Chapter 120
Wang Xin’s face changed instantly, a look of understanding dawning on him.
Xiao Xiao instinctively grabbed Gu Qian’s arm, giving it a gentle, pleading shake. Just then, a kind-hearted alpha colleague hurried over and pulled Wang Xin away by the arm.
After Wang Xin was gone, Xiao Xiao tried to pull his hand back from Gu Qian’s arm, but Gu Qian caught it.
He looked down. “Are you and him close?”
“No.” Xiao Xiao shook his head. “He just joined the company, and he was away on assignment. How could we possibly be close?”
“Then why were you protecting him?”
“I wasn’t protecting him. He was just being a concerned colleague. I wanted to help him out in return. Shouldn’t I?”
“Hah.” Gu Qian didn’t say anything else, just let out a cold laugh before turning and walking away.
Xiao Xiao pressed his lips together, unsure of what to do now. He had completely lost the will to work. He lowered his head, lost in thought, and didn’t move for a long, long time. The people around him seemed to know what had happened, and no one dared to approach him.
After work, Xiao Xiao was the first one out the door, wanting to be the first to leave the company. But as soon as he got downstairs, he saw Wang Xin. Wang Xin grabbed his arm, pulled him aside, and demanded, his eyes red with fury, “Was it Gu Qian who was bullying you?”
Xiao Xiao didn’t answer, just looked at him, confused. “Why are you still outside?” He was the first one to leave. If someone had left earlier than him, they would have been slacking off. Wang Xin didn’t seem like the type to skip work, so he guessed…
“Gu Qian fired me!” Wang Xin’s eyes burned with an anger he couldn’t hide. “He’s the boss, for god’s sake. I thought he’d help you get justice, but it turns out he’s the one bullying you! Don’t be afraid. I’ll take you to the police.”
“There’s no need.” Xiao Xiao shook his head. “He really didn’t bully me. We’re… a couple. He’s my alpha.” He gave a helpless smile. “Really, you don’t have to worry about me. But… I’m sorry you lost your job because of me.”
He never thought Gu Qian would fire Wang Xin just for saying a few concerned words to him. But he was starting to understand Gu Qian’s mindset, and he didn’t want to bring any more harm to the alpha in front of him. It was best if they didn’t even remain friends.
With that, Xiao Xiao turned and walked away, leaving Wang Xin staring after him in astonishment.
Xiao Xiao had no appetite for lunch and planned to go back to the dorm to rest. But just as he walked out of the company building, his phone rang. It was Gu Qian. He hesitated for a moment before answering.
The second the call connected, Gu Qian asked, “Why did you leave so early?”
“I’m hungry,” Xiao Xiao lied. “I wanted to get something to eat.”
“I’ve booked a table. Wait for me at the entrance, I’ll take you.”
Xiao Xiao wanted to refuse, but the words wouldn’t come out. In the end, he just nodded. “Okay.”
I’ll just watch a little longer, he thought. This can’t be the real Gu Qian. I’ll just wait… just wait a little longer…
A few minutes after he hung up, Gu Qian came downstairs. The moment he saw him, he walked over and wrapped an arm around him. “Let’s go.”
Xiao Xiao said nothing. It wasn’t until they were in the car that he asked, “Did you fire that alpha from today?”
“Yes.” The smile vanished from Gu Qian’s face instantly. His expression hardened. “He had designs on you. I certainly couldn’t keep him in the company.” The world was full of talented people; his company didn’t need that one.
Hearing this, Xiao Xiao instinctively looked up at Gu Qian. This Gu Qian felt like a stranger, completely different from the man he thought he knew. Gu Qian wasn’t supposed to be like this. He was supposed to be gentle and kind, exceptionally good to people. But… but why had he become like this?
Xiao Xiao’s mind was a complete blur. Everything was happening too fast, so fast he couldn’t process it, let alone deal with it. He was lost in a daze for the entire drive, not even noticing when the car stopped.
Strangely, Gu Qian didn’t get out.
He didn’t know how much time passed before he finally came back to himself. He glanced out the window, and seeing that the car had stopped, he immediately reached for the door handle. But when he tried to pull it, he found the door was still locked. It wouldn’t open.
He turned back curiously, only to find Gu Qian staring at him with an obsessed look on his face.
“Boss?” Xiao Xiao said instinctively. “We’re here. We should get out.”
Gu Qian smiled. “What did you call me?”
Xiao Xiao hesitated, but ultimately decided to give in. “Husband.”
Only then was Gu Qian satisfied. He pulled him into an embrace and said with a smile, “I know we’re here, but I’m still a little worried.”
Xiao Xiao was utterly confused. “Worried about what?”
“Give me a kiss, and I’ll tell you,” Gu Qian said with a smile.
If this had been before today, if Gu Qian had asked for a kiss, Xiao Xiao would have been more than willing. He would have been overjoyed, eager even. But now, he didn’t want to kiss him at all. If he had the chance, he would jump out of the car and run without looking back.
