Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Qi Heyan always adopted a humble posture when asking for things; sometimes, Bai Qi felt he was less like a grown alpha and more like a child.

"Pleading with me is useless. I’m no deity—do you expect me to grant every single wish you make?"

Bai Qi, his face still cupped by Qi Heyan’s hand, didn’t get angry. He simply told Qi Heyan calmly, "Let go of me."

"I upset you." Qi Heyan instead took Bai Qi’s hand. His hand was considerably larger than the omega’s, easily enveloping the smaller one. Bai Qi’s hand was icy, as if no amount of his warmth could ever thaw it.

Bai Qi turned his head away, lowering his gaze, his body relaxing with a hint of weariness. "I said I’m not angry. What’s there to be angry about? If you don’t remember, then forget it. Your path has nothing to do with mine. We’ll part ways sooner or later."

"Qi Heyan, I’m just like a landlord, and you’re merely a tenant. I provide you a place to stay, you pay me—our relationship is nothing more than that."

*Our relationship is nothing more than that—*

Those words made Qi Heyan’s head feel like it would explode. He wanted to deny it but found himself speechless. "Bai Qi, we… how could that be our relationship? Didn’t you say we were friends?"

The alpha turned him around so they faced each other, then wrapped his arms around Bai Qi’s waist, as if afraid he might flee. "We *are* friends."

"We’re not!"

Bai Qi suddenly raised his voice, pushing against Qi Heyan with trembling breaths. "We’re not…"

"No one else believes it. They say we’re lovers. You’ve become infamous, Qi Heyan—*you’re famous!* Everyone knows you’ve latched onto the wealthy Wen Si. I never said you couldn’t earn money. That day when we were mining, you told me, ‘We’ll strike it rich.’ And now you really are making big money."

"Ten thousand a month… It took me years to save just a few thousand star credits. Now everyone who sees me… says I’ve found a good boyfriend, that Bai Qi has climbed up by attaching himself to someone powerful." Bai Qi took a deep breath, held it, then suddenly punched Qi Heyan in the face before forcefully pushing him away. "I don’t want to be anyone’s dependent."

"You’re capable. You’ll be even more capable once you regain your memories." The omega’s breathing was heavy and ragged, his eyes rimmed with red. "To be lovers, there must first be love, and with love comes mutual respect. But we have neither. I don’t love you, Qi Heyan. *I don’t love you!*"

"You can’t even be a proper friend to me, and now you’ve brought me trouble…" Bai Qi turned his head away at this point. "I don’t have many friends—because I’m poor and always get bullied. But I’ve seen how others are friends. Friends aren’t like this; they don’t fight every day, and they certainly don’t make each other sad and miserable, do they?"

Bai Qi hadn’t held back with that punch. Qi Heyan’s face burned, undoubtedly already swollen, but the alpha ignored his own injury, his attention entirely on the omega. He hadn’t imagined that a single decision he made would lead to such a situation.

Were they not even friends anymore? Was there no affection left at all?

"Bai Qi, I was wrong. What can I do to make you forgive me?"

Qi Heyan was truly at a loss. He carefully took Bai Qi’s hand, slowly kneeling down, looking up at the omega. "Please, tell me."

"We haven’t known each other long… and there’s no future for us."

So the idea of love growing over time was a joke; they wouldn’t be together long enough for that. Qi Heyan had only forgotten temporarily; it wasn’t a permanent amnesia.

"Bai Qi."

Qi Heyan rested his head on the back of Bai Qi’s hand, his voice pleading. "I have money now. Let’s go buy clothes."

"Put on new clothes, and welcome—"

"This winter."

.

Arguing wouldn’t resolve anything. Bai Qi knew this well, but he didn’t want to waste energy fighting with Qi Heyan. The moment they returned from Ama’s house, he had made up his mind: he didn’t want any deeper contact with the alpha. They were merely passing figures in each other’s lives.

*Just leave it at that…*

Bai Qi wasn’t sure how he ended up following Qi Heyan to buy clothes. The alpha wanted to give all the money to the omega, but Bai Qi didn’t rush to take it, only telling Qi Heyan to keep it for now.

Later, Qi Heyan gave up and simply put most of the money into Bai Qi’s usual hiding spot, giving the omega no chance to refuse.

"I heard this winter will be much colder than before. I noticed we don’t have many warm clothes at home. Now that we have the money, let’s buy some."

Qi Heyan didn’t give Bai Qi a chance to speak, a little afraid the omega would say something about severing ties. The alpha’s mind was a blur; this was a very complicated issue for him.

If a simple method could solve the problem, he would have locked Bai Qi at home.

"I have thick clothes," Bai Qi muttered in protest, but he didn’t resist the outing.

Just as Bai Qi had said, Qi Heyan was widely known. The slums weren’t small, and news traveled quickly. The frequent stares from passersby made Bai Qi deeply uncomfortable.

Qi Heyan was also annoyed. He could keenly sense Bai Qi’s mood shifts, especially these past two days; Bai Qi’s pheromones had been heavy and subdued.

The alpha suddenly stopped. He turned to face the onlookers, not caring who they were. "What are you staring at? Do I have something on my face that you’re gawking at me? If you’re so idle all day, go jump in the ocean."

"And you lot, don’t you have homes, begging on the streets? Are you staring at me expectantly, hoping I’ll give you some money?"

After saying that, Qi Heyan pulled Bai Qi away. The omega, who had been ready with a retort, was left stunned by the alpha’s words. So… Qi Heyan also had a sharp tongue, just too well-mannered to use profanity.

Bai Qi wasn’t a pushover; he had been about to confront them himself.

"You *can* talk back. I thought you were a block of wood."

Bai Qi grumbled, "Usually, when I talk to you, you just repeat the same few phrases. Slow-witted and slow-minded—you’re an idiot."

"Yes, I’m an idiot."

Qi Heyan admitted his foolishness. His hand instinctively reached for Bai Qi’s palm, like a child, but the omega noticed and immediately pulled away. Bai Qi shot the alpha a sidelong glance, displeased with the gesture. "Don’t… *touch* me!"

"Did you hear me?"

Bai Qi almost wanted to pull Qi Heyan’s ear, shouting, "Did you hear me? *Did you?!*"

"Alright, alright, no touching." Qi Heyan’s fingers slowly tightened, his smile somewhat strained. "My face hurts."

His left cheek was swollen and bruised, likely why those people were staring, perhaps wondering if Wen Si had beaten him. But Qi Heyan didn’t care. Bai Qi’s anger showed he hadn’t given up on him.

He didn’t want the omega to leave him.

"You deserv—"

"Does your hand hurt?"

Qi Heyan cut Bai Qi off, his heart suddenly tightening. "I didn’t mean to, I…"

The omega frowned, slowing his steps. He stared intently at Qi Heyan for a few seconds before finally turning his head, his tone tinged with stubbornness:

"It doesn’t hurt at all."