【Language and Collision】
Spring has arrived in southern France as expected, seemingly even more generous than last year. The sun pours down unreservedly, warming the stone walls of the cottage. The olive trees in the yard, lush with new leaves, cast dappled shadows. Even the air is swollen with a vibrant, almost boisterous warmth.
Shao Wei's physical condition had stabilized at a new equilibrium. The dull pain in his glands had largely subsided. While his pheromone levels remained far below those of a typical Alpha, his daily life was no longer any different from that of a normal person, even allowing for some relaxing walks and simple gardening. His complexion was a healthy, rosy white, no longer a sickly pallor. His icy blue eyes, bathed in sunlight, were as clear as a mountain lake.
Si Qi's heart, always hanging in the air, finally settled down a bit. He began to feel more comfortable leaving Shao Wei alone, and he resumed his daily routine of remote work and fitness. Life seemed to have completely settled into a peaceful and regular routine.
However, a new, subtle anxiety began to quietly gnaw at Siqi.
This anxiety stems from Shao Wei's silence.
Shao Wei's words were too few, almost stingy.
"Yeah." "Okay." "No." "Okay."
These monosyllabic words constituted the vast majority of his language. Even when he was emotionally aroused, he would only bite his lip, let out very light, suppressed gasps, and at most unconsciously utter a few vague "brother".
Siqi didn't want to engage in endless conversation, he was just... unsure.
He remembered the fluent and obscure words in Shao Wei's notebook, and the precise and sharp instructions he gave when handling work. He knew that Shao Wei was not naturally taciturn, but he just locked all his emotions and thoughts tightly under that calm appearance.
Si Qi began to involuntarily speculate on the meaning behind the silence.
Serving him freshly brewed coffee (his technique had improved considerably), Shao Wei took it, took a sip, and said, "Thank you." Then nothing more followed. Si Qi couldn't help but wonder: Did he really think it was delicious? Or was he just being polite? Or maybe... he didn't like it, but was too lazy to say so?
Taking an evening stroll, Si Qi saw a gorgeous sunset and pointed to the sky, "How beautiful!" Shao Wei glanced up and nodded, "Yeah." Si Qi wondered again: Does he really think it's beautiful? Or is he just being polite? What kind of scenery does he prefer?
Even at night, when he passionately kissed and caressed her, Shao Wei responded with his eyes closed, his body soft and docile, yet still silent. In that ultimate intimacy, Si Qi would instead feel a hint of inexplicable panic—was he happy? Did he enjoy it? Or was he merely enduring it? Or…was it because of his glands that he couldn't truly feel the pleasure that an Alpha partner could bring?
These thoughts were like vines, silently entwining themselves around him, tightening ever tighter. Si Qi became a little overly sensitive and... clumsy in his attempts to please.
He would try new dishes, nervously observing which bites Shao Wei took. He would buy all sorts of books and music records he thought Shao Wei might like and pile them in the corner of the living room. He even began secretly reading psychology articles on "how to communicate with silent partners," reading with a frown on his face.
Shao Wei seemed to notice this change in him. Occasionally, when Si Qi once again looked lost in thought at one of his simple responses, a faint flicker of confusion would cross Shao Wei's icy blue eyes. But he didn't ask anything.
This silent tug of war continued for some time, until one afternoon.
Si Qi was dealing with a difficult email, his thoughts stuck and his mood a bit irritable. He unconsciously released a little pheromone that hinted at anxiety. Although extremely weak, it was enough for the perceptive Shao Wei.
Shao Wei was sitting on a recliner by the window reading a book. Smelling the restless scent of sandalwood, he raised his head and looked at Si Qi, who was frowning behind the desk.
He put down the book, stood up, walked to the kitchen, and quietly ground the beans and brewed coffee. His movements were still slow and unhurried, with a unique rhythm.
The coffee was ready, he poured a cup, walked to Siqi's desk, and gently placed the cup next to him.
Si Qi looked up from the screen, somewhat surprised. Shao Wei rarely took the initiative to do these things.
"Thank you," Si Qi said as usual, picking up the cup and taking a sip. The temperature was just right, the medium roasted beans he had recently preferred, with aromas of nuts and chocolate, cooked to perfection.
He put down the cup and prepared to continue working, but found that Shao Wei did not leave, but stood quietly by the table, looking at him.
Si Qi was a little confused: "What's wrong?"
Shao Wei remained silent, his icy blue eyes like clear glass, clearly reflecting Si Qi's slightly tired and anxious face. Then, he very slowly reached out his hand, and gently touched Si Qi's furrowed brow with his fingertips.
The slightly cool touch fell on the skin, like a drop of dew, instantly extinguishing the slight irritability in Siqi's heart.
Shao Wei's fingertips didn't leave immediately, but he tried to smooth the frown very lightly and clumsily. His movements were a little awkward, even a little uncertain and cautious.
Si Qi was completely stunned. His heart felt like it was suddenly stabbed by the slightly cold fingertips, making it feel sore and numb.
Shao Wei stroked it a few times, but it seemed to be ineffective, so he withdrew his hand. He lowered his eyes, looked at his fingertips, then looked up at Si Qi and said very clearly, word by word:
"Coffee, I like it." "The sunset is beautiful." "You," he paused, his ice-blue eyes looking directly at Si Qi, a faint blush on his ears, but his voice remained calm, "...very good."
