Chapter 27: The Chaebol Heir’s Canary — “I’m Jealous.” Part 2

After lunch, they set out together. Though Shi Yu had gained a little weight recently, standing next to Jiang Qiuyan, she still looked small and delicate.

She wore a coat matching Jiang Qiuyan’s in style and color, but lacked the same presence. Her temperament was more like the girl next door: gentle and harmless, the kind that made people smile at first sight.

Although she had brought Shi Yu along, Jiang Qiuyan didn’t want her anywhere near the filth, so she didn’t take her inside.

The matters that had been dragging on became incredibly simple once she stepped in. The paid marketing accounts were all shut down. The reporters were not only stripped of their press credentials but permanently banned from the industry, becoming unemployed overnight.

Having offended the Jiang family, their future in Hai City would be fraught with obstacles.

She was confident that after this, gossip media wouldn’t dare print anything related to her again.

The whole process took less than half an hour. When Jiang Qiuyan came out, Shi Yu hadn’t even finished her coffee.

Seeing her approach, Shi Yu stood up to greet her.

“All taken care of?”

Jiang Qiuyan stared at her for a few seconds before leaning her head gently against Shi Yu’s shoulder. “Little Yu, I’m sorry.”

Shi Yu asked in confusion, “Why the sudden apology?”

Jiang Qiuyan said nothing, just nuzzled her face against the crook of Shi Yu’s neck like a big puppy acting spoiled.

She knew Shi Yu grew up in that environment, timid and sensitive. She should have confessed sooner, said she loved her over and over, given her enough security.

She knew the Pei family were wolves in sheep’s clothing, yet had been slow to deal with them, giving them the chance to cause trouble. That too was her failure.

Everything was her fault. An undeniable fact.

Shi Yu looked down at her. Seeing her drooping eyes, the sharpness between her brows softened considerably. She looked like a scruffy little puppy that had been abandoned and rained on. Shi Yu couldn’t resist reaching out to ruffle her hair.

“If I don’t accept your apology, will you cry?”

Jiang Qiuyan lifted her head from Shi Yu’s shoulder, looked at her, and suddenly laughed. She pinched her cheek and said, “Let’s go. I’ll take you somewhere good to eat.”

Shi Yu blinked and followed her out, feeling a twinge of regret. Jiang Qiuyan probably looks beautiful when she cries.

The little cat seemed to have gotten braver, learning to refuse her and using words to probe her. Was that a good development?

Probably.

Jiang Qiuyan’s lips curved. She took Shi Yu’s small hand and tucked it into her coat pocket, adjusting her stride to match.

Stepping out of the police station, the sun was bright and the sky clear.

“What do you want to eat?”

“Hot pot.” Shi Yu blurted out.

Then she quickly added, “Anything is fine. Whatever you want.”

Jiang Qiuyan turned to her and squeezed her fingers. “I want what you want. Let’s go.”

Eating hot pot at high noon was a bit intense, but the little cat had finally expressed a preference. Of course she would go along with it. Otherwise the girl would keep deferring to her, pleasing her, losing herself.

“Really?” Shi Yu’s eyes sparkled, as if stars had fallen into them.

Jiang Qiuyan felt a sudden ache in her heart and pulled her into her arms, wrapping her tightly in the coat.

“From now on, tell me whatever you want. Except leaving me. Everything else, I’ll agree to.”

This child had been unwanted since birth, bullied and mistreated all her life, yet still kept her innocence and kindness. Give her even a little bit of good and she repaid it tenfold. How could her heart not ache?

Shi Yu noticed Jiang Qiuyan had been quite sentimental lately, hugging her at the drop of a hat, as if she were a treasured possession.

Is this what liking feels like?

Passersby looked at them. Shi Yu felt self-conscious, burying her face against her chest and pushing at her.

“People are watching. Let me go first.”

Jiang Qiuyan agreed verbally but still lingered for over ten seconds before releasing her. She rubbed her hands and tucked them into her pocket, her lowered phoenix eyes narrow and deep, fixed firmly on Shi Yu.

Shi Yu was embarrassed by the attention and looked away. “Let’s go. I’m hungry.”

Jiang Qiuyan complied smoothly and led her toward the parking lot.

The passenger door opened. The moment Shi Yu sat down, Jiang Qiuyan’s kiss descended. Shi Yu parted her lips instinctively, but the other didn’t dive in, only giving a gentle peck.

Jiang Qiuyan looked at her half-closed eyes and swallowed, then stepped back and closed the car door.

Realizing she had read too much into it, Shi Yu’s face grew warm. Her posture became prim, hands on her knees, back straight as a rod.

Jiang Qiuyan leaned in, and Shi Yu instinctively leaned back, her entire upper body stiff.

“Just helping with your seatbelt. Don’t be so tense.”

Jiang Qiuyan’s voice held a smile, teasing with the ease of someone who saw through everything. On impulse, Shi Yu bit down on her neck.

Jiang Qiuyan’s breath caught. After a long moment she said, “Behave, or you’ll go hungry.”

Shi Yu let go and sat up properly.

In Jiang Qiuyan’s eyes, she really was like a cat. Occasionally hissy and feisty, but clingy and affectionate. Impossibly cute.

Shi Yu chose a well-reviewed hot pot restaurant and ordered a mountain of dishes to feast on. Jiang Qiuyan ate with elegant restraint, taking a phone call midway that lasted until Shi Yu finished.

After returning, she wiped her hands and asked, “Full?”

Shi Yu burped loudly.

Jiang Qiuyan chuckled and said, “Then let’s go home.”

“But you barely ate anything.”

The smile on Jiang Qiuyan’s face didn’t fade, her eyes holding something more. “There’s something else I’d rather eat.”

