Chapter 26 Part 2

If, in the segment where the host kindly asked on behalf of guests, Shi Youwan hadn’t answered “Never worn it,” the necklace’s price would’ve been far higher.

The necklace was a birthday gift Shi Youwan had bought two years ago at an overseas jewelry expo for Shi Youran, who thought it tacky and refused it.

Fortunately, Xiao Mo knew its origin.

—You think rubies are tacky too?

—How could anything Sister chooses be tacky? The Second Miss just has no taste.

—If Xiao Mo likes it…

—Sister, I only like—and only want—these two rubies on Sister. Sister’s already given them to me. I like them very much, very much.

—Mm, don’t bite…

Heartstrings plucked by sweet memories, her heart pounded nonstop.

Shi Youwan unconsciously lifted her hand to lightly touch the small green peridot at her collarbone.

Her Xiao Mo now had a priceless ruby—would she still look at this ordinary peridot on her?

“Hello, Mo Yu.” Suppressing her heartache, Shi Youwan smiled and greeted Chi Yumo.

Before they approached, she split her attention, pretending not to see Chi Yumo while her peripheral vision had scanned her a thousand times.

Once they came over, her eyes held no one else; the world faded to one person.

She watched Shen Muxi’s hand slide from Chi Yumo’s shoulder to her waist, embracing her, while Chi Yumo meekly followed, listening to Shen Muxi whisper in her ear.

In Chi Yumo’s eyes, there was only Shen Muxi.

They were one white and one red, one cold and one hot, so dazzling.

Once, she had imagined what Xiao Mo would look like in a gown—it would surely be beautiful. But in the two years she had spent by her side, through all four seasons, two winters and two summers, Xiao Mo could only wear the most unremarkable, tightly wrapped black clothes.

It was she who had stripped the color from Xiao Mo’s life.

She had made Xiao Mo’s world dull and colorless.

Shi Youwan couldn’t hear what Shen Muxi said to Chi Yumo, but she saw Chi Yumo pick up a glass of wine from the tray of a server following behind them. Chi Yumo nodded slightly in greeting toward them before downing the wine in one gulp.

She knew both Shen Muxi and Chi Yumo were Alphas, but in the eyes of the public, Mo Yu was Shen Muxi’s canary.

Shen Muxi’s acting skills were renowned, her award-winning professionalism beyond question, but her love life was a mess, full of endless tabloid gossip claiming she devoured both Alphas and Omegas.

Shen Muxi’s pheromones smelled of lemon.

To declare sovereignty over Chi Yumo and ward off those with ill intentions who might try to poach her, Shen Muxi had Chi Yumo occasionally spritz on a perfume similar to her lemon pheromones.

Chi Yumo wanted to avoid trouble too, especially at crowded banquets like this.

So she had sprayed some today.

After all, Shen Muxi, this “patron,” was powerful, arrogant, and loved parading her around. Backing such a big tree was a good shade—why not use it?

“I must thank President Shi on behalf of the Shen Group and Mo Yu for your generosity.” Shen Muxi also picked up a glass of wine, raised it to Shi Youwan, and drank it down. “The Ruby Necklace you donated, President Shi—I bought it to give to Mo Yu. You wouldn’t mind, would you?”

“Gems suit a beauty.” Xiao Mo looked good in anything, and the necklace had come from her own collection—how could she mind?

Besides, two years ago, she had said she would give it to Xiao Mo, but Xiao Mo… hadn’t wanted it.

Shen Muxi casually set her wine glass on the table, her gaze falling on the necklace around Shi Youwan’s neck. It was exquisite, but it didn’t look like a precious gem.

There were ways to compliment even inexpensive jewelry—how could this stump the silver-tongued Shen Muxi?

The praise came effortlessly: “I see the necklace you’re wearing, President Shi, is exceptionally unique. White with green, such a distinctive design—delicate, refined, fresh and elegant. No wonder you never care for those flashy gold and jewels. Sigh, compared to you, President Shi, I’m the vulgar one.”

“Treasures aren’t divided by price. Nor are people.” Both the pearl and the peridot were treasures she cherished. Xiao Mo even more so.

“As expected of President Shi—your perspective is extraordinary.”

Shen Muxi turned to Chi Yumo. “Hear that, Xiao Mo Mo? Remember this elegant, generous President Shi. Be polite and respectful whenever you meet her in the future—she might just be one of your benefactors.”

Chi Yumo nodded.

After seeing the serene-as-a-virgin-pool Chi Yumo, Shen Munian inexplicably felt a fondness for her. With a straight face, he teased Shen Muxi.

“No more acting, signing all those artists—haven’t made enough money? You might as well settle down and have a proper relationship for once. Don’t ruin your reputation.”

He glanced at Chi Yumo as he spoke, his meaning clear.

Shen Munian wasn’t old-fashioned; he didn’t care if Shen Muxi liked Alphas or Omegas, as long as she dated seriously and didn’t leave a trail of romantic debts.

Shen Muxi brushed it off. “Are you blaming me for tarnishing the family name and embarrassing the Shen Group?”

The siblings bickered within minutes of meeting—a daily routine.

Of course, it wasn’t a real fight with flushed faces and thick necks; their worldviews just clashed, each with their own “crooked theories” that were incompatible.

“Mu Xi, that’s not what your brother meant.”

Hearing Shen Muxi deliberately twist Shen Munian’s words, Shi Youran stood and linked arms with Shen Muxi, playing peacemaker. “He can’t stand hearing a bad word about you, but without proof, he can’t boldly shut those people up.”

