Chapter 19

'What are you doing?'

Shi Qi asked again.

After waiting half the day with no response, Shi Qi couldn't help wanting to take off the sleep mask.

Just as she raised her hand, she heard a voice, slightly muffled and tinged with a thread of satisfaction: '...Don't take it off.'

Shi Qi's ears felt scalded, and her hand stopped in mid-air.

Those two words were like little hooks; her toes curled involuntarily in the water. Shi Qi stayed perfectly still, just as Shang Sui had told her.

She couldn't shake the feeling that Shang Sui was acting a bit strange...

A long while later, just as Shi Qi was about to lose patience, she heard someone walk over to her: 'Alright, you can get up now.'

The person crouched down and gently removed the sleep mask for her.

Shang Sui had changed into a new sleeping robe, probably his own clothes. The dark blue silk fabric set off the Alpha's cold, pale skin. As he took off the mask, the two of them were extremely close. Shi Qi noticed a faint flush under his eyes and a small, light brown mole at the outer corner of his left eye.

Shang Sui actually had a tear mole. She'd never noticed it before.

Shi Qi stared, mesmerized. For a moment, she almost wanted to reach out and touch it.

Coming to her senses, she clicked her tongue mentally.

It must be the pheromones. A high Compatibility Index made her susceptible; if she wasn't careful, she'd find herself wanting to get close to Shang Sui.

'Cold?' As he spoke, Shang Sui grabbed a bath towel from nearby.

The bath was temperature-controlled; otherwise, soaking for so long would have given Shi Qi a cold.

She shook her head and stood up from the pool.

The soaked hem of her shirt clung to her snow-white thighs. Shang Sui caught another glimpse of that rouge-colored mole, and a series of distracting images flashed through his mind.

Just as he was finishing up, he'd seen Shi Qi open her mouth slightly, as if wanting to swallow something.

Compared to him, Shi Qi was several sizes smaller from head to toe. Even her tongue was tiny when she opened her mouth.

Her throat must be small too, easy to fill up.

...

Shang Sui cracked his knuckles imperceptibly, forcing himself to stop.

Facing Shi Qi's oblivious expression, if he kept thinking like this, even he would start to feel like a bit of a pervert.

He wrapped Shi Qi's dripping body in the bath towel. She stood still, perfectly accustomed to being waited on.

'There are clean clothes on the bed. Go change, and call me when you're done.'

Shi Qi acknowledged him, not finding anything odd about Shang Sui's attentiveness.

Her family spoiled her; she was used to being taken care of.

Before leaving, Shi Qi noticed a bath towel on the floor by the shower entrance, seemingly tossed down haphazardly, as if to cover something up.

Had Shang Sui thrown a towel down because he was afraid of slipping?

It smelled so good over there...

Shi Qi shook her head, dismissing the random thought.

On the bed lay a casual sweatsuit. The pant legs were huge and long, needing to be rolled up, and the waist didn't fit either, though pulling hard on the drawstring made it wearable.

But the sweatsuit was made of pink distressed denim, with fluorescent spray-painted patterns on it.

Shi Qi fell silent for three seconds, then chose to accept it.

Whatever.

Finding a black shirt in Shang Sui's suitcase earlier had already used up all her treasure-hunting luck.

Shi Qi took off the almost-soaked shirt, thought for a moment, then gathered up her dirty clothes along with this wet shirt, planning to take them back and wash them.

'I'm done,' she said toward the balcony.

As soon as Shang Sui came in, he saw her holding a big pile of clothes, like a squirrel holding pinecones.

'What are you laughing at?' Shi Qi asked.

'Nothing,' Shang Sui answered with a smile.

'...' She really wanted to hit him.

Shi Qi's room was one floor up. Shang Sui escorted her back. Before leaving, he saw the flush on her face had faded; the effects of the Heat Phase were gradually dissipating.

'If you feel unwell tonight, message me.'

