When Hua Zhi crawled out from under the desk, she knocked over Xie Shimian’s freshly poured coffee.
The dark liquid spilled onto her pale green qipao, dripping steadily down the fabric and onto the floor.
In an instant, the office was filled with the aroma of coffee and the scent of an Alpha’s pheromones.
The caramel-sweet coffee was overwhelmingly fragrant, and the fruity rum-like pheromones reached an unprecedented intensity.
An employee immediately closed the door, muttering, “I saw nothing, I saw nothing.”
Good heavens, spilling coffee all over herself, the manager really knew how to play.
The employee covered her mouth, her face dreamy.
Xie Shimian: “…”
Hua Zhi lifted the hem of her dress and glanced cautiously at Xie Shimian.
“I’m sorry, I’m so clumsy…”
Zhizhi had turned into a coffee-scented cat.
Her carefully chosen qipao was ruined.
Xie Shimian pinched her temples in frustration. “Go wash up.”
Hua Zhi stood there, crestfallen. “It’s all my fault.”
She had messed up again.
Hiding under the desk hadn’t made her benefactor happy instead, she had knocked over Xie Shimian’s coffee.
How could someone as useless as her deserve to stay by Xie Shimian’s side?
Xie Shimian sighed and hauled the cat into the bathroom. Next to the office was a small bathroom with a white porcelain bathtub.
Water gushed noisily, the warm stream splashing against the tub with a lively patter.
Hua Zhi’s breathing was rapid, her face flushed from the steam.
Xie Shimian coughed lightly and averted her gaze. “Take off the qipao. I’ll get you a clean change of clothes.”
Hua Zhi submerged herself entirely in the water, too ashamed to let Xie Shimian see her body.
It was covered in scars too ugly.
Xie Shimian’s voice was unusually hoarse. “We’re both women. There’s no need to be shy.”
Hua Zhi’s breath hitched. “But Miss Xie is an Alpha, and I haven’t presented yet. Even though we’re both women, we’re not… the same.”
Though both were women, they weren’t the same gender.
Xie Shimian’s expression stiffened. She turned her head away and used two fingers to lift the qipao Hua Zhi handed her.
She tossed it into the washing machine with a splash. “I’ll wait outside. Hurry up.”
Amid the rising steam, Hua Zhi suddenly grabbed her arm.
“!”
Xie Shimian startled. “Let go!”
The skin where Hua Zhi’s fingers touched burned hot. Despite the scars on her hands, her fingers were smooth and soft, as was typical for a girl her age.
“Don’t go, Jiejie. Stay and bathe with me.”
Hua Zhi’s voice was low and sweet, the kind Xie Shimian found hardest to resist.
Her fingers coiled around Xie Shimian’s wrist like a snake.
“Don’t leave.”
When faced with what they most desire, people often act desperate, eager to seize it and hold it close. Xie Shimian’s eyes were dark, like inorganic glass.
She couldn’t touch her.
At least, not now.
Xie Shimian pulled her arm free, her tone as gentle as ever. “I’ll go get your clothes.”
Hua Zhi stared blankly at her retreating figure.
Rejected again.
Even though Xie Shimian’s gaze had held desire, if only for a fleeting moment.
He Yuying arrived at the company. She was Xie Shimian’s mother and the chairwoman of the entire Xie Group.
Unlike Xie Shimian’s father, a duke who handled political affairs, He Yuying’s role was managing the conglomerate.
A high-ranking noble without an empire would be nothing but an empty shell.
He Yuying was an Omega with an elegant and dignified demeanor, her sharp and decisive gaze setting her apart from the delicate and fragile Omegas, she was a force to be reckoned with.
“Xie Shimian slept with Hua Zhi?” He Yuying was deeply displeased. “How could Hua Zhi be so reckless!”
She had barely arrived home before luring her daughter into such absurd behavior.
Had she known Hua Zhi would stir up trouble, she might as well have brought someone else back to the capital planet.
“Summon her here at once.”
Ke Rong hesitated, mumbling, “Uh…”
He Yuying raised an eyebrow. “What, can’t you call her over?”
Ke Rong: “Chairwoman, Hua Zhi and the young miss are currently, taking a bath together in the bathroom.”
He Yuying: ?
She nearly choked on her own breath.
He Yuying stormed into Xie Shimian’s office in her high heels, pushing the door open to find Xie Shimian standing outside, disheveled, holding a piece of clothing.
Xie Shimian urged in a hushed voice, “Hurry up.”
From the bathroom, a fluffy head peeked out, the fair skin flushed pink from the steam.
Xie Shimian blushed. “These are just some of my old clothes, Zhizhi. Make do for now.”
“Xie Shimian!”
He Yuying hissed under her breath, “What are you two doing in the office?!”
When Xie Shimian first joined the company, she had been pleased to see her daughter gradually taking over responsibilities and proposing constructive improvements. But then came the rumors, her daughter spending all her time fooling around with Hua Zhi.
She had intended to groom a capable subordinate, not a bed partner.
Xie Shimian straightened her clothes, awkwardly replying, “If I said nothing happened, would you believe me?”
He Yuying: “…”
Not a damn chance.
