Chapter 28

Shi Qi returned to the private room. Everyone had already put down their chopsticks and were chatting.

Qin Shuhe, being naturally sociable, was asking Yu Zhiling about Pheromone Perfume. Lin Yan sat beside them playing with his phone, occasionally chiming in with a few words.

'Did you need me for something?'

Lin Yan's mind worked quickly. Guessing that Shang Sui must have called Shi Qi back, he immediately said, 'Wanted to ask if you wanted to add more dishes. If not, we're about to ask for the bill.'

Shi Qi shook his head, indicating he was full.

Not long after, Shang Sui and Fu Siyue entered one after the other, the latter hanging his head like a frost-bitten eggplant.

Thinking about everything that had just happened, Shang Sui felt nothing but speechless exasperation.

The kid probably had never heard such blunt, sharp accusations before. He stood stunned for a full minute, then his face flushed crimson as he desperately explained he had no intention of being a homewrecker—he just wanted to apologize to Shi Qi.

Shang Sui countered with a 'Do you even believe that yourself?' Fu Siyue fell into a suspicious silence.

As if unable to face his own dark side, Fu Siyue ended up with red-rimmed eyes, apologizing to him over and over again, even bowing deeply.

Shang Sui had been stewing with anger, not yet vented, when the other party preemptively groveled completely.

He had nothing left to say and simply ignored Fu Siyue after that.

Yu Zhiling was staying elsewhere. While waiting for his car, he tentatively said to Shi Qi, 'I'll be staying here a few more days. Can I come find you when I'm free?'

He grinned and linked arms with him. 'There's a Flower Day Festival coming up soon. We could go together.'

Seeing Shi Qi didn't pull away, Yu Zhiling breathed a sigh of relief.

Shi Qi wasn't the type to hide things well. His attitude toward him was no different from before, meaning Fu Siyue probably hadn't mentioned his business.

It wouldn't matter if he had, but he'd rather say it himself.

'What's the Flower Day Festival?'

'It's a festival unique to Qi Jiang,' Lin Yan said, having looked it up before coming. 'Seems quite interesting. I think it's tomorrow.'

Qi Jiang enjoyed perpetual spring, and the Flower Day Festival was held every winter. The Ancient City district preserved most of the traditions and had the strongest festive atmosphere.

Every household would deck the house with flowers, and the Waterway running through the Ancient City would drift thick with blossoms. If there was someone they had set their heart on, the locals would weave a Floral Wristband by hand and give that Bracelet to the other person.

If they received each other's Bracelet, it symbolized that, under the Flower God's witness, the two had become partners, and that this love would be full and lasting.

In recent years, the Flower Day Festival has rapidly grown into a major tourist draw for Qi Jiang City. The custom of giving a Bracelet has gradually shifted from 'having one's heart set on someone' to 'favor.' Some give it to someone of the opposite sex to convey romantic feeling; some give it to someone of the same sex to show admiration. Friends and family can exchange Bracelet as well.

Many young people met during the Flower Day Festival—it was a holiday full of romance and freedom.

The School's social practice wasn't over until the day after tomorrow. Under Yu Zhiling's expectant gaze, Shi Qi agreed.

-

Back at the hotel, Shi Qi was surprised to find his room was directly opposite Shang Sui's.

With just the two of them left, Shi Qi hesitated a moment. 'Do you still want me to pet you?'

Shang Sui was unlocking his door. Hearing this, he turned around.

Shi Qi still remembered the request he'd made, even when he himself had nearly forgotten.

So kind-hearted. No wonder a whole crowd was eyeing him.

Shi Qi was unnerved by his heavy gaze, thinking he was unwilling. 'If you don't want to, forget it—'

Shi Qi's hand was on the doorknob. Shang Sui simply pushed him inside, and the two of them entered the room.

More than any verbal answer, this forceful action made Shi Qi feel for a moment like he'd let in a beast unleashed from its cage. Before he could steady himself, the Alpha leaned his head over.

'…'

Shi Qi reached out and tentatively patted his head.

In response, Shang Sui rubbed against his palm. Shi Qi found this small gesture adorable, all thoughts of forcefulness tossed to the winds.

Because Jiang Yoning had explicitly refused to let Shi An pet her head, in Shi Qi's impression, an Alpha's head wasn't something you could just casually touch.

Compared to Shi Qi's own bleached hair, Shang Sui's strands were softer. Shi Qi's fingers moved down, touching the wolf-tail cut he'd always been curious about.

Some people pet cats and dogs. Did anyone pet wolves?

Probably not many? After all, that kind of behavior was somewhat suicidal.

Seeming to enjoy the petting, the Alpha's long earring swayed slightly, refracting dazzling light.

'That friend of yours really likes sticking to you,' Shang Sui said suddenly.

'He's always been like that.' Shi Qi paused briefly, then added by way of explanation, 'Yu Zhiling is an Omega.'

