An amber-colored bulb hung from the ceiling, with several wires exposed and swaying precariously.
A faint verbena scent continuously emanated from her gland, seeping into the orange fragrance and entwining relentlessly.
“Don’t… mm.”
The woman trembled all over, her gentle voice blocked by scorching lips, fragmented into pieces.
Suppression from the top-tier Alpha pheromones coming from the front.
The woman’s fingertips desperately clutched the edge of the cherry wood workbench.
“Don’t?”
The Alpha chuckled lightly, gripping the Omega’s slender wrist, a flash of disdain in her eyes.
“I paid for it.”
Two blurry figures overlapped, the sweet, cloying scent filling the dim yellow narrow space…
“Qingyou…”
Lin Xu abruptly opened her eyes. Her forehead was covered in fine beads of sweat, and her head throbbed and ached.
She stared at the freshly painted white ceiling, the ticking of an alarm clock ringing in her ears.
She felt waves of disorientation, as if she were still trapped in that enchanting dream.
A fair arm brushed past her peripheral vision, carrying a cool fragrance. Lin Xu turned her head in confusion.
She met a pair of cold, ink-black eyes. The woman’s thick raven lashes trembled almost imperceptibly.
“You’re awake?”
A warm, soothing tone rang in Lin Xu’s ears, and Lin Xu nodded instinctively.
“Wait a moment. Let’s take your temperature.”
Lin Xu’s gaze unconsciously followed the woman as she rose, holding a thermometer in her hand.
The woman’s soft ink-black hair cascaded down to her slender waist. She wore a high-necked, form-fitting wool sweater.
Her frail figure, illuminated by the sunset outside the window, gained an ethereal haze.
So beautiful. Lin Xu’s heart suddenly skipped a beat. She blinked, and her headache eased somewhat.
“Who… are… you?”
Her mouth was so dry that her throat rasped, making her words come out haltingly.
The woman, who had been wringing out a towel, paused. She hesitated and lowered her gaze. Seeing Lin Xu’s eyes full of innocent clarity, she furrowed her brows slightly.
“Lin Xu, this isn’t funny.”
Without waiting further, the woman tapped the thermometer against Lin Xu’s lips.
“Open your mouth.”
Bewildered, Lin Xu obediently parted her lips with an “ah.” The next second, the rubber tip pressed against her tongue.
She was still pondering the woman’s words—what did she mean by “not funny”?
Her mind felt like mush, all muddled.
And where was this place? Though this woman didn’t seem like a bad person.
Lin Xu averted her eyes slightly and studied the woman’s profile.
The woman crossed her arms, facing the window.
A breeze brushed over her palm-sized, porcelain-white face, a few strands of hair falling over her forehead. She tucked them behind her pristine ear.
Lin Xu couldn’t help but swallow. But she did it too forcefully, and the thermometer jabbed the roof of her mouth.
“Cough cough cough…”
Hearing the noise, the woman turned around. Once the coughing subsided, she withdrew the thermometer and checked it.
“The fever’s gone down.”
Good news. Lin Xu cleared her throat, but why was the woman’s reaction so indifferent?
“But, sister, who exactly are you?”
What followed was a long silence.
The woman’s narrow phoenix eyes fixed on her, as if searching for any flaw in Lin Xu’s facade.
Last night, the rain had poured down in torrents. Lin Xu had unilaterally called Shu Qingyou, ordering her to pick her up as usual.
In the piercing cold of the late autumn rainstorm, Shu Qingyou had thrown on a camel-colored trench coat.
When she arrived at the designated spot, Lin Xu said nothing, didn’t hold an umbrella, her suit disheveled, her whole body drenched by the rain.
Only her peach-blossom eyes were deep as ink.
Just as Shu Qingyou was about to ask, Lin Xu pitched forward stiffly into her arms.
She was burning hot, her temperature seeping through the wet layers of clothing onto her skin.
Shu Qingyou quickly realized Lin Xu had a fever.
Like a stray puppy in distress.
