Chapter 22

A palm pressed against her waist, the delicate touch almost tangible. Shu Qingyou stated that they were very familiar—not a question. Lin Xu’s paper tiger bravado vanished in an instant.

“I’m really not familiar with her,”

Lin Xu lowered her neck, speaking in a pitiful tone, trying to explain but finding no words.

The woman drew closer and closer. Lin Xu even considered using Shu Qingyou as a shield.

“Not necessarily.”

Shu Qingyou calmly pulled away. Her past suspicions were one thing, but seeing it firsthand was another. She had no desire to tangle further with Lin Xu.

Lin Xu had her own social circle and major life events—like marrying some other Omega. It was only a matter of time.

“Why do you look like you’ve seen a ghost? Are you nuts? Are you vacationing here or playing farmstay?”

Learning from past mistakes, Gu Huaiyuan avoided high heels, striding over in Martin boots with a dashing air, her presence fully unleashed. Mindful of Lin Xu’s aversion to physical contact, she stopped half an arm’s length away.

Lin Xu went all in, linking her arm with Shu Qingyou’s to bolster her courage.

“Say what you have to say. No touching.”

Shu Qingyou suddenly found herself pressed tightly against Lin Xu, feeling like she was being roasted over an open flame.

Was this still Lin Xu?! Gu Huaiyuan was dumbfounded. Cold to people, even colder to women, yet here she was, clinging to an Omega.

“No, wait—you are Lin Xu, right?”

Lin Xu rolled her eyes, stating matter-of-factly with a huff, “Duh, or are you maybe?”

This was completely out of character. Gu Huaiyuan finally pinpointed the source of the dissonance.

She tapped her forehead, asking strangely, “Did you hit your head? Is it broken in there?”

Lin Xu’s heart skipped a beat. She’d run into an old acquaintance. If the other knew about her amnesia, would she take illicit measures against her?

Shu Qingyou remained silent throughout, her gaze shifting away from them as she slowly exhaled a puff of mist.

She couldn’t smoke in the car; even with ventilation, third-hand smoke lingered on surfaces, harmful to children.

She should have bought a pack at the convenience store earlier.

Shu Qingyou stepped back slightly. “You two chat first.”

“Shu-jiejie…”

The sweet fragrance permeated the air. Lin Xu futilely tried to hold her back.

“Accompany me, please.”

This woman was even calling her “jiejie.” Gu Huaiyuan’s pupils shook. Seconds later, she burst out laughing. “Since when do you call me jiejie?”

Lin Xu shot her a glare. “Who gave you the right? Who even are you!”

From childhood, Gu Huaiyuan loved bickering with Lin Xu. They were always neck-and-neck. She calmly accepted the reality of Lin Xu turning into an idiot.

TV dramas were full of this: car accidents, concussions. She figured it was about eighty or ninety percent likely.

Gu Huaiyuan tugged at her lips, leaning forward with teasing intent. “Who would’ve thought you’d forget me, your wife of hardship, and go calling someone else jiejie…”

Wife of hardship?!

It was like a thunderbolt striking her head. She was married? Lin Xu’s jaw nearly dropped.

So Shu Qingyou knew. That’s why she’d kept her distance these past days. Lin Xu couldn’t possibly interfere, nor would she stoop to it.

Lin Xu recoiled as if electrocuted, immediately releasing Shu Qingyou. A thin layer of cold sweat beaded on her palms. She stammered, “Shu-jiejie, sorry.”

The warm body heat abruptly cooled in the chill air. Shu Qingyou paused for a moment, rubbing her fingertips before quickly regaining her composure, nodding unhurriedly.

“No problem. It seems you two have business outside. I have to head out, so I can’t host you.”

With that, Shu Qingyou felt a throb in her temple. It wasn’t her old ailment flaring up.

Lin Xu sensed Shu Qingyou growing even colder than before—bordering on disgust, like she’d touched something filthy and wanted to shake it off.

“Shu-jiejie, where are you going? I’ll go with you?”

Tuning out the external noise like white noise buzzing in her ears, Shu Qingyou furrowed her brow, ignoring Lin Xu’s proximity.

She hurried back to the car and started the engine.

Before leaving, Shu Qingyou glanced at her daughter, who was blissfully detached, tiny fist clutching a small spoon as she scooped at the chocolate cake Lin Xu had rejected.

Seeing Mommy get in the car, she smiled sweetly, chocolate crumbs still clinging to her mouth.

Apricot leaves swirled on the ground, a thread of cold wind brushing Lin Xu’s cheek. She regretted not stopping Shu Qingyou—instead, she was left staring at taillights.

She’d barely dodged the topic of being sent away, and now she faced cold treatment.

