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Midsummer in Jiangnan drew to a close amid the chirping of cicadas. The last of the gardenias in the courtyard faded, and the air's rich, sweet fragrance was quietly replaced by the scent of early autumn osmanthus. Si Qi and Shao Wei lived in the waterside village for nearly two months, until a major cross-border merger and acquisition project for Si's company entered a critical phase, forcing them to return to the city.
Returning to the city's skyscrapers, feeling the scorching sun reflected off the glass walls and the fast-paced hustle and bustle, both felt a bit uneasy. But their lives quickly filled up. Si Qi plunged headfirst into merger negotiations, often returning home exhausted late at night. Shao Wei also returned to work. A new energy project he was leading had entered the implementation phase, requiring frequent business trips and inspections.
They returned to their busy lives, but with a different undertone. No matter how busy Si Qi was, he'd always make sure to have breakfast with Shao Wei. When he got home at night, no matter how late, a light would always be on in the living room. When Shao Wei was away on business, Si Qi's video call would punctually begin before bed. There wasn't much sweet talk, just a look in each other's face, a way of making sure they were all right. Those obsidian cufflinks became their unspoken standard for formal occasions.
On the eve of the crucial round of negotiations for the merger and acquisition, Si Qi stayed in his study until the wee hours of the morning. Documents lay scattered on his desk, and his coffee had gone cold. He rubbed his swollen temples, trying to sort through the confusing terms in his mind. But a lingering unease lingered in his heart. This irritation wasn't entirely due to work pressure, but more like... a vague, instinctive unease stemming from pheromones.
He stood up and walked to the French window, overlooking the sleeping city. His fingertips unconsciously brushed the cool surface of his cufflinks, trying to absorb a hint of Shao Wei's presence to calm his mind. Shao Wei had gone to the Northwest Research Base the day before yesterday and was not expected to return until tomorrow afternoon.
At this moment, the phone screen lit up. It was a message from Shao Wei, just three short words: "Are you asleep?"
Si Qi immediately dialed the video call. The screen lit up, and Shao Wei seemed to be still in the hotel room, wearing a simple white T-shirt. The background was the standard hotel decoration. His face looked a little tired under the light, but his eyes were clear.
"Haven't you rested yet?" Si Qi frowned as he looked at the pale blue under his eyes.
"Just got back to the hotel. It's so windy and dusty here, and the internet isn't very stable. I'm worried I won't have time to contact you tomorrow if I'm busy." Shao Wei's voice came through the receiver, a barely perceptible hoarseness in it. "How are things over there?"
"Same old." Si Qi didn't want to make him worry, so he changed the subject. "Did the inspection go well?"
"Yeah. More complicated than expected, but manageable." Shao Wei said succinctly, his eyes falling on the table piled with documents behind Si Qi. "Negotiation tomorrow?"
"Yes." Si Qi rubbed his brows, "It's a bit tricky."
Shao Wei on the other side of the screen was silent for a few seconds, then suddenly said, "Don't put too much pressure on yourself." He paused and added, "I believe in you."
It was a simple sentence, but it was like a gentle breeze that blew away the inexplicable anxiety in Si Qi's heart. He looked at Shao Wei's calm face on the screen and suddenly wanted to touch him.
"When will you be back tomorrow?" Si Qi asked, his voice unconsciously softening.
"The flight is at 3pm and will land around 6pm." Shao Wei checked the time and said, "It's getting late. You should go to bed. You have a tough battle tomorrow."
"Yeah." Si Qi responded, but was reluctant to hang up.
Shao Wei seemed to see through his thoughts and smiled lightly: "Go quickly. I'll wait for your news on the success of the negotiation."
After the call ended, Si Qi returned to his desk. The inexplicable irritation he'd felt had vanished, replaced by a calm, reassured sense of purpose. He picked up the document again, his thoughts becoming remarkably clear.
