Paranoid possession
The operating room's indicator light continued to glow crimson, like a cold eye, watching the anxious Alpha outside the door. Si Qi leaned against the cold concrete wall, the cigarette burning to the end of his fingertips. He felt the burning sting, but he was completely unaware.
Outside the window, the roar of engines, like the low growl of a wild animal, pierced the wind and snow, drawing ever closer, finally coming to a halt outside the building. Car doors opened and closed, and the crunch of boots on packed snow was dense and distinct. At least three cars had arrived, with no fewer than ten people.
Si Qi snuffed out his cigarette and stood up straight. The strong scent of sandalwood pheromones, no longer suppressed, spread out from him like a substance, carrying the undeniable pressure and cold warning of a top-tier Alpha. It instantly filled the corridor, even penetrating the crack in the door and permeating the entire research station.
"Dr. Chen's men, stay inside and lock the door." Si Qi's voice was low and without any ups and downs, but it carried a heart-pounding sense of absolute command. "I'll take care of the people outside."
A young researcher inside nodded nervously and quickly activated the simple defense device at the door - a heavy alloy gate began to slowly descend.
Si Qi took one last look at the closed door of the operating room, his eyes filled with unprecedented violence and determination. He turned and walked towards the building exit without hesitation, proactively greeting the uninvited guests.
“Squeak—”
Si Qi pushed the heavy iron door open from the inside, and a gust of wind and snow instantly hit him. Outside, a dozen men in uniform black combat uniforms with silver epaulettes formed a semicircle around the entrance. They all exuded a fierce aura, clearly specially trained Alphas. They held not lethal weapons, but high-frequency pheromone jammers and powerful anesthetic transmitters.
The leader took a step forward. His pheromone was a cold scent with a smell of rust. He tried to compete with Siqi's sandalwood, but was clearly at a disadvantage.
"Mr. Siqi, we are the 'Watchmen' special operations team." The man flashed a badge. "Please hand over Mr. Shao Wei and cooperate with us to return for 'treatment.' This is for social stability and for your own good. Uncontrolled Alpha bonding is dangerous and must not be tolerated."
Si Qi scoffed, the wind and snow blowing his black hair across his forehead, revealing his icy eyes: "For our own good? Torturing him with the chip for three years, causing his pheromones to become disordered and nearly killing him?"
He took a step forward, and the tremendous pheromone pressure suddenly increased, causing several lower-level Alphas on the opposite side to turn pale and involuntarily take half a step back.
"My partner is in there undergoing surgery that could truly save him." Si Qi's voice was low, but it was clear enough to drown out the rustling of the wind and snow. Every word was as if icy. "Before I collapse, no one is allowed to go in and disturb him."
"Then I'm sorry." The leader's eyes turned cold and he made a gesture.
Two team members immediately raised their pheromone jammers, and harsh low-frequency sound waves rang out. At the same time, several others raised their tranquilizer guns.
However, the moment the sound wave struck, Si Qi, far from experiencing the expected confusion or weakness, felt the pheromones within him, restless because of Shao Wei, find an outlet, becoming even more turbulent! The permanent bond formed after the surgery now demonstrated its extraordinary power—the interference methods used against a single Alpha were significantly less effective against the twin Alphas who had already begun to "fuse"!
Si Qi's figure moved.
As fast as a flash of black lightning, he precisely dodged the anesthetic injection and instantly penetrated the enemy's formation. No fancy moves, only the sheer power and speed of a top-tier Alpha. Each strike went straight to the vital point, clean and sharp. The muffled thud of bones colliding and suppressed groans of pain echoed through the wind and snow.
His pheromones were no longer simply sandalwood, but were mixed with a faint, cold scent of cedar belonging to Shao Wei - that was a scent imprinted deep in his soul, but now it had become a boost to his battle and an extension of his will.
He thought of the three years Shao Wei had silently followed him, the late-night coffees he had neglected and lovingly prepared, the back of the man quietly cleaning the room after the susceptible period, the glaring words "three months to live" on the diagnosis, and the dead look in Shao Wei's eyes when he pushed him away and said, "I'm dying anyway"...
Anger, regret, fear, and the crazy obsession of never allowing it to be taken away again after losing it all turned into fighting instincts.
