Clingy

That counted as a kiss.

After licking her fingertip, Shi Qi looked at Shang Sui with satisfaction, a faint smile blooming at the corners of her lips.

The Omega's thin eyelids were flushed red, and his eyes were unusually moist from excessive dependence and affection, revealing a lively, seductive, almost enticing expression.

As if what he really wanted to lick was something else.

Shang Sui stared at her soft pink lips and tongue, his mind involuntarily flooding with dirty thoughts. His Adam's apple slowly bobbed, and his voice turned hoarse. 'Xiao Qi, what are you thinking about?'

Shi Qi didn't answer.

After a long pause, she said slowly, 'Not telling you.'

Shi Qi turned around and put her wet fingers under the faucet, intending to wash them again.

She didn't expect the Alpha behind her, like a dog catching the scent of a bone, to press against her impatiently.

'Let me help you?'

Before she could answer, Shang Sui squeezed out some clear hand soap and slid his fingers between hers.

They stood too close, her back pressed tightly against his chest, and Shi Qi unconsciously tensed up.

Feeling his thumb rub the sensitive center of her palm in circles, Shi Qi flinched slightly, then quickly went still.

She caught a glimpse of them in the mirror; because of the height and build difference, she looked completely wrapped in his arms.

Shang Sui spoke against her ear as if bewitched, his sticky, clingy tone making Shi Qi's legs go weak. 'Your fingers are so slender, so beautiful.'

Shang Sui wore several wide rings on his fingers, the brushed silver surfaces glinting under the stream of water.

In comparison, her finger joints were indeed not as broad as Shang Sui's.

Noticing that Shi Qi was obediently comparing their hands, Shang Sui paused.

For a moment, he wanted to pin Shi Qi down on the sink.

'Alright, they're clean now,' he suppressed the crude urge and returned to his previous gentle demeanor. 'Let's go.'

Shi Qi, completely oblivious, raised her hand and hooked him. Realizing what she meant, Shang Sui interlaced their fingers.

Shi Qi's eyes curved as she happily followed him.

Back in the private room, Shang Sui picked up his phone and saw that Qin Shuhe had messaged him not long ago.

Qin Shuhe: [Bro! We decided on barbecue, we'll be at the place in about half an hour. Come over whenever you want?]

Qin Shuhe: [[Shared Location]]

Shang Sui replied with an 'okay,' then said to Shen Qianyu and Jiang Yan, 'We're heading out first.'

Jiang Yan, who hadn't managed to get himself drunk yet, panicked. 'No way! Stay a little longer.'

Shang Sui ignored him and turned to Shen Qianyu. 'Happy birthday.'

Shen Qianyu hummed in acknowledgment and nodded faintly. Watching their completely different reactions, Shang Sui said, 'Why don't you just give in to him, since it's his birthday?'

Jiang Yan: '?'

'Oh, no,' Shang Sui corrected himself considerately. 'Let him give in to you.'

Jiang Yan's face was grim. 'Just go.'

Shang Sui helped Shi Qi into her thick down jacket. Seeing how cooperative she was from start to finish, like a toy he could manipulate as he pleased, he couldn't help but feel playful. 'Come on, say goodbye to everyone.'

'Bye, Shen Qianyu. Happy birthday,' Shi Qi said obediently. 'Bye, Jiang Yan.'

Shen Qianyu responded cooperatively, 'See you next time.'

Jiang Yan: 'Yeah, bye bye bye.'

After they left, Jiang Yan couldn't help but prop his chin on his hand and smile. 'So cute.'

Shen Qianyu looked at him with a dark expression, thinking that Jiang Yan really did prefer Omegas after all, and his tone carried a warning. 'You better watch it. Shi Qi is Shang Sui's boyfriend.'

'...That's not what I meant! It's just pure appreciation, like looking at a pretty cat or dog!'

Shang Sui led the dazed Shi Qi forward.

The falling snow outside had stopped at some point. As soon as she hit the cold air, Shi Qi's nose twitched.

Shang Sui tucked her into the warm car and reached over to fasten her seatbelt. Their faces were inches apart, and Shi Qi could clearly see his long eyelashes and the tear mole at the corner of his eye.

Her breath hitched for a beat, and Shi Qi made small talk. 'Are you driving?'

'Mm. I don't know how long Qin Shuhe's thing will last, so I let the driver go home early.'

Shi Qi nodded, thinking to herself that Shang Sui was pretty considerate.

