The stairwell was empty and unsafe. Lu Xian was already nervous, and with Ling Tingyu undoing her clothes, the neatly pressed collar was now crumpled in her grip. Lu Xian couldn’t take it anymore.
Ling Tingyu’s gaze drifted upward. “Why not?”
The security camera was just around the corner. Lu Xian caught her hand and gently pulled it away. “Be good. I’ll let you kiss me when we get back.”
She then placed both hands on Ling Tingyu’s shoulders. “We can’t stay here too long. You should head back first.”
“Fine.” Ling Tingyu handed her a water bottle. “Do you want some water?”
After leaving the recording studio, Lu Xian had worked up a sweat and was parched.
She took the bottle from Ling Tingyu and took a sip.
Her collar was slightly open, revealing her delicate collarbones and fair neck. As she tilted her head back to drink, the red mark on her skin stood out vividly.
Ling Tingyu bit her lip, thinking, I want to hide her away. “Lu Xian.”
Lu Xian lowered the bottle and looked at her. “What is it?”
Ling Tingyu wrapped her arms around Lu Xian’s neck and pulled her close. “I still can’t help it. What should I do?”
Before Lu Xian could react, the distance between them vanished. A warm sensation bloomed against her neck as Ling Tingyu pressed her lips to the mark, sucking gently.
Lu Xian inhaled sharply. “Don’t kiss me there…”
A few seconds later, Ling Tingyu released her. “Lu Xian, only I get to see this.”
“…” Lu Xian was flustered. The already red mark deepened in color.
Ling Tingyu adjusted her collar for her. “Keep it hidden, okay?”
Lu Xian stared blankly for a moment. “You’re so mean.”
“I can be even meaner.” Ling Tingyu smirked. “Want to find out?”
Lu Xian: “…”
When they returned to the training room, Lu Xian refused to take off her jacket no matter what.
You Yijia had come out of the recording studio, waiting for Lu Xian so they could leave together.
“Lu Xian, where did you go?” You Yijia walked over. “We’re done for the day. Want to head back together?”
The vocal trainees had already left, but the dance group was still practicing.
Lu Xian glanced at Ling Tingyu, who was intently coaching the trainees on their moves as if she weren’t the same Omega who had just teased and bitten her moments ago.
“Lu Xian?” You Yijia nudged her shoulder lightly. “What are you staring at?”
Following Lu Xian’s gaze, You Yijia noticed Ling Tingyu. “Stop looking.” She shook her head. “Someone like Ling Tingyu is way out of your league.”
Lu Xian: “What?”
You Yijia crossed her arms. “You were just checking her out, weren’t you?”
“N-no, I wasn’t.” Lu Xian averted her eyes. “Let’s go.”
You Yijia trailed behind her. “Why deny it? Ling Tingyu is amazing, it’s totally normal to like her.”
Lu Xian quickened her pace.
You Yijia kept chattering. “But don’t get any ideas beyond that. Just admire her from afar.”
Lu Xian: “…”
If You Yijia knew she and Ling Tingyu were married, she’d probably drop dead from shock.
“Wait, Lu Xian…”
Hesitating for a second, she called out again, “You Yijia, could you help me with something?”
Both Lu Xian and You Yijia turned to see Xia Wanzhou limping toward them.
Lu Xian glanced at You Yijia. “You go.”
“Tch.” You Yijia scratched her nose. “Why me again?”
Lu Xian stayed silent.
You Yijia sighed. “How about we go together this time?”
Though they were verbally pushing the responsibility onto each other, the two of them still walked over together.
You Yijia supported Xia Wanzhou’s arm: “What happened?”
Xia Wanzhou stood on one leg, afraid to step forward: “I twisted my ankle coming down the stairs.”
You Yijia: “Is it serious? Do you need to go to the hospital?”
“No need for the hospital, I’ll be fine after some rest.” Xia Wanzhou frowned apologetically. “But I might need your help to support me, I can’t put any weight on my foot.”
