Continuing to play dumb, the last shred of reason Shu Qingyou possessed had long since drowned in the thick, reassuring floral pheromones the moment Lin Xu appeared.
She still bit down on her lower lip, but Lin Xu kindly pried it open with her fingers, pressing her thumb into the slick, tender flesh while the rest hooked under Shu Qingyou’s pointed chin.
Lin Xu was wickedly teasing her, stringing her along. “What do you want?”
Their clothes hadn’t come off yet, and Shu Qingyou was dressed far more lightly than her. Her base layer shirt had collapsed in disarray, the wrinkles bunching at her shoulders, her fair and distinct collarbones rising and falling with her owner’s ragged breaths.
Lin Xu’s fiery gaze scorched over Shu Qingyou’s entire body. She released her other hand and pulled her close, feeling the limp, boneless body melt against her.
The suppressant rolled across the floor a few times.
Shu Qingyou’s eyes followed the suppressant’s path, yet she let Lin Xu’s fingertips lift the hem of her shirt, that skin roughened by calluses rubbing against her soft waist.
Lin Xu was helpless. “Your whole body is soft except for that stubborn mouth of yours.”
“Come on, say it.”
Fine, she’d stay stubborn with her mouth. Shu Qingyou parted her lips around the finger in her mouth, swirling her tongue over it like a toy, flipping it this way and that.
Crystal saliva dripped from the corner of her mouth. A misty tremor veiled Shu Qingyou’s eyes, her pheromones broadcasting loud and clear.
No suppressant. She wanted Alpha pheromones.
“You’re still mad at me.”
Lin Xu fell silent for a few seconds. “Fine, but you still won’t say it.”
With a sudden motion, Lin Xu pulled her long finger from the reluctant mouth and stood, half-bending to scoop Shu Qingyou up and carry her to the bed’s edge.
The utter mess of an Omega had no intention of leaving her Alpha. Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around her.
Much more convenient this way. Lin Xu lowered her head to meet Shu Qingyou’s gaze, pressing five fingers to her neck and slowly tightening them. “Open your mouth.”
Even without Lin Xu’s command, the constricted throat let out involuntary, pleading whimpers.
A slick tongue tip peeked from her lips. Lin Xu released her grip and leaned in to capture the enticing tongue.
No need for pretense—their pheromones drew each other fiercely. A simple kiss sent pheromones surging through every corner of the room. The only consolation was that Shu Rong hadn’t differentiated yet and couldn’t smell pheromones at all.
Her waist was slowly hooked by legs. Lin Xu’s long, curled lashes trembled.
How was she still grinding up and down…? This woman Shu Qingyou wouldn’t say it with her mouth, but her actions were… honest.
“Wait, don’t be so eager.”
Lin Xu patted her face, then resignedly stripped them both clean in three quick moves.
Shu Qingyou shot Lin Xu a dissatisfied glare. It was a bit cold where her front met the air, bringing a chill, but even so, she had no intention of hiding. Her burning gaze clung tightly to Lin Xu.
“So shy…” At this point, Lin Xu had to take control of the conversation. “Alright, now we’re being completely honest with each other.”
Lin Xu said this with some pride—her figure was pretty good, flat stomach and all, though lately she’d been eating a bit much, and her abs were starting to soften.
Shu Qingyou’s breath hitched for a good while, her eyes darker than Lin Xu’s, roaming substantieless over every inch of skin.
Feeling shy under the scrutiny, Lin Xu covered Shu Qingyou’s eyes, pecked her nose—which was flushing pink from within—and kissed her rosy lips. “Baby, if you want to eat me up, you have to trade equally.”
Shu Qingyou suddenly understood why Rongrong never spoke. If she kept her mouth shut, Lin Xu would keep chattering away, taking whatever she wanted.
Equal trade… Shu Qingyou blinked back into the light, a fuzzy head buried in her neck.
She wanted to be marked. Shu Qingyou’s hand pressed to the top of Lin Xu’s head, rubbing a few times. Lin Xu gave her time too, her lips pressed to the source of the pheromones.
After days of cold war, the distrust had only deepened. To mark just because of one heat? It felt too casual—Shu Qingyou had no confidence in it.
They held the same position, deadlocked for who knew how long. Lin Xu’s warm body heat kept transferring over, so cozy that Shu Qingyou wanted to keep this human heater forever.
Some things were better said upfront. Shu Qingyou sighed softly. “Then be gentle.”
“No complete mark.”
It was a reward for Lin Xu taking the initiative to break the ice. Lin Xu was so moved she nearly teared up—not that exaggerated, but close.
Overexcited with permission, Lin Xu’s fingertips were swallowed by a certain place.
Her hair was suddenly gripped hard, sending waves of pain across her scalp. Not wanting to ruin the mood, Lin Xu endured without crying out.
Low sobs that made the heart race sprinkled into her ear.
Sinking and floating.
Lin Xu soaked it up thoroughly. “Thanks for the reward, baby.”
Who would’ve thought Shu Qingyou would slap her across the cheek with the back of her hand, lazily sated as she grumbled. “Who said you could do that?”
It sounded more like coquetry.
Lin Xu blinked innocently. “Gentle, no complete mark—that’s two things. I did both.”
“Besides, you felt so good you even… mmph.”
Shu Qingyou impatiently sealed the loose-lipped Alpha’s mouth with her own. Amid the licking and sucking of lips and tongues came the sound of trickling water.
Moments later, Lin Xu was panting, her chest heaving dramatically, their mingled heat filling every breath. With worry in her eyes, she touched the still-swollen gland. “Does the mark hurt?”
