Hua Zhi’s high fever quickly subsided, and she opened her eyes dazedly.
“You’re awake?”
The first thing Hua Zhi saw was the familiar ceiling, with a domed skylight at the very top. At the moment, the skylight was covered by a thick layer of snow.
“This is…” Hua Zhi’s voice was hoarse beyond recognition. “The young mistress’s bedroom.”
Ke Rong sat by the bed and handed her a glass of water. “Yes. The young mistress said there was no need to move you to the opposite bedroom.”
Hua Zhi leaned against the bed and gave a soft hum. She had just been temporarily marked, yet her lover wasn’t by her side.
Fortunately, the bedding and pajamas carried the familiar scent of the Alpha, which brought her some comfort.
“You’ve presented as an Omega. Congratulations.”
Hua Zhi had long known she was an Omega, but she feigned surprise. “That’s good. I can stay by the young mistress’s side.”
“Where is the young mistress?”
Ke Rong replied, “The young mistress went to the company for a meeting. The kitchen baked some cookies, I’ll bring you some.”
The fragile Omega murmured, “I want to see the young mistress.”
Ke Rong had a headache. Did Hua Zhi really think she could see the young mistress whenever she wanted? Considering she had just presented and been marked, Ke Rong said, “The young mistress will be back in the evening.” Probably?
Hua Zhi clutched her neck. “I want to see the young mistress.”
The comforted Omega was brimming with love, desperate to see her other half.
She wanted to be held and reassured, to hear sweet words, to be caressed.
The girl stumbled out of bed barefoot, her cheeks still flushed from the fever. The lingering low fever made her steps unsteady as she staggered forward.
Her savior.
She wanted to see her, to confirm that the marking before she fell unconscious wasn’t just a dream.
Ke Rong snapped, “Hua Zhi!”
Ke Rong forcibly put shoes on Hua Zhi, draped a coat over her, and escorted her to the door of the third conference room.
The company employees whispered among themselves at the sight of a disheveled, beautiful Omega rushing in.
“Whose little lover is this?”
“This is downright indecent.”
“She looks familiar. Isn’t she the general manager’s.”
“Her neck was just bitten, wasn’t it?”
The girl’s impulsive courage gradually faded as she stood before the slightly ajar door. She regretted it.
This was too reckless. Would Xie Shimian be angry?
Would she be so angry that she’d mark her again?
Inside the conference room.
Xie Shan: “General Manager, our investigation shows that the official from the Ministry of Finance is from Barren Star.”
He Yuying had already left first. Xie Shimian leaned back in her chair and raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”
Xie Shan: “Barren Star only has one prominent family. As far as I know, you also adopted an orphan from Barren Star.”
Hua Zhi’s flushed face instantly paled. “!”
She took two steps back, covering her mouth to stifle any sound.
Xie Shimian: “Yes, but Hua Zhi is just an orphan, no different from the hundreds of thousands of other orphans on Barren Star.”
Xie Shan’s stern gaze didn’t waver. “Are you sure? For caution’s sake, I think we should investigate again or bring her here to clear any suspicion of espionage. The Xie family can’t afford even the slightest mishap.”
Hua Zhi was stunned, her legs weakening as she stumbled back and fell to the floor.
The Omega’s pheromones were well-contained, but Xie Shimian was the only one who caught a whiff.
Her eyes flickered imperceptibly toward the slightly open door.
Did the kitten come?
“General Manager?” Someone nearby reminded her. “What about Miss Hua Zhi’s suspicion.”
Xie Shimian rubbed her temples. “Hua Zhi, huh?”
She swept her gaze across everyone in the third conference room. “I’ve personally reviewed Hua Zhi’s information multiple times. There are no issues whatsoever. There’s no need for concern.”
Xie Shan: “But—”
At the doorway, Hua Zhi’s breath nearly stopped, half of her body numb from the fall, her small face smudged with dirt.
She was awaiting the judgment of fate.
Xie Shimian scoffed coldly, “But suspicion cannot be dismissed. I will keep her under my personal supervision. However, you all are quite capable meddling with someone under my protection.”
Xie Shan hesitated, wanting to speak but holding back. He was a collateral relative of the Xie family. Without the Duke’s patronage, he would have remained obscure forever. Out of gratitude for the opportunity, he had remained fiercely loyal to the Xie family, watching Xie Shimian grow up as an elder.
Everyone silently shifted the topic, discussing other matters.
As the meeting concluded, Xie Shimian signaled the recording secretary to open another door for the attendees to exit, avoiding any chance of running into Hua Zhi.
