Chapter 8: Husband, please, give me some pheromones. Didn't you see it?...

Shen Xinze's promise to Pei Jiqing was unexpectedly finalized so quickly. Who could have imagined that the prime-time show would be so well-received these past few days?

This was largely due to the popularity of the fantasy romance drama "Gunsmoke and Frosting," and the enthusiastic response to this couple. They were truly dedicated,

so much so that even Pei Jiqing couldn't help but marvel.

Later, to coincide with the variety show's broadcast, the "Gunsmoke and Frosting" crew released a video from the wrap party to capitalize on the buzz. The male lead, the Alpha, lounged on the sofa, two buttons undone on his shirt collar. He swirled his champagne glass and

glanced sideways at the Omega sitting upright beside him. His eyes fell on the cake on the table. Then, while everyone else was warming up, he fed the entire red velvet cake to the Omega. The Omega sipped his black tea, his fingertips gripping the rim of the celadon cup. The Alpha's Adam's apple twitched rapidly, and the tips of his ears visibly flushed.

A large part of the show's success is due to its excellent casting: one is as sassy as a mountain snow leopard, the other as sweet as a marshmallow, perfectly fitting the show's title and creating a strong chemistry.

The crew also released behind-the-scenes footage. During a scene with Alpha and Omega, the metal lighter in Alpha's hand was spinning so fast it left a shadow. He stared intently at the Omega, whose face was half-hidden by the script, making everyone else feel uncomfortable.

During one scene, a crew member was moving new equipment when they bumped into Omega. Alpha, holding a popsicle in his mouth, jumped down from a short distance, grabbed Omega by the scruff of the neck, and told the crew to be careful. Omega was dragged so hard that he stumbled into Alpha's arms, and his hand, which should have been pushing him away, somehow caught the other's shirt. The surveillance camera captured the scene.

Now that the series has just started, fans have photographed them walking in and out as a pair wearing the same Chrome Hearts rings. A fan edited a video and captioned it "Has the Civil Affairs Bureau moved in yet?" Five minutes later, Alpha replied, "On the way." Netizens lamented, "This CP is so dedicated to their work that even I can't tell the difference between the show and reality."

Several people leaned against the director's desk to watch the real-time data stream of "Honey Talk Star Chef." The show actually broke the ratings record and set a new record.

While this CP was selling out, Pei Jiqing's mouth twitched a little, and someone took a screenshot and made it into a micro-expression animated GIF with the caption "There are actually people in this world who can sell more than me," which caused a lot of laughter.

A meeting was held.

The production director turned on the play button above the conference table, and Pei Jiqing heard the opening credits he had recorded three years ago playing back.

"Let's savor the sweetest things in life—"

Everyone felt that light interview programs like "Honey Talk Star Chef" were outdated. If they continued like this, they would be like bronze artifacts placed in an internet museum. Nowadays, investment promotion was focused on more explosive divorce or emotional programs. No one watched these interviews anymore, and the audience was already a little tired of Pei Jiqing's character.

Pei Jiqing paused, fiddling with his pen, and looked at the titles of several new project directions on the screen: "Divorce in Progress" and "Ex-Boyfriend Shura Field," each with a strong sense of melodrama.

Everyone in the meeting voted in favor, so the bottom line was that transformation was necessary.

Pei Jiqing said nothing, his long legs crossed, his fingertips tapping lightly on the armrest, making a subtle sound. The meeting lights cast a light shadow on his brow, and under his dark lashes, a cold light that didn't reveal any emotion was cast.

How time has changed.

They said that the anti-hypocritical fighter persona is popular now, and asked Pei Jiqing if he had any plans to appear on the show.

Pei Jiqing thought these people were really bold.

However, being an Omega on Chenhui Star was indeed very stressful. For someone like Pei Jiqing, without a powerful family background, her husband didn't really care about her career.

