October 11th. After a brief weekend break, Che Xiayun had to return to school.
Unfortunately, she had been bitten by Ma Qingyu right on the gland. It was excruciatingly painful and even bled. In the three days since transmigrating into this book, she had already been injured twice. This made Che Xiayun, who had originally intended to live a leisurely, unambitious life, start questioning her existence.
What had she done wrong? How could she live a stable, carefree life?
After much contemplation, Che Xiayun reached a conclusion: the only mistake she had made was having too many interactions with Ma Qingyu, which caused her life to teeter precariously between heaven and the mortal world.
Yes, it must be because she had gotten too close to Ma Qingyu. But she couldn’t get too close, nor could she let their relationship turn sour. Finding the right balance was just too difficult!
After thinking it over for a long time, Che Xiayun finally found a suitable approach: don’t initiate contact with her, don’t linger around her every day, but don’t deliberately distance herself either.
With this new strategy in mind, Che Xiayun stuck to her principles and lived diligently day by day. For five consecutive days, life was smooth and comfortable. She slacked off at school every day, enjoyed lavish meals at home, and even got to exercise during P.E. class. She became even more handsome, radiating energy and vitality.
By Friday after school, Jiang Shuai was sweetly holding hands with her girlfriend, an omega named Ran Shan, who looked incredibly cute and well-behaved but was actually a bit of a schemer.
Che Xiayun, a single dog in spirit, silently kept a step away from them but still felt suffocated by the couple’s public displays of affection.
Jiang Shuai looked at her with sparkling eyes. “We were just talking about going to the amusement park this weekend. Wanna come?”
Che Xiayun shook her head without hesitation. “No.”
As if she would willingly spend her weekend drowning in more dog food! Besides, she had always been a homebody at heart. Staying in was the most comfortable way to spend the weekend.
Jiang Shuai resorted to her pitiful act, forcing out a couple of tears and looking utterly miserable. “You probably heard Ran Shan wants to check out the new haunted house at the amusement park. How am I supposed to handle all those ghosts alone?”
Che Xiayun glanced at her and said calmly, “You can handle it.”
Jiang Shuai quickly grabbed her arm, eyes pleading desperately as if she were about to kneel. “Bro, have some pity on your little sister, just this once.”
Hah, this girl was terrified of ghosts but still tried to act tough in front of her girlfriend. Che Xiayun wasn’t about to let her off that easily. She raised one finger and shook it. “Action figure?”
Jiang Shuai let out a pained groan, her face full of reluctance. After a few seconds of consideration, she finally agreed, “Fine. You can keep it at your place.”
Che Xiayun raised a second finger. “Last time we went drinking, you—”
Jiang Shuai quickly covered her mouth, heart bleeding. “What drinking? Never happened. I’ll give you the other one too.”
Ran Shan looked curiously at Che Xiayun, then shot a dangerous glance at Jiang Shuai. “You went drinking?”
Having received her reward, Che Xiayun proved reliable and played her part convincingly. “Of course not. I was just messing with her.”
Ran Shan didn’t believe these two alphas who had clearly already conspired. She expertly pinched Jiang Shuai’s ear and twisted it, glaring with wide eyes. “Tell me the truth.”
Jiang Shuai winced in pain and begged for mercy. “Really, it’s nothing! Shan Shan, believe me! Last time we just had a late-night snack, and she tricked me into drinking a cocktail. That doesn’t even count as drinking, right?”
Che Xiayun cleared her throat appropriately and continued along her line of thought, “I wouldn’t call that lying.”
Ran Shan snorted, releasing her ear, “I’ll reluctantly believe you.”
Jiang Shuai hung her head obediently, staying close to her wife, and secretly reached for her hand.
Though Ran Shan’s words were sharp, her heart was soft, unable to truly neglect the pitiful alpha.
Che Xiayun wanted to laugh but didn’t dare. Her good friend Jiang Shuai, who feared nothing and had a notoriously bad temper, was the only one Ran Shan could keep in check.
Jiang Shuai checked the weather forecast and picked a clear Saturday. “Then it’s settled, we’ll go on Saturday.”
Che Xiayun nodded, “Mm, what time?”
Jiang Shuai thought for a moment, “Ten in the morning. Let’s sleep in a bit on the weekend. We’ll meet at the entrance of the amusement park.”
Che Xiayun gave a slight nod, “Okay.”
The three parted ways at the school gate. Che Xiayun could vaguely see the two of them hugging, holding hands, and rubbing cheeks, so affectionate and reluctant to part.
She felt a bit emotional. Compared to her plain-looking former self, this time she finally had a face that captivated thousands and was adored by many, yet she didn’t dare to experience a passionate romance during this beautiful youth. It was somewhat disappointing.
Driver Zhang noticed her expression in the rearview mirror and cautiously spoke, “Young master, are you envious of how well they get along?”