The next day's negotiations proved to be a tough battle. The other party pressed the issue relentlessly, their terms extremely stringent. Si Qi sat at the head of the table, his face stern and his eyes sharp. Every rebuttal and insistence struck precisely at the opponent's weak spots. His pheromones permeated the conference room, a departure from his usual restrained composure. Instead, he carried a long-lost, domineering, oppressive air, the hallmark of a top-tier Alpha, controlling the entire negotiation.
Even his long-time assistant was a bit surprised. Today, Mr. Si seemed particularly... different. As if he had been infused with some powerful energy.
After hours of heated debate, the negotiations finally reached a preliminary agreement in the evening, with terms far exceeding expectations. The other party's representatives left with grim expressions. Si Qi stood up and loosened his tie. His face showed no joy, only the weariness of a settled situation.
"Mr. Si, congratulations!" The special assistant stepped forward, unable to hide his excitement.
Si Qi waved his hand, took out his phone, and checked the time. It was almost seven o'clock. Shao Wei's plane should have landed. He hurried out and called Shao Wei, but no one answered. He called several times in a row, but the same thing happened every time.
A sense of unease crept into his heart. He immediately called Commissioner Shao's assistant. The call rang for a long time before it was picked up. There was a cacophony of background noise, and the assistant's voice was clearly panicked: "Boss Si! Boss Shao... suddenly fainted on the way back from the airport! We're on our way to the Central Hospital now!"
Si Qi's head buzzed, as if struck by a heavy hammer. All his calmness and composure collapsed in an instant. He didn't even have time to ask further questions, practically shouting at the driver, "Go to the hospital! Quick!"
On the way to the hospital, every second felt like a slow slicing of flesh and blood. Si Qi clutched his phone tightly, his knuckles turning white. The images of the hospital, the rescue, and the dying that he had forced into the depths of his memory suddenly flooded back, dragging him into a cold abyss. He repeatedly called Committee Member Shao and his assistant, but either no one answered or the line was busy.
Fear, like countless icy vines, entwined his heart, tightening ever tighter, nearly suffocating him. He regretted agreeing to let Shao Wei go on this business trip, regretted not insisting he bring a doctor with him, regretted not noticing the strangeness in his voice last night...
As soon as the car stopped at the hospital entrance, Si Qi rushed out and almost broke open the door of the emergency room. He saw Shao Wei's assistant anxiously talking to the doctor.
"Where is Shao Wei?!" Si Qi rushed over, his voice hoarse and his eyes red.
The assistant was startled by him and quickly pointed to the emergency room inside. "Mr. Shao is checking in there! The doctor's preliminary diagnosis is an acute stress reaction caused by excessive fatigue and unfamiliarity with the local climate. Pheromone levels are fluctuating, but vital signs are stable!"
Si Qi couldn't hear the word "stable"; he just wanted to see Shao Wei immediately. He pushed aside the nurse who tried to stop him and rushed straight to the emergency room. The moment his hand touched the doorknob, the door was pulled open from the inside.
Shao Wei was wheeled out by a nurse, lying on a mobile bed. His face was pale, his lips were bloodless, an oxygen tube was inserted into his nose, and an IV drip was attached to the back of his hand. He looked extremely weak. But when he saw Si Qi, who was in a state of panic and looked disheveled at the door, he froze for a moment. Then, with difficulty, he raised his hand, which was not connected to the IV, and stretched it towards him. He seemed to want to say something, but his weakness made no sound.
Si Qi stepped forward and grasped his cool hand tightly, nearly crushing his finger bones with such force that he leaned down, resting his forehead against Shao Wei's, closing his eyes, his whole body trembling uncontrollably.
"Shao Wei..." He choked and could only repeat this name. All the fear and dread were stuck in his throat, turning into broken breaths.
Shao Wei's hand moved in his palm, and his fingertips gently scratched his palm, like a weak comfort.