The head secretary even mentioned several times that Pei Jiqing needed to stop speaking publicly, hinted countless times that he should hand over his account to the PR team, and even wanted to give him a copy of "The Perfect Omega Code" to follow daily.

Pei Jiqing appeared glamorous, and although he usually acted nonchalant, as if his work was just a hobby, it was mostly an act. He didn't want to lose his job at all.

If they wanted to transition, then they had to.

He had no objections.

"Honey Talk Star Chef" had three investors, the longest-standing of which was a Château Margaux. The investor was an elderly man named Xu, as stubborn as a century-old oak barrel, and Pei Jiqing seemed to have a natural incompatibility with him.

On their first meal together, Pei Jiqing felt that such an old-fashioned person deserved some attention, so he invited him to a historic, quaint restaurant called He Xiang Ju.

Old Xu poked the crispy skin of the roast goose with the tip of his chopsticks, declaring it overcooked. Pei Jiqing, speaking of the first time they met, had been quite respectful. He had presented him with a broken inkstone for his inspection. Pei Jiqing didn't understand it, but he'd heard it would make a great collector's item.

The old man, as if by magic, produced a magnifying glass. "The pattern isn't bad, but it's too leaky to be used as a pickle jar."

Pei Jiqing's forehead throbbed with a vein, finding the old man's words rather sarcastic.

Old Xu was snarky and picky about Pei Jiqing's gifts. Pei Jiqing had initially been polite, but later, after a few meetings, he began to complain.

Every time Pei Jiqing thought he was going to withdraw his investment, the check would arrive as promised.

Pei Jiqing had once assumed he was Chen Huixing's man, and after repeated attempts to test him, he proved he was indeed a bit overly sentimental and had nothing to do with Chen Huixing.

Chen Huixing should indeed be cautious, and Pei Jiqing understood that private power should not be abused for personal gain; this was a principle Chen Huixing adhered to.

After the meeting, Old Yu told Pei Jiqing that his program had a new investor and that they would be having dinner together tonight.

Pei Jiqing: "New investor?"

Old Yu said: "Yes, it's a big one. Your program needs to change, so I have to meet him."

Pei Jiqing agreed.

As dusk fell on the top floor office, Pei Jiqing dialed Chen Huixing's hotline. The person who answered the phone was, of course, the chief secretary.

Pei Jiqing asked Chen Huixing's chief secretary to tell him that he would be having dinner out tonight.

The chief secretary said yes, his tone was completely emotionless. The mechanical reply reminded him of the antique clock in Chen Huixing's study. Pei Jiqing thought he was very formal, so he liked to tease him.

Pei Jiqing deliberately added some honey to the end of his voice: "Mr. Chief Secretary, please tell my husband that I miss him very much. Remember to convey the right tone as well."

Sure enough, the chief secretary was silent for a moment. There was a dull thud of a pen falling to the ground on the other end of the line, and Pei Jiqing smiled and ended the call.

The dinner was scheduled to take place in an upscale club.

The crystal chandelier was about to fall into the carpet.

"This ancestor specifically asked to feed your program." When the two were waiting in the hall, Lao Yu said, "Do you know why a late-night program has been broadcast for ten years? It's because a big company wants to use it as an advertising space, so it can't die."

Whether a program survives for a long time is not because of its high quality or how innovative the program is. There is only one reason, that is, someone supports it to continue to survive.

Pei Jiqing was talking to Lao Yu. Lao Yu mentioned that this investor was not simple. He used to make a fortune in the gray industry. It is said that he worshipped someone's foundation and was trained as a godson.

Pei Jiqing raised his eyebrows: "This financial sponsor, is he planning to use my program to launder money?"

Old Yu said that your paranoia is too much, and this investment is not on that scale.

Pei Jiqing followed Old Yu into the box and whispered: "Do you think I can be careless? My husband has so many eyes on him."

Old Yu couldn't stand it: "I know you love your husband, okay."

