Candlelight dinner wasn’t nearly as awkward as Qiu Nan had imagined it would be.
Xie Yunnian was a brilliant conversationalist. To help Qiu Nan relax, he shared plenty of stories from his early days when he had first joined the Monster Control Bureau.
The familiarity of the topic allowed Qiu Nan to gradually let his guard down, even piping up with a few comments of his own from time to time.
To encourage him to talk more, Xie Yunnian intentionally slowed his speech and purposefully got internal Bureau facts wrong. Qiu Nan would earnestly correct him, and Xie Yunnian would play along perfectly, wearing an expression of sudden realization before finding clever ways to praise him.
Like an excellent student receiving validation from a teacher, Qiu Nan seemed genuinely happy.
When he smiled, his eyes would curve, and the candlelight would dance softly in his pupils, making him look lively and full of vibrant energy. When he ate, he would cast his eyes down, his long eyelashes throwing heavy shadows under the flicker of the flame.
Watching those fluttering eyelashes, Xie Yunnian felt a sudden wave of dry throat. He couldn’t resist picking up his water glass to take a sip.
Qiu Nan finished the cod on his plate and looked up, running directly into Xie Yunnian’s gaze.
The unhidden emotion trapped in the director’s eyes made him feel a bit flustered. He immediately averted his gaze and also picked up his water glass to take a gulp.
“Would you like some red wine, Captain Qiu?” Xie Yunnian asked, his voice carrying a subtle rasp.
Qiu Nan shook his head frantically. Remembering the victory banquet from the night before last, he declined decisively.
He got the feeling that Xie Yunnian was acting a bit strange right now.
Oh, right. Is it time to top up my scent-blocker?
Normally, an Omega’s pheromones would leak out to some degree. Within a normal concentration range, they wouldn’t act as a temptation to Alphas, nor would they affect other Omegas.
But Qiu Nan couldn’t risk it; he refused to allow even a trace of his Omega traits to show.
To avoid detection, he used a vial of scent-blocker every morning before heading out. Barring a heat cycle, it could keep things under control for an entire day, usually wearing off around the time he got home from work.
He had been careless today. Could it be leaking noticeably?
Having hyper-developed glands really wasn’t a blessing!
Setting his fork down with a hint of dejection, he said to Xie Yunnian, “Director, I’m going to step away to the restroom.”
Hearing a tone that suggested he wasn’t just going for a standard bathroom break, Xie Yunnian arched an eyebrow. “What’s wrong?”
“I.” Qiu Nan glanced at the waiter standing a short distance away and lowered his voice. “It’s time for me to reapply my blocker.”
Xie Yunnian took a subtle breath. Only then did he realize that a faint scent of mango had begun to drift through the air around them at some point. It was incredibly pleasant and heavily restrained; if one didn’t sniff carefully, it was virtually unnoticeable.
Xie Yunnian pressed his palm over the back of Qiu Nan’s hand, preventing him from standing up. “Captain Qiu, there’s no need. There’s no one else here.”
Qiu Nan blinked, turning his head to look around.
Hearing this, the only “other person” in the restaurant immediately adjusted his bow tie, picked up his tray, and walked away with brisk steps, pretending to be thoroughly occupied with straightening the napkins on another table.
Words failed Qiu Nan.
Only now did he realize that they were the only two patrons in the entire establishment.
“I booked the venue.” Before he could ask, Xie Yunnian cleanly answered the question in his mind, pulling his attention back. “As for things like blockers, avoid using them if you can. They’re bad for your health.”
Qiu Nan shifted his posture uncomfortably. “I should still go reapply it.”
“Being an Omega is nothing to be ashamed of. There’s nothing to avoid, and there’s certainly no need to forcefully suppress your own nature.”
Qiu Nan’s movements froze. He stared at the man blankly for a few seconds, a sudden lump forming in his throat.
Removing his napkin, he stood up anyway and asked the waiter for the direction of the restroom.
After taking care of business, Qiu Nan washed his hands and stood before the mirror, staring at his reflection for a long moment.
