When Sheng Li woke up, his head was heavy, and as he opened his eyes, a wave of pain hit his temples.
It took him a minute to realize he was in his bedroom at home. How did he get back? He couldn’t remember the details of coming home. He recalled drinking with Zhang Xiaoyun and the others, getting quite drunk, then calling Assistant Liu to pick him up. After returning from the restroom to the private room, it seemed an Omega had sat beside him…
That Omega… Sheng Li raised his hand and sniffed his sleeve. Besides the scent of alcohol, there was also a scent—sweet and tart.
That Omega’s scent seemed very similar to Zuo Chi’s. Was it Zuo Chi and Assistant Liu who brought him back?
Sheng Li felt a bit hungry. He got out of bed and headed to the kitchen to find something to eat. As he reached the stairs, he heard a noise from downstairs.
He called out cautiously, “Who’s there?”
Zuo Chi poked his head out of the kitchen, holding a loaf of bread, “You’re awake.”
He was wearing the same suit jacket from the previous day, paired with a plain black sweater, looking out of place in the kitchen, and his hair was messy with a couple of strands sticking up.
Sheng Li frowned, “Why are you here?”
Zuo Chi stood up straight, “I came to give you the engagement party outfit.”
Sheng Li wasn’t fooled, snorting, “I asked how you got the key here. I remember you didn’t take it when I gave it to you before.”
At some point, Sheng Li had thought that Zuo Chi might feel stifled at the Zuo family home and suggested he stay at his place occasionally since there were extra rooms. But Zuo Chi had flatly refused, saying it was inconvenient.
Zuo Chi knew he couldn’t hide it: “Your father gave it to me.”
Sheng Li walked down the stairs and stood in front of Zuo Chi. Because he wasn’t using a scent blocker, his pheromones were subconsciously released, creating an oppressive atmosphere: “Sheng Changyu gave it to you, so you just accepted it? This is my house. Who allowed you to come in?”
Surrounded by the amber scent, Zuo Chi swallowed and feigned calmness: “It’s not like I haven’t been here before.”
Because of Zuo Chi’s movements, the anti-bite collar on his neck slid up and down, making the area from his chin to his collarbone look somewhat alluring.
Sheng Li averted his gaze and reached into the fridge to grab a bottle of milk: “When did you come?”
Zuo Chi told the truth: “Last night.”
After taking care of Sheng Li and putting him to bed last night, Zuo Chi noticed that several guest rooms were covered in dust. Since it was already dark, he ended up sleeping on the couch for the night.
Sheng Li leaned on the refrigerator door next to Zuo Chi and raised an eyebrow: “Did you see who brought me back last night?”
“Yes.” Zuo Chi pressed his lips together, “A beautiful Omega. Someone new?”
In fact, Sheng Li didn’t know the person’s name and had forgotten their appearance, but he responded with a “Hmm” and maliciously asked, “It was late. It wasn’t safe for him to go back alone. Why didn’t you let him stay?”
Zuo Chi smiled faintly: “I wasn’t thoughtful enough.”
He turned to leave the kitchen, but Sheng Li stepped forward and grabbed his right wrist.
Zuo Chi looked up at him.
“Zuo Chi,” Sheng Li said, “You know me, you know what kind of person I am. I can’t settle down.”
With a short sentence, he wanted Zuo Chi to back off. Zuo Chi knew that if there were a scale in Sheng Li’s heart, with “friend” on one side and “Omega to date” on the other, it would undoubtedly tip towards “friend.”
Sheng Li wanted freedom and to be unrestrained. He thought being troubled by love was a very low-level mistake.
He had many Omegas around him, but none were special. At least, none had received his mark, not even a temporary one.
The amber pheromones carried a heavy scent that Zuo Chi liked very much. It was like the resin fragrance of a forest after the rain, also like a tempting forbidden fruit. They were so close, but unfortunately, Sheng Li’s words were unpleasant.
“It’s not that you can’t settle down.” Zuo Chi pointed out, “You just haven’t put your heart into it.”
Sheng Li didn’t deny it: “I’m not yet twenty-five. It’s too early for me to think about marriage. But if you think the Sheng family can help the Zuo family’s business and insist on marrying me, I can cooperate.”
Zuo Chi waited for him to continue: “Go on.”
“We need to agree on a few things. First, we don’t change our original relationship; we are still brothers, best friends. Second, you do your thing, and I do mine; we don’t interfere with each other. Third, we give each other some space…”
Zuo Chi didn’t want to listen after the first point. His chest heaved: “Are there brothers who kiss?”
Brothers, brothers, brothers… Zuo Chi didn’t want to hear that word again!
Mentioning the kiss, Sheng Li’s face turned ugly: “Who knows what got into you that day!”
Zuo Chi blinked, leaning towards Sheng Li, forcing him to take two steps back until his thigh hit the counter.
Such a nice scent.
He smelled the rich and sweet blackcurrant fragrance and suddenly realized where the lingering pheromones on his clothes came from.
