My husband
At six in the morning, Si Qi was already in the cloakroom, tying his tie. The man in the mirror wore a sharp suit, his eyes sharp, betraying nothing of the sleeplessness of the previous night. He adjusted his cufflinks and turned to find Shao Wei standing in the doorway, a cup of steaming liquid in his hand.
"Drink it." Shao Wei handed him the cup. "It's good for your stomach."
Si Qi took the cup, the warmth passing through the ceramic into his palm. He bent down and sniffed, discovering a faint herbal scent. "When was it prepared?"
"Five o'clock." Shao Wei was already dressed, his white shirt buttoned to the top, regaining his usual meticulous image. "I checked the information about today's negotiations with the Wayne Group, and they've had problems with their capital chain recently."
Si Qi took a sip of the medicinal tea, which was bitter but sweet. "So?"
"So they can lower the price by at least 15%." Shao Wei's voice was as calm as if he were discussing the weather. "They're desperate."
Si Qi raised an eyebrow. This was the first time Shao Wei had actively participated in his business decision-making. He drank the medicinal tea in one gulp and placed the empty cup back on the tray. "Let's go together?"
Shao Wei nodded slightly, and a hint of emotion flashed in his eyes that Si Qi could not understand.
The atmosphere in the Wayne Group's conference room was almost frozen with tension. Si Qi sat at one end of the long table, Shao Wei quietly sitting to his right. Across from him sat Wayne's CEO and his team, each with an expression of anxiety written across their faces.
"Mr. Si, a 20% premium is already our bottom line." Wayne's CEO wiped the sweat from his forehead. "This technology patent is worth that price."
Si Qi crossed his fingers on the table, a polite yet cold smile on his face. "Mr. Li, I've seen your company's financial report for last quarter." He pushed a document over. "The bank loan is due next week, and your cash flow won't last until the end of the month."
The air in the conference room seemed to be instantly sucked dry. The Wayne people looked at each other, each expression uglier than the last.
"Why are you..." Mr. Li's voice trembled.
"I know much more than that." Si Qi leaned back in his chair, his top Alpha's pheromones faintly emanating, overwhelming the entire room. "Including other potential buyers you've contacted privately, not a single one has offered more than my baseline."
Shao Wei coughed lightly at this moment. Si Qi glanced at him and saw his fingertips tapping the table three times - this was the code used in their business competition in college, meaning "keep the pressure."
"15% discount, sign the contract today." Si Qi stood up and looked down at the other party. "Otherwise, I guarantee that the bank will receive your latest financial risk assessment tomorrow."
Mr. Li slumped in his chair, his face ashen. "...Deal."
As they walked out of the meeting room, Si Qi could feel Committee Member Shao's gaze fixed on the side of his face. "What's wrong?" he asked in a low voice.
Shao Wei shook his head, but a barely perceptible smile curved his lips. "Nothing, it's just... I've never seen you like this before."
"dislike?"
"No," Shao Wei said softly, "very charming."
This sentence made Si Qi's heart skip a beat. He took advantage of the moment when the elevator door closed to push Shao Wei into a corner and stared into his eyes closely. "Shao Wei, do you know that it is dangerous to say such things to an Alpha?"
Shao Wei didn't dodge, but instead raised his head slightly to meet his gaze. "I know."
The elevator dinged as it reached the first floor, interrupting the moment that was about to spiral out of control. Si Qi released his hand, straightened his suit, and was the first to exit the elevator. But the cedar-scented pheromone lingered in his nostrils, more agitated than any other Omega's scent.
Lunch was at a restaurant near the company. Si Qi ordered a steak and just as he cut a piece, he saw Shao Wei frowning at his plate.
"What's wrong?"
"Your stomach..." Shao Wei hesitated, "It shouldn't be eating such greasy food."
Si Qi put down his knife and fork. "Shao Wei, are you concerned about me?"
Shao Wei lowered his head and took a sip of water, his ears reddening slightly. "It's just common sense."
Si Qi smiled, beckoned the waiter over, and exchanged the steak for a bowl of clear noodle soup. He watched Shao Wei's tense shoulders relax slightly, and a warm feeling welled up in his heart.
