Chapter 13

◎Marriages can be dissolved.◎

After dinner, Liang Shi dropped Xu Qingya back at the hotel and was about to transfer her some money when Xu Qingzhu stopped her.

Xu Qingzhu transferred ten thousand to Xu Qingya and told her not to spend recklessly or run around with those fair-weather friends.

Xu Qingya waved at her. “All right, I know. You should head back.”

Then she called out to Liang Shi: “Sister Liang Shi, keep your wife in line.”

Liang Shi stood at the door, smiling helplessly with a hint of indulgence. “I wouldn’t dare.”

Xu Qingzhu shot her a sidelong glance.

Those beautiful eyes carried a natural touch of flirtatious allure, looking temptingly wanton, half coquettish, half reproachful.

Liang Shi shrugged, her eyes saying: It was to help you with your play-acting.

Xu Qingya shivered and rubbed her arms. “Hurry up and go. I don’t want to eat dog food.”

Stepping out of the hotel, Xu Qingzhu looked exhausted.

In the air, faintly drifting, was the scent of strawberry Baileys liqueur.

Normally, Liang Shi’s nose was exceptionally sharp, but today she was tired. Since transmigrating, she had barely rested. Right now she was just forcing herself to stay alert.

Even so, she still caught that distinctive fragrance.

The more top-tier the omega, the more intoxicating the scent.

Moreover, pheromones had compatibility ratings. The greater the effect an omega’s pheromones had on an Alpha, the more compatible the two were.

The scent blocker must have been wearing off, allowing the omega’s unique scent to seep out.

Liang Shi opened the car door for Xu Qingzhu. Xu Qingzhu got in and gave a slight nod, murmuring a quiet thank you.

Far more courteous than before.

Liang Shi got in and fastened her seatbelt, then glanced at Xu Qingzhu and noticed she hadn’t fastened hers.

“Xu Qingzhu.” Liang Shi called out. “Seatbelt.”

Xu Qingzhu’s brow furrowed slightly. Her straight, slender black hair hung over her shoulders, covering the elegant line of her shoulder blade and half her collarbone, cascading down to her chest.

On the side facing Liang Shi, however, every strand was neatly tucked behind her ear, revealing a delicate ear and an exquisite jawline. A faint flush dusted her pale cheeks, as though someone had brushed pink blush across them. A sheen of fine sweat glistened at the tip of her nose, the tiny droplets clear enough to refract the light inside the car. Her lips were vividly red, glistening with a dewy, tender pink.

Like a flower bud about to bloom in spring.

Still adorned with morning dew.

Bright. Irresistible.

The visual impact hit all at once.

It was nearly impossible to look away.

Liang Shi swallowed hard, turned her face away, and pressed a hand over her heart, taking several deep breaths.

After a few rounds of that, she finally steadied her heartbeat.

It wasn’t really attraction.

This was probably just the involuntary reaction of a face-con appreciating a beautiful woman.

Not to mention this body still carried traces of the original owner’s feelings for Xu Qingzhu.

Liang Shi called out again: “Xu Qingzhu?”

Xu Qingzhu’s face reddened further. Her pheromone scent filled the car, growing ever more intense.

How was an Alpha supposed to endure this?

Liang Shi sighed. She picked up the water bottle and took a sip, steadying her composure.

She cracked her window halfway, hoping the early autumn breeze would clear her head.

Xu Qingzhu only responded with a faint frown and a soft murmur, but the sound was so soft and alluring it set one’s nerves on edge.

Liang Shi wanted to rush her to the hospital immediately. She leaned over to fasten Xu Qingzhu’s seatbelt.

“Pardon me,” Liang Shi said as she leaned in. In that instant, the Alpha’s pheromones and the omega’s pheromones intertwined in the air, like two long-lonely souls meeting. The tempting spark ignited in a flash, and the very air crackled with sparks.

Liang Shi nearly lost control, her body pressing down on top of her.

The hand gripping the seatbelt trembled, and her fingers landed on Xu Qingzhu’s abdomen. A slight shift upward and she would reach somewhere soft.

She pulled back immediately.