'Okay, thank you for helping me.' Shi Qi hesitated a moment, then looked into his eyes. 'Goodnight.'

A smile on his face, Shang Sui replied, 'Goodnight, Xiao Qi.'

After closing the door, Shi Qi tossed the clothes onto the sofa, kicked off her slippers, and collapsed onto the bed.

She was gradually sobering up, no longer as dizzy as before. The thought of what she'd done with Shang Sui made her face burn fiercely. Unconsciously, she reached out and touched the spot on the back of her neck.

The pleasure of the pheromone injection had numbed the pain. The skin there had been broken, leaving two small dark red dots—a perfectly symmetrical bite mark.

Shi Qi unlocked her phone and found Shang Sui in her contacts.

17: [Thanks for the clothes. I'll wash them and return them.]

Shang Sui was probably on his way downstairs; he replied quickly.

Ss: [You're washing my clothes for me? Really?]

It was just washing clothes. Could that be fake?

17: [The hotel has a laundry room.]

Shi Qi got off the bed and took a closer look. Shang Sui's shirt had a subtle pattern, and the sweatshirt she was wearing had distressed edges. Neither looked like machine-washable material.

17: [Can your clothes go in the machine? If not, I'll take them for dry cleaning.]

Ss: [Toss them in the washer. Remember to do it personally ^^]

17: [Oh, okay then.]

After asking, Shi Qi remembered something. She dug out the necklace Shang Sui had lent her during the last Dance Competition and took a photo.

She tapped Jiang Yoning. It was almost midnight, right when she was most energetic. The other side tapped back quickly.

Shi Qi sent over the photo of the necklace.

17: [Sis, do you recognize this? About how much is it worth?]

Jiang Yoning: [I have a similar style. Around two hundred thousand.]

Jiang Yoning: [Whose necklace is this? Your boyfriend's?]

Shi Qi froze for a second.

She'd always thought Shang Sui's family circumstances weren't great, which was why he worked at Huijian Restaurant. But after spending some time with him, whether it was the gifts he'd given her or his daily demeanor, nothing suggested poor family conditions.

She'd even seen Shang Sui get out of a Maybach once, seemingly chauffeured.

She hadn't thought much of it at the time, but now she felt a bit of a disconnect.

It was like the surprise of discovering that a stray cat you've been feeding can actually shed gold dust on its own...

On second thought, Shang Sui had never said he was poor. Regardless of his family's circumstances, Shang Sui was still Shang Sui.

Having settled that, Shi Qi figured there was nothing wrong with him working at Huijian Restaurant. Maybe he was just doing a temporary part-time job to seek inspiration? It was normal for artists to have some weird quirks.

Shi Qi convinced herself just like that. Seeing she hadn't replied, Jiang Yoning asked again: [How are you two doing lately?]

Shi Qi thought for a moment, ran to the bathroom, faced the mirror, and took a photo of the bite mark on her neck.

17: [Just got a Temporary Mark.]

Jiang Yoning sent her a long string of question marks, then said: [Sorry baby, I have to go spread the news.]

Before Shi Qi could condemn her, Jiang Yoning rushed on: [Report! Little An's dad fainted after hearing.]

Jiang Yoning: [He's awake now, pinching the spot under his nose.]

Jiang Yoning: [He's asking if you used protection. Oh god, he's screaming so loud next to me.]

Before Shi Qi could reply, Shi An's video call came crashing through.

Jiang Yoning and Shi An's faces were crammed into one screen. Behind them was Jiang Li, dressed in a suit and looking like he'd just gotten home, muttering, 'Xiao Qi is all grown up now, don't ask her everything, give her some privacy.' Unfortunately, no one paid him any attention.

Shi An: 'Did you use one?! You've only known each other for how long, how could he drag you to bed—'

Shi Qi: 'He just bit me.'

Shi An seemed to misunderstand, his voice suddenly shifting pitch: 'He bit you?! He… he actually made you help him…!'

