Chapter 21

If one had never touched true light, the darkness wouldn’t seem so unbearable. But now that she had felt the light’s existence, Li Jia could no longer imagine a life without it.

It was like someone who had staggered through a long, harsh winter suddenly feeling warmth—their frozen heart thawing. If the sunlight departed, that newly softened heart would struggle against the biting cold winds.

But these words could never be spoken aloud.

Li Jia’s eyelashes fluttered lightly, her unspoken thoughts hidden beneath a calm and natural expression.

Her hair was already tied up, yet the Omega suddenly raised her hand to touch Ye Chengxing’s long locks once more, as if confirming that the other woman truly existed.

Only after feeling the fine texture of those strands did she withdraw her fingertips.

…All of this felt like a dream to her—a beautifully illusory dream from which she didn’t know when she might awaken.

Li Jia had so many words she wanted to say, but as she gazed at Ye Chengxing, she suppressed every one she shouldn’t utter, leaving only a quiet smile.

She had realized that in Ye Chengxing’s eyes, she appeared pure and harmless. If that was the version she liked, then Li Jia could keep up the pretense forever. The ruthless, mad, obsessive sides that Ye Chengxing disliked would never be revealed—not even a hint.

Ye Chengxing remained completely oblivious to Li Jia’s inner turmoil.

She ran her fingers over her neatly tied hair, her mood bright and cheerful.

That cheer only grew after she inspected Li Jia’s wounds and confirmed that the Omega had obediently left the medicine on without deliberately worsening the injuries.

Communication really did work.

Problems had to be addressed through more communication, after all.

Ye Chengxing smiled and, from the edge of the gauze, gently brushed against the Omega’s skin. “Such a good girl.”

Unlike the previous touch, which had carried a hint of reprimand and firmer pressure, this one was as light as a feather—or even lighter.

Li Jia unconsciously curled her fingertips.

The skin Ye Chengxing had touched seemed to spark with a faint current that spread through her veins, leaving even the tip of her heart tingling faintly.

Having confirmed that Li Jia wasn’t harming herself anymore, Ye Chengxing entered the kitchen in high spirits to test out the nutritional recipes she had devised. She had reviewed them so many times in her mind that they were now etched into her memory.

On top of that, she had cooked these ingredients numerous times by now, so she handled the utensils with practiced ease rather than the initial awkwardness. In almost no time at all, the meal was ready.

Ye Chengxing instructed Xiao Bai to bring the dishes to the table, then took her seat beside Li Jia. With a smile in her eyes, she turned her gaze to the Omega. “Come on, give it a taste. These are all good for your health.”

Ever since Ye Chengxing had entered the kitchen, she had mysteriously barred Li Jia from following. Though confident in her success, Ye Chengxing hadn’t wanted to risk that slim “what if.”

Li Jia caught the amusement in her eyes and unconsciously rubbed the gauze wrapped around her palm. She knew exactly what was going on, but she still let a touch of vulnerability show on her face. “I see. And here I thought my sister found me in the way…”

“How could I?” Ye Chengxing quickly shook her head in denial. “I just didn’t want you to see me fail—it would have been embarrassing. You never get in the way.”

As Ye Chengxing’s words sank in, Li Jia’s lips curved into a gentle smile.

She knew it in her heart, but hearing it straight from Ye Chengxing’s mouth was what she had truly craved.

With that said, Ye Chengxing looked at her expectantly, her eyes sparkling. “Go on, try it and tell me how it tastes.”

Only then did Li Jia tear her gaze away from Ye Chengxing. She picked up her chopsticks and clamped a small portion of the dish, but before she could bring it to her mouth, Ye Chengxing reached over to ladle a bowl of soup for her.

“These dishes are the result of my research—they’re packed with nutrition and should help your body recover from years of exposure to that aphrodisiac,” Ye Chengxing said in a rush. “Once you’ve tasted everything, let me know what needs improving so I can tweak the recipes. Food therapy takes time and consistency; it won’t work after just one or two meals…”

She spoke so naturally, stringing one sentence after another without pause, oblivious to the way Li Jia had frozen, staring at her in stunned silence. The bite of food on Li Jia’s chopsticks had hovered too long in midair and tumbled back into the plate.

…She knows.

But no sooner had the thought formed than a bitter pang rose in Li Jia’s chest. With a touch of self-mockery, she realized this was just her “selling point.”

Those people had offered her up to Ye Chengxing to curry favor—how could Ye Chengxing possibly not know?

She had deluded herself into thinking otherwise.

Afraid Ye Chengxing might notice her unease, Li Jia quickly tamped down her emotions and picked up the fallen morsel again.

