Lin Xu paused, wrapping her arms tightly around Shu Qingyou as she said delightedly, “Shu-jie, how haven’t you noticed? I can control my pheromones now.”
Shu Qingyou savored the pheromones, her body physiologically satisfied but her mind feeling a vague sense of loss. “Yeah, that’s pretty good.”
Her skin gradually flushed with heat, their breaths intertwining indistinguishably. Lin Xu controlled her strength and nipped at Shu Qingyou’s face.
After savoring it, Lin Xu pulled her lips back slightly and suppressed her craving as she said, “There’s no meat on your face, but the texture is great.”
The bite didn’t hurt. Shu Qingyou shrank her neck a little and saw the blazing possessiveness in Lin Xu’s eyes.
She pursed her lips. The mark Lin Xu left was gentle, but still…
She was done for.
She had replenished so much nutrition that morning, all stored in her pheromones.
And now, not long after, it was almost all wasted.
An Alpha’s craving for an Omega’s pheromones was endless, an innate flaw.
How could Lin Xu not want to just act on her desires?
Teasing her until she was worked up, then pulling away—who could be that pathetic? Lin Xu wanted to give herself a thumbs-up.
Even though her gland was hot and aching, she couldn’t abandon her principles.
But Shu Qingyou gave her a shy yet inviting look, her long lashes fluttering, the corners of her eyes dotted with tiny water droplets.
Lin Xu’s rationality was like a crumbling high wall.
The springtime fragrance was intoxicating; the sweet orange pheromones were a silent web. A couple more breaths were enough to suffocate her.
Screw rationality… screw principles.
Lin Xu’s gaze darkened inscrutably as she leaned in. “Qingyou, are you… not full yet either?”
Tilting her neck to meet Lin Xu’s eyes, Shu Qingyou held her breath, sensing a change in Lin Xu. She wasn’t as domineering as before.
She was considering her feelings, asking for her opinion.
Shu Qingyou placed her hand on Lin Xu’s waist, feeling the firm muscles through the T-shirt.
“What if I said yes?”
It was a tentative question, not entirely deceiving Lin Xu. Her recent heat period had been rough, and she hadn’t injected suppressant yet that morning.
Lin Xu incredulously parsed those few words. That was what she meant, right?
It was more thrilling than winning the lottery, leaving her dizzy with excitement.
Her self-control had never been great to begin with. She pulled Shu Qingyou close.
Her hand slipped under the sleep skirt, caressing skin as smooth as porcelain.
Electric currents raced wherever it went.
Shu Qingyou bit her lower lip as her gland opening contracted uncontrollably.
“Why hold back?” Lin Xu lowered her head, offering her lips and sucking on the wonderful taste of Shu Qingyou’s.
Her tongue delved into the mouth, drawing out Shu Qingyou’s sweetness, blending with the soft slickness at the tip.
They kissed for quite a while.
Lin Xu noticed Shu Qingyou’s fingertips digging into her waist a bit harder.
“Feels good, right? I saw it when we bathed—I’ve got abs.”
She wasn’t bragging.
Shu Qingyou couldn’t refute it. Before, when Lin Xu had been fully exposed to her, she’d only dared quick glances.
Lingering a few seconds longer sparked an urge to touch.
Lin Xu’s hands were as bold as she was, claiming possessively.
Her throat tightened as she murmured, “Spread your legs here.”
Shu Qingyou felt like she was about to combust inside and out. She wanted to, but the timing was all wrong—way too wrong.
Even her voice trembled as she said, “Rongrong is… sleeping.”
Kids were such a hassle. Lin Xu stopped reluctantly, very slowly.
She lapped at the gland opening and said grudgingly, “I’ll go feed her.”
“You’re the one who’s running out of strength.”
Lin Xu’s hand came into view, slick and glistening.
Blatantly so. Shu Qingyou flushed with shame and looked away, forcing her attention to the food on the table.
Lin Xu’s teasing voice came from above. “Still hungry?”
Without waiting for a reply, Lin Xu leisurely picked up a bowl, scooped a full serving of millet porridge, and plunked it right under Shu Qingyou’s nose.
A huge bowlful…
She couldn’t eat it. Shu Qingyou looked at her troubled.
Lin Xu gazed back indulgently. “Hm?”
“Nothing, thanks. You worked hard today.”
Shu Qingyou immediately ducked her head, avoiding Lin Xu’s eyes in embarrassment.
Lin Xu gave her an out. “This is for Rongrong.”
Shu Qingyou breathed a sigh of relief. While Lin Xu went to feed Rongrong, she needed to hurry and get her suppressant.
Before she could stand, Lin Xu brushed past her ear, making the soft white flesh of her earlobe itch. She chuckled with ill intent.
“As for you… how about I feed you… with my fingers?”
Her pupils quaked. Shu Qingyou’s mouth fell open in shock. After a moment…
She finally found an excuse to escape. “I’ll go check on those goods.”
Lin Xu watched Shu Qingyou’s fleeing back, pressing her gland. It ached so much—she should’ve let Shu Qingyou bite her first before letting her go.
In a spot they ignored, the Dragon Cat witnessed it all with utter boredom.
For the first time, it felt real about being in this world. Women here were just as keen on messing around.
It curled up tightly and shoved itself into the deepest corner of the sofa. Out of sight, out of mind.
Lin Xu woke the little sluggard. The little sluggard rubbed her eyes, squinting them open just a slit. Without even seeing clearly, she dazedly shook her head.
She naturally stretched out her arms for a hug.
