After viewing the art exhibition, Shen Wanli dropped Han Qing off at home and returned with the painting, feeling quite happy.
As soon as she stepped inside, she saw Jiang Rou sitting on the sofa, looking at her with an aggrieved expression.
“Guess what gift I brought back for you?” Shen Wanli asked with a touch of mystery.
Hearing that there was a gift, Jiang Rou immediately brightened up, but upon seeing the painting, her expression became somewhat complicated. “You bought this?”
Noticing Jiang Rou’s slightly hesitant tone, Shen Wanli asked with mild confusion, “What is wrong?”
Jiang Rou snapped out of it and quickly shook her head. “Nothing at all.”
Seeing that Jiang Rou seemed to like it, Shen Wanli set her mind at ease. “How are your paintings coming along?”
Maintaining a mysterious air, Jiang Rou replied, “You will find out when the launch event happens.”
To promote the work better, Shen Wanli had organized a nationwide live-streamed launch event to exhibit Jiang Rou’s artwork, which would naturally be used for commercial purposes. Doing so was completely reasonable.
Shen Wanli had always trusted Jiang Rou implicitly, so she had no concerns and simply waited for the day.
This month passed very quickly. During this period, Shen Wanli and Han Qing occasionally went out for meals together, while Jiang Rou said nothing more and devoted herself entirely to painting.
To everyone’s surprise, Jiang Rou took on all the responsibilities for this live stream, and Shen Wanli found it difficult to refuse.
On the day of the launch event, Jiang Rou wore an evening gown, looking stunning and breathtaking.
For a moment, the barrage of live comments scrolled past so quickly that people could barely keep up. Shen Wanli sat in the front row below, watching Jiang Rou on stage.
[This young lady is so pretty.] [Does anyone else think she looks really familiar?]
The chat messages flew by rapidly. On stage, Jiang Rou introduced herself with poise. “Hello everyone, my name is Jiang Rou, but you can also call me by my other name, Coconut Milk.”
As soon as Jiang Rou’s voice fell, Shen Wanli, sitting in the front row, widened her eyes and froze in place.
She hadn’t expected Jiang Rou to be Coconut Milk. No wonder that painting reminded her of the past, and no wonder Jiang Rou had looked so surprised when she bought it back.
While Shen Wanli was still dazed, Jiang Rou continued, “Our theme today is pheromones. Coincidentally, the keynote painting shares my name, Coconut Milk, which is also my favorite scent.”
Shen Wanli looked up and caught Jiang Rou’s gaze fixed upon her. Her heart suddenly skipped a beat, leaving her mind completely blank.
[Ahhhhh, the two of them are actually the same person!] [By the way, who is Jiang Rou looking at like that? It feels like she is looking right at the audience.] [I just realized a fun fact: the CEO of the Shen Corporation has a coconut milk pheromone.] [I am shipping this so hard.]
Shen Wanli’s mind was still echoing with Jiang Rou’s words, and her head remained in a complete fog.
Even by the end of the event, Shen Wanli still hadn’t recovered her wits.
The subsequent wrap-up work didn’t require the presence of either Shen Wanli or Jiang Rou. Shen Wanli wanted to drive home quietly by herself to clear her head, but she spotted Jiang Rou waiting in the parking lot.
“Get in the car.” Jiang Rou gestured toward her. Realizing her current state wasn’t suitable for driving, Shen Wanli didn’t object and got into the passenger seat.
The entire car ride was spent in silence until Jiang Rou parked the vehicle. Glancing out the window, Shen Wanli realized this wasn’t the direction of her home, yet the surroundings felt oddly familiar.
“Get out.” Jiang Rou’s words were concise. After a moment of hesitation, Shen Wanli followed her out of the vehicle, wanting to see what Jiang Rou was up to.
Guided by Jiang Rou, Shen Wanli walked to the back of the car. Jiang Rou opened the trunk, making Shen Wanli gasp in sudden breathlessness.
The trunk was completely packed with blooming red roses.
“What is the meaning of this?” Shen Wanli asked in a somewhat dry voice.
“Older sister, this is where we shared our very first kiss. I have always remembered it. When I returned to China, I originally wanted to make up with you right away, but you turned me down. It was only after you gifted me that painting that I knew you still hadn’t forgotten everything we shared. I like you. Will you be my girlfriend?”
Jiang Rou’s expression was gentle yet laced with shyness, just like a young girl experiencing unrequited love.
Shen Wanli remained frozen in place until Jiang Rou waved a hand in front of her, finally snapping her back to reality. “I am sorry. Let me think about this.”
Before Shen Wanli could finish her sentence, Jiang Rou’s previously joyful expression instantly turned frosty, and she couldn’t help asking, “Why?”
“We are both alphas.”
Shen Wanli repeated her old stance, striking a devastating blow to Jiang Rou’s heart.
Why? Why had things been so good before, and why was Jiang Rou treating her so well now? But the moment this issue was brought up, it was met with nothing but rejection.
Jiang Rou took a slow breath. “It is fine. You can just treat me like an omega, like you used to.”
Shen Wanli shook her head. “I cannot do that. Besides, Han Qing and I are quite satisfied with each other, and we are planning to meet each other’s parents.”
Originally, Shen Wanli had planned to talk to Jiang Rou about this today, but everything had happened too suddenly.
Interacting with Han Qing felt comfortable enough, and Shen Wanli’s mother had been pressing her relentlessly.
Although there wasn’t much romantic love to speak of between her and Han Qing, at Shen Wanli’s age, that wasn’t the most important thing anymore.
If Jiang Rou’s expression earlier had been cold, it could now only be described as terrifying. “What did you say?”
Jiang Rou’s voice was as cold as shards of ice, freezing Shen Wanli in her tracks and rendering her speechless.
Jiang Rou wore a chilling, eerie smile, her eyes filled with madness. “Older sister, you really know how to make me angry.”
Sensing that the atmosphere around Jiang Rou had turned sinister, Shen Wanli opened her mouth to speak, but a heavy blow suddenly landed on the back of her neck, plunging her into darkness.
When Shen Wanli finally regained consciousness, she found herself inside a dim, unfamiliar room. Looking around, she discovered that the walls were completely covered with photographs of herself, including many taken during Jiang Rou’s years abroad.
A sudden wave of chilling terror surged from the soles of Shen Wanli’s feet straight up to her spine, completely shaking her to the core.
She didn’t even need to guess who the owner of these photos was.
It was then that she truly understood that the soft, fragile Jiang Rou from her memories was gone; she had transformed into someone terrifying.
Scanning the room, Shen Wanli noticed that all the windows had been nailed shut. She hurried over to push the door open, only to find that it was firmly locked, fitted with a newly installed steel door. The implication was painfully clear.
Feeling defeated, Shen Wanli walked back to the edge of the bed and ran her hands through her hair in mounting frustration. At that moment, the door clicked open, and Jiang Rou stepped inside from the outside.
“What is the meaning of this?” Shen Wanli demanded.
“It is just as you think, though I only did it a bit earlier than planned. I originally wanted to wait a few more years, but you were simply too disobedient.”
Jiang Rou’s tone was entirely matter-of-fact, sending a fresh shiver down Shen Wanli’s spine.
“Do you even know what you are doing?” Shen Wanli shouted in anger.
With a dark expression, Jiang Rou stepped toward her step by step until she reached the bedside, where she reached out and firmly gripped Shen Wanli’s face. “I know very well. Since you refuse to be my omega, I suppose I will just have to be your alpha instead.”
Before Shen Wanli could utter another word, Jiang Rou forced her face aside and sank her canine teeth directly into Shen Wanli’s scent gland.