Compared to the easily shocked Shi An, Jiang Yoning was much calmer: 'It's not that big a deal, what era is this? And haven't you always wanted Xiao Qi to find someone?'

Shi An: 'Is it the same? They've only known each other a month and dare to do a mark. Next month, are they going to secretly get a marriage certificate behind our backs?'

Shi Qi remembered to emphasize the script at the crucial moment: 'It's a reunion. We knew each other before.'

After saying that, she asked in confusion: 'And what are you all talking about? He just bit my neck with his mouth, a Temporary Mark.'

Wasn't a Temporary Mark in the textbooks just biting the neck?

This time, it was Jiang Yoning who was shocked: 'You're saying you were in one room, one bed, and in the end he only bit your neck?'

Shi Qi: 'Mm.'

Jiang Yoning and Shi An exchanged a look. Shi An seemed on the verge of saying something but held back. Jiang Yoning spoke bluntly: 'Is your boyfriend impotent? What adult, after confirming a relationship, only bites the neck for a Temporary Mark?'

'I would never do that,' she said, then turned to look at Jiang Li, seeking agreement. 'Right, Dad? We Alphas aren't like that!'

Jiang Li couldn't squeeze into the screen, so he could only speak from behind. His gentle, refined voice carried a hint of disapproval: 'Xiao Qi, this… your boyfriend, might he have some… privacy-related issues?'

Shi Qi, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, instantly bristled: 'No!'

Shi An sneered: 'How do you know?'

'Because I… I felt it.'

Shi Qi, determined to defend Shang Sui's honor, emphasized: 'He's big! Really big! And very healthy!'

'………………'

Dead silence fell over the room.

Shi Qi's face flushed red, and she hung up the call at lightning speed: 'Bye! Going to sleep! Goodnight!'

Her heart pounded wildly. A good while later, the heat still hadn't faded from her face.

Shi Qi couldn't help cursing under her breath.

Fuck, what a mess.

-

Perhaps that shocking phone call before bed was to blame. Shi Qi tossed and turned that night, unable to fall asleep for a long time.

Even after getting up, having breakfast, and preparing to take the cable car to the mountaintop for skiing, Shi Qi was still drowsy.

On the way up, she shared a gondola with Lin Yan. Beneath their feet lay snow-covered ground. Lin Yan, seeing the deep bite mark on the back of her neck, couldn't help but ask with concern: 'How were things last night?'

Shi Qi kept irregular hours year-round but never got dark circles or puffiness; normally, you couldn't tell she'd stayed up late.

But now she exuded a languid aura, her eyes dazed, yawning from time to time.

To wear Shi Qi out like this, how intense must it have been?

Half-asleep, Shi Qi, fearing a repeat of last night's scene, emphasized: 'Shang Sui has no problems. He's very healthy.'

Hearing this, Lin Yan grew even more alarmed: 'Then… did he fill you up like a cream puff?'

'…' What the hell?

The next second, Shi Qi woke up as if from a dream, her ears heating up as she told him Shang Sui had only helped with a Temporary Mark.

She'd thought Lin Yan would praise Shang Sui for being reliable. Unexpectedly, he fell uncharacteristically silent after hearing it.

Given how explosive Shang Sui's performance had been last night, Lin Yan had once thought Shi Qi might get fucked to death in bed. In the end, he'd only done a Temporary Mark.

Lin Yan couldn't help muttering: 'He didn't even go for it then. He's not a psychopath, is he?'

'What?' Shi Qi hadn't caught it clearly.

The cable car reached its destination, and the two hurried off.

In the gondola behind them were Shang Sui and Qin Shuhe. Seeing them walk over while talking, Lin Yan thought again that it probably wasn't the case.

What psychopath looked that good?

He knew some Alpha volunteers helped with nothing more than a Temporary Mark, and some Omegas who did not want to use an Inhibitor specifically paid Alphas to help them through a hard stretch. No matter how you looked at it, cases like this were not unusual.

