Chasing Husband
Raindrops dripped down Siqi's jawline, soaking the wedding ring on his finger. The trees outside the villa swayed in the strong wind, casting ghostly shadows. He stood on the porch, his phone screen lit up—a private detective had just sent him an address: the abandoned Renhe Hospital in the north of the city.
That's the block next door to where the charity dinner was held seven years ago.
Si Qi clenched his wedding ring, the metal edge digging into his palm. The pain sobered him up. He rushed into the rain, the roar of the sports car engine tearing through the night air.
The rain blurred his vision, but his memories became clearer. Fragments of that rainy night seven years ago flashed through his mind: the dazzling crystal chandelier in the banquet hall, the red wine an Omega had deliberately spilled down his trouser leg, the sudden heat, and those amber-blue eyes in the parking lot...
The navigation indicated the hospital was three kilometers away. Si Qi called Dr. Zhou. "Is Shao Wei's glandular injury on the right side? It looks like three claw marks?"
There was a gasp from the other end of the phone: "How did you know?"
"Guessed it." Si Qi hung up the phone and floored the accelerator. He remembered it all now—seven years ago, when he'd been induced into estrus by that Omega's scheme, stumbled into the parking lot and encountered a soaking wet teenage Alpha. Seeing his condition, the teenager had unhesitatingly removed his own suppression patch and used pheromones to stabilize him.
The Omega family bodyguards who rushed to the scene mistakenly thought that the young Alpha was attacking him and scratched the boy's gland with a special weapon.
That young man was Shao Wei.
The shabby outline of Renhe Hospital loomed in the rain. Si Qi slammed on the brakes, sending the car spinning half a circle on the slippery road before coming to a stop. He rushed through the rusted iron gates, his flashlight sweeping across the mottled walls. This was once a top private hospital, but it closed five years ago due to a medical malpractice, leaving only a shell.
"Shao Wei!" Si Qi's shout echoed in the empty corridor. Rainwater leaked from the ceiling, forming small puddles on the ground. His leather shoes made a particularly crisp sound as they stepped on the water.
There was no response. Only the sound of rain and wind.
Si Qi walked towards the place he remembered—the emergency room where he had been rushed. Turning the corner, a faint light shone through the half-open door. His heartbeat quickened as he gently pushed the door open.
Shao Wei sat in the corner, knees bent, head buried in his arms. A camping lantern sat beside him, its dim light outlining his thin figure. At the sound, he jerked his head up, his wet eyes glinting in the darkness.
"What are you doing..." Shao Wei's voice choked. His face was pale, and his lips were slightly blue from the cold.
Si Qi strode over, took off his coat and wrapped it around him: "Are you fucking crazy? In a place like this——"
"It's safe here," Shao Wei said softly, "no one would think of looking for me here."
Si Qi crouched down, eye-level with Shao Wei. Under the light, he could see wet drops of water on Shao Wei's eyelashes, whether they were rain or tears. This usually calm and composed Alpha now looked as fragile as a lost child.
"I remember now," Si Qi said, "that rainy night seven years ago."
Shao Wei's body stiffened for a moment, then he tried to stand up: "We shouldn't talk about this. The divorce agreement has already been-"
Si Qi held his shoulder and said, "You saved me, but someone accidentally injured your gland. Why didn't you tell me?"
Shao Wei turned his face away, his Adam's apple rolling up and down: "There's nothing much to say. After that night, my family sent me abroad and I didn't come back until last year."
"Because of me?"
"Because I'm an Alpha who hurts Omegas." Shao Wei smiled bitterly. "Even though you were induced into estrus, no one would believe an Alpha, especially when the other party is from a prominent Omega family."
Si Qi's chest tightened. He remembered that Omega family—the Lins—their family. They were the same family as the daughter who had thrown red wine on him at the party a few days ago. Fate, like a malicious circle, entwined the past and the present.
"Your gland..." Si Qi reached out and touched the back of Shao Wei's neck, where there was a hideous scar. "What did the doctor say at the time?"
Shao Wei shuddered slightly, but didn't shy away. "Permanent damage. My pheromone secretion is abnormal and periodically goes out of control." He paused, "That's why... I can help you get through your susceptible period. Damaged Alpha pheromones will mutate and produce a soothing effect similar to that of an Omega."
Si Qi's breath hitched. So this was why Shao Wei could always calmly endure his susceptible periods, why their pheromones were so remarkably compatible. It wasn't a fluke; it was the result of Shao Wei sacrificing his own health.
