Chapter 28: The Chaebol Heir’s Canary — “Little Yu, Let Me Mark You, Okay?” Part 2

“I didn’t. I stayed to be with you.”

Shi Yu nuzzled against her like a kitten and said, muffled, “I don’t want to go to class. Math is so hard.”

To shore up her weak spots, Jiang Qiuyan had hired a math tutor. Though the improvement was slow, it was showing some results.

Hearing this, Jiang Qiuyan burst out laughing and pinched her cheek. “Then want me to teach you?”

Shi Yu immediately pulled away from her embrace and blinked. “I’m going to change clothes. The teacher will be here soon.”

Let Jiang Qiuyan tutor me? Ha! She’d use the excuse of studying to get handsy. We wouldn’t even finish ten problems in one night.

Watching the fleeing little cat, the amusement in Jiang Qiuyan’s eyes deepened.

Shi Yu studied diligently, working on problems late into the night. Jiang Qiuyan kept her company, reviewing documents or helping her organize key concepts.

In the blink of an eye, the new year arrived. Pei Pharmaceuticals officially declared bankruptcy. When Pei Yiyi called, Shi Yu was making dumplings. She tapped the answer button without looking and froze mid-motion when a familiar voice came through.

“Little Yu, can we meet?”

This time she wasn’t using Pei Shuyu to lure her out, but calling personally. It seemed this proud woman had finally bowed her noble head.

“Is there any reason for us to meet?”

Pei Yiyi was silent for a moment before saying, “We wronged you before. But Huaixin is still your father. Can you really bear to let him die in a mental hospital?”

Jiang Qiuyan’s face darkened beside her. She reached for the phone, but Shi Yu stopped her.

“I can bear it.” Shi Yu’s face had been expressionless until this point, but when she said this, resentment surfaced in her eyes. “I wish he were dead. The more miserable, the better. You say he’s my father? Yes. Half of my blood is his. I find it utterly filthy. If I could, I would carve out everything he left in me and become a completely clean person.”

Pei Yiyi fell silent again. Shi Yu asked coldly, “Anything else? If you’re trying to butter me up, save it. I have no affection to spare for any of you.”

How could Shi Yu not see through her intentions? All the circling was nothing but an attempt to use her to get Jiang Qiuyan to help. She had no intention of being the sucker, exploited by the very people who had hurt her.

What did Pei Pharmaceuticals’ bankruptcy have to do with her? What did Shi Huaixin dying in a mental hospital have to do with her? They had brought this upon themselves.

Jiang Qiuyan hung up the phone for her and blacklisted Pei Yiyi’s number while she was at it. With that done, she pulled Shi Yu into her arms and gently patted her back.

“My Little Yu has always been clean. A pure, adorable little cat.”

Jiang Qiuyan had gotten quite good at saying sweet nothings lately. Shi Yu was used to it by now. She leaned against her without a word, letting the turbulent emotions settle.

That afternoon, Bai Lingshuang called and asked the couple to come to the manor for New Year’s Eve. After checking with Shi Yu, Jiang Qiuyan grabbed the wrapped dumplings and set off.

Shi Yu was tense on the ride, speaking very little.

“Don’t be nervous. They practically want to put you on a pedestal. They won’t do anything to make you uncomfortable.”

Shi Yu knew they were easy to get along with, but this was her first formal visit. Nervousness was inevitable.

The car drove straight into the manor. Bai Lingshuang and Jiang Han were already waiting at the entrance. The moment Shi Yu stepped out, she saw Bai Lingshuang’s dazzling smile, and much of her anxiety melted away.

Jiang Qiuyan unloaded the bags. In the blink of an eye, Shi Yu was whisked away by her mother, leaving the mother and daughter staring at each other.

“It’s not like we’re visiting relatives. Why bring so much?”

Jiang Han grumbled but still helped her daughter carry some of it. Seeing the dumplings in the container, she looked even more disdainful.

“You bought dumplings too?”

“Little Yu made them by hand. If you don’t want them, give them back.”

Jiang Qiuyan reached for them, but Jiang Han sidestepped. She lifted her chin and strode inside, tone haughty. “Who said I’m not eating?”

Jiang Qiuyan smiled helplessly and followed.

The Jiang family’s New Year’s Eve dinner was too lavish to be described with the word “lavish.” Shi Yu ate until her belly was round. Jiang Qiuyan rubbed it for her to aid digestion. Jiang Han and Bai Lingshuang exchanged a meaningful glance.

“Since things are steady, marriage should be on the agenda sooner rather than later.”

Shi Yu had been lounging against the chair back. Hearing Jiang Han’s words, she straightened up immediately and looked at Jiang Qiuyan helplessly.

Jiang Qiuyan gave her a reassuring look, shielding the poor dear behind her. “No rush. Little Yu is still young. We’ll talk about it after she graduates.”

“But you’re not young.” Jiang Han’s voice was stern.

“Twenty-eight and I’m not young? Then Jiang Qiunian is thirty and unmarried. Should she go die?”

Jiang Qiuyan didn’t yield an inch, and her presence didn’t lose to her mother’s. Shi Yu, afraid they might argue, tugged at Jiang Qiuyan’s sleeve. Instead, Jiang Qiuyan caught her hand and played with it.

Jiang Han sighed and softened her tone. “I’m thinking of your future.”

“Please don’t. Worry less. We’ll handle it ourselves.”

Jiang Han glanced at her wife, looking a bit wronged. Her daughter’s rebellious phase had come late. Ever since she went behind their backs to cancel the engagement with the Pei family, it had been one thing after another. She didn’t know what to do.