Shang Sui was probably just a good person, and close to Shi Qi.

Thinking this, Lin Yan sighed with feeling: 'His kindness to you is like being reborn.'

'I know,' Shi Qi said resolutely. 'When necessary, I'll take a bullet for him.'

'…There probably won't be such a war-torn moment.'

Shi Qi noticed Shang Sui had tied his hair up today, making a small bun at the back of his head.

This new hairstyle made his facial contours sharper. The stray bangs accentuated his brow bone and jawline, and Shi Qi couldn't help stealing a few more glances.

Wait.

With his hair tied up like that, wouldn't the tooth marks on the back of Shang Sui's neck be exposed?

Shi Qi saw the bite mark on the back of his neck, not much different from her own, like evidence of their misbehavior last night, and felt intensely guilty for a moment.

If anyone asked, Shang Sui would probably say it was an insect bite.

After all, an Alpha being bitten on the gland by an Omega would be too embarrassing if word got out.

Qin Shuhe suddenly noticed something: 'Bro, on your neck…'

Shang Sui pretended it was nothing: 'Xiao Qi bit it.'

Shi Qi, still a bit groggy, turned her head: '?'

Qin Shuhe finished the second half of his sentence: '—this necklace looks really nice.'

He processed it for a moment, then said belatedly: 'Oh, so Shi Qi bit it… huh???'

Shi Qi was equally shocked, unable to believe he'd just said it out loud.

Did Shang Sui not know how to spell the word 'shame'??

Qin Shuhe looked at one, then the other, finally showing admiration: 'You two… played quite wild last night, huh.'

Shi Qi held back and held back, but finally couldn't take it anymore.

While changing into her ski suit, she finally spoke up: 'Why did you tie your hair up today?'

'What's wrong? Doesn't it look good?' Shang Sui said innocently. 'It's inconvenient for skiing.'

'…Oh.'

The reason was too legitimate. Shi Qi instantly lost all her momentum for picking a fight and could only add: 'It looks good.'

Chu Tao ran over just then and asked: 'Are you skiing snowboard or skis?'

Shi Qi, hands in her pockets, answered coolly: 'Snowboard.'

Lin Yan knew her well: 'Snowboarding looks cooler. For that alone, our baby will snowboard for life.'

Shi Qi saw she seemed conflicted: 'If you've never done it, you can start with skis.'

Having someone make the choice for her, Chu Tao felt instantly saved: 'As Your Majesty commands.'

Shi Qi: 'And get a little turtle butt pad.'

Chu Tao: 'Your will be done.'

Chu Tao noticed something and suddenly widened her eyes: 'Wow, Su-ge, on your neck…'

Shang Sui smiled at her: 'It's Xiao Qi who—'

Shi Qi couldn't stand his shamelessness anymore. She turned and covered his mouth with her hand: 'Shut up!'

Shang Sui's eagerness to let the whole world know was too brazen. Shi Qi couldn't find an appropriate way to stop him for the moment, so she leaned close and warned in a low voice: 'Family shame shouldn't be aired in public. Don't you get it?'

Shang Sui was much taller than her. Shi Qi had to stand on tiptoe to reach him.

Something in her words seemed to please the Alpha. Shang Sui's eyes curved as he nodded, the tear mole at the corner of his eye seeming to be tinged with a smile.

Shi Qi felt scorching gazes coming from all around. She let go and turned around to find everyone watching them, even the staff snickering.

Shi Qi: '…'

Whatever. Just let it be.

The Xiaozhongshan ski area was divided into green, blue, and black runs. The black run required taking another cable car ride up to the highest point of the ski area.

Shi Qi and Lin Yan skied every winter and had brought their own snowboards and ski suits.

At first, Shi Qi was a bit rusty, but she quickly found her familiar rhythm. She raced down from the mountaintop, skillfully avoiding the crowds and obstacles, floating briefly over a curve like a light bird.