Just as Jiang Yan had said, that colorful cocktail had a strong aftereffect. Sitting in the comfortably warm car, Shi Qi soon felt drowsy.

She closed her eyes without realizing it, slowly drifting into a light sleep.

When she woke up again, they were already in the parking lot.

Shang Sui pulled her out of the car. Another car next to them honked, and Shi Qi looked up impatiently, meeting Qin Shuhe's enthusiastic face.

'Shi Qi! Bro!'

Seeing it was them, Shi Qi's expression softened. Lin Yan walked over in a few quick steps and excitedly held up two fingers. 'How many fingers am I holding up?'

Shi Qi didn't speak, just looked at him like he was an idiot.

Chu Tao parked the car and got out from the driver's seat. 'We brought one more person.'

She gestured as she spoke. 'Come on down, big star.'

The young Alpha who got out last was wearing a baseball cap that covered most of his face.

He had smoky eye makeup on and greeted them warmly. 'Hey, long time no see.'

Shi Qi was silent for a moment. 'Who are you?'

'...'

Lin Yan let out a laugh. 'Ying Yuran, you don't recognize him?'

They had gone to see Mirage's concert today. Ying Yuran was Mirage's main dancer, and also Lin Yan and Shi Qi's high school classmate and college alumni.

Ying Yuran had briefly studied at A University for three months before debuting, and had also joined the Dance Club.

Chu Tao knew him well and cheerfully took over the conversation. 'It's all your fault for wearing such heavy makeup.'

She then looked at Shi Qi and asked sweetly, 'Xiao Qi, do you still recognize me?'

Shi Qi met her eyes for a moment, then turned around and buried her head in Shang Sui's chest.

'...' Chu Tao shrugged. 'Alright, this cat only recognizes Sui Ge now.'

Qin Shuhe's voice cut in at the right moment. 'Let's go, let's go, let's eat first. I'm starving.'

Shi Qi seemed to find them noisy, burrowing deeper into Shang Sui's arms, trying to hide herself.

Shang Sui couldn't help but ruffle her hair. Shi Qi enjoyed it, leaning against him without moving.

Qin Shuhe laughed. 'She's this clingy when she's drunk? Bro, you might as well just carry her.'

Chu Tao chimed in. 'Agreed, agreed! Our princess deserves a princess carry!'

Ying Yuran watched the scene with fascination. 'Shi Qi is really in a relationship?'

'What else would it be? You think we're lying to you?'

'Her boyfriend is really handsome,' Ying Yuran remarked. 'I was a little bit unconvinced before, but now I'm completely sold.'

Lin Yan knew he was joking, otherwise he wouldn't have brought him along.

Ying Yuran had a crush on Shi Qi for a while in high school. Later, he realized Shi Qi wasn't interested in him, and after a week of being sad, he completely gave up.

He was very measured about it; Shi Qi never even knew about his rich inner turmoil.

Lin Yan had noticed Ying Yuran's feelings, but since the other party had voluntarily stepped back into the friend zone, he never mentioned it to Shi Qi.

Considering Ying Yuran was a celebrity, Qin Shuhe specifically found a barbecue place with semi-enclosed partitions.

Everyone raised their glasses at the same time, toasting Qin Shuhe—

'Happy birthday!'

The glasses clinked with a crisp sound. Shang Sui only then noticed that what was in Shi Qi's glass wasn't cola. 'You're drinking?'

Shi Qi: 'Huh?'

She was drinking the raspberry beer Chu Tao had ordered. Unlike the bitterness she associated with beer, it was much sweeter.

After finishing one glass, Shi Qi wanted more. 'It's good... another glass.'

Lin Yan teased her. 'Now you really are a drunk cat.'

Afraid she'd drink too much and feel sick, Shang Sui added ice to her glass and only poured it half full, though it looked like a full glass. 'Drink a little less, okay?'

Shi Qi didn't notice Shang Sui's little trick and took the glass back.

Lin Yan took it all in and nodded to himself inwardly.

Nine out of ten Alphas who fit Shi Qi's aesthetic were players. Contrary to his alluring appearance, Shang Sui was more reliable than he had imagined, and very attentive to Shi Qi.

Plus, with their Compatibility Index, if they were willing to bond in the future, it could even cure Shi Qi's illness.

In a way, he felt that Shang Sui's appearance was like a gift prepared for Shi Qi, a stroke of fate.

