Chapter 27 Part 1

Shu Rong nodded dazedly, and suddenly she was lifted high into the air. A few strands of her upright hair brushed against the ceiling’s fluorescent tube light. Shu Rong opened her mouth slightly and let out a soft, frightened whimper.

Her little legs naturally spread apart, resting on Lin Xu’s shoulders. At first, they wobbled a bit.

Shu Rong’s heart raced, reminding her of the flying cats in cartoons.

Then, Lin Xu steadied her upper body firmly.

“Heehee, hold on tight, Rongrong.”

The weight was negligible. Lin Xu took complete control effortlessly.

The novel sensation expanded Shu Rong’s view geometrically. Lin Xu grabbed her flailing little hands.

Shu Rong was still a bit scared, though Lin Xu couldn’t see it.

“Take me to find your mom. Hold my hands, and you’ll be my navigator.”

At her young age, Shu Rong’s worldview was narrow—only fairy tales, small animals, and cartoons. But the big sister was very attached to Mommy, which she didn’t quite understand.

Mommy had told her to eat well and then go find her over there. She grabbed Lin Xu’s big hand and pointed in a direction.

The backyard?

Lin Xu’s long legs strode swiftly. Shu Rong’s upper body clung to her like a koala, afraid the big sister would jostle her and make her fall.

“Shu-jiejie, you’re here!”

Shu Qingyou looked up, her hair gathered back with a shark clip. She wore plain clothes and a beige work apron. Lin Xu was surprised—this was the first time she’d seen this door open, revealing a whole other world inside.

Small dried flowers she couldn’t name, oddly shaped wooden boards hung on the gray walls.

Shelves like the ones she’d glimpsed before held decorative trinkets. The middle layer of the storage racks displayed cups and finished bowls and pots.

The colors weren’t just the everyday ones Lin Xu knew; some looked like the tea sets from TV dramas, with a deep, wabi-sabi aesthetic.

Some were missing edges or had obvious crackle glazes on the surface.

Shu Qingyou sat at the workbench, taking inventory.

The room was surprisingly spacious. In the farthest corner was a complete drainage system, and two large windows stood wide open for good ventilation.

Sparse sunlight reflected in Shu Qingyou’s cool tea-colored eyes, making them shimmer with vibrant hues as they moved.

“Rongrong.”

Seeing her daughter’s excitement, Shu Qingyou’s gaze finally met Lin Xu’s. She noted that Lin Xu had the sense to please Shu Rong. Lin Xu’s eyesight isn’t bad, she thought.

“You were looking for me?”

She set down the trimming knife and scraper. On the apricot-colored thick canvas beside her lay various brushes.

Since she was about to start working, the tools should see the light of day.

No time to wait for Lin Xu to finish spacing out. Shu Qingyou stood, plugged in the potter’s wheel, and checked the manual stepless speed controller. With the mechanical hum, she adjusted the direction—no issues.

The machine’s noise snapped Lin Xu out of it. Shu Rong kicked her legs happily on Lin Xu’s shoulders, unleashing her natural joy.

“Wow, Shu Rong, you’ve gotten bold. Aren’t you afraid we’ll both eat dirt if we fall?”

Shu Rong immediately hugged Lin Xu’s neck tight, nearly choking her.

“Um, Shu-jiejie, is this your workspace?”

Shu Qingyou nodded. Lin Xu was stating the obvious; she didn’t feel like responding.

But Lin Xu had seen similar equipment at Teacher Yue’s and had smugly looked it up online. “I know this machine. It’s perfect for beginners like me.”

“When did you get interested in this?”

“Just the other day when I visited your teacher. I thought playing with clay was fun. Rongrong wants to play too, right?”

Lin Xu lifted Shu Rong into the air again, then scooped her back into her arms. Shu Rong mimicked her, nodding eagerly.

Shu Qingyou glanced at the machine, better suited for simple, symmetrical minimalist styles. “Play?”

It reminded her inevitably of before university graduation, when her family was well-off.

Shu Qingyou had wanted to try everything—works more ornamental than practical, from low-fire to high-fire miniatures, even mid-to-large sculptures.

Sculpting was a bit laborious: hammering and patting to shape, compacting the clay, climbing up and down a high stool.

Shu Qingyou tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear and went to the sink to rub her clean fingers.