An Alpha who attempted a sideways attack was grabbed by the wrist by Si Qi, slammed against the cold wall, and instantly lost consciousness. Another team member holding a jammer was kicked in the abdomen by Si Qi, and flew backwards, landing in the snow.
Blood splattered onto the pristine white snow like a blossoming red plum. Si Qi's knuckles were bruised, and a trace of blood oozed from the corner of his mouth, but the fire in his eyes burned brighter and brighter, and his movements didn't falter. Like a thoroughly enraged guardian beast, he firmly guarded the only entrance to Shao Wei.
The captain of the leading operation team looked more and more unhappy. He did not expect that Siqi's strength and anti-interference ability were far beyond his expectations, and he did not expect that the strength of the connection between the two Alphas would reach such a terrifying level.
Just as Siqi grabbed a tranquilizer gun and broke it with his backhand—
"Siqi!"
A weak but clear cry, piercing through the wind, snow, and sounds of fighting, faintly came from inside the research station.
It's Shao Wei! Is he awake?
Si Qi's movements suddenly stopped and he subconsciously turned back.
At this moment of distraction, the captain's eyes flashed, and a specially made high-concentration anesthetic injection shot out from his hand, piercing the gland at the back of Siqi's neck! If it hit, it would be enough to knock down an elephant in an instant.
At the critical moment, Si Qi didn't even have time to dodge completely.
However, the expected sting did not come.
An invisible, yet extremely familiar pheromone barrier—a cold, cedar scent with a faint smell of blood—instantly condensed in front of his gland. Although weak, it precisely deflected the trajectory of the injection!
The anesthetic needle flew past Siqi's neck and nailed into the iron door behind him.
Si Qi turned around suddenly.
The door to the research station had cracked open at some point. Shao Wei's face was as pale as paper, and his head was still wrapped in fresh bandages. He leaned weakly against the doorframe, one hand weakly holding onto the door, while the other stretched forward with difficulty, his fingertips trembling slightly. The previous blow had almost exhausted all the strength he had just regained.
His eyes were no longer distracted. Although he was exhausted after the severe pain, he looked at Si Qi with extraordinary clarity and determination.
The moment their eyes met, Si Qi's heart felt like it was being gripped tightly by an invisible hand, making it feel sore and swollen.
The members of the Watchers were also shocked by this sudden change and the strange pheromones emitted from Shao Wei, which resonated with Si Qi, and they hesitated for a moment.
"Go back... Siqi..." Shao Wei's voice was weak, but it was filled with unquestionable persistence, "Don't... go alone..."
Si Qi looked at him deeply, his eyes were extremely complicated, with worry, anger, but more of it was a care and promise that was almost overflowing.
He turned around and faced the stagnant "Watchers". The sandalwood pheromones erupted again with unprecedented violence, even stirring up the surrounding wind and snow, forming a small vortex.
"Did you hear that?" Si Qi's voice was so cold it could freeze blood. "My partner told me not to be so stubborn alone."
"So," he flexed his wrist, his bloodstained lips curled up in an almost cruel arc, "you all come together."
The wind and snow grew stronger, but this time, Si Qi knew that he was no longer alone.
Si Qi's words were like a boulder dropped into a calm lake, sending ripples through the group of Watchers. However, his response wasn't a rush of figures, but rather a sharper, more piercing pheromone-induced interference.
This time, the frequency of the sound waves had clearly been adjusted, specifically targeting their initial state of connection. Si Qi groaned, feeling his solar plexus throbbing as if two red-hot steel needles were piercing deep into his brain through his eardrums, and a burning, sore sensation emanated from his glands. Behind him, in the research station, Shao Wei's suppressed, agonizing inhalation could be heard.
The voice was faint, but like a sharper knife, it pierced Siqi's heart precisely.
"Wei Wei Shao!" Si Qi didn't care about his own discomfort and turned around suddenly.
Shao Wei almost collapsed, supported by the hand gripping the door frame. The freshly wrapped white bandage on his forehead quickly stained red with blood, a shocking sight. His pupils constricted in pain, and his breathing was so rapid that he felt like he was suffocating.