About two-thirds of the way down, Shi Qi stopped to see how the others were doing.

Everyone was still getting used to it, with only a few skilled ones descending from the summit. Shang Sui slid down the whole way. When he encountered an obstacle, instead of going around it like most people, he pressed the tail of his board with his back foot, lifted off, and executed a very smooth ollie.

So cool.

Shi Qi praised inwardly.

Shang Sui had also brought his own snowboard. Seeing her standing still, he skillfully slowed down through a series of turns, and their boards bumped together gently.

Shi Qi took off her goggles and, remembering something, pulled the Golden Double Cross Necklace from her pocket: 'Your necklace. Thanks for lending it before.'

Shang Sui didn't take it immediately: 'You can keep it.'

It really wasn't appropriate for her to hold onto something so valuable. Shi Qi shook her head and placed the necklace back in his hand.

Thinking of that series of moves earlier, Shi Qi asked: 'Do you ski often?'

'A friend in university was really into outdoor sports. I learned a bit from him.'

Shi Qi felt more and more that she knew very little about him.

What his family did for work, what experiences he'd had himself—she knew almost nothing.

'I heard from Qin Shuhe that you did your bachelor's and master's abroad?'

Shang Sui nodded.

Shi Qi wanted to ask more, but Qin Shuhe passed by them just then and tossed out a provoking line: 'Why'd you stop, Your Majesty? You're not already tapped out after just starting—'

Qin Shuhe wasn't much of a skier himself, but he was first-rate at provoking people.

Shi Qi clicked her tongue, instantly distracted. She pulled her goggles down and went after him.

Normally, Shi Qi could ski all day without getting too tired. But affected by the recent Heat Phase, she soon felt her body going soft, gradually losing strength.

During a break, Shi Qi took off her goggles. She'd worked up quite a sweat.

'What's up, baby? Only lasted this long today?' Lin Yan handed her water, teasing. 'Aren't you the Snowboard Prince?'

'Xiao Qi spent last night with her boyfriend, didn't even come down for the hot springs.' Next to Lin Yan was another Omega, surnamed Su, also the recipient of the Isolation Agent care package Lin Yan had sent before.

Su Zhuo said: 'I see you still have a bite mark back there. Must be tired?'

The people gathered here were all Omega and Beta, with no Alpha present, so everyone spoke more freely.

All ears perked up with gossip, eyes full of expectation turned toward Shi Qi.

Having learned a painful lesson last night, Shi Qi steeled her heart, determined to protect Shang Sui's reputation.

Suppressing her own embarrassment, she tried hard to recall the dirty talk she'd seen and said with an air of profound mystery:

'Yeah, actually my legs are still weak… but not from skiing.'

Everyone showed understanding expressions. Su Zhuo's boyfriend was also an Alpha; he chuckled knowingly: 'I get it.'

Lin Yan thought Shi Qi was quite the storyteller. Su Zhuo said: 'Xiao Qi's boyfriend looks really capable. I watched them ski all morning, and he wasn't tired at all.'

Shi Qi nodded, ready to agree. Lin Yan suddenly saw someone approaching: 'Shi Qi—'

Shi Qi gave her a look, meaning one thing at a time. Even fake couples had to maintain each other's image behind their backs: 'Yeah, Shang Sui is especially fierce! I couldn't even get out of bed last night, my voice was hoarse from screaming.'

Lin Yan: '…Uh, I meant to say, Shang Sui is coming over.'

Shi Qi, like a little robot whose power had been cut, instantly froze.

She stayed quiet for a full half-minute, then mechanically, slowly turned around.

A certain Alpha, whom she'd called especially fierce, had taken off his goggles and raised an eyebrow. His ambiguous gaze felt almost tangible; he'd clearly heard her spreading salacious rumors behind his back.

Shi Qi: '…………'

Shi Qi really wanted to find a crack in the ground to crawl into.