His hesitation displeased Gu Qian. “What, you’re not willing, Xiao Xiao?”
Xiao Xiao lowered his head. “We just got together today,” he said helplessly. “Isn’t everything happening a little too fast? Gu Qian, can you please just give me some time?”
Gu Qian found it very annoying that Xiao Xiao kept getting his name wrong. But what could he do? This beta was his. So no matter what Xiao Xiao did wrong, he had to tolerate it.
He buried his face in Xiao Xiao’s neck and whispered, “Is it really that fast? I don’t think it’s fast at all. I’ve waited almost two years for this day. In fact, I think it’s been too slow.” As he spoke, he nuzzled against Xiao Xiao, secretly moving toward the gland on the back of his neck.
A beta’s gland wasn’t developed, so the area wasn’t particularly sensitive, no different from regular skin. When Gu Qian touched it, Xiao Xiao didn’t feel uncomfortable, just a slight tickle from his breath on his skin. He couldn’t push Gu Qian away, couldn’t refuse. He could only nod helplessly. “Is that so?”
“Yes, it’s too slow. So…”
Gu Qian was a very patient person. That’s why, when he met Xiao Xiao, he had been able to so calmly bring him back and slowly teach him everything he needed to know. He had spent two years laying an inescapable net, so even if Xiao Xiao hadn’t agreed to be with him, hadn’t fallen for him, he would have used every means necessary to keep him by his side until he did.
All that talk about not forcing him was a lie.
But now, for some reason, his patience had run out. He couldn’t hold back any longer. He had to hold Xiao Xiao tightly in his hands and never, ever let him escape.
He could feel Xiao Xiao trembling in his arms. It pained his heart, but he didn’t soften in the slightest. Releasing his pheromones in an invisible assault, he opened his mouth and bit down on Xiao Xiao’s undeveloped gland.
Just like marking an omega, he sank his canines deep inside, continuously injecting his own pheromones.
Marking really was the simplest way.
“Ah—it hurts, it hurts… Gu Qian, it hurts so much, can you please let me go?”
“Ahhh, it really hurts! Gu Qian, Husband, I’m begging you, let me go, stop biting, please, I’m begging you…”
The sudden bite sent a wave of heart-ripping agony through Xiao Xiao as something that didn’t belong to his body was forcibly injected into him. He felt a swelling pressure, a deep discomfort. His gland was in excruciating pain, but his hands and feet were held down, his waist pinned. He was completely unable to resist.
Gradually, his expression grew hazy, and his crying faded away…
When he woke up, he was being carried by Gu Qian in an elevator. The moment he saw him, he instinctively shuddered. Ignoring the awkwardness of his position, he reached up and touched the back of his neck. The spot where his gland was located was swollen, throbbing with a sore, uncomfortable pain.
“You’re awake,” Gu Qian said. “Does it still hurt?”
“Where are you taking me?”
Gu Qian smiled. “To eat. You fainted during the marking. I think you’re just low on energy. A little food will fix you right up.”
Xiao Xiao didn’t speak, just pressed his lips together. It wasn’t until they reached their destination that Gu Qian finally set him down.
This was Xiao Xiao’s first experience with what was called a “marking.” His head was spinning. He followed Gu Qian and sat down, and it took a long while for him to fully come to his senses. He didn’t want to live this kind of life, constantly on edge. He grabbed Gu Qian’s hand and said helplessly, “I don’t like you being like this. You’re making me feel like I can’t breathe. This is only our first day together. Can you… can you not be like this?”
Doing all sorts of abnormal things, firing the alpha who spoke to him, and marking him against his will. This was only their first day together. If things were already like this, what would the future be like?
Gu Qian’s eyes were full of confusion. He looked at Xiao Xiao, not quite understanding, and asked in a low voice, “Why? Is this not good? Or do you think I’ve done something wrong? You can tell me. I can change.”
A sliver of hope rose in Xiao Xiao’s eyes. “Will you really change?”
“I will.”
Xiao Xiao pursed his lips. “Really?”
“Really.”
“Then… then can you not leave so many pheromones on me? I want to have a normal social life, too. I don’t want alphas and omegas to avoid me, and I especially don’t want someone to lose their job just for showing me some concern.” There was an indescribable grievance in his tone. “I’ll be good, I’ll be with you. I won’t betray you. Can you just be with me like a normal person? If you want to do something, can you ask my opinion first? Don’t… don’t be so aggressive.”
“Was I too aggressive?” Gu Qian nodded. “I’m sorry, I know I was wrong. Please don’t be angry, okay? I’ll definitely change.” He seemed to have reverted to his gentle, humble self. He happily served Xiao Xiao the food the waiter had just brought. “Xiao Xiao, this is my first time in a relationship, too, so I don’t really know what I’m doing. Can you forgive me?”
Xiao Xiao nodded, then added, “Also, I… I’m a beta. I can’t be marked. You bit me so hard it hurt. Next time… can you please not bite?”
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