Lin Xu conditioned herself reflexively, thinking she’d said something wrong, and bowed her head in apology. “Then I won’t play.”

Shu Qingyou took off her work apron and pinched Shu Rong’s soft, bouncy cheek, sighing softly. “In your eyes, am I that petty and moody? Do I look even a bit unhappy?”

No need to grovel like that.

“Really? Then can Rongrong and I play with clay?”

Lin Xu was the type to take a mile if given an inch. She saw Shu Qingyou as a nightlight—even in the coldest season, that glow could warm her heart.

Shu Qingyou’s lips curved slightly, but she said nothing, heading straight back to the front room. Lin Xu trotted happily beside her.

At the entryway, Shu Qingyou grabbed the car keys, threading her index finger through the metal ring above.

“Did you eat breakfast?”

“Yeah, one corn cob. It was good. There’s more corn and eggs—want some? I’ll get them.”

“No need, I have things to do. Should you and Rongrong stay home, or should I take her?”

Hearing this, Lin Xu knew she was heading out and quickly volunteered. “I’ll go with you. I can drive for you both.”

Shu Qingyou’s brows furrowed. She recalled the past—she’d ridden in Lin Xu’s car once, a business van speeding through the early morning like it was racing.

Even when she tried to stop it, it was useless, only fueling Lin Xu’s adrenaline-fueled recklessness.

“There’s a third option. Want to come with me?”

She had no desire to risk her life. Shu Qingyou knew Lin Xu’s dependency well—in unfamiliar settings, people naturally favored the first face they saw.

Over time, it could form a suspension bridge effect. Lin Xu was showing signs of that, acting like she couldn’t live without her.

Later, I need to contact Teacher Yue and offload Lin Xu quickly.

Lin Xu was thrilled to go with Shu Qingyou—it meant she wasn’t disgusted with her yet.

The drive was long, nearly two hours. The morning mist in the mountains hadn’t cleared, and dust churned in the distance.

Lin Xu watched Shu Qingyou’s focused expression on the road, her silence eerie. At least play a song on the car stereo. She made small talk.

“Driving without music is like eating noodles without garlic.”

Shu Qingyou: …

“I don’t eat garlic. Have you suddenly developed a taste for it?”

“I can handle it as seasoning, but eating it raw is tough. Garlic-flavored fried chicken, though? That I can do.”

Lin Xu argued earnestly, but really, she remembered the delicious fried chicken from last time. How could chicken taste that good?

Shu Qingyou had anticipated Lin Xu’s gluttonous nature—it was surprisingly spot-on.

At first, Shu Qingyou remembered Lin Xu never showing a particular love for any food in front of her.

Shu Qingyou rarely cooked. Before bankruptcy, the family aunt handled meals. In the end, it was just her, her sister, and their elderly grandmother.

She’d learned to manage everything, starting unskilled by following recipes, turning the kitchen into chaos. She hadn’t separated oil and water properly, scalding blisters on the back of her hand—not too serious.

Practice made perfect, and soon she worked in the kitchen methodically.

Lin Xu’s love for cakes and fried chicken reminded Shu Qingyou of a past incident.

Not long after they started dating, Shu Qingyou didn’t think she was very romantic.

She’d seen friends’ circles or online posts sharing couple milestone days and thought they should set an anniversary.

She always woke earlier than Lin Xu, and that day was no exception. Lin Xu’s sleeping posture was poor; she’d unconsciously wrap around her waist and thighs at night.

At first, Shu Qingyou couldn’t accept such intimacy. Her mother had just passed, and anxiety tormented her for a long time.

Being alone easily drowned her in sorrow’s ocean.

Lin Xu arrived like a benefactor—self-absorbed, bringing false security and sudden hysterics.

But it was still better than nothing.

Shu Qingyou had always thought she was overly sensitive.

Love could indeed change ingrained views and habits. She, who almost never touched anyone physically, ended up rolling in the sheets with Lin Xu that night.

Her state left no room to refute Lin Xu’s twisted logic: If we don’t do it, how will we know if we’re compatible?

Gazing at Lin Xu’s cute sleeping face, she brushed aside her hair and quickly kissed her cheek.

