Bai Yue stood in the corridor.
The light overhead was bright, making her eyes feel somewhat uncomfortable. She had stayed in the darkness for too long, and suddenly returning to the light made everything seem overly clear.
The clear corridor, the clear room number, and the clear patterns on the carpet.
The clear reality.
She lowered her head and sniffed herself. The scent of white peach was thick and impossible to dissolve, like an invisible membrane wrapping her entire body from head to toe.
Any Omega who smelled it would know that she had just come down from someone else’s bed. Returning to her room like this was equivalent to turning herself in.
She took the elevator to the lobby. At three in the morning, the place was empty, save for a duty attendant who was dozing off.
Bai Yue walked over and knocked on the counter.
The attendant woke up and stood straight immediately. “Ma’am, is there anything you need?”
“Where is the bath center?”
“It is on the basement level, open 24 hours. Do you need me to show you the way?”
“No need.”
Bai Yue turned and left, her pace faster than when she had arrived.
Pushing open the doors of the bath center, a wave of warm, humid air rushed toward her, mixed with a faint scent of essential oils.
The receptionist was a young girl; seeing someone come to bathe at this hour, a flash of curiosity crossed her eyes.
“Ma’am, please come this way.” She handed over a bath towel and a locker key.
Bai Yue took them and walked into the changing area without looking back.
There was not a single person in the bathroom. Rows of lockers stood quietly, the incandescent light shining on the dark wood grain; only her footsteps echoed in the room.
She took off her clothes and stood in front of the mirror. The fresh tooth marks on her shoulders and the hickey on her waist were all left by that white peach Omega just moments ago.
She looked away, opened the door, and walked into the shower stall.
The hot water poured down.
The scent of white peach was diluted by the water, flowing down her body and into the drain. She squeezed out a large pump of shower gel, scrubbing from head to toe until her skin turned red.
The shower stall was filled with the scent of the hotel’s standard floral body wash, suffocatingly strong. The scent of white peach was completely suppressed, with not a trace left behind.
Bai Yue stood under the water column and closed her eyes. Her mind was filled with the scene from just moments ago: the Omega’s raised neck, the strength of those hands wrapped around her waist, and the suppressed gasps that could not be held back.
Bai Yue turned off the water with force.
She dried her body and wrapped herself in a clean bathrobe.
When she walked out of the shower stall, she looked in the mirror again. The hickey on her collarbone was still there, but it was not so conspicuous. Fortunately, once the collar of the bathrobe was pulled tight, nothing could be seen.
She rolled the clothes she had changed out of into a bundle and walked to the front desk.
“When you finish washing these, send them to Room 108.”
The girl on duty took them and lowered her head to register them. “Very well, ma’am.”
Bai Yue stood in place, not moving.
The girl looked up at her, eyes filled with inquiry.
“Forget it.” Bai Yue changed her mind. “I will come to pick them up myself tomorrow.”
Who knew if something would go wrong when they delivered the clothes? If Jiang Manru happened to be the one to receive them, how would she explain her presence at the bath center at three in the morning to have clothes washed?
That would be even harder to explain.
Bai Yue returned to the building where they were staying, and the elevator door slowly opened. The corridor was quiet and empty, with only the dim wall lamps shining on the dark carpet.
She stood at the door of the room.
She took a deep breath.
The moment her hand touched the doorknob, a thought flashed through her mind: What if the person inside was awake?
Should she say she had insomnia and went for a run at the gym? But she did not bring workout clothes. Then she could say she went to the lobby to sit for a while? What kind of sensible Alpha would go to the lobby to sit for hours in the middle of the night?
Forget it.
She would go in first and see.
The door lock made a faint “click” sound, which sounded exceptionally loud in the silent corridor.
Bai Yue’s heart tightened, and her hand paused on the doorknob as she waited for two seconds.
Determined that there was no movement inside, she gently pushed the door open.
The room was very dark. The curtains were drawn, and only a sliver of moonlight leaked through the gap, drawing a thin white line on the floor.
Bai Yue squeezed in sideways, and the door closed silently behind her.
She stood in the entryway and listened for a long time; there was only the sound of steady, long breathing in the room, and half of her hanging heart dropped.
She took off her shoes and walked toward the bed, step by step, barefoot. The carpet was thick, and there was no sound when she stepped on it. However, her heartbeat quickened with every step she took.
On the large bed two meters away, Jiang Manru was lying on her side, her long hair spread out on the pillow, the quilt pulled up to her shoulders, revealing a fair nape.
The scent of jasmine drifted over faintly.
Bai Yue stood by the bed, looking at her.
She was sleeping soundly. She had not woken up.
Bai Yue let out a slow breath. She gently lifted the quilt, preparing to lie inside.
Just at this moment, the person on the bed moved.
Bai Yue froze, all the blood rushing to her head. Her hand remained in the motion of lifting the quilt.