Bai Lingshuang saw her wife’s wounded expression and laughed heartily. She patted her hand and turned to Jiang Qiuyan. “Your mother is thinking of Little Yu too. She’s so young and she’s already committed to you. You should give her some security, shouldn’t you?”

Jiang Qiuyan thought about it and decided her mother was right. “Then transfer my shares to Little Yu’s name.”

Jiang Han and Bai Lingshuang froze in unison. Even Shi Yu thought she had lost her mind and whispered, “What are you saying? Drunk on hot water?”

Jiang Qiuyan squeezed her fingers and whispered back, “Not drunk. Completely sober. I’ve wanted to do this for ages. Since both of you are here today, let’s get it done.”

Shi Yu wanted to say more, but Bai Lingshuang spoke up.

“Are you sure?”

Jiang Qiuyan answered with absolute certainty. “Yes. And the houses and shops too. Everything that can be transferred goes under Little Yu’s name.”

Jiang Han’s expression was unreadable. Her voice was heavy. “This is no small matter. What if…” She glanced at Shi Yu, words trailing off.

All four understood what she meant. But Jiang Qiuyan insisted. Jiang Han couldn’t sway her and stormed upstairs in frustration.

Bai Lingshuang looked at her daughter and sighed softly. “Since you’ve made up your mind, there’s not much I can say. You’re an adult now. You need to learn to bear the consequences of your decisions.”

Bai Lingshuang left too, going to talk sense into her wife before the woman worked herself into a tizzy.

Jiang Qiuyan knew she couldn’t stay after this commotion. She took Shi Yu’s hand and led her home.

“Is it really okay to just leave? Your mother seemed really angry.”

Jiang Qiuyan’s lips curved, her voice low and pleasant. “It’s fine. Mom will talk her around.”

Shi Yu wanted to say more, but looking at those gentle features, every word lodged in her throat.

Seeing her little pained face, Jiang Qiuyan smiled and pressed her into her arms, rubbing her head. “Don’t feel burdened. I wanted to give this to you. All you need to do is accept it with peace of mind.”

Shi Yu asked herself inwardly: Do I deserve to accept? Am I worth you being this good to me?

But in this atmosphere, she said nothing. She simply lay against Jiang Qiuyan’s chest, listening to her steady, strong heartbeat.

Back home, Jiang Qiuyan insisted on bathing together. The moment Shi Yu stepped into the tub, she realized something was wrong.

The water wasn’t that hot. Why was her body burning?

Jiang Qiuyan was startled by the little cat’s temperature. Thinking of a possibility, she held her tighter and released calming pheromones.

“Baby, your heat has come.”

In the months since returning, she hadn’t had a heat. At the checkup, the doctor said it was due to overwhelming stress, hormonal imbalance affecting her cycle.

Shi Yu had thought this state would last until the college entrance exams. She hadn’t expected her heat to arrive on New Year’s Eve.

She looked up at Jiang Qiuyan, helpless and flustered like her very first heat. Her eyes were glistening, making hearts melt.

“It’s alright, baby. Big sister’s here. Don’t be afraid.”

Jiang Qiuyan had called herself “big sister” before too, but Shi Yu had always taken it as a joke. Today, hearing it, something stirred inside her.

“Big sister, I feel awful. Help me~”

Jiang Qiuyan’s expression shifted in a flash. She stared at her. “What did you just call me?”

Shi Yu wrapped her arms around her neck, tilted her head up, and kissed her lips, voice soft and sweet. “Big sister. Big sister, help me.”

“Alright, big sister will help you right now.” Jiang Qiuyan restrained herself as she kissed her, but her ragged breathing betrayed her.

Amber eyes were stained dark with desire. The madness burning in their depths turned the corners of her eyes to a blood-like crimson.

Shi Yu grew impatient with her dawdling. She straddled her lap, swaying her waist and rocking back and forth. The water in the tub rippled with each movement.

Jiang Qiuyan’s already perilous reason snapped. The arm around her waist tightened relentlessly, as if she wanted to fuse the little cat into her body.

Shi Yu was squeezed until she couldn’t breathe. Just as she was about to ask her to loosen up, her lips were captured in a fierce, domineering kiss.

“Big sister, slower…”

Shi Yu pushed at Jiang Qiuyan with limp hands, to no effect. She was bitten hard on the lip, the taste of blood swallowed before she could register it. Lips and teeth tangled together, inseparable.

Splash. Shi Yu was lifted and repositioned, her back against Jiang Qiuyan as she was held in her arms. Dense kisses rained down around her gland, sending her brain into tingling waves until it went blank.

Jiang Qiuyan’s hand reached around from her waist, gliding down her soft belly…

“Jiang Qiuyan… mmh…”

Jiang Qiuyan nipped at her ear, voice hoarse. “What did you call me?”

Shi Yu looked at her through tear-blurred eyes and called out weakly: “Big sister.” She thought it would bring Jiang Qiuyan back to her senses, but it only roused the beast within.

The water in the tub churned. Shi Yu’s voice grew so hoarse she couldn’t make a sound. She could only part her lips and stare blankly at the ceiling, letting fireworks detonate one after another in her mind.

The pheromone levels in the air exceeded all limits. The bathroom became a danger zone.

Shi Yu’s consciousness blurred. She only felt something envelop her gland, and in her ears was Jiang Qiuyan’s impossibly hoarse voice.

“Little Yu, let me mark you, okay?”