Several leaders were also there, Pei Jiqing greeted them one by one and sat down.

Suddenly, a person pushed open the door of the private room, and a waiter came in first, and the person behind him was the real protagonist of the night.

When the person came in, Pei Jiqing was just holding the wine glass in his hand and feeding it to his mouth. The ice ball hit the wall of the glass and made a light sound. He squinted his eyes, thinking that he could go back and tell Shen Huixing that he had to drink a few sips because of the drinking party.

This is the self-awareness of a loving wife. She asks her husband for help in everything and reports to her husband. Her husband is the sky and the earth.

The light was not particularly bright, but it was enough to see the man's full appearance.

Pei Jiqing was struck by lightning when he saw the man's face.

The wine swirled in tiny eddies at the rim of the glass. The spot of light from the chandelier fell on the man's brow bone, turning the light scar into amber, fitting perfectly with the blood-stained Band-Aid in his memory.

It was actually Wei Ji.

This name occupied most of his adolescence. The man in front of him was completely different from the boy who wore ripped jeans and threw his school uniform over his shoulders.

They even had the most embarrassing time licking each other's wounds.

Now they have all grown into seemingly respectable adults.

"Sorry, there was a traffic jam on the road just now..." The smiling voice sounded like it was dipped in an ice spring, lightly blocking the floating light in the room, "Sorry for waiting."

The glass in Pei Jiqing's hand fell to the carpet and the cup fell to the ground. Old Yu beside him raised his hand to catch the splashing wine. The wine flowed along the thin fabric on his body as if it was going to seep into the gaps between his bones.

Old Yu hurriedly said, "Jiqing, are you drunk at this age?"

The waiter came over quickly to clean up, and brought a new towel for Pei Jiqing to wipe him. Old Yu laughed in his ear, "Look at this stress reaction. You're so excited to see a guy as handsome as your husband."

Pei Jiqing wanted to throw Old Yu's broken mouth into the recycling station.

The leader beside him hurriedly introduced to Wei Ji, saying, "Boss Wei, this is Mr. Pei, this is Boss Wei."

Wei Ji's silver-gray suit showed off his slim waist and narrow hips. Two buttons were undone at the collar, and a light red scar snaked across his collarbone. It was a scar that both of them knew the source of.

When Wei Ji stretched out his hand to Pei Jiqing, Pei Jiqing was stunned for a long time, staring at the glow on his cufflinks.

The Wei Ji in front of him was no longer the gangster he used to be.

Pei Jiqing then stretched out his hand. He extended his little finger to touch the other's fingertips perfunctorily, but was wrapped by Wei Ji's suddenly closed palm, as if he had been electrocuted.

Wei Ji, dressed in a suit and tie, his hair pulled back, brushed his wrist with his thumb as if by accident. A smile shone in his peach-shaped eyes, turning amber. He said, "Mr. Pei, nice to meet you."

Mr. Pei. A few strands of Pei Jiqing's hair fell from his forehead, casting a spidery shadow on his eyelashes. He withdrew his hand, a faint smile curling his lips. "Mr. Wei, nice to meet you." Then the two returned to their seats, Wei Ji chatting expertly with the people around Pei Jiqing. 

Mr. Wei? 

Pei Jiqing sat in his seat, silent and unsure of what to think. 

Wei Ji twirled his red wine glass between his fingers, chatting with the production director about the recently hot topic of Ying's shareholding. 

Another TV station leader, for the fifth time, turned the topic to a host he was promoting, a relative, and promised to introduce him to Mr. Wei. He was also a very talented young man: "Speaking of young talents, besides our host Pei, he studied art abroad..." 

Wei Ji remarked at the table that he admired Pei Jiqing's program and had decided to invest in it. 

Pei Jiqing, however, thought of the boy who had shielded him from the knife. They had once shared a rice ball at a convenience store, and the same bleeding rose tattooed on his ribs had been wrapped in high-end clothing. 