Truth be told, this was the most delicious meal she had ever eaten across two lifetimes. Yet with every bite, the bitterness in her heart deepened, and her eyes began to sting as well.

In her previous life, she had grown numb to the torments inflicted upon her, accustomed to being treated as less than human. Now that someone finally saw her as a person, she found herself wavering with fresh anxiety.

Why was Ye Chengxing being so kind to her? She had nothing left to offer in return.

Oblivious, Ye Chengxing continued chattering enthusiastically about her food therapy plans as she set the bowl of soup within Li Jia’s reach.

Li Jia lowered her gaze to the steaming bowl and suddenly spoke. “Sister, it’s no use. That drug can’t be undone. It’s all because of me—my fault. I trusted too easily. I deserve this…”

Just like in her previous life, she would suffer under its effects forever, forced to watch her body betray her will.

Because of those people’s twisted amusements, she couldn’t even lose consciousness during the most revolting moments—she had to endure it all, fully aware and in agony.

If hell truly existed in this world, she had already traversed it a million times over.

Ye Chengxing paused for two seconds at Li Jia’s words, then set down her chopsticks. “You’re right—it might not fully reverse the effects.”

Li Jia’s expression didn’t change, but the self-mockery in her eyes deepened.

In that moment, she wondered how someone as broken as her—this tainted soul—could ever stand beside Ye Chengxing.

Ye Chengxing continued without missing a beat. “But even if it doesn’t erase it completely, it can greatly ease your discomfort and repair the damage to your body. And more importantly…”

She noticed Li Jia’s downcast eyes and paused. “Li Jia, look up at me.”

The Omega obeyed, meeting her gaze. Beneath the thin veil of her facade, those amber pupils brimmed with hidden bitterness.

Now that their eyes were locked, Ye Chengxing pressed on. “Most importantly, it went against your will, didn’t it? Li Jia, you did nothing wrong.”

She held Li Jia’s gaze without wavering, her tone steady and unhurried. “The ones at fault are those scum. They’re the ones who deserve scorn and blame—never you, and it never should have been you.”

As Ye Chengxing stared into Li Jia’s eyes, an overwhelming ache bloomed in her chest.

This woman before her should have shone with dazzling brilliance, her talents unmatched. Instead, those revolting scum had derailed her life into endless darkness, trapping her in malice without end.

Ye Chengxing couldn’t help repeating softly, “Li Jia, what did you ever do wrong…?”

She drew a breath, blinked, and felt a prick of wetness at the corners of her eyes. “You’ve never been in the wrong. The ones who should be punished are them—not you.”

Li Jia stared fixedly at the glimmer of tears in Ye Chengxing’s eyes.

Deep within the Alpha’s pupils, she saw clusters of unquenchable flames—and her own reflection amid them.

Ye Chengxing averted her gaze slightly. “I know words alone might not convince you, but I’ll keep repeating them until you believe. Even if the world is unfair and steeped in darkness, those who hurt and humiliated you… I’ll make them pay.”

She had spoken at length in one breath and now paused to catch it, her anger and sorrow mounting the more she thought of those people and what Li Jia had endured.

Li Jia’s eyes burned even more. She opened her mouth to speak, but something seemed lodged in her throat, rendering her speechless. Her chest swelled with an unfamiliar emotion, leaving her mute for what felt like ages.

Steam still rose from the dishes before her, but amid this torrent of feelings, her heart fell into utter disarray.

Thump. Thump.

Even her heartbeat rang loudly in her ears.

In the heavy silence, an even more uncontrollable emotion surged within Li Jia.

Ye Chengxing was everything good—everything she had ever yearned for, embodied in this one person.

She was Li Jia’s sun, scattering the shadows that surrounded her.

But the sun’s light belonged to everyone; that was an inescapable truth.

And yet, in this moment… Li Jia felt a vile selfishness take root. She wanted that light for herself alone.

Thoughts of her most loathed and painful past suddenly didn’t seem so bad.

At least those events kept Ye Chengxing’s gaze fixed on her.

She could afford to be a little more fragile, a little more needy—make Ye Chengxing see her as a flower that would wither without love.

Li Jia raised her eyes and set down her chopsticks.

The Omega’s long lashes lifted and fell, her stunning features resembling fragile glass in that instant, guarding her most shattered and sensitive core. “Sister.”

Ye Chengxing met her gaze and felt as though she glimpsed a piece of agate nestled amid layers of petals.

So pure, so delicate.

Li Jia looked at her, her voice barely above a whisper. “Can you… hug me?”