Love Me, Please Look - Chapter 21

Chapter 21

 

It had only been a week since the start of junior year when Qi Junhe was asked to perform a cello solo for the welcome event. With the performance looming, he barely had time to think about Zhang Shixu.

 

Zhang Yan continued his usual routine—attending classes, eating meals, and chatting up girls. Meanwhile, Chen Nan and Jin Heng hadn’t returned to campus.

 

While Jin Heng had vanished without a trace, Chen Nan sent a message to Zhang Shixu explaining he had taken a leave of absence.

 

Later, while accompanying Qi Junhe at the piano room, Zhang Shixu was scrolling through videos with his headphones on when he got a notification: the patriarch of the Jin family was critically ill. To protect himself, Jin Heng—technically an orphan—claimed he was going abroad for better opportunities.

 

Zhang Shixu was so stunned by the news he left the room immediately to call Chen Nan. He didn’t expect the call to actually go through.

 

“Hello?” came Chen Nan’s voice, a little hoarse and weary.

 

Zhang Shixu froze for a few seconds before speaking, “Where are you?”

 

“I’m in the dorm.”

 

“The dorm?” Zhang Shixu had been either in class or with Qi Junhe all day. “When did you get back?”

 

“Just now.”

 

“Okay. I’ll come to you.”

 

After hanging up, he returned to the piano room to tell Qi Junhe.

 

Qi Junhe, who had stopped playing after seeing Zhang Shixu leave abruptly, was casually browsing his phone.

 

“You saw the news?” Zhang Shixu asked, referring to the chaos surrounding the Jin family and Jin Heng’s sudden departure.

 

Qi Junhe nodded, putting away his phone. “Your roommate?”

 

Zhang Shixu confirmed, “He just got back. I’m going to check on him.”

 

“Still practicing?” Zhang Shixu asked, beginning to gather his things.

 

Qi Junhe helped him tidy up. “I’ll walk you back.”

 

Zhang Shixu nodded and left first. After locking up the piano room, Qi Junhe followed behind.

 

When Zhang Shixu returned to the dorm, Chen Nan had just come out of the shower, drying his hair.

 

Zhang Yan gave Zhang Shixu a meaningful look and silently mouthed, “He seems really down.”

 

It had been Chen Nan who told Zhang Yan about Jin Heng being an Alpha. Since they were all close, there was no need to keep it a secret—just don’t go around broadcasting it.

 

Zhang Yan wasn’t particularly bothered by the news either. His reaction: “That’s rich-people drama, not our business.”

 

Zhang Shixu gave him a calming nod, indicating everything was okay, before turning his attention to Chen Nan.

 

Chen Nan looked noticeably thinner, and the loose pajamas draped over him as if the slightest breeze might carry him off.

 

When Zhang Shixu moved closer, Chen Nan looked up, their eyes meeting.

 

“Are you okay?” Zhang Shixu asked softly, noticing his eyes were red.

 

Instead of answering, Chen Nan leaned in and hugged him tightly, the towel slipping from his hands unnoticed.

 

“It’s okay now,” Zhang Shixu whispered, gently patting his bony back. “Why have you lost so much weight?”

 

Chen Nan only shook his head, not saying a word.

 

Zhang Yan joined them, “Don’t take it so hard,” and gave him a few comforting pats of his own.

 

Once Chen Nan had calmed a little, Zhang Shixu sat him down and sent Zhang Yan off to fetch hot water—an excuse to get a moment alone.

 

“Alright, talk,” Zhang Shixu said, standing above him.

 

“He… he’s gone,” Chen Nan’s voice trembled.

 

“I know,” Zhang Shixu replied calmly.

 

Chen Nan looked up at him. “He kept me locked up the entire summer.”

 

Zhang Shixu cursed under his breath. “Are you serious? Why? Is that why you’ve lost so much weight?”

 

Chen Nan didn’t answer—he just shook his head again, tears slipping down his cheeks.

 

“It’s okay if you don’t want to talk,” Zhang Shixu said gently. “He’s gone now.”