The leading operation team leader sneered and seized this golden opportunity: "Suppress! The target connection is unstable!"
More jammers were aimed at Siqi, and several tranquilizer guns locked onto him again.
Si Qi's eyes turned red in an instant.
It was not because of the sonic attack, but because of Shao Wei's pain.
How dare they?! How dare they hurt Shao Wei again like this in front of him!
An unprecedented, near-destructive rage erupted from the depths of Siqi's heart. It wasn't just the pressure of a top-tier Alpha, but also a mad will emanating from the depths of their soul connection, determined to crush any and all threats.
His sandalwood pheromones exploded with unprecedented concentration and intensity, no longer diffused, but violently impacting the surroundings like a tsunami! A faint buzzing sound even emanated from the air, and the cold sandalwood scent now carried the bloody scent of gunpowder and rust.
The two Watchers, charging in front, bore the brunt of the impact. Their pheromones were instantly shredded like paper by this sheer force and will. Their faces drastically changed, as if struck by an invisible hammer. Unable to utter a scream, their eyes rolled back, blood streamed from their mouths and noses, and they fell facedown in the snow, unconscious.
The other team members' charge froze, expressions of horror and pain plastered across their faces. It was as if an invisible hand had gripped their throats, making even breathing extremely difficult. The sound waves emitted by their jammers seemed to be distorted and weakened by this violent pheromone field!
Si Qi moved.
His speed was even faster than before, his figure almost becoming a ghostly black line in the snowstorm and chaotic pheromone field. He chose no fighting techniques, but instead unleashed the most primitive and brutal force.
"Bang!" A punch hit the mask of the team member who tried to aim at Shao Wei. The mask made of special material shattered instantly, and the man fell to the ground without a groan.
He snatched the anesthesia transmitter from another person's hand and used it as an iron rod, swinging it hard on the side of the third person's neck. The crisp sound of the dislocated bones was teeth-grinding.
He charged into the pack like a thoroughly enraged lion, each strike resulting in the fall of a wolf. Blood splattered, staining his expensive black coat and the snow beneath his feet. His eyes were icy, devoid of any warmth, filled only with the pure, murderous intent of protecting his territory and his mate.
The operations leader's face paled, finally realizing the gravity of the situation had far surpassed his expectations. The strength of this Alpha's bond, and the potential unlocked by Siqi, had reached monstrous levels! He retreated in panic, growling into the communicator, "Requesting backup! Target Alpha is out of control! Repeat, target Alpha is out of control! Stronger suppression is required!"
At the entrance to the research station, Shao Wei gasped for air, his pounding headache eased slightly by the full-blown pheromone burst from Siqi and the swift dispatch of the other team members. In his blurry vision, he could see Siqi's back, fighting like a god of war.
So crazy, so violent, yet so... reassuring.
An indescribable bitterness and throbbing surged through Shao Wei's heart. In the past three years, he had never seen Si Qi act so recklessly for him, so recklessly. This man was always calm, arrogant, and aloof.
But now...
"Siqi..." Shao Wei called out again softly, trying to prop up his body.
At this moment, another mutation occurred!
A huge propeller roar echoed from the sky. A pure black, unmarked helicopter pierced through the low-hanging snow clouds, circling like a giant vulture. The powerful searchlight beam shone down, illuminating Si Qi and the mess on the ground.
The helicopter door opened, and a stern-faced man in a silver uniform appeared at the door. He held a strange-shaped, gun-like device in his hand, and the muzzle flashed an ominous blue light.
"High-frequency glandular energy suppressor!" Dr. Chen, watching the scene on the surveillance screen inside the research station, exclaimed in shock. "They actually used this! This thing can temporarily overload and paralyze the Alpha's glands, forcibly cutting off pheromone output! Get him out of the way!"
Si Qi also felt the deadly threat of the gun's lock, but behind him was the door to the research station, and behind the door was Shao Wei, who had just undergone surgery and was extremely weak. He couldn't hide!
He suddenly raised his head, staring at the people on the helicopter with his red eyes. Instead of retreating, he pushed the pheromones around his body to the extreme, ready to withstand the attack!
"No--!" Shao Wei's pupils suddenly shrank, and a burst of strength burst out from somewhere. He staggered out and tried to push Si Qi away.