The person in the mirror was tall and lean. His features weren’t exactly delicate, but he was undeniably easy on the eyes—especially under the restaurant’s warm amber lighting, which lent his face a softness that rarely appeared during his daily routine.
Usually, he could get away with acting fierce to intimidate others, but his inherent Omega traits meant he was biologically predisposed to this kind of soft, gentle disposition.
He lightly patted the two vials tucked safely inside his jacket pocket and let out a soft sigh.
Back at the table, Xie Yunnian kept his eyes fixed on the restroom entrance, his index finger idly tracing lines against the tablecloth as his brows gradually knit together.
The moment Qiu Nan’s figure reappeared in his line of sight, his expression smoothed back into its usual calm, his lips curving into a gentle smile.
Qiu Nan dried his hands as he walked back to the table, his movement stirring a light draft that carried the faint scent of mango. It was incredibly subtle, but it was more than enough to put Xie Yunnian in a spectacular mood, causing his smile to widen.
The stubborn little maniac actually accepted my suggestion!
“Sorry to keep you waiting, Director,” Qiu Nan said as he slid back into his chair.
“Not at all.” Xie Yunnian raised a hand to signal the waiter in the distance, turning back to Qiu Nan with a laugh. “The timing is just right.”
Qiu Nan shot a wary glance at the waiter approaching from behind them.
“The timing for what?”
Xie Yunnian didn’t answer, his smile turning enigmatic.
In no time, the waiter brought over an ice bucket. Snuggled within the glittering ice cubes was a bottle of gold champagne, its wire cage already removed, prepared for opening.
With a nod of approval from Xie Yunnian, the waiter elegantly popped the cork.
“Wait—”
Before Qiu Nan could stop him, a crisp pop echoed through the space, and a few wisps of pale vapor drifted from the bottle neck. The vintage year printed on the label—1723—practically made his eyes throb.
A bottle worth tens of thousands! This is way too extravagant!
Qiu Nan’s wallet ached just looking at it.
The waiter poured half a glass of champagne for each of them, returned the bottle to the ice bucket, and retreated to a distance once more, playing the role of the non-existent “other person” to absolute perfection.
“Director, I really don’t drink.”
He literally just agreed that alcohol wasn’t a good thing two days ago!
“It’s fine. I guarantee I will get you home safely. Trust me, I have an excellent tolerance,” Xie Yunnian said, beaming.
Qiu Nan would believe him when pigs flew.
Excellent tolerance? Where does he get his confidence from?
He completely blacked out from drinking the night before last, and even went around sniffing people.
Qiu Nan’s face flushed red without him realizing it, suddenly feeling a bit scandalous.
Why am I still thinking about that? Why can’t I just let that chapter close?
Xie Yunnian had already raised his glass. “Happy birthday, Captain Qiu!”
Qiu Nan raised his eyes, looking at him blankly.
“It was written in your file. I have a decent memory.” Xie Yunnian kept his tone as natural as possible, terrified of scaring off this little Omega who appeared carefree and rough on the surface but was actually incredibly sensitive underneath.
Qiu Nan licked his lips. “Director, thank you for the sentiment, but I don’t think it’s appropriate for me to accept this.”
“It really is just a coincidence, don’t take it to heart.” Xie Yunnian extended his glass toward him. “Thank you for keeping me company on such a difficult evening.”
The mango-scented pheromones in the air grew a fraction richer. Xie Yunnian’s smile deepened as he held his glass aloft, looking very much like he wouldn’t mind turning into a stone statue if Qiu Nan refused to drink with him.
Qiu Nan stared at the pale yellow liquid swirling gently in the director’s glass for a moment before suddenly letting go of his reservations.
I’m already here, and my Omega identity isn’t an issue tonight anyway. Why be so uptight?
The two crystal stems clinked together, emitting a crisp, pleasant chime.
After two glasses of champagne settled into his stomach, a pair of rosy flushes bloomed on Qiu Nan’s cheeks.
Xie Yunnian gazed at him greedily. Feeling that the candlelight wasn’t bright enough to capture it fully, he signaled the waiter to switch on the overhead lights.
