Chapter 21

The three people in the car stared intently at the gates of Jinhuai Drama Academy. They saw Chi Yumo and Cheng Xiangxiang walking side by side at the front of the crowd, and they also saw Chi Yumo typing on her phone with one hand.

But after five or six minutes passed, as the straight-line distance between the crowd and the vehicles grew shorter, Chi Yumo never glanced their way.

Just as Qiao Ke and Zhang Kai felt like they were about to suffocate from the wait, Shi Youwan finally spoke.

“Head back to the company.”

She wouldn’t come over.

Two new messages lay in Shi Youwan’s phone.

[Chi Yumo: The ceremony is over, but there’s a final class gathering for lunch at noon, and other activities are scheduled for the afternoon.]

[Chi Yumo: Thank you for your kindness, sister. I’m sorry.]

…

A fine drizzle fell like silk, weaving a hazy veil that enveloped the old street steeped in cultural heritage. It soaked in the aged incense of time, sketched the faded elegance of years past, and unfurled a poetic scroll interpreting the charm of the East.

As night just fell, Shi Youwan arrived at a teahouse with a view of the entrance to Chi Yumo’s residential building and reserved a private room.

She sat alone in the room.

After Zhang Kai drove her there, he obediently went to wait in the parking lot outside the street district.

When she filled her teacup for the third time, Shi Youwan spotted the person she had been waiting for.

The Alpha with a significant height advantage held a dark umbrella, while the petite and sweet Omega walked in sync with her through the rain.

She recognized that Omega. Over a year ago, Qiao Ke had shown her a photo.

—President Shi, this is the prettiest Omega among Xiao Mo’s classmates. Her name is Cheng Xiangxiang, and she’s S-Level. According to reliable intel, Xiao Mo’s relationship with her is just that of ordinary classmates.

In the occasional Moments updates from Chi Yumo, Shi Youwan had seen her in group photos a few times, but there wasn’t a single intimate gesture.

Yet today alone, she had witnessed it twice with her own eyes.

After agreeing at the beginning of the month to treat Cheng Xiangxiang to a meal following the celebratory banquet, Chi Yumo had kept her promise tonight.

“Yu Mo, now that you’ve graduated, I… my feelings haven’t changed. Can you consider turning me from a friend into your girlfriend?”

“Xiangxiang, I’m sorry.”

Cheng Xiangxiang wasn’t surprised at all by Chi Yumo’s rejection.

Whether someone liked you or not didn’t require you to ask outright or hear them say it— you could feel it in the details of your interactions.

Unlike the emotions they portrayed on stage, in reality, it was Cheng Xiangxiang who smiled with relief. “There’s no need to apologize. Don’t worry, I keep my word. I won’t ask such embarrassing questions again, and I won’t cling desperately. From now on, we’ll just be friends and colleagues. Don’t distance yourself from me, okay?”

“Mm.”

“Yu Mo, I still want to ask… the person you like, is it that sister?”

“Yes.”

“And what about her? Does she like you too?”

“Whether she likes me or not is her business. My liking her is mine. Alright, Xiangxiang, don’t keep your brother waiting too long.”

“Then I’m heading back. See you when we start at the Provincial Drama Troupe.”

“Goodbye.”

Chi Yumo handed the umbrella to Cheng Xiangxiang, but Cheng Xiangxiang quickly hugged her first, then took the umbrella and trotted to the car that had brought them back.

The young man in the driver’s seat turned around. “Xiangxiang, are you interested in that Alpha classmate of yours…”

“Bro, I don’t like her.” Cheng Xiangxiang held back her tears, but her voice cracked and betrayed her. “Let’s hurry back.”

Chi Yumo watched the car disappear at the street corner before turning to head upstairs.

In the teahouse private room, the fingers holding Shi Youwan’s teacup were slightly reddened from the heat.

Xiao Mo, you two look so well-matched.

She likes you, right?

And you? Do you have feelings for her too?

What does her pheromone smell like? Does it match your coconut scent?

On the fifth floor, a window lit up with warm yellow light.

Shi Youwan drained the tea in her cup. Once the bitterness faded, she picked up her phone and dialed. “Come around. Back to the Old Mansion.”

Zhang Kai: “Got it, President Shi.”