 

“He was in his heat. His uncles wanted him dead. He said he had to protect me. But I… I didn’t want any part of this,” Chen Nan murmured, his words disjointed.

 

Even though his mind seemed jumbled, Zhang Shixu pieced the story together: Jin Heng, an orphan, had been hiding his true identity in the dangerous Jin family as a Beta. With the family patriarch gone and his uncles eyeing the company throne, Jin Heng going abroad was the safest option—for both of them.

 

Chen Nan being left behind likely meant he was now out of harm’s way too.

 

Zhang Shixu comforted him a little more before Zhang Yan returned with the hot water.

 

After helping Chen Nan drink and get into bed, Zhang Shixu pulled Zhang Yan out to the balcony to talk.

 

“That scared the hell out of me,” he said. “When I saw him today… he looked completely out of it.”

 

“Did he eat?” Zhang Shixu asked.

 

Zhang Yan sighed, “He didn’t go out to buy anything, so I gave him one of Luo Jia’s sandwiches.”

 

As they discussed Jin Heng, Zhang Yan interrupted, “You trusted me enough to tell me. I won’t say a word.”

 

Zhang Shixu nodded, “Just keep an eye on him these days.”

 

“Got it,” Zhang Yan replied and headed inside.

 

Zhang Shixu remained on the balcony, staring at the distant skyline.

 

He didn’t know how to comfort Chen Nan.

 

Qi Junhe probably knew Zhang Shixu wouldn’t be free that night. After sending a few texts on his own, he said goodnight and went to sleep.

 

Only once Zhang Shixu had finished washing up and gotten into bed did he finally start replying.

 

Z: Goodnight, baby.

 

Qi Junhe replied almost instantly: Goodnight. 🌹

 

Zhang Shixu blinked at the fast reply.

 

Z: Why are you still awake?

 

Qi Junhe: Waiting for you.

 

Z: You’re too sweet. Now go to sleep.

 

Qi Junhe: Okay. Goodnight, gege.

 

Zhang Shixu looked at the last message and chose not to reply. He could tell from the tone of the texts that Qi Junhe was at the bottom of his own emotional pit too. Probably neither of them would sleep well that night.

 

He didn’t think any more about it. He shut off his phone and drifted to sleep.

 

Chen Nan gradually bounced back. Jin Heng, on the other hand, was directly sent abroad without any opportunity to say goodbye.

 

Once he seemed better, Zhang Shixu dragged him to the welcome party to watch Qi Junhe’s solo.

 

“That was incredible. Like hearing the sound of an immortal descending from heaven,” Chen Nan sighed dramatically as applause filled the hall.

 

Zhang Shixu: “…”

 

At least the sarcasm was back—clearly he was doing better.

 

Chen Nan nudged him with his knee. “What kind of karma did you do to land someone like that?”

 

Zhang Shixu didn’t dignify it with a response, just gave him a sideways look.

 

Knowing he was pushing his luck, Chen Nan shut up and went back to enjoying the show.

 

“Okay but seriously, that host—tall, toned, and unfairly pretty.”

 

“Stop ogling. He’s a freshman,” Zhang Shixu snapped. “Have you learned nothing?”

 

Chen Nan chuckled and didn’t respond.

 

Later, as everyone grouped up for the end-of-show dancing, Chen Nan excused himself with a mischievous grin.

 

Zhang Shixu told him to text when he got back. In response, Chen Nan kicked him. “You treating me like your precious baby now?”

 

Zhang Shixu just smiled.

 

Chen Nan, seeing he couldn’t win, slunk off and even sent a selfie from the empty dorm: “Look, I’m all alone, guarding the empty room like a loyal wife.”

 

Zhang Shixu replied with a simple “Noted.” and left it at that.

 

He walked over with two glasses of champagne and spotted Qi Junhe in a suit, head lowered, texting.

 

“May I have this dance?” he asked, handing over a glass and tapping it with his own.

 

“No answer? I’ll take that as a yes.”

