Chapter 46

Shu Rong could only eat a little finely shredded chicken, but compared to the rice and dishes, she still preferred desserts.

She spread out a neat square napkin and, taking advantage of the adults not paying attention, grabbed a big chicken drumstick with her little hand. She moved it slightly and observed the adults’ reactions. Great, they didn’t see her stealing the chicken leg.

She quietly hid it behind her back, planning to feed it to the Dragon Cat.

Suddenly, her name was called, and she froze stiffly, not daring to move. In the adults’ eyes, she appeared even more dazed and adorable.

For the first time feeling guilty like a thief, Shu Rong didn’t even look at the movie options and just pointed randomly.

A romance movie. Lin Xu touched her chin. “Quite tasteful.”

Shu Qingyou noticed Shu Rong’s little face was flushed pink, clearly scheming something. The child had grown up and learned to brush off her mom.

At first, they had planned to just find any theater in the suburbs to make do, but Lin Xu was competing with her for some reason and insisted on going to a cinema in the city center, where it was crowded and lively.

Strange—Lin Xu wasn’t one to enjoy crowds. When they arrived at the theater, Shu Qingyou understood.

Lin Xu held a bucket of popcorn and fed some to both mother and daughter.

Shu Qingyou’s eyes held an expression of “you and I both know.” Lin Xu uncomfortably took a sip of her iced cola. “Coincidence. This place had high ratings online, and their popcorn is especially crispy, so I picked it…”

Lin Xu’s voice grew lower and lower, losing confidence.

The popcorn was indeed crispy and sweet, but Lin Xu’s attempt to cover it up was obvious.

Shu Qingyou picked up a piece of popcorn with her long fingers, bit off a small section with her teeth, and drawled slowly, “Then why did you say… ‘coincidence’?”

So good at pinpointing the key point. Lin Xu’s eyes curved slyly, but arguing right here and now was futile. “Let’s go, the movie’s about to start.”

Even on a workday, moviegoers streamed in steadily. Not long after the film began, Lin Xu grew drowsy. Romance movies were boring enough.

Shu Qingyou watched more seriously. Though she felt nothing for it, purely to not waste Lin Xu’s effort, Shu Rong didn’t fuss and also sank into sweet dreams in her seat.

In the end, as the movie’s end credits rolled with the theme song, the lights suddenly brightened. Shu Qingyou didn’t wake Lin Xu in time, even though her upper body was fully sprawled across Shu Qingyou’s lap.

Lin Xu’s eyelashes cast a small shadow on her eyelids. When the lights came on, she frowned and instinctively burrowed into the softer spot.

They had also left late, so there weren’t many viewers left.

Shu Qingyou shyly shifted Lin Xu’s face away. Even in sleep, she wasn’t well-behaved. She pinched Lin Xu’s cheeks, making Lin Xu look even more distressed as she let out a soft whimper.

So cute. Shu Qingyou couldn’t help herself and snapped a photo of Lin Xu’s sleeping face with one hand.

Just then, surprised voices came from the aisle.

“Isn’t that President Lin?”

Only Lin Xu’s acquaintances would use that title. Shu Qingyou looked up. The newcomer was a tall female Alpha, her shirt worn carelessly, revealing a red rose tattoo peeking out below her collarbone.

It was especially eye-catching under the white lights.

As Shu Qingyou shook Lin Xu awake, the woman was already in front of them, eyeing Shu Qingyou with a frivolous gaze.

“Huh?” Lin Xu was still in a sleepy daze. The familiar scent had enveloped her, letting her sleep soundly. She rubbed her eyes.

She realized there was someone else besides Shu Qingyou next to her.

“You…?” Lin Xu always had morning grumpiness, but she could tolerate it because of Shu Qingyou.

As for irrelevant others, Lin Xu put on a sour face, showing no friendliness. She scanned the female Alpha up and down, forcing herself to stay awake, and said coldly, “What do you want?”

