Chapter 4

Chapter 4

"Making money?"

Bai Qi paused, his hand still. He immediately turned his head towards the group heading to the casino, then narrowed his eyes, his gaze fixing on Qi Heyan. His tone was sharp: "You want to gamble?"

"Didn't you lose your memory?" Bai Qi raised his pickaxe again and resumed digging. The omega's voice was flat, as if his mood had soured. "Do you have money? Or were you lying to me?"

"I wasn’t lying. I just thought it might be an opportunity. Maybe I’ve done this kind of thing before."

The alpha had barely finished speaking when the omega brought his pickaxe down with a forceful strike. Bai Qi’s gaze was icy: "Then get lost."

Qi Heyan’s expression remained unchanged. Instead, he raised an eyebrow and chuckled softly: "You’ve been there before."

Bai Qi froze, turning to look at Qi Heyan with a hint of disbelief in his eyes: "You were trying to trick me into talking?"

The omega finally realized—this manipulative alpha wasn’t actually interested in the casino. He was just toying with him.

He’d brought back a rotten alpha!

Qi Heyan reacted quickly, lowering his voice, though his eyes remained sincere: "Sorry, I just didn’t know how to ask you. I noticed you seemed upset earlier, so I thought… I’d test the waters."

"Test me?" Bai Qi found it laughable. He pressed his lips together, his cold eyes fixed on Qi Heyan. "What gives you the right to test or doubt me? This morning you said you’d help me, and by afternoon, your true colors showed. You people are all trouble."

The alpha didn’t deny it. He silently picked up his pickaxe, ready to work, but Bai Qi stopped him. The omega was truly furious now: "Leave. I don’t need you anymore."

Qi Heyan didn’t let go. Instead, he lowered his gaze to Bai Qi: "The way you looked at them—I sensed a deep hatred. If I asked directly, you wouldn’t tell me. I just wanted to approach it in a way that felt less intrusive. I woke up here knowing no one but you."

"I just want to understand you better."

The omega scoffed, but his movements stopped. He took a deep breath, re-evaluating the alpha before him. The man was clearly intelligent—likely someone of power and influence in his past. All that talk about helping him? In the end, it was just for himself.

But Bai Qi wasn’t naive. He licked his dry lips: "That’s a truly scummy thing to say."

Qi Heyan’s lips curled slightly. He gently pulled his hand free from Bai Qi’s grip, openly allowing the omega to see him clearly: "I just want to repay you for saving my life."

The omega didn’t respond, only giving him a deep look before completely ignoring the alpha.

To Bai Qi, Qi Heyan now felt like a fox in hiding—full of cunning, unable to keep his true nature concealed for long. His mind might have lost its memories, but it wasn’t broken. Ultimately, he simply didn’t trust Bai Qi, always trying to peel back his layers and uncover his true intentions—

Not that the omega trusted him either. He seemed like a scoundrel anyway.

They needed to collect ten pounds of ore. Whether it was sheer luck or not, Bai Qi actually managed to complete the task. Qi Heyan, however, only managed seven pounds. After handing over the ore to the auntie, Bai Qi glanced at the weight and let out a scornful "hmph," as if mocking the alpha’s uselessness.

Qi Heyan didn’t take offense. Instead, he gave all the money he earned to Bai Qi, apologetically adding: "Next time, I’ll earn even more for you."

The omega’s mood improved significantly once he had the money. He weighed the Star Coins in his hand, unable to hide the delight in his eyes. Bai Qi tucked all the coins into a small pouch, then stuffed it securely into his clothes. Only after confirming it wouldn’t fall out did he reluctantly respond to Qi Heyan: "Fine. I’ll trust you one more time."

Qi Heyan hummed in response, calmly withdrawing his gaze to scan their surroundings. The place was chaotic—ramshackle, uneven houses, many in disrepair. Beggars, both adults and children, lined the streets. Garbage and unidentified corpses rotted by the roadside, emitting a foul stench.

Clearly, Bai Qi wasn’t fond of this place either. He quickened his pace: "Let’s go."

"Alright."

Qi Heyan followed closely. They should have been safe once they left that area, but soon, they sensed something was wrong. The alpha’s eyes subtly darted back, and just as he was about to mention that someone was following them, his hand was seized. The omega said nothing, but was already pulling him into a run—

Footsteps thundered behind them. Bai Qi had noticed these people long ago. They’d failed to intercept him a few times before, and now, likely angered, they’d been staking him out. Their hesitation was probably due to the person beside him.

"What do they do?" Despite his injuries, Qi Heyan’s movements were swift, easily keeping pace with Bai Qi. His breathing was steady. "Robbers?"