Che Xiayun was proud, arrogant, and too concerned with face to admit her true feelings. “No.”
Driver Zhang continued on his own, “Actually, you and Madam could be like that too.”
Che Xiayun quickly cut him off, “Stop, I don’t want to hear about Ma Qingyu.”
Driver Zhang said no more but kept his thoughts to himself.
When Che Xiayun returned home, she changed out of her uniform, casually grabbed a drink from the fridge, poured it into a glass with ice, and comfortably settled on the sofa to watch TV.
Auntie Xu soon brought over a plate of sliced fruit. “Young master, dinner will be ready once Madam returns.”
Che Xiayun was engrossed in a variety show and didn’t turn her head. “Mm.”
Auntie Xu sighed, speaking earnestly, “Young master, Madam has to handle company affairs and attend school. She barely manages during winter and summer breaks, but since the semester started, she only sleeps five hours a day. Sometimes she even has social engagements, making her even busier.”
Though Che Xiayun sympathized with Ma Qingyu, she felt powerless to help. “I have to go to school too, and I don’t even know how to manage the company.”
Auntie Xu seemed to have anticipated her response and agreed, “Yes, but young master, you could offer Madam some emotional comfort. Occasionally visit the company and lend a hand.”
Che Xiayun thought she made sense but didn’t quite understand. “Emotional comfort?”
Auntie Xu sternly criticized her, “For example, the other day during Madam’s heat, you actually gave her suppressants instead of a temporary mark. Madam must feel a distance between you two because of that.”
Che Xiayun was speechless. Though it was true, they were only nominally married.
Auntie Xu criticized her again seriously, “If there’s something wrong with your health, you shouldn’t tough it out just because you’re young. You should see a doctor promptly.”
Che Xiayun opened her mouth, took a deep breath, and her expression turned extremely complicated. How had the rumors gotten so out of hand? “I really don’t have any issues!”
Aunt Xu’s tone grew even more serious, “But Young Miss, this past week, you haven’t spent the night in Madam’s room, nor have you invited any of the omegas you’re keeping to the villa. This is highly unusual, so I insist you should get a health check-up.”
Che Xiayun threw the remote control down, visibly upset, and retorted, “Why does being with an omega every day have to be the norm?! I’ve turned over a new leaf, is it wrong that I don’t want to fool around with other omegas anymore? Sleeping with different omegas every day doesn’t make you an alpha; it makes you a stud horse! Someone who only thinks with their glands, their brain filled with nothing but jelly!”
She grew more agitated as she spoke, even standing up, her body language quite animated.
At the entrance, Ma Qingyu, who had just returned home, listened quietly to her words, feeling both relieved and astonished.
Aunt Xu revealed a faint smile, “Since Young Miss only has Madam in her heart, then you should live well with her and not throw tantrums.”
Che Xiayun was exasperated by this selective interpretation, “I’m not.”
Aunt Xu glanced at Ma Qingyu, shrugged, and her smile deepened, “Madam, you see, the Young Miss is just being stubborn.”
Che Xiayun, suddenly noticing Ma Qingyu: Help!This must be a premeditated ambush! Aunt Xu, I hate you!
As she thought about it, she suddenly felt something was off. How had Aunt Xu and Ma Qingyu become so close? Driver Zhang must have defected too.
But Aunt Xu had already turned and headed to the kitchen, leaving Che Xiayun with no chance to question her.
Ma Qingyu gave a slight nod, changed her shoes and socks, and slowly walked to the coffee table. Picking up a toothpick, she speared a kumquat, brought it to her lips, bit through the fragrant skin, avoided the seeds, and chewed slowly and deliberately.
Ever since she learned that Che Xiayun’s pheromones were kumquat-scented, she had grown increasingly fond of eating kumquats, having at least one every day.
Che Xiayun watched her eat the kumquat with a creeping sensation, feeling as though her own gland was being bitten between Ma Qingyu’s teeth, one bite and it would burst with juice, fragrant and sweet, seedless, and surely very satisfying to eat.
After finishing the kumquat, Ma Qingyu licked her lips, smiled at her, and said, “Kumquats are delicious.”
Che Xiayun nodded stiffly, feeling her gland was in extreme danger, and replied absently, “If you like them, have more.”
Ma Qingyu gave a slight nod, her gaze sweeping over Che Xiayun’s lips and collarbone. She swallowed, looking as if she found something delectable, “I do like them quite a bit.”
Aunt Xu called out from a distance, “Dinner will be ready in three minutes.”
Che Xiayun sprang up from the sofa and dashed away, “I’ll go wash my hands first.”
Ma Qingyu slowly moved to the spot where Che Xiayun had been sitting, glanced at the domestic variety show playing on the TV, sat down, and watched with interest, contentedly eating another kumquat in the meantime.
