The two of them stared at each other for several seconds without uttering a word. Bai Jinge was the first to withdraw her gaze. She paused for a moment, stepped into the study, turned around, and closed the door behind her.
Standing tall and straight in front of the desk, Bai Jinge took the initiative to speak, breaking the silent atmosphere.
Director Ye, is there something you wanted to see me about? she asked.
Behind the wide mahogany desk, the woman in the executive chair finally moved. She shifted lazily, causing the black silk pajamas she was wearing to ripple with a faint luster. The golden fuqun flower pattern at the cuffs was particularly eye-catching, immediately drawing one’s attention.
The woman’s gaze remained fixed on Bai Jinge’s face as she asked indifferently, Is Nuonuo asleep?
Bai Jinge gave a slight nod. Yes, she’s asleep.
With a cold expression, Ye Yunwan said, I went to the kindergarten to see her today, but she refused to accept my gift.
The woman’s expression and tone were so calm that it was impossible to tell whether she was upset or angry.
Bai Jinge maintained a serious demeanor. I am quite strict regarding Nuonuo’s upbringing, and I have instructed her never to accept things casually from strangers. I hope Director Ye can understand.
Ye Yunwan acknowledged this with an understanding tone. I understand.
Getting straight to the point, Bai Jinge asked, Director Ye called me here… it’s because of Nuonuo, isn’t it?
Ye Yunwan did not answer immediately. She slowly rose from the executive chair, walked around the wide desk, and leisurely approached Bai Jinge, a sudden sense of oppression closing in on her.
Bai Jinge subconsciously took a small step back. Out of politeness, she turned to face Ye Yunwan directly, leaving half a meter of space between them.
Don’t be afraid. I am not going to fight you for custody of the child, Ye Yunwan said, stepping forward to deliberately close the distance between them. Of course, if I wanted to fight you for custody, you wouldn’t stand a chance. You should know that very well.
Bai Jinge’s complexion turned unpleasantly pale. She bit her lip and remained silent.
She knew all too well that everything Ye Yunwan said was true. That was precisely why she had deliberately avoided Ye Yunwan all these years.
Ye Yunwan’s tone was indifferent yet brooked no argument. I only want to be able to visit her occasionally and take her out to play when I have free time, acting as your friend.
Bai Jinge fell silent.
Ye Yunwan continued, Miss Bai, you have no reason to refuse, do you? The child needs your company, but she is also my child. Aside from you, I am the second person in this world who cares for Nuonuo.
Alright.
Bai Jinge agreed, or rather, she had no grounds for refusal. She could only hope that the president of the dignified Ye Corporation would keep her word and not come back to contest custody. Should Ye Yunwan ever break her promise in the future and insist on fighting for custody, even if it meant a mutually destructive fallout, Bai Jinge would never give up her child and would fight Ye Yunwan to the bitter end.
Suddenly, Ye Yunwan reached out and gently stroked Bai Jinge’s cheek, her tone softening a fraction. Several years have passed, Miss Bai, yet you haven’t changed at all. I still remember the scene from the last time we met, when I finished giving you a temporary marker in the car, and what your cousin said to me.
Miss Bai, when did we break up? Why did you hide this pregnancy from me? Shouldn’t you give me an explanation for all of this?
Wary, Bai Jinge frowned and turned her head slightly to evade Ye Yunwan’s touch. Looking at the woman with a complex expression, she thought for a moment before speaking. Director Ye, what we had was merely a transaction. It was never a genuine romantic relationship, so how could there be a breakup? I only lied to Zhu Linshuang back then out of necessity.
As for this child, I insisted on having her entirely on my own, and it has nothing to do with you, Director Ye. Rest assured, Nuonuo’s surname is Bai, not Ye, and she will not take a single cent of the Ye family fortune.
Ye Yunwan listened quietly to every single word Bai Jinge said, her expression entirely unchanged, before she finally hooked the corner of her lips. What if I insist on giving it to her?