It was laughable. After four years apart, their reunion was so dramatic.
And after just one night, Lin Xu was using amnesia as an excuse?
Teasing her in yet another way?
Shu Qingyou met her gaze, finding no flaws.
After a long moment, she sighed inwardly.
“I’m Shu Qingyou. You don’t remember?”
Shu Qingyou?
Lin Xu silently chewed on the three syllables.
For some reason, ripples stirred in her heart—itchy, accompanied by a stab of pain.
A mix of emotions surged, leaving Lin Xu even more baffled.
“S-sorry, do you know me?”
Lin Xu’s gaze unconsciously lingered on Shu Qingyou’s cherry-pink, moist lips, making her heart tremble inexplicably.
Noticing her brazen stare, Shu Qingyou hesitated for a moment, her eyes darkening.
Some things never change, Shu Qingyou thought. Lin Xu was probably faking it.
Shu Qingyou pursed her lips.
“I know you.”
Four years had passed. Lin Xu had slimmed down a bit, the youthful innocence on her delicate face faded.
Her hair was dyed chestnut brown in long waves, her features stunning, exuding the allure of a mature woman.
Lin Xu relaxed greatly. That was a relief—otherwise, she’d really think she’d been sold.
She flashed a toothy grin. “Then what are you to me, sister?”
The slender Omega’s frame stiffened. The perpetrator who had hurt her countless times was now smiling sweetly, acting as if nothing had happened.
“Nothing. Not family, and certainly not friends.”
Shu Qingyou’s expression was blank, looking down at her imperiously.
“That doesn’t add up. Then why are you taking care of me?”
Though amnesiac, Lin Xu’s IQ was still sharp.
“I owe you.”
Her sluggish brain suddenly clicked. A debt? That explained everything.
Owe money, pay money—it was only right.
Lin Xu quickly accepted this new identity.
“Oh, so I’m your creditor? How much do you owe me?”
Shu Qingyou had no intention of telling her.
At 22, she had been kept by Lin Xu—not long, just a year.
So, not a creditor. A sugar mommy.
At that moment, faint footsteps sounded from outside the door. Lin Xu looked over curiously.
It was a little white dumpling—in other words, a little girl.
Her fluffy head had shoulder-length short hair, and she wore pajamas printed with kittens.
Her cheeks were round and chubby with baby fat, her big eyes like black grapes. She seemed a bit scared of the stranger, Lin Xu.
With one glance, Lin Xu saw that the child’s features were a miniature version of Shu Qingyou’s.
Lin Xu’s eyes lit up. “Sister, is this your little sister? So cute!”
“Rongrong, naughty.”
Shu Qingyou stepped forward and picked her up. The little girl whined and buried herself in Shu Qingyou’s embrace.
She patted her daughter’s back, coaxing her softly.
After a while, she turned to Lin Xu, her tone like snow melting in winter—prolonged and icy.
“She’s my daughter.”
Lin Xu’s mouth fell open in surprise.
You couldn’t judge by appearances. Shu Qingyou was so young, yet her daughter was already this big—old enough to run errands like buying soy sauce.
Lin Xu said friendly, “She seems scared of me?”
Shu Qingyou gave her a sidelong glance but didn’t respond. She set her daughter back on the living room sofa and noticed the cartoon had ended.
She understood immediately—her daughter was reminding her. She switched channels for her again.
The mother and daughter moved so quietly that Lin Xu felt bored. Unable to sit still, she carefully observed her surroundings, trying to recall something.
The room was simply decorated, with a few landscape paintings on the walls and wooden flooring.
The bedding carried a pleasant laundry detergent scent, mixed with a faint sweet orange fragrance.
After a while with no sign of Shu Qingyou, she felt neglected.
She stretched her limbs and quietly slipped out of bed, pushing the door open with a creak.
The little girl was obediently hugging a penguin plush toy, her small body curled in one corner of the beige fabric sofa—a true soft, fluffy white dumpling.
Trying to build rapport: “You’re Rongrong, right?”
