In the lavishly decorated restaurant.
Lu Ningshuang and Qin Yushu sat facing each other.
The dishes had already been served.
Every single one was ordered by Qin Yushu. Even when she handed the menu to the Alpha, the other woman would only say—
“Huh? I don’t know.”
“This is my first time in a place like this. You pick.”
“Then I’ll have the same as you.”
Poor, but unashamed, and without any sense of inferiority—this child must have grown up under her parents’ loving care.
Once they formally began eating, Lu Ningshuang showed no restraint.
She claimed it was her first time in such a high-end hotel, yet she didn’t display the slightest tension of a newcomer.
The Alpha showed the most basic respect for food—eating it properly—but whether in her posture or the way she held her knife and fork, she exuded a relaxed elegance that was exceptionally graceful.
Combined with the Alpha’s beautiful face, she fit perfectly into the luxurious surroundings.
It was a level unattainable for a true outsider.
“Has Miss Lu specially studied dining etiquette?” Qin Yushu asked casually.
“Sort of.”
Qin Yushu: “…Huh?”
“I learned it from TV when I was little,” Lu Ningshuang said.
Qin Yushu’s eyebrow arched slightly. “And the smile?”
Lu Ningshuang: “Yep.”
She slowed her eating pace a bit but showed no intention of hiding anything.
“My parents made me.”
Under Qin Yushu’s expectant gaze, Lu Ningshuang continued.
“They were preparing to start a business back then. They said that in the future, when dealing with people outside, it would be different, so I had to learn in advance—prepare for a rainy day.”
“And the result? As you can see, President Qin, their business didn’t take off. My family stayed poor, and all that stuff never came in handy.”
Lu Ningshuang remembered it clearly.
During that time, it wasn’t just dining etiquette; she learned all sorts of odd things.
In the end, none of it proved useful.
Not just her.
Later, when the kids talked, they found that from her much older cousin down to her good cousin Lu Chengyue, everyone in that age range had been fed similar promises.
They had to learn properly, or they’d get beaten.
The Old Lu Family probably all dreamed of striking it rich, but it all fell apart. What they learned ended up gathering dust, completely unused.
Lu Ningshuang even thought that Lu Chengyue’s money-obsessed personality was largely shaped by that experience.
So, parents shouldn’t make promises they can’t keep. It shatters kids’ dreams—and too many of those promises can choke you.
Fortunately, among the three kids, only Lu Chengyue was really affected. She and her cousin both had mild temperaments and didn’t take it too seriously.
Or not quite.
Now she’d latched onto a rich woman, so it must have had some subconscious influence.
Unexpectedly, her cousin ended up as the only pure one among the three.
As Lu Ningshuang reminisced, Qin Yushu had already formed her own opinion.
She asked, “What kind of people are Miss Lu’s parents?”
Lu Ningshuang paused in her eating.
It seemed… although they were now legally married, the flash marriage had happened too quickly.
Aside from this person, this face, the scent of her Pheromones during her Heat Period, and what she did in bed…
Everything else was a blank slate.
They had never discussed each other’s family backgrounds, histories, habits, living environments, or relatives.
Even their understanding of this “person” was only superficial.
—The Alpha didn’t know that the Omega had already investigated her thoroughly.
Hearing Qin Yushu’s question, Lu Ningshuang grew slightly serious.
In this cooperative transactional relationship, she was always the subordinate. Letting the benefactor learn more about her to prevent surprises… that was only right.
Lu Ningshuang said, “Just ordinary working stiffs. Hardly ever around, total free-range parenting. They don’t earn much and are always busy.”
Qin Yushu said nothing.
Lu Ningshuang: “Don’t worry, I called them last night and told them about marrying you.”
“What did they say?”
Qin Yushu’s wording remained polite.
“Not much. I agreed, so they had to accept. Said it’s pure free-range at our house.”
“Oh, right.”
Lu Ningshuang added, “Since I said we wouldn’t have a wedding and they’re busy, they won’t come specially to see us.”
Qin Yushu took a shallow sip of her drink, her vermilion lips glistening with moisture.
“It was rude of me.”
“If there’s a chance, I’ll visit and pay my respects to Uncle and Aunt.”
“No, no need.” Lu Ningshuang waved her hands repeatedly. “They love their two-person world. They barely pay attention to me, their daughter.”
Qin Yushu: “Not necessarily.”
