Chasing Husband
Shao Wei stood in the kitchen, his fingers tapping gently on the marble countertop, waiting for the water to boil. It was six in the morning, and the entire villa was still shrouded in darkness, lit only by the kitchen light. He didn't need to check his watch; his biological clock was as precise as a machine—at five minutes past six, Si Qi would be at the stairwell.
The kettle hummed softly. Shao Wei turned off the heat and poured the hot water into the thermos he had prepared. Two spoonfuls of honey, a slice of lemon, and the temperature was exactly 65 degrees. He screwed the lid on the cup tightly and turned around, almost bumping into Si Qi, who had unknowingly stood behind him.
"Good morning." Shao Wei said in a low voice and handed over the thermos cup.
Si Qi took it, and the moment their fingertips touched, they both quickly withdrew their hands. He was half a head taller than Shao Wei, and he glanced down at the other's pale face, his brows furrowed slightly.
"Not sleeping again?"
Shao Wei shook his head and turned to get the toast. His movements were gentle, like a cat unwilling to disturb anyone. Si Qi leaned against the doorframe and took a sip of honey water. It was just the right temperature and sweetness, just like every morning for the past three years.
"There's a dinner party today." Si Qi said suddenly.
Shao Wei's hand paused for a second, "Do you need me to go?"
"what ever."
The conversation ended. Shao Wei knew Si Qi wasn't asking, only informing him. He expertly cut the toast into triangles, placed them on a plate, and pushed them toward Si Qi. For three years, their conversations had mostly been like this—brief, necessary, and emotionless.
Si Qi finished his breakfast and picked up his suit jacket hanging on the back of his chair. Shao Wei stood beside him, holding a tie. Si Qi glanced at him and lowered his head slightly. This movement made it easier for Shao Wei to tie his tie. Their breaths met, but they deliberately avoided each other's eyes.
"See you tonight." Si Qi said, turned and left.
Shao Wei stood there, listening to the door close. He exhaled slowly, as if he had been holding his breath. The kitchen fell silent again, save for a drop of honey that slowly slid down the edge of the thermos.
Shao Wei cleared the dishes and went upstairs to his room. For three years, they had slept in separate rooms, except during periods of vulnerability. He turned on his computer and began processing company documents. As the Shao family's Alpha, he was supposed to be in charge of the family business, but since being "married" to Si Qi, he had become a vice president in name only, a de facto idler.
The numbers on the screen danced, but Shao Wei's gaze drifted to the framed photo on the desk. It was their wedding photo, two Alphas in white suits standing together, their expressions equally cold. At the time, the media hailed it as the "marriage of the century," the union of two top Alpha families. Only they knew it was just a transaction.
At noon, Shao Wei received a call from his mother.
"What have you thought about it?" Mother's voice came through the microphone, as unquestionable as ever.
Shao Wei's fingers unconsciously rubbed the tabletop. "I'm still thinking about it."
"Don't be silly, Shao Wei. Si Qi doesn't care about you at all. In the past three years, he hasn't even given you a mark." The mother's voice became sharp. "The Li family's youngest son has just differentiated into an Omega, and the pheromone compatibility test shows that he is a good match for you. This is an opportunity!"
Shao Wei closed his eyes and said, "I understand."
"You must attend the family gathering next week. The Li family will also be there." After saying that, the mother hung up the phone.
Shao Wei put down his phone and walked to the window. The roses in the garden were in full bloom. Si Qi had planted them, though he never admired flowers. Shao Wei had overheard the housekeeper say that Si Qi had seen these roses at his grandmother's house as a child and thought they were beautiful.
In the evening, Shao Wei went to the dinner. He chose a dark blue suit and stood in front of the mirror, adjusting his tie. He hesitated for a moment and sprayed a little pheromone neutralizer. Si Qi didn't like him giving off an Alpha vibe in public.
The dinner was held at a high-end hotel. When Shao Wei arrived, Si Qi was surrounded by a group of Omegas. As a top-tier Alpha, Si Qi's charm remained undimmed even with a cold expression. Shao Wei stood in the corner, watching her husband effortlessly handle the various approaches.
"I have a family." Si Qi said to an Omega who tried to get closer, his voice not loud but clear enough.
The Omega smiled sweetly, "But your partner is also an Alpha. Can he satisfy you?"
Si Qi's eyes instantly turned cold, "Watch your words."
Shao Wei turned and went to the terrace. The night breeze was cool. He lit a cigarette, but didn't smoke, just watching the smoke linger in the air. He rarely smoked, unless he was particularly upset.
"When did you learn it?"
Si Qi's voice came from behind him. Shao Wei didn't turn around, but just put out his cigarette.
"Occasionally."
Si Qi walked over to him, and they stood there in silence. The lights of the city in the distance looked like scattered stars.
"I'm going back to the Shao family next week." Shao Wei said suddenly.
Si Qi turned his head to look at him, "What's the matter?"
"A family gathering."
"Do you need me to come with you?"
Shao Wei shook his head, "No need."
Another moment of silence passed. Si Qi suddenly reached out and brushed away the petals that had fallen on Shao Wei's shoulder. This unexpectedly intimate gesture stunned both of them.
"Go back." Si Qi said, turned and left.
Shao Wei looked at his back, and his fingers unconsciously touched the shoulder that had just been touched.
A week later, Shao Wei returned to the Shao family home alone. The mansion was even more depressing than he remembered. The Li family had already arrived in the hall. The youngest son, a recently differentiated Omega, was shyly peeking at him.
"Shao Wei, come here," my father ordered.
Shao Wei walked over and mechanically greeted him. He had been pushed around like an exhibit all evening. After the banquet, his father called him into the study.
