Lin Xu pursed her lips, her watery peach-blossom eyes gazing up from below in a submissive posture. Her fingers rubbed against the bedsheet before crawling up to Shu Qingyou’s silk nightgown, sliding upward to pinch the thin black strap.
She stopped there, motionless, awaiting the final verdict.
But her posture screamed that if Shu Qingyou refused, this frail, sickly Alpha would faint right into her arms.
Just as Shu Qingyou reluctantly mustered the words to refuse, Lin Xu’s dry, warm fingertip pressed against the rounded shoulder and climbed higher.
Their eyes met, and Lin Xu’s gaze brimmed with mischief.
Shu Qingyou’s heart stirred. In truth, after being bitten every day and flooded with pheromones, she could basically give up on suppressants.
One side effect, however, was an intensifying craving for Alphas—such a pathetic, uncontrollable animal instinct.
Without an Alpha to help relieve it, she’d have to dash to the bathroom far more often, yearning to be filled…
She took a deep breath, lowered her head, and brushed away Lin Xu’s hand from her shoulder, a few strands of hair falling loose.
Rejected… In the silent hush, Lin Xu’s eyes gradually darkened with an inscrutable depth, but she feigned magnanimity with a self-mocking laugh.
“Sister Shu dislikes me now, doesn’t she? Fair enough. I’m just a patient who can’t lift a shoulder or carry a hand…”
In the next instant, her lips parted slightly, her pupils contracted, her eyes fixed on Shu Qingyou’s every move.
For those few seconds, it felt like an eternity to Lin Xu—until that silk nightgown returned to its proper place.
The Omega who owned it had raven hair and snow-white skin, a delicate figure, with silky locks cascading to her waist.
Like a snow mountain goddess fallen to the mortal world.
Lin Xu’s eyes filled with stark black and white. The Omega was like a mimosa plant, only one flushed ear peeking out shyly, her chest heaving up and down.
“Baby…” Lin Xu fought to keep her lips from curving up too much, not wanting to scare this mimosa—no, this tree-ripened sweet orange.
The sweet orange pheromones wafted sweetly, mingling with the scent of asters, blending into a fragrance that could make every Alpha and Omega under the heavens lose control.
But…
To go this far for her. Lin Xu’s heart inexplicably felt stuffy—for that idiot Lin Xu, that Alpha who trailed after her like a drooling lapdog, kneeling and begging for mercy every day.
Losing all dignity as an Alpha, let alone one who could crush ninety-nine percent of top-tier Alphas.
“I… is this okay?” Shu Qingyou clutched one arm around herself, but Lin Xu’s predatory gaze locked on, nearly scorching the skin exposed to the air.
Lin Xu let out an approving hum from her nose. Anger was one thing; it didn’t stop her from appreciating this cool beauty Omega casting aside all pride to please her.
Impure thoughts fanned the flames, scorching her hunger.
Perhaps afraid she’d dampened Lin Xu’s enthusiasm earlier, Shu Qingyou lowered her eyes like a fledgling bird and reached out a finger, gently covering Lin Xu’s hand back.
The room had the heat on, but with winter fully set in and her constitution, Shu Qingyou’s hands and feet were naturally ice-cold. Worried about passing the chill to the patient, she was extra careful.
“I’m sorry,” Shu Qingyou whispered. “I don’t dislike you, and it’s not that I look down on you for being sick and weak…”
It was the truth. Lin Xu’s recent markings on her were no longer tentative; these past two days, the bites hurt so much that Shu Qingyou had to gasp in cold air.
“Don’t be mad—it’ll hurt your body. I’ll listen to you. Even for this kind of thing, I’ll try my best. I… mean what I say.”
This string of soothing words and promises didn’t quite match up—she wasn’t the old Lin Xu anymore.
But faced with Shu Qingyou’s humility, Lin Xu could only swallow her grievance.
Hmph… that dumb dog sure ate well.
Lin Xu’s expression flipped in an instant, and she praised her sincerely with delight: “Sister Shu, I like you so much. You’re so good—and… you look really sweet.”
Where exactly she looked sweet was obvious, following Lin Xu’s gaze.
Shu Qingyou’s mouth went dry. “Then… what should I do?”
So cute. Destructive urges rising.
Lin Xu smiled and lay back flat. “Come on, don’t go soft on me now. If things go wrong, it’s on me.”
Shu Qingyou finally met Lin Xu’s eyes squarely, her expression a mix of reluctance and hesitation. Was she really going to do this with a seriously injured patient who hadn’t fully recovered?
Too slow. Lin Xu urged, “Hurry up, Sister Shu. My patience is limited.”
“Or… are you going back on your word?”
Shu Qingyou sucked in another breath—useless; it was all pheromones, only making it worse.
After a moment’s thought, she chose the relatively straightforward duck-sitting position.
She glanced at Lin Xu, then immediately averted her eyes as shame exploded within her.
Shu Qingyou covered her eyes and shifted slowly.
Lin Xu stared blankly. “Yes, just like that.”
What a sight. Lin Xu’s marking fangs ached. Which Alpha could hold back? As for who Shu Qingyou thought she was—it didn’t matter.
Her mind blanked to only those pretty lips. Lin Xu flicked out her tongue tip and kissed the fragile, helpless pair.
Shu Qingyou nearly melted, forced to grip the headboard as she weakly pleaded, “…S-slow, slower.”
Lin Xu focused on the trembling lips, her tongue meshing with them, exchanging saliva.
Pheromones filled their mouths.
Outside, the winter night stretched endlessly. Shu Qingyou’s body heat rose like a fever, her mind growing hazy.
The wet sounds between their lips and teeth went from clear to muffled.