The words were ambiguous, but Shi Yu understood. Knowing her intentions now, those eyes seemed to contain a heat beyond bearing, hot enough to scorch.

The moment the door opened, Shi Yu was seized by the waist and kissed. Jiang Qiuyan’s kiss was like a sudden storm, sweeping away her reason and awareness.

Shi Yu wrapped her arms around her neck, lips parted to meet her, bitten and devoured, entangled without end.

“Little Yu, don’t leave me.”

Just as Shi Yu was about to respond, Jiang Qiuyan took advantage of the opening and deepened the already fierce kiss. Saliva trailed from the corner of her lips, the sticky wet sounds echoing in the silent space.

A phone rang. Shi Yu had wanted to ignore it, but Jiang Qiuyan released her.

“Answer it.”

It took Shi Yu a moment to react. She fished her phone from her bag and saw the unfamiliar number. After a moment of hesitation, she answered.

“Hello, Miss Shi Yu? This is a teacher from Imperial High School’s admissions office. Would you be able to enroll next week?”

Imperial High School? The top-ranked private school in the country, where most students come from powerful, wealthy families. A school like this actually called her?

She turned to look at Jiang Qiuyan. The woman was leaning against the cabinet, appearing casual and unhurried, with the poised ease of someone who had everything under control.

Shi Yu’s heart stirred inexplicably. A prompt from the other end of the line snapped her back to reality, and she hurriedly agreed.

A school this prestigious was willing to take her in. What was there to hesitate about?

The moment the call ended, Jiang Qiuyan swept her up in her arms, chin nuzzling into the crook of her neck.

“You get to go to school now. Happy?”

Her tone was practically begging for credit. Shi Yu couldn’t miss it. She turned and kissed the big puppy, lingering and nuzzling.

“Happy. Thank you.”

“Words alone won’t do.”

Jiang Qiuyan pulled her onto her lap and leaned down to capture the softness…

The two-day weekend passed in a blur. Aside from eating and drinking, most of the time was spent in bed, leaving Shi Yu severely drained. When she woke early for school, she groggily wondered, Is going to school really necessary?

They said goodbye at the school gate. Shi Yu took a few steps before turning to look at Jiang Qiuyan. Seeing her gazing at her with longing, she couldn’t resist going back and kissing her.

“I’m off to school. Work hard.”

Jiang Qiuyan hummed in response, restraining the urge to keep her back, and watched Shi Yu walk through the school gates.

This step had to be taken. Otherwise, Shi Yu would always see her as nothing more than a patron. Only from an equal position could they break through everything from before and start anew.

There was a gamble involved, but she was willing to believe that Shi Yu wouldn’t abandon her again.

That slender figure had disappeared from sight. Jiang Qiuyan stood in place, watching for a long, long time.

Shi Yu adapted well. After a placement test, the school assigned her to a regular class. Thanks to Jiang Qiuyan’s connections, the teachers paid special attention to her, tutoring her individually on anything she didn’t understand.

Everything except math was steadily improving. But math was math; if you didn’t get it, you didn’t get it. She didn’t push herself over it.

Shi Yu was quiet and well-behaved, smiling at everyone. She got along great with her classmates and loved this atmosphere.

One day she stayed late working on problems. By the time she looked up, the sky was nearly dark. She hurriedly packed her bag and headed out. A voice suddenly sounded behind her.

“It’s so late. Let me walk you out.”

Shi Yu startled and turned to see someone sitting in the corner.

Chu Qian, I think. An alpha. We haven’t really talked.

Shi Yu quickly said, “That’s alright. Someone’s picking me up.”

They’re probably angry already. With that thought, Shi Yu didn’t waste another moment and bolted outside. Chu Qian followed at a steady distance.

From afar, she spotted a Cayenne parked at the school gate. Shi Yu tensed and quickened her pace. The sky had gone completely dark. She didn’t watch her step and tripped. Chu Qian caught her just in time and said coolly, “Careful.”

“Thank you.”

Shi Yu, afraid of being misinterpreted, stepped back to put distance between them.

Chu Qian was about to speak when the alpha who had been leaning against the car strode over and positioned herself between them.

“You’re Little Yu’s classmate, right? It’s quite late. What can I do for you?”

“Nothing in particular. I just happened to be heading the same way and thought I’d walk her home.” Chu Qian was slightly shorter than Jiang Qiuyan and tilted her head up to match her presence.

Between the two alphas, a tension suddenly arose that Shi Yu couldn’t read. To keep their pheromones from affecting her, she said to Jiang Qiuyan, “I lost track of time working on problems. I just ran into her on the way out.”

Jiang Qiuyan glanced at Chu Qian, then took Shi Yu’s hand and said gently, “Let’s go home.”

Shi Yu nodded and followed obediently.

From getting in the car to arriving home, Jiang Qiuyan didn’t say a single word. Shi Yu knew she was angry. She tugged at the hem of her coat and asked timidly, “Don’t you believe me?”

The keypad lock chimed. Jiang Qiuyan opened the door, carried her inside, and released her pheromones.

“You have her pheromones on you. It smells awful.”

She overlaid Chu Qian’s scent completely with her own, circling Shi Yu and nuzzling her, clinging to her owner like a jealous pet.

Shi Yu imagined a drooping tail and those pitiful puppy eyes and found it rather amusing.

Jiang Qiuyan waited for her to be comforted, but ended up performing a one-woman show. She bit down on Shi Yu’s fair neck and said, muffled, “I’m jealous.”

Shi Yu’s lips curved upward as she stroked her hair. “And what should we do about that?”

In this moment, she understood the fun Jiang Qiuyan had teasing her before.

Jiang Qiuyan shifted her lips and teeth, capturing her lips and grinding gently. Her hand slipped beneath the hem of the school uniform, caressing her protruding shoulder blade.

“You should… comfort me.”