As usual, Lin Xu let Shu Rong cling to her like a baby koala. “Rongrong doesn’t have bedtime tantrums. Such a good girl.”
Shu Rong proudly lifted her chin. By the time she was fully awake, Lin Xu had already skillfully handled feeding her.
It felt like nothing she wasn’t good at.
In about half an hour, Shu Rong had gone off to play with her new little buddy, the Dragon Cat.
Shu Qingyou came specifically to tell Lin Xu she was going with the delivery truck for that batch of cups and saucers.
“You’re going alone?”
Lin Xu said it, but she was already rushing to wash the dishes.
“If I go alone, can you promise not to follow?”
“No… I want to go. Can’t I? The doctor suggested more walking to help recover my memory.”
Mainly, she didn’t want her friend meeting Lin Xu—it would mean more explanations.
But Lin Xu wheedled persistently, saying she could help drive.
Last night, she’d remembered some things, though unclear. She figured full recovery wasn’t far off.
“How about we rent cars? One for you, one for me. We’ll load them ourselves—you’ll feel better.”
Given Lin Xu’s pheromone recovery, Shu Qingyou felt a pang of reluctance to part, but she trusted Lin Xu was somewhat reliable now.
She agreed, compromising. “Then drive slow.”
“You just relax. I drive steady as a sloth.”
Once the engine started and the wheels turned, it did give Shu Qingyou complete peace of mind.
And nearly triggered her road rage.
Other cars whooshed past. At the green light, Lin Xu was still easing on the accelerator, barely hitting 30 on the dash. Horns blared long and loud from behind.
Whoosh—they got overtaken again.
After a torturously long twenty minutes—a trip that usually took five—Shu Qingyou worriedly said, “Did a sloth possess you?”
“No way,” Lin Xu took a deep breath. “Just wait.”
Her driving skills hadn’t faded. At the turn, she subtly drifted with expert finesse.
Lin Xu handled it effortlessly, speeding up on the wide road, scenery blurring past the windows.
Shu Rong in the back seat showed no extra reaction; she just missed her little pal at home. Not being allowed to bring it out bummed her out.
Only Shu Qingyou gripped the seatbelt tightly, begging Lin Xu to slow down.
Lin Xu shot her a glance and scoffed disdainfully, coolly detached. “Why should I listen to you?”
Just like a few years ago, the same words. Shu Qingyou’s heart chilled halfway, her eyelids drooping as she fell silent, her left hand trembling uncontrollably.
After a moment, warmth covered her overlapped hands. She lifted her eyes, and Lin Xu’s smile widened bit by bit.
The accelerator eased off; the car cruised at a steady speed. She said, “Qingyou, did I used to drive this fast too?”
Deep down, besides not wanting Shu Qingyou driving, Lin Xu couldn’t bear her scars.
More than that, she wanted to verify the dream’s truth. Sure enough, Shu Qingyou’s face drained of color at those words.
Shu Qingyou said timidly and submissively, prying Lin Xu’s hand away forcefully. She wanted no physical contact.
“Faster than this.”
After all, Lin Xu had raced plenty of sports cars, speeds far exceeding the current 99 kph, driving like she had a death wish.
Worse than she’d imagined. Lin Xu’s heart swelled with bitterness, pierced by countless needles. Her past self had truly been scum.
“Don’t worry. From now on, always slow.”
Shu Qingyou faced the window and murmured an “Mm.”
She was cold to her again. It nearly made Lin Xu cry from anxiety, no matter how many reassurances she gave.
Lin Xu racked her brain for topics, but Shu Qingyou’s responses were curt, never more than two words.
She shut down. Even at the rental place, Shu Qingyou ignored her, dealing directly with the boss about the reserved model.
Then to the wholesale market for paper boxes, bubble wrap, and pearl cotton. Back home, Shu Qingyou tied up her hair, planning to pack alone.
Beforehand, she’d meticulously wiped every cup and saucer.
Packaging focused on protecting the edges. Made from warm gray-white clay, the glaze was plain and elegantly subdued.
The rims had her hand-drawn fine lines. Shu Qingyou was extremely patient with painting, often going all day, even forgetting to eat.
It was always Lin Xu who got takeout and nagged her to eat.
Thinking of this, Shu Qingyou wasn’t even sure why she was mad. She knew Lin Xu hadn’t meant it and had apologized sincerely.
Maybe she was just sulking at herself.
She hoped Lin Xu would remember later.
“Just let me help.” Lin Xu hovered nearby, anxious. She regretted hinting at the dream.
It had backfired.
In a panic, Lin Xu went all in, hugging Shu Qingyou from behind and saying timidly, “Sorry, sorry…”
Warm wetness seeped into her shoulder. Shu Qingyou looked at the coffee cup in her hands.
Its matte light gleamed with a subtle blue-green hue. Besides her personal seal on the bottom, there was a cartoon little orange sketched in a few strokes.
Lin Xu’s idea—to make it feel warmer.
She had good taste…
Shu Qingyou softened her tone. “You’re crying again. Am I bullying you?”
Lin Xu denied vehemently. “No, no—it’s my fault. How could you be bullying? Even if it was, it’d be me…”
Right. Shu Qingyou smiled bitterly, interrupting. “How much do you remember?”
A long silence. Lin Xu didn’t answer, just held her tighter.
The sky was overcast, thick clouds gathered, a chilly wind tangling their hair together.
Shu Qingyou didn’t feel too cold, especially with a big heater wrapped around her.
“Tell me.”
