Chapter 63

The morning after a hangover was never pleasant.

Ye Chengxing woke with a splitting headache—the unmistakable side effects of alcohol. She hadn’t felt much while drinking, but now the aftereffects hit hard.

Her memories seemed frozen at last night, yet the soft, comfortable touch of the bed beneath her fingertips felt real enough.

Her fingers stilled. Propping her aching head, she sifted through the jumbled fragments of recollection.

Had Li Jia brought her home?

Right… last night, she had seen…

Recalling as she went, Ye Chengxing forced herself upright. Heavy curtains shrouded the bedroom, blocking out every sliver of light. Even though morning had broken outside, the room remained cloaked in gloom.

Sitting up made it worse—not just the throbbing head and waves of dizziness, but a raw throat too.

She frowned faintly and started to swing her legs off the bed. Then she heard the sound of water pouring from nearby.

The room was so dim, and her mind still foggy from waking, that it took Ye Chengxing a couple of seconds, following the noise, to register Li Jia’s presence in her bedroom.

“Sister, have some water.” The Omega offered the filled glass, her voice low and husky.

Ye Chengxing took the cup, her eyes crinkling into a smile without thinking. “It’s great having you here, Xiao Li.” Waking from a bender to someone pouring you water was surprisingly comforting.

She sipped the warm water, then freshened up. Already, she felt worlds better than when she’d first stirred.

The curtains were still drawn. Ye Chengxing groped toward the vague shape of Li Jia. “It’s so dark. I’ll pull them open.”

Li Jia didn’t reply. The Omega had been utterly silent except for the brief sounds of pouring water and that one sentence—so much so that Ye Chengxing hadn’t even noticed her at first.

No response came. After a brief hesitation, Ye Chengxing headed for the curtains anyway. Everything was too blurry like this. “I’m opening them, Xiao Li. Cover your eyes.”

She yanked them back, and brilliant daylight flooded the room.

Having lounged in the dark since waking, Ye Chengxing blinked against the sudden brightness.

She turned, words on her lips—but they died as she caught sight of Li Jia’s face. Her expression froze, then she hurried back to her side.

“Xiao Li, are you feeling unwell?”

Li Jia met her worried gaze, stunned for a moment before shaking her head. “I’m fine.”

That only deepened Ye Chengxing’s concern.

The Omega claimed she was fine, but she didn’t look it at all.

Even from a distance, her face had seemed unnaturally pale. Up close, it was worse—ghostly white, her eyes dull and listless.

Ye Chengxing studied her intently. Then, with growing unease, she voiced her observation. “Xiao Li, did you stay up all night?”

It sounded like a question, but her tone made it a statement.

Guilt and heartache twisted in Ye Chengxing’s chest. Li Jia must not have slept a wink. She regretted her reckless drinking—if only she hadn’t gotten so wasted, adding to the burden.

Pursing her lips, she let apology color her words. “I don’t drink often. Last night was an accident. But… was I a handful? Is that why you couldn’t rest?”

She had no memory of her drunken self, but the more she thought about it, the more sense it made. Her cheeks flushed. “I won’t drink like that again.”

Li Jia responded, but her tone carried an odd edge. “No, nothing happened last night…”

She trailed off, then gave a sudden smile. “Though I didn’t rest well.”

“Sister, I feel awful. Just terrible.” As she spoke, she drew closer to Ye Chengxing, her voice feather-light—then, without warning, her arms wrapped around Ye Chengxing’s waist. “Comfort me.”

It caught Ye Chengxing off guard.

Li Jia’s embrace was vise-tight, achingly intimate. Ye Chengxing’s heart stuttered into a faster rhythm, her hands hovering awkwardly. She recalled the scene from last night, hesitated for two seconds, and tried to ease back a little. But the arms only tightened.

“Just let me hold you and nap. That’s all.”

Li Jia buried her face in Ye Chengxing’s neck. She sounded truly wretched, so Ye Chengxing abandoned any thought of pulling away. She stroked Li Jia’s hair gently. “Then let’s go back to bed for a bit. I’ll stay with you.”

Certain words in that tender reply made the Omega’s fingertips clench involuntarily.

She pulled Ye Chengxing down onto the bed with her, her rich, dark eyes smoldering at the edges, brimming with unspoken reproach—tears threatening to spill.

Liar.