…

In the VIP ward, Xiao Yi—her forehead wrapped in bandages and neck in a brace—watched a video on her tablet: the graduation play Dream Me in Dream from Jinhuai Drama Academy’s drama and film performance major, officially released the night before.

The video had garnered tens of thousands of views, shares, likes, and comments in just one night.

She had been in the hospital for three days, bored out of her mind.

Shi Youwan had only visited the night she got injured; she hadn’t come the next three days. Instead, her conveniently acquired parents visited daily.

Her “foster parents” were decent to her overall—better than her grandparents, even if they met infrequently. They provided plenty of money.

They hadn’t skimped on her food, clothing, housing, or travel.

But what she needed wasn’t parental love. She held no hope for family or affection anymore; she even despised it.

What she wanted was Shi Youwan’s attention and Shi Youwan’s love.

Going abroad was off the table now.

She didn’t want to stay in the hospital either.

After closing the video, Xiao Yi dialed Shi Youwan’s number, pleading in a feeble voice. “Aunt Shi, I’m so scared alone in the hospital, and I keep having nightmares. Can you come visit more?”

To her surprise, Shi Youwan said she would arrange her discharge. “I’ll have Qiao Ke pick you up and take you to the villa.”

It was the villa under Shi Youwan’s own name.

She spent most of her time at the Old Mansion, and it was the Old Mansion she most often took Chi Yumo to.

The Old Mansion was her home.

Xiao Yi was thrilled. That evening, after checking into the villa, she couldn’t stay still for even a minute and sent two photos to Chi Yumo.

One was the bed in Shi Youwan’s room, the other from the guest room she was staying in.

[Xiao Yi: Have you two done it on these beds?]

Chi Yumo didn’t reply on her phone, but in her mind, she answered: We have.

In the villa and the Old Mansion, in Shi Youwan’s master bedroom, the guest rooms she’d slept in—they’d done it in all of them. The room Xiao Yi was in was one Chi Yumo had slept in too.

So in Shi Youwan’s heart, she and Xiao Yi were no different. That bedroom wasn’t exclusively hers; it was just a guest room anyone could stay in, anyone could sleep in.

[Xiao Yi: From now on, I’ll be living here regularly. Whatever you’ve done with her, I’ll do with her too.]

Chi Yumo couldn’t take it anymore and replied for the first time: [Xiao Yi, are you sick?]

[Xiao Yi: Yeah, I am. Pretty serious too, or she wouldn’t have brought me back, right? What, jealous now?]

[Chi Yumo: Aren’t you afraid I’ll show her all these messages you sent?]

[Xiao Yi: Go ahead, I wish you would. You don’t know yet, do you? Her white moonlight—my mom—died by depression-induced sui/cide. The heritability is 40%, and daughters have a higher chance than sons.]

[Xiao Yi: Guess who she’s more afraid of dying—you or me?]

Threatening with death?

How could there be such a despicable, shameless person?

Chi Yumo was so angry she slammed her phone face-down on the bed. The book on her lap—she couldn’t read a single word.

Two days had passed since the graduation ceremony. She’d holed up at home those two days, reading to calm her mind.

Xiao Yi called her lowly, humble.

She couldn’t refute it.

She and Shi Youwan—one on earth, one in heaven. The earthly her had grown accustomed to catering to, submitting to the heavenly Shi Youwan.

But in the ten years before Grandma passed, she hadn’t been one to bow and scrape.

Her back had only bent once: when raising money for Grandma’s medical bills.

After becoming Shi Youwan’s bodyguard and lover, though, her spine never straightened again.

If Grandma knew, would she still recognize this granddaughter who belittled herself and groveled? Grandma would surely be disappointed.

But she loved Shi Youwan. For love, she bent; for love, she yielded—without complaint.

To protect her beloved from harm, she could throw herself into danger without hesitation. But she wouldn’t hurt others or herself just to love someone.

She couldn’t understand or condone Xiao Yi’s actions.

Should she tell Shi Youwan?

How?

Say Xiao Yi was deranged, a textbook nutcase who needed a psychiatrist ASAP?

Or that she was raising a tiger that should be released to fend for itself?

Would Shi Youwan believe her?

Had Xiao Yi hurt anyone besides her?

The “harm” Xiao Yi inflicted on her was just revealing the truth.

Xiao Yi’s bitter ploy harmed only herself.

Xiao Yi’s malice, her madness—it targeted only her.

