Do you want to sleep on my bed, or my brother’s bed

After a long while, Wu Qie didn’t answer.

In that silence, Zhao Shu actually felt a trace of nervousness—

And not for any normal reason.

He wasn’t worried Wu Qie would reject him.

He was worried Wu Qie would take the chance to mock him for lowering himself.

After all, the young master of the Zhao family prided himself on never having endured humiliation like this in his life.

If Wu Qie hadn’t been so drunk that his eyes were unfocused, Zhao Shu wouldn’t even have said those words.

He had already prepared himself—if rejected, he’d just deny everything tomorrow.

Pretend he never suggested a truce.

Meanwhile, in Zhao Shu’s mind, countless scenarios had already played out—hundreds of confrontations, thousands of possible outcomes.

But the black-haired young man in his arms simply tilted his head back and looked at him quietly, seriously.

The alcohol clearly wasn’t sitting well with him.

His lips were pale.

The wound from last time had already healed, blending seamlessly with his lip line unless you looked closely.

Zhao Shu stared at him for a moment, then, as if possessed, reached out and lightly touched that spot.

The dazed man who had been spacing out finally reacted.

Wu Qie frowned slightly, let out a soft “mm,” and weakly grabbed Zhao Shu’s wrist, tugging it away.

“No.”

That answered the earlier question.

“Take your hand away. It’s too rough.”

That was the next command.

Even drunk, he sounded disgusted.

Zhao Shu withdrew his hand.

Rare mercy—he didn’t curse him out.

Wu Qie lost his balance and tipped forward with the push.

The smell of alcohol on him surged outward.

Thankfully, as a Beta, there was no pheromone mess mixed into it—

Otherwise Zhao Shu would’ve shoved him into a toilet, slammed the lid, and flushed him away.

Despite not playing basketball, Wu Qie still worked out regularly.

Under his clothes, he wasn’t weak at all.

So when he fell forward, it hit like real weight.

Zhao Shu stumbled back from the unexpected impact, barely managing to brace himself against the bathroom door before being knocked over.

Before Wu Qie could bury his head into his collar, Zhao Shu reacted quickly and held his face away with one hand—

“Try throwing up in my clothes and see what happens.”

“Mm.”

The face in his palm distorted slightly under the pressure.

Soft. Just like it looked.

Wu Qie tilted his head, his breath warm and damp against Zhao Shu’s wrist.

“Don’t worry. I can’t throw up yet.”

Zhao Shu’s lips twitched.

He decided he wasn’t dealing with this nonsense anymore.

Grabbing Wu Qie by the waist, he hooked the bathroom door open with his leg and dragged him out.

Wu Qie was far more drunk than last time.

Which meant his tolerance for everything had dropped sharply.

“Hurts…”

Zhao Shu’s iron-like arm was pressing into his waist.

Wu Qie twisted, refusing to move forward no matter what, mumbling for him to let go.

Zhao Shu couldn’t understand how someone drunk could still be this restless.

Like a grasshopper.

—Until Wu Qie grabbed his hoodie string and nearly strangled him.

That’s when Zhao Shu’s patience snapped.

“Move again and see what happens,” he warned in a low voice.

“Move again and I’ll kiss you.”

The moment the words left his mouth, Zhao Shu froze.

He wanted to slap himself.

But the drunk man didn’t care at all.

Wu Qie shifted in his arms, his soft hair brushing against Zhao Shu’s chin.

He looked up at him seriously.

“Not impossible. But then I definitely won’t be able to hold it in.”

“…?”

“I’ll throw up in your mouth. Hehe.”

“…???”

That stupid “hehe” made Zhao Shu’s temples throb.

He seriously wondered if one punch would kill him.

His grip tightened slightly in retaliation, earning a hiss of pain from Wu Qie.

“Can you stay still for a second?” Zhao Shu asked.

“No.”

Wu Qie replied.

“There are plenty of dead fish. If you like kissing so much, I’ll buy you a fish pond tomorrow.”

His voice floated up faintly.

Zhao Shu genuinely couldn’t understand how someone could hold onto one offhand comment like this.

“Wu Qie,” Zhao Shu said calmly,

“Men only get defensive when it hits the mark.”

“… ”

Silence finally returned.

…

The person who had been rambling nonstop suddenly went quiet.

From above, Zhao Shu could see Wu Qie’s lips pressed together in displeasure, slightly pouting.

…A kind of childishness he never showed normally.

