The Alpha wore a pure black suit with a white subtly patterned silk shirt that was smooth and soft, giving him a look both elegant and casual. Yet, his exceptionally handsome face bore a serious expression, his peach blossom eyes and smiling lips inadvertently enchanting.
Amidst the celebratory banquet’s noisy chatter, Zuo Chi could still distinctly hear Sheng Li’s voice. Despite using a scent-blocking agent, he hadn’t smelled amber but still wanted to get closer.
“I see you.” Zuo Chi reached over the Alpha’s cheek and ear, ruffling his hair. “You did great, keep it up in the future too.”
Most Alphas had strong self-awareness and would feel like they were being teased when someone ruffled their hair, which lacked dignity. But Sheng Li didn’t mind; he even slightly lowered his head, nuzzling into Zuo Chi’s palm. “Yes, boss.”
Sometimes, growth happens in an instant. For Sheng Li, he grew up the moment he saw Qin Xu asking Zuo Chi what congee he wanted. Previously, he only considered his own emotions. So he was willful and reckless, thinking that whatever he did to Zuo Chi, he would forgive him. But liking someone is simple; but life is hard, filled with mundane necessities like food and bills, as well as struggles for power and money. If he couldn’t protect and care for his Omega, what right did he have to talk about love?
Although his parents now defaulted to not interfering with his efforts to win Zuo Chi back, Sheng Li is well aware of the Sheng family’s conservative style. They would demand he and Zuo Chi get married and have children after they got together. So he certainly had to work harder and make Sheng Group a success, seize power, have a say, not bring any pressure to Zuo Chi’s choices, and not let him suffer in front of his family.
Sheng Li had thick and glossy hair that felt comfortable to touch. Zuo Chi couldn’t resist rubbing it a couple more times, catching a glimpse of someone watching before withdrawing his hand.
Sheng Li pulled Zuo Chi to sit at the arranged seat and introduced him to the executives at the table as “Boss Zuo,” helping Zuo Chi distribute his business cards.
Executives were all adept at reading cues, it was like they collectively joined a mutual admiration group, lavishing praise on Zuo Chi.
“Boss Zuo started his own company at such a young age, and he has great potential.”
“Boss Zuo is young and exceptionally capable at work, truly a young talent.”
“Boss Zuo is bold and insightful, a role model of the new generation.” Someone stood up. “Here, I toast Boss Zuo.”
Sheng Li waved his hand, declining for Zuo Chi, “He just had surgery and can’t drink.”
Zuo Chi smiled and stood up, “I’ll toast with tea instead.”
Sheng Li remembered clearly the dietary restrictions for the month after surgery. Just as Zuo Chi picked up a piece of grilled squid, he picked it out of his bowl.
“You can’t eat seafood,” Sheng Li said.
“I’ll just have one piece,” Zuo Chi replied.
“Not even one piece. Wait until the check-up in a month,” Sheng Li insisted.
Zuo Chi pretended to be annoyed, “You’re really keeping tabs on me?”
Sheng Li’s imposing manner softened, but he didn’t concede, “Of course I have to supervise you. You never prioritize your health.”
Zuo Chi lacked love growing up. Regardless of how much love there was, neither Zuo Yi nor Shu Qingyu expressed it. In their eyes, the most important thing in raising a child was improving his achievements and abilities. Before Zuo Chi differentiated, he met Sheng Li, who was noisy and playful, but would tell Zuo Chi, “We’re friends,” “Come over after school today,” “I’m giving you the prettiest pebble.”
Zuo Chi envied Sheng Li’s social skills among peers and his enthusiasm for new things, so he always glanced at Sheng Li more often. Over the past twenty years, Sheng Li had brought him many surprises in boring days, allowing him to truly feel loved and begin to long for unique love.
Sheng Li had a childlike nature, while Zuo Chi matured early due to family upbringing, so he would occasionally remind Sheng Li, “It’s time to study,” “Don’t skip class,” “Finish your homework before playing games.” Sheng Li never showed annoyance or sulking, but his attitude wasn’t always proper. At home, Zuo Chi was always subjected to various demands, but in front of Sheng Li, he would be the one making demands. In a sense, his emotional needs found balance.
And now, he found it quite strange that Sheng Li, instead of him, was now the one supervising and guiding. Yet deep inside, he felt very happy about it, so happy that bubbles seemed to pop up in his heart.
It turned out he didn’t dislike being managed; he just disliked endless demands without emotional reciprocation from the other person.
Sheng Li picked out a piece of pork belly for Zuo Chi and said in a coaxing tone, “Once your glands fully recover, you can eat whatever you want.”
Zuo Chi raised an eyebrow lightly, “So you’ll treat me to a big meal then?”
Sheng Li replied, “Sure, I can make you a big meal.”
Zuo Chi teased, “Then I’ll enroll you in a cooking class first.”
Sheng Li “…”
Zuo Chi, afraid Sheng Li might take him seriously, joked, “Just kidding, with your schedule, are you going to evening classes at nine?”
Sheng Li said, “I can take online classes.”
Zuo Chi laughed, “There’s no cooking class online. That’s more like gourmet appreciation.”
…
After their celebration banquet ended, they walked out of the hotel without calling the driver.
Zuo Chi suggested they take a stroll along the riverbank, and Sheng Li naturally agreed. The night by the river was quiet, with a gentle breeze. They didn’t hold hands, but walked side by side at almost the same pace.
