Chapter 42

It was a cold day, and after being out in the wind until tears streamed down her face, the dried tear tracks stuck to her skin. Shu Qingyou pulled Lin Xu into the bathroom to wipe her face.

Even in her anger, Shu Qingyou’s movements were gentle. Lin Xu’s skin was smooth and tender without any special care, feeling just like tofu.

She closed her eyes in enjoyment, occasionally leaning into the palm that cradled her face.

This feeling was addictive—addictive to her.

They had an open and honest conversation.

Amid the curling aroma of tea, Lin Xu moistened her lips and organized her words, revealing many things.

Including some that even she found unbelievable.

For example: How could I possibly force you to drink?

Shu Qingyou neither confirmed nor denied it. She sat across from Lin Xu, her gaze warm and soft, affirming it with her silence.

Lin Xu slowly lowered her eyes, feeling guilty. “That you didn’t slap me across the face means you have really good manners.”

Under normal morals, Shu Qingyou should have done just that. As for the reason, Lin Xu wasn’t narcissistic enough to think it was because the other loved her and tolerated everything.

What charm did she even have? In the dream, she was a complete control freak.

Shu Qingyou thought about that scene. Fighting in public wasn’t her style.

“If I hit you, you’d hit back, and it would turn into a mutual brawl. Wouldn’t we both end up looking pathetic? Besides, you’re very concerned about your image.”

Lin Xu felt like she was back in the past, grabbing her past self by the ear and yelling: Get lost, act like a human being!

She muttered, “Image can’t be eaten.”

“Giving you face? Actually, it can be eaten.”

Shu Qingyou smiled at her, more touched that Lin Xu could reflect on her improper behavior.

She couldn’t help but wonder: Had most of the flaws in Lin Xu’s personality been purged now that she remembered much of it?

From Lin Xu’s description, the dream content was fragmented. She offered to fill in some gaps.

Clearly, when she pointed out the missing parts, Lin Xu grew even more uncomfortable.

One cup of water was quickly drained. Shu Qingyou poured her another.

Lin Xu thanked her, not even daring to meet her eyes. She took a sip of water, deeply troubled by the last memory fragment.

She wasn’t sure if she should bring it up.

In the corner, Shu Rong was in a great mood. With the little toy truck Lin Xu had bought her, her little arms and legs worked with the Dragon Cat to build blocks.

There was one thing Shu Qingyou didn’t know how to handle: The longer Shu Rong spent with Lin Xu, the more their habits grew exponentially similar.

She looked more and more like her.

Shu Qingyou frowned, her gaze lingering on Lin Xu’s face. Her slender white fingers curved as she lowered her eyes and took a sip of coffee.

Locked by that gaze, Lin Xu felt even more at a loss. She wasn’t afraid of the cold to begin with, but now her back was sweating.

She opened her mouth, her facial muscles twitching. “Also, in the dream, um… I just directly… f-f…”

She didn’t dare describe it further. Shu Qingyou’s voice in it, the first time she heard it…

Like a siren’s call at night, seductive, luring one to commit heinous sins.

God knew that recalling these made Lin Xu react both physically and mentally in ways she was ashamed of. She inwardly cursed her filthy, illegal wall-pounding behavior.

On top of that, her legs crossed as waves of heat surged in her sleep, as if Shu Qingyou’s breath was right at her mouth and nose.

The sweet, cloying scent irresistibly invaded her.

Lin Xu’s hand slowly slid from her navel downward, pulling open her waistband.

Finally, she woke with a jolt, changed her pants, and thankfully washed her own underwear.

Stop, must stop. The person was right in front of her, staring.

“What… are you thinking?”

Shu Qingyou saw her pupils shift from wandering to dilated, her face deepening a shade.

“Nothing…”

Treating her like an idiot wouldn’t fly. Shu Qingyou raised her arm and flicked her forehead with her fingertip. “Do you think I believe that?”

Lin Xu lowered her brows obediently and admitted, “Fine, I was thinking about what happened in the dream. From a third-person view, I… p-pressed you… pressed…”

Even if Lin Xu continued describing it, Shu Qingyou couldn’t tell which time it was.

The wall-pounding happened too many times to pinpoint accurately.

It was hellishly funny.

Shu Qingyou tugged at the corner of her mouth in a bitter smile, but there was only that one time she got pregnant with Shu Rong.

Since Lin Xu didn’t mention it, she skipped the topic too. Shu Qingyou leaned back in her chair and shrugged. “No big deal. Anyway, now you can only think about it.”

That didn’t feel right.

Lin Xu grumbled inwardly.

In actual action, weren’t they almost at home base? Or did she mean no more wall stuff?

Unwilling, Lin Xu nudged Shu Qingyou. “Without your permission, I won’t f…”

As the last word fell, Shu Qingyou grabbed her face with both hands and stretched it to the sides.