Lu Ningshuang: ?
Qin Yushu didn’t explain much to the young Alpha.
Initially, she’d chosen Lu Ningshuang for her Alpha status. Later, binding her was because she was convenient, obedient, and useful.
Now that the marriage certificate was in hand, everything was secured. She should ease up a bit.
There wasn’t much emotional foundation to begin with, so no need for a grand ceremony or public announcement.
In Qin Yushu’s plan, the parents on both sides didn’t need to meet.
But to make the Alpha even more devoted, she didn’t mind putting in a little extra effort.
Speaking of devotion, the spot on Qin Yushu’s nape where her Glands were began to feel faintly hot again…
“That’d be too much trouble.”
In normal situations, Lu Ningshuang didn’t dare contradict Qin Yushu too much. She just mumbled softly, “But if we really meet, wouldn’t it be Dad and Mom, not Uncle and Aunt?”
Qin Yushu: “…”
Qin Yushu pretended not to hear—ever since the car ride, she’d been trying to get used to the astonishing things the little Alpha blurted out occasionally.
The big boss ignoring her didn’t stop Lu Ningshuang from chattering. “They also said they’d send some stuff over in the next few days as a wedding gift for you and me.”
“What is it?” Qin Yushu asked cooperatively.
“Probably some local specialties or something cheap. We live hand-to-mouth; can’t afford anything valuable.”
Lu Ningshuang glanced at Qin Yushu. “Don’t despise it.”
“If I despised it, I could keep it for myself.”
“How could I?”
Lu Ningshuang kept staring at her.
“Bring it over,” Qin Yushu said. “It’s still a token of… Dad and Mom’s affection.”
If it were before.
Qin Yushu might have teased her to work harder and buy something valuable for her family instead.
But now~
Her disobedient body and those Glands might need a break.
Better not tease too much.
Lu Ningshuang looked up.
Qin Yushu had switched to the new term so quickly—she hadn’t expected such cooperation before even meeting them.
As expected.
A beauty with impeccable family background, grace, and outstanding ability—once she set her sights on capturing someone, a little care and sweetness made one feel utterly content.
Countless people would line up to vie for that single spot.
Infinite charm.
That was the only phrase in Lu Ningshuang’s mind; her mouth went numb. “Thanks.”
Qin Yushu smiled lightly and resumed eating.
A moment later.
Qin Yushu said, “My marriage will be known throughout the family in the next couple of days, and then it will spread through the entire elite circle.”
Lu Ningshuang blinked.
Qin Yushu: “At that time, your identity won’t stay hidden; it will inevitably be exposed.”
She paused, tilting her head slightly to look at her. “Are you afraid?”
“A little.”
Lu Ningshuang was honest. “But since I signed the contract and married you, President Qin, I have to face it.”
Qin Yushu nodded in satisfaction. “Good that you understand.”
She added.
“There’s a banquet in a few days. You’ll need to accompany me.”
Lu Ningshuang: “Okay.”
“I’ll prepare in advance.”
—This would be her first public appearance as Qin Yushu’s trophy Alpha, right?
She didn’t mind for herself, but she absolutely couldn’t embarrass the naturally proud beauty.
“No need.”
Qin Yushu maintained her head-tilted gaze, her wavy long hair cascading down, accentuating her delicate, fair cheeks with a tender allure.
“By then, you’ll be with me.”
She would prepare everything.
Lu Ningshuang didn’t quite grasp the implication.
She opened her mouth.
“Okay.”
At times like this, just obediently follow the big boss’s arrangements^^
Lu Ningshuang ate that meal very satisfactorily, fully sating her appetite.
But that top-grade caviar, supposedly ten thousand per spoonful—why did it taste so similar to the crucian carp roe her mom, Lady Ning, occasionally bought? That was cheaper and in bigger portions.
And the French foie gras wasn’t much different from local duck liver.
Though meticulously prepared in a starred restaurant with various seasonings, it was indeed tastier than Lady Ning’s casual boiled version.
Figuring food basically tasted the same at its core and that she wasn’t some gourmet, Lu Ningshuang chalked it up to being a bumpkin who couldn’t appreciate fine chaff. She soon put it aside.
After the meal.
President Qin, ever the good Samaritan, sent Lu Ningshuang back to the company.
She still had to work in the afternoon!