Every twenty or thirty meters, there was a street lamp casting their elongated shadows, slowing down time. No work, no other worries—just the sky, the river, the greenery, and the two of them.
Sheng Li enjoyed this time alone with him, stealing glances at Zuo Chi’s profile, his lips unconsciously curling upwards.
Zuo Chi asked teasingly, “What are you peeking at?”
Sheng Li said, “You’ve been by my side all this time, and I didn’t notice when you became so beautiful.”
During the time when Zuo Chi had just differentiated, he actually mentioned to Xu Hui that Zuo Chi had become good-looking. However, he quickly reaffirmed their “brother” status, even forgetting it himself.
“Beautiful?” Zuo Chi chuckled, “Isn’t ‘beautiful’ a bit inappropriate for me? I’m a six-foot man.”
Sheng Li earnestly said, “Handsome and beautiful, not contradictory.”
Zuo Chi shrugged, accepting the compliment without showing it on his face, though he secretly cherished it.
They walked from the riverbank to Zuo Chi’s doorstep. Sheng Li escorted him to the entrance of the building and wanted to take the elevator up, but Zuo Chi stopped him.
“You want to sleep on the sofa bed again?” Zuo Chi asked.
Sheng Li immediately replied, “I don’t mind.”
“You might not mind, but the sofa bed does,” Zuo Chi said. “You’re still in the probation period. Go home and sleep.”
Sheng Li asked, “Then when can we go on a date? It’s been so long, you still owe me a Valentine’s Day date.”
Zuo Chi retorted, “Wasn’t walking around just now considered a date?”
“…,” Sheng Li persisted, “Was it?”
“It’s already fulfilled, stop thinking about it,” Zuo Chi said. “I have to get up early for work tomorrow. I’m heading upstairs.”
“Ah Chi, good night,” Sheng Li watched Zuo Chi turn and walk into the building.
Zuo Chi reached the corner, saw the elevator still on the twentieth floor, and turned back. “Sheng Li.”
Sheng Li was still in place, “Hmm?”
He was ecstatic. Could it be that Zuo Chi decided to let him stay overnight?
Zuo Chi simply said, “Good night.”
…..
Although they had been in a probation period for half a year, as time went on, it felt more like a formality. Apart from the lack of intimate physical contact, their relationship was no different from that of a couple.
Winter was almost over, yet Sheng Li learned from Xiang Yiqun and Zhou Jing to buy matching scarves, insisting on wearing them with Zuo Chi when they went out to eat.
Sheng Li asked, “Do you want blue or white?”
Zuo Chi lazily replied, “Look at the weather. Who wears scarves on the street? Acting pretentious.”
Sheng Li pondered, “Then we’ll wear them next year.”
Zuo Chi felt he wasn’t good at relationships. When he was with Omegas before, he treated love like a test, following a set process to score well—buying breakfast, exchanging gifts on holidays, escorting each other home after dates. But with Sheng Li, he didn’t need to think about what to do; they had been together for many years.
They didn’t avoid people around them on purpose. They had a few encounters with old classmates while dining out.
When friends asked with a probing tone, “Are you two…?”
Zuo Chi would smile without saying a word, while Sheng Li proudly retorted, “Can’t you tell?”
There was much discussion in their circle about them. After all, Sheng Li was quite sociable in the industry. He rarely visited the bars he used to frequent and no longer associated with the group of friends led by Zhang Xiaoyun. Some found it strange and inevitably inquired. The news of their suspected romance spread in the industry, causing waves of gossip.
“Weren’t they brothers?”
“Those who attended their engagement banquet knew. How could they still be brothers? Didn’t you see them kiss? I felt like if it weren’t a public place, they would’ve ended up in bed the next second.”
“Was it that intense? Didn’t Zuo Chi marry into the Qin family later?”
“That was ages ago. Now Zuo Chi has nothing to do with the Zuo family.”
“I’m not surprised at all. If anyone could make Sheng Li settle down, it would be Zuo Chi.”
Sheng Li and Zuo Chi were both busy and didn’t have time to care about what others said. They didn’t care how others viewed them either.
Initially, Sheng Li was worried that Zuo Chi might be affected, but he later realized he had overthought it. Zuo Chi never cared about others’ words. What concerned him was who exactly had pushed him to the forefront. Now they were both very relaxed and didn’t need to care about other people’s opinions.
Sometimes Zuo Chi wondered if he was spoiling Sheng Li too much? Since it was a probation period, they should maintain a suitable distance. But he also liked having someone to share the little things in life, turning the boring into interesting. He liked someone calling him before bed, chatting until yawning but unwilling to hang up. He also liked eating together, able to enjoy more dishes.
He was also very happy. Since he was happy, why not take advantage of it?
He had once seriously considered not turning back, but the last person one should make things difficult for is oneself. Sheng Li had grown up, and in a way, so had he. He knew he could live a very fulfilling and exciting life alone. However, with this understanding, he still chose to give Sheng Li another chance.
He didn’t let Sheng Li move into his home, but inadvertently, his house began to fill up with many of the Alpha’s things. Things like scent blockers, ties, iPads, and Alpha suppressants.
Zuo Chi reasonably suspected this was Sheng Li’s strategy: to first occupy a space in his home with things, intrude into his life in every aspect, and then naturally progress to cohabitation.
But if they really did live together…
Zuo Chi thought, his apartment was a bit too small. At the very least… the bed wasn’t big enough.
1
Author’s note:
You should be able to tell it’s nearing its conclusion.
From my previous work, you should know I’m not fond of writing extras.
