Chapter 54

The movie ended, and Ye Chengxing tapped the screen to exit viewing mode. She heard Li Jia continue, “Sister, can we watch another movie? I didn’t like that one.”

Ye Chengxing paused at her words, then thought it over and agreed. “Sure, let’s watch another one.”

As she spoke, she handed the phone to Li Jia. “Xiao Li, you pick.”

Li Jia took the phone, her gaze falling on an exquisite tray nearby. “Besides, Sister hasn’t tried these little pastries yet.”

Ye Chengxing’s eyes followed hers, and she let out a soft “oh.”

She had just remembered.

While watching the movie, she’d been focused entirely on Li Jia and had forgotten about the Calming Tea and little pastries sitting right there beside them.

Ye Chengxing parted her lips to explain, but in the next second, the Omega curved her eyes into a smile at her. “It’s fine. We can eat them while we watch the next movie.”

Ye Chengxing nodded, but she still picked up the cup of Calming Tea and took a sip first. After all, Li Jia had made it, and forgetting about it earlier felt like she’d been negligent and uncaring.

After drinking it down earnestly, she tried a little pastry and praised, “They taste amazing.”

Li Jia’s lips curved up a bit more at her words. “As long as Sister likes them.”

With that, the Omega glanced aside shyly. “Just like Sister said to me before, I want to keep making these for you.”

Ye Chengxing blinked, struck for a moment by the urge to pull Li Jia into her arms. But in the end, she held back, suppressing her emotions and replying calmly.

A flicker of disappointment stirred in Li Jia’s heart.

She’d thought saying that would make Ye Chengxing blurt out a thank-you on impulse. Recalling how the Alpha had clearly wanted to do something but restrained herself, Li Jia realized that Ye Chengxing must really take that no-hugging rule seriously—to the point of changing even her instinctive habits just to avoid embracing her.

Li Jia’s fingertip swiped across the screen, and she handed the phone back to Ye Chengxing. “Sister, I’ve picked one. Take a look.”

Ye Chengxing took it with a beaming smile. “It’s fine. Once you’ve picked, just hit play. I’ll watch whatever you choose.”

But since Li Jia had handed it over, Ye Chengxing accepted it again and started the playback.

The projection lit up once more. In the interval, Ye Chengxing heard Li Jia’s voice close to her ear. “Sister, don’t forget to eat the little pastries this time.”

Ye Chengxing turned to look at her. The moment their eyes met, the Omega bit her lip gently, her cheeks flushing a little. “Of course, if Sister doesn’t want to eat them, you don’t have to. I didn’t mean you must—it’s just…”

Listening to her flustered explanation, Ye Chengxing couldn’t help but chuckle, finding her utterly adorable no matter how she looked at her.

Her hand itched unbearably, so she reached out and ruffled Li Jia’s hair, her voice laced with amusement. “I know. But how about we eat them together?”

Even if Li Jia was willing, she couldn’t bring herself to eat them alone.

But Li Jia shook her head. “I made these for Sister…”

Each little pastry sat on its own paper liner. Ye Chengxing picked one up and offered it toward Li Jia. “Let’s eat together.”

Li Jia hesitated for a couple of seconds. Perhaps seeing it held out to her made refusal feel impolite.

The smile hadn’t fully bloomed on Ye Chengxing’s lips when the Omega leaned in and took a bite straight from her hand.

“Wait.” Ye Chengxing had wanted to say she was just passing it over, not feeding her—but now that Li Jia had bitten into it, it felt too late. It might even make things awkwardly between them, so she swallowed the rest of her words.

Ye Chengxing withdrew her hand and quietly rubbed her face. “It’s fine.”

The subtle sensation of soft lips brushing her fingertip lingered.

As she covered her face, Ye Chengxing thought Li Jia’s eating habits were really…

How did she keep licking like that out of nowhere?

Her breath hitched for a beat. Ye Chengxing grabbed the Calming Tea nearby, took a gulp, set the cup down, and said quickly, “Let’s watch the movie.”

“Okay.” The Omega smiled innocently, oblivious.

The movie had already started playing a bit, but Ye Chengxing’s attention had been entirely stolen by Li Jia’s action. She couldn’t focus on the film now.

On the surface, she watched, but her peripheral vision kept drifting to the Omega beside her.

Li Jia watched this movie with equal focus.

Seeing that, Ye Chengxing shifted some attention back to the screen. Otherwise, if Li Jia wanted to discuss the plot later, she’d be clueless.

As Ye Chengxing watched, she felt the Omega beside her suddenly lean toward her and reach out a hand.

Ye Chengxing’s breath caught, wondering what Li Jia was doing—until Li Jia pulled back, now holding a cup.

Meeting her gaze, Li Jia explained, “The pastries were a bit dry.”

Oh, so she just wanted a drink because the pastry was dry… Ye Chengxing nodded.

The nod had barely finished when realization struck. She turned to Li Jia. “Hold on.”

But her “hold on” came too late. Li Jia had already raised the cup. Through the transparent glass, Ye Chengxing clearly saw that Li Jia was drinking from the exact spot where she herself had drunk.