The space instantly flooded with brightness. Qiu Nan rubbed his eyes slightly, his gaze turning a bit hazy from the light intoxication.
His thoroughly endearing, tipsy state made Xie Yunnian’s heart skip a beat. Propping his elbows on the edge of the table, he asked softly, “Captain Qiu, how do you usually spend your birthday every year?”
“I don’t really celebrate it,” Qiu Nan said, giving a silly, dopey smile. “It’s not actually my real birthday anyway.”
Assuming he was just talking nonsense from the alcohol, Xie Yunnian pressed his lips together and asked, “Not your real birthday? What do you mean by that?”
Imitating the director, Qiu Nan propped his elbows on the edge of the table and rested his chin in his palms, squeezing his face into a round, adorable bun.
Xie Yunnian couldn’t help but chuckle at how cute he looked. However, as he listened to the sluggish cadence of Qiu Nan’s voice explaining the origins of his birthday and his childhood at the orphanage, the smile gradually faded from his face.
The Xie Group was a nationally renowned conglomerate with branches in almost every major city. The CEO, Xie Yang—who also happened to be Xie Yunnian’s father—placed a massive emphasis on philanthropy. Back when Xie Yunnian still held a position at the Xie Group, he used to visit various orphanages every year to perform charity work, so he knew exactly what kind of lives those children lived.
To think that Qiu Nan—this cheerful, optimistic, fiercely competitive guy—had actually grown up in an orphanage?
This realization sent a profound ache straight through his heart.
Is he such a desperate overachiever at work because he carries a deep-seated sense of insecurity in his bones?
Qiu Nan shook his head, cutting his own rambling short. Wearing the characteristic silly grin of a drunkard, he said apologetically, “Sorry about that, Director, I talked too much!”
“Not at all,” Xie Yunnian replied softly. “Keep talking. I’m incredibly interested.”
Qiu Nan tilted his head to one side. “Interested, in what?”
“In the orphanage.”
Qiu Nan tilted his head to the other side. “Why?”
Xie Yunnian explained, “Back when I was still working at the Xie Group, I used to organize charity events and take staff to orphanages all the time.”
“Oh.” Qiu Nan mumbled. “I’m heading back to the orphanage next weekend too.”
“What for?”
“To bring them money, clothes, medicine, food.”
He let out a little “hee-hee” giggle, but it was quickly followed by a heavy, regretful sigh. “Our orphanage is way too remote. The roads are terrible, and it’s not glamorous at all. No one has ever come to our place to do charity work.”
“So, you do the charity work yourself?” Xie Yunnian’s heart completely melted.
“What else can be done? In places that remote, more and more children get abandoned. They don’t even have enough to eat, and it’s not like their demands are high.” Qiu Nan lowered his head, staring abstractedly at the champagne swirling in his glass.
A single bottle of wine like this would be enough to feed those dozen or so kids at the orphanage for months—and the kind of meals where they get to eat meat every single day.
Xie Yunnian suddenly felt an overwhelming urge to pull him into his arms—purely just to hold him.
He made a sudden, slightly abrupt proposal: “Next weekend, you said? Can I come along with you?”
Qiu Nan blinked his heavy, half-mast eyelids slowly, looking as though it took a monumental effort just to process the information he had just heard.
“Of course you can!” In his sudden excitement, he accidentally jolted the table, causing the crystal glasses and porcelain plates to clatter with a sharp clink.
Then, he cooled down just as quickly, checking cautiously to be sure: “Director, what exactly are you going for? It’s really far away. If it’s just to gawk at them like a spectacle, then don’t bother.”
Xie Yunnian didn’t take offense at his bluntness. “I want to assess the actual conditions myself. Afterward, I’ll bring it up with the conglomerate and see if they can establish a proper corporate sponsorship.”
“That’s amazing!” Qiu Nan’s voice shook with pure excitement. “Director, on behalf of the orphanage, thank you so much!”
With that, he raised his champagne glass, tilted his head back toward Xie Yunnian, and drained every single drop until it was bone dry.