Everything happened in a flash.
The man in the helicopter pulled the trigger.
A dazzling blue energy beam shot out silently, hitting the gland behind Siqi's neck.
However, just before the energy beam was about to hit—
As if sensing a shared, extreme danger, the glands of Siqi and Shao Wei began to burn fiercely at the same time! An instinct, far beyond their individual wills and originating from the deepest recesses of their genes, was activated.
Buzz!
The pheromones of the two—the violent sandalwood and the chilling cedar—no longer merely intertwined; within the tiny space between them, they swirled, compressed, and merged frantically! Instantly, a nearly invisible, high-speed vibrating vortex of pheromone energy formed, blocking the path of the blue energy beam!
The blue light collides violently with the invisible pheromone barrier!
There was no loud bang, only a numbing, high-frequency crackling sound! The blue energy beam seemed to have hit an absolutely solid barrier, suddenly exploding into countless tiny points of light, scattering and annihilating!
Si Qi and Shao Wei's bodies shook violently, as if their very souls had been shaken by the impact. Shao Wei spat out a small mouthful of blood and fell limply backward. Si Qi also stumbled, a sharp, tearing pain radiating from his glands, and his pheromone levels plummeted instantly. But he forced himself to stand firm and scooped the fallen Shao Wei into his arms.
The man in the silver uniform on the helicopter froze, a look of disbelief appearing on his face for the first time. "Impossible... a resonance barrier connecting two A-levels?! This only exists in theory..."
The operation leader and the remaining team members were all stunned and forgot what to do.
Si Qi ignored the shock. He held Shao Wei, who was breathing weakly and falling into semi-consciousness again, in his arms. His heart almost stopped beating. He suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with deep hatred at the helicopter, but he knew that he could not fight anymore.
He held Shao Wei in his arms and retreated step by step towards the alloy gate of the research station which was slowly rising.
"Stop them!" The action team leader reacted and gave a hoarse order.
But the remaining team members were frightened by Si Qi's previous violence and the incredible "resonance barrier", and for a moment no one dared to rush up.
During this brief moment of hesitation, Si Qi, holding Shao Wei, retreated into the research station. The alloy gate crashed down behind him, completely isolating him from the wind, snow, and enemies outside.
"Hurry! Check him!" Si Qi almost roared, carefully laying Shao Wei flat on the stretcher. His hands and body were still stained with the enemy's blood, but at this moment he was trembling and did not dare to touch Shao Wei's pale face hard.
Dr. Chen and Silver Fox immediately rushed forward to conduct an emergency inspection.
"The chip was removed successfully, but the resonance shock just now caused a secondary shock to his brain, coupled with emotional excitement and physical exhaustion..." Silver Fox reported quickly and connected various monitoring instruments to Shao Wei.
Si Qi stood aside, like a frozen, bloodstained statue, his eyes fixed on Shao Wei's face, his fists clenched tightly, his nails dug deep into his palms, blood dripping through his fingers, but he was unaware.
The helicopter outside circled several times, seemingly wary of something, and ultimately refrained from further attack, instead slowly descending. The Watchers began clearing the scene and removing the wounded, but made no further attempt to storm the research station. Clearly, the extraordinary force displayed by Si Qi and Shao Wei had made them wary, requiring a reassessment.
The research station is safe for now.
Time passed by minute by minute, depressing and long.
It was not until the data on the monitoring equipment gradually stabilized and Shao Wei's breathing became more even that Si Qi seemed to have been drained of all his strength. He staggered back two steps, leaned against the cold wall, and slowly slid down to sit down.
He lowered his head, looked at his hands covered in blood and snow, and his body began to tremble uncontrollably.
Scared.
The unprecedented fear came like a cold tide, overwhelming me.
If he had discovered Shao Wei's condition a little later... If he hadn't insisted on bringing Shao Wei to find his memory... If he hadn't blocked the attack just now, or if that strange barrier hadn't appeared... If Shao Wei had been injured by this attack...
Countless "what ifs" gnawed at his heart like venomous snakes, making it almost impossible to breathe. He then realized with a start that, unknowingly, this quiet and patient person, whom he had ignored for three years, had already become an inseparable part of his life, his other half, his Achilles' heel.