She was a thorough deceiver.

Promising to stay… empty words.

She could use her, withhold love. Ye Chengxing hated lies the most, yet she could forgive this one—as long as she didn’t leave.

Ye Chengxing found it hard to breathe. Li Jia clung so fiercely from behind, giving the illusion that she might vanish from the world at any second.

Softening her voice, Ye Chengxing said helplessly, “Xiao Li, you’re holding too tight. Loosen up a little? I promise I won’t run off.”

At her words, Li Jia eased her grip.

Out of Ye Chengxing’s sight, the Omega’s lips curved in a bleak, wistful smile.

Won’t run…

Would she really stay?

It didn’t matter what Ye Chengxing thought. She wouldn’t let her go.

Not even if the task succeeded. Not even if she wanted to go home.

Something was wrong.

Ye Chengxing’s gaze settled on Li Jia once more, confirming the nagging suspicion in her mind.

Really off.

It had started that morning when she’d realized Li Jia hadn’t slept, then escalated after the Omega had asked to nap in her arms.

Now, a movie played on the projection screen before them, but Ye Chengxing couldn’t focus. Her thoughts kept drifting.

She pursed her lips and lowered her eyes.

They hadn’t left the villa in days. Their world had shrunk to its walls.

Whenever she suggested going out, Li Jia would distract her with some other reason—or a direct plea: “The crew wrapped early. I finally have a few days off. Stay with me, Sister.”

On the surface, nothing amiss. But something felt profoundly strange.

As if some unsettling shift was underway, yet she couldn’t pinpoint what.

They watched the movie a while longer. Then Ye Chengxing remembered the two spots she’d reserved at Gourmet Street a while back.

She herself didn’t mind, but she wanted Li Jia to get out.

Maybe it was her imagination, but Li Jia just seemed… off.

Would a stroll with her ambiguous interest lift her spirits?

Ye Chengxing mentally rehearsed her words. “I have two spots at Gourmet Street, meant for us. How about giving one to Wen Qingxi? What do you think?”

She expected a reaction at the mention of Wen Qingxi.

Li Jia did react—just not as Ye Chengxing had anticipated.

The Omega frowned. “Why her? If you want to go, Sister, I’ll go with you.”

She paused, then fixed Ye Chengxing with an unblinking stare, waiting intently. “Or do you prefer going with her?”

Ye Chengxing shook her head at once. “Why would I go with her?” She’s your ambiguous interest, not mine.

But noticing the wilted look in Li Jia’s eyes, she paused.

Had the two of them fought? Broken up?

Wait…

Connecting it to Li Jia’s odd behavior these past days, Ye Chengxing felt she had it figured out.

They’d quarreled, then. That explained the unhappiness.

After a moment’s thought—unable to read Li Jia’s mind—she ventured carefully, “Or I could add a spot and bring Wen Qingxi along?”

Li Jia’s expression darkened visibly.

Ye Chengxing backpedaled in a rush. “No, no—not her. Just the two of us.”

Only then did Li Jia give a soft hum of agreement.

She toyed with Ye Chengxing’s fingertips, her face serene. “Sister, do you want to get out for a walk?”

Ye Chengxing hesitated, unsure whether to nod or shake her head. Before she could decide, Li Jia continued, “Perfect timing. It’s almost done today. Come check it out with me.”

Ye Chengxing blinked in confusion, letting out a questioning sound.

Meeting her eyes, Li Jia smiled enigmatically. “I bought a property ages ago. The renovations are finally finished. But I can’t decide everything myself—I need your opinion too, Sister.”

Ye Chengxing didn’t fancy herself an expert on decor, but since Li Jia had invited her, she agreed.

Still, when she laid eyes on the “long-purchased property” Li Jia had mentioned, even she was stunned.

This place… calling it mere property felt inadequate.

Li Jia led Ye Chengxing through every corner, describing its details with care. Ye Chengxing couldn’t help marveling, “It’s so beautiful, like a work of art. Planning to live here with your future love?”

The devotion was evident in every painstaking inch.

“Yes,” Li Jia said, turning to Ye Chengxing with what seemed an innocent smile. “So, Sister, is there anywhere that doesn’t meet your taste?”

She stepped closer, her voice a silken murmur.

“If there is, just say the word. We can change it.”

Until it’s perfect—for you.