Caress

Hearing Shi Qi's request, Shang Sui smiled and agreed: 'As you command.'

Shi Qi's eyes lit up, and she pulled out her phone: 'Then let me look at hotels. I have an early class tomorrow, so we can stay near the School?'

'?'

Shi Qi explained: 'I haven't slept well since coming back from Xiaozhongshan. It must be the effect of the Heat Phase. My Heat Phase probably has two or three more days left. If possible, can you keep sleeping with me these few days?'

Seeing he didn't speak, Shi Qi also felt she was being a bit excessive.

'Then... just one night with me is fine? I'll adjust on my own after.'

Even as she said this, her gaze clung reluctantly to Shang Sui, very unwilling to let go of this aromatherapy pillow with such superb sleep-inducing effects.

'It's not because of that.'

Shang Sui felt a little speechless, but finally ruffled her hair: 'You can sleep as long as you want. Stay at my place.'

After a brief pause, Shi Qi said dazedly: '...Huh?'

Stay at Shang Sui's place?

-

Stepping from the entryway into the living room, Shi Qi still hadn't quite processed it.

Beyond the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, lights blazed brightly; below, traffic flowed like ribbons of light. This residential area was built inside the largest Park City in the city, adjacent to the Artificial Lake, a quiet retreat amid the bustling, inch-of-gold land.

For convenience, Shang Sui took her to register for the access system. She had thought it would only be the public entrance downstairs, but Shang Sui also had her register her face and fingerprint at the apartment door.

Seeing him set her data as 'family,' Shi Qi finally couldn't hold back.

'Aren't you afraid I'll steal something?'

If she picked a day when Shang Sui wasn't home, she might even swipe his bank card.

Not that she would do such a thing, but they'd only known each other for a little over a month. Shang Sui was way too lacking in caution.

'Hm?' The other deliberately twisted her meaning. 'So Little Qi likes sneaky business.'

'...'

Shang Sui said with a teasing, child-scaring tone: 'If you do bad things, you'll get locked up, you know.'

Shi Qi gave him a 'you're too much' look, but her attention was soon drawn by the interior decor.

The coffee table of raw wood and metal complemented the geometric floor lamp beside it; the long sofa was piled with pillows of various textures and bold colors; in the corner, a pink long-haired single armchair sat on a fluffy rug, like a small, slowly melting pink snow mountain.

These wildly different pieces of furniture seemed to come from all over the world, yet they blended together in a strange harmony.

A mural was painted on the long corridor leading to the bedroom, and she wondered if Shang Sui had painted it himself. A curved snake slithered through a profusion of bright flowers, half-hidden by dark green vines, its pupils like fire, its glittering scales like jewels.

Completely unlike any house she had ever visited, this place itself felt like an art gallery.

Shi Qi unconsciously walked forward along the mural. The apartment was a five-bedroom, two-living-room layout, but it had been redesigned to have only one bedroom.

Near the bedroom door, Shang Sui called out to her: 'Go take a shower first. I'll find you some clothes.'

It was a bit late, and she hadn't had time to go back to School for her pajamas. Shi Qi didn't overthink it and agreed.

In the bathroom, an aromatherapy lamp sat on the counter, and the air was filled with a fresh grapefruit scent. Shi Qi stood under the showerhead, the hot water wrapping around her body like warm silk, making her squint her eyes slightly.

Her gaze unconsciously swept over the neatly arranged toiletries in the glass-and-wood cabinet. It must be Shang Sui's hobby—there were many kinds of body wash and shampoo, from floral scents to white musk, covering a wide range of fragrances.

The thought that she was now in someone else's home struck Shi Qi as very novel.

Like when she was little and first went to Lin Yan's house as a guest, finding everything interesting.

Hearing the sound of water in the bathroom, and sure that Shi Qi couldn't hear what was happening outside, Shang Sui pushed open the bedroom door.

Heavy metal shackles were locked to the foot of the bed, with a long chain long enough to let the restrained person move around the spacious bedroom, but not take a single step out of it.

Carrying the removed shackles, Shang Sui suddenly remembered that he seemed to have put chains in the Art Studio too.

Not knowing how much longer Shi Qi would be washing, he clicked his tongue and hurried to the Art Studio to clean up.

Only after putting all these things into a box and locking it did he feel at ease.

Shang Sui checked again to make sure there was nothing Shi Qi shouldn't see, then turned and went to the dressing room to find clothes.

Just as she was about to finish her shower, Shi Qi heard a knock on the door.

A slightly muffled voice came through the door panel: 'I've hung the clothes on the door. Get them yourself.'

The bag hanging on the door contained a new set of pajamas. What Shi Qi hadn't expected was that new underwear was tucked inside the folded pajamas, and it wasn't Shang Sui's size.

Shi Qi froze for a moment, then silently changed into the clothes.

The pajamas were too big for her, so Shi Qi had to roll up the sleeves and pant legs, revealing her slender white wrists and ankles.