Pei Jiqing had wanted to remove the tattoo, but was too afraid of the pain, and because the mask was too large, 

he had put it off until his wedding night with Shen Huixing. He sat astride Shen Huixing's lap, his thorny rose tattoo catching the moonlight as his bathrobe slipped. He had said it was just a foolish rebellious act. 

The thorny rose had sprouted from the ground between his third ribs, its winding tattoo reflecting a bloody rainbow light as his breathing rose and fell. That night, Shen Huixing's fingers dug into the hollow of his waist, their tips rolling over the rose's stem. The cool touch couldn't suppress the thorns pulsating with blood, instead sliding down the veins, pooling at the junction of waist and hips into a swamp of lust. 

Pei Jiqing's spine, tensed like a bowstring as he leaned back, pretended to be obedient and asked if he wanted to get it washed, saying he was a little afraid of the pain. 

Chen Huixing chuckled softly and said, "You're afraid of the pain, but why bother getting a tattoo? Such a beautiful tattoo, it never needs washing off." Chen Huixing  actually liked it there. Many times, his canine teeth pressed against the tip of the petals, his thin lips tracing the veins of the tattoo. Pei Jiqing panted, letting the thorny lines gnaw like a flood. 

Pei Jiqing suddenly remembered his eighteenth birthday. The tattoo artist asked if he wanted numbing medication. He gripped the back of the chair and said no, but tears welled up in pain as the first needle pierced his veins. Just like Chen Huixing's kiss now, it was a painful bite, yet he found it incredibly satisfying. 

The clinking of wine glasses startled Pei Jiqing's ghostly memories— the entire meal had been tasteless. 

Pei Jiqing hadn't expected to see such a scene when he reunited with Wei Ji. 

He'd thought he'd never return to the Asian Union. 

Why was he here again? 

And investing in his show? 

A qualified ex would be as good as dead. 

The production director smiled flatteringly as he poured wine into Wei Ji's glass. 

Someone lit a cigarette for Wei Ji and just came out with a lighter. 

Suddenly Wei Ji said that he had a fire, and then he took out a lighter that looked a bit old. The silver shell had long been oxidized and blackened, and there was even a scratch on it with a sharp object. It was not only cheap but also shabby. 

Someone asked Mr. Wei if this was an old thing? 

Wei Ji stroked the concave scratch with his thumb, and his peach blossom eyes curved into crescents behind the smoke and said: "It's a token of love given by my savior... Oh no, a deposit token." 

The moment the lighter was ignited, the flames of that rainy night suddenly burst into flames. 

Pei Jiqing looked at the lighter and stood up suddenly. The chair legs scraped a sharp sound on the ground: "Everyone, have fun tonight. My husband's car is downstairs." 

Who would dare to keep Pei Jiqing? 

It was usually a face-saving thing for him to come out to the drinking party. 

Everyone at the table watched Pei Jiqing slam the door and walk out with his coat. The director wanted to tell Wei Ji about his relative who studied art, but Wei Ji stood up, twirling the old lighter on his fingertips: "Sorry, I also remembered that I have something to do and need to leave first. I'll pay for tonight." 

At this time, Wei Ji followed Pei Jiqing out. 

The few people left behind looked at each other with subtle expressions. 

The outside was washed by heavy rain, and the glowing signboards were turned into melted glass. Pei Jiqing's finger pointed at the dial key, and Wei Ji's leather shoes rolled over the broken reflection in the puddle. 

"Jiqing, we haven't seen each other for a long time. Don't you really want to see me?"

Pei Jiqing looked back at him: "I remember we greeted each other, Mr. Wei, there's no need to reminisce about the past."

Wei Ji said: "Jiqing, don't be like that."

Pei Jiqing frowned and said: "Don't call me that, I'm so happy to see you, okay, goodbye."

Wei Ji held him and said: "Jiqing, are you doing well now?"