 

Qi Junhe’s face instantly turned red, hurriedly putting his phone away and offering his hand.

 

Zhang Shixu raised an eyebrow and took it.

 

Qi Junhe pulled him close by the waist—close enough that all Zhang Shixu had to do was lift his head to kiss his chin.

 

“What kind of dance hold is this?” he asked.

 

Qi Junhe didn’t reply—just stared at him intensely.

 

Zhang Shixu melted a little, leaning his head against Qi Junhe’s shoulder, and they finished the entire dance like that, bodies pressed together.

 

Afterward, Zhang Shixu dragged him to a lakeside bench and rested his head on Qi Junhe’s shoulder again.

 

“What’s wrong?” Qi Junhe asked.

 

He shook his head but turned slightly, breathing in the scent of Qi Junhe’s neck. As he neared the gland, Qi Junhe trembled.

 

Then Zhang Shixu licked it.

 

Qi Junhe jerked and yanked him into a hug. “Don’t mess around. Not here.”

 

“I just wanted to smell your scent,” Zhang Shixu murmured against his neck.

 

Qi Junhe paused.

 

Then Zhang Shixu asked quietly, “Will we break up?”

 

Before he could answer: “Will you leave me?”

 

Qi Junhe kissed him, silencing the doubts.

 

“I won’t leave you. I won’t break up with you.”

 

Zhang Shixu smiled finally, “Even if you do, it’s okay.”

 

Then changed the topic with some gossip, not wanting to stay in the heavy emotions, and Qi Junhe respected that.

 

Qi Junhe’s second susceptibility period hit while still at school.

 

He called Xu Xinyi, telling her not to worry.

 

He took his inhibitors, put on his bite guard, and waited for Zhang Shixu.

 

When Zhang Shixu arrived with supplies, he was startled by the sight of the black muzzle.

 

“What is this?”

 

The symptoms were intense, and Qi Junhe was afraid of hurting him.

 

Zhang Shixu didn’t expect answers. He unpacked quietly while Qi Junhe followed him around like a giant dog.

 

“Chill,” Zhang Shixu pushed him away and went to shower.

 

But before he could even get dressed, Qi Junhe had already dragged him to bed.

 

Later, Zhang Shixu was sore all over, and Qi Junhe was still sniffing his neck, restless.

 

The bite guard stayed on, so Zhang Shixu kissed his forehead and whispered soothing words to calm him down.

 

Days later, Qi Junhe finally returned to normal.

 

As Zhang Shixu was dragging his aching self out of the dorm, Xu Xinyi came in.

 

Seeing her son like that broke her heart.

 

She reminded him gently to go to the safe house next time. It had full medical support and was designed for Alpha during their heat.

 

Qi Junhe nodded.

 

Xu Xinyi quietly thought to herself—maybe it was time to pair him with a nice Omega. Inhibitors weren’t a long-term solution. Constant use could cause pheromone imbalance.

 

She nagged and worried, even calling her husband to bring him some soup.

 

“You’re really not coming home?” she asked again.

 

Qi Junhe shook his head. The worst was over.

 

In the car, she vented, “Why didn’t you convince him?”

 

Qi Junhe drove calmly. “Did you see the bite marks on his collarbone?”

 

“What?”

 

“No Omega pheromone, though. All I smelled was chocolate sundae.”

 

Xu Xinyi: “…”

 

“You sure it wasn’t masked?”

 

“Could be. But he smells sweeter than anyone else, anyway.”

 

“What if the Omega gets pregnant? Are we becoming grandparents? Do we need to arrange a marriage?”

 

“Let’s not jump ahead,” Qi junhe said. “Let’s wait for him to introduce the person first.”

 

Xu Xinyi smiled, “So I might get a daughter-in-law?”

 

“Very likely,” he nodded.

 

“Will they get along?”

 

“Our son has good taste.”

 

Xu Xinyi finally relaxed. “Then I’ll be a great mother-in-law.”

 

“You’ll be the best,” Qi junhe said.

 

“You’re such a flatterer.”