Performance

The slanting light of sunset poured down as the last group of performers went onstage to get ready.

The closing act naturally carried the audience's expectations. The whole group was strikingly good-looking, and plenty of people nearby had already taken out their phones to film.

While they waited, She Zhang grinned and gestured something at Shi Qi. The next second, Shi Qi's face suddenly filled the big screen. The LED display's particular effect heightened the color, making the image bright and vivid. A wave of screams broke out below.

Lin Yan and Shang Sui made their way to the seats that had been reserved in advance. The front rows were a roar of voices. Thinking of something, Lin Yan said, 'You haven't seen her dance before, have you?'

When Shang Sui answered, Lin Yan smiled. 'Then you're in for it in a minute.'

As if in answer to that, not far away a girl holding a long-lens camera shouted at the stage, 'Xiao Qi—! Look over here, look over here!!'

Someone beside her could not help asking, 'Why is there even someone here with a cannon?'

'Probably for the guy in the very middle. He's pretty famous. I heard them chatting earlier. That whole group on the left came for him.'

The host began the introduction with a smile. 'At last, we've reached sunset. Personally, I think it's one of the most wonderful times of day, and in this evening glow we're about to welcome the final dance. As it happens, this performance comes from our own school's...'

Shi Qi lightly pinched her palm, forcing herself to focus.

The side effects of the Enhanced Inhibitor made the host's voice sound as though it were coming through a layer of fog, blurred and indistinct. But the pressure of physical discomfort did not make Shi Qi hold back. If anything, it gave her the thrill of being about to break through everything.

'It's starting,' She Zhang whispered.

The opening bass was brisk and bright. After the first count of eight, a sharply muted alarm suddenly cut through—

Shi Qi lifted her head, her body jolting as she hit the beat and fell into rhythm.

They were performing an English song with a powerful rhythm. The choreography came from a dance studio with a very distinctive style and demanded exacting control of strength from the dancers.

At first, to lower the difficulty, She Zhang had cut out some of the choreography's finer details. But after Shi Qi joined, she kept feeling that making her dance the simplified version was a waste, so that section was eventually restored. Everyone adjusted accordingly, and they practiced until dawn more than once.

When they entered the chorus, Shi Qi's movements were exactly the opposite of everyone else's.

When the others all dropped low together, Shi Qi danced in the middle of the group, raising both hands to the dark heavy drumbeats, each movement crisp and clean, like a master in command of everything. When the others rose, Shi Qi alone pressed her body downward, and at that moment the two boys in the back row broke from the crowd and matched her exactly.

But Shi Qi deliberately showed off, catching the beat just behind the others, always a fraction slower than the two beside her. It looked lazy, loose, almost careless, yet she landed every point with absolute precision. The contrast was dazzling.

The crowd erupted into applause and cheers at the brilliance of it.

'Fuck! That's hot!' Lin Yan had been thoroughly shown up and could not help sighing. 'She really is the high-pressure type. The more pressure she's under, the better she performs.'

Without blinking, Shang Sui watched Shi Qi as she shifted positions quickly across the stage.

Unlike the flawless performance she showed the world, Shi Qi felt wave after wave of dizziness. She could hardly hear the beat anymore. She was dancing on nothing but the body's instinct after practicing it countless times.

What she could feel clearly, by contrast, was the necklace at her throat swaying with each of her movements, like a small external heart.

It carried a faint sweetness, so faint it was almost impossible to notice. The trace of another person's Pheromone.

At certain angles, the two belts around Shi Qi's otherwise fairly loose outfit would pull tight, making her waist look impossibly slim. Several fine metal chains fastened above them flew and rang as she moved.

A stir ran through the audience:

'Oh my god, oh my god, this is getting too hot to watch!'

'Who picked that thing for her? It's basically a visual trap!'

Lin Yan turned his head and said modestly, 'Sorry about that. That would be me.'

'Good choice,' Shang Sui praised simply, his gaze never leaving Shi Qi.

