still on a game screen and the display had gone gray, Shi Qi laughed. 'How'd you die again?'

Lin Yan was the Dance Club's manager, basically an idle post. He had joined in the first place to pick up credits.

But he was much more responsible than most club managers. He stayed to keep people company during rehearsals, bought water now and then, and got along well with everyone.

'Because I was poisoned by the smell of arrogance.' Lin Yan stared at a certain Alpha putting his shirt down awkwardly. 'That toxic gas even affected my controls.'

'Hm?'

Lin Yan had taken in Gu Cheng's whole little performance and could not help showing a pained expression. For one moment, he almost wanted to remind Shi Qi to watch out for Gu Cheng.

Shi Qi had always been indifferent to all kinds of rumors at school, but Lin Yan was well informed. He had heard long ago that Gu Cheng's private life was messy, and with the way the man had been intentionally or not getting close to Shi Qi, Lin Yan truly had no good impression of him.

Then he thought better of it and decided it was just as well that Shi Qi knew nothing. Better than getting fumigated like him. 'Nothing. I was just saying it.'

Shi Qi was already used to Lin Yan's random remarks. She tapped the phone twice. 'I'm heading out for a bit.'

'Mm?'

'Shang Sui is here.'

He had said he was passing by and brought her afternoon tea and dessert.

'Okay, okay, okay.'

At this point Lin Yan wished Shang Sui would come see Shi Qi every day, just so Gu Cheng, that narcissistic asshole, would learn what it meant to back off in the face of difficulty. Noticing Gu Cheng glance over, he immediately raised his voice. 'Shang Sui's here for you? Go on, go on.'

This sudden burst of enthusiasm left Shi Qi baffled. Lin Yan gave her a thumbs-up and said pointedly, 'Go wash your eyes with the sight of a real handsome guy.'

The dance club was not far from the school gate. It did not take Shi Qi long to walk there, and from a distance she saw Shang Sui waiting.

He was too conspicuous. Most students passing by turned their heads, and a few girls had stopped where they were, as if thinking of asking for his contact information.

Shi Qi was just about to go over when an outrageously flashy silver-blue supercar swung in with a tail flick and stopped smoothly beside Shang Sui.

She had thought the car was only passing by, but the person inside rolled down the window, took off his sunglasses, tossed Shang Sui a wink, and called out sweetly, 'Little Sui-gege~'

Shi Qi stopped dead.

Noticing the several dessert bags in Shang Sui's hand, Jiang Yan asked curiously, 'You changed careers and started delivering takeout?'

Shang Sui acted as if Jiang Yan's restless bouncing around did not exist and spat out two words. 'What is it?'

'I came in person to bring you something. Moved yet?'

In truth, Shang Sui's procrastination had flared up and he still had not gone to Huijian Restaurant to sign. Jiang Yan had thought it over every which way, afraid his man of fortune might go back on his word, so he hurriedly drew up the contract and came to find him.

He had assumed Shang Sui would be at Meiyan Academy today, but this side seemed to be... A University?

Jiang Yan was still finding it strange when someone walked straight up to them.

It was a very beautiful Omega. Even for Jiang Yan, who was used to the handsome men and beautiful women at Huijian Restaurant, the sight of her hit hard.

Only her expression was chilly, like a flawless ice sculpture.

Shi Qi looked at Shang Sui. 'Was he your old boss?'

The way Shang Sui had called her boss before?

Jiang Yan caught the key word and responded automatically. 'Yeah, yeah.' Wasn't he the boss of Huijian Restaurant? Once Shang Sui bought in, he would count as Shang Sui's boss too.

Thinking that, Jiang Yan added smugly, 'I'll be his boss in the future too.'

Shi Qi had thought this was an old romantic debt. Who would have guessed he still dared talk about a future?

Shi Qi lifted her eyes to Shang Sui, and even her voice had started to turn cold. 'Didn't you say you were never going back to work at Huijian Restaurant?'

'No, I, with him—' Shang Sui had not even finished before Jiang Yan turned pale with shock. 'Ah? How can that be?'

