"So, what are you up to these days?" Song Zihan swirled the drink in his glass. He'd figured he'd need wine to get through whatever had dragged him to his son's house at eight in the morning. Across from him sat Qin Tiewei, Song Sifan's best friend. As he spoke, Song Zihan's gaze followed the coil of smoke rising from the younger man's cigarette.
"I'm setting up a tech division at Qinhaicorp," Qin Tiewei replied, his voice even. "I'm calling it QinX."
Song Zihan's brows lifted with genuine admiration. "That's wonderful. This is your own thing, right?"
"Right. But the Qin family name doesn't permit failure. It must succeed."
"I can imagine." Song Zihan's shoulders stiffened.
The question hung in the air before it was raised. Qin Tiewei seemed to brace for it.
"Your parents…" Song Zihan's voice came out low. "How are they?"
"Fine." The response was clipped. Final.
Song Sifan descended the stairs at that moment, silk pajama shirt hanging open, revealing the lean lines of his torso. His brow furrowed at the unexpected sight of the man who birthed him and his best friend. His gaze shifted to Kang Wen, standing at the kitchen island, serving a meal into four plates.
Kang Wen's eyes lit up at the sight of him. "Darling, you got up just in time. Breakfast is ready."
Song Sifan approached the island, pointing to Song Zihan and Qin Tiewei, "What are they doing here?"
"I wonder too." Qin Tiewei muttered.
Kang Wen chuckled. "They're the two most important people in your life. I wanted them here for us."
Qin Tiewei picked up the ashtray and carefully tapped the ash from his cigarette. Song Zihan took a sip of wine as he watched in anticipation.
"What for?" Song Sifan asked, trying to process Kang Wen's words.
Kang Wen dropped down to one knee, small velvet box in hand. "Marry me, Song Sifan."
Song Zihan rolled his eyes from where he sat. Qin Tiewei's expression remained unreadable as he lit a new cigarette.
Song Sifan picked the ring from its velvet box, inspected it, then, after a pause, slipped it onto his finger.
Kang Wen rose, a smile plastered on his face. "Good. This evening, let's all three go to my restaurant to celebrate. Today's special on the menu is my darling Sifan's favorite–"
"Let's break up." Song Sifan's voice was flat as he set the ring on the counter.
Song Zihan almost choked on his wine. The faintest smirk tugged at the corner of Qin Tiewei's mouth.
Kang Wen chuckled as he retrieved the ring. "I thought the diamond was too small, too. For your taste? Of course, it has to be bigger. It's just all I could afford now. I'll get you something better soon."
"It's not the ring." His eyes widened as he spoke the next words. "I'm bored."
"Sifan." Kang Wen's voice cracked. "What are you saying?"
From the sofa, Song Zihan scoffed, almost gleefully. "You're both Alphas, Kang Wen. What did you think was going to happen?"
"Mommy!" Song Sifan chided, narrowing his eyes at his mother as if saying: 'Stay out of this'.
Song Zihan merely shrugged and took another sip of wine. Now that this relationship was over, half his problems with his son were gone.
Kang Wen reached for Song Sifan's hand. "I know your mom's poisoned you against me–"
Song Sifan dragged his hand away. "You should leave. I'll send your things later."
"Sifan, please–"
The words died in Kang Wen's throat as Qin Tiewei had suddenly appeared before him.
Qin Tiewei pulled Song Sifan behind him.
"He said to leave." Qin Tiewei's voice carried a quiet authority. "What part of that do you not understand?"
Kang Wen's anger was obvious on his face. He opened his mouth to speak, but Qin Tiewei's eyes dared him to. He retrieved the ring from the countertop and stormed out of the house.
As the door closed, Song Zihan rose to his feet. "Son. This is very good. Now that you've gotten rid of him, you can bond with a high-tier Omega–"
"Song Zihan." Qin Tiewei's voice cut through the speech. "You should leave, too. I'll handle things here."
Song Zihan's eyes flicked to Song Sifan, still tucked protectively behind Qin Tiewei. He sighed with resignation. "Okay. You take care of him."
Qin Tiewei nodded.
As the door closed, he passed a new cigarette to Song Sifan.
Song Sifan's hand trembled as he took the stick. He took a deep drag to steady his nerves.
"We're alone now," Qin Tiewei said, "What was that?"
Song Sifan shrugged. "Things haven't been great with us. He brought you both here to force a 'yes' out of me."
"Still. You've been together since Uni. Over four years now. You dismissed him… so coldly."
Song Sifan's laugh was bitter. "We were kids. Now, we're grown. He has dreams and ambitions. I'm no longer someone he's just in love with. I'm now someone who has enough money to fund his restaurant. If our relationship is publicized, that place automatically gains elite status."
"What's wrong with that?"
"My mom is a low-tier Omega. He and his late dad somehow managed to turn the Song name into a legacy." He paused. "Then, he never married. Raising me alone–"
"--I'm a test-tube baby from M-Country, a science experiment. Biologically, I'm an Alpha. Everything else about me is 'Omega'. A 'fake Alpha'." He chuckled bitterly. "If I'm going to ruin the Song reputation by marrying an Alpha, especially a low-tier one, it cannot be Kang Wen."
"You don't love Kang Wen?"
"I haven't loved him for a long time, Tiewei."
Qin Tiewei took a drag from his cigarette, then stubbed it out. "Okay. Now, tell me the real reason you did that."
Song Sifan sighed. Qin Tiewei knew him better than anyone after all. "I saw this vial among his things. It contains a serum. It changes an Alpha's pheromones. It lets them bond with other Alphas. He was going to… I would never agree to that."
Qin Tiewei froze. "Did he give it to you? Without your consent?"
Song Sifan shook his head. "I researched it. The serum was produced a month ago. The stock is limited. He only got the one vial. The seal is still intact."
"I'll kill him." Qin Tiewei glanced at the door as if he would dash out any moment and fulfill the promise.
"It's fine. He's gone now." Song Sifan waved dismissively.
"Still…" Qin Tiewei sighed in resignation. He didn't want a fight if Song Sifan didn't want one. "I never liked that guy."
"I know."
Qin Tiewei's eyes went to the abandoned meals on the counter. He started gathering them to put away, but Song Sifan touched his wrist.
"Leave it. I'll take care of it later."
Qin Tiewei hesitated, the muscles in his arm taut for a beat. Then he set the plate back down, picked up a pair of chopsticks instead, and took a measured bite.
Scoffing, he set the chopsticks down. "He can't even cook."
Song Sifan chuckled. "He can cook, Tiewei. Why do you think I stayed with him for so long?"
Qin Tiewei's eyes went directly to Song Sifan's crotch area, and he cocked his head.
Song Sifan swatted his back, laughing from embarrassment. "Tiewei!"
Qin Tiewei chuckled. "If it's just the food, I cook better than this." He pushed the food aside. "Don't worry. I'll take care of you from now on."
Song Sifan wrapped his arms around Qin Tiewei from behind. "You'd better keep your promise."
"Of course. You're the single most important person in my life. Cooking for you every day… That's not a big thing for me."
Song Sifan hugged Qin Tiewei even tighter. "I love you, Tiewei."
"Hmm." He murmured, gently disengaging himself from Song Sifan. "I'd love to stay, but I've got a company to run."
Song Sifan cocked his head at Qin Tiewei as the latter neared the door.
Qin Tiewei stopped. "Call me if you need anything." Something playful flickered in his usually serious expression. "Daddy will come running."
Song Sifan chuckled. "Okay, daddy."
Qin Tiewei smirked and stepped out the door.