Several people at the table were chatterboxes, and as they talked, the conversation naturally drifted to high school.

Lin Yan remembered something. 'Speaking of which, I've seen a lot of Endless Summer in Qi Jiang lately. It suddenly reminded me that the bouquet Shi Qi got for high school graduation was also Endless Summer.'

Lin Yan looked at Ying Yuran. 'You gave that to her, right?'

Shi Qi remembered that too.

Their graduation ceremony was held after the college entrance exam, and the day they returned to school happened to be the summer solstice.

Jiang Yoning had prepared flowers for her in advance, telling her to bring them, and that she would come with the elders later to take graduation photos.

But Ying Yuran accidentally knocked her bouquet apart. As luck would have it, that area was under construction, and the flowers fell into a mud pit, making it a hassle to even fish them out.

Seeing the bouquet scattered in the muddy water, Shi Qi's expression turned cold.

Ying Yuran quickly apologized and rushed out in a panic to buy flowers, finally returning with a pinkish-blue bouquet centered on Endless Summer, surrounded by larkspur and snow willow.

Shi Qi hadn't wanted to use the flowers he gave her for the graduation photos, but she couldn't find a replacement in time, and the bouquet was really beautiful.

Ying Yuran raised his hand. 'I confess, I didn't actually buy those flowers. A kind, handsome guy gave them to me.'

'Everyone was buying flowers, and the flower shop near the School didn't have much left. I saw him passing by and he didn't look like he was attending the graduation ceremony, so I tentatively asked if I could buy the bouquet from him for double the price.'

'He didn't take the money, just gave it to me.' Ying Yuran was still touched thinking about it, feeling that the handsome guy in his memory radiated the brilliance of human nature. 'He was really handsome! You could tell even with a mask on.'

'An Alpha?'

'Mm. His eyes were like they could shoot sparks.'

As he spoke, he unconsciously looked at Shang Sui.

He had been about to say that those eyes were somewhat similar to Shi Qi's boyfriend's, both slightly upturned fox eyes. But then he thought it might not be appropriate to say that, so he kept his mouth shut.

Chu Tao clicked her tongue. 'Are you selling bromance with your bandmates so much that you, an Alpha, describe another guy so ambiguously?'

The topic of Alphas being ambiguous with Alphas kept coming up tonight. Shi Qi turned her head while they were chatting. Shang Sui hadn't said a word, just thinking with an unreadable expression.

Shi Qi couldn't help but ask, 'You don't like Alphas, do you?'

'Hm?'

Shang Sui snapped back to reality. He was about to deny it directly, but then decided to tease her. 'What do you think?'

Shi Qi was quiet for a moment, then said bluntly, 'You're not allowed to like them.'

As she spoke, she reached for the bottle to pour herself another drink, only to find it empty.

Shang Sui had been distracted by their conversation and hadn't noticed Shi Qi drinking an entire bottle of beer by herself.

The flush that had receded earlier crept back up Shi Qi's cheeks. She seemed even more dazed than at Huijian Restaurant, holding the empty bottle and tilting it expectantly for a full minute before finally confirming there wasn't a single drop left.

This drunk.

No wonder she was overthinking and asking such strange questions.

'Xiao Qi, you can't drink anymore,' Shang Sui said, grabbing her hand before she could open another bottle. 'You'll feel sick.'

Both her wrists were held in Shang Sui's single hand, as if locked in cuffs.

Shi Qi struggled hard for a long time but couldn't break free, so she started throwing a tantrum. 'No, no! Give it to me!'

Shang Sui paused, then simply moved the bottle away, out of sight of the drunkard.

Seeing that he had defied her several times tonight, Shi Qi finally had a small outburst. 'You have to listen to me. That's how it is in my family.'

Shi An had taught her from a young age that disobedient Alphas were a no-go, and Jiang Yoning even encouraged her to find one from a poorer family.

Sorry, Dad, Sis.

Shi Qi thought gloomily.

The Alpha I like not only comes from a good family, but also goes against me.

Shang Sui watched her throw a fit, knowing he shouldn't laugh at a time like this, but he couldn't stop the corners of his mouth from turning up. 'I listen to you very much.'

'No, you don't.' Shi Qi glared at him, seeing he was still smiling. 'Not only did you not write the contract of indenture, but you grabbed my hand, and you also...'

You won't let me kiss you.

The more Shi Qi thought about it, the more upset she got. Since both her hands were being held, she simply stomped on his foot. 'You want to get on top of me before you've even entered the door.'