Bai Qi nodded. He skillfully led Qi Heyan through twists and turns, mentally calculating the fastest escape route. He bit his lip, catching a glimpse of the weapons in their pursuers’ hands. Bai Qi’s heart trembled slightly before he gritted his teeth and yanked Qi Heyan’s arm, pulling him into an alley.

The alley wasn’t a dead end, but it was filled with abandoned boxes. Without a second thought, Bai Qi pulled him into hiding, only to underestimate the alpha’s large frame. The omega was speechless as he squeezed himself in, their bodies pressed intimately together.

"Perhaps the box is too small," Qi Heyan whispered, his hands clenched as he strained to listen for movement outside.

Bai Qi held his breath, licking his lips. One arm braced against Qi Heyan’s chest, he could even feel the steady thud of the alpha’s heartbeat.

"Can you beat them?"

The omega’s casual question was cut short by the sound of curses outside. Both of them instantly tensed, listening intently to the commotion.

The alpha frowned, his hand instinctively moving to his hip—only to stop short. When he lifted his eyes, they met Bai Qi’s. Qi Heyan’s pupils flickered, and he had a sudden realization about his own identity. Muscle memory didn’t lie.

Bai Qi slowly averted his gaze, recalling Qi Heyan’s earlier attire. He quickly put it together—had he used a gun before?

He’d often seen people carrying weapons at their hips. During his job searches, he’d encountered all sorts, so the motion wasn’t entirely unfamiliar.

"You…"

Before Bai Qi could finish, a faint scent of lemon reached him. The omega looked up and blinked, his nose twitching. The scent wasn’t unpleasant; in fact, it was strangely comforting, even delightful.

Almost whispering, Bai Qi asked: "Do you smell that? Lemon."

Qi Heyan hummed in acknowledgment, his gaze settling on Bai Qi. The omega was practically sniffing at him like a curious animal. The alpha abruptly caught Bai Qi’s wrist and murmured: "That’s an alpha’s pheromones."

"Did you ever take physiology classes?"

"No."

Bai Qi didn’t hide it. Listening to the distant voices, he rose slightly on his toes: "Pheromones… I have them too. Aren’t yours suppressed?"

"They are. But yours are leaking as well—sandalwood, right?"

Qi Heyan’s muscles were taut. He hadn’t expected his pheromones to surface like this, unconsciously spilling out.

It was almost as if he was trying to entice the omega in front of him.

Bai Qi didn’t quite understand: "Why?"

"Because our compatibility is too high." Though Qi Heyan couldn’t remember, basic instincts remained. His grip on Bai Qi’s hand tightened, but his voice was calm: "I’m about to become a very bad alpha."

The omega also understood. Young and lacking formal education, Bai Qi still grasped Qi Heyan’s meaning. In this confined space, their pheromones tangled uncontrollably, clearly beyond their control.

Bai Qi felt relatively fine, just a little captivated by the scent emanating from Qi Heyan. He averted his gaze, carefully shifting his leg, but the brush of contact still made him momentarily dazed. His clothes were thin, and the scorching body heat combined with the alpha’s stifled groan made his head spin.

"You’re hard."

It wasn’t a question. Bai Qi withdrew his leg, whispering: "Sorry."

Qi Heyan hummed. Bai Qi’s legs were slender but muscular, and the brief contact had left him somewhat flustered. The omega’s pheromones weren’t helping either, making his glands burn.

"Do you know the way back?"

Bai Qi’s sudden question caught Qi Heyan off guard. The alpha blinked before realizing Bai Qi wanted him to lure their pursuers away. Qi Heyan accepted it readily, only asking: "What if I get lost? Will you come back for me?"

"No."

"What if I get hurt again?"

"Then die here."

Bai Qi’s attitude was utterly cold. He turned his head away, every breath filled with the alpha’s scent. Their pheromones seemed unable to leave each other, tightly entwined, from their lips and necks all the way to their most intimate places.

Qi Heyan didn’t speak. The veins in his neck stood out from the strain. Bai Qi’s pheromones were supposed to be sandalwood—a scent meant to soothe and calm—yet they made him feel like he was about to explode.

"Let’s go."

Listening to the noises outside, Qi Heyan dashed out the next second. The alpha moved swiftly, so fast he left them with only a flash of his clothes. The deliberately created commotion successfully drew their attention, and no one suspected Bai Qi was still there.

"Over there! Chase him!"

"We’ll flay them alive today!"

"Get him!"

"..."

Bai Qi was safe now—he cautiously slipped out of the cabinet, scanned the area, and only left once he was sure the coast was clear. The omega’s ears and neck flushed red. He exhaled silently, glanced back once at the spot where Qi Heyan had disappeared, and never looked back again.

What should he eat tonight?

Two packs of hardtack or a couple of steamed buns, perhaps…