She’d used a family emergency to skip last night’s overtime—cough—but thanks to that “family emergency,” she’d taken half a day off today, perfectly aligning with going to get the certificate with President Qin herself.
Everything fell into place naturally.
Before getting out of the car, Lu Ningshuang stuffed something into Qin Yushu’s hand.
The Alpha’s eyes were clear and transparent. “If something like that happens again, try something sweet. It might help.”
“Hold onto this.”
Outside the car window, the Alpha’s figure receded.
Qin Yushu looked down at her palm—a roll of mint candies.
Somewhat similar to lime.
Qin Yushu couldn’t help recalling what had happened earlier…
In the car.
The Alpha’s lips and tongue covered her neck, her Glands, showering them with dense, gentle kisses like spring raindrops.
She was so tender, as if kissing velvet.
The Marking could push the Omega to the peak of passion in the instant of the bite and injection.
At that moment, the Omega was undoubtedly the most sensitive, the most vulnerable.
Without the Alpha’s gentle soothing, it could make the Omega’s emotions plummet, plunging into endless emptiness and shattering.
In severe cases, even depression.
Qin Yushu didn’t think it would happen to her. She had self-control; she was clear-headed. A moment’s pleasure was more than enough.
Thus, the first two times, perhaps due to inexperience, the Alpha hadn’t insisted, and Qin Yushu hadn’t reminded her. The second time, she’d even gotten up to wash immediately, ending it early.
She didn’t care about that step, but looking back now, the Alpha seemed to have taken it to heart.
And applied it later.
—Similarly.
All of the Alpha’s passions were created and given by her. Qin Yushu had investigated beforehand: Lu Ningshuang’s romantic history was a blank slate.
Satisfactory.
In turn.
The Alpha could freely paint and smear on this Omega’s blank canvas.
Even…
Defile it.
Back then, in the car.
The warm sunlight was blocked, leaving only strands of dim, ambiguous darkness.
The Alpha used her body heat, her skin, her lips and tongue… bit by bit, step by step, to make up for the regrets missed in the previous two times.
It was also soothing Qin Yushu’s current restlessness.
This was the special post-AO Marking soothing and intimacy period.
It was said that Omegas became especially sensitive after being Marked. If the Alpha timely soothed the injured Glands, the Omega would feel exceptionally comfortable and content.
From body to heart, all sticky and glued, wishing to wrap around the Alpha forever.
This behavior also helped deepen the emotional bond between the matched A and O.
She had only heard about it before, but at that moment, Qin Yushu truly believed in it and experienced it firsthand.
An available Alpha was far more effective than any suppressant.
But…
It was also dangerous.
Qin Yushu quickly reviewed everything Lu Ningshuang had done that day in her mind, then cleared away the multitude of fanciful thoughts from her shrewd brain.
As she lowered her head, her crow-feather lashes veiled her eyelids. Her emotions settled, and only her fingertip slowly explored the rolled candy in her hand.
Let’s try it again.
After all, Alphas really were useful—and delicious.
…A little sweet.
The kept Alpha logged off, and the office worker Lu Ningshuang made her grand return!
She had just reached the company office building when Lu Ningshuang spotted an unexpected yet somewhat familiar figure.
It was actually the official pairing’s male lead, Huo Yunyi!
Why was he here at this hour?
Seeing the male lead, Lu Ningshuang—as the cannon fodder who had stolen him away—couldn’t help but feel a twinge of guilt, along with some indescribable emotions.
But remembering how Qin Yushu had dropped her off and then driven away, her mood relaxed for an instant.
She had only met Huo Yunyi once before, at the hotel blind date. Back then, she had been an utterly ordinary waitress, so he definitely wouldn’t remember her.
Then there was that phone call later…
As long as she didn’t speak, he wouldn’t recognize her!
Her voice had changed a bit after the electric shock. Even if she spoke right in front of him now, he probably wouldn’t connect the dots, right?
And moreover—
She had already married the female lead and gotten their marriage certificate!
Even if it was just as a kept Alpha.
The male lead was thoroughly too late.
With that thought, Lu Ningshuang’s spirits soared. She prepared to slip past Huo Yunyi as inconspicuously as possible.
An unmistakable urgency was etched on Huo Yunyi’s handsome face.
He was communicating with the System.
【System, is your intel reliable? Will Qin Yushu really come to a rundown little company like this today?】
Lu Ningshuang’s footsteps came to an abrupt halt.