Che Xiayun paced back and forth in the bathroom, counting down the three minutes before hastily escaping to the dining room. But as soon as she entered, the faint, dim glow from the candleholders made her legs go weak. What, are we having a candlelit dinner now?
Aunt Xu smiled and pointed to the red wine on the table, “Young Miss, the wine has been decanted in advance. It’ll be just right to drink soon.”
Che Xiayun’s heart gave a tiny tremble. Alcohol was the root of all evil, stirring up her deepest fears. She quickly picked up the wine and shoved it into Aunt Xu’s arms. “No, no. Drinking is bad for your health.”
Aunt Xu, thinking she was afraid of Ma Qingyu’s scolding, stealthily pushed it back into her arms. “It’s fine, this wine isn’t strong. Madam even drinks a little sometimes when she has trouble sleeping at night.”
Che Xiayun forced a smile, though her expression was strained. “Why drink during a meal?”
Just then, Ma Qingyu pushed open the dining room door and saw the two of them tussling over the bottle. She raised an eyebrow, about to speak, when Aunt Xu shoved the red wine into Che Xiayun’s arms and scurried cheerfully toward the door, slipping out nimbly. “Madam, I won’t disturb you two.”
Che Xiayun stood there holding the bottle of red wine, looking at Ma Qingyu with a pitiful expression. “Let me explain, Aunt Xu forced this on me. She said it’s not strong.”
Ma Qingyu didn’t make a fuss. She closed the door, leaving only the candlelight illuminating the dining room. “Mm, let’s eat.”
Che Xiayun hurriedly set the red wine on the table, sat down opposite Ma Qingyu, straightened her posture, and nervously picked up her knife and fork to start cutting her steak.
Ma Qingyu poured a glass of red wine and handed it to her. “Drinking occasionally is fine.”
Che Xiayun quickly accepted it. “Mm, mm, drinking occasionally is good for your health.”
Ma Qingyu poured herself a glass as well, taking small sips. Watching Che Xiayun finish cutting her steak, she parted her red lips. “I poured you wine.”
Che Xiayun looked up at her, confused: What?
Ma Qingyu added, “Cut the steak for me.”
Che Xiayun processed this a beat later, then obediently handed over the steak she had painstakingly cut. “Of course.”
Ma Qingyu took the cut steak, speared a piece, and brought it to her mouth, chewing slowly. A good filet mignon is tender overcooked, it loses its appeal. Medium-well suits the Chinese palate while preserving the juicy, delicate flavor.
Broccoli and cherry tomatoes were arranged on the plate as garnishes by the chef. Additionally, considering Che Xiayun’s appetite, meat sauce pasta and creamy escargot seafood chowder had been prepared.
Ma Qingyu finished her steak slowly and served herself a small bowl of the creamy seafood chowder. “You can have the pasta. I’ll be full after this soup.”
Che Xiayun took a small sip of red wine and nodded. “Mm.”
Ma Qingyu sipped her soup while watching Che Xiayun devour the pasta. “How’s the meat sauce pasta?”
Che Xiayun looked up, still chewing, and savored the taste. “It’s good. Probably beef sauce savory with a hint of sweetness, not spicy.”
Ma Qingyu bit her lip lightly. “Can I try some?”
Che Xiayun instinctively glanced at the pasta on her plate, which she had already made a mess of, every strand likely coated with her saliva. She shook her head like a rattle-drum. “No, then I won’t have enough to eat.”
Ma Qingyu pointed at the nearly untouched seafood chowder beside her. “This is very filling.”
Che Xiayun shook her head again, guarding her plate. “The pasta is better.”
Ma Qingyu pursed her lips, slightly pouting. “Then you won’t share with me?”
Her tone ended with a soft, adorable hum.
Che Xiayun hesitated reluctantly, mumbling, “But I’ve already bitten it.”
Ma Qingyu reached out her hand and raised an eyebrow. “Give me the plate.”
Che Xiayun obediently handed her the plate, gazing pitifully at the pasta in the bowl. “Save some for me.”
“Mm, I’ll just have a taste.”
Ma Qingyu picked up her fork and casually twirled a few strands, placing them in her mouth. The flavor was that of an ordinary meat sauce pasta, but its significance was entirely different. She nodded in approval, “Mm, it really is delicious. I’ll give the kitchen staff a raise later.”
Che Xiayun took the plate back, twirled a forkful of pasta, and happily took a big bite. Chewing with her mouth full, she mumbled, “Yes, give them a raise.”
Ma Qingyu wiped the corner of her mouth with a napkin, poured herself another glass of red wine, her eyes hazy and slightly intoxicated. Unconsciously, she stared at Che Xiayun’s lower gaze. “If you like it, eat a little more.”
If this were the Garden of Eden after getting drunk, then why not indulge to the fullest?