She didn’t know how much time passed until a fierce howl of cold wind battered the window. Shu Qingyou’s voice took on a sob: “Lin Xu… enough.”
“Hm?” Lin Xu pinched her waist. “If you’re begging me, what do you call me?”
Shu Qingyou bit her hand back, her eye tails smeared with rouge-like red, alluringly seductive.
“Baby… please…” Her usual clear voice was now thick with sobs.
Lin Xu’s heart clenched suddenly. She pulled her lips back a fraction, her hot breath spilling over.
“Good girl, so good. Last time.”
Liar—it’s getting worse…
Shu Qingyou gazed at Lin Xu in a daze, her thoughts drifting hazily back five years.
At first, Lin Xu coaxed her. Later, she grew more forceful, heedless of Shu Qingyou’s wishes.
Clinging to unresolved suspicions.
Again.
…
As the saying went, the first time led to countless more—an eternal truth.
Lin Xu lacked strength in her hands, but her mouth and tongue were nimble. Before, when Lin Xu said she was thirsty, Shu Qingyou knew to bring warm water.
Now, when Lin Xu was “thirsty,” she wouldn’t let up with Shu Qingyou until she got her fill of pheromones.
“Sister Shu…” Lin Xu set down her phone, the screen frozen on the message where she’d just arranged a meeting time with Gu Huaiyuan.
Shu Qingyou, conditioned by now, trembled at the coquettish tone while washing dishes.
Not drinking again today, right…? Her waist and legs ached as she turned to look at Lin Xu.
“Have you ever thought about sending Rongrong to school?”
Lin Xu nodded toward her daughter, who sat on the floor hugging the Dragon Cat and giggling foolishly. Called by name, the girl looked over happily.
What three-year-old couldn’t speak? Shu Rong wasn’t dumb—she recognized simple characters, watched cartoons with relish.
She understood commands when called, responded without delay.
So autism could be ruled out. What was causing it? Lin Xu puzzled endlessly.
At least it’s not the pheromones… Shu Qingyou let out a quiet breath of relief.
She wiped the plates and fruit knife, carried over a fruit platter, and sat beside Lin Xu. She speared a piece of apple with a toothpick; Lin Xu naturally opened her mouth and chewed.
Shu Qingyou was actually reluctant to send her daughter to school. “I’ve thought about it, but nearby kindergartens require reservations at least a year in advance.”
“Private schools can take her anytime.”
“Mm…” Shu Qingyou nodded, watching her daughter’s innocent, joyful face. She felt a bit embarrassed. “I don’t have that kind of money.”
Impossible. Lin Xu frowned. In just a few short years, had she squandered that ten-million check?
Shu Qingyou added, “It’s fine. Three or four years old, around then.”
Truth be told, in today’s cutthroat society where everyone was pushing their kids hard, Shu Qingyou alone stayed pure and laid-back like a white lotus.
Her daughter’s IQ was fine, but at three, still speechless while other kids started bilingual education.
Her silly girl’s biggest hobby was eating, spending all day cuddling small animals. She was already behind at the starting line.
Play was a child’s nature, but at three, Lin Xu played too—yet she was the kid others saw as “bitten by God,” precocious in speech, logical thinking, top grades, musical instruments, and stage speeches for her grade.
Lin Xu declared firmly, “It’s a big difference, Sister Shu. Rongrong’s cute and well-behaved, sure, but can that put food on the table? Do you really want her to go to school? Even if not, she should get a proper education.”
Her attitude was haughty and dismissive. Calling her “Sister Shu” while essentially challenging her superiority.
Shu Qingyou lowered her brows and eyes, continuing to feed Lin Xu fruit to change the subject. “She’s still little. I’ll take good care of her.”
“I think I can make sure Rongrong never goes hungry.”
Lin Xu thought: Luckily, Shu Rong’s my kid. Even if she amounted to nothing her whole life, I could keep her in luxury without worry.
Ever since becoming a mom, the idea of grooming Shu Rong as her heir had grown stronger.
Lin Xu knew she’d only ever have this one child in her life.
She had to pour everything into her.
Lin Xu stared at Shu Rong without speaking for a long time. A flash of pained hurt crossed Shu Qingyou’s eyes.
“You don’t like Rongrong—I know. You used to bully her all the time, make her cry. Lately, you’ve been cold to her too.”
Shu Qingyou glanced at her soft, cute daughter, her shoulders slumping as she added lowly, “No matter what Rongrong turns out like, I’ll take responsibility for her. You don’t need to worry.”
Mercy spoils the child.
Had that ten-million check been spent or never cashed? Lin Xu turned her head to meet Shu Qingyou’s reddened eye rims.
Beneath quivering lashes was a pale face; Shu Qingyou bit her lip, seemingly holding back.
Lin Xu panicked, her intended scolding stuck in her throat. She wasn’t used to compromising or comforting.
They stared at each other, big eyes locked on little.
In the end, Lin Xu conceded first, mimicking that reckless dumb-dog Lin Xu. She lifted her nearly healed arm, curving her lips into a smile.
“Come on, Qingyou—no crying. Hug.”
The soft body and sweet scent filled her arms, soothing Lin Xu’s irritation. She comforted herself: At least this pretty Omega who caught my eye gave me a kid.
That was enough.
As she stroked Shu Qingyou’s back and murmured apologies, she eyed the modest two-bedroom, one-hall apartment. The door to the second upstairs room stayed locked, the lock dusty.
No treasure hidden there, obviously.
Shu Qingyou’s clothes were cheap, her car a sub-100k commuter.
The ten million’s whereabouts were suspicious—probably torn up and tossed?