The possibility of losing Shao Wei frightened him a million times more than any conspiracy by a business rival or the truth of any genetic experiment.
After Dr. Chen dealt with Shao Wei's situation, he walked over and handed Si Qi a glass of warm water and a towel.
"He's stable for now, but needs deep rest." Dr. Chen sighed as he looked at Siqi's distraught expression. "What you just did... that was a self-protection mechanism that highly compatible twin Alphas might activate in extreme circumstances. It's a pheromone resonance barrier. It's only been recorded a handful of times. This suggests your connection is even deeper than we can detect."
Si Qi didn't take the water, but just asked in a hoarse voice: "When will he wake up?"
"Unsure. He's exhausted both physically and mentally. But the good news is, after the chip was removed, the source of his subconscious pain should be gone. When he wakes up, perhaps... a lot of repressed things will come back." Dr. Chen paused and added, "Including real memories that might not be pleasant."
Si Qi fell silent. He remembered the words in Shao Wei's notebook: "Life is inherently meaningless," and his heart tightened again. What exactly was that hidden past?
He raised his head and looked at Shao Wei, who was still frowning slightly in his coma. His voice was low and firm, as if he was swearing, and as if he was telling himself:
"Whatever it is, I'll be with him."
This time, he will not let Shao Wei face it alone.
He stood up, walked to the stretcher, and carefully took Shao Wei's cold hand, pressing it against his equally cold cheek. The sandalwood pheromone became extremely gentle, like the softest feather, slowly enveloping the sleeping person, trying to dispel the pain and anxiety between his brows.
The wind and snow still howled outside the window, a temporary calm concealing a greater storm. But in this icy research station, Si Qi watched over Shao Wei, as if he were guarding the center of his entire world.
The crematorium of the husband-chasing woman may have just started to ignite the most blazing flame, and what he has to do is to warm his lover again in these ashes.
The station's heavy alloy gates temporarily sealed off the wind, snow, and danger, but the air inside was as tense as a fully drawn bowstring. The steady ticking of the instruments only made the silence even more suffocating.
Si Qi remained in the same position, half-kneeling beside the stretcher, holding Shao Wei's hand, his cheek pressed against the slightly cool skin, as if to transfer his strength and warmth. The violent aura surrounding him had long since faded, leaving only an almost reverent focus and cautiousness. The strong sandalwood pheromones had become extremely thin and gentle, like fine snow on pine branches under the warm winter sun, silently lingering around Shao Wei, trying to soothe his uneasy nerves even in his coma.
Dr. Chen, Silver Fox and others stood far away, not daring to disturb them. They just paid close attention to the data on the monitoring equipment and looked at the monitoring screen vigilantly from time to time. The "watchmen" outside did not leave, but established a temporary blockade not far away. The black helicopter was lurking in the snow like a ghost.
Time flows slowly in depression.
I don’t know how long it took, maybe an hour, maybe several hours, Shao Wei’s cold fingers moved very slightly in Si Qi’s palm.
Si Qi's body suddenly stiffened, and he looked up instantly, his eyes fixed on Shao Wei's face.
Shao Wei's long, dense eyelashes trembled like a butterfly struggling to break free from its cocoon. His brow furrowed in pain, and a soft, broken moan escaped his throat. The heart rate curve on the monitoring device began to show subtle fluctuations.
"Shao Wei?" Si Qi's voice was hoarse, trembling with hope that he himself hadn't noticed. "Can you hear me?"
Dr. Chen immediately stepped forward and made a calming gesture. "His consciousness is recovering, but it may be very confusing. Once the chip is removed, the repressed real memories will violently conflict with the false memories implanted in the chip and the recent reality. Don't stimulate him, let him take his time."
Si Qi took a deep breath, forcing himself to suppress his surging emotions. He simply held Shao Wei's hand tighter (but controlling the strength) and repeated in a low voice: "It's okay, I'm here."
Another period of time that seemed like a century passed, and Shao Wei's eyelashes trembled more and more violently. Finally, those ice-blue eyes slowly opened a crack.