In Lin Yan's mind, Shang Sui belonged to the very well-dressed type, so getting his approval made him grin.

At sunset, the world was drowning in gold.

Shang Sui's gaze moved inch by inch across Shi Qi's cheek, slender neck, waist, and straight legs. The heavy electronic drums turned into deafening heartbeats. Heat rose in him, followed by a thirst he could not suppress.

Shang Sui flexed his fingers slightly. The predatory instinct carved into an Alpha's bones had been stirred awake, and a steady itch spread through his sharp canine teeth.

When he realized he was showing the first signs of losing control, even Shang Sui found it hard to believe.

Other than during his Sensitivity Period, how many years had it been since he had felt this?

He was only watching Shi Qi dance. Really...

Pathetic.

At that thought, he could not help smiling soundlessly.

The lyrics cut off abruptly, leaving only the accompaniment. The others left the stage for the moment, and only Shi Qi and She Zhang remained at center stage.

The girl's face was bright with a dazzling smile, her pink hair swaying in the wind. Beside her, Shi Qi's expression and aura were especially cool, yet every broad, open movement was beautifully unrestrained, like cold fireworks bursting. It let every onlooker feel, unmistakably, that she was enjoying the dance.

After that dance break, everyone gathered again and drove the performance to its climax. The song in the background had also reached its final section.

Rendered directly, the line was a passionate confession:

-[My heart will burn for you forever, until the day you say it all stops.]

Shi Qi pressed one hand down, the ending pose matching the lyric perfectly.

It was over.

Shi Qi thought.

Just as she had promised before going onstage, she had finished without fainting and without a single mistake.

She had worn almost no expression from beginning to end, but now relief broke into a smile, like winter snow thawing.

That dazzling smile was infectious. The screaming from the crowd did not stop, and some people were shouting her name in excitement.

But soon, Shi Qi could not hear anything at all.

After the high-intensity dance ended, the dizziness that had been forcibly suppressed came crashing back and blackened her vision. She could only barely keep herself from falling, bracing herself as she dropped to her knees.

A second earlier, She Zhang, closest to her, had still been happily bowing to the audience. Then she turned and panicked. 'Xiao Qi! Xiao Qi, what's wrong?? Are you okay?!'

Shi Qi wanted to say she was fine, just dizzy, but she did not have the strength to answer at all.

No one knew what had happened to her. Anxious, worried voices rose from below. In the confusion, someone hurried onto the stage.

Drawn helplessly to his Pheromone, Shi Qi followed instinct and fell into the man's arms the moment he reached out to her.

She Zhang was asking everywhere, 'Does anyone have sugar?! Or chocolate?!'

Someone in the audience quickly passed up some candy, and She Zhang ran over in a hurry and handed it to Shang Sui. 'She probably has low blood sugar too. Give her some candy first.'

'Xiao Qi, open your mouth.' One arm around her, Shang Sui brought an unwrapped milk candy to Shi Qi's lips with the other hand.

Shi Qi lay motionless in Shang Sui's arms, unable to hear anything. Shang Sui had no choice but to urge her on by pinching the back of her neck. The instant Shi Qi parted her lips, he swiftly slipped the milk candy into her mouth.

The Pheromones of an Alpha and Omega with a high Compatibility Index could ease each other's discomfort. Shang Sui simply raised a hand to cover Shi Qi's face and released a small amount of his own Pheromone.

The Omega's little face, no bigger than a palm and flushed red, was completely covered by the Alpha's broad, elegant hand.

So fragrant...

A scent she liked so much.

Unconsciously, Shi Qi rubbed against Shang Sui's hand once, then again, still wanting more. She was still in his arms, trembling all over, yet she chased his scent as though addicted to it.

The sight was too heart-racing, too blush-inducing. The worried voices below gradually gave way to whispers people could not quite hold back.

Shang Sui had no interest in being watched for sport. Seeing that Shi Qi was a little better, he simply bent down and picked her up in his arms.