“Mmph, ow, that hurts!”

Her words came out garbled and aggrieved.

“Watch your words.”

Who hung that word on their lips like that? In bed, Shu Qingyou could tolerate it.

“Which word?” Lin Xu’s face was kneaded into a soft, floppy mochi. She frowned, and one eye accidentally winked at Shu Qingyou.

Shu Qingyou laughed, her narrow phoenix eyes hazy with mock anger. She ravaged it freely, letting Lin Xu figure it out herself.

The feel was praiseworthy, but Shu Qingyou wouldn’t admit it outright. Otherwise, with Lin Xu’s temperament, her tail would wag to the heavens.

“Oh oh… I get it.” Lin Xu couldn’t help leaning forward, her palms on the table, bringing her face closer for Shu Qingyou to play with to her heart’s content.

Her mood inexplicably soared. From her recent observations, Shu Qingyou’s casual updo always had a few playful strands swaying at her jawline.

But it didn’t diminish Shu Qingyou’s fresh and elegant aura at all. How could she bear to refuse to tarnish such a reserved Omega?

“Sister Shu, go ahead and treat my face like dough to knead.”

Shu Qingyou narrowed her eyes and gave one final pinch with a bit more force, leaving the little face red.

It still didn’t feel satisfying enough. Shu Qingyou met her gaze for a long moment, then her fair fingers gently slid to Lin Xu’s earlobe.

Shu Qingyou knew it well—they were both sensitive there.

In the past, when they kissed or did it, if she blew in Lin Xu’s ear, Lin Xu would glare at her with an annoyed, flushed face.

Sure enough, after a few strokes, Lin Xu’s breathing quickened, desire surging in her eyes.

Was this a test?

Lin Xu looked pitiful, taking deep breaths with difficulty.

“Okay, Sister Shu, stop, stop. I’m afraid I won’t be able to control myself. I have great self-restraint.”

A familiar warm current flowed through her abdomen. She held back, muscles tensing.

Lin Xu pleaded, “You don’t want Rongrong to see us doing something indescribable, right?”

“Mm, I don’t.”

Shu Qingyou didn’t let go but intensified her actions, her fingertip lingering at the Gland.

The skin there was delicate. Lin Xu said her Pheromones were no longer chaotic, so Shu Qingyou had a sudden impulse.

Rub once.

Twice more.

Lin Xu was like a kitten, toyed with in the palm of her hand.

Her tiny resistances were just playful. Her nose tip pinked, adorably juvenile.

Utterly harmless.

On the fifth rub, Lin Xu whispered softly, “Sister Shu…”

It was rare to hear such soft, needy desire from Lin Xu’s mouth.

Shu Qingyou straightened up. Instincts weren’t just about possession; there was conquest too. “What to do? I’m addicted…”

“Not… ah…”

Lin Xu’s Gland reacted unusually. Without the Inhibitor Patch helping, the Pheromones surrendered easily.

It was like a disaster striking. Lin Xu shuddered all over and hurriedly grabbed the mischievous hand.

She threatened indignantly, “I’ll really do it right here!”

“You made me cry earlier and made me explain so much. Listen, my throat is hoarse from it.”

Listening closely, it was a bit hoarse, unlike her usual crisp, cool-water voice.

Shu Qingyou occasionally glanced at the pet bloggers Lin Xu followed. Right now, she looked just like a fluffed-up long-haired calico.

The cat’s lips parted slightly, fierce but with shy eyes.

Hoarse throat?

Did a pretty calico meow nicely too?

On impulse, Shu Qingyou used the light grip Lin Xu had on her to break free and slid two fingers toward Lin Xu’s open mouth.

They slipped flexibly through the gap.

She stirred her tongue, pressed together, savoring the pleading sounds.

Amid Lin Xu’s shocked pupil contraction, saliva filled to her knuckles.

Not a kitten—kittens had barbs on their tongues. Shu Qingyou focused on teasing.

Deep in the mouth, there was a small, pink tonsil.

Whether Lin Xu was scared silly or enjoying it, she whimpered nonstop, her heart pounding like it would leap out.

How could she play like this?

Lin Xu slumped over the table, arms straining to hold herself up, tilting her head back to let Shu Qingyou loom over her.

Shu Qingyou’s eyes darkened, intent.

Doomed. She was going to be devoured by an Omega.

The dry tinder blazed; it was hard to stop. Lin Xu only dared to talk big, never expecting Shu Qingyou to go all out for real.

The Pheromones nearly drowned her. The water she’d just drunk flowed out another way.

Lin Xu mmmed and aahed.

She wanted to spit, no…

Just then, an alarm beeped behind them: beep beep beep.

Both froze and turned their necks. Shu Rong had put the Dragon Cat on the toy car and was slowly chasing it by pressing the buttons.