'I know.'

At first, he'd almost mistaken the other's appearance for an Alpha, but he was very sensitive to Pheromones and quickly discerned Yu Zhiling's true gender.

Shang Sui said meaningfully, 'Little Qi is really popular.'

Not only appealing to Alphas, but to Omegas too.

Shi Qi didn't reply immediately. Just as Shang Sui thought he was shy, a faint voice sounded by his ear: 'Isn't that only natural?'

If Shi Qi had a tail, it would probably be swishing back and forth right now, raised in a very tsundere manner.

Shang Sui was amused. 'Mhm, only natural.'

Shi Qi responded, 'You're about the same.'

He'd found time tonight to ask Qin Shuhe why he liked Shang Sui so much.

'It's not just me, our whole major likes him—other majors too. And I feel like the professors, led by Xie Professor, especially adore him.'

'How to put it… Feels like ge is different from ordinary people? Not the type you often meet in daily life, but he doesn't act special, can hang out with us casually. That contrast is interesting.'

On this point, Shi Qi wholeheartedly agreed.

Though there was no clear evidence, he felt Shang Sui had many secrets. Like a ball of yarn with a colorful thread pulled partway out, he felt an itch, instinctively wanting to chase after it.

It was getting late. Shi Qi gave Shang Sui's head a final rub, reluctantly withdrawing his hand.

-

Yu Zhiling returned to his hotel room, kicked off his shoes, and unlocked his phone, which had been on silent.

A frequently-contacted number had sent him countless messages, starting with flirtatious teasing, moving to impatience, then finally sensing something was wrong, the words gradually taking on a tone of humble pleading.

'Darling, how long until you get here? I'll go shower and get ready, let's use the rose scent tonight~'

……

'Yu Zhiling, where the hell did you die? We agreed to meet, are you trying to stand me up last minute? Call me back now!'

……

'Just send a message, I'm worried something happened to you.'

'I'm begging you, if you want to end it just say so! Can't you not just disappear?'

Only then did Yu Zhiling remember—he seemed to have arranged a hookup for today.

Seeing Shi Qi was also in Qi Jiang, he'd been so overjoyed he'd accidentally forgotten about it.

Yu Zhiling lazily tapped his phone and, following the other's request, declared an end: 'Don't contact me anymore.'

Before the phone could start vibrating wildly, he deftly blocked all means of contact.

Just a fuckbuddy. There were plenty more where that came from.

But a sweetheart, there was only one.

Thinking about the other having a boyfriend now, Yu Zhiling clenched his jaw, the jealousy seeping from his heart almost burning through his insides.

He'd thought about confessing to Shi Qi. But he could tell Shi Qi didn't feel that way about him. If he spoke up, they might not even be able to remain friends in the end.

Shi Qi was clueless about romance and still young. It would be best to wait a little longer, but he hadn't expected an Alpha to suddenly appear.

Yu Zhiling unconsciously gnawed at his fingernails, muttering, 'Damn it all…'

Alphas really were the most disgusting creatures in the world.

When he first entered the industry, he was a nobody small-time model—outstanding looks, no background, and being an Omega made him especially easy prey. Once, during a magazine shoot, he was nearly raped by an Alpha.

The Alpha was an investor in that magazine. No one dared to interfere.

Until someone kicked the door open and hauled the pot-bellied investor off him.

A cat-like youth patted the investor's shoulder, and when the man turned around cursing, raised a bottle of water and poured it over his head.

The investor's furious shouts filled the room. A staff member passing the doorway, seeing Shi Qi's face clearly, panicked and said:

'He's Teacher Jiang's brother—'

'Stop them, quick!'

Amid the chaos, Shi Qi picked up Yu Zhiling's torn-off jacket from the floor and draped it over him. 'Are you okay?'

Yu Zhiling stared at him, almost thinking he'd seen an angel.

This was his second time meeting Shi Qi.

A few hours earlier, he'd run into a lost Shi Qi outside the magazine office, given him directions, told him the right floor. Seeing Shi Qi seemed a bit thirsty, he'd even bought him a bottle of water.

Just like helping a lost, pretty kitten, Yu Zhiling had done it purely because he found him cute, with no ulterior motive. He never expected that a few hours later, the other would repay him by descending from the heavens.

The investor was cursing furiously. Yu Zhiling thought he'd lose his job and that this kid who'd barged in would be in trouble too.

In such a critical moment, he couldn't help but think… if he kept a cat… would it be very expensive?

But the investor later swallowed his anger completely, flipping a switch to come apologize to him, acting earnest and remorseful, practically on the verge of kneeling and weeping before him.

Only then did he learn Shi Qi came from an outstanding family. Two weeks of back-to-back work for him wouldn't equal Shi Qi's pocket money for a single day.

From that day on, he and Shi Qi became friends.

'You're entangled with so many people, and they're all Omegas. You're gay. Does Shi Qi know?'