Bai Jinge’s pupils dilated, and emotional agitation laced her voice. You!
The woman watched every shift in Bai Jinge’s expression, then reined in the curve of her mouth. Go back. If Nuonuo wakes up and doesn’t see you, she’ll start looking for her mother.
With that, Ye Yunwan turned around, leaving Bai Jinge with a slender, tall silhouette.
Bai Jinge turned to leave as well, but suddenly stopped in her tracks as she realized she was uncontrollably releasing pheromones. In an instant, a faint summer lotus fragrance drifted into the air, intertwined with a hint of crisp, cold cedarwood.
Bai Jinge froze in place, her eyebrows twitching with a premonition of disaster. Lowering her eyelashes, she frantically reached into her bag and pulled out a bottle of blocker spray.
The summer lotus scent in the air immediately caught the attention of the person behind her. Almost simultaneously, Ye Yunwan also came to a halt. Half-closing her phoenix-shaped eyes, the elongated corners slightly upturned, she inhaled the intensely seductive pheromone scent, a fragrance originating from the Omega she had once completely marked.
Like a leopard that had subsisted on greens for years suddenly catching the mouth-watering aroma of meat, Ye Yunwan was instantly stirred by a voracious hunger.
The woman suddenly turned around, stepping closer and closer to Bai Jinge, her pale lips parting slightly. Miss Bai, you are releasing pheromones.
The scent belonging exclusively to Ye Yunwan lingered on the other person’s body, serving as undeniable proof that she had been thoroughly marked.
Lowering her gaze and not daring to look into Ye Yunwan’s eyes, Bai Jinge whispered, I’m sorry, I just lost control of my emotions for a moment.
Aside from her heat cycles, Bai Jinge, as an S-grade Omega, rarely lost control of her pheromones barring unavoidable external factors.
Without heeding her explanation, Ye Yunwan wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her straight into her embrace. Leaning over close to Bai Jinge’s smooth, delicate neck, she murmured seductively, Miss Bai, do you know? I haven’t smelled your pheromones in several years.
It makes me feel so nostalgic.
Zhu Linshuang did not return home until late after a round of business networking. Although she hadn’t consumed much alcohol herself, she inevitably carried the scent of residual wine, other women’s perfumes, and unpleasant cigarette smoke.
Upon returning home, Zhu Linshuang first checked on the children’s room. Seeing little Bai Nuonuo sound asleep with her little bottom sticking up in the air, she quietly backed out of the room and headed to the bathroom for a comfortable bath.
After finishing her bath and blow-drying her long washed hair, before she even had time to apply a facial mask, she heard a high-pitched cry echoing from the adjacent children’s room.
The nanny arrived at the nursery a step ahead of Zhu Linshuang, scooping the little one into her arms to soothe her. Entering the room, Zhu Linshuang walked straight over to the bed, took the incessantly crying little girl from the nanny’s arms, and began coaxing her in a gentle, soothing voice.
Gently patting Bai Nuonuo, who was nestled in her arms, Zhu Linshuang looked up at the nanny and said, Sister Zhang, you can go back to sleep. Leave Nuonuo to me.
The nanny couldn’t help letting out a yawn. Miss Zhu, you have to go to work early tomorrow morning. Let me…
Zhu Linshuang interrupted her. It’s fine! I can go into the office a bit later tomorrow.
Alright then, I’ll leave you to it, the nanny replied.
Mm, go get some sleep, Zhu Linshuang said.
After the nanny left, the weeping Bai Nuonuo finally ran out of tears. She opened a pair of large, tear-filled eyes, her dense, brush-like eyelashes heavy with droplets. Looking like a little tear-soaked doll, she pouted and gazed at her cousin with an aggrieved expression.
Zhu Linshuang reached out and gently flicked the little one’s high bridge of the nose. Still crying, little crybaby.
Bai Nuonuo sniffled and let out a loud hiccup. Wuwu… Did Mommy go on another business trip?