Her body felt like it had been set ablaze.

The same sensation as last night.

But this wasn’t an Alpha’s heat period, so it wasn’t as severe as the night before. She could hold on.

Like she was fleeing for her life, she hurriedly fastened Xu Qingzhu’s seatbelt. But at the exact moment the buckle clicked, Xu Qingzhu’s cool fingers brushed across the spot behind Liang Shi’s left ear. A small bump there: her gland, the most sensitive point of contact with an omega.

Her fingertips were soft, merely tracing Liang Shi’s gland with the lightest touch.

And Liang Shi felt all the strength drain from her body.

Liang Shi: “…”

“Hosp…ital.” Xu Qingzhu stammered, her fingers suddenly curling. But her nails scraped across Liang Shi’s gland.

A sharp sting.

Liang Shi half suspected she’d done it on purpose.

At last she broke free, though her back was drenched in sweat.

If this happened a few more times, it might actually kill her.

Who could withstand being teased by Haizhou’s top omega like that?

Liang Shi, afraid that Xu Qingzhu’s pheromone scent might drift outside, closed the window and turned on the air conditioning.

Xu Qingzhu, wearing only a dress, curled up in the corner shivering from the cold. Liang Shi draped her own jacket over her.

The drive back to the hospital was a struggle.

Seeing that Xu Qingzhu was already semi-conscious, a tear of pure physiology glistening at the corner of her eye, Liang Shi didn’t bother waking her. She simply carried her inside.

Zhao Xuning wasn’t on night duty tonight, but she’d been worried about Xu Qingzhu after she left the hospital, so she’d swapped shifts with a colleague.

By ten o’clock, Xu Qingzhu still hadn’t returned. She was about to call her when she looked up and saw Liang Shi carrying Xu Qingzhu through the door.

The situation looked dire.

“What happened?” Zhao Xuning asked. “Didn’t she get a scent blocker?”

“It wore off.” Liang Shi answered bluntly.

At that moment, the omega’s pheromones drifted through the hospital lobby. Many Alphas caught the scent.

It was sweet enough to make a gravely ill Alpha pass out, causing a brief commotion.

Back in the ward, Zhao Xuning administered another suppressant injection to Xu Qingzhu and set up an IV drip. Xu Qingzhu fell into a deep sleep.

Liang Shi stayed in the room for a while before leaving.

It was too late. Liang Shi couldn’t be bothered to drive back to the villa, so she simply went up to her own ward. By now it was already eleven o’clock.

She lay on the bed as the events of this long day flashed through her mind.

Too many people. Too many things.

Everyone and everything had disrupted her original rhythm, leaving her slightly at a loss.

Just as she was debating whether to use amnesia or a sincere change of heart as her excuse going forward, her phone’s jarring ringtone blared again.

She jumped out of her skin.

…She was changing that ringtone later.

Liang Shi glanced at the caller ID. It was Madam Liang.

In other words, the original owner’s mother.

Liang Shi pressed her fingers to her brow, took a deep breath, and tried to shake off the fatigue. She answered on the last second before the ringing cut off. “Hello?”

“Baby, are you asleep?” Qiu Zimin asked warmly.

“Not yet.” Liang Shi answered. “Just about to.”

“Good, I didn’t disturb you.” Qiu Zimin laughed. “I’m calling to let you know that I’ve arranged everything with Mrs. Zhou. You and An’an will meet the day after tomorrow at Cangyue Restaurant. Have a meal together, and if things go well, you can keep seeing each other.”

Liang Shi: “…?”

This sounded exactly like a blind date.

If the original owner were single, she could understand. But the original owner was married.

“An’an says she doesn’t mind your relationship history,” Qiu Zimin continued. “You just need to clean things up before you two get married.”

Liang Shi: “?”

“Mom, I think you’re mistaken,” Liang Shi said helplessly. “I’m already married.”

“What mistake?” Qiu Zimin grew annoyed. “Marriages can be dissolved. Besides, weren’t you the one who asked me to set this up? You said you didn’t like the current one and wanted a new one.”

Liang Shi: “…”

God, please save her.