Chapter 25 Part 3

She emphasized the final four words, leaving Lin Yang rooted to the spot.

After a few seconds of silence, the Omega gritted her teeth. “I was too impulsive earlier. I hope you can forgive me.”

Zhu Lexing replied, “What happened to that bow from before? Not doing it this time? Why not?”

Lin Yang was forced to bow again. “Is this enough?”

“Enough?” Zhu Lexing had overheard the entirety of Lin Yang’s tirade on her way over, and she was seething. She mocked, “What exactly did you do that qualifies as ‘impulsive’—something so bad you have to apologize twice? Why not spell out the cause and effect?”

Gazes darted from all sides, landing on the three of them.

This time, Lin Yang wasn’t the only one frozen. Even Yan Mian was bewildered by Zhu Lexing’s sudden flare of temper. But on second thought, she could understand it.

The pain from an Alpha injecting an inhibitor was all too real. It was only natural for Zhu Lexing to feel lingering fear and anger toward Lin Yang. Yet Yan Mian had a vague sense that this wasn’t her true intention.

If it wasn’t… then what was Zhu Lexing really after? Forcing Lin Yang to confess to the drugging in public and dragging her and Shi Ruofeng into it?

Yan Mian couldn’t read Zhu Lexing’s true motives, but at that moment, the other girl turned to look at her.

After a few seconds of silence, Zhu Lexing took a step back and stood at Yan Mian’s side.

Lin Yang’s expression went utterly blank, as if she genuinely had no idea what she was supposed to apologize for or how. That innocent cruelty turned Zhu Lexing’s stomach.

“Need me to get you started?” Zhu Lexing asked without missing a beat. “During the stage play, why did that light fixture fall? Can you explain it to Yan Mian now?”

In an instant, everyone’s minds flashed back to that day on stage, when the chandelier had plummeted straight toward Yan Mian.

If Zhu Lexing hadn’t pulled her out of the way, the consequences didn’t bear thinking about.

The school had investigated, of course—but it had ended with some temporary worker being hauled off to the police station.

How could this possibly involve Lin Yang?

Lin Yang stood rigid.

She knew full well that this amounted to attempted murder. That’s why Lin Song had drilled it into her to deny any involvement, or even the Lin family wouldn’t be able to protect her.

When Zhu Lexing brought it up now, Lin Yang blurted out on instinct, “How should I know? Wasn’t it an accident?”

Her face flushed crimson in an instant, her tone growing agitated. The bystanders picked up on it immediately. “If it wasn’t you, why do you look so guilty?”

“I’m not guilty,” Lin Yang snapped. “This has nothing to do with me…”

The Omega turned toward Zhu Lexing—only to meet Yan Mian’s gaze.

In that moment, Lin Yang realized why Zhu Lexing had raised the issue.

Under the scrutiny of all these eyes, if Zhu Lexing didn’t force an explanation, the story would be twisted and blasted across the internet. The resulting storm of public opinion would drown the Lin family in spit alone.

What Zhu Lexing had truly wanted from the start was never Lin Yang’s apology to her.

It was an apology to Yan Mian.

Just those five words filled Lin Yang with profound humiliation.

But with the Alpha’s steady gaze fixed on her face—joined by all the others—Lin Yang clenched her jaw and finally bowed her head once more.

The onlookers assumed she was finally about to explain everything and leaned in eagerly.

Lin Yang said haltingly, “I’m sorry, Yan Mian. Your… your mother isn’t a mistress. Everything I said earlier was because I was too angry in the moment—I spoke without thinking. I hope you can… forgive me.”

The words came out with great difficulty, laced with humiliation for Lin Yang.

She had originally only wanted to say “sorry,” but Zhu Lexing clearly wouldn’t be satisfied with that. She would have demanded more elaboration later. Rather than apologizing to Yan Mian multiple times… it was better to get it all over with at once.

Once she noticed the shift in the Omega’s expression, Zhu Lexing knew that Yan Mian had guessed her true intentions.

After those words of apology landed, Zhu Lexing turned to Yan Mian. A flicker of bewilderment crossed the girl’s face, but only for an instant. The next second, she snapped out of it and watched the scene coldly, like a mere bystander.