Seeing Shi Qi's expression grow worse and worse, Shang Sui cut Jiang Yan off. 'He and I are friends.'

'His brain doesn't work right. Everything he says is nonsense. Don't mind him.'

'Oh.' Shi Qi did not believe him. 'A friend who calls you Little Sui-gege?'

How could Shang Sui lie to her?

He had clearly promised he would stop contacting other clients and stay only with her.

A thread of grievance rose in Shi Qi's heart, and she asked in a sharp tone, 'How many friends like this do you have?'

She did not know why she minded so much, but she quickly found a reason that made sense. 'You don't have to hide it from me. If there are other things like this, I can prepare early so my family doesn't find out one day.'

After that, whatever else Shi Qi said, Shang Sui did not hear it anymore.

All his attention had been caught by that one little Sui-gege. He could only see Shi Qi's lips opening and closing. Shang Sui held back, but even knowing the situation was wrong, he still could not stop the itch. '...How about you say it one more time?'

Shi Qi: '?'

Jiang Yan finally caught on and said to Shi Qi, 'Did you misunderstand something? Shang Sui and I are completely innocent. We really are friends.'

'And he's an Alpha,' Jiang Yan said with simple sincerity. 'I'm an Alpha too. There's no way for us, right?'

'Isn't it perfectly normal for an Alpha to like him?'

'Hey! Now that you put it that way, that's actually true.' Prompted by Shi Qi's question, Jiang Yan suddenly remembered that back in high school, all three ABO genders had confessed to Shang Sui. 'I guess Alpha and Alpha works too...'

Shi Qi had not expected this person to enlighten himself on the spot. As Jiang Yan's meddling pushed the whole thing further and further out of control, Shang Sui finally lost the last shred of patience he had for him.

'Jiang Yan,' Shang Sui asked with all the restraint of a lifetime, 'can you fuck off?'

...

Jiang Yan knew very well that before Shang Sui truly exploded, his mood always turned abnormally calm.

Huijian Restaurant's future was still hanging on Shang Sui. Even aside from that, Jiang Yan did not dare make him angry.

For a moment Jiang Yan could not care less about contracts or anything else. He did not even dare say one extra word in farewell and hurriedly drove off.

Once that wretched disaster Jiang Yan had finally vanished completely, Shang Sui looked at Shi Qi and explained again, 'I really didn't go back to work at Huijian Restaurant. Jiang Yan speaks without thinking... but he is my friend.'

By the time Shang Sui told him to fuck off, Shi Qi already believed him.

After all, if paying only got you that level of service, the only people who would come closer were probably masochists.

'Also...'

Shang Sui did not know whether bringing this up was appropriate, or whether it would make him seem self-important. After hesitating a moment, he still told Shi Qi, 'You're the only client I've ever taken.'

Shi Qi froze, then jerked her head up to look at him.

'I only worked there twice, and both times were with you,' Shang Sui said slowly. 'There wasn't anyone else.'

The bad mood from before melted away without a sound. Somewhere in Shi Qi's heart, it was as if sparks had lit up, flickering, scattering, bursting open in points of light.

So all those coaxing tricks, all those gentle words he used while working, Shang Sui had only ever done them with her?

'Really?' Shi Qi looked at him. 'But you...'

You look like your market would be excellent. How could you have worked only twice?

Shi Qi was bad at hiding things. Whatever she thought was written plainly on her face.

Seeing her mood visibly improve, Shang Sui soothed her along. 'I wouldn't lie to you about something like that.'

Before she noticed it herself, the corners of Shi Qi's lips had already lifted in a small curve.

'Oh. All right then.'

She nodded with deliberate pride, but star-like flecks of laughter had already rippled into her eyes.

Watching her, Shang Sui felt the itch rise again. He asked once more, 'You really can't call me that one more time?'

When Shi Qi looked confused, Shang Sui shamelessly added, 'If you call me gege, I'll do anything.'

'...No.' Only then did Shi Qi realize how ambiguous that form of address was. Disgust showed on her face. 'You two Alphas are so mushy.'

...