But Jiang Manru only turned over. She went from facing away from Bai Yue to lying flat on her back. Her face turned toward this side, her eyes were still closed, and her eyelashes cast faint shadows in the moonlight.
Bai Yue’s heart pounded like a drum, and she tucked herself in bit by bit; the mattress sank slightly.
Jiang Manru subconsciously moved closer toward the heat source, and her hand reached over, landing on Bai Yue’s waist like some kind of silent question.
Bai Yue turned her head slowly to look at the face on the pillow. It was quiet and gentle, her lips slightly pursed, and her brows relaxed.
She slowly reached out and felt for her phone on the nightstand.
She pressed it to light it up.
No missed calls.
No messages.
Bai Yue looked at that clean screen, and a feeling of joy welled up in her heart.
There was relief. Relief that Jiang Manru had not woken up, had not discovered anything, and had not asked questions. There was pride. Pride that she had acted well, could keep it hidden, and that it was seamless.
This Omega was truly too suitable for her.
She was worry-free and obedient.
Bai Yue curved the corners of her lips and put the phone back.
She reached out and pulled the person in her arms closer. Jiang Manru gave a light “mm” in her sleep, burying her face into the crook of her neck, finding a comfortable position.
The scent of jasmine wrapped around her.
Clean, sweet, and harmless.
Bai Yue closed her eyes, and her heartbeat slowly calmed down. She curved her lips and smiled silently in the darkness.
This feeling, it was truly thrilling.
When Bai Yue woke up, the sun was already high in the sky, and the sunlight squeezed through the gaps in the curtains, drawing several glaring white lines on the floor.
She squinted and touched her phone: 11:47.
It was noon.
The spot beside her was empty, the quilt lifted at one corner, and the surface felt cool when touched; the person had been up for a long time.
Bai Yue sat up and rubbed her hair.
“Manru?”
No one responded.
She picked up the phone from the bedside table, found the number saved as “Manru,” and dialed it.
It rang twice before being answered.
“Hello?” Jiang Manru’s voice came from the other side, soft and carrying a hint of a smile. “Are you awake?”
Bai Yue leaned against the headboard, trying to make her voice sound as normal as possible. “Just woke up. Where did you go?”
“I am at the restaurant downstairs,” Jiang Manru said. “You must be hungry, right? I will be back right away.”
“Let me come down and find you instead.”
“No need, just wait for me in the room,” Jiang Manru interrupted her, her voice carrying a hint of coquettishness.
The call hung up.
Bai Yue gripped the phone and stared at the screen for a few seconds.
The other party’s tone was very normal. No questioning, no suspicion, no probing like “Where did you go last night?” She was just a very considerate wife.
Bai Yue threw the phone onto the bed, lay back down, and stared at the ceiling.
It was too normal.
So normal that it made one feel guilty.
She got up, walked into the bathroom, and checked the red marks on her collarbone in the mirror. Although they were not as obvious, they could still be seen in the daylight.
She had just finished wrapping herself up when she heard the sound of the door lock turning.
Jiang Manru pushed the door open, followed by a small food cart. She was wearing a light-colored long dress, her hair was left loose, and she had a faint smile on her face.
“Come and eat quickly.”
Bai Yue came out of the bathroom, her gaze landing on the food cart she had pushed in.
She was completely stunned.
Lobster, crab, oysters, sea cucumber, abalone, and a plate of shellfish she could not identify, all as large as fists.
The entire cart was packed full.
“Bai Yue looked at that pile of things. “Did you move the entire restaurant here?”
“Not at all.” Jiang Manru looked innocent. “I just took a little bit of everything.”
“A little?”
Bai Yue pointed at the plate of oysters; there were at least twelve of them, each one plump and beautifully arranged like something out of a gourmet magazine.
Then she pointed at the plate of sea cucumber; it was braised with scallions, the color was oily and bright; one look told her it was a nutritious, high-end dish.
Then she pointed at the plate of abalone; the size was ridiculously large, lying in the plate like a row of silent taunts.
“This is called a little?”
Jiang Manru tilted her head, thought about it seriously for two seconds, and nodded. “Yes, it is just a little. There was still a lot I did not take.”
Bai Yue was silent.
Fine.
She sat down on the chair and watched Jiang Manru busy herself. The sunlight fell upon her, making her face appear even more innocent; she had no idea what this cart of things she had pushed back signified.
“By the way.” Jiang Manru’s tone carried a hint of pride as if asking for praise. “That chef is really interesting.”
Bai Yue looked up at her.
“She heard we were here on our honeymoon and specifically recommended these.” Jiang Manru pointed to the oysters, sea cucumber, and abalone on the table. “She said these are exceptionally good for an Alpha’s body, especially during the honeymoon; one must eat plenty.”
Bai Yue’s movements stopped.
She lowered her head to look at the plate of oysters, then at the plate of sea cucumber, and then at the plate of abalone. Finally, she looked at Jiang Manru’s innocent and guileless face.