The female Alpha was used to Lin Xu’s aloofness and didn’t find it off-putting. Their companies had a partnership, and she was just routinely expressing thanks.

She greeted amiably, “The sales contract last time was thanks to President Lin’s signature—it solved our family’s urgent problem.”

“Mm, no big deal. In business, you help me, I help you; it’s only natural.”

The female Alpha’s gaze lingered on Shu Qingyou for a moment. She recalled partying with Lin Xu at a nightclub once. “Thanks, President Lin. When you’re free, care to have a meal? You remember that female Omega you picked last time? She’s a bit like this companion of yours.”

Lin Xu’s alarms blared instantly. She didn’t remember at all, only knowing her past self had been a slag. The unsavory videos on Gu Huaiyuan’s phone had scared her into agreeing to anything.

She clearly felt a pair of cold phoenix eyes staring at the back of her head. Lin Xu stiffened and forced an ugly smile at the female Alpha. “You’re joking.”

“How could I be? Just like this movie date—one time you brought another female Omega too, and I didn’t get to greet her. What a coincidence now…”

Lin Xu wasn’t sleepy anymore. Her mind was full of ways to cut off the woman’s blabbering mouth. She suddenly stood up, her pheromones’ pressure startling the female Alpha. She cut her off sharply. “President Lin, you…”

Lin Xu gritted her teeth and explained, “I need to introduce you. The one next to me is my fiancée.”

The female Alpha was stunned. Wasn’t the fiancée the Gu family’s young miss? Everyone in the circle knew that. She was baffled.

For people like them, keeping a few Omegas as mistresses was normal. Lin Xu frequented pleasure spots, so no one batted an eye. This “girlfriend” was probably just a temporary plaything she hadn’t bedded yet.

The female Alpha suddenly understood, grinning meaningfully and nodding. “Got it, got it. I won’t disturb President Lin and her girlfriend’s date. See you later, President Lin.”

Hurry up and scram, Lin Xu thought, her head pounding. The woman’s face screamed “playing around.” Lin Xu stiffly kept her neck rigid, not daring to turn to Shu Qingyou.

She really wanted to just end it all right there.

Shu Qingyou passed by her side, holding her daughter, and left a sentence: “Are you planning to sleep on the floor here?”

“No, no, coming right now.” Lin Xu’s words were garbled as she followed behind Shu Qingyou, keeping a safe distance, her face full of distress.

Those words were like proclaiming the impossibility between them. Lin Xu couldn’t sort out her thoughts for a moment and dejectedly got back in the car, burying her head between her legs and staying silent.

In this situation, even if Lin Xu wanted to explain, it would seem pointless. She couldn’t even recall the chaotic sex life others remembered of her—up all night, flipping days and nights.

Ah… so dirty…

Shu Qingyou spoke first: “Don’t look so dead inside. I haven’t even said anything yet.”

Even if Shu Qingyou didn’t mind, Lin Xu didn’t feel any better. She mumbled sullenly, “Not saying anything is the most accurate response.”

“Twisting words. How do you want me to respond then?”

Her tone was clearly icier than usual. Lin Xu struggled inwardly for a long time before slowly lifting her sore eyelids.

“I won’t associate with those people anymore. I swear.”

Shu Qingyou didn’t feel much better. She should have been prepared—Lin Xu wouldn’t stay chaste for her.

They had broken up for years. Whoever Lin Xu hooked up with, however many women, she had no right to interfere, let alone whether she could maintain a long-term relationship with the real Lin Xu.

She just gave a curt response, suppressing her turbulent emotions. No need to vent on Lin Xu.

“Mm, good.”

Lin Xu was surprised. Forgiven so quickly? Unbelievable.

“You… even after all the things I’ve done to wrong you, you just brush it off like that?”

Shu Qingyou took a deep breath, suppressing mocking words. “Otherwise? Do you want me to throw a tantrum, make a scene, and hang myself? Would that make you happy and satisfied?”

Heaven, how could she be happy? If Shu Qingyou did that, Lin Xu would rush to put her own neck in the noose.