She met the woman’s gaze sullenly, feeling stifled but unsure how to face her “wife.” Her mouth felt glued shut.

“I… don’t remember getting married.”

Gu Huaiyuan found her deflated look novel. She raised her hand, flashing her ring. “Our wedding rings—nice, right? You put this one on me yourself.”

Lin Xu subconsciously touched her own finger, retorting angrily, “You’re lying. If you’re my wife, why don’t I have a ring?”

Gu Huaiyuan gave her a “what an idiot” look, shrugging and flipping her big waves. “Your car flipped off a cliff. Ring falling off is no big deal.”

“I don’t remember.”

“I’ll fix that for you.”

Gu Huaiyuan sauntered leisurely to her car. Lin Xu stood dazed in place. Gu Huaiyuan waved her over. “Come on, what are you spacing out for?”

Reluctantly, Lin Xu dawdled over and got in, a vague sense of familiarity washing over her, deepening her low spirits and resentment.

“What’s your name?”

“Gu Huaiyuan.”

Lin Xu hadn’t even figured out how to write those three characters when Gu Huaiyuan sized her up, her tone nitpicky.

“Why are you dressed like that? Did that ‘jiejie’ of yours style you? It’s not your usual vibe at all.”

Hearing Shu Qingyou mentioned, Lin Xu’s nose stung. In her so-called wife’s car, she forcefully suppressed the sour ache, clenching her fists in frustration.

She huffed, “None of your business.”

Gu Huaiyuan pulled out her phone, aiming the camera at Lin Xu and snapping a silent photo of her awkward expression.

“What are you doing!” Lin Xu lunged to grab the phone. “I’m here now—what more do you want?”

Same old her. Gu Huaiyuan snorted, saying leisurely, “Just a photo for your family, so they don’t go publishing your obituary.”

Lin Xu froze, no longer grabbing for the phone. She frowned. “Family? Death? Explain.”

Not completely hopeless, then. Gu Huaiyuan had a video—sneakily recorded at a board meeting. She represented the Gu Family as a shareholder.

She handed it over. Lin Xu hesitated, glancing at her before tapping play on the paused screen.

The meeting leader was Lin Xu’s uncle, Lin Hai, suited up with a slicked-back oily comb-over, smugness practically oozing from his face.

Lin Hai looked toward Gu Huaiyuan. She rolled her eyes at him; he kept smiling.

The conference room atmosphere was somber, attendees’ expressions varied as they pored over documents, whispering occasionally.

The rumors were true—the Lin heir was changing hands, news spreading like wildfire.

“Everyone.”

Seated at the head, Lin Hai cleared his throat, scanning the room with a steady voice laced with hidden urgency.

It started normally, following standard procedures. Midway, a blockchain figure fluctuated sharply.

Lin Hai coughed muffledly; minds began to wander.

“Since President Lin went missing, the company’s management has been unstable. We can’t let a power vacuum persist, so I propose…”

At this, Lin Xu finally felt like part of the Lin Family. What followed was CEO appointment deliberations or whatever—she only half-understood.

Even after the progress bar ended, Lin Xu stared at the screen.

“Hey, hey, get a grip. This isn’t a joke, you know?”

Lin Xu slowly lifted her head, gaze serious, shaking it at Gu Huaiyuan.

“I can’t fix this.”

“What do you mean you can’t? Come home with me first.”

Gu Huaiyuan didn’t want to argue. Get her home first, then talk.

But Lin Xu was quick, slamming her hand on the steering wheel. After pondering, she said solemnly, “You’re not my wife, are you?”

Gu Huaiyuan’s heart jolted. One video and enlightenment struck?

“Where’s that coming from?”

She laughed. “No need to lie. Want to see our wedding video too?”

The engagement footage was proper anyway.

“Fine. As my legal spouse, how come you have no say in shareholder rights? You could take over decisions legally, but you just watched them mess with me. You don’t even know the shareholder agreements? So, are you really my legal wife?”

Lin Xu spilled it out like beans, her face heating from inside out, her mind overheating in the confined space.

Seeing approval flicker in Gu Huaiyuan’s eyes, Lin Xu grew timid instead.

“But if you weren’t my wife, you wouldn’t be at the meeting, and you didn’t seem indifferent.”

Unexpectedly, Lin Xu wasn’t entirely infuriating. Gu Huaiyuan tilted her chin slightly, red lips parting.

“Go on. Sounds like you’ve got grudges against me?”

Lin Xu steeled herself, speaking word by word, clear and firm.

“I want you to provide marriage proof. Prove you’re my legal spouse.”

“That’s it? No interest in our kissing photos?”

Like teasing a kid—exhilarating. Gu Huaiyuan had long wanted Lin Xu to eat humble pie.