It couldn’t be denied—the feeling of being filled with pheromones was far more fulfilling than any chemical drug.
Though the bite had sent a bone-chilling pain straight to her nerves in that instant, Lin Xu hadn’t just chased her own Alpha pleasure in conquest. Her careful soothing gradually brought long-lost satisfaction.
“Ten out of ten.”
Lin Xu was puzzled—why score it? She opened her mouth with an “ah,” sticking to her like a puppy. “Only ten? Not enough, not enough. I’m so attentive, and my handiwork’s great too—no merit, but hard work at least. Isn’t ten a bit biased?”
She was begging for praise, tail practically wagging to the heavens.
Shu Qingyou pressed both hands into her hair, messing it up even more, and softly encouraged her. “Be humble. Points system.”
“Points system, huh…” Lin Xu mused, fingers twining in their hair. “Can they stack?”
Shu Qingyou sensed a double meaning. “What do you mean?”
Lin Xu flipped them over, hand sliding downward.
Shamelessly calculating. “Squirt once, add ten points.”
Shu Qingyou flushed with shame, wanting to kick her off the bed, but the afterglow of the mark lingered in her body, her resistance as weak as a chick’s.
Amid the patter of rain outside.
Shu Qingyou felt like she died and came back to life. The blank time stretched too long; she gave up normal thinking.
That voice was too alluring. Lin Xu’s mind stirred, and she buried her head at the gland.
A long while later, Lin Xu mumbled indistinctly in praise. “Tasty. Hydration quota one hundred percent today.”
The surface had changed, but the core was the same—always eager to drink from there…
Shu Qingyou didn’t want to move, couldn’t move.
Exhausted, she clung weakly to Lin Xu’s arm. “Please, no strength left to cook.”
Lin Xu didn’t mind, deliberately avoiding Shu Qingyou’s left wrist, her gaze skipping over it too.
Her fingers slid into Shu Qingyou’s, interlocking perfectly.
She was full of fight. “I’ve been cooking lately anyway. From now on, I’ll take over the kitchen at home.”
Compared to grand promises of claiming valuables, Lin Xu just wanted to cook for her. These small details truly touched Shu Qingyou.
Shu Qingyou replied offhandedly, unsure how long Lin Xu’s house-playing phase would last. “Sure, you have a talent for it. Do as you like.”
Outside, Shu Rong was getting worried. Her mom and big sister still hadn’t come out, and there were weird noises. She was afraid they’d met their end inside.
Her stomach growled too. Low on courage, Shu Rong hesitated forever about knocking.
She raised her hand, then lowered it, her expression so conflicted her ahoge stood straight up. The Dragon Cat snorted—such a silly kid.
Unlike her, the Dragon Cat was bold and skilled. It leaped lightly from Shu Rong’s arms onto the doorknob.
Then it dropped back down, shaking its head as it sauntered off, merits deeply hidden and name unsung.
Shu Rong was left stunned in place, a scene of great spring scenery reflected in her shocked pupils.
Clothes scattered messily by the bed, most of the blanket on the floor, big sister pinning mom down, tears on mom’s face—she looked in pain.
Shu Rong’s legs went soft, and she sat on the ground.
Couldn’t figure it out.
Why was big sister hitting mom?
Caught by her daughter a second time, Shu Qingyou nearly broke down. She yanked the blanket over her chest, her tone sharpening. “Lin Xu!”
Lin Xu didn’t think it was a big deal, not avoiding Shu Rong at all. She dressed right in front of her, while comforting Shu Qingyou.
“It’s fine, she doesn’t understand. I’ll explain.”
At this point, Shu Qingyou gave up resisting—mainly because she’d been done in until her legs were jelly, still trembling, utterly limp.
Lin Xu washed her hands at top speed, then scooped up Shu Rong in three strides and carried her away from the scene.
Noticing her palm was hot and wet, she looked closely—tears squeezed from Rongrong’s eyes. Lin Xu chuckled and wiped them. “Don’t cry, Rongrong. Big sister’s helping treat Mommy.”
She wasn’t stupid.
Shu Rong gripped her hand tight, her little fist lightly thumping Lin Xu’s neck. So many red spots—you guys were fighting!
Lin Xu didn’t get what the thumps meant at first, taking several before understanding. Utterly innocent.
She thought. “Sigh, we weren’t fighting. Big sister promises—swears, if I ever fight with your mommy, no more little cakes for you forever.”
Lin Xu’s honest eyes successfully fooled Shu Rong, though she couldn’t parse the logic between fighting and cakes.
But big sister promised, so it was true. Shu Rong sniffled and nodded.
The Dragon Cat witnessed Lin Xu’s shamelessness and sighed that this little brat was dumb enough to be scammed out of her undies someday.
Lin Xu was still smug when her phone on the coffee table pinged.
She glanced—her brows furrowed instantly.
Gu Huaiyuan [Tomorrow afternoon 4 PM, here. My parents will be there too.]
[Dress normally, don’t embarrass me.]
Link to restaurant below.
The good mood shattered. Lin Xu tapped the screen a few times, replying with an “oh.”
At dinner, Lin Xu looked glum as she told Shu Qingyou about meeting the fiancée’s parents. Shu Qingyou didn’t mind at all—having burned so much energy, she was hungrier than ever.
Watching Shu Qingyou nearly polish off a plate of potato slices, Lin Xu unusually lost her appetite, mostly fretting over how to lie to the elders.
“Qingyou, what if they set a trap for me?”
