Nightmare

When Shi Qi woke up, it was nearly dusk.

Shang Sui sat beside him playing on his phone, apparently chatting with someone.

'Awake?'

Shang Sui keenly noticed the gaze beside him, turned his head, and saw Shi Qi looking at him with a hint of curiosity in his eyes.

Shang Sui voluntarily handed him his phone: 'Shen Qianyu asked me to thank you.'

Shi Qi glanced at it and saw their two brothers' lively chat history.

Ss: [Is Jiang Yan still alive?]

Ss: [Don't go too far. Bullying an idiot is against the law.]

Shen Qianyu: [Sleeping next to me.]

Shen Qianyu: [Did you send him over?]

Ss: [No, it was the world's kindest, cutest, most beautiful, and most considerate baby.]

After typing that long string of qualifiers, Shang Sui emphasized:

Ss: [Mine.]

Shen Qianyu: [Thank Shi Qi for me.]

Shi Qi: '...'

Shi Qi read up to here, then tossed the phone back to him: 'From now on, promote me like that outside.'

Shang Sui couldn't help but laugh. Shi Qi got up to wash up, and Shang Sui followed closely behind him.

Like a tail.

Shi Qi thought to himself.

After a while, the tail, unable to bear the silence, spoke: 'Can I pick out clothes for you?'

Shi Qi was only wearing a nightgown, walking around with bare legs. At this, he looked up at him: 'That half-cabinet of women's clothes of yours?'

'I still have a whole cabinet of men's clothes.'

As Shang Sui spoke, he pulled open the wardrobe in the second bedroom. Shi Qi glanced at it, and his gaze paused.

Considering the climate in Qi Jiang, the cabinet was mostly filled with spring and summer clothes.

On the left side of the wardrobe were shirts and T-shirts in various colors and materials, sheer blouses, printed hoodies, and mesh knitwear.

On the other side hung bottoms, mostly ripped jeans and wide-leg pants, carefully paired with different metal chains and belts.

The colors and styles of the clothes clearly had Shang Sui's name written all over them, but...

'Are they my size?'

Shang Sui nodded.

So many clothes obviously couldn't have been bought in a short time. Shi Qi couldn't help but ask: 'When did you buy them, and why didn't you tell me?'

'I'd buy one whenever I saw something pretty, looking for the right excuse to give it to you. Later, after we started dating, I bought more and more.'

At first, he didn't mention it because Shi Qi only liked to wear black and white, and he was picking out colors. Later, buying clothes for Shi Qi became a habit, and he almost forgot about it himself.

It was only when he came to Qi Jiang for vacation that he thought to bring some from home.

'Do you want to wear them?'

'Why are you being so careful,' Shi Qi said, seeing him ask so cautiously, and answered directly, 'I'll wear whatever you pick. You choose; I'm going to wash my face.'

Before leaving, Shi Qi thought of something and turned back.

He stood on tiptoe slightly and kissed the Alpha on the cheek. Shang Sui smelled the clear, pure fragrance of Lily of the Valley and heard Shi Qi whisper:

'Thank you for buying me clothes.'

Seeing Shang Sui frozen in place, Shi Qi couldn't help but laugh.

Thinking of how Yu Wan had also bought him a ton of gifts at their first meeting, Shi Qi guessed that Shang Sui must have inherited this trait from his mother.

If you like someone, you buy them things.

Shang Sui suddenly called out to him: 'Xiao Qi, wait a moment.'

'Hm?'

'While you were sleeping, I asked Shen Qianyu about Gland Atrophy Syndrome.'

After blurting it out, Shang Sui looked into his bright eyes and unconsciously dug his fingernails into his palm: 'He told me your time is running out.'

Only after asking Shen Qianyu did he realize that the illness Shi Qi had described so lightly was far more shocking than he had imagined. He couldn't bear to think of Shi Qi enduring such immense pressure all along; he felt both heartache and sorrow.

Shen Qianyu told him that Gland Atrophy Syndrome often comes with various complications, the most common being insomnia.

After hearing this, Shang Sui's first thought was of how Shi Qi liked to fall asleep in his company, always pressing close to him.

So it wasn't just because he liked being close to him, but also because his Pheromone could relieve the insomnia.

And before they were reunited, how many sleepless nights had Shi Qi spent alone?

From the time he was fourteen or fifteen, when he learned his lifespan was only half of an ordinary person's, watching the dawn come bit by bit through sleepless nights, unable to shake the illness that followed him like a shadow—what was Shi Qi thinking during those moments of despair when he couldn't even bring himself to move?

And because of their different stances, even his closest family held different thoughts from Shi Qi.