The vast conference room was now empty except for Xie Shimian and Xie Shan.
“Shimian, at your age, it’s time to get engaged. I’ve looked into a few Omega ladies from viscount and earl families, all quite suitable.”
From the dark crack of the door, the faint scent of bitter lemon pheromones drifted in.
Even more intoxicating than the cigarette in Xie Shimian’s hand.
Love made people irrational. The last shred of reason after their intimate moments had been tossed into the trash. Xie Shimian clicked her tongue inwardly.
She and Zhi Zhi were just too compatible in bed.
So compatible that Xie Shimian sometimes wondered if it wasn’t their first time.
Xie Shan repeated, “Shimian, are you even listening to me?”
Xie Shimian exhaled a plume of smoke. “No can do, Uncle. The Xie family is already a thorn in the Emperor’s side. A marriage alliance would only make him and his people more vigilant. How many assassination attempts have we faced this month alone?”
Xie Shan’s heart sank. “But—”
Xie Shimian patted him. “You can fool me, but don’t fool yourself.”
“Then you can’t just fool around with some orphan of unknown origin from the wastelands! What kind of behavior is that?”
Outside the door, Hua Zhi’s heart lurched violently.
Yes. Between her and her savior lay an insurmountable chasm.
She was the dust on the ground, while Xie Shimian was the white clouds in the sky.
She could only ride a gust of wind, soaring briefly to brush against the hem of those clouds before plummeting back into the mud.
“What’s wrong with the wastelands? Didn’t the Ministry of Finance recruit someone from there?” Xie Shimian chuckled. “I’ll take my leave now. I accidentally wore Hua Zhi’s clothes today gotta return them.”
Xie Shan nearly choked. “You, what kind of person do you even like?”
In the darkness outside the door, Hua Zhi held her breath, her ears filled with the violent pounding of her own heartbeat.
She, too, was waiting for this answer.
Xie Shimian pushed the door open, turning back with a smile. “I like someone ambitious, academically outstanding, someone who can expand the Xie family’s territory.”
Xie Shan muttered under his breath, “What Omega has a personality like that?”
Hua Zhi silently repeated to herself: Ambitious someone who can expand the Xie family’s territory. Her savior had always urged her to study hard, telling her that education could change her fate.
She would become the type Xie Shimian liked!
The conference room door opened, a sliver of light falling on the Omega crouched on the floor.
Xie Shimian appeared before her like a deity passing judgment on sin, backlit, her expression unreadable.
The newly presented Omega was running a low fever, her entire body flushed pink.
Hua Zhi’s face drained of color had she been caught eavesdropping?!
Xie Shimian scooped up the “kitten” from the floor with one hand. “What are you doing sitting here? The floor’s cold, you’ll catch a chill.”
Hua Zhi, dazed, clung to Xie Shimian’s neck.
That’s the issue here?!
Big sister isn’t angry?!
Inside the office.
Xie Shimian placed Hua Zhi on the sofa. “It’s snowing outside so cold your feet have turned purple.”
She poured Hua Zhi a cup of warm milk and sat on the carpet, cupping the girl’s feet in her hands.
The girl’s feet were lean, with no excess flesh, the bones and tendons clearly defined.
The pads of her toes were plump and adorable, originally blue from the cold but now regaining a soft pink hue in the warm room, like a kitten’s paw pads.
Hua Zhi murmured guiltily, “Sister, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have eavesdropped on your meeting.”
Listening in on an internal corporate meeting was practically an admission of being a spy, yet her benefactor didn’t seem suspicious at all.
She wasn’t a spy, but she was connected to the person behind that global AI.
Her thoughts were in turmoil, and she barely dared to lift her head to look at Xie Shimian.
Xie Shimian gripped her ankle, a fragile spot. Holding someone by the ankle felt like holding their entire being.
Hua Zhi’s breath hitched. “Mmm! Sister, what are you?”
This was strange. It wasn’t as if no one had ever grabbed her feet before.
But in the past, it had always been out of fear or anger. Now, her whole body tingled.
She felt like her fever was getting worse.
Xie Shimian, seemingly still in the throes of her rut, pressed a kiss to the Omega’s ankle.
“Whatever you want to know, I’ll tell you,” Xie Shimian murmured, her dark eyes burning. “Today is Zhizhi’s birthday. The birthday girl gets privileges.”
Damn that meeting. She wanted nothing more than to keep fooling around with Hua Zhi.