Acting so strange

Watching the two figures disappear into the distance, Wen Qi let out a quiet sigh of relief. Yet, his heart remained heavy.

A fiancé? Ji Yaoming is getting married? Since when? With the ongoing conflict on the northwestern front at Falkbai Star keeping everyone so busy, did he specifically return just for this meeting?

“Number 70, Wen Qi.”

Jiang Liangping patted his shoulder from behind, signaling for the bowed head to enter. “Holy shit, Wen Qi, why are you so pale? Were you scared just now?”

Wen Qi snapped back to attention, offering a gentle smile as he said it was nothing, then swiped his ID card and went in.

Wen Qi frequented the hospital. Handsome and easy to talk to, he was familiar with most of the staff. As Wen Qi was having his blood drawn, a nurse wearing a mask smiled warmly and greeted him.

“Just got off work?”

Wen Qi returned her smile gently and nodded. “You all work hard.”

“Oh, don’t mention it. Luckily we came today, otherwise we wouldn’t have gotten to see so many handsome guys.”

Someone nearby chimed in, “Yeah, yeah. Those two who just left are heads of the First Unit, right? Their presence is really something else.”

Wen Qi pressed down on the needle puncture site and walked past the pheromone screening station. Betas typically skipped this test during physical exams. But he couldn’t help glancing inside.

The weather in the capital was unpredictable. The bright, sunny sky had suddenly clouded over, and the stifling air made his left shoulder ache. Still, he got into his luxury car, hit the gas, and sped out of the underground parking garage.

Ji Yaoming had a fiancé—he had always known this. Not only that, but the other party was an Omega, an S-class. This had been known for about two years now. Everyone in the capital knew about it.

His grip on the steering wheel tightened, his jawline sharp and tense. If Jiang Liangping and Rong Qiu had been there, they would’ve been shocked by his expression, jumping around as if performing an exorcism.

His knuckles turned white. It wasn’t until the car pulled into the residential garage that Wen Qi seemed to come back to himself, letting out a low, bitter chuckle.

He was overreacting. Hadn’t he said before that just getting a chance to see him a few times would be enough? Now that he’d achieved that, why was he still dissatisfied?

Opening his phone, he saw Lu Sien’s message about meeting tomorrow. Automatically ignoring the long string of flying kisses that followed, Wen Qi clicked on the address of Maracochi Restaurant and slumped over, resting his head on the steering wheel.

His hair fell messily around his face, the phone’s glow illuminating his pale features. He zoomed in and out on the map, the little red dot on the map, a pointless exercise. After who knows how long, Wen Qi let out a barely audible sigh.

-

The next day, at Maracochi Restaurant. Wen Qi tossed his car keys to the valet, draped his white blazer over his arm, straightened his champagne-colored tie, and tugged at the cuffs of his white leather gloves. After ensuring he looked presentable, he stepped inside.

Lu Sien was already there.

Wen Qi watched him smiling and waving, making himself look away from a distant table as he smiled and waved back at the deputy.

Perhaps tired of his usual formal attire, Lu Sien had come casually dressed in a white shirt and black pants.

He looked astonished. “Wow, Xiao Wenqi, you’re making me look like some sugar baby for some finance big shot.”

His voice wasn’t loud, but there were only two tables on that floor.

Wen Qi had always been at a loss with the First Unit’s vice-captain and could only reply gently, “Stop teasing me.”

“I booked a private room,” Wen Qi said, raising a hand to call over the manager. “Why are we seated out here?”

Lu Sien waved the server away and picked up the menu, unapologetically choosing his favorites. “Private rooms are so stifling. Xiao Wenqi, have you already forgotten my preferences?”

Of course Wen Qi hadn’t.

He glanced toward a figure four or five tables away. Ji Yaoming was as taciturn as ever, while the Omega across from him chatted cheerfully.

“My mistake.”

Wen Qi casually looked away. Lu Sien, who had caught every bit of his reaction, shot his long-unseen friend a sidelong glance. Wen Qi’s gentle, kind face always made people want to protect him, and today he had dressed himself up like a perfect little dessert.

If anyone understood, it was him.

Lu Sien snorted without even turning his head.

After ordering, Lu Sien rested his chin in his hand, a smirk playing on his lips as he said to Wen Qi, “Good-looking, isn’t he?”

Wen Qi had just taken a sip of water and blinked, not getting what he meant.

Lu Sien didn’t hide it, jerking a thumb behind him without looking. “Ji Yaoming and his ‘fiancé,’ of course.”