“No problem. I have some medicine for sprains at my place. I’ll get it for you when we get back.” You Yijia was actually quite warm-hearted and immediately helped Xia Wanzhou back without another word.
Lu Xian followed slowly behind.
Xia Wanzhou hopped unsteadily, struggling to keep her balance, then turned to Lu Xian: “Lu Xian, could you help me, please?”
“Sure.” Lu Xian stepped forward and held Xia Wanzhou’s elbow. “Let’s go.”
“Thank you.” Xia Wanzhou lowered her gaze, watching Lu Xian’s slender fingers encircling her arm. Through the thin fabric of her sleeve, she could almost feel Lu Xian’s body heat.
Xia Wanzhou’s face flushed slightly, Alpha body temperatures seemed to run a little higher than hers.
You Yijia had considered offering to carry Xia Wanzhou, but hesitated due to their AB dynamics and ultimately let it go.
The journey back to the dormitory floor felt like an eternity.
Lu Xian was in a hurry, checking the time, she wasn’t sure if Ling Tingyu had finished yet.
As they passed the dorm, Xia Wanzhou hissed in pain. “It hurts.”
You Yijia released her. “I’ll go grab the first-aid kit. Wait here.”
“Thanks.”
Now, only Lu Xian and Xia Wanzhou remained in the dorm.
Lu Xian helped her sit down. “If you’re alright, I’ll head back now.”
“Wait, Lu Xian.” Xia Wanzhou looked at her. “I’m a little thirsty, could you pass me my cup?”
Lu Xian paused.
Xia Wanzhou pointed to the desk opposite. “The blue one.”
As Lu Xian walked over, Xia Wanzhou switched her phone to camera mode and snapped a photo of Lu Xian handing her the water.
Lu Xian frowned slightly. “What are you doing?”
Xia Wanzhou put her phone away and smiled. “I’ve been collecting vlog material to post on Weibo to boost my popularity, so I’ve gotten into the habit of documenting daily life. You don’t mind, do you?”
It was common for trainees to film each other, You Yijia often recorded her too. Lu Xian didn’t usually mind, but something about Xia Wanzhou gave her an inexplicable unease.
Lu Xian eyed her. “What if I said I do mind?”
“Huh? I thought we were friends, I didn’t think you’d mind.” The unexpected refusal made Xia Wanzhou’s smile falter.
“Lu Xian, you said you didn’t dislike me.” Xia Wanzhou looked hurt. Did Lu Xian really dislike her just because she’d captured her in a casual recording?
Her words made Lu Xian feel oddly petty. They all lived under the spotlight there was nothing to hide.
Lu Xian felt like she’d shot herself in the foot. She didn’t respond, deciding it was best to keep her distance from Xia Wanzhou in the future.
Fortunately, You Yijia soon returned with the first-aid kit, breaking the tension.
“I’ve got some anti-inflammatory pain relief spray here. Try it, if it still hurts tomorrow, make sure to go to the hospital.” You Yijia opened the kit and placed the spray next to Xia Wanzhou. “You can apply it yourself, right?”
Xia Wanzhou: “I’ll be fine. Thank you both for today.”
“No problem. We’ll head out first.” You Yijia pushed Lu Xian out of the dorm and closed the door behind them.
Left alone in the room, Xia Wanzhou put the pain-relief spray back in the first-aid kit and opened her phone to review the video she had just recorded.
The clip was only a few fleeting seconds, no faces were captured, but the clothes alone made it obvious who it was.
In the frame, Lu Xian walked over holding her blue cup, her fair, slender fingers strikingly elegant.
Xia Wanzhou stared at her hands, unable to stop certain images from surfacing in her mind.
Back in their dorm.
You Yijia lay on her bed and opened Weibo, only to find that the post she had made earlier in the recording studio had already surpassed ten thousand likes.
Huh?
She bolted upright. “Lu Xian, I’m going viral! This is the first time one of my Weibo posts has gotten over ten thousand likes!”