She slipped out of bed quietly. Weekend, no work—it was their one-month anniversary. To not disturb Lin Xu, she freshened up simply and headed to the market for the freshest ingredients.

Lin Xu always ate lightly, so Shu Qingyou bought ingredients for bland dishes.

Back home, Lin Xu was awake, sipping coffee on the sofa.

Shu Qingyou didn’t notice her expression and just said good morning.

Lin Xu glanced at Shu Qingyou in the entryway, instantly straightening up, suppressing her irritation.

“Where’d you go?”

Shu Qingyou set down the keys, ignoring the difference in Lin Xu’s tone.

“Out to buy groceries.” She changed into slippers. “I made breakfast—eggs and bacon, warming in the microwave.”

“Not hungry.”

“Skipping breakfast will hurt your stomach.”

Lin Xu frowned, slamming the mug on the coffee table. The glass let out a sharp crack. But facing Shu Qingyou, she switched to a beaming smile.

“I don’t want to eat anyway. And hey, going out without your phone—are you even modern?”

Such a big reaction stunned Shu Qingyou. Did she need to report a short trip?

“Sorry, the market’s close by. I realized I forgot it after leaving. Some old vendors don’t like mobile payments.”

Wrong answer. Lin Xu just glowered, her Alpha pheromones bursting out, brows lowering over her eyes.

“You really know how to empathize.”

Shu Qingyou wasn’t familiar with Lin Xu’s temper yet, sensing only a vague weirdness and a hint of sarcasm, but she didn’t dwell.

“I empathize with you too—I bought cake.”

Who knew, Lin Xu closed in three steps at a time, pheromones accompanying her, startling Shu Qingyou.

“Lin Xu, what’s wrong with you?”

Lin Xu didn’t reply, looking down at the bulging bags on the floor.

“What cake?”

“I’ve never seen you eat dessert, didn’t know your taste, so I got nut chocolate.”

“Hm, not bad.”

Silence fell. Lin Xu stood tall and still like a green pine, her face unhappy.

Shu Qingyou took her hand, liking the warmth of her palm.

“Didn’t sleep well last night?”

“Yeah.”

Shu Qingyou wanted to ask more when suddenly she was shoved against the wall, the back of her head hitting hard.

She let out a muffled grunt, enduring the pain.

Before she could see clearly, dense kisses landed on her face and lips. Shu Qingyou was displeased with Lin Xu’s roughness.

But resistance was futile against the absolute dominance of Alpha pheromones. Shu Qingyou’s legs went weak. After adjusting to the kiss, she wrapped her arms around Lin Xu’s neck.

Lin Xu ground against her lips and teeth, holding Shu Qingyou’s trim waist, her tongue urgently seeking entry.

Shu Qingyou trembled from tension, all in Lin Xu’s view. She whispered intimately, chiding her.

“Kissed this long and you still won’t open your mouth.”

Shu Qingyou’s lashes lowered, a flush rising on her face. She murmured softly, “Why don’t you go back to sleep? We can have brunch later.”

Lin Xu ignored her, as if it were irrelevant. She touched Shu Qingyou’s jaw.

“Yeah, what should we have for brunch?”

Thinking she meant the menu, Shu Qingyou was about to name a dish when her clothes were suddenly lifted.

The house stayed at a constant 24 degrees, but Lin Xu’s abrupt move chilled the exposed skin.

As Shu Qingyou puzzled over it, her gland was bared.

Her gaze froze. Seconds later, realizing what Lin Xu was doing, her pupils contracted. She tried to pull Lin Xu up.

“Get up quick—it’s too early.”

Lin Xu didn’t budge, squatting triumphantly with narrowed eyes.

“That’s why I’m hungry in the morning. I want breakfast now.”

With that, soft lips enveloped the gland.

Without Lin Xu holding her, Shu Qingyou would’ve slid to the floor right there—too stimulating.

Smacking sounds filled the air, mingled with the scent of infused pheromones spreading.

The Omega couldn’t take it at first, panicked as she pushed the diligent, enjoying Alpha away.

Her ears burned like fever; she couldn’t meet Lin Xu’s eyes, the clear fluid of pheromones glistening at her nose tip.

“N-Not… not washed yet.”

Lin Xu licked her lips, savoring.

“Last night I carried you to the tub—I washed every inch carefully. Don’t you trust me?”