After stomping, she felt she was being too unreasonable and guiltily looked at Shang Sui.

But to her surprise, after a brief moment of being stunned, he laughed uncontrollably, as if he had discovered something incredibly amusing.

Taking advantage of Shi Qi's hazy state, Shang Sui made a dirty joke. 'Alright then, you get on top of me.'

He dragged out his voice slightly as he spoke, deliberately emphasizing two of the words, making it sound anything but innocent.

Shi Qi didn't catch the innuendo, only thinking about getting close to him.

After a moment's thought, Shi Qi stood up from her seat.

The spot Qin Shuhe had booked was a large booth with a long table and a long sofa, and the two of them were sitting at the very end. Shi Qi staggered over to Shang Sui.

She glanced at the seat; it seemed a bit cramped for Shang Sui, his long, straight legs couldn't stretch out fully, and she couldn't help but feel it was a bit unfair for what she was about to do.

But then she thought, Shang Sui had said himself that she could get on top of him.

Shi Qi didn't hesitate anymore. She bent down, hooked her leg, and plopped down onto his lap.

Before Shang Sui could react, there was a soft weight in his arms.

Her soft body pressed against his legs, carrying the clear fragrance of Lily of the Valley. Shi Qi's platinum-blonde hair brushed past his shoulder, tickling his collarbone, before she suddenly looked up at him.

Their eyes met, and Shi Qi spoke first. 'You said it yourself. You're not allowed to throw me off.'

She was originally sitting sideways on him with her legs together, but she struggled to adjust her position, trying to straddle him, to better fit the concept of 'getting on top.'

Across the table, Ying Yuran recalled his past embarrassment and couldn't help but laugh. 'I was even threatened by Fu Siyue in high school, told I wasn't allowed to like Shi Qi.'

'Damn, really?' Lin Yan cackled. 'Fu Siyue was doing that kind of shit?'

'But it was useless for you guys to fight over her back then. Our baby didn't like anyone.' Lin Yan said, turning to look beside him. 'It's different now. Now she has someone she likes... Shi Qi! In public, what are you doing?!'

Shi Qi turned her head, her eyes sparkling. 'Shang Sui told me to—' get on top of him.

Shang Sui covered her mouth first. 'Be good, don't say it.'

After drinking, Shi Qi's whole face was burning up.

In contrast, Shang Sui's fingers were ice-cold, carrying the Pheromone scent she liked. Shi Qi paused for a moment, then actively buried her face in his palm.

Seeing Shi Qi still trying to struggle, Shang Sui squeezed her waist, not too hard, not too soft.

'Just sit like this. Don't move.'

Unlike the playful tone from before, the Alpha's voice was unyielding, carrying a hint of warning.

Shi Qi belatedly realized how ambiguous their position was. Her face flushed, and she obediently leaned against him without moving.

Ying Yuran had been holding it in all night, and finally couldn't help but say to Shang Sui, 'Um, bro, you look kind of familiar.'

Shi Qi scoffed. 'Your pickup line is so lame.'

'?'

Ying Yuran was at a loss for words. 'No, I mean, I sell bromance, but I'm really not gay!'

'Then why do you keep staring at him?' Shi Qi said. 'You've looked at him several times tonight. Don't think I didn't notice.'

'I just...'

'Hey, wait, wait, wait. Why can't he look?' Lin Yan cut in. 'Shang Sui hasn't said anything, why do you care so much?'

Qin Shuhe caught on and joined in the fun. 'My bro's face was born to be looked at.'

Chu Tao had been eating, but she put down her chopsticks. 'What do you mean, teasing the cat? Count me in.'

Everyone was laughing, even Shang Sui.

So annoying.

Shi Qi thought.

She retorted, 'No looking. He's mine alone.'

Lin Yan looked at her with affectionate indulgence. 'Baby, you're so possessive.'

Shang Sui teased her too. 'Haven't I not entered the door yet? You don't seem to have the right to control me.'

Shi Qi opened her mouth, not knowing how to refute.

Since she couldn't out-argue them, she simply used actions to show her stance, wrapping her slender arms around Shang Sui's shoulders.

Shang Sui lowered his head and met her gaze. Shi Qi's eyes were as clear as if they had been washed, fixed on him.

A moment later.

Shi Qi hooked her arms around Shang Sui's neck, and as if marking him, planted a smacking kiss on his cheek.