The training camp was brightly lit the night before the competition, everyone eager to seize every last moment to practice.
“You’re back today?” Lu Xian quietly slipped out of the dormitory, her steps unconsciously quickening as she descended the stairs.
“Yeah,” Ling Tingyu replied. “Just got back from the set, rushing for tomorrow’s variety show recording.”
So Ling Tingyu had returned for the show.
Lu Xian let out an “oh,” silently counting down the red light across the street.
Hearing Lu Xian’s indifferent tone, Ling Tingyu couldn’t help but feel disappointed. “You sound like you’re not happy to see me.”
“Of course not.” Lu Xian hesitated as she crossed the pedestrian lane. “But it’s so late, what do you want me to come over for?”
Ling Tingyu chuckled. “What do you think we’d do at a hotel?”
“Ah?” Lu Xian inhaled sharply.
Ling Tingyu teased her further. “What are you imagining?”
Lu Xian pushed away the inappropriate images flashing through her mind. “I wasn’t thinking anything.”
“You’ll find out when you get here,” Ling Tingyu said just as someone called for her in the background. “Room 1209. Go in and wait for me.”
With that, she hung up.
Before entering the hotel, Lu Xian pulled her cap low, covering half her face, and made sure no one was lurking around to take photos.
It suddenly felt like they were sneaking around.
The twelfth floor of the hotel was quiet. When Lu Xian reached Room 1209, the door was slightly ajar. Pushing it open, she found no one inside, just a dim lamp casting a faint glow.
“Ling Tingyu?” Lu Xian called out, but there was no response.
“What did you just call me?”
Lu Xian turned to see Ling Tingyu leaning against the door, smiling at her.
The door was still open, and worried about being seen, Lu Xian grabbed her wrist, pulling her inside before shutting it firmly.
Ling Tingyu found it amusing how much more cautious Lu Xian was than her.
Turning around, Lu Xian asked, “You said I’d find out when I got here. So, what is it?”
Ling Tingyu took Lu Xian’s slender hand, giving it a playful squeeze. “What do you think?”
“I…” The gesture made it impossible for Lu Xian not to misunderstand.
The Omega’s palm was warm, sending heat rushing to Lu Xian’s fingertips. She instinctively tried to pull away. “I, I don’t have any experience.”
Realizing Lu Xian had taken it the wrong way, Ling Tingyu couldn’t resist pushing her onto the bed. “You can learn. I’ll shower first, you still have time.”
Sinking into the soft mattress, Lu Xian’s mind buzzed. She scrambled to get up and leave.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Ling Tingyu stood between Lu Xian’s legs, bending down to brace her hands on either side of Lu Xian’s waist, pressing her down slowly.
Lu Xian sat on the edge of the bed, tilting her head back to look at Ling Tingyu as the distance between them closed.
“Ling Tingyu, wait!” Pinned down, Lu Xian leaned back step by step.
“Wait for what?” Ignoring her, Ling Tingyu pushed against Lu Xian’s shoulders, trying to press her down completely, only to find her unmoving.
Neck arched back, Lu Xian smirked. “Professor Ling, are you trying to see who’s stronger?”
The strength disparity between an Omega and an Alpha was vast. Before, Lu Xian had been caught off guard, letting Ling Tingyu push her down easily.
After several failed attempts, Ling Tingyu grew frustrated. “Lu Xian, we’re married. Is sleeping with me really that unbearable?”
Lu Xian braced her palms against the bed. “Get off me first.”
“What if I don’t?” Ling Tingyu had only wanted to sleep nothing more but Lu Xian’s resistance inexplicably stung.
Freeing one hand, Lu Xian wrapped it around Ling Tingyu’s waist and effortlessly lifted her aside.
Lu Xian stood up from the bed: “You go take a shower first. I’ll leave after you’ve fallen asleep.”
“Lu Xian.” Ling Tingyu’s eyes were moist with unshed tears. “Don’t you miss me at all?”
These past few days, Ling Tingyu had been rushing through filming on set, so busy she barely had time for proper meals, all to free up two days to come back and spend time with Lu Xian.
But upon returning, she realized Lu Xian didn’t seem to need her company anymore. The girl who used to cling to her like an affectionate puppy had suddenly grown distant.