At home and in business, Shen Munian was a courteous, eloquent gentleman. Only with his sister was he stubborn as a mule, unable to say sweet words.

According to Old Master Shen and Old Madam Shen, the siblings had quarreled since childhood.

After so many years married into the Shen Family, Shi Youran was used to it and offered only token mediation.

“See, no evidence, but here’s a live witness.” Shen Muxi pulled Chi Yumo forward. “Lately, my focus has been all on her.”

“I can tell. Mo Yu is a girl with unique charisma and personality,” Shi Youran said with a smile. “Mu Xi’s taste is impeccable.”

With that height and build, she was clearly a solid Alpha.

On marriage matters, both her sister and sister-in-law were headaches.

“Miss Shen…”

An auction staff member approached and whispered to Shen Muxi.

After listening, Shen Muxi asked Shi Youran, “Sister-in-law, look after Mo Yu for me. I have something to handle.”

Their aunt-in-law relationship was as harmonious as ever, and Shi Youran readily agreed. “Sure, go ahead.”

Shen Muxi patted Mo Yu’s arm and strode off briskly, vanishing in a blink. Chi Yumo stood awkwardly, empty wine glass in hand.

Her new boss was truly unreliable.

“Mo Yu, just set the glass on the table. This seat’s empty—sit and wait a bit.”

Shi Youran had just arranged Chi Yumo’s seat and hadn’t sat down herself when two acquaintances heading to their table pulled her into a chat about parenting.

Their kids were kindergarten classmates, and they did business together, so Shen Munian naturally joined in.

By the time she and Shen Munian finished dealing with the couple, Chi Yumo was gone when they looked back.

Not just Chi Yumo—Shi Youwan was missing too.

…

In life, there are too many near misses. If the bond is deep, perhaps one day they’ll reunite after a long separation. If shallow, one turn, and the chance to hold hands is gone forever.

Time is merciless, never giving enough leeway for dawdling or waste. So when they meet again, there’s no room for hesitation.

The noble woman in the black gown, eyes red, pulled the other’s canary to a secluded spot. She stroked the scar on the girl’s wrist, now covered by a tattoo, her brows full of affection. “Why pretend not to know me? Why won’t you talk to me?”

She was terrified, terrified of missing the girl before her again. But the girl’s dark, bright eyes held no affection when they met hers—faint, as if they’d never known each other.

Before seeing her, she hadn’t believed warm memories could cool.

Yet the cold winds and frosts had come; past tenderness was gone, leaving only indifferent glances.

From the moment she decided to follow Shen Muxi back into the public eye, Chi Yumo had rehearsed her “reunion” with Shi Youwan countless times in her mind.

She’d imagined Shi Youwan brushing it off, strangers upon meeting, just like her. Or Shi Youwan regretting it, pulling her to a remote spot like now—forceful or gentle, asking why she left without a word.

But no matter Shi Youwan’s reaction, Chi Yumo had only one response.

She wanted to say, President Shi, do we know each other?

But she couldn’t say it now.

No matter how much Shi Youwan asked, she could only respond with cold eyes.

Shi Youwan refused to accept it.

She wouldn’t accept that Xiao Mo had forgotten all her feelings entirely. With a slight push, she pinned the girl against the wall.

She desperately wanted to embrace her little Alpha, heedless of propriety, but stage fright held her back. Instead, she settled for second best, lowering her head to clasp the girl’s warm right hand. The familiar touch and temperature warmed her heart and brought joy.

“Why cover the scar with a tattoo?”

On the girl’s right wrist, where the scar once was, bold red now bloomed—a vibrant Other Shore Flower, mysterious and gorgeous.

She had seen this tattoo in photos and looked into it.

Twice, she had asked the girl if she wanted the scar removed. She could arrange the best doctors in the country, the most advanced scar removal surgery, for perfect restoration.

The girl had refused both times.

She said although she couldn’t remember how the scar came about, she believed her grandmother—it was a badge of bravery.

Perhaps related to her parents, or someone very important. What if she remembered later?

The girl had remembered. But she no longer wanted to see it.

Between removal and cover-up, she chose cover-up. The Other Shore Flower was also called—the flower of the underworld.

Both wore high heels, both had bare shoulders.

To the unknowing, the black-and-white figures in ambiguous poses looked like a loving pair nestled together.

But it wasn’t so.

The slightly shorter Omega’s chin was inches from the Alpha’s collarbone. Their skin hadn’t touched, but the faint lotus scent issued an invitation first.

She didn’t like other people’s pheromones on Xiao Mo. Not Alphas’, and especially not Omegas’.

Xiao Mo could only have her pheromones.

Xiao Mo was hers—before, and in the future too.

Shi Youwan had gone mad, Chi Yumo thought darkly.

How mad was Shi Youwan, releasing her pheromones outside the banquet hall to seduce an insignificant Alpha?

The banquet hall doors were just twenty or thirty meters away.

One corner, two doors.

If Shi Youwan’s S-Grade Pheromones drifted into the hall and caused chaos, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Luckily, she was prepared, having injected an Inhibitor beforehand—for exactly this scenario she least wanted.

So she no longer minded the impropriety of her status. With a push of both hands, she reversed the situation, pinning Shi Youwan against the wall instead.

Her “pin” was gripping Shi Youwan’s wrists tightly, forcing her back flat against the wall.

Strangers upon meeting.

She had left a letter.

So she couldn’t be blamed for rudeness or heartlessness. The words were proof—they had severed ties a year ago.

The deep-V black gown nearly slipped from the tugging, but its owner didn’t care.