Chapter 98: The Insecure Tsundere Canary Alpha

In the spacious and elegant hotel suite, Li Huan lounged lazily against the soft bed, twirling a lock of light brown hair between her fingers.

Jiang Li’s faint fragrance still wafted from it now and then.

Her gaze drifted downward seemingly without care, but when she saw no sign of wakefulness from the person on the pillow, the corners of her mouth twitched downward in mild displeasure. She let her stare grow bolder and more unabashed.

She was the one being so cautious, while the person who had fled lay there sleeping soundly and carefree.

Judging by those five years without her, her Li Li had gotten along just fine.

Eyes closed in peaceful slumber, long lashes casting twin arcs on her eyelids, lips plump and rosy with the corners curved up just a touch, revealing an effortless mature allure.

She’d become even more beautiful.

With that thought, Li Huan plucked a single strand from the tangled lock and trailed it lightly over the clear line of the collarbone in her view—two delicate bones linking to the graceful curve of the neck. Her shadowed gaze roamed slowly across it.

It had been so long since they’d met; naturally, Li Huan needed to take her time, to look closely, bit by bit.

The brown strand dangled from the woman’s fingertips, toyed with like a plaything, sliding along that expanse of skin and making the snowy fairness all the more alluring.

Not enough. She wanted to get closer.

After a moment’s thought, Li Huan pulled her upright, probing posture back a little under the covers. Her arm brushed another bare one, and her lips quirked.

From her reclined position, she reached out directly and drew the drunken woman before her into her embrace. Their body heat mingled, sharing warmth.

Li Huan narrowed her eyes in contentment, tightening her hold around Jiang Li’s waist and pulling her closer, deeper into her arms.

Their bodies intertwined intimately beneath the blankets.

Li Huan wasn’t the least bit reserved. She slipped her leg between Jiang Li’s knees, rubbed against them once, then stretched it out contentedly.

Truth be told, Li Huan didn’t have the habit of needing to hold something to sleep.

But letting this person hold her? That left Li Huan feeling uneasy.

She had already ordered someone to remove all the clothes from the room, leaving only one set from her own locked luggage—the Collection Box.

The room’s signal had been cut off too, so Jiang Li couldn’t contact the outside world.

Thus, a naked woman cut off from everyone else had no one to rely on but her.

Just her.

Even imagining it was enough to fill Li Huan with utter satisfaction, body and soul.

Just thinking about what might happen tomorrow brought a pleased sigh as she buried her face in the nape of the woman before her, inhaling the fresh epiphyllum scent from her hair with delight.

But…

Her eyes narrowed slightly as Li Huan recalled the floor where Jiang Li had rushed toward her—a floor with nothing but a restaurant and a bar, and a wildly popular one at that.

Its tagline boasted unlocking the desires of your heart in a passionate way. Clearly, a spot aimed at singles.

And Jiang Li had shown up reeking of alcohol, with flawless makeup, at a bar for singles.

Among the things Li Huan had stripped from her body, there’d been only a phone—no lipstick for touch-ups, which she always carried, so her bag must be with someone else.

The obvious truth: Jiang Li hadn’t come alone tonight; someone close had accompanied her, probably a complete stranger to Li Huan.

After all, they hadn’t seen each other in five years, had they?

The cheek buried against that neck lifted with a mocking smile that vanished in an instant. She just tightened her arm around Jiang Li’s waist more as she savored the epiphyllum fragrance.

Everyone around Li Huan now was unknown to Jiang Li; by the same token, it was reasonable for strangers to appear by Jiang Li’s side.

No matter. They’d have more five-year stretches ahead.

Just then, a mumble escaped the woman in her arms. Li Huan lifted her head with a faint smile, rubbing her chin against the top of Jiang Li’s hair. Reluctantly, she took it as Jiang Li’s reply.

Li Huan, who had never before anticipated morning after night, hugged the person in her arms tighter and closed her eyes peacefully. For the first time, she truly looked forward to dawn.

So tight… hugged so damn tight… Who the hell is trying to smother me in my sleep?

Morning sunlight filtered through the gaps in the hotel curtains, sprinkling fine rays near the large bed. Fresh air circulated steadily through the room, carrying faint hints of cedar and epiphyllum.

Snowy white sheets veiled whatever might be visible on the bed. From the edge, one could vaguely make out the faint furrow in the brow of the girl on the left side, her lips pursed in a pout protesting some dream grievance.

“Mm…”

The lingering haze from last night’s drinks still clouded her mind. Jiang Li slowly opened her eyes to the sight of ornate fixtures and decor—standard high-end hotel style.

Wincing uncomfortably, she reached to press her temples.

She tugged once: no give. Tugged again: held fast. Tugged a third time: completely immobile.

Jiang Li’s expression went blank as she gave up. Following the grip that pinned her, she lifted the covers slightly and looked down. Shock flashed across her face.

Wait—this hand on her waist… whose was it? And why was it clamped so tight?

[Please turn around for a surprise.]

Obediently following the instruction, Jiang Li struggled in that tight embrace to flip over. Her soft waist rubbed intimately against the wrist pressed to it.

