Chapter 45 Part 1

Before Shi Youwan entered the bathroom, Zhang Kai had already sent a report saying that Li Longfeng had chosen the latter.

Perfect.

For Li Longfeng, being released on bail was more humiliating than enduring a bit of hardship, but for Shi Youwan, making Li Longfeng suffer was far more satisfying than letting her off with bail.

She had to avenge Xiao Mo first, then eliminate harm for the people.

After finishing her discussion with Shen Muxi and reaching an immediate agreement on the important matters, Shi Youwan replied to Zhang Kai’s message. She then pulled open the ajar glass door, glanced at the person sleeping peacefully on the bed, closed the door properly, removed her necklace, and undressed for a bath.

From the moment things escalated backstage, she had spent a fortune to seal off all news unfavorable to “Mo Yu.”

Journalists’ cameras and eyewitnesses’ phones had their photos permanently deleted. Bodyguards and lawyers collaborated to negotiate confidentiality agreements with everyone involved, ensuring they kept their mouths shut about the day’s events. As for those who had taken bribes from Li Longfeng, someone would pry their mouths open, using both soft and hard tactics.

The rabble could be dealt with money, but a spoiled, ignorant, and incorrigible rich second-generation like Li Longfeng required risky, extraordinary measures.

She would seek justice for the bullying Xiao Mo had endured. If justice wasn’t available through proper channels, she wouldn’t hesitate to use power or fists.

If she had developed this ruthless “awareness” earlier, if she had selfishly claimed Xiao Mo for herself sooner, would she have avoided the pain of separation and the agony of unrequited love?

The sound of the shower echoed from the bathroom. The Alpha lying quietly on the bed twitched her eyelids, sat up while clutching the soft sea-blue duvet, and realized that Shi Youwan had undressed her down to just a pair of skimpy panties.

When had she woken up? It was… when Shi Youwan kissed her, dispelling her nightmare.

She looked around. The priceless qipao hung intact on the coat rack.

When Shi Youwan had undone the fastenings at her collar, she had instinctively grabbed Shi Youwan’s hand. She had heard Shi Youwan’s explanation and Chen Qiuxue’s.

One said, “Xiao Mo, loosening it will make you feel better.” The other said, “The qipao was borrowed from Xi-jie; Miss Mo must be worried about ruining it.”

Chen Qiuxue was half right.

The other half was her half-awake resistance to Shi Youwan’s closeness. Resisting her intimacy.

The duvet carried Shi Youwan’s scent. She had slept in Shi Youwan’s bed again, been rescued from fire and water by Shi Youwan once more.

Shi Youwan, how many more times will you save me? To salvage that impure past relationship, you chased me to Lingjiang, then to Lan Wei. Are you… a love-struck fool?

Love-struck fool.

It sounded like sarcasm, not a compliment.

She didn’t want Shi Youwan to become a foolish, muddleheaded love-struck fool, not even for her sake.

But those inadvertent beautiful memories floating in her mind, those words and actions proving Shi Youwan’s “love” for her, triggered another wave of heat and restlessness in the Susceptible Period Alpha’s body and glands.

She hunched over, clutching the soft duvet tightly, inhaling the lingering fragrance of Shi Youwan.

What was even more terrifying was that her mind wasn’t filled with thoughts of injecting an inhibitor to alleviate her Susceptible Period symptoms, but rather… wanting to absorb Shi Youwan’s pheromones, to bite her, to have her.

Shi Youwan, don’t do anything foolish for me.

Don’t… make me owe you.

But it seems I already do.

Mindful of Chi Yumo, Shi Youwan’s shower was brief; she only blow-dried her hair halfway before coming out.

Seeing that Chi Yumo had woken up at some point, her bare back arched into a semicircle as she hugged her knees while sitting, Shi Youwan’s heart tightened. She hurried to the bedside in quick little steps, pulled a corner of the duvet over Chi Yumo, and said, “Xiao Mo, why did you sit up? Careful, you’ll catch a cold.”

Dim light filtered through the window cracks, edging Shi Youwan’s slender frame. Chi Yumo looked up, her thin, pretty lips pressed tight, reached out, and pulled the woman into her embrace.

The force was still strong, and her heartbeat was loud.

So loud that when Shi Youwan heard the drumming in her chest, her own heartbeat synced with it. Her hands rested on Chi Yumo’s waist, and she relaxed fully into the Alpha’s arms.

