The agreement had been rushed out this morning, and he had forgotten to tell the lawyer that Wei Qinan was an Enigma, so the lawyer had naturally assumed he was marrying an Omega.
Shi Jing paused in silence. “Mn, I get it. Aside from this, are there any other issues?”
Wei Qinan looked further down.
It wasn’t as if he hadn’t heard of contract marriages.
In high-society marriages without affection, such contracts were always signed before the wedding to facilitate future property division.
Yet the terms of the agreement before him were remarkably simple.
Wei Qinan did not need to fulfill any duties as a partner; he only needed to live with Shi Jing and play along to fool the old man.
Wei Qinan flipped to the next page, confirming there were no other supplementary clauses. “Are these the only requirements?”
Shi Jing was noncommittal. “Just a fake marriage.”
“Then how am I supposed to play along?”
When Shi Jing had someone draft the agreement, he hadn’t thought that far ahead. He said casually, “Anything is fine. Just act affectionate toward me in public.”
As an Alpha, the desire to find an Omega to spend the rest of one’s life with was an instinct nearly carved into their genes. Unfortunately, the Omegas who came to blind dates were all after his money; the stench of copper was too heavy, and they were too hypocritical. The moment he finally met someone reliable, Shi Jing hadn’t felt any spark with him.
If he hadn’t been hounded about marriage by the old man at home, and if last night’s events hadn’t happened, he wouldn’t even be considering a contract marriage with Wei Qinan.
Recovering his thoughts, Shi Jing added, “The old man is quite paranoid; he might send people to keep an eye on us.”
“There’s no telling what methods he might use. In short, act affectionate.” He had always been cold toward everyone and couldn’t muster up enthusiasm, so he would just have to let Wei Qinan be affectionate toward him.
Wei Qinan didn’t hesitate for long. “Alright. I don’t have classes this afternoon, so I can go back to the dorm to pack my things. Am I moving to the place we stayed at yesterday?”
Shi Jing took back the scrapped agreement and messaged his lawyer to handle it anew. “We’re not staying there. I’ll have my assistant send you the new address.”
He looked up, only to find that the other man was gazing steadily at him, a faint trace of worry in the depths of his eyes.
Wei Qinan was even taller than him, his eyelids pressing slightly downward as he lowered his gaze, his expression obscure and unreadable.
Shi Jing said guardedly, “What?”
“I didn’t control my strength very well yesterday; that spot must really hurt.” Wei Qinan pointed at his own neck. “There’s no one in the teaching building right now, should I help you?”
As the time he had been awake grew longer, the memories related to last night gradually returned as well.
Don’t look at how well-behaved this fellow was acting right now; last night, not only had he disregarded restraint, he had also quite wickedly asked him if this felt good, if that felt nice.
Especially when he bit him.
Shi Jing: “No.”
Wait, why was he thinking about this matter again? Could it be that his brain broke because he was marked?
Shi Jing got angry at himself. “No need.”
Wei Qinan persisted. “But I’m an Enigma. If the mark isn’t repaired by my pheromones, it will take you a very long time to heal on your own. You probably don’t want to wear a scent patch for a whole month.”
Shi Jing’s figure paused slightly, having to admit that Wei Qinan had hit upon the point he cared about the most.
Let alone an Enigma, even when an Alpha marked an Omega, they had to expend energy to help the other person repair the bite mark.
This marking was an accident. From now on, he would make sure to inject himself with suppressants; there was no way he would let Wei Qinan mark him a second time.
Thinking this, Shi Jing nodded. “Mn.”
Just as his voice fell, his wrist was caught by someone, followed immediately by a wave of coolness spreading across the back of his neck.
The scent patch was gently peeled off, and the scent of freesia belonging to Shi Jing drifted faintly in the air.
If one carefully distinguished it, there was also another much lighter scent within it, carrying a slight astringency.
Wei Qinan’s registered secondary gender on file was the equinox flower. Shi Jing had only ever seen pictures of this flower online; it was said that its flower language wasn’t very good, quite sorrowful and bitter.
With his back to Wei Qinan, Shi Jing couldn’t see the other man’s expression.
An Alpha’s gland wasn’t like an Omega’s that could heal quickly on its own; having the wound exposed to the air made him feel irritable.