The doctor explained, "Don't worry, Mr. Si. Mr. Shao is mainly overworked, and the dry climate in the northwest has caused some dehydration, which has caused a temporary disorder in his pheromone levels. He has been given medication and needs to be hospitalized for observation overnight. He will be fine after getting enough rest."
Si Qi seemed not to hear, but just maintained that posture, greedily feeling Shao Wei's weak breathing and pulse, confirming that he was alive and warm.
Si Qi didn't stand up until the nurse urged him to send the patient to the ward, but his hand was still tightly holding Shao Wei's hand. He followed the bed all the way, and his eyes never left his face for a second.
Finally, they were the only two left in the single room. Shao Wei was settled in, his oxygen mask replaced with a more comfortable nasal cannula, and his expression seemed to ease a little. Si Qi sat in a chair beside the bed, his hands still wrapped around Shao Wei's, staring at him unblinkingly.
"I'm fine." Shao Wei finally gathered some strength, his voice weak but clear.
Si Qi shook his head, his lips pursed tightly, his eyes red. He lowered his head, buried his face in their clasped hands, and shrugged his shoulders slightly.
Seeing him like this, Shao Wei felt a sharp pang in his heart, a bitter pain he couldn't describe. He had never seen Si Qi so out of control, so vulnerable. The last time he saw him was when he was near death during treatment in Country M.
"I'm sorry..." Shao Wei said softly, "I made you worry."
Si Qi raised his head suddenly, his eyes filled with surging pain and self-blame: "I should be the one to say sorry! I shouldn't have let you go on a business trip! I shouldn't have..."
"Si Qi," Shao Wei interrupted him, his tone undeniably calm. "This is just an accident. I know my body, so I just need some rest." He paused, looking into Si Qi's bloodshot eyes. "Are the negotiations...going well?"
Even at this hour, he was still concerned about his negotiations. Si Qi's throat seemed to be blocked by something, and after a long pause, he replied in a hoarse voice: "...It's going smoothly."
Shao Wei seemed relieved and smiled lightly: "That's good."
The nurse came in to change the dressing, took his temperature, and left after confirming that Shao Wei's condition was stable. The ward fell silent again, with only the regular ticking of the monitor.
Si Qi went to the bathroom to wring out a hot towel, then returned to carefully wipe Shao Wei's face and hands, his movements as gentle as if he were handling a rare treasure. Afterward, he didn't return to his chair. Instead, he took off his shoes and carefully lay down on the edge of the bed. He gently wrapped his arm around Shao Wei's waist and rested his head on the shoulder that wasn't receiving the IV.
This is a posture that borders on dependence.
Shao Wei's body stiffened for a moment, then relaxed, even turning slightly to the side to allow him to lean in more comfortably. He could feel Si Qi's body trembling slightly, and could smell the pheromone scent on him that was still tinged with extreme fear and dread, and that carried a strong protective desire.
He raised his free hand and gently inserted it into Siqi's thick black hair, combing it intermittently, as if comforting a frightened large animal.
"Go to sleep." Shao Wei whispered, "I'm right here."
Si Qi didn't answer, but hugged him tighter, buried his face deeply in his neck, breathing in the faint scent of medicine on him and the stable, reassuring scent of cedar.
Outside the window, the city's neon lights continued to flicker. Inside the ward, the lights were dimmed. The ticking of the monitors became the only background noise.
Si Qi's tense nerves finally relaxed a little at the sound of Shao Wei's steady heartbeat. The fear slowly receded, leaving behind a profound sense of relief at having regained what he had lost, and a deeper, etched realization—he could not bear the risk of losing Shao Wei again. Not even a little bit.
He raised his head and stared at Shao Wei's profile as he closed his eyes and rested in the dim light. His voice was as low as a whisper, but with a firmness as rock:
"From now on, no matter where you go, I will accompany you."
Shao Wei's eyelashes trembled slightly, but he didn't open his eyes. He just uttered a very light single sound from his nose, expressing his agreement:
"Um."
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