Shu Qingyou couldn’t see it from her own angle, but Shu Rong’s odd behavior made her pick up the vanity mirror to check.
She was acting like an ostrich—her daughter had no idea what it meant—and Shu Qingyou coaxed her, “Mommy got bitten by a mosquito.”
Lin Xu had planted strawberries on her neck here and there. Looking on the bright side, at least Lin Xu hadn’t stripped off her nightgown.
“What a big mosquito. Does it hurt, Mommy?” Shu Rong scooted closer to Shu Qingyou and rubbed the spot to help. It was strange—why was Mommy keep dodging away?
Lin Xu was wrestling with her inner conflict. The skin in her palm rubbed against the black lace, a bit damp, enhanced by the lace’s silky texture.
She harbored a reverent heart but was committing a perverse act. Since no one saw it, she could chalk it up to her kink.
She lowered her gaze like a severe cat-addict, greedily inhaling her catnip.
The scent of pheromones—mature sweet orange—lingered as she savored Shu Qingyou’s softness from head to toe. Every trace of fragrance seeped into her cells.
The gland opening nestled between her fingers, as she imagined it being soothed by Shu Qingyou’s lips.
If only the floor hadn’t been trampled by shoes…
This made for a decent substitute.
She could even tuck it by her pillow that night to stand in for Shu Qingyou while sleeping.
Shu Qingyou, who had come in to fetch underwear, froze in the doorway. Her pupils dilated slightly. Lin Xu was holding her intimate garment.
And it was right under Lin Xu’s nose. Her gaze drifted downward, and Shu Qingyou stood there in shock for a full several dozen seconds. Lin Xu had her eyes closed in bliss, completely oblivious to the shadow falling before her.
Shu Qingyou’s face flushed red as she snatched it back from Lin Xu’s hand.
Good things truly never lasted. Lin Xu sighed inwardly, only to get scolded from above her head.
“Pervert!”
Lin Xu slowly lifted her head, mouth agape, grinning shamelessly as she hugged Shu Qingyou’s thigh without a care.
“I haven’t finished yet. Give it back quick.”
Was this any way to talk?!
It stuck in Shu Qingyou’s throat like a fishbone. Lin Xu had gone too far, beyond anything Shu Qingyou had imagined of her.
“This is mine,” she said, each word trembling. “Act normal. Look closely—this isn’t food. You can’t use it like that.”
Lin Xu knelt and gently released her arms. Shu Qingyou was too conservative, like some ancient relic. Didn’t she know Alphas needed release on their own sometimes?
She wasn’t giving her pheromones, so drawing from elsewhere—and now she was stopping that too? Over a single pair of underwear.
Lin Xu glared resentfully at the underwear. Her stare was too intense. No matter how much Lin Xu craved it, Shu Qingyou tucked it silently behind her back.
Lin Xu was a total pervert.
Fine, slow and steady wins the race. Lin Xu adjusted her dissatisfied mood and stood up on her legs.
She playfully stole a peck from Shu Qingyou’s lips to change the subject. “Just kidding. Is Rongrong asleep?”
Mentioning her daughter brought all the deliberate signs to light. Shu Qingyou stepped back. “I want to know what you said to her. She never went to bed this early before.”
Her daughter ranked first in her heart, Lin Xu thought sourly. She was jealous, even if competing with a child was childish.
But seeing this usually ascetic woman melt into a puddle in her hands? Totally worth it.
“It’s a secret,” Lin Xu drawled. “But kiss me, and I’ll tell you.”
Shu Qingyou paused for a few seconds, fingers tightening on the underwear. Shu Rong couldn’t speak or write yet, so she nodded. “Fine…”
She compromised so quickly. Lin Xu traced Shu Qingyou’s elegant brows and eyes with her gaze, that alluring little beauty mark. She teased, “Why aren’t you moving?”
Shu Qingyou looked puzzled. “Move where?”
So cute. An evil thought bubbled up in Lin Xu’s heart. She straightened. “You—kiss me actively.”
That wasn’t hard. Shu Qingyou steeled herself and tilted her chin up.
Lin Xu tilted her head at just the right moment. “Not here.”
Shu Qingyou was baffled. Lin Xu grabbed her hand and guided it downward.
She felt the slick pheromones on the inside.
So Lin Xu wanted…
It was stringing.
Shu Qingyou’s chest heaved with her breaths, her mouth dry.
It wasn’t like she hadn’t done it before. When she and Lin Xu were together, they’d discussed techniques. After once, Lin Xu never let Shu Qingyou service her again.
Shu Qingyou panicked, out of her depth and lacking confidence. She lowered her fluttering lashes. “Next time.”
Normally, wouldn’t she reject it outright? How had she gotten so wet and agreed?
Lin Xu racked her brains, astonished by the situation.
The most improbable conclusion flashed in her mind: Shu Qingyou had serviced someone else’s meat stick!
Lin Xu choked on her saliva and coughed violently.
Amid the excitement, jealousy burned like wildfire in her heart, her eyes heating up. Why?!
Why had the old Lin Xu eaten so well?!
Compared to the negligible jealousy over Shu Rong, she wanted to execute the former Lin Xu on the spot.
The old days must’ve been that good. Things were looking grimmer by the minute.
So how had they split up?
Lin Xu forced a smile. “Sure, sure. We’ve got plenty of time ahead.”
Shu Qingyou poked her cheek. “So, what about Shu Rong?”
She nearly forgot the little one. Lin Xu flopped onto the bed in a spread-eagle. “Right, she wants to go to the amusement park.”
Shu Qingyou wasn’t fully convinced. “That’s all?”
Sometimes she couldn’t quite grasp Lin Xu’s implications, but analyzing the unspeakable, she could usually decode most of it.