The Dragon Cat’s claws clung to the dashboard, its world-weary eyes showing it had given up struggling.

Toyed with by a three-year-old: Curse my old age and weakness.

Just destroy me.

Shu Qingyou reined in her wicked thoughts. “Sorry.”

She withdrew her fingers, pulling out a thin strand of silver. Lin Xu was left drenched again.

Her alluring peach-blossom eyes misted over, vision blurring.

Lin Xu gulped down saliva and complained, “Good that you know. I almost threw up.”

Shu Qingyou innocently rubbed the slick liquid on her fingertip and handed her the water cup. “To soothe it. Throat still hoarse?”

At least you have a conscience.

Lin Xu chugged it down in one go, too embarrassed to look at Shu Qingyou. She weakly accused, “It wasn’t hoarse to begin with, but you… Sister Shu, that’s not right. Alphas have dignity too.”

Shu Qingyou pulled out a tissue and meticulously wiped every inch of her fingers, eyes downcast. “What dignity?”

Once upon a time, she had no dignity in front of Lin Xu. Dignity was just nonsense for those not at rock bottom.

Lin Xu said righteously, her mouth sticky, “The dignity of coming in without telling me.”

“Oh… you mean that.”

“What else!”

She’d overthought it, thinking Lin Xu cared about dominance… Shu Qingyou huffed lightly.

She lifted her gaze gloomily: “Mm, then I won’t go in next time. No need to notify in advance.”

“Hey, no!” Lin Xu knocked on the table, her throat back to normal.

“But you don’t like it.”

“I do, I do. I like it anywhere.”

“Oh…”

The trailing tone lingered in Lin Xu’s ear.

Seeing Shu Qingyou prop her chin, flashing a meaningful smile and staring straight at her.

Lin Xu knew she’d slipped up.

Help, she’d said her true thoughts.

Practice makes perfect—never dream of Shu Qingyou again, she’d climaxed several times at dawn.

But too many times, her kidneys needed replenishing.

Still, Shu Qingyou’s attitude toward her had shifted dramatically.

Women working together made things easy. Lin Xu was full of energy and insisted on packing the pottery cups alone. Shu Qingyou guided her from the side, teaching her to group similar sizes on one layer, stagger them to minimize gaps.

After checking the list, they headed to the coffee shop. They learned only workers were there; boss Chi Jia was out temporarily. The workers moved the boxes to the back kitchen first.

Last time they came, Lin Xu had hidden like she couldn’t be seen. After returning the car, Lin Xu begged Shu Qingyou to take her to the mall.

Lin Xu justified it: “Don’t ask. Ask and it’s to make you look good.”

The mall was brightly lit, the top luxury brand VIP area relatively quiet and soft.

Lin Xu’s expressionless face gave her a distant air, her steps poised on the thick carpet. The sales associate could tell at a glance her elegance.

Behind her was a striking mother-daughter pair.

Sal’s eyes flashed shrewdly—big spender. The associate fawned over her, introducing fabrics, cuts, fit, eloquently.

She glanced at the soft, fair little girl and switched to a gentle tone: “A family of three shopping for clothes, how happy. Is this your daughter? She looks just like her moms.”

Like?

Lin Xu tugged at her mouth corner, but she clearly enjoyed the “family of three” label.

She lazily lowered her head, her tone giving nothing away. “Mm.”

Guided by instinct, she then selected a row of outrageously expensive clothes.

Turning around, she found Shu Qingyou quietly following behind her.

The scattered lights fell on Shu Qingyou’s pale skin, casting a thin, cool glow that was so beautiful Lin Xu couldn’t tear her eyes away.

Shu Rong’s world was simple. She licked the chocolate in her hand with single-minded focus, occasionally letting her mind wander to flights of fancy about playing with the Dragon Cat.

Lin Xu picked up Shu Rong and smiled at Shu Qingyou. “Go try on the clothes.”

“Aren’t you the one buying them?”

“I like you. I want to buy them for you, so just accept them, okay?”

In truth, Lin Xu was wracked with guilt and unease. She couldn’t bring herself to ask about Shu Qingyou’s missing arms or figure out how to make amends, so she settled for something simple and material instead.

For Shu Qingyou, the two of them had been together for a year, but Lin Xu had never bought clothes or outfits for her.

After all, she wasn’t someone Lin Xu could show off. On the rare occasions she had tried, all she’d gotten was humiliation in front of Lin Xu’s friends.

If she was going to accept Lin Xu’s change, then she had to accept all of it.

They shopped until they were loaded down with purchases—not just limited-edition clothes and jewelry, but snacks too, all under the pretext of being “gaming buddies.”

Shu Qingyou laughed at her excuse. Lin Xu really did love saving face.

When Chi Jia called to urge her to come to the coffee shop, they arrived fashionably late.