Carrying Shi Qi was effortless for him, like lifting an oversized doll. And because of the way he held her, Shi Qi's head naturally buried itself in the hollow of his neck, very close to the Alpha's fragrant gland.

In her haze, Shi Qi caught that rich scent once again.

So sweet...

She wanted more.

Shang Sui's steps faltered. Veins slowly stood out on the back of his hand, yet he forced himself not to tighten his grip, afraid of hurting Shi Qi.

For the first time, he felt Shi Qi had come into this world to torment people.

Taking advantage of her muddled mind, the Omega flicked out her tongue and licked the side of his neck.

-

Because of the sudden incident, half the Dance Club stayed behind to wait for the competition results, while the rest accompanied Shang Sui and Shi Qi to the infirmary.

On the way there, Shi Qi was almost unable to be without him. From time to time she burrowed restlessly in Shang Sui's arms, and only stopped fussing when they were nearly at the infirmary door.

Shang Sui lowered his head and found that she had already fallen asleep from exhaustion.

Shang Sui quickened his pace. Lin Yan hurried off to call the school doctor. Fortunately, after the examination, the doctor said Shi Qi was only overly exhausted. If she relaxed and slept, she would be mostly fine once she woke.

When he learned that she had taken an Enhanced Inhibitor before going onstage, the school doctor's expression changed. 'This is ridiculous! After taking an Enhanced Inhibitor, she can't do intense exercise. Don't any of you know that much basic common sense?'

The other Dance Club members all lowered their heads and took the scolding in silence. Since Shang Sui had carried her in, the school doctor seized on him. 'Are you her Alpha?'

Shang Sui nodded. The school doctor frowned. 'Then why weren't you watching her properly? If she wants to do something reckless, you just let her? Who gave her the Inhibitor? Aren't you going to settle accounts with that person?!'

'I did,' Shang Sui said.

The school doctor nearly choked on his own breath. 'You look capable enough. How do you act so impulsively?'

Watching quietly from the side, Lin Yan felt that Shang Sui really was reliable. Even when it came to getting yelled at, he could take the front line.

The school doctor repeatedly warned them that Shi Qi absolutely could not use an Enhanced Inhibitor again in the near future. After waking up, she might still feel physically unwell, so they needed to keep a close eye on her.

Besides that, because the special Inhibitor was too strong, ordinary Inhibitors would lose their effect during her next Heat Phase, so they also had to prepare for that.

Shang Sui took in every point. After the school doctor left, he asked Lin Yan to watch Shi Qi while she slept and went to the bathroom himself.

When he pushed open the stall door and stepped out, he happened to hear someone on a call in the next stall over.

'Yeah. He looks even better in person than online, like a doll...'

'I couldn't help looking at him several times onstage today. I've never seen such a pretty Omega. Bit arrogant, though.'

Gu Cheng laughed loosely. 'Fuck, of course I'd want to kiss him... stop talking. He's still lying in the infirmary, and you're getting me fucking worked up.'

'Talk after you've won him over. At the end of the day he's still an Omega. In bed they're all the same. They all behave.'

Gu Cheng hung up and pulled open the stall door, only to find someone standing outside.

Shang Sui was half a head taller than him, eyes lowered, his expression unreadable.

Gu Cheng froze for a moment. Realizing the other man might have overheard his call, he thought it over and decided it did not matter.

Shang Sui was an Alpha too. Surely he understood that talking about this kind of dirty subject was perfectly normal.

He took the initiative to greet him. 'Hey, man.'

Having just finished dancing, Gu Cheng was still riding the high of hard exertion and accidentally forgot the dangerous edge Shang Sui had shown before.

Thinking of how Shang Sui had gone up to carry Shi Qi earlier, the competitive instinct in his Alpha nature stirred, and Gu Cheng asked provocatively, 'You like Shi Qi too?'

'She's a little slow sometimes. Pretty cute, right?'

