Chapter 4

Shu Wan Ning didn’t finish her words, but the sisters shared an unspoken understanding. Although the child looked nothing like Lin Xu.

There was no telling what outrageous things Lin Xu might do if she found out it was her child.

Four years ago.

Sea City’s winter brought torrential rain.

In the penthouse luxury apartment in the CBD, the floor-to-ceiling windows reflected neon lights like shattered pearls.

The indoor heating made it as warm as spring, and the neutralizer diluted the intertwining pheromones of phlox flower scent and orange.

Shu Qingyou collapsed on the leather sofa, her long hair disheveled.

She wore only an open oversized white shirt, her fair legs crossed, with red marks of varying sizes on the delicate skin between her thighs.

Her face flushed, her breathing erratic, kiss marks prominent on her chest, and the gland on her slender neck ravaged beyond recognition by Lin Xu.

Lin Xu, however, lounged leisurely on the other side.

She wore a midnight purple silk gown, perfectly tailored, cinched at the waist to accentuate her fine figure.

Her fingers still damp, sticky with residue.

She leaned in, gripped Shu Qingyou’s chin, forcing her to look up.

Shu Qingyou’s water-like autumn eyes shimmered with ripples, evoking pity.

Lin Xu truly hated seeing Shu Qingyou’s eyes red-rimmed before her. Wasn’t the money she gave enough? Lin Xu felt irritated.

She snarled viciously, “This is the last time. I won’t repeat myself. I’m tired of this sugar baby game.”

Even with Lin Xu’s harsh attitude, the deeply marked Shu Qingyou was extremely dependent on her, both mentally and physically.

Shu Qingyou made no response, merely pressing her lips to the back of her hand.

She bit her lower lip, swallowing all her whimpers.

But she couldn’t hide the trembling of her shoulders and chest. Lin Xu’s gaze sharpened, devoid of her usual good mood.

This only made her more impatient, utterly fed up with Shu Qingyou acting like the victim.

“Cat got your tongue?”

A trace of sorrow overflowed from Shu Qingyou’s lips, her voice barely a whisper.

“We’ve already…”

Lin Xu arched a brow lightly.

“Already what? Deeply marked? So what? It can just be washed off.”

“As for liking you? I just don’t hate your pheromones, and…”

Lin Xu violently yanked her arm. Shu Qingyou’s skin was thin and soft.

Fresh from an unpleasant sexual encounter, with her glands mercilessly gnawed by Lin Xu, she had no strength to resist.

She pulled up the sleeve, revealing horrifying blood marks on her arm that pierced the eyes.

“Think I wouldn’t notice? Using your favorite piece, no less. So pretentious, putting on this fake show for whom? Don’t tell me you’re delusionally thinking I like you as a person.”

Shu Qingyou’s eyes brimmed with tears, droplets swirling in her pupils, on the verge of falling but never quite.

She silently hid her hand behind her back.

“…Lin Xu, don’t do this.”

Lin Xu disgustedly shook off her entanglement, her gaze icy.

“Get away from me. All I asked was for you to drink with the clients and my sisters, and you keep making excuses. Still living in your pampered young lady dreams?”

Shu Qingyou’s eyes dimmed; she no longer cared. Young lady—looking back felt like peering into someone else’s life.

The people or things she cared about, Lin Xu never understood or showed the slightest interest. She didn’t care about her at all.

This time, it wasn’t a joke.

Who would hurt themselves for no reason?

Shu Qingyou clenched her fingertips, nails digging into flesh.

Lin Xu dragged her to social events, made her drink on her behalf, getting her so drunk she vomited every time.

She ignored her completely, and when Shu Qingyou was at her most miserable, Lin Xu ruthlessly violated both her glands.

Over the past year, she had lost count of how many times this had happened.

An Omega without an inhibitor patch couldn’t resist an Alpha, let alone one she was kept by.

At the start of their arrangement, Lin Xu had hidden it well. Though Shu Qingyou was five years older, she was naive, inexperienced in worldly affairs or romance.

Raised under the protection of her mother, father, and grandmother, she had barely worried even when starting her business.

But when her parents died in a car accident and her grandmother fell gravely ill from the shock, unable to recover.

The exorbitant medical bills bent her spine.

In such desperation, anyone would grasp at a lifeline.

She had naively believed that by giving herself completely, body and soul, Lin Xu would at least treat her differently.

But in the end, it was all a mirage.

At least Lin Xu had extended a helping hand in her hour of need, sparing her from the sex trade. Being a sugar mommy was benevolent enough.

And taking money to do the gold master’s bidding was only fair.

As for the child…

Shu Qingyou’s gaze involuntarily drifted to her abdomen.

Lin Xu keenly caught the subtle movement, her pupils contracting.

How was that possible? She didn’t remember ever sticking with her.

She sneered mockingly.

“Don’t tell me you’re pregnant with my kid and trying that ‘mother of my child’ ploy to climb the ranks. I’m only twenty! You want me to be a mom at twenty? Hilarious.”

Lin Xu paused, racking her brain again. She really shouldn’t have stuck with Shu Qingyou.

Her tone unwittingly carried panic. “I’m warning you, don’t get any funny ideas. Get out of here within a week.”

After a moment, a golden serpent-like lightning bolt tore through the ink-black night.

