◎Just Trust Me This Once, Okay?◎
After answering, Liang Shi rubbed the tip of her nose sheepishly and silently apologized to Xu Qingya in her heart.
She didn’t want to lie to Xu Qingzhu.
Especially not when faced with those eyes. Deceiving her would bring guilt.
Cheng Ran waved cheerfully at Xu Qingzhu from behind Liang Shi. “Long time no see, Miss Xu.”
“Mm.” Xu Qingzhu didn’t undercut Liang Shi either. She gave a slight nod and greeted her in a faint voice: “Hello.”
Cheng Ran’s smile widened. She clicked forward on her heels, but as she passed Liang Shi’s side, Liang Shi grabbed her arm.
Cheng Ran frowned. “Come on, you don’t have to be this possessive. I can’t even go say hi? Liang Shi, that’s enough.”
Liang Shi’s lips pressed together. Her voice was heavy. “Come with me.”
She turned to Xu Qingzhu. “Go back to the ward first. I’ll say a few words to Cheng Ran and then come find you.”
“It’s fine.” Xu Qingzhu stood in the doorway, pale and slender, looking undernourished, like a painting of otherworldly solitude. “Just tell me where Yaya is.”
“One moment.” Liang Shi looked at her with genuine sincerity. “I’ll just say a few words to her. Then I’ll go find Yaya with you. Okay?”
“I don’t need you to come along,” Xu Qingzhu refused. “I can go myself.”
Liang Shi’s brow creased slightly. “I’ll go with you.”
“No need.” Xu Qingzhu refused again.
She didn’t believe Liang Shi could transform into a different person overnight.
She was far more inclined to believe that Liang Shi’s current behavior had an ulterior motive.
As for what that motive was, she hadn’t figured it out.
But their relationship wasn’t close enough for this.
It had only been coincidence: Xu Qingzhu was heading to the restroom and overheard Liang Shi making a call in the hallway. She’d called both Liang Shi and Xu Qingya and found both lines engaged, which had led to her suspicion.
She still didn’t understand why Xu Qingya had contacted Liang Shi at all.
Since when were Xu Qingya and Liang Shi so close?
Xu Qingzhu didn’t linger after speaking. She sent a message to Zhao Xuning first, saying she planned to leave the ward briefly and asking her to come administer a scent blocker.
An Omega who had just passed through heat would have lingering scent that could attract powerful Alphas, which was dangerous. Xu Qingzhu had just endured a grueling night and had no desire for a repeat.
Better to be safe.
Zhao Xuning’s reply was a single word: Okay.
In the corridor, Liang Shi pulled Cheng Ran aside.
Cheng Ran crossed her arms, wearing an expression of disdain. “Liang Shi, earlier you really…”
She clicked her tongue lazily. “Don’t tell me you’ve actually fallen for this Omega.”
“Cheng Ran.” Liang Shi was trying to find the right words to make Cheng Ran maintain a normal social distance.
In her original world, she had lived for twenty-five years.
Much of that time she’d spent alone, so she was good at maintaining healthy boundaries with people.
Never overly close, never overly distant.
She had never even fallen out with a friend before.
But she and Cheng Ran simply weren’t suited to be friends.
The original host and Cheng Ran were friends because they enabled each other’s worst behavior. But Liang Shi despised such conduct.
She preferred a lifelong devotion to one person.
Find a girl she liked. Marry her or not, it didn’t matter. Work hard during the day, and when tired, send a message to each other.
After work, go see a movie together, or cook and watch shows at home, share tender moments.
She didn’t mind bringing someone into her own world and wanted to be part of theirs too.
But in her original world, such a dream had been impossible.
Nobody accepted her orientation.
And she was afraid that her career might hurt other girls, so she had never dated.
Even when she met someone she liked a little, she could only watch from afar.
She had never thought of claiming anyone.
But now, with a second life before her, she wanted to be herself.
The old life had been shackled by too much guilt, surviving for others, living in exhaustion.
Now, she wanted it lighter.
Make easy friends. Love the person she loved.
But how to handle the original host’s baggage was a real headache.
She thought for a moment and could only be blunt: “I don’t think we’re suited to be friends.”
Cheng Ran froze. “Huh?”
Liang Shi said earnestly: “I won’t be going to those parties and gatherings with you anymore. Life should have infinite possibilities, not wasted on meaningless, idle pursuits.”
Cheng Ran was stunned for a few seconds before she laughed in disbelief. “Liang Shi, have you lost your mind? What are you even saying? Did Xu Qingzhu slip you something?”
“This has nothing to do with Xu Qingzhu,” Liang Shi said. “I’ve thought things through. I’m starting fresh and being true to myself.”
The words were meant for both the old Liang Shi and the current one.
Cheng Ran’s brow furrowed into a knot. “You’re saying you want to cut me off?”
“You could put it that way,” Liang Shi said firmly.
“Wow.” Cheng Ran cursed. “You’re fucking insane.”
She swung a punch.
Liang Shi’s eyes narrowed. She could have dodged easily, but after a moment’s hesitation, she let the blow land.
An Alpha’s strength was considerable. The punch knocked her sideways.
Liang Shi steadied herself half a step back. “That’s it, then. I’m leaving.”
“Holy shit,” Cheng Ran shouted after her. “Liang Shi, you’ve lost your damn mind!”
Liang Shi walked away without looking back.
In truth, Liang Shi had many ways to end things with Cheng Ran gracefully.
She could have avoided her when Cheng Ran looked for her, or picked a trivial fight and cut ties over it.