Pei Jiqing turned his head to look at him, and said in a calm tone: "My Alpha and I have a harmonious relationship and a harmonious sex life, is that okay?"

Wei Ji's face turned grim upon hearing this, and then he made a phone call, and then someone came down with a suitcase.

"Open it." Wei Ji signaled the bodyguard to open the suitcase. The diamonds shone with blood in the rainy night, weren't they the things consigned to Boss Mai?

As for how Wei Ji knew these things were his, the iris brooch on the top was a relic left by Pei Jiqing's mother, given to her by Pei's father.

Pei's mother treated it as a treasure, but Pei Jiqing felt disgusted.

Wei Ji handed the things to him: "Jiqing, if you encounter any difficulties, you can always come to me, I owe you a lot."

Pei Jiqing asked in surprise: "Why are these here with you?"

Wei Ji seemed to confirm again: "Are you really doing well?"

Pei Jiqing was as if stabbed by something, and snatched the box away: "You don't need to worry about it."

No wonder Boss Mai told him that he met a big spender.

The driver also arrived.

Pei Jiqing left in a hurry, leaving Wei Ji behind. His mind was confused all the way.

He thought back to the days in the lower city. Pei Jiqing was the illegitimate son of the Pei family. His mother ran a small shop. The hooligans in the alleys jokingly shouted "illegitimate child" for more than ten years.

His mother always had a beautiful dream that as long as Pei Jiqing became outstanding, his father would come to find them.

So she was very strict with Pei Jiqing since he was a child, and did not allow him to have any connection with those hooligans in the lower city.

But after her death, Pei Jiqing still mixed with them.

When Pei Jiqing first met Wei Ji, he hadn't yet fallen to the point of being on the run with him.

It was a rainy day, and Pei Jiqing was alone guarding the canteen. Wei Ji, covered in blood and rust, smashed the shop's glass door. Seventeen-year-old Pei Jiqing was standing on tiptoe, wiping the top shelf, his white shirt draped over the shelves, like first snow falling in a downtown area that didn't belong there.

"I want a lighter," the boy tossed out soaked bills. Medical tape crept from his forehead to his neck, like a seal trapping a wild animal. When Pei Jiqing turned around, he was startled by Wei Ji's appearance. A glass bottle on the top shelf suddenly collapsed. Wei Ji reached out to catch it, but crushed it, cutting his palm with the broken pieces.

Pei Jiqing took Wei Ji to the back of the shop to bandage his wound, then gave him a lighter. The cool metal casing was stained with the Omega's body heat.

Pei Jiqing saw his own swaying white shirt reflected in the other's pupils.

Later, when Wei Ji was smoking, Pei Jiqing asked him to get one for himself.

"So top students also smoke."

After returning home, Pei Jiqing was stunned to see the pile of jewels in his hand, and then stuffed them all into the cabinet. He was indeed a little dizzy just now, but he didn't understand why Wei Ji still appeared in his life.

It's ridiculous, Mr. Wei.

They broke away from the muddy life, like two fish that were suffocating for a long time and finally able to breathe freely.

Pei Jiqing realized then, what should be done with these jewels? Logically, they still belonged to Wei Ji.

He really didn't want to have anything to do with Wei Ji anymore.

He didn't want to recall the past.

Of course he is living a good life now. The sensor lights in the bedroom suddenly lit up, and the 400-square-meter space was full of things that he had never been able to get before. His life is now ten thousand times better than before, a wealthy life, a smooth career, a glamorous status, everything is good.

Why did Wei Ji say that he was not living a good life?

He curled up on the sofa in the bedroom, fiddling with the bracelet on his wrist, until there was a noise at the door, Pei Jiqing suddenly woke up, Chen Huixing looked at him, he tugged at his tie, as if he noticed that Pei Jiqing was not in a good state, and walked over.

The scent of redwood mixed with the scent of myrtle suddenly approached, Pei Jiqing looked at the bony hand supporting his ear: "What's wrong?"