It illuminated the desolation in Shu Qingyou’s eyes. She moved her lips, her voice hoarse.

“Fine, I’ll go.”

The pen scratched across the paper for a few seconds before Lin Xu stuffed the check into her palm.

“Don’t say I’m heartless. This is a ten-million check—enough for half a lifetime.”

Shu Wan Ning felt exasperated with Shu Qingyou, hating her for not living up to expectations.

She had repeatedly advised against keeping the child, but Shu Qingyou was like a woman possessed, determined to give birth.

The only silver lining was that the child’s personality and looks took after her mother, worlds apart from the scumbag Alpha Lin Xu.

It might as well have been immaculate conception.

“Sis, so what happened in the end?”

With that in mind, Shu Qingyou’s tone was utterly flat.

“No big deal. Even if she knows, she’ll avoid it like the plague.”

Meanwhile, the party in question, Lin Xu, sneezed. It wasn’t cold just moments ago.

She glanced at the sky—clear and bright.

Reflecting on the earlier confrontation, Shu Qingyou’s sister clearly despised her, which must tie back to her original self.

When she had stormed out in a fit of pique, she realized she had no money or phone on her.

Going back now would be humiliating. Beg Shu Qingyou for cash with a thick skin?

She realized she was full of contradictions. Facing her inner truth, she had no choice but to return and confront the awkwardness.

This village ecosystem wasn’t friendly to her; she had even nearly gotten lost.

Passing Shu Qingyou’s neighbors, she overheard their rustling discussions again.

“The people next door only moved in half a year ago, and look at the drama.”

“Two Alphas fighting over one Omega. Tsk, shameless.”

Several women sat on bamboo chairs and benches, fruit shells scattered on the ground.

They must have witnessed the fight. Their huddled whispering was infuriating.

Watery poplar flowers, sneaking around…

Lin Xu clenched her fists, grinding her back teeth.

Geographically, these were surely Shu Qingyou’s neighbors.

She could ignore them, but as she turned her back, the voices persisted.

She couldn’t tolerate it one bit.

In a flash, Lin Xu charged forward like an arrow. Her ferocious momentum stunned the women into a daze.

She stopped unhesitatingly a meter away.

Seeing her ill intent, they hadn’t recovered from the shock.

One, likely the leader, widened her eyes, neck stiff, pointing at Lin Xu.

“W-what do you want? Let me tell you, this is a society governed by law. Don’t you dare lay a hand on us!”

Lin Xu’s expression was foul, her tone no better.

“Have some shame, will you? Grown women, why not do something productive instead of sitting at your doorsteps gossiping all day? And if you’re going to gossip, pick your targets wisely. Think it’s fun? Jealous because she’s got people fighting over her, huh?”

The long-tongued women’s faces flushed red then pale under her scolding.

Lin Xu wasn’t done with them.

“So your family lives aren’t happy, you’re unbalanced, and that’s why you gossip about others nonstop. Curious about my relationship with her? Why not eavesdrop at her window? That’d satisfy your twisted minds even more.”

They never expected this Alpha to be so sharp-tongued and bold, leaving them speechless.

Losing face to a youngster—what a disgrace.

One woman bared yellowed teeth, her worn gray padded jacket draped over her bloated frame.

“What’s with this prickly Alpha? We don’t even know you. Who are we talking about? Mind your own business, bah!”

Lin Xu’s anger peaked. She eyed the woman—all Betas, no pheromones.

The pressure from a top-tier Alpha leaked out, her presence alone overwhelming ordinary folk.

Even Betas would feel heavy pressure, legs turning to jelly.

If they weren’t seated, they’d have toppled over.

Lin Xu wasn’t one to back down, especially after being provoked by Shu Qingyou’s sister.

Her emotions unstable, she kicked over their fruit platter with one foot.

It clattered with a ping-pang crash.

Lin Xu’s gaze darkened. “Who are you talking about? Need me to spell it out?”

The women exchanged glances and shut up, their faces ashen.

Truth be told, once a top Alpha’s pheromones emerged, they all chickened out, unwilling to provoke her.

Their upbringing taught them top Alphas were elite genes from wealthy families.

What if she had power?

Even these sly old foxes knew to yield when outmatched, plastering on smiles.

“Hey now, young lady, no need for such fire. We were just joking. Besides, we’re only stating facts. When she moved in, she gave us the cold shoulder—no hello, nothing.”

Lin Xu couldn’t empathize with the Beta woman’s words, her mind fixed on Shu Qingyou.

Every extra word felt wasted. Having taught them a lesson, she had no need to press further. She strode off haughtily, long legs carrying her away.

She spent about ten minutes surveying the area. A stream crossed the village north to south, with constant crowing of chickens and barking of dogs.

It was nearing mealtime; wisps of smoke rose from chimneys. Inopportunely, her stomach growled.

But she truly had no money.

Maybe return and play nice. Even without memories, she could fake it. Family wouldn’t let her starve, right?

But leaving like this—wouldn’t Shu Qingyou resent her more?

The two thoughts warred within her, leaving her restless.

Unknowingly, she reached the corner leading to the main road. Several children sat at their doorstep, bowls in hand, eyeing her curiously.

Lin Xu felt a bit embarrassed. Suddenly, a low rumble came from the road junction.