'He also said you need a Lifelong Mark from a high-Compatibility Index Alpha to cure the illness.'

Shi Qi hummed in acknowledgment: 'So what?'

Seeing Shi Qi so unruffled, Shang Sui's heartbeat quickened.

He was both afraid that talking about this would upset Shi Qi and worried that delaying further would miss the final deadline.

Beneath these complex emotions lay a selfish desire he couldn't quite articulate.

If he had been a little braver, growing up by Shi Qi's side...

But then he thought, this idea seemed too presumptuous. Even if they had never been apart, Shi Qi might not have chosen him.

'Can you consider me?'

Shi Qi didn't answer right away.

His clear eyes were like a mirror, meeting Shang Sui's gaze squarely: 'Is it because you want to help me get treatment, or is it selfish—you want to give me a Permanent Mark?'

His question was sharp, and under his gaze, Shang Sui moved his lips: 'I...'

He couldn't lie.

He ached for everything Shi Qi had been through, and if he could, he would gladly take the suffering in his place.

But to say he had no selfish desire, that he didn't want to leave an indelible mark on Shi Qi—that would be a hypocritical lie.

'Do you remember? When I first asked you to pretend to be my boyfriend, I said it was because my family was pushing me to date,' Shi Qi said proactively. 'But that wasn't the real reason.'

'If I didn't want to, no matter how much they said, I wouldn't.'

'At the time, I didn't quite understand; I just had an instinct to do it. Now I think it's because I had selfish motives toward you.'

'Rather than you pitying me or wanting to help me get treatment, I'd prefer you to feel the same way I do.'

Because love is inherently tied to desire.

Shi Qi stepped forward, making as if to touch his face: 'If I found someone else, or simply didn't get treatment, you'd go crazy, wouldn't you?'

Before he could touch him, Shang Sui grabbed his hand.

'Don't,' the Alpha's light brown pupils contracted for a moment, his Pheromone spilling out as he murmured unconsciously, 'Don't find anyone else, and don't leave me.'

'Then say it,' Shi Qi let him grip his hand tightly. 'It's okay if it's not considerate enough, and it doesn't matter if it sounds greedy, because I like you this way.'

Just like you want to possess me.

I also like your face full of desire.

'I want...' Shang Sui looked at him as if bewitched, speaking uncontrollably, 'I want to give you a Permanent Mark.'

Not only that, but he also wanted to marry him, to be with him forever.

'Got it.' Shi Qi's eyes curved, the earlier aggressive demeanor vanishing like melting snow. 'When the time is right, I'll consider it.'

He said this, pulled his hand away, and turned around directly, not caring about Shang Sui's reaction.

It was a long while before Shi Qi realized that a smile had been lingering on his lips.

They say Alphas in their Special Sensitivity Period are dangerous, but this one was actually quite obedient, wasn't he?

...

Speaking of which.

If you want to make a Proposal to an Alpha, what do you need to prepare?

-

When Jiang Yoning saw Shi Qi again, nearly a week had passed.

In the meantime, Shi An had called Shi Qi once out of worry, but Shang Sui answered, simply saying that Shi Qi had entered his Heat Phase and couldn't come home for now.

Seeing Shi An's pale face after the call, Jiang Yoning thought something serious had happened. After asking, she learned that Shi An was worried Shi Qi might get a Permanent Mark.

Jiang Yoning didn't hesitate: 'That's fine too, isn't it? Them marking each other is only a matter of time, right?'

Thinking of how Shi Qi had called out Shang Sui's name just a few words into the call, seemingly asking him to hold him, Shi An choked up for a moment: 'At the very least, it should wait until after marriage.'

'Strictly speaking, if someone has ill intentions, marriage doesn't really have a binding effect.'

Jiang Yoning said this with rare seriousness, then quickly switched her tone: 'So, when choosing an Alpha, you have to keep your eyes wide open and pick someone very loyal and responsible.'

With that, she flipped her hair and winked at Shi An: 'Like me.'

Shi An: '...'

Jiang Yoning added casually: 'But when it comes to the Special Sensitivity Period, marriage does have a binding effect.'

Unlike ordinary Alphas, an Alpha in a Special Sensitivity Period must have a guarantor. If unmarried, the guarantor can be a family member, friend, or a doctor with a specific license. If married, the guarantor automatically becomes the spouse.

If the spouse reports abnormal behavior during the Special Sensitivity Period after marriage, the corresponding regulatory authority will investigate, and in severe cases, the Alpha may be sent to a specialized facility, equivalent to a prison.