Lu Xian wasn’t paying attention, she still hadn’t received a reply from Ling Tingyu.
Delighted, You Yijia clicked on the comments, only to be startled by the very first one.
[Does u1+ know something? Spill it!]
You Yijia: “???”
Know what?
[Just came from Xia Wanzhou’s Weibo. At this rate, I’m really going to ship them!]
[u1+, you’re secretly shipping them too, aren’t you? Admit it!]
[I don’t want to ship them, but Lu Xian asked Xia Wanzhou to hold her jacket for her!]
You Yijia: “???”
Was this about the photo she had taken of Xia Wanzhou in the recording studio?
She quickly zoomed in and finally noticed Xia Wanzhou was holding Lu Xian’s jacket in her arms.
You Yijia: “How did I miss that?”
Oh no. Oh no.
She immediately deleted the post, pretending nothing had happened.
But private messages flooded in like a tidal wave.
[u1+, why delete the post? It’s too late to cover it up now.]
[Deleting it to avoid suspicion? That just proves it’s real!!!]
[u1+, tell me secretly are Lu Xian and Xia Wanzhou actually together?]
[Tell me, was Lu Xian pouring water for Xia Wanzhou because she was taking care of her?]
You Yijia froze. Unintentionally, she had just fueled the ship between Lu Xian and Xia Wanzhou.
“Uh, Lu Xian…” She leaned over the edge of her bed and spoke cautiously. “There’s something I need to confess…”
Lu Xian’s phone buzzed a few times.
She glanced at the screen, it was a message from Ling Tingyu. “Whatever it is, tell me later. I need to go out now.”
“Wait!” You Yijia reached out. “Lu Xian, I’m sorry…”
…
The night air had cooled slightly, a gentle breeze brushing against her face.
Lu Xian walked while talking to Ling Tingyu on the phone. “I’m here.”
The underground parking garage of the hotel was dimly lit and quiet.
From the corner, a pair of headlights flashed. Squinting, Lu Xian spotted Ling Tingyu.
The car was parked in the shadows. After scanning the area to ensure nothing was amiss, Lu Xian approached.
She opened the passenger door. “Why didn’t you go upstairs?”
Ling Tingyu wore a mask and sunglasses, her expression unreadable. Her voice was calm. “Not staying here tonight. I want to go home.”
Lu Xian: “Alright.”
Ling Tingyu sat in the passenger seat, watching her. “You drive.”
“Mm.” Lu Xian circled to the driver’s side and got in.
Her hands pale, slender, and well-defined gripped the black steering wheel as she eased the car forward.
Ling Tingyu turned her face to look at Lu Xian’s hand. The thought of her touching Xia Wanzhou’s water cup, and the screenshot circulating online, made the surge of possessiveness in her heart unbearable.
As they drove into the parking garage of the upscale residential complex, Lu Xian parked the car and walked around to open the passenger door. “We’re here.”
Ling Tingyu removed her sunglasses, hooked off her mask with a finger, revealing her beautiful face though her gaze was icy.
The two stepped into the elevator, the confined space falling into silence.
It wasn’t just now; Ling Tingyu had been quiet the entire car ride.
“What’s wrong? You seem upset,” Lu Xian leaned in, whispering close to Ling Tingyu’s ear.
The proximity made Ling Tingyu’s heart tremble, her earlobe tingling as if bitten.
The elevator ascended swiftly, floor by floor.
Once inside the apartment, the lights remained off. The glow from the skyscrapers outside the floor-to-ceiling windows cast a dim, scattered light, leaving the room in shadow.
Lu Xian reached for the light switch.
“Lu Xian,” Ling Tingyu called out.
“What is it?”
Her wrist was caught as Ling Tingyu pressed into her embrace, guiding Lu Xian’s hand upward. “I’m very unhappy.”
Lu Xian lowered her gaze, then felt her palm filled with something soft and round.
Lu Xian: “…”
This sensation was…
Ling Tingyu pressed closer, her eyes dark and intense. “You have to make me happy.”