'Omegas are rare, after all, and an Omega this pretty even more so.' Gu Cheng stretched out a hand as if in friendship, wanting to pat Shang Sui. 'Then let's both do our best and compete fair.'

Before he could touch Shang Sui, a hand suddenly clamped down on his shoulder. The force was so great Gu Cheng felt as though his bones were about to be crushed alive.

Instinctively, Gu Cheng tried to grab for something to brace himself with. His fingers scraped hard across the stall door, and one of his nails split, blood welling up beneath it. Shang Sui paid it no mind at all and dragged him toward the corner wall.

'Fuck! What are you doing—!'

Shang Sui dragged him to the wall, then abruptly raised a hand and threw him.

Gu Cheng's body slammed heavily into the wall, stars exploding across his vision at once.

'...Are you fucking insane?!' Pain shot through his fingers and shoulder. When Gu Cheng came back to himself, he cursed furiously. 'What the hell is wrong with you?! Fuck your mother!!'

Before he could spit out anything filthier, Shang Sui reached out, wedged the web of his hand against Gu Cheng's throat, and tightened all five fingers.

Gu Cheng was over six feet himself, solidly built even for an Alpha. But Shang Sui lifted him with one hand as easily as if it were nothing.

How was that possible...?

Was this man a monster?!

As he realized his toes were slowly leaving the floor, Gu Cheng's eyes widened in horror.

'How does it feel?'

Shang Sui lifted him until they were at eye level and looked straight at him.

With his throat locked tight, Gu Cheng could barely make a sound. All he could force out was a harsh rasp from deep in his throat, his nostrils flaring rapidly with fear.

Those eyes made Gu Cheng think once more of a brilliantly colored flower snake. Unlike last time, Shi Qi was not here beside them. The Alpha facing him seemed finally to have slipped part of his restraints and exposed what he was really like.

Shang Sui smiled at him, malice plain and undisguised. 'Oh, right. I forgot you're not in a position to speak right now.'

For Gu Cheng, liking Shi Qi was only about a beautiful face. It meant grinning with other people while talking about her, tossing out obscene jokes as if it were nothing.

But for Shang Sui, Shi Qi's existence carried a meaning all its own. Even in the years after they parted, when they had no contact at all, that had not faded in the slightest.

She was a treasure he did not dare mention lightly to others, much less flaunt.

He knew his temper was not very good. After all, Alphas with a Special Sensitivity Period were all mentally unwell lunatics.

The last trace of a smile faded from Shang Sui's face. Expressionless, he tightened his grip.

The violent suffocation made Gu Cheng's ears ring, and blood rushed into his face so fast it turned red at once.

The instinct to survive drove him to claw at Shang Sui's hand with both of his. In the struggle, Gu Cheng's broken nail tore open again, and fresh blood dripped onto Shang Sui's hand.

But the other man was utterly unaffected. The five fingers pinning him in place did not move, iron-hard.

'Can't breathe. Angry? Or scared?'

'Hearing the bullshit that came out of your mouth made me angrier than you are now.'

Gu Cheng barely forced out a thread of sound and begged in pain, '...S-sorry... I was w-wrong... sorry...!'

For one moment, he thought he was going to die here.

Just as Gu Cheng was about to lose consciousness, Shang Sui suddenly let go.

The support vanished without warning. Gu Cheng crashed hard to the floor, and a violent fit of coughing tore out of his throat.

Whether it was a physical reflex or simple terror, he clutched his neck and kept coughing as tears spilled out at the same time.

At some point, Shang Sui had stopped restraining his Pheromone. The suppression between Alphas was the most violent and direct of all. The scent hanging over him was like a heavy shadow, pressing Gu Cheng to his knees and leaving him too afraid to raise his head.

He had never experienced anything like it. It was as if he had encountered a higher life-form, and every instinct in his body was screaming at him to run.

Shang Sui gave him one last kick. 'If you want to die, try getting near Shi Qi again.'