The afternoon meeting lasted until eight o'clock in the evening. By the time it was over, Siqi's stomach had begun to ache. It was a problem he'd developed since college, and it would flare up when he was stressed or hadn't eaten regularly. He forced himself back to the office and took two painkillers, but they had little effect.
"Are there any documents to sign?" he asked his secretary, his voice lower than usual.
The secretary shook his head: "Mr. Shao said he has taken care of the rest and asked you to go home and rest directly."
Si Qi raised an eyebrow. He hadn't noticed when Shao Wei left. When he got home, the house was dark, with only the light on in the study. He pushed open the door and saw Shao Wei working at his desk, which was piled high with documents.
"Shouldn't these be dealt with tomorrow?" Si Qi leaned against the door frame, the pain in his stomach causing beads of sweat to ooze from his forehead.
Shao Wei looked up and stood up immediately. "You're not feeling well."
This wasn't a question. Si Qi wanted to deny it, but a sharp pain forced him to bend over and hold his stomach. Shao Wei walked over quickly, holding his back with one hand and touching his forehead with the other.
"I have a fever." Shao Wei's voice was full of reproach. "Why didn't you tell me earlier?"
Si Qi wanted to protest, but the pain made him speechless. Shao Wei half-carried him to the bedroom, his movements gentle but unyielding. He helped Si Qi take off his suit jacket and tie, unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt, and then turned to go to the bathroom.
Si Qi heard the sound of water running, and then the sound of the medicine box being opened. A moment later, Shao Wei returned with a hot towel and a small medicine box in his hand.
"Stomach medicine, take this first." Shao Wei held up his head and handed the pills and water to his lips. "It works better than painkillers."
Si Qi obediently swallowed the pills, then felt Shao Wei apply a hot towel to his stomach. The warmth passed through his shirt and onto his skin, and the pain seemed to ease a little.
"Turn around." Shao Wei ordered.
Si Qi raised an eyebrow, but slowly turned over. Shao Wei's hands landed on his back and began pressing along both sides of his spine. His technique was surprisingly professional, each stroke hitting the right spot precisely.
"Where did you learn this?" Si Qi asked in a muffled voice.
"My mother...used to have stomachaches too." Shao Wei's voice was soft. "After she left, no one massaged my father."
This was the first time Shao Wei mentioned his family. Si Qi wanted to turn around to see his expression, but Shao Wei's hand pressed on his shoulder.
"Don't move."
The pressure lasted twenty minutes, during which time Shao Wei changed the hot towel three times. Si Qi felt the pain gradually subside, replaced by a comfortable drowsiness. Just as he was about to fall asleep, a sharp pain came again, causing him to curl up involuntarily.
"Siqi?" Shao Wei's voice was rarely filled with a hint of panic.
"It's okay..." Si Qi gritted his teeth, "It's an old problem, just bear with it."
Shao Wei was silent for a moment, then suddenly released a pheromone. It wasn't the aggressive scent typical of an Alpha, but rather a soothing, comforting cedar scent. Si Qi looked up in surprise, seeing Shao Wei with his eyes closed, his brow furrowed, as if he were trying desperately to control something.
Alphas instinctively counter each other's pheromones, but at this moment, Siqi felt only comfort. His body reacted before his mind did, his muscles slowly relaxing and his breathing becoming steady.
"How did you do that?" he asked softly.
Shao Wei opened his eyes, his eyelashes fluttering slightly. "Practice," he replied curtly. "To... not hurt you."
Si Qi suddenly understood. Shao Wei's long-term use of inhibitors wasn't just to suppress his Alpha instincts, but also to prevent him from being harmed during his vulnerable period. This realization made his heart clench like a fist.
Another wave of pain hit him, and Si Qi groaned, resting his forehead on Shao Wei's shoulder. He felt Shao Wei's hand gently on the back of his neck, gently massaging the muscles around the gland.
"Go to sleep." Shao Wei's voice seemed to come from far away. "I'm here."
Si Qi, half asleep and half awake, grabbed Shao Wei's wrist, preventing him from leaving. He felt Shao Wei stiffen for a moment, but he didn't struggle. In his haze, he seemed to hear Shao Wei say something, but before he could hear it clearly, he fell into a deep sleep.
