The strawberry milk in Hua Zhi’s hand remained untouched.
All eyes were fixed on the two of them.
Xie Shimian covered Hua Zhi’s mouth and said, “Don’t you know whether there’s anything wrong with my body?”
The onlookers exchanged knowing glances.
So, no hidden ailments, just a little game between the lovebirds.
Hua Zhi, muffled by Xie Shimian’s hand, obediently hid behind her.
Of course, she didn’t know.
She had never “tested” Xie Shimian’s body.
If the kitten had a tail, it would surely be drooping right now.
Xie Shimian sat with Nuonuo, while Hua Zhi curled up alone on the sofa, a physics textbook resting on her knees.
Amidst the revelry of the club, she was the only one doing homework.
Utterly out of place, the pen in her hand seemed to let out a silent wail.
Nuonuo pressed her forehead against Xie Shimian’s chest and laughed. “The little one’s jealous.”
Yan Fang, sitting across from them with a young woman in her arms, teased, “Look how spoiled Hua Zhi is getting jealous over her owner. Not very well-behaved, is she?”
Hua Zhi: “…”
Xie Shimian sighed regretfully. If not for the need to deceive the enemies lurking in the shadows, she wouldn’t have resorted to selling her charms like this.
Right now, she was playing the role of a club hostess, but if things went south with the big boss later, she might actually end up as one for real.
Leaning close to Nuonuo’s ear, Xie Shimian whispered, “I suspect there’s a connection between Global Intelligence and interstellar pirates. The Empire has been cracking down on them these years, keep an eye out for me.”
Nuonuo nuzzled against her. “Of course, whatever you wish, Miss.”
The Nightlong Club had shares owned by the Xie family and secretly served as their intelligence network.
Xie Shimian faintly recalled details from the original plot about interstellar pirates. The chairman behind Global Intelligence, backed by these pirates, had risen from a minor noble to the top candidate for the imperial throne.
Xie Shimian lowered her head, feigning intimacy as their hair tangled together.
Snap!
Hua Zhi clenched her fingers, snapping the pen in half.
That shameless Omega had practically buried herself in Xie Shimian’s arms!
And her benefactor was letting her take liberties.
Hua Zhi’s peach-blossom eyes reddened with anger, a misty layer of tears gathering in them.
Her benefactor wouldn’t touch her at home, yet here she was, flirting with another woman right in front of her…
That woman, Nuonuo, what was so special about her? Just because she acted sweet and demure? Women in places like this were all fakes.
Yan Fang, ever the instigator, chimed in, “Look at that, your little girl’s so upset she’s crying. You’ll have to discipline her properly at home, she’s hardly presentable like this.”
“My child is none of your concern. She has a lovely temperament.”
Xie Shimian released Nuonuo, slipping a stack of bills into her collar like a generous patron, then lazily stretched as if they’d just finished something indecent.
Hua Zhi: !
Nuonuo flushed, this act was going too far. Way too far.
How are you so good at this?!
Xie Shimian clapped her hands, then wrapped an arm around Hua Zhi as they headed for the door. “My little one has tutoring tonight. We’ll take our leave.”
Yan Fang waved and winked. “Leave the Global matter to me. Don’t worry.”
Xie Shimian nodded, then nudged Hua Zhi. “Not even a sip of your strawberry milk?”
The girl in her arms turned away, silent.
Once inside the luxury car, Hua Zhi pressed her forehead against the window, shoulders trembling.
The sound of broken sobs cut sharply through the quiet interior.
Her benefactor had whispered sweet nothings to someone else right in front of her.
The broken sobs made Ke Rong glance over repeatedly. “What’s wrong? Were you bullied by those rich kids?! They’ve gone too far.”
Hua Zhi shook her head tearfully and buried herself in Xie Shimian’s arms.
The little cat was at a loss, her whimpering cries softening Xie Shimian’s heart.
Did her savior not want her anymore?
The kitten’s eyes were red from crying, her hands constantly wiping away tears, only for fresh ones to drench her cheeks again.
Xie Shimian thought to herself, I’m such a scumbag.
“Am I not prettier than Nuonuo?” Hua Zhi straddled her, legs spread. “I can do everything she can, and I can serve you better than her!”
Xie Shimian sighed helplessly. “I needed her for something else…”
Hua Zhi: “Is she better in bed?”
Xie Shimian: “…No.”
Hua Zhi nuzzled against her. “Does Miss prefer her flirtatious type?!”
Xie Shimian immediately denied it: “No! I can explain.”
Hua Zhi quieted down, waiting for an explanation.