Chi Yumo ignored Xiao Yi after that. After calming down for a few minutes, she messaged Qiao Ke instead: [Qiao Ke-jie, I have something I’m curious about and want to ask. Say if you can, don’t if it’s tricky.]

[Chi Yumo: Did Xiao Yi graduate high school this year? Which university did she apply to?]

Unlike high school, universities couldn’t be bought into with money. Those who made it into top schools were elites nine times out of ten.

Shi Youwan hadn’t forbidden questions or mentions of Xiao Yi.

Every second with Shi Youwan was precious—why let someone whose vibes clashed with hers wedge between them?

So she never wanted to bring up Xiao Yi.

[Qiao Ke: Jinhuai University. With her grades, she could’ve gone to Capital University. Stubborn as hell—wouldn’t go to the Capital or abroad, no matter who advised her. Said Jinhuai offered full scholarship; she wanted to make it on her own.]

[Qiao Ke: Why suddenly ask about her? That hot search? Or did she bother you again?]

As expected, a top student who was independent and strong-willed—a good kid.

[Chi Yumo: When I first met her, she was just sixteen. Two years later, she’s off to university, and I’ve graduated. Time flies.]

[Chi Yumo: She did so well on her exams; as her aunt, sister must be thrilled for her, right? So you took her shopping for gifts.]

[Qiao Ke: Her parents were the happiest.]

[Qiao Ke: Netizens dug it up already—Xiao Yi’s parents’ company is under Shifeng Group. Both workaholics, neglected her company. President Shi met her as a kid, saw how clever she was, employee family and all, so paid extra attention.]

[Qiao Ke: President Shi sees her maybe two or three times a year. Holidays, I’m the one checking in.]

As Qiao Ke’s messages poured in nonstop, Chi Yumo smiled to herself. The other end must be pacing anxiously.

[Chi Yumo: I get it, Qiao Ke-jie. She’s smart as ice and snow, way better than an arts candidate like me. Worth investing in. Keep the resources in the family, right?]

[Qiao Ke: Who says you’re any less?]

[Qiao Ke: Want me to tell President Shi right now that a certain little fool knocked over the vinegar jar and is wallowing in self-pity at home, chugging jealousy?]

The certain little fool typed frantically: [Qiao Ke-jie, my bad.]

[Qiao Ke: Bad how?]

[Chi Yumo: Sorry, I said the wrong thing. Don’t be mad, Qiao Ke-jie—you’re the sister who’s most like my own sister [pitiful]]

Calling Shi Youwan “sister” was an intimate pet name in their relationship. But Qiao Ke—rough around the edges yet thoughtful, the one who bantered and teased her—felt more like an everyday big sister from a normal family.

In Qiao Ke’s care, Chi Yumo felt a sisterly warmth, so she occasionally acted spoiled toward her.

[Qiao Ke: Forgiven. But don’t tell President Shi you’re ‘most like her sister.’]

President Shi might get jealous too.

Then she’d be in trouble.

[Chi Yumo: Mm-hm.]

[Qiao Ke: No more mm-hm-ing to play cute.]

[Qiao Ke: That day, you walked super close with the pretty Omega out of school—we all saw: me, Kai-ge, President Shi. And President Shi’s been off her food ever since.]

Off her food?

No way.

Chi Yumo truly didn’t believe it.

They must have seen, sure, but she and Cheng Xiangxiang hadn’t walked that close.

Stimulated repeatedly by Xiao Yi, neglected repeatedly by Shi Youwan, she felt wronged and stifled, but she’d never thought to retaliate by getting close to another Omega.

The “stand-in lover” knot had to be untied for clarity. Dragging it out wasn’t the way.

After chatting with Qiao Ke, she messaged Shi Youwan.

[Chi Yumo: Sister asked what birthday gift I wanted. I didn’t get my top choice. ω Today, I want something else.]

[Chi Yumo: Can sister play a piano piece for me?]

There was a piano in the Old Mansion’s first-floor living room, spotless, but Chi Yumo had never heard it played.

—Sister, do you play piano?

—I do. But it’s been years since I touched one; I wouldn’t play well.

At that time, she hadn’t delved deeply into just how many years Shi Youwan’s “many years” truly meant. Now, upon reflection, it was probably the many years after Xiao Yi’s Omega mother had gotten married.