"It's decided. We'll get engaged next month," my father said without allowing any room for argument.
Shao Wei raised his head and said, "I'm already married."
"What kind of marriage is that?" My father sneered. "It's been three years, and there's not even a temporary mark. The Si family doesn't care about you at all."
"I care."
The words came out of his mouth, surprising even Shao Wei himself. His father obviously didn't expect it either, and he narrowed his eyes and looked at his son.
"Are you in love with him?"
Shao Wei didn't answer. His father's expression changed from surprise to pity.
"Poor fool. Do you think Siqi cares about the feelings of an Alpha? He can always find a hundred Omegas to replace you."
That night, Shao Wei didn't go back to the Si family's house. He went to the bar he used to frequent. The bartender remembered him and made him a strong drink.
"Long time no see, Master Shao." The bartender said with a smile, "I heard you got married?"
Shao Wei drank the wine in his glass in one gulp and said, "We're going to get divorced soon."
He drank so much that his pheromones began to leak out uncontrollably. The omegas in the bar were eager to make a move, but were all forced back by his cold gaze. At two o'clock in the morning, he staggered out of the bar and saw Siqi's car parked at the door.
Si Qi leaned against the car, his face terribly gloomy. He strode over and grabbed Shao Wei's wrist.
"Do you know what time it is now?" Si Qi growled in a low voice, and the oppressive feeling of Alpha came over him.
Shao Wei smiled. This was the first time he had smiled in front of Si Qi in three years. "Are you worried about me?"
Si Qi didn't answer and roughly shoved him into the car. On the way home, both of them were silent. Shao Wei leaned against the car window, watching the street scene quickly receding outside.
"I want a divorce," he said suddenly.
The car braked suddenly. Si Qi turned his head, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "What?"
"The youngest son of the Li family, a newly differentiated Omega." Shao Wei said calmly, "It was arranged by his family."
Si Qi gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles turning white. "Do you agree?"
"What's the difference?" Shao Wei looked out the window. "Our marriage is just a transaction anyway."
Si Qi suddenly started the car, going even faster than before. When they got home, he dragged Shao Wei upstairs and roughly kicked open the bedroom door. Shao Wei was thrown onto the bed, and before he could react, Si Qi was already on top of him.
"Who do you think I am?" Si Qi gritted his teeth, his pheromones sweeping through the room like a storm. "It's been three years, and you want to leave just like that?"
Shao Wei had never seen Si Qi like this before. He struggled to get up, but was held down. Si Qi's teeth pressed against the back of his neck, where the Alpha glands were.
"You're going to... mark me?" Shao Wei asked incredulously. Marking between Alphas was extremely painful and non-binding, more of a declaration of possession than anything else.
Si Qi's breathing was heavy. "Don't you want a divorce? Then I'll let everyone know who you belong to."
The pain was sudden and intense. The Alpha's teeth pierced his skin, forcibly injecting pheromones into the other Alpha's glands. Shao Wei's vision darkened with agony, but he didn't struggle. As Siqi's pheromones surged into his bloodstream, a strange feeling washed over him—not the submissiveness of an Omega being marked, but the fierce rivalry between Alphas, like two flames devouring each other yet strangely merging.
After the marking was completed, Si Qi raised his head, blood still streaking at the corner of his mouth. Shao Wei's face was pale, but his eyes were unusually clear.
"Why?" he asked softly.
Si Qi leaned on top of him, his chest heaving violently, "Because you are mine." These words seemed to have been suppressed for a long time and finally burst out.
Shao Wei reached out and touched Si Qi's face. "For three years, you hardly spoke to me."
"You too." Si Qi grabbed his hand. "You are always so quiet, like a shadow. I don't know what you are thinking."
"I was thinking..." Shao Wei's voice was very soft, "How can I make you look at me more?"
Si Qi was stunned. He looked down at the person beneath him and suddenly realized what he had missed. For three years, the honey water he had silently prepared, the footsteps at the study door late at night, the blankets he had quietly covered him with after he fell asleep...
"Shao Wei." Si Qi called his name, his voice trembling. "If I told you that I couldn't leave you a long time ago, would you believe it?"
Shao Wei's eyes lit up, like stars suddenly lighting up in the night sky. "I will tell you. Prove it to me."
Si Qi lowered his head, this time for a gentle kiss. The two Alphas' pheromones intertwined in the room, no longer in confrontation, but in a lingering embrace.
The next morning, Shao Wei woke up in Si Qi's arms. Sunlight streamed through the curtains onto the bed, and Si Qi's arms were tightly wrapped around his waist. The mark on the back of his neck still ached, but Shao Wei felt an unprecedented sense of satisfaction.
The ringing of a cell phone shattered the silence. It was the Shao family calling. Shao Wei glanced at the caller ID, then at Si Qi sleeping beside him, and gently hit the reject button.
Si Qi opened his eyes and asked, "Who's calling?"
"An unimportant person." Shao Wei said, and took the initiative to kiss the corner of his mouth.
Si Qi deepened the kiss, then looked at him seriously, "About the Li family..."
"I'll take care of it," Shao Wei said, a glint of determination in his eyes. "This time, I want to make the decision for myself."
Si Qi smiled. This was the first time Shao Wei had seen him smile sincerely. "Do you need your Alpha's help?"
Shao Wei raised an eyebrow, "My Alpha? I thought we were all Alphas."
"That's right." Si Qi turned over and pressed him down, "So we have to redefine some rules."
The two smiled at each other. The sun shone down on them, warm and bright. For the first time in three years, they felt that this marriage was no longer a transaction, but a bond they had willingly entered into.
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