But Liang Shi chose the most direct route.
She didn’t want to waste time on this kind of social entanglement.
Pessimistically speaking, if she couldn’t get 80 Luck Points in three months, these would be the last three months of her life. How much energy did she have to spare playing games with people like Cheng Ran?
Too exhausting.
Better to keep it simple.
Standing outside Xu Qingzhu’s ward, she raised the back of her hand and wiped the corner of her mouth. Blood smeared across her skin.
She frowned, not wanting Xu Qingzhu to see.
But Zhao Xuning had witnessed the scene.
Zhao Xuning’s voice was cold. “Move.”
Liang Shi stepped aside to make way.
Zhao Xuning was usually a woman of few words, but as she passed, she couldn’t resist asking: “Fight with Cheng Ran?”
Liang Shi answered wearily with a nod.
The corner of Zhao Xuning’s mouth twitched in a half-smile edged with mockery. “Now that’s rare.”
Then she entered the ward.
Xu Qingzhu had changed into new clothes that Bai Weiwei had brought during her visit.
A bright yellow knee-length dress with a cinched waist. Slender arms and elegant collarbone on full display. She was already slim, and the dress made her waist look impossibly narrow.
Absolutely eye-catching.
In Liang Shi’s original world, Xu Qingzhu would have been the entertainment circle’s top star, dominating every “Goddess of the Year” poll and leaving everyone else in the dust.
The needle slipped into Xu Qingzhu’s slender, pale forearm, and her veins stood out beneath the sunlight.
Liang Shi’s chest tightened at the sight.
That arm didn’t look like it should be stuck with needles.
It was almost painful to look at.
So Liang Shi turned away.
After administering the scent blocker, Zhao Xuning asked Xu Qingzhu: “How long will you be out?”
“About half a day,” Xu Qingzhu said. “I’ll be back tonight.”
“What are you doing, if you don’t mind sharing?” Zhao Xuning asked.
“My father tore down posters of Yaya’s idol and threw away all her merchandise. She ran away from home.” Xu Qingzhu stood up. “I’m going now. Don’t tell Weiwei about this.”
If Weiwei found out she was leaving the hospital without permission over her sister, she’d be upset.
“Understood.” Zhao Xuning asked: “Going with her?”
Her gaze settled on Liang Shi.
Xu Qingzhu thought for a moment, then nodded gently. “She knows where Yaya is.”
In fact, she was the only one who did.
“Be careful on the road,” Zhao Xuning said. “Call me if anything comes up.”
They left the ward and took the elevator down to the underground parking garage.
Since Liang Shi had been hospitalized, the butler had already brought her car over.
In the black-and-white garage, the garish green car was impossible to miss.
Much as Liang Shi hated to admit it, she had to bring Xu Qingzhu to that car.
She hit the unlock button again, and the car’s lights blinked on.
Liang Shi: …
Just how many more aesthetic surprises did the original host have in store?
She opened the passenger door first. Under Xu Qingzhu’s faintly disdainful gaze, she pretended everything was perfectly normal: “Get in.”
Once Xu Qingzhu was seated, she got in herself.
But she noticed Xu Qingzhu watching her closely.
Those eyes held curiosity and scrutiny. As the car pulled out of the garage, Xu Qingzhu suddenly asked: “Why did you and Cheng Ran fight?”
“Huh?” The engine roared to life and Liang Shi didn’t catch it. “What did you say?”
“Never mind.” Xu Qingzhu dropped the subject and closed her eyes to rest in the passenger seat.
She maintained her cool, detached demeanor the entire time.
Once the car was cruising smoothly, Liang Shi broached the topic: “Could you stay out of sight for a bit when we get there?”
“What do you mean?” Xu Qingzhu opened her eyes and looked at her coldly.
“I promised your sister I wouldn’t tell you,” Liang Shi said. “But I also can’t lie to you.”
“You’ve lied to me before,” Xu Qingzhu said icily.
“But not this time,” Liang Shi explained. “Your sister reached out to me first. She must have a reason she can’t talk to you about. So I’ll go in first, get the full story out of her, and then tell you. Okay?”
“And if I say no?” Xu Qingzhu asked.
Liang Shi: …
She pulled the car over to the curb. “Then I can’t take you there.”
Xu Qingzhu let out a cold laugh. “So your true colors finally show.”
“That’s not it.” Liang Shi sighed helplessly. “I told you I won’t hurt you. And accordingly, I won’t lie to you either. Your sister had a fight with your parents, ran away from home, and didn’t call you. She’s clearly still furious and emotionally volatile. If you show up in front of her right now and she does something reckless, what then?”
“My family’s affairs don’t need Miss Liang’s concern.” Xu Qingzhu drew a clear line between them, addressing her formally as Miss Liang.
Liang Shi’s lips pressed together. Weariness colored her voice. “I’m worried she might say something that hurts you.”
Xu Qingzhu looked at her, something like disbelief in her eyes.
Was this really Liang Shi?
Liang Shi’s hand rested gently on her shoulder. Her gaze was earnest, warm: “Xu Qingzhu, just trust me this once, okay?”
Without makeup, Liang Shi’s eyes were beautiful, filled with a warmth that could melt through anyone. Under that unwavering gaze, Xu Qingzhu’s heart skipped a beat.
But she quickly looked away.
Liang Shi’s voice grew even more sincere, carrying a soft, almost pleading tone. If you listened closely, it even sounded like a gentle whine: “This is the last time, okay?”
Xu Qingzhu nodded softly.
She thought: I’ll try trusting Liang Shi one last time.