“You…”
Zuo Chi pressed his index finger against Sheng Li’s lips, his other hand resting on his waist, slowly moving down until he grasped that spot, skillfully teasing.
It quickly became hard.
Zuo Chi let out a satisfied snort: “Brothers?”
The area where Zuo Chi touched felt electrified. Sheng Li attributed it to the influence of their pheromones since their compatibility was over eighty percent.
But what did that represent? Pheromone compatibility was just a cold statistic. It might drive desire, but it couldn’t dictate feelings.
With a dark expression, he pushed him away: “Is this fun?”
Zuo Chi stumbled a bit, his gaze lingering on Sheng Li’s bulging pants, making Sheng Li feel embarrassed, unsure whether to cover up or not.
In the past, he could stand naked in front of Zuo Chi without a second thought. Now, he was embarrassed about getting aroused by his “brother.”
Sheng Li growled angrily: “Had enough?”
“I’m not playing around. You asked if I could respond to your body… the answer is ‘yes.’ Sometimes the body’s reaction is the most direct and honest. I think you don’t need me to ask you again.” Zuo Chi said, “I reject your first point. I don’t want to be your brother anymore. Since there is a feeling… Sheng Li, can’t you try to see me as an Omega?”
Sheng Li’s eyes widened as if it took a long time for him to understand what Zuo Chi was saying. It was like a thunderclap in his ears; he couldn’t believe his own ears.
What did it mean to see him as an Omega? Sheng Li didn’t dare to think further, but the scent lingering in his nose and the warmth on his skin reminded him of one fact—Zuo Chi wanted more than just a marriage contract.
Knowing Sheng Li needed time to process, Zuo Chi didn’t force him to respond immediately. He took the toast to the living room: “I’ll leave after breakfast.”
After Sheng Li came out of the kitchen, he went upstairs, glancing at Zuo Chi on the way. In the end, he said nothing, unsure whether he was going to think about their relationship or to the bathroom to deal with personal issues.
Having finally voiced the words buried in his heart for years, Zuo Chi let out a long breath. His hands trembled as he unwrapped the package.
He had finally said it. His heart felt unburdened, lighter than he had imagined.
He no longer had to pretend to be a lousy friend. To hell with being friends! He could face his own feelings—he wanted to be Sheng Li’s Omega.
He wanted to hold hands, hug, kiss, make love… do all the intimate things, be possessed, be marked. No matter what Sheng Li thought, he couldn’t just back down. If he did nothing, he’d hate himself when he saw Sheng Li with someone else in the future.
Pursuing an Alpha wasn’t a big deal. He had closed so many difficult deals, so why should he be afraid of not winning over one Alpha? Besides, he knew Sheng Li well, which could be considered an advantage. Even if the outcome wasn’t satisfactory, it was better than ending things before they even started.
Zuo Chi quickly finished half a loaf of bread. When he left, he draped his suit over the armrest of the sofa and gently closed the door. At the chain coffee shop near his place, he ordered an Americano, drank it while calling the driver, gave the address, and then waited to be picked up.
When he got home, Shu Qingyu was sitting on the living room sofa drinking tea and asked him where he had been the night before.
Zuo Chi said, “At Sheng Li’s house.”
Shu Qingyu didn’t ask further and instead started discussing work-related matters.
It was the end of the year, and work was busy with too many things to handle. Zuo Chi had faint dark circles under his eyes, but he answered Shu Qingyu’s questions fluently.
Looking at her only son, Shu Qingyu had the same thought cross her mind for the nth time: If only Zuo Chi were an Alpha, he would be a flawless heir.
Twenty-some years ago, when her private doctor told her the baby she was carrying was an Omega, she had considered an abortion. Her first child should have been an Alpha; only this way could she and her child secure their position in the Zuo family.
When Zuo Chi was fourteen, she secretly had a private doctor test him again. This child was too smart and had a strong physique, defeating all his classmates, including those who had already differentiated into Alphas, in taekwondo class.
She had held a glimmer of hope, hoping the prenatal diagnosis was wrong, but reality doused her with cold water—Zuo Chi was indeed an Omega, although he behaved more competitively than most Omegas.
Zuo Chi looked up and noticed Shu Qingyu staring at him, lost in thought. “Mother.”
Shu Qingyu coughed twice. “Is the company’s annual meeting next Friday?”
Zuo Chi: “Yes.”
Shu Qingyu: “Have you prepared your speech for the stage address?”
Zuo Chi: “I’ve memorized it.”
Shu Qingyu nodded in satisfaction. “This year’s annual meeting will announce the cooperation with the Sheng family. Your Uncle Sheng and Uncle Li will be there, so don’t make any mistakes.”
Zuo Chi replied emotionlessly, “Yes.”
Turning away, Zuo Chi’s shoulders visibly relaxed. He thought about what Sheng Changyu had said when he gave him the key, seriously considering the possibility of living with Sheng Li.
It would be a convenient arrangement and a way to escape Shu Qingyu’s surveillance—a choice that seemed beneficial.