Yan Mian might not care, but Lin Yang had to apologize.

It was a matter of principle.

That was what Zhu Lexing thought just as the class bell rang out.

Before anyone could recover from the abrupt turn of events, the teacher—who had been standing motionless in the office—emerged with his textbook in hand and urged, “Alright, time for class. Back to the classroom, everyone.”

He deliberately overlooked the three at the center of it all.

Zhu Lexing glanced at Yan Mian, about to ask if she was satisfied. If not, it wouldn’t hurt for Lin Yang to apologize again.

But Yan Mian spoke first: “Let’s go.”

Zhu Lexing paused, realizing the words were directed at her. Her eyebrows shot up as she suppressed a surge of delight in her heart. She called out to another teacher who had poked her head out. “Please call security.”

Lin Yang froze in place. Seeing them both about to leave, she said blankly, “Lexing, about my family—”

Zhu Lexing stopped and thought for a moment before replying earnestly, “That was Ms. Liu’s arrangement. Why are you asking me? If you want her to let your family off, you should go to her yourself.”

In that instant, Lin Yang realized she had been played by Zhu Lexing the entire time she had stood there.

From the beginning, Zhu Lexing had never intended to plead for her. Forcing her to bow and apologize had all been for the entertainment.

Lin Yang tried to press further, but the security guard held her back.

Zhu Lexing didn’t spare her another glance and calmly withdrew her gaze.

Song Yingying had stayed in the classroom the whole time but had heard about Lin Yang’s ordeal. She seemed to want to ask Zhu Lexing about it, but seeing her indifferent expression, she didn’t dare speak up.

All the way home, Zhu Lexing didn’t exchange a single word with Yan Mian. Her phone buzzed incessantly along the way—clearly, messages from friends asking for the full story.

Once back in her room, Zhu Lexing casually replied to a few. Qiao Qiao and the others had never liked Lin Yang anyway; they mocked the outcome briefly before changing the subject. Why dwell on someone they despised?

As she scrolled through the chat history, Zhu Lexing let out a breath and slowly pulled out her homework, intending to do as much as she could. Just then, there was a soft knock at her door.

Assuming it was a servant coming to tidy up, she said offhandedly, “Come in.”

But as the door opened, a faint scent of lily of the valley fragrance wafted in.

Zhu Lexing’s thumb paused on her phone screen. She looked up.

Yan Mian set a roll of bandages on the desk and met her gaze. The Omega seemed a bit at a loss. After a few seconds of silence, she said, “You can wrap this around your hand after changing the dressing.”

Zhu Lexing hadn’t expected Yan Mian to just walk into her room like this.

Ever since Yan Mian’s differentiation into an Omega, the air in the Zhu Family home always carried that faint, lingering lily of the valley scent.

Though Zhu Lexing didn’t want to admit it, after becoming an Alpha herself, she had developed a strong sense of “territorial awareness.” Her room was hers alone—its scent profile fixed. Allowing another scent to intrude felt like an invasion.

Yan Mian’s sudden arrival had disrupted that delicate balance.

Yet looking at Yan Mian’s face, Zhu Lexing merely zoned out, feeling no spark of “anger” at all.

After a few seconds of silence, Zhu Lexing came back to herself and was about to bid Yan Mian goodbye when the System suddenly chimed in: 【Limited-Time Task: Have Yan Mian apply medicine for the Host, or have the Host proactively apply medicine for Yan Mian.】

Zhu Lexing: ?

Her applying medicine for Yan Mian?

Why?

Was Yan Mian hurt?

Still stunned, she watched Yan Mian turn to leave. With her exceptional eyesight, Zhu Lexing noticed a slight hesitation in her right leg.

“…Um.”

The girl’s voice came abruptly.

Yan Mian stopped in her tracks.

Before pushing open the door, she had known it wasn’t appropriate for an Omega to enter the room of someone expected to differentiate into an Alpha. But Zhu Lexing hated pain and was too proud to let anyone else know.

Who else would bring her medicine?

Yan Mian paused, then slowly turned back.

The girl was still seated in her chair, the glow from her phone screen dimmed.