“That’s not what I mean. I know why you’re mad at me. I’m sorry.”

“When did I get mad at you? I didn’t scold you or lecture you. I just think…” Shu Qingyou cracked the car window open a bit. Cold air poured in mercilessly, helping her control her rising anger.

She continued, “I just think we don’t need to keep dwelling on your past, wearing ourselves out. I’ve moved on, okay?”

Lin Xu stared dazedly at Shu Qingyou’s profile—the furrowed brows, the tightly pressed lips, all screaming impatience.

She felt at a loss, afraid. In that instant, she sensed Shu Qingyou hadn’t moved on; she was probably just avoiding it.

In the time they’d spent together, Shu Qingyou had never once brought up their past on her own.

Only Lin Xu was eagerly poking, hot face against cold butt, forcing out bits of info reluctantly.

There had been a hint of sun when they left, but on the way back, the sky grew increasingly overcast, as if brewing a heavy downpour.

Lin Xu just gazed out the window, unable to let go, but she didn’t want to trouble Shu Qingyou further. Even if their wavelengths differed, Lin Xu had learned to endure.

“Okay, whatever you say. Anyway, I have zero credibility with you.”

She had only wanted Lin Xu to perk up… Shu Qingyou’s face remained calm, but beneath it, she couldn’t predict.

“Snide remarks. You really want to know your credibility score?”

“Sure, then I’ll tell you: from the day we met, of the ten promises you made, half weren’t kept, and the other half were only temporary…”

Lin Xu gazed at Shu Qingyou intently, silent, her wet eyes wide in disbelief.

Lightning suddenly flashed outside, illuminating Shu Qingyou’s ink-black pupils like a cold pool. Shu Qingyou paused, closed the window to muffle the noise.

Seconds later, muffled thunder rumbled.

Shu Rong flinched. She reflexively looked at her mom, but for the first time, Mom didn’t check on her.

It was fine; she was three now and needed to be understanding. Mom seemed scared of thunder too.

Shu Qingyou’s patience was nearly exhausted. She ground her molars and issued an ultimatum with a smile: “So… zero. Lin Xu, you don’t even reach a passing grade.”

With those words, Lin Xu’s suspended heart plummeted to the bottom.

Rain began to fall, first a few drops, then intensifying within a minute, blurring the view.

The patter of rain grew heavier in her ears, like mountains pressing down, as if the whole car was submerged in the world’s damp gloom, murky and dim.

Shu Qingyou turned on the wipers and floored the accelerator—unlike her usual style. Rain called for slower driving.

But Lin Xu’s relentless pressing still suffocated her. No matter what, she had to dig to the bottom.

Why? Why force her? Why couldn’t Lin Xu ever learn restraint, adult tacit understanding?

Treat it as a temporary game, mutual satisfaction of physical needs. That… was enough.

Shu Qingyou tuned out everything, lost in thoughts of home.

She should have checked the weather forecast. Her fault—she didn’t have the habit of checking her phone, unlike Lin Xu, who surfed 5G all day, the internet her second home.

Her left hand hurt badly. Phantom pain? Or real?

Home, take medicine, sleep well.

Shu Qingyou’s vision flashed with countless running pedestrians holding umbrellas.

She overtook speeding sedans, oppressive trucks. At this rate, she’d be home soon—her own home.

“Shu-jie, Qingyou, Qingyou…”

So annoying. Lin Xu calling again, troublemaker pretending to be cute. She deserved keeping her around.

“Shu Qingyou! You’re driving too fast!”

Only when Lin Xu’s roar pierced her ears did Shu Qingyou snap out of it. Rain fogged everything; oncoming headlights stabbed her eyes.

She came to her senses, abruptly easing off the brake, pupils focusing on the rearview—no cars behind.

She quickly turned the wheel, adjusting the car’s path, carefully avoiding the oncoming vehicle.

Lin Xu broke out in cold sweat, gasping heavily, unable to recover from the terror.

Just now… what was wrong with Shu Qingyou?