The man glanced at her, something complicated flickering in his eyes.
“The agreement was already signed,” he said. “I have no reason to add any extra conditions. What happened last time was my fault. It won’t happen again.”
Qiu Zheng had noticed something about him—he had a particular quirk: the first step was always the hardest. But once he got past it, that so-called “chaste man” act seemed to disappear.
Like holding hands—his reaction had been so intense back then, yet later, when they were in the same bed, she would sometimes wake up to find his hand still holding hers under the covers… even while he was asleep.
All an act.
They had already walked quite a distance. Qiu Zheng knew Grandpa Wen definitely couldn’t see them anymore, so she quickly pulled her hand away.
As if she even wanted to hold it. What a “chaste man.”
She clasped her hands behind her back. Feeling Wen Yan’s gaze on her, she looked around aimlessly instead of at him. “Your place… is really big.”
It really was. Even just from the main gate to the house took quite a while by car. Now they were walking on a grassy slope, with a vast, flower-filled garden visible below.
In this world, most wealthy families had been established for generations—their foundations were unimaginably deep.
Wen Yan slowly curled his now-empty hand into a fist.
He gave a simple “Mm” in response, keeping his eyes forward, deliberately ignoring the hollow feeling left after her hand slipped away.
It was just interference from genetic compatibility and pheromones—nothing more. That’s what he told himself. Yet he couldn’t stop the faint threads of regret from surfacing.
Back then… it would’ve been better if he hadn’t pulled away.
He couldn’t help thinking that.
She really held a grudge—she rarely let him hold her hand now.
“What’s that over there?” Qiu Zheng spotted a large enclosed area in the distance. She raised a hand to her forehead, squinting to see more clearly.
Wen Yan glanced in that direction.
“A horse ranch.”
A… horse ranch.
In fact, there wasn’t just a ranch—there were golf courses, artificial lakes, and more. Qiu Zheng couldn’t help but marvel inwardly.
After walking for who knew how long, when it was finally time to head back, Qiu Zheng regretted everything. She didn’t want to walk anymore—just thinking about the distance made her feel faint.
But Wen Yan seemed completely unaffected. She couldn’t detect the slightest trace of fatigue from him.
Do alphas just have endless stamina?
As she silently complained, a two-seater patrol vehicle came into view. It was driven by estate security.
Seeing the young master and young madam out on what looked like a date, they instinctively tried to leave quietly—but Qiu Zheng had already raised her hand and was waving at them.
There was no way they could pretend not to see. They quickly drove over, and the passenger got out. “Young Madam, Young Master.”
Looking at the guard now that he was standing in front of her, Qiu Zheng realized—he was tall and well-built. Probably an alpha too?
Wait—that’s not the point.
She awkwardly made conversation. “You’re on patrol?”
“Yes.”
Wen Yan watched her struggle to come up with something to say. He knew her well—her ability to socialize with strangers was basically zero. As she spoke, she inched closer to the patrol vehicle, and after saying, “This car is pretty interesting,” she quietly climbed in and sat down.
“It’s quite comfortable too,” she added with a forced smile, clearly intending to stay put.
So she was tired of walking. How delicate. Wen Yan thought so, yet found it faintly amusing—until the next moment.
The patrol vehicle was compact. With Qiu Zheng seated, she was practically pressed against the driver.
She didn’t seem to realize that as an omega, being that close to an alpha…
“Young Madam, would you like to ride this back to the villa?”
Finally, someone understood her! Qiu Zheng nodded eagerly. “Yes.”
“Get down.”
She heard Wen Yan say that just as she was about to protest—only to see the driver quickly hop off. The next moment, Wen Yan took his seat.
Oh—so he wasn’t talking to her? She relaxed into her seat even more.
For some reason, the moment Wen Yan got in, the space felt even more cramped. Qiu Zheng shifted slightly to the side.
“Now you know to keep your distance? You were pretty close just now,” Wen Yan said, his tone odd.
If this were a novel, that line would definitely sound like jealousy.
But when she looked at him, his face was calm, as if he had said it casually. He was calmly familiarizing himself with the controls.
Her attention was immediately diverted.
“Do you even know how to drive this?” she asked, a little worried. “Maybe you should let the professional—”
Before she could finish, the car had already started. The sudden motion made her lean toward him, grabbing his arm instinctively.