Zhu Lexing kept her head down, her voice muffled. “I actually bruised my leg too, but other parts of me hurt, so it’s not convenient.”

“…Could you help me apply the medicine?”

As if afraid of rejection, Zhu Lexing added, “Not here.”

“The living room will do.”

Yan Mian gazed at her quietly, then turned and walked out.

It was still early; the living room lights were off. The sunset blazed brilliantly outside. Once seated on the sofa, Zhu Lexing rolled up her pant leg. The bruise was small, nothing alarming. By her own judgment, it was the sort that would heal on its own if left alone—she didn’t mind it at all.

But Yan Mian paused upon seeing the injury, her movements growing even more gentle, like a feather brushing lightly over the heart.

The faint lily of the valley scent from Yan Mian was soon overshadowed by the strong medicinal smell.

“Thanks for this afternoon,” Yan Mian said suddenly, snapping Zhu Lexing out of her daze.

She lowered her eyes. “It was nothing.”

Besides, it was something Zhu Lexing should have done anyway.

Zhu Lexing gazed at the crown of Yan Mian’s hair, feeling the other woman’s light, tentative movements. To dispel the awkwardness between them, she cleared her throat softly and steered the conversation to safer ground. “Qiao Qiao mentioned that a professional film company wants to remake the stage play.”

Yan Mian’s hands didn’t pause. “Is that right?”

“Then she should get in touch with you.”

Yan Mian didn’t for a second think Qiao Qiao was lying, so she had no reason to doubt it.

But what did any of that have to do with her?

Ever since Jiang Yue had left, Zhu Lexing had gone back to her usual self. Without that primary driving force, Yan Mian had no reason to fixate on the entertainment industry.

She preferred focusing on the things she knew she could excel at, rather than chasing uncertain futures.

Zhu Lexing continued, “I think you should play the female protagonist.”

That finally gave Yan Mian pause.

“Do you want me to break into the entertainment industry?”

The question came out of nowhere, and Zhu Lexing answered with blunt honesty. “You’re gorgeous. You’ve got real star potential. Why not give it a shot?”

Yan Mian replied, “Do you genuinely think that and want me to pursue it? Or do you just hope that once I make it big, I can pay it forward to Uncle Zhu—to the Zhu Family?”

The words landed like a slap—sudden and cutting. Zhu Lexing froze in shock, and Yan Mian immediately regretted her sharpness, biting her lip.

In that moment, she realized these past few days of “playing nice” had thrown her off balance mentally.

Liu Su was gentle in a way Yan Mian had never encountered before. Polite and mindful of boundaries, tolerant and patient, with an inner strength that put everyone at ease. Around her, Yan Mian didn’t have to overthink a thing.

All she had to do was study hard.

But that life wasn’t hers.

She belonged to Zhu Lexing.

To this Zhu Lexing right in front of her—the one who had once despised her with every fiber of her being.

Besides, paying it forward or not was a problem for future Yan Mian.

The fact that Zhu Lexing was bringing it up now meant only one thing: she was open to letting Zhu Lin and Liu Su invest their resources in her.

It was a kindness.

Yan Mian knew that perfectly well… and yet a part of her didn’t want to acknowledge it.

With the ointment applied, Yan Mian murmured, “Sorry.”

She wrapped up the cotton swab and tossed it aside, but Zhu Lexing spoke up. “You’re hurt too, aren’t you?”

Yan Mian reflexively denied it. “No, I’m not.”

“Your leg.”

“…Why haven’t you treated it?” Zhu Lexing asked.

Yan Mian had clearly gone to the school infirmary if she’d gotten the medicine.

“I hope you…” Zhu Lexing hesitated. “Or rather, it’s not hope—it’s just a suggestion. If it makes you uncomfortable, then I—”

She wanted to apologize, but Zhu Lexing didn’t do apologies.

She pressed on instead. “Look, I’m not suggesting the entertainment industry because I want to exploit you, or because the Zhu Family wants a return on investment. It’s not about squeezing benefits out of you. I just—”

Yan Mian looked up at her.

The door swung open to the sound of a woman’s grateful farewell.

Song Yun stood there in a long trench coat. She took in their intimate position and arched a brow. “Did I interrupt something?”