"Why don't you tell me the truth?" Si Qi's voice was hoarse. "If I knew——"
"So what if you know?" Shao Wei suddenly looked up, his eyes flashing with intense emotions Si Qi had never seen before. "Will you treat me well out of responsibility? Or do you feel guilty? I don't need pity, Si Qi."
"Then what do you need?" Si Qi approached. "Disappear without a word? Sign the divorce papers and then disappear from the face of the earth?"
Shao Wei's chest heaved violently. "I need you to be safe!" He practically shouted, "Your grandfather was right. Two Alphas have no future together. Now that the Eastern Front merger is complete, our agreement—"
"Fuck the agreement!" Si Qi pulled Shao Wei into his arms. "Why do you think I've locked myself up every June 18th for the past seven years? Why did I insist on marriage the first time I saw you? My body remembers you, Shao Wei, even if my memory is fuzzy!"
Shao Wei froze in his arms, breathing rapidly: "Impossible... You were unconscious at the time..."
"But I remember your eyes." Si Qi loosened his grip a little and held Shao Wei's face. "Ice blue, like artificially cultivated blue roses. After that night, I never let any Omega get close to me again."
The sound of rain grew louder, pounding against the broken window. Shao Wei's eyes flickered in the dim light, and Si Qi could feel him trembling.
"I don't understand..." Shao Wei's voice was so soft that it was almost inaudible. "Why me? You have so many choices..."
Si Qi's thumb brushed the wetness under Shao Wei's eyes. "Because only your pheromones can calm me down. It's been like this since seven years ago." He took out the wedding ring. "Now, tell me the truth. Do you want a divorce?"
Shao Wei stared at the ring in silence for a long time. Finally, he shook his head, so slightly that it was almost imperceptible.
Si Qi breathed a sigh of relief and put the ring back on Shao Wei's finger: "Then don't make decisions on your own." He paused, "About my grandfather and the board of directors..."
"I can leave," Shao Wei said eagerly, "and pretend we're really divorced. That way you can keep—"
"I have resigned as CEO." Si Qi said calmly.
Shao Wei's eyes widened: "What? When?"
"Before coming here," Si Qi shrugged, "I sent my grandfather a letter of resignation and, by the way, reported several irregularities in the East Line merger. The board of directors must be in chaos now."
Shao Wei's expression was as if he had been hit by a blow: "Are you crazy? That's the company you've run for ten years!"
"So?" Si Qi moved closer, his nose almost touching Shao Wei's. "You are more important than the entire Si family."
Shao Wei's breathing paused for a moment, and then he suddenly collapsed. He grabbed Si Qi's collar, rested his forehead on his shoulder, and whimpered like a wounded animal: "You are all I have... Si Qi... I have nothing else..."
Si Qi hugged him tightly, feeling the man tremble violently in his arms. This was the first time Shao Wei had been vulnerable in front of him, like a wanderer who had finally found a safe haven. Raindrops dripped from the ceiling, soaking Si Qi's shirt along with Shao Wei's tears.
"I know." Si Qi gently stroked Shao Wei's back, "I'm here."
They embraced each other in the corner of the abandoned hospital, as if this was the only place left in the world. It took an unknown amount of time before Shao Wei's breathing stabilized. He stepped back slightly and wiped his eyes embarrassedly: "Sorry, I lost control."
Si Qi shook his head and took out a small box from his pocket: "Dr. Zhou's new inhibitor is specifically for your gland damage."
Shao Wei took the medicine box and brushed his fingertips across Si Qi's palm: "Thank you."
"No need to talk about this." Si Qi stood up and reached out to pull him, "Let's go home."
Shao Wei hesitated: "Your grandfather..."
"I'll be mad." Si Qi grinned, "Just thinking about it makes me happy."
Shao Wei finally cracked a genuine smile, his eyes curling slightly. He took Si Qi's hand and stood up, only to gasp the next second—his legs were numb from sitting for so long. Si Qi quickly put his arm around his waist, and the two of them clung so close that their breaths mingled.
"Can we walk?" Si Qi asked in a low voice.
Shao Wei nodded, but subconsciously leaned towards Si Qi. Si Qi understood and immediately picked him up.
"Siqi!" Shao Wei exclaimed, "Put me down, I can--"
"Shut up." Si Qi kissed him on the forehead, "My Alpha, I can hold you however I want."
Shao Wei's ears instantly turned red, and he shut his mouth obediently, burying his face in the crook of Si Qi's neck. Si Qi held him as he walked through the corridor. The sound of rain gradually subsided, and a ray of moonlight shone through the clouds.
Back in the car, Si Qi turned on the heater and handed Shao Wei a dry towel: "Dry your hair."