“Li…!”

Face-to-face with breathtaking beauty mere inches away, Jiang Li’s startled exclamation cut off after a second as she clamped her lips shut, determined not to utter another sound.

Li Huan showed no sign of being woken by the disturbance; she slept deeply.

The dark circles under her eyes gave Jiang Li the answer, telling her just how exhausted this woman had been lately.

Her heart softened. Jiang Li gazed at the face before her, tilting her cheek up slightly to nuzzle Li Huan’s nose with her own—like a small animal offering comfort.

You’ve been working so hard, Li Huan.

Before turning and realizing who held her, Jiang Li had dared bolder movements. Now, she even lightened her breathing, afraid to disturb her.

The only sound was the steady hum of the air conditioner.

Jiang Li’s gaze grew serious as it drifted downward. This was the first time in five years she’d seen Li Huan up close in real life.

She’d often seen foreign papers back then, detailing Li Huan’s latest interviews and photos.

The Li Huan she’d left behind, still tinged with youth, had shed every trace of it. Her speech and presence now exuded mature charm.

She’s become even more beautiful, Li Huan.

Deep brows and eyes that dazzled despite the fatigue, a straight nose giving an air of extreme aloofness—far more forbidding than the “keep away from strangers” vibe of their youth.

It had given Jiang Li a moment’s doubt last night as she’d dashed into the elevator from afar, wondering if she’d mistaken the identity.

Until she’d crashed into that icy, indifferent embrace. Her body hadn’t been shoved away.

The last thing she remembered before blacking out was the sharp chop of a palm to the back of her neck, snuffing out her mere tipsiness completely.

That’s right—the hand chop!

Memory flooding back, Jiang Li’s once-straight hair seemed ready to frizz out in fury. She glared at the sleeping face before her.

The recollection brought a dull ache to her nape that she hadn’t noticed upon first waking.

“…”

Her lips parted for a sharp question, but seeing the weariness on Li Huan’s face made Jiang Li swallow her words. Waking her now felt like too much.

Especially since Jiang Li couldn’t be sure if her own actions had contributed to that exhaustion.

She stared blankly into those eyes, plunging the room back into initial silence.

Even in a luxury hotel, the outdoors always carried bright vendor calls hawking local specialties to lure tourists.

She counted Li Huan’s lashes one by one, time slipping by in quiet companionship.

“Wooden girl, let me in! I’m looking for my young miss!”

“Sorry, this is Executive Li’s private suite.”

“I know damn well this is Li Huan’s room! That’s exactly who I’m trying to see! She knocked out my young miss last night and dragged her away!”

“Sorry, that’s outside my jurisdiction.”

“Wooden girl…!”

The commotion grew louder. Familiar voices filtered faintly through the soundproofing into Jiang Li’s ears—Li Si.

Li Si had come looking for her.

Jiang Li blinked in realization. Last night, she’d promised Li Si she’d just scout for Li Huan and be right back. Instead, she’d vanished.

This was bad!

Jiang Li fumbled for her phone by the pillow but found nothing. Seeing Li Huan still asleep, she gritted her teeth.

She turned carefully, placing her palm over Li Huan’s in an attempt to pry away the hand locked around her waist.

As her hand slid down to cover it, awareness hit her late.

Completely naked?! Holy shit! She and Li Huan weren’t wearing a stitch—not even underwear.

Jiang Li had been unconscious since Li Huan knocked her out last night. Clearly, their current state was Li Huan’s doing.

No time to ponder why Li Huan hadn’t dressed them. Hearing the argument raging outside, Jiang Li began trying to loosen the grip over Li Huan’s hand back.

It did nothing.

“What are you doing?” A raspy voice came from behind. Jiang Li’s wrist jerked back; any anger she’d mustered evaporated.

The ex who lay naked beside her had woken. No matter how you sliced it, this was mortifying, Jiang Li thought helplessly.

Li Huan got no answer. Irritated by the noise that had roused her, she wrapped her arm fully around Jiang Li’s waist, clamping her tight against her chest.

At the same time, warm pressure pressed into Jiang Li’s back.

She hadn’t focused on their mutual nakedness before, so she’d ignored it. Now she couldn’t.

Jiang Li strained her legs forward a fraction, barely moving an inch before she was yanked back tighter—nearly suffocating.

“What, trying to leave naked?”

The chilling tone from behind paled against the words themselves.

After Li Huan’s question, Jiang Li’s eyes swept the room for her clothes. Nothing met her gaze except Li Huan’s Collection Box.

The bedsheet over them became her sole cover.

Bluntly, Jiang Li demanded, “Your room. Give me clothes.”

Li Huan stared at the back of Jiang Li’s head, tongue flicking across her lips. Unable to resist, she leaned in and nipped the tip of Jiang Li’s ear, reddening it.

Watching her shiver, Li Huan drawled leisurely before any anger from the Eldest Miss could erupt, her eyes gleaming with wicked amusement.

“Make me happy once, and I’ll give you one piece of clothing.”

Words identical to five years ago.

This time, their roles reversed.