Wen Qi’s heart lurched. Suppressing his unease, he lifted his eyes naturally and said, “Oh, that’s why they seemed familiar.”

It seemed like a perfect response, but Lu Sien just snorted softly, as if to say, “Yeah, keep pretending.”

Wen Qi usually didn’t assume the worst of others, but guilt weighed heavily on him. Uneasy, he glanced down at his watch and said, “Brother Sien, you must be hungry. I’ll go check with the kitchen.”

When the other said nothing, Wen Qi took that as a yes and stood to leave.

The restaurant’s entrance was spacious, with tables spaced well apart for comfort. The carpet underfoot was imported from Chudoil Star, the highest grade available. The only thing he disliked was how far the kitchen was—sometimes adding an order meant a long walk.

If there was one thing Wen Qi excelled at, it was shooting himself in the foot. He was unmatched in the First Alliance when it came to that.

Sure enough, after glancing toward the path to the kitchen, his eyes landed on another table right next to it—

Wen Qi: “...”

What a choke point.

-

The Omega was enthusiastically describing the dishes on the table, but Ji Yaoming only responded with noncommittal grunts, making no move to eat. Listening to the cheerful conversation behind him, Wen Qi didn’t dwell on it.

He just felt their department had too much vacation time.

“Young Master Ji, this sea fish is from Falkbai Star. It’s the spawning season, so it’s at its most delicious. Try it and see if it’s different from what you had there. Served fresh, it’s—”

“Mr. Qi.”

The Omega was taken aback by the address and responded with a puzzled “Hmm?”

Ji Yaoming spoke impatiently, “I believe I’ve already made things clear to President Qi regarding the engagement. If that woman bothers you again, just let me know. I’ll handle her. There’s no need to force yourself.”

Mr. Qi set down his knife and fork. As an Omega, and an S-class at that, with his family being prominent figures in the financial world, Alphas lined up from the capital all the way to the farthest, poorest, most chaotic planet of Willogo just for a chance with him.

And now this arrogant Alpha was publicly rejecting him?

"Did I do something wrong?"

Ji Yaoming scrunched his nose in distaste at the cloying scent of white peach pheromones and frowned at him. "You’re fine—we’re just not a match."

"How can an S-class Alpha and an S-class omega be incompatible?" Mr. Qi dabbed his mouth elegantly with a napkin. "How would you know if we haven't even spent time together?"

Ji Yaoming’s brow furrowed slightly as he listened to the same old spiel from the dating scene.

Really…

Makes me sick.

Suddenly.

A whiff of fresh lime cut through the cloying atmosphere. Ji Yaoming’s eyes followed the figure walking briskly toward the kitchen. Wen Qi’s slightly long hair was impeccably styled, and the white waistcoat fit his waist snugly, accentuating his waistline just right.

The tip of Ji Yaoming’s crossed foot unconsciously tapped a restless circle.

"Captain Ji, regarding the matter of calling off the engagement that you discussed with my father." Oblivious to his distraction, Mr. Qi pressed on, "I personally don’t see any issue with this engagement, so I don’t think it needs to be called off."

Ji Yaoming’s patience was wearing thin. He withdrew his gaze and coolly assessed the omega. S-class omegas were all stunning, and this one was no exception.

Too bad looks meant nothing to him.

"Was I not clear enough?"

Wen Qi swept past him again, followed by staff pushing a food cart. Ji Yaoming’s gaze turned icy.

"Calling off the engagement isn’t up for discussion." Ji Yaoming’s tone remained offhand. "It’s a notice. I don’t like omegas."

An S-class Alpha who doesn’t like omegas?

Who would believe that!

The man surnamed Qi was fuming!

He pushed his chair back with a scrape and stood up. Sure, he was interested in this mysterious, high-status S-class Alpha in their circle, but that didn’t mean he lacked pride. After five attempts to meet, finally getting this one occasion, only to be rejected!

A loud noise in the distance made them both look.

Wen Qi took a bite of fish. The omega was standing there, face flushed, ranting.

Lu Sien even glanced back, gesturing with his fork in the air a couple of times before picking up a piece of cake to nibble on.

"Don’t mind them," Lu Sien said, as if used to it. "At most, Captain Ji will get splashed."

Get splashed with what?

No sooner had Lu Sien spoken than Wen Qi saw the omega raise a hand, shaking with rage, the red wine in his glass swirling from the motion.