Xie Shimian looked at her mother, whose features so closely resembled her own, and felt a wave of tenderness. The image of her birth mother had long faded from her memory.
She took He Yuying’s hand and explained the misunderstanding.
He Yuying: “An employee saw Hua Zhi crawling out from under your desk.”
Xie Shimian: “I dropped my pen. She picked it up for me.”
Hua Zhi stood obediently nearby, innocent as a little white flower.
He Yuying: “Someone smelled your pheromones the moment they opened the door.”
Her daughter had gone too far, how could she take advantage of a child who hadn’t even presented yet?
She glanced at Hua Zhi with a hint of guilt.
If Xie Shimian had forced the matter, this child wouldn’t have had the ability to refuse.
Xie Shimian pouted. “My pheromones went out of control again. I didn’t touch Zhizhi, but whenever I’m near her, my headaches get better.”
He Yuying scanned Hua Zhi’s nape, no bite marks?
Not even a trace of redness.
Xie Shimian rested her forehead against her mother’s shoulder, vulnerability flickering in her eyes.
“Please don’t send Zhizhi away, Mother. Being with her has improved my health, I don’t even need injections anymore.”
He Yuying: “The poison in your body.”
Hua Zhi suddenly looked up Xie Shimian had been poisoned?
He Yuying didn’t elaborate, unable to resist Xie Shimian’s embrace. “Just keep it discreet. No fooling around in public.”
She had relented.
“By the way, how did you come up with the idea for voluntary overtime? The employees have responded well, and productivity has improved significantly.”
Xie Shimian chuckled dryly. “Personal experience, I suppose.”
She didn’t dare mention the even more ruthless measures she had considered.
Before leaving, He Yuying paused beside Hua Zhi, lifting her chin with two fingers.
“You really are a pretty little thing.”
She was wearing Xie Shimian’s old clothes, her freshly washed face glowing with a rosy hue, and her innocent peach-blossom eyes that made people let their guard down.
“Take good care of Shimian, and you won’t be treated poorly in the future.”
Hua Zhi nodded. “I understand, Madam.”
He Yuying added, “Shimian can be a bit spoiled and unreasonable at times. If you don’t want to indulge her, just push her away, she won’t dare do anything.”
Hua Zhi secretly laughed to herself. If only her savior really wanted to do something to her, that would be ideal.
“Um…”
Hua Zhi hesitated.
He Yuying: “What is it?”
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Hua Zhi gritted her teeth and blurted out, “Does Miss Xie have some hidden condition? Is it treatable?”
He Yuying: ??
Xie Shimian: !
Damn it.
The next day, the company no longer buzzed with absurd rumors about Xie Shimian and Hua Zhi. All the gossip died down as abruptly as a rooster whose throat had been squeezed.
The new rumor was that Xie Shimian, as an Alpha, might be… inadequate.
In the library of the luxurious estate.
Xie Shimian lay weakly, staring at the glass-domed ceiling, watching white doves flutter their wings as they flew past.
Now everyone knew she was inadequate.
Xie Shimian covered her eyes with the back of her hand.
How could she be inadequate? Were her fingers broken?
She had never even had the habit of getting manicures her whole life.
Her long, silky hair cascaded over the back of the chair, every strand radiating exasperation.
Before her was a cup of homemade caramel macchiato. The glass cup held coffee and caramel syrup, stirred evenly before adding ice, then mixed with chilled milk.
Caramel macchiatos were high in calories and calories brought happiness.
“Have some,” Xie Shimian said, pushing the glass toward Hua Zhi.
The familiar sweet drink touched her lips, and Hua Zhi’s eyes instantly lit up.
Her savior was amazing able to turn such bitter beans into something so delicious.
This kind of deliciousness could only come from her savior!
Hua Zhi’s expression was like that of a Ragdoll cat suddenly tasting freeze-dried treats.
If she had a tail, it would be wagging furiously right now.
Xie Shimian leaned back in her chair and commanded, “Unbutton your clothes.”
The cat clutching the empty cup: !
It was broad daylight was her savior suddenly in the mood for her?!
Xie Shimian pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration. “Not all the way. I just want to check your injuries.”
She pulled out a scar-healing spray from the drawer. “It won’t hurt. Relax.”
The grown-up big boss refused to let anyone see her body scars had become a forbidden topic, part of what fueled her obsessiveness.
Hua Zhi suddenly panicked, clutching her collar. “No, no… I’m not in pain at all. No need for medicine.”
She absolutely couldn’t let her savior see her ugly body.
It would taint her savior’s eyes.
Every scar was proof of the humiliation she had endured beaten, whipped, scalded with boiling water.
Her darkest past was something she couldn’t bear for Xie Shimian to see.
Xie Shimian frowned. The kitten’s attitude was exactly the same as her old Ragdoll cat’s when taken to the vet.
Avoiding treatment out of fear was no good.
Xie Shimian pulled Hua Zhi closer and scolded, “Don’t move.”
Hua Zhi froze in fear, obediently still.
Xie Shimian nuzzled her nose against Hua Zhi’s neck. “Be good. After I treat you, I’ll make you strawberry milk.”