Pei Jiqing looked at him, as if suddenly feeling insecure, he suddenly put his arms around his waist, his nose bumped against the button, he leaned against the other's throbbing carotid artery and said vaguely: "Hubby, I miss you so much."

Chen Huixing: "...It's just a day since I last saw you."

But his fingertips rubbed the hair on the back of Pei Jiqing's neck.

Pei Jiqing murmured: "It's just a day, why don't you say this to me."

Do you really not love me.

Chen Huixing lowered his head and looked at him calmly.

Pei Jiqing lowered his eyes and said I won't say anything more. Pei Jiqing knew that Chen Huixing was a little annoyed by him, he yawned and said I'm so sleepy, I need to rest.

Chen Huixing frowned as he looked at Pei Jiqing's back. He stood up and asked Pei Jiqing, "Did you meet any new friends today?

" Pei Jiqing said that they were colleagues from the TV station. They had gone out for a meal together: "Honey, I haven't cooked for you for a long time. Can I cook for you tomorrow?"

Chen Huixing agreed.

Chen Huixing smelled a faint but provocative scent of Alpha pheromone, proving that the man had physical contact with Pei Jiqing. The S-level Alpha's sense of smell was so sharp.

None of Pei Jiqing's colleagues had such a person.

Chen Huixing looked at Pei Jiqing, not understanding why he lied to her.

"Did you meet an Alpha today?"

Pei Jiqing paused, then said, "Ah, honey, what's wrong?"

Chen Huixing: "You smell of pheromones."

Pei Jiqing quickly picked up his sleeve and sniffed it, thinking that Chen Huixing really had a dog's nose.

Pei Jiqing gave a bewildered look, "I guess it was just an accident."

To avoid Chen Huixing getting serious, he quickly threw his arms around Chen Hui's neck, hanging on him and acting coquettishly. Chen Huixing grabbed his waist to prevent him from falling, "Honey, did the secretary give you a message?" Chen Huixing,

distracted, said, "Don't embarrass him by saying things like that."

Pei Jiqing said, "I didn't. I just missed you." Chen

Huixing said, "Then don't tell him that next time. "

Pei Jiqing said sullenly, "Okay." Chen Huixing was quite protective, so he let go and went to shower.

On his way out, Pei Jiqing secretly measured the stability of Chen Huixing's pheromones. This was a high-tech device he'd picked up from Yan Zhen, three times more sensitive than ordinary testing equipment. When he heard the sound of running water in the bathroom, it was Chen Huixing entering. Pei Jiqing squatted by the bed, studying the fluctuations in the data. One of the values was unusually high. It was fluctuating. Hadn't they just done it last night?

When Chen Huixing came out of the bathroom, Pei Jiqing pressed against him. As soon as his legs wrapped around his sturdy waist, Chen Huixing skillfully lifted his hips.

Pei Jiqing kissed him impatiently, saying that he wanted it. Chen Huixing started to say that they would meet tomorrow.

Pei Jiqing hooked his arms around Chen Huixing's neck, rubbed the glands on the side of his neck like a cat, and slid his fingertips along his spine into the gap in his bathrobe: "Husband, please, I want it today, give me some pheromones." Chen

Huixing looked at Pei Jiqing with dark eyes, not knowing what he was thinking in his heart, and then pressed him on the bed with his backhand, wedged his knees between his legs, and rubbed Pei Jiqing's lower lip with his thumb.

Pei Jiqing thought to himself that he had only begged Chen Huixing once today and he gave in.

Later, Chen Huixing did give a lot, so full that it overflowed.

Chen Huixing pinched Pei Jiqing's neck and pressed him on the big bed. The only warm light at the head of the bed outlined the overlapping figures of the two. When the canine teeth pierced the red glands, Pei Jiqing struggled in the torrent of pheromones and did not see the scene where the value of the detector soared wildly and then fell back.