At first, his pupils were dilated and unfocused, staring blankly at the ceiling, as if lost in a crack in time and space. His breathing became a little rapid, and his eyes were filled with confusion and... fear.
Si Qi's heart tightened and even his breathing became lighter.
Shao Wei's gaze moved slowly, passing over the cold instrument, the unfamiliar faces of Dr. Chen and Silver Fox, and finally, stopped on Si Qi's face, which was close at hand and full of worry and fatigue.
His eyes froze, as if he was identifying, or confirming.
There was a few seconds of dead silence.
Then, Shao Wei's pupils suddenly contracted, as if he saw something extremely terrifying. His body trembled violently, and he subconsciously tried to pull back the hand that was held by Si Qi, and a hoarse, frightened gasp came from his throat.
"Don't... don't touch me..." His voice was as weak as a breath, but it was filled with clear, unfaked fear and resistance. His body tried to retreat, but because of his weakness he could only move in vain.
Si Qi froze as if struck by lightning. The pure fear in Shao Wei's eyes was like an icicle piercing his heart, freezing him instantly. The hand that had been warm had also become icy cold.
"Shao Wei, it's me, Siqi." He tried to make his voice sound steadier, but he couldn't suppress the awkward tremor.
Shao Wei's eyes were still filled with confusion and vigilance. He looked around, his body trembling slightly. "Where...is this place? Who...are you?" His gaze returned to Si Qi's face again, and he shook his head painfully, "No...you're not...you shouldn't..."
His words were fragmented and his logic was confused. It was obvious that he was still mired in the quagmire of memory disorder.
Dr. Chen whispered, "He might not be able to distinguish between the present and the past, or between you and certain people in his memories. Chip implants are often accompanied by hypnosis and induction, so it's possible that certain negative emotions have become associated with specific images."
Si Qi's heart sank. Was it... negativity... that was connected to him? Was it his indifference and neglect over the past three years, or... something from even longer ago, something that had been tampered with and forgotten?
At this moment, Shao Wei seemed to be struck by a sudden flashback. He suddenly hugged his head and whimpered in pain: "It hurts... my head hurts... go away... let them go away! White room... needles... so many needles..."
He seemed to be trapped in some terrible nightmare, his body curled up, vulnerable to any blow.
Si Qi's heart felt like it was being rubbed harshly by an invisible hand, the aching pain nearly overwhelming him. He didn't dare to approach rashly, so he could only loosen his hand and step back half a step, giving him space. His voice was filled with suppressed pain, "Okay, I won't go over. Don't be afraid. No one can hurt you anymore. It's all over..."
His pheromones instinctively wanted to flow over to comfort him, but he was afraid of exacerbating Shao Wei's fear, so he could only forcibly restrain them around himself, creating an extremely depressing and introverted field.
This cautious restraint and concession seemed to slightly alleviate Shao Wei's violent reaction. He was still trembling, but no longer trying to avoid Si Qi in such a terrified manner. He just curled up and groaned intermittently, like a wounded little animal with a very insecure feeling.
Silver Fox took the opportunity to step forward and injected him with a small amount of sedative.
Under the effect of the drug, Shao Wei's tense body gradually relaxed, his breathing became steady, and he fell into a deep sleep again. However, this time, his brows were still furrowed tightly, as if he couldn't shake off those painful fragments of memory even in his sleep.
Si Qi stood there, motionless, like a statue without a soul. Shao Wei's fearful look and resistance from earlier replayed repeatedly in his mind, torturing his nerves.
It turns out... what is burning in the crematorium is not only regret, but also the fear of being feared and forgotten by loved ones.
Dr. Chen walked over and patted him on the shoulder. "Give him some time. Recovering memories is like cleaning out a warehouse overflowing with debris. It requires patience. Especially those painful memories, the brain will instinctively reject them. What you need to do now is not to rush for him to recognize you, but to make him feel safe."
Safety?
Si Qi chewed on these two words, and a trace of extreme bitterness appeared at the corner of his mouth.
In the past three years, he was precisely the person who made Shao Wei feel the most insecure.
…
When Shao Wei woke up again, it was completely dark outside, illuminated only by the cold lights inside the research station. The wind and snow seemed to have subsided, but the cold was even stronger.