But the little girl sensed Lin Xu approaching and even shuddered.
Lin Xu was speechless. She wasn’t some ferocious beast—did she look that scary?
The living room had a Nordic countryside style, with a large wooden table.
The tabletop was adorned with flowers and books—the owner’s taste was decent.
Shu Qingyou’s figure bustled in the kitchen, probably making soup.
A sweet, silky aroma wafted through the air.
The kitchen window was half-open. Shu Qingyou’s smooth long hair was tied in a low ponytail, her slim shoulders flowing gracefully.
The molten golden sunset sprinkled across her delicate nose bridge, making her look achingly beautiful, as if copied from a painting.
Shu Qingyou’s figure shifted as she took whipped cream and milk from the fridge, pouring them into the pot and stirring meticulously.
The scenes made Lin Xu’s eyes glaze over, her heart itching as if tickled by a feather.
Her breathing quickened uncontrollably.
At the same time, her stomach growled.
The TV cartoon reached a climactic plot point, the volume rising. Lin Xu snapped back to reality.
Her ears burned; she felt guilty for peeking, sweat beading from embarrassment.
To cover it up, she laughed loudly at a silly cartoon moment, right on cue.
Her laughter echoed in the quiet room.
She immediately clamped her mouth shut. So awkward—this family, big and small, was equally taciturn.
She was just like an intruder disrupting their peaceful afternoon.
Suddenly, a spoon clattered onto the quartz countertop, the sound crisp.
“Sister, are you okay?”
Lin Xu asked concernedly, hopping off the sofa energetically, showing no sign of just recovering from a high fever.
Shu Qingyou watched her bounce over.
As expected of a top-tier Alpha—after just one night’s rest, her physical recovery was astonishing.
Lin Xu’s lush peach-blossom eyes curved, carrying a deceptive allure.
Shu Qingyou had never heard Lin Xu’s hearty laugh before—carefree, from the heart. It really made her uncomfortable.
She picked up the ceramic spoon, its handle cracked with fine fissures. Shu Qingyou stepped back, lowering her eyelids.
“Slipped. Making milk pudding.”
Following Shu Qingyou’s fair fingertips, the mold filled with the warm milk mixture, the fragrance spilling out.
Lin Xu noticed Shu Qingyou’s evasion. She really must owe her a lot—not even daring to meet her eyes.
“Made for me? Let me try.”
Shu Qingyou: “You won’t like it.”
It was a snack prepared for her daughter. As for Lin Xu…
During that year of being kept, she never figured out Lin Xu’s tastes in food.
Lin Xu never ate the meals or desserts she made.
“How do you know I won’t? Anyway, I’m hungry.”
Feeling wronged, Lin Xu pouted in protest, rubbing her growling stomach.
“Sister, I want milk pudding too.”
“It needs to chill first. You…”
Shu Qingyou was slightly startled inwardly. Could losing one’s memory change their personality so drastically?
Lin Xu grinned slyly like a little fox, acting spoiled and familiar.
Her soft strands brushed Shu Qingyou’s hand, making Shu Qingyou instinctively pull away.
The heater was still on in the house, and Lin Xu felt a bit hot. Shu Qingyou felt cool to the touch.
Why pull away so far?
Lin Xu leaned in closer instead. Her skin heated inappropriately, releasing a trace of floral scent.
Smelling the familiar aroma, Shu Qingyou’s brows furrowed, her gland swelling.
Verbena pheromones invaded her nostrils, her breathing suddenly accelerating.
—Clang!
This time, the spoon truly met its end, shattering into pieces on the floor.
Shu Qingyou slapped Lin Xu’s hand away, pressed her gland, and quickly dodged.
Lin Xu tilted her head, bewildered.
“What’s wrong? You just don’t want to share the pudding. Fine, I won’t eat it. So stingy!”
Shu Qingyou’s eye corners suddenly reddened, mist clouding her phoenix eyes, hazy and alluring. She said in a low, angry voice,
“…Lin Xu, control your pheromones.”