Zhao Shu narrowed his eyes slightly.

…He really did look better when he wasn’t talking.

Dragging him outside, it was already close to ten at night.

A few teammates without rides were still lingering at the entrance.

Seeing Zhao Shu carrying Wu Qie out, their eyes widened.

“Whoa—are you guys not fighting anymore?”

Zhao Shu thought, what nonsense, when were we ever that obvious?

He shot them a lazy glance.

Before he could respond, someone jokingly covered their own eyes and said, “Guess I must be blind.”

They laughed and scattered.

Amid the noise, footsteps approached.

Zhao Shu didn’t turn around.

He already knew who it was.

Pei Qingyu.

Not because of pheromones.

He just knew.

“…What are you doing?”

A cool voice sounded behind him.

Zhao Shu turned, frowning slightly as he looked at the Alpha.

For the first time, he noticed—

Pei Qingyu’s shoulders weren’t as broad as his.

In his arms, Wu Qie stiffened, trying to turn his face away.

Like that would make him invisible.

Zhao Shu let out a cold laugh.

He grabbed Wu Qie’s chin and turned his face back forcefully.

Wu Qie let out a weak protest.

“I’m taking him,” Zhao Shu said flatly.

“No need for your concern.”

Pei Qingyu remained calm.

“Why so sarcastic?”

“What are you talking about?” Zhao Shu replied.

Pei Qingyu ignored him and looked at Wu Qie.

“Teacher Wu, are you okay going with him?”

“No.”

“…Actually, yes.”

Zhao Shu pulled him behind himself, blocking the view.

“That’s not your business.”

Pei Qingyu smiled.

“Next time, mark your territory properly.”

Zhao Shu frowned.

Pei Qingyu added casually,

“That’s what dogs do.”

Just then, Wu Qie tugged Zhao Shu’s hoodie from behind.

Peeking out, he looked at Pei Qingyu with relief.

“Sorry… I’ll go with him. My family arranged it.”

Zhao Shu muttered, “You think he cares?”

Pei Qingyu said lightly,

“Next time, the Pei family can send him home too.”

Wu Qie blinked.

Then his lips started curling up uncontrollably.

“Okay.”

Before he could say more, Zhao Shu grabbed him and shoved him into the car.

…

The ride was quiet.

Zhao Shu thought he had fallen asleep.

Until Wu Qie suddenly spoke—

“This isn’t the way to my house.”

“You’re sober enough to notice?”

“You’re coming to mine. My brother’s home. There’s soup.”

Wu Qie checked his phone.

A message from his mother confirmed it.

He paused.

“…Do you have a guest room?”

“No.”

“Then where do I sleep?”

“My bed. Or my brother’s.”

“…Don’t bring your brother into jokes.”

“…Scary.”

Zhao Shu scoffed.

“Then sleep in the bathtub.”

Wu Qie gave up arguing.

…

They arrived at the Zhao residence close to eleven.

Inside, Zhao Guipu was already seated, watching the news.

Zhao Shu called out, “Ge.”

Wu Qie hesitated, then said, “Mr. Zhao.”

Zhao Guipu turned, still in formal wear, relaxed yet imposing.

“Ah Qie.”

He smiled.

“Heard you drank too much?”

Wu Qie nodded slightly.

“…A little.”

Zhao Guipu patted the seat beside him.

“Come sit.”

Wu Qie obeyed.

The atmosphere around the man was overwhelming.

Zhao Shu sat silently nearby.

“Have some soup before bed.”

“Didn’t eat enough, right?”

Wu Qie nodded again.

“…Yes.”

“Call me ‘Ge.’ No need to be formal.”

“…Ge.”

He was already regretting life choices.

As the conversation continued, Wu Qie’s head throbbed.

Half-listening, he absentmindedly spun the globe on the table.

His finger stopped on a spot—

Right where the news was discussing.

“Ah Qie.”

Zhao Guipu’s voice pulled him back.

“You like it?”

Wu Qie blinked slowly.

Then pointed at the TV instead.

“The news.”

“What about it?”

Wu Qie leaned back, eyes half-closed.

“The moment I step into your house, the news announces unexpected fortune.”

“Does that mean I bring luck to your family?”

Zhao Shu let out a confused “Huh?”

Zhao Guipu paused.

Then smiled.

“Of course you do.”

His tone softened.

“Too bad Zhao Shu isn’t good enough.”

“Otherwise, who knows if our family still has the fortune to keep someone like you.”