The morning sunlight was warm and gentle, with a beam of light shining through the canopy of the breakfast cart onto Lu Zhiyuan’s shoulders. Those scattered, twinkling bits of light and shadow were like spotlights, forming a galaxy behind her.
She stood amidst this galaxy, everything around her fading into the background, leaving only—
Her, dazzling and radiant.
Shen Qiaoyi unconsciously walked towards Lu Zhiyuan, just in time to overhear her conversation with Grandma Luo.
Lu Zhiyuan: “Grandma, just give me two flatbreads please.”
It seemed only in front of Grandma Luo that Lu Zhiyuan would let down her guard and pretense, revealing her childlike side.
Grandma Luo smiled indulgently, playing along: “Just the bread? I don’t sell only the bread by itself.”
Lu Zhiyuan feigned a look of helplessness: “Grandma, please just give me two. I’ll take them back and eat them with chili sauce… It’s the end of the month, I’m a bit short on cash…”
Grandma Luo was an even better actor, her tone reluctant yet tinged with sympathy: “If everyone bought like you, how could I stay in business? Ah, never mind, it’s not easy for young people out here. I’ll give you two flatbreads. Um… you don’t want any vegetables either?”
Because she was facing away, Lu Zhiyuan hadn’t noticed Shen Qiaoyi behind her. She was about to reply “No” when suddenly a sweet voice sounded by her ear.
“Yes!”
Lu Zhiyuan turned her head in surprise, meeting Shen Qiaoyi’s lively eyes filled with laughter.
When Shen Qiaoyi approached, she had only heard the part about “buying bread”, especially Lu Zhiyuan’s line “It’s the end of the month, I’m a bit short on cash”, which instinctively made Shen Qiaoyi think her financial situation was indeed not good, even to the point of being completely broke.
Considering Lu Zhiyuan’s pride, she didn’t expose her ‘predicament’, but instead teased in a relaxed, casual tone: “Hey, you’re so skinny, don’t diet!”
Then she turned her head, her slender fingers sweeping grandly: “Grandma, this one, this one, and this one… one of each please.”
She paused, leaning her head close to Lu Zhiyuan, adopting an intimate posture as if whispering: “Zhiyuan… do you want cilantro?”
The Omega’s curled and upturned eyelashes fluttered, like feathers brushing across Lu Zhiyuan’s heart, tickling her.
She averted her eyes to cover up: “I don’t eat cilantro.”
Grandma Luo’s gaze jumped back and forth between the two, her expression becoming increasingly interesting – first puzzled, then gradually clearing, and finally transforming into a dazzling, knowing smile.
That smile could practically be used as an expression pack for shipping couples.
Lu Zhiyuan was truly a bit embarrassed. She turned slightly to the side, out of Shen Qiaoyi’s view, and kept making eye signals to Grandma Luo.
But how could Grandma Luo let it go? She had watched Lu Zhiyuan grow up since childhood and had never seen her get along so well with any Omega except for work interactions. She couldn’t help but speak in a gossipy tone.
“Oh my, young lady, you’re so generous to your colleague.”
“Grandma, she’s not my colleague, she’s my Alpha.”
Her mouth was too quick. Shen Qiaoyi was stunned for a moment after she said it. Lu Zhiyuan also froze, her slightly curved lips stiffening into a twisted line.
A blush gradually spread from her neck, creeping up to her ears.
Grandma Luo caught this scene, her smile growing wildly.
Goodness.
The young miss had finally come to her senses.
It seemed she could pack up and return to the Meng family, to plan the wedding with the young madam.
Just as Grandma Luo was imagining the scene of family reunion, Su Jintao appeared out of nowhere, wedging herself between the two and forcibly squeezing Lu Zhiyuan out of her position.
“Yiyi, why are you here? What a coincidence, we run into each other everywhere. Don’t you think… this counts as fate?”
Lu Zhiyuan’s eyes instantly darkened, her expression becoming somewhat strange.
Su Jintao didn’t notice her change, moving closer to Shen Qiaoyi and even boldly grabbing the Omega’s arm: “Hey, Yiyi, do you work nearby? Which company? I’m very familiar with this area, maybe I know it.”
Lu Zhiyuan’s gaze lowered, fixing on Shen Qiaoyi’s slender arm, pausing for a few seconds before slowly moving up, noticing Su Jintao’s brilliantly smiling face.
Lu Zhiyuan narrowed her eyes unfriendly, her red lips coldly pressed together.
Shen Qiaoyi quietly moved her arm behind her back, distancing herself from Su Jintao, and squeezed out a dry smile at her: “I work at LZ Studio.”
“LZ! ” Su Jintao seemed very excited: “Is your boss surnamed Lin? The one who walks with legs like a compass drawing circles…”
“Yes, you know her?”
“Last year at the Orange TV Fashion Gala, wasn’t she in charge of…”
Before Su Jintao could finish, she felt a cool breeze on the back of her neck. She instinctively shrank her neck, and her collar was suddenly grabbed from behind. A cold voice came from behind her.
“Miss, could you please watch the stall for me? Grandma needs to use the restroom urgently.”