The little one had woken up in the middle of her sleep and called out for Mommy several times, only to find that her mother wasn’t coming to her room.
This September, three-year-old Bai Nuonuo officially became a kindergarten student. Because she started kindergarten, Bai Jinge began encouraging the little one to sleep in her own room. Since Bai Nuonuo was a bit timid and afraid to sleep in complete darkness, a small nightlight remained on throughout the night.
Normally, if Bai Nuonuo woke up suddenly at night, she would cry and clamor for her mother, needing her mother to soothe her back to sleep. If her mother wasn’t home, she would accept her cousin, and failing that, the nanny.
Although Zhu Linshuang was also busy, she rarely traveled for business and always returned home no matter how late it was, almost never staying away overnight.
Zhu Linshuang pulled a baby tissue and wiped away the little girl’s tears. No business trip. Your mother had a temporary matter to attend to, so she had to step out. She’ll be back later.
About an hour ago, Bai Jinge had called Zhu Linshuang to say she needed to go out temporarily for an urgent matter. When Zhu Linshuang asked what it was, Bai Jinge hesitated and said it couldn’t be explained over the phone and that she would explain when she got back.
How much later is ‘later’? Bai Nuonuo asked like a little porcelain doll, cooperatively letting her tears be wiped away.
Well… when you fall asleep, Mommy will be back, Zhu Linshuang replied after thinking for a moment.
Then I’m not going to sleep! Bai Nuonuo suddenly declared loudly. I want to wait for Mommy to come back!
Hey! Bai Nuonuo, don’t you have school tomorrow? How dare you say you aren’t going to sleep! Putting on her elder’s authority, Zhu Linshuang glared at Bai Nuonuo with wide eyes.
The big one and the little one stared at each other with wide eyes, competing to see whose eyes were bigger.
The next second, the little one instantly caved. In this household, the person Bai Nuonuo feared most was her cousin. Wrinkling her little nose, she angrily turned her face away, crossed her arms over her chest, and let out a milky, indignant Hmph.
Amused yet exasperated, Zhu Linshuang reached out to stroke the top of Bai Nuonuo’s head. Oh? Are you angry now?
Turning her back completely to Zhu Linshuang, Bai Nuonuo let out another loud Hmph.
Shall I tell you a bedtime story? Do you want to hear ‘Little Red Riding Hood’ or ‘Snow White’? Zhu Linshuang offered.
Finally tempted by the offer, Bai Nuonuo turned back around and blinked her moisture-filled eyes at Zhu Linshuang. Auntie, I want to hear the story of ‘The Little Mermaid’ and ‘Little Red Riding Hood’!
Half an hour later, Zhu Linshuang finally managed to coax Bai Nuonuo to sleep, gently closed the children’s storybook in her hands, and carefully climbed down from the bed. Bending over to tuck the blanket snugly around the little one, she tiptoed out of the nursery.
Upon returning to her own room, Zhu Linshuang immediately picked up her charging phone, tapped the screen to light it up, and checked the time. It was already past midnight, why hadn’t Bai Jinge returned yet?
Since it was getting so late, Zhu Linshuang couldn’t help feeling a bit worried. She unplugged her phone from the charger, unlocked the screen, and dialed Bai Jinge’s number.
The phone rang several times, but nobody answered on the other end. In the end, Zhu Linshuang had no choice but to hang up.
Frowning deeply, Zhu Linshuang clutched her phone and paced back and forth across the room, trying to figure out who Bai Jinge could possibly have gone out to meet in the middle of the night.
Suddenly, a light bulb went off in Zhu Linshuang’s head as a certain person came to mind.
Zhu Linshuang thought.
That’s right! It could only be her. Only that person would be capable of calling Bai Jinge out in the dead of night.
Quickly changing into outdoor clothes and braving the deep night, Zhu Linshuang grabbed her car keys and hurried out the door.