He opened his eyes, still confused, but much clearer than last time. He lay quietly, not moving, staring blankly at the ceiling, as if trying to sort out the chaotic thoughts in his mind.
Si Qi sat on a chair not far from the bed, guarding him, not daring to get close, nor to leave. Seeing him wake up, Si Qi immediately sat up straight, his Adam's apple rolled, but he didn't dare to speak easily.
There was only a few meters between the two of them, but it seemed as if there was an invisible wall built of three years of indifference and chaotic memories.
After a long moment, Shao Wei's eyes moved slightly, and his gaze slowly fell on Si Qi. The fear in his eyes was gone, replaced by an extremely complex look of scrutiny and confusion.
He opened his mouth, his voice still hoarse and weak, but a little clearer: "Siqi...?"
Si Qi's heart skipped a beat and he almost held his breath: "It's me."
Shao Wei stared at him in silence for a long moment, his icy blue eyes like the surface of a frozen lake, yet beneath them surged an indistinct undercurrent. Then, very slowly and tentatively, he asked, "Why...are you here?"
This question was like a thin needle, gently pricking Si Qi.
Why are you here?
Because of guilt? Because of the so-called love that she only realized after she found out he was dying? Or because of... that damn, unbreakable Alpha connection?
Si Qi found that any answer seemed so pale and ridiculous at this moment.
He took a deep breath and chose the most direct and truthful answer: "Because you are here."
Shao Wei's eyes flickered, as if he was surprised by the answer, but also seemed to be touched by something. He lowered his eyes, and his long eyelashes cast a faint shadow on his pale face, covering the emotion in his eyes.
There was another long silence.
The only sounds in the research station were the faint sound of the heater and the occasional whistling of wind outside the window.
"I seem to have... had a lot of dreams." Shao Wei suddenly whispered, his voice vague and dreamlike, "It's very chaotic... There's snow, a white room, and... a figure who always has his back to me..."
He paused, his fingers unconsciously clenching the sheets beneath him, his knuckles turning white.
"There's still... a lot of blood." His voice trembled slightly. "It's not mine... it's..."
His words stopped abruptly, as if some great fear had strangled his throat, and his body began to tremble slightly again.
Si Qi's heart leaped into his throat. He could almost guess who the "figure with its back to him" in Shao Wei's vague memory was, and what the blood meant. He clenched his fists, his nails digging deep into his palms, using the pain to force himself to remain calm and not move forward.
"It's all over." Si Qi's voice was low and firm, carrying an unquestionable power. "Those who hurt you, I will make them pay the price. All of them."
Shao Wei raised his head and looked at him again, his eyes filled with deeper confusion, tinged with a hint of bewilderment. The Si Qi before him was a stark contrast to the cold, arrogant Alpha he remembered, the one who always kept the study door closed to him.
The man looked exhausted, with dark circles under his eyes and stubble on his chin. His expensive coat was even stained with darkened blood. He looked disheveled and downtrodden. But his eyes were so... focused, even holding a kind of almost paranoid determination he had never seen before.
This stark contrast made Shao Wei's already confused mind even more dizzy. He couldn't tell which was the real Si Qi, and couldn't tell which memories were real and which were artificially implanted illusions.
"I'm a little tired." Shao Wei finally avoided Si Qi's overly scorching gaze and closed his eyes again. His voice was full of fatigue and alienation. "I want to sleep a little longer."
"...Okay." Si Qi replied dryly, with a hint of imperceptible loss in his voice, "You sleep, I'll watch over you."
Shao Wei did not respond, as if he had fallen asleep.
But Si Qi knew that he didn't. His slightly trembling eyelashes and still tense body revealed his inner restlessness.
The walls still exist.
Si Qi looked at Shao Wei's profile as he pretended to sleep, and the ashes of the crematorium in his heart seemed to be blown by the wind, blinding his eyes, making him feel bitter and painful.
He knew that simply staying here was not enough. He needed to break down this wall, and the key might be hidden in the forgotten past.
He stood up and walked over to Dr. Chen, who had been working quietly nearby. He lowered his voice and said in a firm tone that would not tolerate rejection:
"Tell me everything you know. About the Twin Project, about when we were little, about...the blood and the white room in his memory."
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