When Shi Qi walked in, Jiang Yoning and Li Zhao were curled up on the sofa, chatting idly.

After handling her master's funeral, Li Zhao had flown overnight to Qi Jiang. She looked tired, half-leaning against Jiang Yoning as she listened.

Hearing the door open, Jiang Yoning let out a gasp: 'Oh my god, baby—!'

Li Zhao looked up at the sound, and her eyes suddenly lit up.

Shi Qi was wearing a mesh blouse in pale purple with yellow accents, the creamy colors suiting him perfectly.

A wide belt cinched his waist tightly, and another rose-gold-tone tie was loosely knotted, with a star-and-moon ornament hanging down, delicate and casual.

'Are you going to walk a runway? So beautiful, so handsome, such a feast for the eyes!'

Jiang Yoning glanced behind him and saw Shang Sui wearing a shirt in a similar color, its loose, slouchy fit highlighting the Alpha's broad shoulders and lean back—clearly a couple's outfit.

She immediately understood who had picked out Shi Qi's clothes.

Despite the soft colors, the style of Shi Qi's blouse was quite wild. Without the inner layer underneath, his upper body would have been completely exposed.

Through the holes, Jiang Yoning could see countless hickeys on his neck and shoulders.

Noticing the blatant mark on the back of Shi Qi's neck, Jiang Yoning clicked her tongue.

Biting that deep—pretty intense.

Jiang Yoning looked at Shang Sui, her words carrying a double meaning: 'You're quite capable.'

Shang Sui smiled, accepting the ambiguous comment.

Li Zhao, who had been drowsy, perked up at the sight of Shi Qi. Jiang Yoning, the more she looked, the happier she got, and finally she pretended to wipe tears with satisfaction: 'Wuwuwu! The last time I saw you wearing colors in daily life was back in high school. Even though you never admitted it, I always felt I left you with some psychological trauma back then.'

Shi Qi was about to tell her to stop.

Jiang Yoning, half regretful, half nostalgic, said: 'When we were kids, I shouldn't have tricked you into wearing a dress and then taken a whole Album of photos of you.'

Before Shi Qi could say anything, Shang Sui asked naturally: 'Is the Album still around?'

Shi Qi: '?'

Is that something a person should say?

Li Zhao seized the moment and raised her hand: 'I want to see it too.'

'It's here, it's here! I even brought it specially. Xiao An's dad had several copies printed back then, and the one I brought is my treasure collection. It has cat-ear princess dresses, all kinds of hairbands and headpieces—super cute!'

Jiang Yoning was about to rummage through her suitcase when Shi Qi immediately stopped her: 'No!'

He also said to Shang Sui: 'You're not allowed to look.'

Just the thought of Shang Sui possibly seeing those photos sent Shi Qi's embarrassment skyrocketing at an unprecedented speed.

Li Zhao quickly asked: 'What about me?'

Meeting her expectant gaze, Shi Qi hesitated for a moment: 'Sister Li Zhao can look.'

Jiang Yoning looked regretful: 'If Xiao Qi doesn't agree, then only Li Zhao and I can look.'

Just as she said that.

Shang Sui leaned close to Shi Qi and whispered something. Jiang Yoning saw Shi Qi freeze, his fair cheeks visibly turning red.

Finally, Shi Qi said in a low voice: 'Fine, whatever.'

Jiang Yoning watched this scene in amazement, feeling as if Shang Sui had cast some kind of spell.

She couldn't help but ask: 'What did he say to you?'

'Nothing.'

Despite his calm expression, Shi Qi's mind kept replaying Shang Sui's voice.

The Alpha had lowered his voice to a near whisper, like a plea, his soft tone carrying an inexplicable hint of seduction: 'I really want to see.'

'Please, husband.'

What husband? They weren't even married—could he just call him that?

Shang Sui was so shameless.

Shi Qi cursed him in his mind, but his ears grew hotter.

Li Zhao suddenly said: 'Xiao Qi, there's something I want to talk to you about.'

Jiang Yoning, who had been about to go upstairs to get the Album, turned back at this: 'What, what! Is there something I don't know about?'

Li Zhao shook her head, indicating she couldn't tell her.

'Should we talk outside?'

Shi Qi agreed and got up to follow Li Zhao.

-

It had rained a few days ago, and after sunset the temperature dropped. Shi Qi felt a trace of chill in the cold wind.

He and Li Zhao stood in the garden of the small villa, the streetlights pouring down like flowing water.

'I heard from Yoning that you and Shang Sui have a great relationship,' Li Zhao smiled at him, recalling the scenes from just now. 'Even though we haven't spent much time together, from what I've seen, I think so too.'