Xie Shimian: “…”
She had nothing to explain. After all, the girl before her was the future big boss, she couldn’t possibly reveal all the Xie family’s secrets.
If Hua Zhi turned out to be an ungrateful wolf, Xie Shimian wouldn’t even have a chance to recover in the future.
Xie Shimian kissed her cheeks, wiping away the tears on her delicate face.
“I won’t see Nuonuo next time, okay? Be good, this time was my fault.”
Hua Zhi hiccuped between sobs, the fragile little beauty radiating a heartbreaking aura.
“And next time…”
Xie Shimian’s heart softened as she pleaded. “There won’t be a next time.”
Ke Rong muttered, “Miss really does seem like a scumbag right now.”
Xie Shimian: “…”
Keep your voice down, I can hear you.
The car stopped at the manor gates.
Xie Shimian revisited her earlier question. “Zhi Zhi doesn’t like strawberry milk?”
Next time, she could try strawberry milkshake or strawberry basil. Cats shouldn’t eat too many strawberries, but this one could.
Hua Zhi shook her head. “I want it made by you.”
In the past, she would never have dared to ask her savior to personally make her a drink.
People could be spoiled, and Hua Zhi was even easier to spoil. She was too greedy, she wanted Xie Shimian’s attention solely on her, never glancing at anyone else. She couldn’t stand the thought of outsiders clinging to her savior’s embrace, couldn’t bear others receiving even a shred of Xie Shimian’s kindness.
She wanted Xie Shimian’s tenderness to belong only to her.
The girl’s tears hadn’t yet dried. Xie Shimian sighed softly.
Too clingy just like that cat I used to have.
Her old Ragdoll would hiss and retreat if it caught the scent of another cat on her, sulking in a corner, grooming itself until coaxed back with multiple treats.
Seeing Xie Shimian silent, Hua Zhi picked up a test paper with both hands.
“I finished the exam! Not a single wrong answer.”
Her savior had promised that studying hard would earn her a reward.
And her reward was a cup of strawberry milk, made by Xie Shimian herself.
Not from anyone else, not the artificial-flavored kind, it had to carry her savior’s scent.
The little girl stood on tiptoe by the counter, watching as Xie Shimian washed the strawberries, removed their stems, then added strawberry juice and whole berries to a glass, crushing them with a wooden pestle. She poured in milk and strawberry slices, sealed the glass with a cork, and stirred evenly.
Every movement was fluid, the sweet fragrance of greenhouse strawberries filling the air. In this interstellar era, only the wealthy and nobility could enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables.
Xie Shimian pushed the glass bottle toward her. “Strawberry milk tends to separate, so shake it before drinking. Finish it quickly.”
The little girl hugged the glass and gulped it down in one go, letting out a satisfied burp.
Hua Zhi covered her mouth, then burped again.
Xie Shimian patted her head. “Good girl. I have things to do now. Zhizhi, go to your lessons with the tutor first.”
Hua Zhi nodded contentedly and left a strawberry-scented kiss on Xie Shimian’s cheek.
“You’re the best, sister.”
That night, Xie Shimian leaned back on her bed, exhausted, closing her eyes to rest.
Online, negative discussions about Global AI Group continued to escalate. Protests against the company’s alleged discrimination against Omegas had broken out on the streets, and the stock price kept plummeting.
The assassin sent after her had been handed over to the Supreme Court for sentencing. The matter could finally be put to rest.
In the quiet night, Xie Shimian’s hand slipped beneath the covers. As an adult, she had her needs too.
She couldn’t touch Hua Zhi, so she had to take care of it herself.
She had never touched herself before and didn’t want to. Images from old movies flashed in her mind, she was always the one on top, never bothering with manicured nails, just so she could…
The concentration of Alpha pheromones in the air reached an unprecedented peak.
Suddenly, the door creaked open a sliver.
A shadowy figure groped its way to her bedside in the dark.
Silk V-neck minidress, the overwhelming scent of strawberries, loosely pinned-up long hair cleaned thoroughly inside and out.
Hua Zhi quietly climbed onto her bed. “Sister, you must be tired today. Let me help you relax.”
Xie Shimian’s mind snapped to alertness. “What you’re wearing is—”
The exact same outfit Nuonuo had worn earlier. She had no idea where Hua Zhi had gotten it.
The delicate young girl pressed against her, inhaling her pheromones. “Do you like it, sister?”
Xie Shimian felt like she was dreaming. “Why are you wearing Pinru’s clothes?”
Hua Zhi: ?
Who’s Pinru?