Chapter 2: Stolen Kiss. Caught in the act.
The night was already very late.
Cheng Yang wanted to linger in Xu Xun’s warmth a little longer, but she couldn’t fight the drowsiness weighing down her eyelids. Eventually, she fell into a deep sleep, nestled in the other woman’s arms.
In the darkness, Xu Xun’s eyes were exceptionally bright.
She lowered her gaze to the back of Cheng Yang’s head, which was wrapped in a thick layer of gauze, and placed a light kiss on the Alpha’s forehead.
In the days since the car accident, Cheng Yang would often twitch in her sleep, murmuring anxiously in her dreams.
Xu Xun held Cheng Yang, letting her cheek press against her soft chest, afraid of leaving a red mark.
After Cheng Yang was sound asleep, Xu Xun reached out, fumbling in the dark for the phone under her pillow.
She opened WeChat, sent a message to her manager, and finally closed her eyes, holding Cheng Yang.
·
Because Xu Xun had had a bit too much to drink the previous night, she didn’t wake up until the sun was high in the sky the next day.
Her head was splitting.
Xu Xun subconsciously reached for the person beside her, but her hand only met the cool silk of the bedsheet.
She snapped her eyes open and, still half-asleep, got out of bed barefoot.
After pushing open the bedroom door, Xu Xun smelled the rich aroma of breakfast. Without even bothering to put on shoes, she walked barefoot down the stairs and, from the landing, saw the busy figure of Cheng Yang in the kitchen.
Cheng Yang was wearing a beige apron, her feet clad in soft, comfortable house slippers. Her long hair was tied back with a light-colored elastic band, and her hands were somewhat clumsily slicing a sandwich.
Xu Xun’s heart was instantly enveloped in an invisible layer of softness, feeling as if it would melt completely.
She quickened her pace downstairs, but just then, the phone in her hand suddenly rang. The gentle ringtone fell on her ears like a death knell.
Xu Xun didn’t want to answer, but the person on the other end was persistent.
She glanced down; it was a call from her manager, Xiao Qing.
Xiao Qing rarely called her unless it was something urgent.
Or perhaps it was because of the message she had sent before bed last night.
Xu Xun checked her missed calls. Starting from seven in the morning until now, Xiao Qing had already called her more than a dozen times.
Cheng Yang finished slicing the sandwich and put it in the microwave. As if sensing something, she turned her head just in time to see Xu Xun’s back disappearing up the stairs.
Jiang Huimei stood to the side, watching her with trepidation. She couldn’t help but remind her, “Madam, you should go back to your room and rest. Dr. Jian said it’s best you don’t overexert yourself. If something were to happen, how would I explain it to the master?”
Cheng Yang wiped the water from her fingertips with a dry towel and said with a smile, “It’s just making breakfast. Dr. Jian also said I can’t just sit around. I should get out and walk more.”
While the microwave was heating the milk, Cheng Yang looked at Jiang Huimei and asked in a low voice, “Auntie Jiang, how many years have you been with A-Xun?”
Jiang Huimei said, “It’s been five or six years, I think.”
Cheng Yang lowered her gaze to her toes and whispered, “Then tell me, was my relationship with A-Xun falling apart before I lost my memory?”
Jiang Huimei was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, “How could that be? You’re worrying for nothing. You and Miss were always as harmonious as lutes and harps, thick as thieves. How could your relationship possibly fall apart?”
After the microwave beeped, Cheng Yang took out the hot milk.
She held the warm mug in both hands, took a small sip of strawberry milk, and said, “But these past two days, I feel like she’s a bit cold towards me. We’ve been married for so many days, but I feel like it’s not even as good as when we were dating.”
“Dating?” Jiang Huimei stumbled, nearly losing her footing. She craned her neck and asked, “Madam, you… you remember?”
Cheng Yang slowly shook her head. “Not really. I just feel that when we were dating, it must have been sweeter than after we got married.”
Then, Cheng Yang fixed her gaze on Jiang Huimei and asked, “Auntie Jiang, tell me, when A-Xun and I were dating, was it as sweet as I just described?”
Jiang Huimei nodded. “Yes, what we saw was just as you said, Madam.”
Cheng Yang finished the rest of the strawberry milk in one go and sighed. “But A-Xun doesn’t love me as much as she used to. She doesn’t even kiss me on her own initiative. Do you think she sees me as a burden?”
Jiang Huimei ventured, “How is that possible? I’ve always witnessed Miss’s love for you. You feel that Miss is being cold, perhaps it’s because you’re injured, and she’s afraid of touching you.”
“Perhaps.”
Cheng Yang put down the mug and comforted herself, “If A-Xun really didn’t love me anymore, I wouldn’t have seen her first thing when I woke up in the hospital.”
After the sandwich was toasted, Cheng Yang took off her apron and went upstairs to call Xu Xun down for breakfast.
Jiang Huimei watched the Alpha’s tall, straight back and sighed quietly.
The bedroom door wasn’t fully closed, leaving a narrow gap.
Cheng Yang tiptoed to the door and heard the faint sound of an argument from inside.
She didn’t open the door and go in directly but stood in the hallway outside, yet she still overheard some of it by chance.
Xu Xun said, “I’m not going on that travel variety show. I have my own plans. You don’t need to persuade me anymore.”
Cheng Yang couldn’t hear the voice on the other end of the line clearly, but from the anxious tone in Xu Xun’s voice, so different from her usual self, she could tell that the two seemed to have a disagreement.
Cheng Yang’s brow furrowed slightly, and she prepared to tiptoe back downstairs.
But just then, the bedroom door opened from behind her.