Shang Sui was showering in the bedroom. When he came out wiping his hair, Shi Qi pretended to ask casually: 'Why were there underwear in the clothes you gave me?'

'I bought the wrong size before.' Shang Sui paused for a moment, then added, 'No one else has ever been in this house.'

Shi Qi let out an 'oh,' thinking to herself that he didn't need to explain so thoroughly, but her body relaxed, and she curled up into the long-haired armchair she had been interested in since entering.

Rather than sitting up straight, Shi Qi preferred to nestle into the sofa without any rules. She tested the waters: 'Can I take off my shoes?'

'What, you want me to take them off for you?'

'...'

'Just kidding. Do whatever you want.' Shang Sui asked, 'Want me to blow-dry your hair?'

The fluffy sofa was even softer and more comfortable than she had imagined, and Shi Qi really didn't feel like moving. But her upbringing made her feel that since this was her first time at Shang Sui's place, she shouldn't be too unrestrained.

In the end, Shi Qi couldn't resist the temptation: 'Can you?'

Shang Sui didn't answer, just turned and got the hair dryer.

With the comfortably warm air, long fingers slowly parted her wet strands of hair.

Maybe because Shang Sui had been so indulgent from start to finish, Shi Qi had no more reservations. She took off her slippers and sat on the sofa hugging her knees, in the most comfortable position for her.

Shang Sui saw that she had rolled up the ill-fitting pajamas, her jade-white feet resting on the edge of the sofa, the raspberry-pink long fur making her skin look especially translucent.

Shang Sui's fingers paused, and he felt he was completely done for.

Just rolling up pajama sleeves—why did it seem cute?

Shi Qi looked thoroughly enjoying his service, her platinum-blonde head nodding little by little, almost falling asleep.

Finally, the sound of the hair dryer stopped abruptly.

Shi Qi blinked her nearly closed eyes, still immersed in the comfort of being intermittently patted on the head, not expecting it to end so soon.

For a moment, she regretted not growing her hair longer, so she could have enjoyed it for a while more.

Shang Sui saw her looking dazed: 'Go to bed first.'

'Oh, okay.'

Receiving the instruction, Shi Qi obediently stood up.

The original master bedroom and second bedroom had been combined into one, making the bedroom exceptionally spacious. To divide the space, a half decorative wall had been built at the corner, with a flameless fireplace embedded at its base. Behind the wall, rows of floor-to-ceiling glass cabinets were visible, most of them filled with various jewelry.

Walking along earlier, she had also seen a dedicated dressing room.

No wonder Shang Sui had so many clothes and accessories, never repeating an outfit for a month.

After getting into bed, Shi Qi still felt unsatisfied. Thinking back to the pleasure of having her hair dried, a slight itch ran down her spine.

She loved being touched by familiar people, but ever since she grew up a bit, Shi An no longer actively stroked her, and Shi Qi felt that liking to be petted was too clingy and didn't match her usual image, so she never mentioned it to her elders.

Lin Yan did often have physical contact with her, but it was more like roughhousing.

By the time Shang Sui finished drying his hair and came in, Shi Qi had been tossing and turning in bed for a while, but her desire to be touched only grew stronger.

What was going on?

Shi Qi thought gloomily.

Had Shang Sui cast a spell on her? One touch and she was addicted.

'Can you...'

After Shang Sui lay down, Shi Qi finally couldn't help speaking.

The Alpha lifted his eyes to look at her. Shi Qi bit her lip, her ears turning bright red.

Seeing her stay silent, Shang Sui asked with concern: 'Not feeling well?'

He was so gentle that it felt like any request would be accepted.

Shi Qi's mind went blank, and she followed her heart: 'Can you touch me?'

The room fell silent, and Shi Qi's heart was in turmoil.

Wasn't this request too weird?

'Are you a little cat or a little dog?' Shang Sui said noncommittally. 'Need someone to pet you before bed?'

Shi Qi turned her head away: 'Forget it then, I don't really want to—'

A long, powerful arm hooked around her waist, easily flipping her back. Shi Qi was caught off guard, meeting a pair of shimmering, watery eyes.

Every time she lay in bed with Shang Sui, Shi Qi felt like a pancake being flipped around at will.

Before she could protest, Shang Sui asked with a smile: 'Little cat, where do you want me to touch?'

'...' Shi Qi said in a low voice, 'My back.'

The earlier tugging had made Shi Qi's body warm; in contrast, the temperature of Shang Sui's fingertips was cool. The moment they touched her, Shi Qi thought of the snake with glittering scales in the mural.

Long, knuckled fingers traced down the hollow of her spine, through the thin layer of silk pajamas, stroking slowly and deliberately.

Shi Qi's back was very thin, making her figure look slender and sharp, like a character from a manga.

Her waist was also very narrow, seemingly only a handful. When he touched her lower back, he could feel two distinct dimples.

Shang Sui pinched her mischievously, and the victim let out a sound like a wind-up toy, trembling involuntarily, very sensitive.

'Don't pinch me.'