He did that on purpose, didn’t he?!
She looked up. One of his hands was steadying her, while the other held the steering wheel. For a fleeting moment, it seemed like there was a hint of a smile on his face—but it disappeared just as quickly.
…Probably just her imagination.
Wen Yan didn’t take the original route back. Familiar with the area, he chose a more scenic path.
Qiu Zheng seemed quite happy.
The wind blew gently. At the tip of Wen Yan’s nose lingered a faint, fresh scent—not pheromones, but something more natural, something that unconsciously eased his tension.
He thought again of the travel guides she had been browsing.
She had saved many places. He wondered which one she wanted to go to the most.
When they finally returned to the villa, Qiu Zheng went in first—and immediately noticed an unfamiliar figure in the living room.
From the back, it was a woman wearing tight leather pants, a cropped leather jacket, and combat boots. Even from behind, she exuded a bold, striking presence.
A guest?
Just as Qiu Zheng wondered, the woman turned around. The moment she saw her face, Qiu Zheng almost felt breathless.
She was stunning—bold, radiant, and commanding. Even without heavy makeup, she had an undeniable aura.
What a beautiful woman.
While Qiu Zheng was still stunned, the woman approached with a smile. “You must be Zhengzheng? Grandpa has told me about you. I’m Wen Lin, Wen Yan’s second uncle’s daughter.”
A clear introduction.
Thanks to the kind of content her social media algorithm pushed, Qiu Zheng actually knew of Wen Lin. She had been abroad before—this was their first meeting.
Feeling a bit nervous, Qiu Zheng quickly took her outstretched hand. “Hello.”
Her reaction made Wen Lin smile even more. “Didn’t Grandpa say you went for a walk? Why are you back alone?”
Qiu Zheng answered honestly, “He’s behind, taking a work call.”
“See? Always working,” Wen Lin said, still holding her hand and even placing an arm around her shoulders, speaking with easy familiarity. “Wen Yan really got lucky. If it weren’t for the match, how would he ever get a wife?”
Qiu Zheng laughed awkwardly. Since they were family, she couldn’t agree with that kind of comment. “Not at all. Wen Yan is very good.”
She obediently let Wen Lin hold her hand and wrap an arm around her shoulders. She didn’t resist, yet somehow still gave off an innocent, almost pure vibe—timid yet oddly bold.
Wen Lin laughed even more, unable to resist pulling her into a hug. “Zhengzheng, you’re so cute!”
Qiu Zheng was generally more tolerant toward women than men. And since this was technically family, she didn’t struggle much despite being caught off guard—her face pressed against Wen Lin’s chest.
…Soft. And very full.
Wow. Amazing figure.
She was almost dazed when suddenly her hand was yanked. The next moment, she was pulled back two steps until her back hit a solid chest.
“Wen Lin, rein in your scent.”
Wen Yan’s voice came from above, laced with anger and coldness.
Wen Lin, however, looked unconcerned. “I was just talking to Zhengzheng. What’s the problem?”
“You should call her sister-in-law.”
“Then hold a wedding first.”
“Wedding or not, she is your sister-in-law. She’s not someone you can flirt with. I don’t care how you behave outside—show her some respect.”
Flirt… with her?
Was that what just happened?
But they were both women…
Even though Qiu Zheng couldn’t sense pheromones, she could tell the atmosphere had turned tense. The siblings faced each other like enemies.
After a moment of confrontation, a flicker of pain crossed Wen Lin’s face. Her presence weakened slightly, though she still forced a cold snort. “If you keep this up, Zhengzheng will be the first to lose patience.”
Wen Yan seemed to snap back to himself. The pressure around him disappeared abruptly. He looked down at Qiu Zheng.
She also realized—had they just used pheromones? She was supposed to be affected?
So she should at least pretend a little.
She made a subtle show of weakness, sneaking a glance at Wen Yan. Even if the pheromones hadn’t really affected her, the lingering anger in his dark eyes still made her uneasy.
Wen Yan pulled her closer. “Are you alright?”
Qiu Zheng shook her head.
Before long, Grandpa Wen came out. Everyone’s expressions returned to normal, as if nothing had happened.
When it was time to sit, Wen Lin originally intended to sit next to Qiu Zheng—but as she passed Wen Yan, he stuck out a foot, making her stumble and nearly fall.