She had waited fifteen whole months for this embrace where Chi Yumo opened up to her first. For this embrace, she had crossed mountains and rivers, traveled thousands of miles; no hardship, exhaustion, or danger was too much.

Chi Yumo held her tightly, wanting to meld this gentle yet powerful older woman into her own flesh and blood.

She wanted to ask: Shi Youwan, are you stupid? Why chase after a mute who doesn’t love you instead of living a comfortable life?

But did she really not love her anymore?

If she didn’t, why was her heart pounding so wildly? If she didn’t, why did she so desperately want… to kiss her?

Shi Youwan opened her eyes, misty haze spreading from them toward Chi Yumo’s back, the scales of love tipping once more toward Chi Yumo. She lifted her head from the embrace, tilted her chin slightly, her nose tip brushing Chi Yumo’s jaw.

As if saying: Xiao Mo, if you want to kiss, then… kiss.

Shi Youwan’s unique scent brushed her neck lightly, cool and heavy. The surging desire dismantled what little reason Chi Yumo had left.

Their heartbeats synced, Shi Youwan pressed closer, their lips drawing nearer, mere millimeters apart.

Shi Youwan trembled lightly, her breath tracing Chi Yumo’s contours. Just a tiny movement, and her lips would cover Chi Yumo’s soft ones.

But the next moment, Chi Yumo abruptly pushed her away, and the synced heartbeats vanished instantly.

Shi Youwan froze, the sparkle in her eyes shattering and scattering, her eye corners reddening. Her Xiao Mo had rejected her kiss. Just like she had done to Xiao Mo a year ago at the Old Mansion.

She was reaping what she had sown.

The room’s air cycled fresh through the air purification system, and she caught the increasingly rich scent of S+ Grade Alpha pheromones.

The spot at the back of her neck, which had quieted for an hour, stirred again under the Susceptible Period’s torment. Chi Yumo bit her lower lip hard, turtle-like, hiding her face and body under the duvet, retreating entirely into her shell.

She desperately needed an impenetrable shell for self-protection, and to protect Shi Youwan in turn.

Knowing the Alpha was doing everything to avoid her and sever ties, Shi Youwan rubbed her fingertips and still knelt forward to cup the Alpha’s face.

“Xiao Mo, no need to hold back. I’ll help you.”

The youthful softness had faded; between the Alpha’s furrowed brows and lowered lashes was a hint of cold sharpness. But gazing at her cheek and eye corner, one could easily catch the spring desire born of lust.

Shi Youwan didn’t press aggressively; she was like a patient hunter, calmly awaiting the moment to strike. Her thumb pressed and rubbed the Alpha’s lower lip with its fine texture, preventing further bites.

—Sister will help me.

As the lotus fragrance hit her nose, Chi Yumo couldn’t help trembling, as if plunged into a pond blooming with clear lotuses.

Shi Youwan’s semi-damp long hair rested in her shoulder hollow, her loose tie-style silk robe half-open, revealing exquisite curves, skin like congealed cream, dazzlingly white.

In that brief instant, Chi Yumo recalled all their entanglements over those two years. The lotus scent etched into her bones made her immensely nostalgic, immensely craving.

Even unwilling, her instincts moved first. The Alpha’s pheromones eagerly met them, like a caged beast breaking free, hotly entwining the Omega’s pheromones.

Conveying… the deep longing accumulated over time.

Chi Yumo’s forehead tightened, veins bulging; she couldn’t freely control her Susceptible Period’s unruly glands. In the chaos, the Omega’s pheromones matched in intensity, burrowing into her body wave after wave.

Seeing this, Shi Youwan held back no longer. She arched her waist gracefully, pressing toward Chi Yumo. She could feel her parched glands, dry for over a year, slowly being moistened.

“Xiao Mo…”

The moment was ripe; the coquettish Omega seized it. “You said 100,000 per night. I want it, I’ll give it to you. Whatever you want, I’ll give as much as it takes. No, not just 100,000—one million, 100 million, a billion. My everything… all to you.”

The sky was still light.

The bedside lamp was still on.

Occasional horn blasts passed outside, but they didn’t disturb the passion inside.

Three years ago, Chi Yumo had known that deep down, Shi Youwan was soft and warm; a gentle tease could melt her.