The corners of Shang Sui's mouth lifted slightly, and the teardrop mole under his eye seemed to carry a hint of laughter.

'Ah, sorry.'

'...'

Just from his expression, it was hard to tell if he was really sorry.

After a moment, Shi Qi decided not to hold it against Shang Sui.

Whatever, this person just liked to laugh anyway.

At least she was being touched very comfortably.

At first, she was a bit tense, but whether it was the effect of the Pheromone or Shang Sui's superb technique, under the gentle and meticulous caresses, every bone in Shi Qi's body gradually softened.

She arched her back slightly, letting out an almost inaudible sound from her throat, and unconsciously closed her eyes.

When her breathing became steady, Shang Sui realized that Shi Qi had fallen asleep pressed against him.

Many years ago, there had been a similar scene.

But back then, Shi Qi hadn't yet realized she liked being touched; she would just snuggle up to him and squint in contentment, like a cat resting in the sun.

Shang Sui adjusted his position slightly, gently encircling the Omega's slender back, and said softly:

'Sweet dreams, Little Qi.'

Shi Qi suffered from chronic insomnia and rarely dreamed. Even when she did, they were fragmented and illogical short dreams that she couldn't remember upon waking.

But this time, she dreamed of a high school memory, like a miracle, everything as clear as if it had happened yesterday.

In the dream, she was back on the cherry blossom path at School, the clouds rosy with sunset, walking shoulder to shoulder with Lin Yan. Shi Qi thought of something and suddenly spoke: 'I had a dream last night.'

'Really?' Lin Yan asked curiously. 'You haven't dreamed in ages. It wasn't a nightmare, was it?'

Shi Qi dropped a bombshell: 'It was a wet dream.'

Lin Yan was drinking water at the time and spat it out instantly.

'Cough!... Shi Qi... cough, are you sure you know what a wet dream means?!'

'Of course I do.' Shi Qi gave him a slightly exasperated look. 'I dreamed about an Alpha.'

In the dream, it was a sunny afternoon. She was with him on a large walnut wood bed piled with linen pillows. Shi Qi had a pillow between her legs and was kneeling beside the Alpha.

She couldn't see his face, but she could feel the Alpha reaching out to touch her, his fingertips brushing over her skin.

Lin Yan thought the scene was indeed pretty intense and instinctively pressed: 'Where did he touch you?'

Shi Qi answered truthfully: 'My tailbone.'

Lin Yan was silent for three seconds, then burst out laughing: 'Oh man...! Your tailbone? Your wet dream is someone touching your tailbone?!'

'...'

'Are you a cat or a dog? Does being touched there make you happy?' Lin Yan found it funnier the more he thought about it. 'So when you see someone you like, do you wag your tail? Go on, wag one for me, baby. Aren't you standing right in front of me?'

Shi Qi got so mad she locked her arm around his neck. Lin Yan was a bit taller than her, and in the struggle, he nearly threw the lemon tea in his hand: 'Hey, hey, hey! No fighting!... I was wrong, I was wrong! No more messing around. Go on.'

The Alpha exuded a faint scent of Pheromone. Shi Qi had already forgotten the specific smell, only remembered that it was very pleasant.

The other slowly pushed his tongue into her mouth, coaxing her into a kiss.

Shi Qi felt dizzy, almost melting in the soft entanglement, as if other organs inside her were also being touched and trembling along.

Deeper, lick me...

So good.

In the dream, she was utterly captivated by the kiss.

'And then... I think I cried.'

Lin Yan was taken aback, not expecting such a sudden turn: 'You cried in the dream? Why, did he bite you? Did it hurt?'

Shi Qi shook her head, not knowing how to describe the feeling: 'It's just that kissing him felt so wonderful.'

She had expected to be mocked, but instead Lin Yan looked at her with an exceptionally tender gaze and said in a doting tone: 'You're such a good baby.'

Shi Qi got goosebumps and continued to recall:

'He was very gentle with me, kept touching me.'

'And he was very beautiful.'

Even though she couldn't see his face, Shi Qi vaguely remembered that the Alpha had fox-like eyes, shimmering and alluring.

When she cried from happiness, he held her in his arms and comforted her softly.

'Is this a wet dream or pure love?'

Lin Yan listened blankly, feeling the dream was like a movie, and finally summed it up: 'Anyway, damn, that's intense.'

Even if it wasn't real, this was the first time Shi Qi had shown interest in an Alpha. Lin Yan chuckled: 'So this is your type? Feels like he'd be a real player.'

'Really?' Shi Qi asked.

'Of course! Think about it! You were crying, and he could still keep his cool and comfort you!...'

The dream faded away with Lin Yan's animated voice.

Shi Qi slowly opened her eyes, still not fully processing the nested double dream, her thoughts sluggish.

She looked to her side, and what came into view was a beautiful, sleeping face.

Shi Qi stared at him, slowly realizing something.

Come to think of it.

Shang Sui and the Alpha from her high school dream seemed to be exactly the same type.