Lin Xu’s eyes widened, swallowing hard.

“You—you! Shameless!”

“Who’s the Alpha here, you or me? We swore before a priest—you had to kiss me first, of course.”

“You’re lying. I would never… never with you…”

Halfway, Lin Xu’s vision blackened. Clutching her chest, barely catching her breath, her eyes rimmed red when Gu Huaiyuan looked again, tongue stumbling.

“You’re not gonna cry, are you…”

Amusing as it was, Gu Huaiyuan had some loyalty. She whipped out a tissue.

“Seen a doctor?”

Lin Xu wiped the negligible golden tears from her eyes.

“Yeah, Shu-jiejie took me. Said I’d recover in a few days.”

A few days? So soon. Gu Huaiyuan double-checked. “Your car was totaled and burned to charcoal. No intracranial bleed?”

“Yeah, CT showed mild concussion.”

Gu Huaiyuan spun her finger on the steering wheel logo. On a whim today, she’d tracked her down. Taking Lin Xu back wasn’t impossible, but rash.

She hadn’t warned her own parents ahead. Lin Xu’s uncle was eyeing her like a tiger. When Old Lady Lin learned of Lin Xu’s news, she’d suffered a stroke from rage, landing in ICU—survival uncertain.

Dragging Lin Xu out unclear-headed into that crowd was like tossing a rabbit into a wolf den—no return.

“Why aren’t you talking?”

“Are you annoying? I’m figuring out where to hide you. My head hurts.”

Lin Xu recalled Shu Qingyou’s words then. She blurted, “I called Shu-jiejie back then, asked her to hide me.”

Shu-jiejie again. Gu Huaiyuan racked her brain, headache doubling. Had Lin Xu gone mad? Forgotten this was her enemy-who-killed-her-mother’s daughter?

What scheme? Gu Huaiyuan’s brows knotted into hills.

“So you mean stay here for now?”

“Yeah!”

Lin Xu wheedled shamelessly, refusing to budge. Finally, Gu Huaiyuan just told her they were indeed a business marriage—enough for Lin Xu.

“Next time you come find me, can you not make such a scene?”

“You’re picky now.”

Gu Huaiyuan, ever unserious, patted her butt and left. The photo proved Lin Xu was alive anyway.

Once the luxury car sped off, Lin Xu felt drained of strength, slumping dejectedly to the backyard.

Shu Qingyou hadn’t wanted her probing that cottage before; now the door was locked tight. Powerless, she slid down, squatting against it, arms hugging her knees.

Sky painted ink-black. Why hadn’t Shu Qingyou returned?

Dealing with Gu Huaiyuan, hearing tales of her past life, exhaustion deepened. She blinked, forgetting she could call Shu Qingyou.

Head tilted, amid birdsong, her eyes slowly closed.

A long while later.

In her daze, Lin Xu felt someone calling her ear. She mumbled.

“Mm?”

“You’ll catch a cold. Don’t sleep here.”

Scent awakened her before the voice.

Orange fragrance, pleasing to the senses—sweet with crisp tartness, vibrant like autumn-winter sun. She wished she could bottle it.

Suddenly, those words popped into Lin Xu’s mind. Lashes fluttered like dragonfly wings. She opened her eyes.

Shu Qingyou was very close to her, and Lin Xu clearly saw that her tea-colored eyes were as calm and indifferent as ever.

Lin Xu couldn’t help but imagine that she still harbored some concern for her.

A day apart feels like three autumns, Lin Xu thought. A few hours apart feels like crossing rivers and seas.

“Shu-jiejie…”

Lin Xu wanted to stand up right away, but she’d been squatting for too long, and her legs had gone numb. She swayed unsteadily and suddenly lost her balance, tumbling straight into Shu Qingyou’s arms.

“Ah…”

She wasn’t heavy, but with Lin Xu’s height, she wasn’t exactly light either. Shu Qingyou staggered back several steps from the impact.

In the next instant, fearing they might both fall, Lin Xu instinctively wrapped her arms around Shu Qingyou in return. Softness pressed against softness, her chin resting on Shu Qingyou’s shoulder.

Lin Xu inhaled the source of that sweet fragrance, addicted as she hugged Shu Qingyou even tighter, nearly rubbing her into her own body.

She heard Lin Xu’s heavy panting, felt the scorching breath spilling onto her neck, her chest squeezed against Lin Xu’s.

Shu Qingyou tried to stop her. “Lin Xu, don’t…”

“Like what, Shu-jiejie? I’ve been waiting for you for so long. I missed you so much, I…”

Lin Xu ignored her earlier restraint and propriety, boldly leaning close to Shu Qingyou’s gland as she murmured softly, “I want to kiss it.”