Shao Wei took the towel, his movements somewhat clumsily. Si Qi watched for a moment, then reached for the towel and began to wipe him himself. Shao Wei sat quietly, letting Si Qi's fingers run through his hair, occasionally shuddering slightly as they touched sensitive areas.
"I have a question." Si Qi suddenly said, "Why did you help me seven years ago? You knew it might get you into trouble."
Shao Wei lowered his eyes: "Because the way you look at me... is different from other Alphas."
"Why is it different?"
“No judgment, no hostility,” Shao Wei said softly, “just like I’m just… a person.”
Si Qi's heart felt like it was being clenched by an invisible hand. He put down the towel and cupped Shao Wei's face. "Listen, from now on, you have the right to ask anything of me. You can get angry if you're angry, cry if you're sad, and just say what you want. You're not a tool, Shao Wei, you're the one I love."
Shao Wei's pupils dilated slightly, as if he had heard something incredible. He opened his mouth, then closed it again, and finally nodded slightly.
Si Qi sighed, knowing that change wouldn't happen overnight. He started the car and drove to their other apartment in the south of the city—a place unknown to the media and therefore safe for the time being.
The city after the rain was shimmering with a wet light. While waiting for the red light, Si Qi turned to look at Shao Wei: "One more thing."
"Um?"
"Why would our pheromones permanently merge? Doctor Zhou said it's almost impossible for this to happen between two Alphas."
Shao Wei's fingers unconsciously stroked the scar on the back of his neck. "It was an emergency... I made a temporary mark."
Si Qi turned his head suddenly: "What?"
"It's an unconventional method." Shao Wei avoided his gaze. "I injected my pheromones into your glands... just like an Alpha does to an Omega. It's just a temporary measure, but maybe the damage to my glands... caused some kind of mutation."
Si Qi stared at him in shock. Temporarily marking an Alpha? This was unheard of in medicine. No wonder their pheromones were so compatible, no wonder his body instinctively desired Shao Wei—it was a memory imprinted in his glands.
"You really are..." Si Qi shook his head, "Incredible."
Shao Wei thought he was blaming her, and his shoulders hunched slightly: "I'm sorry, I was too young at the time and didn't understand the consequences..."
"No," Si Qi held his hand, "I mean, you saved me twice. Once seven years ago, and once now."
The apartment was brightly lit. Si Qi entered the code, and the door unlocked. It was much smaller than the villa, but the view was excellent; the entire starry sky could be seen from the floor-to-ceiling windows.
Shao Wei stood at the door, hesitant: "I didn't bring anything..."
"They've already been delivered." Si Qi pointed to the bedroom. "Your clothes, books, and even the pot of succulents have been brought in."
Shao Wei's eyes lit up like a child who had received a gift. He walked quickly to the bedroom and pushed open the door. Sure enough, all the items were neatly arranged, just like in every place they had lived together.
Si Qi hugged him from behind and rested his chin on his shoulder: "Do you like it?"
Shao Wei nodded and turned around. Moonlight streamed through the window onto his face, outlining his delicate features. Si Qi couldn't help but lower her head and kiss him. The kiss was gentle and lingering, unlike the intense kisses during her sensitive period, more like a silent promise.
"I haven't learned yet...how to be a good partner." Shao Wei whispered between kisses.
Si Qi smiled: "Me too. We can learn together."
He pulled Shao Wei out onto the balcony. The night sky was dotted with stars, and the lights of the distant city resembled falling stars. Si Qi pulled something from his pocket—another wedding ring, the inner ring engraved with the same date and initials.
"I lost my originals," he said, "and had a new pair ordered."
Shao Wei held out his hand and let Si Qi put the ring on his finger. The metal shone softly in the moonlight, fitting perfectly on his ring finger.
"Now," Siqi put his arm around his waist, "tell me what you want? Anything is fine."
Shao Wei looked up at the starry sky and thought for a moment: "I want to hear you say 'good morning' every morning."
Si Qi smiled: "Is it that simple?"
"Also," Shao Wei mustered up the courage to add, "Let's watch the stars together at least once a week."
"Deal." Si Qi kissed the top of his head. "It's my turn now. I want you to scold me when you're angry, tell me why when you're sad, and ask for what you want. Can you do that?"
Shao Wei took a deep breath and nodded: "I'll try."
The night breeze blew by, bringing with it the fresh scent of rain. Two Alphas stood beneath the stars, fingers intertwined. Their pheromones intertwined in the air, a strange harmony of cedar and liquor.
In a corner where no one could see, Shao Wei gently shook Si Qi's hand. It was a small step, but for them, it was a brand new beginning.
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