Ling Tingyu’s dark eyes shimmered with unshed tears. “You’ve changed so much.”
Lu Xian’s heart clenched. She hadn’t just changed, she was practically a different person.
The novel had detailed Ling Tingyu’s personality: she had grown up alone, terrified of loneliness. Only after picking up the original owner did that loneliness begin to fade.
Lu Xian simply didn’t want to rely on Ling Tingyu under the original owner’s identity. She just hadn’t expected Ling Tingyu to be the one struggling with the change.
Lu Xian didn’t know how to respond, nor did she want to lie and claim she hadn’t changed.
“Do you prefer the old me?”
Ling Tingyu lifted her lashes, her eyes glistening and pitiful enough to soften anyone’s heart.
“Don’t cry.” Lu Xian panicked, unsure how she’d even managed to make her cry.
Realizing that she was the one who couldn’t bear the separation, Ling Tingyu only felt like crying harder. Tears welled up, spilling silently down her cheeks as she struggled to speak. She rarely showed vulnerability, and even her crying was soundless just quiet, heartbreaking whimpers.
Frantic, Lu Xian wiped her tears with her fingers, coaxing softly, “I won’t leave, okay? Please don’t cry. Your eyes will swell.”
Ling Tingyu sniffled, refusing to speak.
Lu Xian was at a complete loss. She had really upset her this time.
“Professor Ling?” Lu Xian bent down to meet her gaze, brushing her thumb gently under Ling Tingyu’s eyes. “You have a show to film tomorrow. Let’s stop crying, alright?”
Ling Tingyu turned her face away, avoiding Lu Xian’s gaze. “I’m going to shower.”
Great. She’d made her cry, and now she couldn’t even comfort her.
The glass bathroom door closed, steam soon fogging the surface.
Worried Ling Tingyu’s eyes would swell from crying, Lu Xian went downstairs to ask the staff for an ice pack.
Knowing the ice would melt, she waited a while longer, timing it so she could retrieve the pack just before heading back up.
By the time she returned, Ling Tingyu had already stepped out of the shower. Her damp hair cascaded loose, water droplets clinging to the ends, her thin nightgown slightly soaked.
Spotting Lu Xian, Ling Tingyu paused mid-dial on her phone. “I thought you left. Why are you back?”
“I didn’t go.” Lu Xian grabbed a dry towel from the rack and handed it to her. “Dry your hair.”
“Don’t want to.” Ling Tingyu was exhausted just showering had taken all her energy.
“If you don’t, you’ll have a headache tomorrow.” Lu Xian used the towel to gently pat the moisture from her hair, then cupped her hands over the fabric to softly massage Ling Tingyu’s scalp.
Ling Tingyu melted into the touch, eyes closed in contentment, like an obedient kitten.
The Omega’s lashes curled delicately, her skin smooth and flushed, the scent of white tea and milky shower gel lingering on her intoxicating.
Lu Xian, slightly taller, looked down at her and explained, “I went to get you an ice pack.”
Ling Tingyu lifted her long lashes, confusion in her gaze.
“For the swelling.” Lu Xian wrapped the ice pack in the towel and pressed it lightly around Ling Tingyu’s eyes.
“Too cold.” Ling Tingyu instinctively leaned back.
“Stay still.” Lu Xian cupped the back of her neck, pulling her close.
Ling Tingyu nearly stumbled into her embrace. The gesture felt inexplicably domineering, making Ling feel more like a little sister in front of Lu Xian at this moment.
Lu Xian reapplied the ice around her eyes: “How are you going to appear on camera tomorrow if the swelling doesn’t go down?”
Ling Tingyu cared deeply about her image, she definitely didn’t want to look ugly on camera tomorrow. “You actually thought about that?”
“Of course,” Lu Xian replied, gazing at her slightly reddened eyes with a pang of guilt. “So, can you stop being mad at me?”
Ling Tingyu avoided answering. “I’m tired.”
Lu Xian immediately tried to appease her. “I’ll sleep with you.”
Ling took the ice pack from her hand and pressed it to her own face, clearly ignoring Lu Xian’s words. She wasn’t that easy to coax.
“Then…” Lu Xian hesitated for a moment. “Something else is fine too.”
Ling Tingyu looked at her. “What else?”
Lu Xian thought for a moment before answering seriously, “Sex.”