It had to involve that matter…
Lin Xu stared at the ceiling, avoiding Shu Qingyou’s eyes. “Oh, Sis Shu, you’re overthinking it.”
Realizing Lin Xu was teasing her, Shu Qingyou felt displeased. Before returning to her room, she pressed down on Lin Xu’s Inhibitor Patch and rolled it a few times.
“You’re not allowed to think dirty. I’m just helping secure your Inhibitor Patch.”
That night, Lin Xu suffered from insomnia.
Overexcitement meant she only slept about three hours. Sporting two panda eyes, she gnawed on her toast like it was Shu Qingyou, while Shu Rong was already fully geared up—she’d risen very early.
She’d wanted to go find Big Sis but was stopped by Mommy, who said not to disturb Big Sis’s rest.
Facing Shu Rong’s enthusiastic lean against her, Lin Xu asked, “Is your mom in the backyard?”
Unaware of Lin Xu’s low mood, Shu Rong grinned wide and nodded.
She didn’t talk—such a good girl. How could Lin Xu give this little cutie the cold shoulder?
With a heave-ho, she hoisted Shu Rong onto her shoulder like always.
She found Shu Qingyou on the phone, phone wedged between her shoulder and ear, holding a smooth coffee mug to inspect its quality. A faint smile played on her lips, dressed in her casual outing style.
“Mm, all the ceramic mugs are fired and cooled. The hundred or so you ordered before—colors and styles all match those samples you specified.”
“Shipping’s no issue. I’ll arrange the ride.”
“Mm, everything’s smooth…” Shu Qingyou watched sunlight fall on Lin Xu and her daughter’s heads, her smile deepening. “Good. Next time, I’ll send you a limited edition.”
Lin Xu bristled at “limited edition.”
Shu Qingyou ended the call and glanced at Lin Xu, composed and quiet. As she approached, the dark circles under Lin Xu’s eyes stood out more.
“Couldn’t sleep at midnight? Out thieving?”
Lin Xu pouted. Shu Qingyou had teased her and left her hanging, now playing innocent.
On second thought, it was just petty revenge from Shu Qingyou.
Lin Xu hadn’t forgotten her promise to Shu Rong. “Amusement park today.”
The remaining days just needed packing the cups and plates, then shipping to the café.
“Good. Shu Rong learned to dress herself today.”
Shu Rong’s attitude said it all. She’d never seen her daughter rise and shine so eagerly—just one mention of the amusement park last night.
Needing to sleep and wake early, Shu Rong had gotten up at five to dress.
Her clothes were on backward, buttons crooked.
Lin Xu feigned surprise and praised her. “Our Rongrong is so amazing! Three years old and dressing herself—does that mean you can sleep alone now?”
No way. Remembering last night’s nightmare of Mommy all alone, Shu Rong shook her head anxiously.
Lin Xu set her down and flicked her wrinkly little nose, teasing, “Scaredy-cat. You’re such a mommy’s girl.”
Good thing Shu Rong didn’t understand. Shu Qingyou couldn’t stand it. “Bullying my daughter is addictive for you, huh?”
Lin Xu reflected briefly, and a chill crept up her spine. She seemed to bully Rongrong into tears often.
Anyone else would’ve kicked her out long ago. But because of their past ‘friends with benefits’ tie, she’d been tolerated this far.
Eager to make amends, Lin Xu fawned, “Let’s go. Heading out now.”
Such a good girl. Shu Qingyou ruffled the big one and the small one’s faces in turn. “Wait for me.”
As she passed Lin Xu, her hair lifted by the breeze, brushing softly over her brows and eyes. Sweet, cloying fragrance—even each strand carried it.
Lin Xu dazed for a moment. By the car, she shook Shu Rong’s little paw. “Rongrong, your mommy smells so sweet. You like it too, right?”
Big Sis said so, but Shu Rong didn’t get it. Mommy was fragrant, but not sweet—she could tell scents apart.
Shu Rong pursed her lips innocently. Lin Xu found it odd. “Don’t tell me you can’t smell it. It’s sweet—hey, little Rongrong, your nose must be off.”
Feeling belittled, Shu Rong decided to sniff Mommy seriously.
Watching Shu Rong’s distress amused Lin Xu.
Other kids were so noisy—just a glance irritated her.
Shu Rong was special, especially as Shu Qingyou’s child—they looked so alike.
Great that she didn’t resemble some deadbeat Alpha mom who knew where. Lin Xu had to guard Shu Qingyou well.
She was smug when her phone rang suddenly. A number untouched for ages—probably spam.
Irritated, she picked up and refused crisply, “Sorry, I don’t need insurance.”
The other side paused. Just as Lin Xu was about to hang up, a barrage of curses exploded by her ear. “Damn Lin Xu, did a donkey kick your brain?! I’ve told you a hundred times to add my number. Did you shove my words up your ass and flush ’em?!”
Her eardrums nearly burst. Lin Xu yanked the phone away, but speaker mode still broadcast Gu Huaiyuan’s colorful swears clearly.
“Rongrong, cover your ears! Don’t listen!”
Lin Xu didn’t care, but she couldn’t corrupt the kid.
She massaged her ear with a finger, frowning. “Fine, added to contacts. What kind of lady are you, cursing like that? Be civilized—you, me, her. Good citizen.”
Perhaps she made sense—silence followed on the line.
Gu Huaiyuan: “Old Lady Lin woke up.”
After a beat, Lin Xu dredged the meaning from her vocab. Panic hit hard—cold air chilled her, shivers running through.
Her hand wrapped Shu Rong’s cool little one.
Stammering, she asked, “What’d she say?”
Gu Huaiyuan on the other end laughed gleefully. Deep down, Lin Xu still feared the old lady. With a coquettish chuckle, “She wants you back now—right this instant!”