Yu Zhiling was three or four years older than Shi Qi and the others. Looking at the boy who appeared before him puffed up with arrogance, it was like looking at a child.

'You investigated me.' Remembering Lin Yan mentioning someone like this while chatting with Shi Qi, he said, 'You're Fu Siyue?'

Hearing his name, Fu Siyue's eyes flashed with wariness. 'Never mind who I am. You'd better stay away from Shi Qi.'

Before this, whether it was Shi Qi, Lin Yan, or Fu Siyue, in Yu Zhiling's impression they all came from families he couldn't possibly access. Even if they met, they could never become friends.

But Shi Qi made friends without regard for that. Just because he'd helped with a small favor during their first meeting, they ended up together.

'Shi Qi doesn't seem to like you much, does he?' Noticing Fu Siyue's abruptly changed expression, Yu Zhiling smiled. 'If he found out you investigated his friend behind his back, would he hate you more, or hate me more?'

'You—!'

'And even if he knew I liked Omegas, he might not necessarily distance himself from me.'

A look of infatuation surfaced in Yu Zhiling's eyes. 'Shi Qi is like that—very simple, very pure. Hasn't encountered much badness, that's why he's so lovable.'

Seemed hard to approach, but once you became his friend, he was exceptionally tolerant.

Thinking of this, Yu Zhiling's heart couldn't help but wander.

If they became partners, would it be like that too?

Fu Siyue blurted out, 'How do you know he hasn't encountered bad things?! He clearly has a gla—'

He seemed about to say something, but finally held back, glaring over angrily.

'He has what? Tell me.'

'…'

Ultimately failing to coax it out of Fu Siyue, Yu Zhiling felt a slight regret.

Seeming to finally realize he'd been led by the nose since their meeting, Fu Siyue irritably kicked the ground, yet didn't know what to do.

Yu Zhiling spoke up at just the right moment. 'I won't say you came to see me, and you don't say anything either. Let's just let this matter pass.'

Fu Siyue was taken aback, looking up at him.

'I understand that feeling—you don't want to make Shi Qi hate you.' Meeting Fu Siyue's half-believing, half-doubting gaze, Yu Zhiling said sincerely, 'I'm the same as you. I don't even dare confess.'

Fu Siyue's eyes widened. He'd had suspicions before, but hadn't expected him to admit it so readily. 'You… you really like…?!'

Truth and lies mixed together were most persuasive. Yu Zhiling's expression was candid. 'Yeah, I like him too.'

'But I'm even worse off than you. You're an Alpha, I'm an Omega—how could I possibly do anything?'

This sentence seemed to strike a chord with Fu Siyue. After thinking for a long time, he tossed out a 'You'd better mean that' and finally turned and left.

But in fact, that statement was half-true, half-false.

He'd discovered he had a strong psychological shadow—a physiological disgust toward Alphas—and had developed a liking for Omegas who were smaller than him.

The circle was full of outstanding-looking Omegas, many with the same preferences. Playing around with each other, you didn't have to worry about being marked like with an Alpha, and sometimes it was even more thrilling.

He stopped reminiscing, found the contact he was looking for in his chat list, and sent a message to 'Darling':

'Xiao Qi, it's Flower Day Festival tomorrow. Want me to weave you a Bracelet?'

He harbored a private motive, planning to weave irises into the Bracelet.

That was his Pheromone.

He couldn't bear to just watch as a friend while Shi Qi fell in love and married someone else.

After being well-behaved for so many years with no progress, he might as well gamble and try.

Even if they ended up tearing their friendship apart, it was better than doing nothing.

But the boyfriend Shi Qi had taken up with felt extremely sinister, not like an easy character to deal with.

His intuition was usually accurate. Being able to thrive in the industry, navigating complex interpersonal entanglements, largely depended on his ability to read people.

Originally, he'd wanted to use a more roundabout method, not directly confess to Shi Qi.

Alphas couldn't resist an Omega's Pheromones. Releasing just a little would make them unable to resist pouncing.

Find an opportunity to create such a scene, then twist the facts. Even if it couldn't make them break up, it could create a rift between Shi Qi and Shang Sui.

But a voice in his heart warned him not to do that.

Remembering the look Shang Sui had given him tonight, Yu Zhiling felt a lingering fear, the hair-raising sensation once again enveloping his whole body.

If he couldn't drive the other one away, then share.

His Heat Phase was in the next couple of days. Yu Zhiling took the Inhibitor out of his bag and tossed the pills he usually took inside.

Shang Sui was indeed outstanding-looking, but he wasn't bad either.

And he was very skilled. Many people couldn't forget him after being with him. If it were Shi Qi, he'd use all his techniques to serve him.

Besides, Shang Sui was an Alpha, he was an Omega.

Even if Shi Qi were with both of them at the same time, it wouldn't be a conflict.