“What else did she say?” Her voice was a bit dry.
“She said a lot of things.” Jiang Manru sat across from her and began peeling a crab for her, her movements not very skilled but very earnest. “She said oysters are ‘milk from the sea’ and are rich in nutrients; she said sea cucumber is mild and nourishing, the most suitable for… hmm, what did she say again? Anyway, it means it is very nourishing.”
She raised her head and smiled sweetly at Bai Yue.
“You should eat more, do not let the chef’s good intentions go to waste.”
Bai Yue stared at her. There was nothing unusual about that face. Her eyes were clear, her smile was innocent, and her tone was natural.
Did she really not understand, or was she acting too much like it? She must really not understand. After all, she was a little jasmine, a good girl raised in a greenhouse. How would she know these hidden meanings used by veterans?
Bai Yue lowered her head and looked at the plate of oysters, her feelings complicated.
The chef probably thought they were a deeply affectionate newlywed couple, making love every night during their honeymoon and needing a good boost.
But the chef did not know that the one she was making love to every night was not the person before her eyes.
“What is wrong?” Jiang Manru saw her not moving. “Do you not like eating oysters?”
“I like them.” Bai Yue picked one up. “It is just that eating this right after getting up, it feels a bit heavy.”
“How could that be?” Jiang Manru looked earnest. “You should try it, it is very fresh.”
Bai Yue looked at those expectant eyes and silently sent the oyster into her mouth.
“You should try this sea cucumber too.” She pointed to the other plate again. “This dish is the chef’s specialty, ordered by many honeymooning guests. She also said…”
“Said what?” Bai Yue interrupted her.
“She said… ‘Make your Alpha eat more, so her stamina can keep up, and the honeymoon will be truly enjoyable.'”
Bai Yue nearly choked to death on the oyster.
“Cough, cough,” she covered her mouth, bent over, and coughed until tears came out.
Jiang Manru was startled and quickly came over to pat her back. “What is wrong? Did you choke? Eat slowly!”
Bai Yue waved her hand, unable to speak.
Stamina keeps up, honeymoon is truly enjoyable. These words, coming from an Omega’s mouth in such an innocent and guileless tone, the lethality was too great.
“It is nothing.” Bai Yue finally recovered and drank some water. “It is just that I choked a little.”
Jiang Manru blinked, still a bit worried. “Should we call a doctor?”
“No need.” Bai Yue waved her hand. “I am really fine.”
Jiang Manru looked at her, and once she confirmed that she was really fine, she sat back down to continue peeling the crab.
“By the way,” she asked while peeling, “what time did you come back last night? I originally wanted to wait for you, but I was too tired and do not know when I fell asleep.”
Bai Yue’s heart tightened, but her expression remained calm.
“Quite late.” She said, “There was a bonfire party at the beach, so I stayed a bit longer.”
“A bonfire party?” Jiang Manru’s eyes brightened. “Was it good?”
“It was alright.”
“Why did you not call me?” She felt a little aggrieved. “I wanted to go too.”
“I did not bring my phone.” Bai Yue paused and lied fluently, “I asked the waiter to give you a message; did he not tell you?”
Jiang Manru thought about it carefully and shook her head.
“Maybe I was in the shower.” She said with annoyance, “I must have missed it at that time.”
She lowered her head and continued peeling the crab.
Bai Yue looked at the top of her head.
Her hair was draped smoothly, revealing a patch of fair nape. There was no mark on that nape; it was spotlessly clean.
She looked away.
“We will go together next time,” she said.
“Okay.” Jiang Manru raised her head and smiled at her.
That smile was gentle and obedient, without any flaws.
She pointed to the plate of sea cucumber and urged, “Eat quickly; it will not be good if it gets cold. That chef said…”
“Do not listen to her nonsense.” Bai Yue interrupted her, her tone a bit helpless. “She only said that to fool you into buying more.”
Jiang Manru was stunned for a moment but still nodded obediently.
“Oh.” She paused. “However, she said that during the honeymoon, eating these things every day has the best effect. I have already agreed with her to keep them for us for the next few days.”
The oyster in Bai Yue’s hand paused in mid-air.
Every day?
She looked at the plate of abalone, and then at Jiang Manru’s innocent and guileless face, and suddenly had an urge to laugh.
“Jiang Manru.” She spoke with difficulty. “Do you know what these things are for?”
The look in Jiang Manru’s eyes when she looked at her was as clear as spring water. “For eating.”
“No, I mean…” Bai Yue struggled to choose her words. “Do you know why the chef recommended these?”
“I know.” Jiang Manru nodded. “They are good for an Alpha’s body, right?”
Bai Yue looked at her.
For a long time.
“It is nothing.” She took a bite of the oyster. “Eat.”
If it is for the boost, then so be it.
In any case, she did not even know who it was that she had been spending her nights with, the one who was actually reaping the benefits of these boosts.