Xu Xun’s gentle, husky voice came from behind. “Yangyang.”
Caught in the act, Cheng Yang turned around with a smile. A flash of embarrassment crossed her eyes as she said apologetically, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to eavesdrop. I just came up to call you for breakfast.”
Xu Xun took Cheng Yang’s fair wrist, her thumb rubbing over the slightly protruding wrist bone. “How could I blame you? I was just on the phone with my manager. We had a small disagreement.”
A small disagreement?
Cheng Yang recalled how their conversation had been so heated it was on the verge of a full-blown argument. She couldn’t help but ask, “What exactly happened?”
Xu Xun led Cheng Yang downstairs by the hand, explaining as they walked, “It’s nothing much. Sister Xiao helped me accept a variety show a while ago, but now I don’t want to do it anymore.”
Listening to Xu Xun’s nonchalant explanation, Cheng Yang asked, “Has the contract been signed?”
Xu Xun nodded. “Yes, for a whole season. Filming starts next month.”
Cheng Yang stopped in her tracks and asked tentatively, “You mean, you signed a contract for a full season and are now suddenly backing out? That’s a huge breach of contract fee, and you’ll be blacklisted by the director. You need to think this through.”
Xu Xun held Cheng Yang’s left hand, intertwining their fingers, and said with a smile, “It’s fine. I don’t want to go. I’ll just focus on making movies from now on.”
Cheng Yang gazed at Xu Xun’s profile. She sat at the dining table, having just finished a glass of milk and having little appetite.
Watching Xu Xun nibble at the sandwich, Cheng Yang opened her own phone.
Cheng Yang’s previous phone had been destroyed in the car accident.
The assistant who had returned to the country with her had tragically died in the crash, and even her manager was still in a coma at the hospital, with no telling when she might wake up.
The phone was completely blank. Cheng Yang’s only contacts were Xu Xun and Jian Fan.
Although she still had her old phone number, her WeChat and other accounts were lost.
Xu Xun had told her to use this new number for the time being, and they would slowly try to recover the old one. There was no use in getting anxious.
Cheng Yang watched Xu Xun eat the sandwich, her pupils slightly dilated. She only snapped back to reality when she heard Xu Xun’s soft call.
Xu Xun had eaten every last bite of the sandwich. She smiled and said, “I’ve never had such a delicious sandwich.”
Cheng Yang’s lips slowly curved up. “It’s just a sandwich. They all taste the same.”
Xu Xun took a napkin to wipe her fingers and shook her head. “No, it’s different. The one you made is the best.”
Cheng Yang was in a very good mood and suggested, “I’ve learned other things from Auntie Jiang. I’ll make them for you tonight. Let’s just count this sandwich as lunch.”
Xu Xun stood up and walked over to Cheng Yang. She lowered her eyes and affectionately rubbed the tip of her nose against the Alpha’s forehead, her voice exceptionally soft. “Yangyang, you don’t have to do so much for me. The maids can handle these things. I don’t want you to tire yourself out.”
Cheng Yang touched her ear and said in a small voice, “But I have nothing to do. You’re out filming and earning money to support the family, and I’m at home keeping you well-fed. It’s a clear division of labor.”
Xu Xun’s face suddenly turned red.
Cheng Yang watched as a pale pink blush slowly suffused the Omega’s tender, fair skin. She asked in confusion, “A-Xun, why is your face so red again? I should call Dr. Jian over to take a look at you.”
“No need!”
Xu Xun grabbed the hand Cheng Yang was about to use to call Jian Fan and shook her head. “It’s probably just from eating. I’m fine, really.”
Cheng Yang’s soft, warm hands gently cupped Xu Xun’s cheeks, her fingertips brushing against the thin, delicate skin. She smiled and said, “It looks pink, but why does it feel hot and cool to the touch? How strange.”
Xu Xun held Cheng Yang’s wrist and explained, “It’s just the heat from eating. Summer is coming, and I don’t handle heat well. Blushing is normal; it’s just the heat.”
“Really?”
Cheng Yang didn’t believe her.
At first, she thought Xu Xun didn’t love her, but after carefully observing the Omega’s reactions to her, Cheng Yang understood. Xu Xun was just shy.
Could it be that her car accident and amnesia had brought a new kind of spice to their relationship?
At this thought, Cheng Yang pressed her lips together to hide her smile. She stood up and, in the blink of an eye, collapsed bonelessly into Xu Xun’s arms, panting, “A-Xun, I’m so tired. Carry me upstairs.”
Xu Xun was quite startled by the Alpha’s sudden move.
But she quickly realized that Cheng Yang’s acting was terrible. She was even snickering while nestled in her arms.
Feeling both exasperated and amused, Xu Xun couldn’t help but feel a strange emotion rising within her.
She stared intently at Cheng Yang’s soft, pale-pink lips and, as if possessed, lowered her head.
Cheng Yang’s eyes slowly opened a crack.
She saw Xu Xun’s shimmering, watery eyes. Enveloped by the faint scent of Night-blooming Cereus, she also tilted her head up, inviting a kiss.
Their four lips were about to meet.
Cheng Yang’s heart pounded like a drum, and she subconsciously parted her lips.
Clang—
A loud noise of something falling echoed beside them.
Cheng Yang’s eyes flew open, and she met Xu Xun’s flushed face.
Furious, she wanted to see which damn person had ruined their moment.
Then, Cheng Yang slipped out of Xu Xun’s embrace, turned her head, and saw the contents of a medical kit scattered all over the floor.
And there was Jian Fan, squatting on the ground, frantically gathering up the “tools of the crime.”
“…”
Hmm…