Soft and fragrant hands—even unseen, the scent lingered enduringly.
Shu Qingyou’s trembling voice brushed past her ear: “If you look again, I’ll dig out your eyes.”
Lin Xu swallowed her saliva repeatedly. It took all her effort to hold back from offending Shu Qingyou further.
“I didn’t see anything.”
“Shu-jie, your hand feels the same temperature as mine.”
“Lin Xu, have you no shame!”
Shu Qingyou yanked her hand back as if electrocuted, but Lin Xu refused to let her, slyly grabbing it and pressing it to her own face, blinking innocently.
“It’s true. Feel it—we’re the same.”
Those affectionate, alluring peach-blossom eyes gazed at Shu Qingyou obediently and pitifully, unwavering, reflecting her momentary daze.
Shu Qingyou’s hand was slightly smaller than hers, covered and pressed down by Lin Xu. Shu Qingyou lowered her gaze and shook her head. “That’s enough…”
“Not enough.” Lin Xu pulled her hand downward a little, until her fingertips brushed Lin Xu’s soft lips—unpainted, with the upper lip thinner than the lower.
Shu Qingyou couldn’t stop her. She turned her face away as red crept up her earlobes.
Lin Xu merely brushed her lips against Shu Qingyou’s pink fingertip.
“Shu-jie, my marriage to Gu Huaiyuan probably isn’t a normal one.”
“I don’t want to know.”
For some reason, when Shu Qingyou heard her say it wasn’t a normal marriage, her response was ambiguous. What defined normal from abnormal?
No relations at all, or relations without feelings?
No matter the reason, Shu Qingyou wouldn’t pry.
“You need to know. I have a responsibility to tell you.”
“What responsibility?”
Shu Qingyou narrowed her eyes in self-mockery, a small wave rising in her heart. Talking about responsibility, yet she’d inexplicably hugged and nibbled her earlier.
“What I did to you just now means I have to take responsibility as an Alpha—including telling you everything I know, honestly, without a single lie.”
Lin Xu solemnly raised three fingers, as if swearing her undying devotion to Shu Qingyou.
This bizarre logic—getting in the cart first then buying the ticket—left Shu Qingyou speechless. The sour itch inside her still lingered, and as she stared at Lin Xu’s fingers, she suddenly recalled the position from behind.
The strangeness within grew more pronounced. She bit the inside of her cheek.
“I don’t want to hear it. I’m going back to rest.”
Lin Xu hurriedly followed behind Shu Qingyou like a little tail, shaking her head playfully.
“Shu-jie, are you still mad?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, well, since you’re already mad, can I kiss you again?”
Shu Qingyou had just entered the kitchen from the backyard, turning on the faucet to wash her hands. Cold water rushed out, splashing in the sink.
She twisted the knob tight, draped a towel over her wrist, and leaned against the counter. The cool quartz stone seeped through her clothes bit by bit.
She gave Lin Xu a detached glance, her lips curving slightly with a gentle undertone.
“We’re not at that level yet.”
At those words, Lin Xu deflated like a sponge drained of water, her energy sapped.
“Why like this?”
Seeing Lin Xu so aggrieved made Shu Qingyou feel like the villain.
Shu Qingyou’s worldview shattered once more—it was exactly as she’d foreseen.
This person had always been shameless.
Lin Xu had simply shed the long-standing animosity between them, amplifying her possessive desire for Shu Qingyou’s body.
After all, Lin Xu’s claim of not hating her pheromones had been followed by an inexplicable end to their relationship.
It had once driven Shu Qingyou to consider removing her gland.
“So? Do you think getting mad only counts if you yell and scream?”
“Of course not—you’re scolding me right now.”
“And? Have you ever thought about why? Do you really empathize?”
Why… empathize. Was that necessary?
Lin Xu actually pondered it. Those scenes—all of them were her own doing.
From Shu Qingyou’s perspective, she’d have plenty of complaints.
“I’m sorry.”
Lin Xu offered her neck proactively. “I bit you too hard earlier. Bite me back, and we’re even.”
Was that the point?
Playing dumb was fake; wanting a reward was real. Shu Qingyou sneered, finding Lin Xu utterly unreasonable.
“Excuse me.”
The kitchen aisle was narrow, barely fitting two people. Lin Xu showed no self-awareness, blocking Shu Qingyou with both arms braced on the counter.
“Don’t you want to know why I stayed? I said I’d tell you everything without holding back.”
Lin Xu barred her way, showing no intention of yielding. “Ask me already.”
Seeing this standoff, Shu Qingyou helplessly rubbed her forehead. She really wanted to take a shower—the stickiness between her legs hadn’t dried even now.
Shu Qingyou had the illusion that she’d never escape Lin Xu in this lifetime.
“Fine. Why didn’t you leave with her?”
“First, my brain’s not working right. Going home would just mean getting slaughtered.”
Lin Xu began listing reasons. “Second, I have a bad impression of her.”
Very correct, very reasonable. Shu Qingyou pushed at Lin Xu’s arms, but they didn’t budge.
“Good. I get it. Let me go.”
Shu Qingyou felt a bit like a saint. Her little sister’s concerns were valid, and what Lin Xu had done to her proved it.
Far beyond sexual harassment—it was actively testing the edges of assault.
Lin Xu said innocently, “I haven’t finished yet. Have a little patience, okay?”
Now she was shifting the blame again. Shu Qingyou took a deep breath. “Mm. I’ll wait.”
The kitchen corridor light was dim. Lin Xu perked up, taking in Shu Qingyou’s every reaction.
Shu Qingyou’s lashes, still damp from recent tears, were dense like morning dew trembling lightly. Lin Xu couldn’t help it—unspeakable thoughts stirred again.
She murmured, “Third, I couldn’t bear to leave you.”
Shu Qingyou’s gaze shifted from surprise to doubt as their eyes met. Analyzing Lin Xu’s seemingly sincere tone.
She let out a low chuckle, the mockery plain. Before Lin Xu could continue professing her heart—
“Do you think I’m easy to bully?”
“Of course not. How could you think that? I—” Lin Xu racked her brain briefly and changed her words at the last second.
“It’s all my fault. My gland was especially hard to control today. I couldn’t help myself. I swear, I didn’t mean to bully you.”
Shu Qingyou repeated her words about it being hard to control. “You really won’t bully me anymore?”
Lin Xu wanted to kneel to the heavens and swear. “Mm-hmm, never again.”
An Alpha’s mouth spews lies like a ghost. Shu Qingyou didn’t argue, curving her lips. Lin Xu couldn’t read it as Shu Qingyou lowered her head, a few strands of hair falling over her lashes.
Suddenly, Lin Xu’s breath hitched, lips parting slightly. Shu Qingyou parted her freshly wiped, cool fingers and laid them over the skin of Lin Xu’s hand.
She closely observed the tiny tremors in Lin Xu’s hand, then curled her fingers, tracing irregular patterns with excruciating slowness.
Dots, lines, circles…
Lin Xu didn’t dare breathe, her mouth flooding with saliva.
The bulging veins were pressed and rubbed by fingertips. Lin Xu’s scalp tingled, a reluctant moan escaping.
Sliding to the hard knuckles, rubbing repeatedly—the cool touch alternating with warmth, full of provocation.
They said the fingers were connected to the heart. Numbness spread from her hand up her entire arm. Not only did Lin Xu’s hand itch, her heart felt gripped by those fingers.
Lin Xu couldn’t see Shu Qingyou’s expression clearly, but she didn’t dare meet her eyes. Her face burned so hot Lin Xu wanted to douse herself in cold water. It was pure torment.
“Do you want to continue?”
