The Alpha spoke in a muffled voice, wrapping his arms tighter around Chen Si’s waist, like a little yellow puppy in a state of extreme anxiety, lacking a sense of security his appearance both adorable and pitiful.
The kind of sight one couldn’t bear to refuse.
Chen Si had never been close to an Alpha before and didn’t know if all Alphas were like this.
So, seeing that the Alpha didn’t seem to be faking it, he softened and agreed.
“Alright then, but only for a little while. I can’t delay too long before heading back to the company.”
Chen Si muttered quietly.
The Alpha heard him and gave a soft “mm,” nuzzling against Chen Si’s chest.
His movements were full of attachment, but his eyes were deep and unreadable.
Chen Si couldn’t see that. His gaze landed on the Alpha’s golden hair, and he couldn’t help reaching out to touch it, but then felt it would be impolite.
So he pulled his hand back and held himself back.
By the time Chen Si returned to the company, he was already an hour late. His supervisor hadn’t come in, and there were pitifully few colleagues at their desks, no one knew where they’d gone.
Not digging into it, Chen Si sat quietly at his workstation and got busy.
Suddenly, excited voices came from outside.
It was the Omegas who sat not far from Chen Si and loved to gossip around the office.
“How was it, how was it? Isn’t Pei Wen incredibly handsome?”
“He is, he is! And that’s not all! That face, that body, he’s simply divine!”
“Of course! It’s just a shame I didn’t get an autograph or a photo together. Who knows if I’ll ever get the chance to see him again. You think an Alpha like him might already have his own Omega?” one Omega said wistfully, her eyes practically sprouting hearts at the thought of the Alpha she’d just seen.
“Hard to say, but I’ve heard some rumors that Pei Wen actually has a partner.”
The Omega beside her whispered.
Hearing this, the other Omega’s heart instantly shattered.
“Really? But he’s still so young!”
“Who knows? And besides, I also heard that his partner doesn’t seem to treat him well.”
“No way! Pei Wen’s so gorgeous is his partner blind?”
“Who knows? Anyway, I heard that he apparently spends his Ruts all alone, and his partner doesn’t care at all whether he lives or dies.”
The two of them talked, their voices quite loud.
Chen Si couldn’t have avoided hearing them if he tried, and so he caught that somewhat familiar name.
Then he couldn’t help thinking of how the Alpha had introduced himself just before leaving.
“Hello, I’m Pei Wen.”
His smiling eyes gentle as water, the Alpha had politely extended his hand to shake Chen Si’s, his manner perfectly gentlemanly and courteous.
Completely different from any Alpha Chen Si had ever met.
And because Chen Si had helped him, he was extremely grateful and wanted to treat Chen Si to a meal.
Chen Si wanted to refuse, but looking at the Alpha’s bright, shining eyes, the words of refusal got stuck in his throat.
And so, like that, the Alpha got his contact information.
That Alpha’s name was, indeed, Pei Wen.
The same name as the person they were talking about.
It must just be a coincidence, right?
Chen Si thought to himself.
Right at that moment, the Alpha sent him a message.
[Busy? I bought you coffee. Where are you? I’ll bring it over. Cute puppy.JPG]
A golden retriever puppy with its tongue lolling out, eyes sparkling adorable, and remarkably like the Alpha himself.
The Beta smiled. Seeing that emoji, he couldn’t help but long-press to save it, and only then noticed the Alpha’s message about delivering coffee to him.
He was startled.
He hurriedly replied:
[No need, just drink it yourself. I don’t want any.]
Pei Wen: [But I already bought it. If you don’t want it, I can’t drink it right now anyway.]
Worried that Chen Si would refuse again, he sent a photo. In it, the Alpha’s lips were red and glossy, as if he had just finished applying lipstick.
He really couldn’t drink coffee right now.
Chen Si frowned.
He had no choice but to agree, but he didn’t want the Alpha making another trip for him, so he offered to come pick it up himself.
Pei Wen agreed.
He sent Chen Si the address.
He told Chen Si to come get it, the address was right where the two of them had met earlier.
Chen Si replied with an “okay,” picked up his phone, left the office, and headed for the stairwell.
But as soon as he went down, he saw a strange Beta standing at the fifth-floor landing, holding a bag, as if waiting for someone.
He stopped involuntarily, planning to wait until the person left before telling Pei Wen he had arrived.
But the man heard footsteps, turned around, and upon seeing Chen Si, immediately broke into a smile.
“Hello, Mr. Chen. I’m Pei Wen’s assistant. He’s busy right now and couldn’t come, so he specially asked me to deliver this to you.” With that, the man handed the bag to Chen Si.
Chen Si truly hadn’t expected the man to be waiting for him. He froze for a moment, but still took the bag, thanking him quietly.
“Thank you. Sorry for the trouble.”
“No problem at all, Mr. Chen.”
Noticing Chen Si’s reserve, the man didn’t linger. After delivering the coffee, he left.
On his phone, the Alpha sent a message explaining the situation.
Chen Si didn’t care about such things, so he took out his phone, replied with a simple “no problem,” and carried the coffee back to the office. Only after sitting down at his desk did he turn his attention to the coffee.
He noticed that the order notes matched his usual preferences exactly and that the coffee was his favorite.
It felt like too much of a coincidence.
He couldn’t help asking Pei Wen: [How did you know I like this?]
[Just guessed, of course.]
[You can guess something like that?] Chen Si asked, puzzled.
Pei Wen replied quickly.
[Okay, just kidding. Actually, that’s how I like my coffee too. Playful.JPG]
Staring at the message without replying, Chen Si frowned and thought it over, but decided it was entirely possible.
So he didn’t dig any further.
He soon forgot about it.
He threw himself into work, staying busy until quitting time.
He hadn’t eaten lunch, and his empty stomach ached with hunger. Chen Si rubbed his sore temples, pulled a loaf of bread from his drawer, tore open the packaging, and started gnawing on it.
His phone had been sitting forgotten beside him for a long while. Chen Si picked it up to check the time.
Then he discovered that the Alpha had sent him another message.
Except it had been sent at noon.
He’d been busy the whole time and hadn’t seen it.
[Have you had lunch yet? I’m done with work, want to grab a meal together?]
[I’ll come pick you up. This time I get to pick you up.]
[Why aren’t you replying? Are you busy?]
[Fine, ignore me then. I’ll just go eat garbage all by myself. Pitiful little dog.JPG]
The messages, growing increasingly aggrieved, filled Chen Si with guilt.
He pictured that beautiful, androgynous face of the man’s, dimmed with sadness.
Chen Si felt as if he’d committed some crime. He glanced at the time Pei Wen’s last message had been sent ten minutes ago and hurried to reply.
Suddenly, his phone vibrated.
A message from an unknown number.
It appeared on the screen.
[Are you ready? The countdown is about to begin?]