Shi Qi nodded, feeling a bit strange inside.

He had known Li Zhao for years, but they had little private interaction and had never spoken alone before.

Li Zhao's voice was like a seemingly calm surface of water, with turbulence hidden beneath: 'That day at the art gallery when I saw you two, I went back and thought about it for a long time.'

Like some cold, sudden premonition.

A scene from his last meeting with Li Zhao flashed through Shi Qi's mind—she had mentioned then that she was working on a report about the Special Sensitivity Period.

As if confirming his guess, Li Zhao got straight to the point: 'You know Shang Sui is in a Special Sensitivity Period, right?'

Shi Qi's expression changed: 'How did you...!'

'I found out by chance. I haven't told anyone else.'

Seeing his poor expression, Li Zhao quickly indicated she meant no harm: 'At first, I was worried you didn't know about his special condition, so I asked you indirectly about your views on the Special Sensitivity Period. After hearing what you said, I guessed you understood.'

Hearing this, Shi Qi relaxed a little.

When it came to Shang Sui's secret, Shi Qi's expression turned serious: 'Sister Li Zhao, what exactly are you trying to say?'

When she had mentioned the Haicheng Serial Killings earlier, Shi Qi hadn't reacted particularly. Li Zhao hesitated for a moment: 'He carries a very heavy past on his shoulders. You might not know about it.'

Li Zhao took a thin envelope from her shoulder bag. Shi Qi glanced at it; it seemed to contain paper or photos.

'I don't know how to handle it. I originally wanted to give it directly to Shang Sui, but I felt it would be too abrupt and might cause him secondary harm. If I just disposed of it, that didn't seem right for me to do either.'

'I thought about it for a long time and decided you're the most suitable person.'

Li Zhao gestured for him to open the envelope. Shi Qi took out a photo from it, which looked old but was well-preserved.

When he saw the scene in the photo clearly, Shi Qi's pupils suddenly contracted.

'Th-this, what is this...?'

He heard his own trembling voice.

'This photo was taken eight years ago. It was among my master's belongings.'

Shi Qi recalled that Jiang Yoning had indeed mentioned recently that Li Zhao's master had passed away. The man was quite renowned in the field of journalism and had produced many well-known feature reports.

'My master was following the Haicheng Serial Killings back then. On the night the murderer was arrested, besides the police and the Special Sensitivity Period Regulatory Authority, some media were also at the scene.'

Shi Qi repeated softly: 'Serial Killings?'

The fingers holding the photo began to tremble involuntarily.

Li Zhao had always regarded Shi Qi as a younger brother. Seeing how shaken he seemed, she felt reluctant to continue.

But since it had come to this, she quickly composed herself: 'Back then, Shang Sui's family used some methods to do everything they could to suppress the news related to him, including all the materials the media had captured.'

'Only this one was kept privately by my master. His actions weren't ethical. I read his suicide note; he believed it had an extraordinary story, like a drama, and considerable news value.'

'I can't agree with his view, even if this photo seems just as unbelievable to me. Behind that story is a real person's life.'

'I originally wanted to get rid of it, but then I met you two that day.'

'To be honest, the first time I saw Shang Sui, I was very, very shocked. He seemed to sense something was off too, but he didn't bring it up.'

Li Zhao saw Shi Qi frozen stiff and couldn't bear to go on: 'The two people in the photo—one is a fifteen-year-old Shang Sui, and the other is the murderer of the Haicheng Serial Killings, Zeng Yu.'

A fierce rainstorm fell from the pitch-black sky. The red and blue flashing lights of police cars flickered, reflecting off the distant snow-white lightning streaks.

The faces of the dense crowd around were indistinct. Some were screaming, others howling—everything was like a scene from a nightmare.

Zeng Yu was arrested by the police, his hands cuffed behind his back. But as he was being escorted into the police car, he made a shocking move, like some kind of eerie, evil omen.

He laughed loudly and knelt before the blood-soaked teenager.

'In front of everyone, Zeng Yu knelt to Shang Sui and said some misleading things.'

'During the interrogation, Zeng Yu persistently insisted on pointing to Shang Sui, and for all other questions, he just talked nonsense. He committed suicide in the detention center that very night.'

'The police found physical evidence related to Shang Sui at the scenes of the first two murders—some of his hair and a button from his school uniform.'

'Plus, Shang Sui was also in a Special Sensitivity Period. After that...'

Seeing Shi Qi's pale face, Li Zhao finally spoke the cruelest part of the whole story:

'Shang Sui was suspected of being an accomplice, or even possibly the mastermind behind the serial murders.'