After saying this, he seemed to have completed some extremely exhausting task. He stopped looking at Siqi, turned around and walked back to the lounge chair by the window, and picked up the book again, as if nothing had happened.
Si Qi, however, seemed to be under a spell, frozen in his chair, Shao Wei's brief but extremely clear words and his clumsy but gentle touch just now replaying in his mind over and over again.
I like coffee. The sunset is beautiful. You are great.
Every word accurately hit his hidden anxiety and restlessness.
It turns out... he knew everything. He saw everything, but just responded in a different way.
A huge, scorching wave instantly washed away the vine-like doubts in Siqi's heart, leaving behind a piece of flat, warm land. A mixture of bitterness and ecstasy surged up his throat, making his eyes burn.
He stood up suddenly, walked a few steps to the window, and under Shao Wei's slightly surprised gaze, he knelt on one knee in front of the recliner and hugged the person and the book tightly in his arms.
His arms were clenched tightly and his body was even shaking slightly with excitement.
Shao Wei felt a little uncomfortable because of his stranglehold, but he did not struggle. He just stiffened for a moment, then slowly relaxed, and one hand hesitantly and gently patted his back.
"I'm sorry..." Si Qi buried his face in the crook of his neck, his voice muffled, "I'm so stupid."
He actually needed his Omega (although Shao Wei was not an Omega physically, Si Qi had already subconsciously placed him in a position that required extreme care) to soothe his ridiculous anxiety in this way.
Shao Wei didn't say anything, but just patted his back with a little more force.
From that day on, something changed quietly.
Si Qi no longer sought confirmation from Shao Wei's words. He began to focus more on feeling those silent expressions.
He would notice that when the coffee he brewed was to his liking, Shao Wei would drink half an extra cup. When the sunset was particularly gorgeous, Shao Wei would linger a little longer by the window. When he hugged him at night, Shao Wei's body would become extra soft, and she would even unconsciously rub the top of her head against his chin.
Language is no longer the only way to communicate.
Siqi also learned to "ask" in a more direct way.
He would point to two different cheeses at the market and ask directly, "Do you want this or that?" Shao Wei would usually point with his finger.
When choosing a movie, he would hand two covers to Shao Wei, and he would choose the one Shao Wei looked at for two seconds longer.
In between kisses, he would press his hand against Shao Wei's forehead and whisper with his breath burning hot, "Here? Or here?" Then he would use his lips to touch different places, feeling Shao Wei's subtle tremors and breathing changes to get the answer.
Shao Wei went from being at a loss and slightly resisting this almost direct "forced" communication style to gradually getting used to it and even starting to give clearer feedback - for example, when Si Qi guessed wrong, he would push his shoulder very lightly, or when he guessed right, he would respond with an extremely subtle nod.
This unique way of communication, based on extreme tacit understanding and observation, makes the bond between the two people even closer and more private.
On a warm spring evening, after the two had finished their showers, Si Qi carefully dried Shao Wei's dripping hair with a soft towel. Shao Wei sat quietly, head bowed, revealing his fair, fragile neck and the pale pink scar on his glandular area.
Si Qi's movements were incredibly gentle, his fingertips weaving through the moist and slightly cool hair, his heart filled with love.
After wiping the hair half dry, he put down the towel, took the comb, and gently combed the soft hair.
As he was combing his hair, he suddenly remembered something and whispered, "Turn around."
Shao Wei turned his head slightly as he was told.
Si Qi picked up a small box from the side. Inside was a simple silver hairpin bought from a craftsman in the town. It was shaped like a small olive leaf and was very delicate.
"Your hair is a little long. It blocks your eyes when you lower your head to read." Si Qi explained, carefully gathering a few strands of longer hair on Shao Wei's forehead and gently pinning them with a hairpin.
His movements were a little clumsy, for fear of hurting him.
After it was done, he held Shao Wei's shoulders and asked him to turn back so that he could look at it carefully.
Under the warm yellow light, the silver olive leaf gleamed delicately in Shao Wei's light hair. A few strands of hair were neatly pinned together, revealing a smooth forehead and those icy blue eyes that always seemed too cold. At that moment, those eyes were quietly gazing at him, their reflection clearly reflected in his.
"It looks good." Si Qi praised sincerely, his heart softening.
Shao Wei raised his hand and lightly touched the knot on his hair, then his eyes fell on Si Qi's face. He stared at her for a long time, so long that Si Qi thought he would not respond again.
Then, Shao Wei leaned forward very slowly and took the initiative to rest his forehead on Si Qi's collarbone. This was a posture of complete dependence and intimacy.
His voice was very soft, carrying the dampness of a fresh shower. It came through the thin fabric of his pajamas, muffled, but clearly penetrated Siqi's ears:
"Your vision is very good."
Si Qi's breathing suddenly stagnated, and then a huge ecstasy exploded in his chest like fireworks! He tightened his arms, hugged him deeply in his arms, lowered his head and kept kissing the top of his head, laughing low and happy.
Look, his Shao Wei is not silent.
He simply chose to use another, more precious, more solemn language.
And Siqi felt that he was finally about to become a qualified translator of this language.
Outside the window, the warm spring night breeze brought the whispers of distant vineyards. Inside the house, the lights were warm, and love flowed silently, but it was already deafening.
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