She lowered herself, enveloping the woman in her shadow, hugging her as they fell onto the bed together, so she no longer had to see those soft, affectionate eyes brimming with love.

This brought the Omega’s glands even closer to her lips. Full of warm, fragrant softness, like a dream.

“Xiao Mo, mark me.” Shi Youwan lightly stroked Chi Yumo’s cheek, stirring the Alpha’s breathing to deepen; her lips curved. “Be good, give me your pheromones. I’ll show you how much I want you.”

The lingering, amorous words fueled the pheromones’ further loss of control, the Alpha’s primal impulses erupting uncontrollably under their incitement.

With the host so eagerly inviting, why hold back?

She was too afraid to relive last year’s agony of being bound to a chair in Susceptible Period pain. What harm in accepting this ready comfort?

She buried her head toward the source of the lotus scent, no foreplay, sharp fangs piercing skin and flesh. The pain from her organs and limbs eased gradually with the pheromone injection.

Insecure cowardice, childish attachment and adoration, the ecstasy of body and soul uniting, or the dark desire buried deepest to possess someone exclusively—all were outlined bit by bit in this decadent, wet heat, starkly exposed, nowhere to flee or hide.

Suddenly, heavy rain poured outside, pattering on the glass, playing a low, melancholic dirge.

A Temporary Mark in normal states wasn’t hard; as quick as three to five minutes, or up to ten-plus, depending mainly on the Alpha.

In the past, Chi Yumo always controlled the marking duration based on Shi Youwan’s feelings, but today, she only cared for herself. Once her unbearable symptoms eased, she withdrew her fangs after just a few minutes and rolled onto her side, lying flat.

The bitten Omega had disheveled hair, robe gaping open, cheeks flushed, eyes closed as she absorbed the Alpha’s pheromones.

Shi Youwan’s right hand still gripped Chi Yumo’s left wrist tightly. She quickly steadied her breathing, then turned to examine her.

The Alpha’s cool face carried a faint crisp chill, like icicles in the north wind, pure and exquisite. Even after skin-deep intimacy from the uncontrollable passion and marking, she seemed almost indifferent, merely her nose tip and cheeks dusted with faint red, hinting at stirred emotions.

Is Xiao Mo rejecting me? Does Xiao Mo feel no love or desire for me anymore?

Shi Youwan didn’t believe it.

Their pheromones had blended so perfectly and joyfully; Xiao Mo had clearly craved her pheromones so much.

—Xiao Mo, turn off the lights, go to the room.

—Just once, once is enough. Sister, let me see you, kiss you…

—Xiao Mo, will you listen?

—No!

Recalling Chi Yumo’s 22nd birthday night, Shi Youwan brimmed with guilt and regret. She fumbled to untie the thin string, sat up from under the duvet, and pulled Chi Yumo’s hand upward.

Touching the tip, her palm burned hot; Chi Yumo startled and turned her head away.

“Xiao Mo, we don’t have to turn off the lights.”

Having just marked, the lingering passion surged fiercely. Only Chi Yumo knew how urgently she wanted to claim Shi Youwan, how much restraint it took to suppress the mad impulse.

Wildfire like a rampant stallion surged from hell, reddening Chi Yumo’s eyes. But Shi Youwan, far from fleeing danger, boldly added fuel to the blaze.

“Your ruby…” Before Shi Youwan finished, a strong force yanked her forward, tumbling her into a sea of fervent flames.

The firelight pulsed wildly and passionately, shifting shades dancing unpredictably, burning all barriers to ash. Sparks burst explosively, sounds ear-piercing, louder than the fierce rain outside.

The bedsheets were twisted into a complete mess. Chi Yumo held the alluring and fragrant Omega in her arms, a sense of satisfaction filling her heart.

A long-forgotten sweetness and tenderness surged through the flood of memories toward Shi Youwan without any concealment, bright and clear. Tears welled up in her eyes. As she tilted her neck up and down, she clung to Chi Yumo’s arm and said hoarsely, “Xiao Mo, don’t be afraid. I’m yours. It doesn’t matter even if it’s a Permanent Mark.”

But upon hearing this, the Alpha stopped all her movements. She remained perfectly still, pressed against the Omega’s neck, tears streaming down her face and dripping onto the Omega’s flushed shoulder.

Shi Youwan, you made the right choice a year ago. Why didn’t you stick to it?