In the middle of the night, Si Qi was awakened by a sharp pain. Rain was falling outside the window, and the raindrops tapped on the glass like some kind of Morse code. He opened his eyes and found a small light on by the bed. Shao Wei was sitting in a chair next to him, holding a book.
"What time is it?" Si Qi asked in a hoarse voice.
"Three o'clock in the morning." Shao Wei closed the book. "Does it still hurt?"
Si Qi shook his head, his stomachache having eased considerably. He noticed that Shao Wei was reading The Silent River, the page resting on the poem he had marked.
"Why don't you sleep?"
Shao Wei placed the book on the bedside table. "I'm worried you'll feel pain again in the middle of the night."
These words were like a blunt knife, slowly and deeply piercing Si Qi's heart. He reached out and grasped Shao Wei's wrist, his thumb gently stroking the scabby scars. "Come up and sleep."
Shao Wei hesitated for a moment, but under Si Qi's insistent gaze, he slowly lay down on the bed. There was a distance between the two of them, but Si Qi could smell the faint scent of cedar on him.
"My father also has stomach problems." Shao Wei suddenly spoke in the darkness. "Every time he has an attack, he locks himself in the study and doesn't allow anyone to approach."
Si Qi turned to him and saw the profile of Shao Wei's face in the dim light. "So you learned massage?"
"Yeah. One time he passed out from the pain, and I snuck in to give him a massage." Shao Wei's voice was calm, but Si Qi could hear the pain in it. "When he woke up, he slapped me and said an Alpha shouldn't be so weak."
Si Qi's heart ached. He reached out and pulled Shao Wei into his arms, feeling him stiffen for a moment, but then he relaxed again. "Your father is a bastard."
Shao Wei didn't argue, but simply rested his forehead gently on Si Qi's shoulder. The sound of rain grew louder, drowning out their breathing. Si Qi gently stroked Shao Wei's back, as if soothing a wounded animal.
"Next time you're susceptible," he whispered, "we'll spend it together, without suppressants."
Shao Wei's body trembled slightly. "...I'm afraid of hurting you."
"You won't." Si Qi kissed the top of his head, "Just like tonight, you instinctively know how to comfort me."
Shao Wei didn't answer, but Si Qi felt his arm slowly wrap around her waist. It was a small but significant step forward, like a long-frozen river finally beginning to thaw.
The next morning, when Si Qi woke up, Shao Wei was no longer in bed. But the lingering scent of cedar on his pillow proved that the previous night had not been a dream. He got up to wash up and noticed movement in the kitchen.
Pushing open the door, he saw Shao Wei standing in front of the stove, something simmering in a pot. Sunlight streamed through the window onto him, casting a soft golden hue on him. The scene was so heartwarming that Si Qi couldn't help but stop and watch.
Shao Wei turned around and saw Si Qi standing there, his ears slightly red. "The porridge is almost ready."
Si Qi walked over, put his arms around Shao Wei's waist from behind, and rested his chin on his shoulder. "Thank you for last night."
Shao Wei's body stiffened for a moment, but he didn't struggle. "...As I should."
"It's not what I should do." Si Qi said softly, "It's because you care about me."
Shao Wei didn't deny it, but gently stirred the porridge in the pot. Si Qi noticed that it was a pot of yam porridge, which was very good for stomach problems. He kissed Shao Wei's earlobe and felt the other person tremble slightly.
"Are you going to rest at home today?" Shao Wei asked, his voice a little softer than usual.
Si Qi shook his head: "I have an important client to meet. But..." He took the spoon from Shao Wei's hand, "You come with me."
Shao Wei turned to look at him with a questioning look in his eyes.
"I want them to meet my charming Alpha mate." Si Qi said with a smile, and then took advantage of Shao Wei's unpreparedness to secretly kiss the corner of his lips.
Shao Wei's ears turned completely red, but he didn't shy away. He just whispered "childish" and turned to get the bowl. Si Qi looked at his back and felt an unprecedented sense of satisfaction.
This pursuit of her husband seems to have finally begun to bear fruit.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