His skin was also more sensitive than an ordinary person’s, and as a finger lightly brushed across it, his neck shrank back uncontrollably.
The time was getting late, and Shi Jing wanted him to hurry up. Wei Qinan leaned in and pressed a kiss to the back of his neck.
An Enigma’s pheromones weren’t as intense and aggressive as an Alpha’s; instead, like a trickling stream, they gently soothed the partner who had been marked by them.
Shi Jing’s legs went soft, startled to find that the pain at the back of his neck had genuinely lessened.
His ears and face turned crimson. Restraining his reaction, he tried his best to make his tone sound firm: “Are you done?”
“Wait a moment longer.”
Wei Qinan caught a light whiff of Shi Jing’s pheromones and released even more of his own.
After finishing the kiss, Wei Qinan hesitated for a few seconds, then rubbed his cheek and said with a smile, “Does it still hurt now?”
Shi Jing narrowed his eyes comfortably, not wanting to answer that question. “Is it already healed?”
“Mn.”
Wei Qinan went to the small box behind the classroom door and took out a brand-new scent patch.
“They’re all new, emergency supplies kept at the school.” Wei Qinan explained, fearing Shi Jing would find it unhygienic.
Shi Jing: “I know.” He had only graduated from here last year, so of course he knew that every classroom kept emergency supplies.
Wei Qinan stopped talking then, helping him neatly apply the scent patch.
The number of Enigmas was so small that supplies used for their marked objects were very hard to buy, let alone when the other party was an Alpha.
Fortunately, technology was advanced now, so Omega supplies could just barely be made to do.
Wei Qinan: “Are you going to work this afternoon?”
After asking, he remembered that a pampered young master like this should be preparing to inherit the family business, so why would he need to personally go to work?
Yet Shi Jing replied, “I’m going to work.”
With the pain lessened, his complexion looked much better.
Shi Jing tugged at his collar, trying hard to make the neckline conceal the traces of the scent patch. “I’m leaving. Wait for my assistant to contact you after you pack your luggage.”
His backside still hurt, so his walking posture was a bit strange, but his expression was so cold that ordinary people would pay attention to his good looks rather than his backside.
Wei Qinan stood behind him: “Shi Jing.”
Shi Jing turned his head back: “?”
“I’ll carry you down.”
“No need.”
“But you look like you’re having a hard time.” Wei Qinan saw that his walking posture was quite awkward and gestured toward Shi Jing’s waist. “Yesterday we…”
Shi Jing really wanted to kick him down the stairs with one foot. But thinking that Shi Shunde might have sent people to the school to observe them, he walked behind Wei Qinan and said, “Fine then, walk slower.”
“Alright.”
Wei Qinan had broad shoulders and long legs, and fitness filled his youthful body with strength.
Shi Jing leaned on his back, hooked his single arm around Wei Qinan’s neck, and directed him very naturally: “Take me to the school gate.”
“Alright. By the way, have you had lunch?”
Shi Jing: “I’ll eat at the shop.”
He was unwilling to say more, so Wei Qinan didn’t press further, changing the subject instead: “You know what? You’re very easy to coax.”
Shi Jing didn’t react in time: “What?”
“Nothing.” Wei Qinan chuckled softly, his chest vibrating slightly.
Clearly, he had come looking for him earlier with murder in his eyes.
And last night too, after being scolded by Shi Jing when he went too far, all it took was a few kisses to coax him back.
It seemed the young master’s temper came fast and went even faster.
He tried his best to keep his pace steady, ignored the curious gazes of the students on the road, and dutifully sent Shi Jing into the car.
Before the car window rolled up, Shi Jing fiddled with his phone and said, “Remember to go apply for dorm withdrawal. You’ll be living with me for the next year.”
Wei Qinan obediently agreed: “Alright, I understand.”
Everything that needed to be explained was done. Shi Jing looked at his phone and had the assistant drive away.
Ye Li glanced at his boss through the rearview mirror.
Ever since getting into the car, Shi Jing had been micro-adjusting his seating posture, his expression full of forbearance and carrying a trace of displeasure.
Ye Li couldn’t help asking, “Boss, is my seat too far back? Should I move it forward a bit?”
Shi Jing, whose backside simply hurt from sitting down, instantly froze and muttered gloomily, “No need.”