Wen Qi quickly lowered his head. It wasn’t his intention to gawk at someone’s humiliation. Lu Sien, however, had no such qualms. He turned back, chewing his steak with relish while eyeing the "drama," mentally egging on, "Throw it! Throw it!" Disappointingly, the wineglass was slammed down onto the table, the red wine sloshing before gradually settling as the omega stomped away.

Lu Sien turned back with a regretful expression.

Boring.

"The hell does he think he is?!"

Wen Qi heard storming footsteps approaching. So forceful that even without looking up as they passed, he could tell the person was seething.

Lu Sien raised an eyebrow at him with a "see, I told you so" look, but his smirk lasted only a second before his expression shifted.

"Shit! What the—?!"

He snatched a drink from Wen Qi that he hadn’t originally planned to have.

"Who has a heat flare-up in broad daylight?!"

Wen Qi watched as Lu Sien frowned in discomfort, chugging two glasses before looking somewhat better. Even as a beta, Wen Qi knew what was happening.

"Are you okay?" Wen Qi went over to support him. "If you’re not feeling well, I’ll take you back. We really shouldn’t have eaten out."

Wen Qi felt a twinge of guilt himself. Lu Sien rarely lost his cool like this in public. Then again, an S-class omega really was...

Lu Sien let go of him and immediately put on that smiling facade, saying he was fine.

"It was just too sudden, I wasn’t prepared. Who knew he’d be so vindictive?"

Then he reached out and tweaked Xiao Wenqi’s cheek. "Xiao Wenqi, you look really good today. I’ll take you home later."

Seeing that he seemed genuinely okay, Wen Qi sat back down opposite him. "Stop teasing me. I’ll be fine on my own. As a beta, I won’t have any problems."

"Eh~ You might not realize how some animalistic alphas can be."

Wen Qi wasn’t sure if it was his imagination, but Lu Sien’s voice got louder.

"They don’t care if you’re a beta or an omega—they’ll take you either way."

Wen Qi didn’t believe him, thinking Lu Sien was just joking around after what happened. He smiled, looking at the nearly finished meal. Since they were heading the same way anyway, he said, "Alright then, thanks, Vice-Captain."

Lu Sien grinned and reached for Wen Qi’s car keys.

But a large hand appeared out of nowhere and snatched them.

Wen Qi stiffened, then straightened up and lowered his head, trying not to look at the stern-faced Ji Yaoming now standing by their table.

"Well, well." Lu Sien exclaimed loudly, his eyes darting in disbelief several times toward the wine stain that had "suddenly appeared" on Ji Yaoming’s collar.

"What a coincidence, Captain! You’re here too~!"

Ji Yaoming glanced at the person avoiding his gaze and tightened his grip on the keys, replying flatly, "Yeah, what a coincidence."

He then turned his attention to the smirking Lu Sien and issued an order calmly.

"A batch of weapons sent for repairs have been returned today. Go supervise."

Lu Sien: "...Now?"

He glanced at Wen Qi and forced a professional smile. "But Xiao Wenqi said he’d take me home to rest properly. I’m still on vacation, Captain Ji. Anyway, I’ll head to the maintenance department in a couple of days. No rush."

Without a word, Ji Yaoming made a call. Soon, a subordinate entered and gestured for Lu Sien to follow with a "please."

Lu Sien: "..."

Ji Yaoming gave him a sweeping glance. "Let’s go. Weren’t you saying you need rest? It doesn’t matter who takes you."

Lu Sien smiled at Ji Yaoming, but the words came through gritted teeth.

What he said was, "You’re unbelievable."

And then he left.

The entire floor was left with just the two of them.

The earlier lively atmosphere vanished with Lu Sien's departure, along with the air itself. Wen Qi felt like he could barely breathe. He wanted to drive away, but he didn't have the car keys; yet, he also wanted to stay with Ji Yaoming a little longer, even though a few more seconds wouldn’t change anything.

Ji Yaoming, catching a faint scent, let go of the keys and gently placed them on the table before speaking.

"Mr. Wen, do you have a moment later?"

Hearing the voice, Wen Qi instinctively started to stand up, then, as if realizing how foolish the action was, just nodded.

"Then, could I trouble you to give me a ride? I just got dumped and got red wine spilled all over me... can't drive."

Ji Yaoming lowered his gaze, looking at the face listening intently to him, and added the second half of his sentence.

Author's Note:

Then let me ask you... then let me ask you... what does getting splashed with wine have to do with not being able to drive?

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