The Omega heard her and took a sip right in front of her before setting the cup down, her lashes fluttering lightly. “What’s wrong, Sister?”

Then, hesitantly, she added, “Oh, right. Sister, do you mind sharing a cup with me? I forgot just now and grabbed it to drink…”

Ye Chengxing watched the Omega’s lips move as she spoke—beautifully shaped, now glistening slightly from the water.

Heat rushed to Ye Chengxing’s face all at once.

She waved it off, her tone perfectly calm. “It’s fine.”

In reality, waves of emotion crashed through her heart, throwing it into chaos.

…Li Jia had touched the exact same spot.

How was she supposed to stay calm?

Her already jumbled thoughts scattered even further.

Li Jia kept going. “Sister, I’ll be careful next time. It won’t happen again.”

With that, she seemed unable to hold back, her voice tinged with distress. “So… does Sister really find me repulsive?”

Ye Chengxing’s heart surged wildly, but her face remained utterly composed as she took the cup Li Jia offered. Meeting her eyes, she paused for two seconds, then took a demonstrative sip and smiled. “How could I?”

Noticing the action, Li Jia licked her lips lightly and smiled softly. “That’s good.”

Ye Chengxing set the cup down, her heartbeat pounding harder. She thought to herself that she really was… proving a point on the surface, but really just indulging her own little whim.

Li Jia would surely dislike it if she knew.

She’d lost her head for a moment there. Even she hadn’t expected herself to do that.

Ye Chengxing steadied her breathing discreetly and decided to focus on the movie. If she kept this up, Li Jia might notice.

Compared to the previous film, this one had a sweet overall tone, telling a story of mutual pursuit with a perfectly happy ending.

But after two lengthy movies, Ye Chengxing felt drowsy.

She kept a regular sleep schedule, and the room was still dim. The projection’s light was bright but gentle, not harsh at all.

It created just the right atmosphere for sleep.

But seeing Li Jia still eager to watch, Ye Chengxing stayed quiet.

It was rare to see Li Jia so enthusiastic.

She watched Li Jia select another movie and start it playing. Ye Chengxing figured skipping sleep wasn’t so bad—even watching all night like this would be nice.

After all, she was with Li Jia.

But even as she thought that, halfway through the third movie, Ye Chengxing unknowingly closed her eyes.

Li Jia beside her had sensed long ago that the movies were making Ye Chengxing sleepy. Yet seeing how the other woman stayed awake just because she was there made her keep delaying bedtime.

It wasn’t entirely fair, but she couldn’t help it seeing her like that.

Li Jia gazed quietly at Ye Chengxing.

Only when she was asleep could Li Jia look at her so openly like this.

Just like how she knew the Alpha resisted sharing a cup but still greedily touched the spot her lips had brushed.

Li Jia’s gaze traced the Alpha’s brows and eyes, settling on her lips.

The movie played on, but she could barely hear it anymore.

The bedroom light remained dim, the projection’s glow softly illuminating the woman’s skin—like frosted snow on cold jade, save for those vermilion lips.

Moonlight spilled through gaps in the curtains that weren’t fully drawn, casting faint traces across the floor.

The movie’s music filled the air, a woman’s voice humming romantic lyrics tenderly and lingeringly.

They were on the same bed, originally leaning close together.

Originally.

Li Jia unconsciously leaned in a little closer.

The person she’d longed for day and night, haunting her dreams, was right there—as if just a bit nearer, and she could kiss those lips.

Li Jia lowered her head slightly, her gaze devout and entranced, like approaching her own deity.

But in the instant before contact, she halted abruptly.

No.

She couldn’t do this.

Li Jia averted her eyes, struggling to suppress her impulses.

She didn’t dare look any longer at the still-sleeping Alpha. Her fingertips tugged over the soft blanket nearby, tucking it around Ye Chengxing. Then she turned off the projection and nearly fled the room.

With the projection off, the room plunged back into darkness.

The door clicked shut softly.

Ye Chengxing stirred slightly from sleep at the sound.

…Wait, Li Jia left?

She had no idea if the movie finished. They’d have to find another time to watch it together.

Ugh, when had she even fallen asleep? No memory at all.

And for some reason, discovering Li Jia gone left her feeling empty—and inexplicably irritable, everything suddenly seeming off.

Ye Chengxing pressed her brow.

She didn’t think she had morning grumpiness.

But as she raised her hand, she felt something covering her.

Her gaze shifted, and she realized a blanket had been draped over her.

She certainly hadn’t done it herself, so it must have been Li Jia.

Pausing at the thought, Ye Chengxing buried her face in the blanket.

She caught a faint whiff of white peach scent. It must have come from the spot Li Jia had touched while tucking her in just moments ago.

The instant she sensed the lingering Omega pheromones, the restlessness churning inside her eased considerably.

Emboldened, Ye Chengxing clutched the quilt and scooted closer to the place where Li Jia had lain before.

Li Jia had spent a good deal of time there, after all, leaving behind a noticeably higher concentration of pheromones than anywhere else.

Ye Chengxing closed her eyes. Finally, she felt much more at ease.