Su Jintao turned her head in response, meeting Grandma Luo’s death glare.
“Grandma, I don’t know how to make pancakes…”
Her young miss finally had an Omega she got along with, how could Grandma Luo allow another Alpha to interfere?
She dragged Su Jintao all the way back to the food cart, took off her apron and tied it tightly around Su Jintao’s waist, saying in a voice only the two of them could hear: “Miss Su, making pancakes is actually very easy. Come, come, let Grandma demonstrate for you.”
With that, she unceremoniously shoved the iron spatula into Su Jintao’s hand, her slightly plump body blocking Su Jintao’s view of Shen Qiaoyi.
Su Jintao could only helplessly pick up the spatula, forced into her career in sales.
Perhaps Su Jintao’s flustered appearance was too comical, Shen Qiaoyi tried to hold back but still couldn’t help laughing out loud.
Lu Zhiyuan frowned slightly and moved away without a word.
Shen Qiaoyi quickly caught up, naturally hooking her arm through Lu Zhiyuan’s and handing her the pancake: “This one doesn’t have cilantro.”
That subtle sourness in Lu Zhiyuan was smoothed away silently by the tingling sensation of skin contact. She took the pancake, the corners of her lips curling into a small arc: “Thank you.”
The scattered sunlight reflected in the Alpha’s eyes, sparkling like brilliant fireworks.
Shen Qiaoyi looked at her intently and infatuatedly, pink little hearts bursting in her eyes.
Aww, such a beautiful and cool Alpha lady should be sitting leisurely in a high-end restaurant, enjoying her free time.
How could she bear to let her eat “flatbread rolled with Lao Gan Ma”?
Since she had already signed an agreement with her, she should show her sincerity as a “sugar mommy”.
Shen Qiaoyi decided to demonstrate her capabilities. She took out her phone and asked, tilting her head: “Zhiyuan, where’s your phone? Open your WeChat QR code.”
“What for?” Lu Zhiyuan just quietly looked at her, but her hand didn’t move.
Shen Qiaoyi unlocked her phone with her fingerprint and leaned towards her, speaking in a commanding tone: “To add friends, of course. Quick, hurry up, I’ll scan yours.”
That domineering appearance left no room for negotiation. Lu Zhiyuan helplessly pulled up her WeChat QR code. With a beep, the screen jumped to a new friend request.
She clicked to accept the friend verification and said, “Done.”
As soon as she finished speaking, the screen popped up with a red envelope transfer.
“Collect the money, what are you waiting for?” Shen Qiaoyi waved her own phone, her eyes curved in a smile.
Seeing her not moving, Shen Qiaoyi simply reached out and opened the red envelope for her.
Lu Zhiyuan was momentarily stunned, her eyes dazzled by the sudden movement. By the time she reacted, the phone screen showed “Payment received”.
Lu Zhiyuan seemed to have forgotten about the agreement and still looked confused: “Why are you giving me money?”
Shen Qiaoyi’s smile froze imperceptibly for a moment, then she stood on tiptoe and gently rubbed Lu Zhiyuan’s head twice, smiling even more brightly: “Did you forget? We signed an agreement. From now on, I’m responsible for your life. I’ll take care of you.”
“You’ll take care of me?” Lu Zhiyuan paused, her voice carrying a strange feeling, as if holding back laughter. A few seconds later she repeated: “You really want to take care of me?”
As she finished speaking, she really laughed, her long almond eyes gradually tightening around Shen Qiaoyi.
Shen Qiaoyi nodded generously, her eyes full of sincerity: “Mm-hmm, from now on buy whatever you want to eat. Don’t go hungry.”
Lu Zhiyuan felt a warm swelling in her heart. Since her Omega mother left, no one had spoken to her like this, using such a fierce tone to say the most caring and softest words.
Her Alpha mother hardly communicated with her about anything other than company matters, let alone pay attention to her daily life and meals.
And the servants at home only felt reverence towards her, or not even reverence – it was purely an employer-employee relationship.
Lu Zhiyuan lowered her eyes, hiding the heat in them, and softly hummed an “Mm”.
Shen Qiaoyi smiled, her smile carrying a hint of satisfaction.
She took a small step forward, quietly grabbing Lu Zhiyuan’s wrist and sliding down to intertwine their fingers, swinging their hands: “Zhiyuan, where do you live now?”
Lu Zhiyuan casually replied: “I live in Xuelang Mountain…”
“Xuelang Mountain?” Shen Qiaoyi’s eyes widened in disbelief: “You rent a place so far away? Don’t you have to transfer several times on your daily commute?”
Rent… a place?
Only then did Lu Zhiyuan remember her poor person persona. She mumbled and nodded: “I leave early.”
“Zhiyuan, although you’re an Alpha, it’s too dangerous on the road when you get off work so late from your part-time job at the bar.” Shen Qiaoyi’s brows gradually furrowed, then she asked: “So… how much is the rent per month?”
Rent?
This question truly stumped Lu Zhiyuan. How would she know the current market rates for housing rentals?
“Uh… the monthly rent is…”
Lu Zhiyuan was at her wit’s end. What amount would be reasonable to make up?