Chapter 17

In the slightly dim interior of the car, Li Jia met Ye Chengxing’s gaze.

That look was calm and resolute, instantly soothing her turbulent heart.

In that moment, she seemed to catch the faint oolong tea scent wafting from the Alpha again. But beneath the aroma of those pheromones lingered something else. Li Jia paused for two seconds before realizing it was the fragrance from Ye Chengxing’s hair ends and skin—not some added perfume, but a unique, subtle scent blended from shampoo and body wash.

In this enclosed space, it stood out even more.

After blurting out those words, Li Jia had expected to see the person before her fly into a rage or coldly order her out of the car. She never imagined receiving such a completely opposite response—one that upended everything.

She froze for two seconds. In Ye Chengxing’s eyes, she was… actually like this?

Not a pampered canary, nor some mere plaything.

Ye Chengxing said she cared about her, even called her a butterfly reborn from its chrysalis.

Just a handful of simple words, yet in that instant, they fell like drops of spring rain, pattering steadily onto the parched soil of her long-dried heart.

A sudden wave of flustered guilt washed over Li Jia for her rash outburst. “Sorry… Sis.”

She was like a hedgehog that had just bristled its spines in a tough front, desperate to shield itself—but the moment someone treated her with genuine kindness, even just a little, she retracted them in a flash, terrified of pricking the wrong person.

The moment the Omega’s words landed, Ye Chengxing abruptly pushed open the car door and stepped out.

Seeing this, Li Jia’s fingertips clenched tighter without thinking.

Had Ye Chengxing finally had enough of her hot-and-cold attitude and walked away?

If that was the case, it matched her initial expectations perfectly. So why, now that it had happened, did her heart feel utterly devoid of relief?

Lost in this tangle of thoughts, Li Jia felt the door on her side swing open.

Ye Chengxing hadn’t left. She had simply gotten out and circled around to Li Jia’s side.

“You haven’t had dinner yet. We can’t just sit in the car all night.” She extended her hand.

Gazing at the still-dazed Li Jia, Ye Chengxing seemed to read her mind. Her explanatory tone carried its usual warmth and a hint of amusement.

Xiao Bai had sensed their return ahead of time; the villa’s lights were already glowing. From her seat in the car, Li Jia looked up at Ye Chengxing standing before her. Viewed this way, the Alpha’s hair seemed rimmed with a soft golden glow from the distant lights behind.

Even after speaking, with no response or movement from Li Jia, Ye Chengxing kept her hand outstretched.

Li Jia could feel that steady gaze resting on her.

How strange it was—simply being watched like this brought a faint sting to her eyes.

It felt like crossing an endless century, or leaping from the depths of winter straight into spring. At last, the Omega slipped her hand into Ye Chengxing’s palm.

Her body temperature stayed cool year-round, her hands especially so—practically icy. The instant they met Ye Chengxing’s warm palm, it was like touching something scalding; she wanted to yank back.

But Ye Chengxing held firm, not letting her pull away.

Mindful of the injury on Li Jia’s palm, however, she merely laced their fingers loosely. Even so, it sent Li Jia’s eyelashes fluttering.

There was gauze between their palms, yet it felt as though skin met skin. She sensed with perfect clarity the hand holding hers—gentle, warm, exquisitely soft.

Ye Chengxing helped Li Jia out of the car.

“Li Jia, you never have to apologize to me,” she said evenly, still clasping her hand. “Why say sorry? What have you done wrong? You’ve never done anything wrong.”

Her words seemed to address the events of the day, yet went beyond them too.

Hand in hand, Li Jia stayed quiet.

That prickling sting returned to her eyes.

She blinked it away fiercely.

By the time they reached the door, Xiao Bai flung it open with delight, welcoming the two owners home.

Ye Chengxing glanced at Li Jia, her voice dropping a touch. “Besides… if anyone’s grateful, it should be me. Li Jia, thank you for putting your hand in mine. Thank you for sharing even a sliver of your precious trust with me.”

She held Li Jia’s gaze, her words deliberate and sincere.

As Li Jia listened, from her angle she caught a tiny reflection of herself in Ye Chengxing’s eyes—mingled with the night shadows and warm lamplight, vivid enough to encompass an entire world.

That spring rain in her heart suddenly poured harder, coursing through her limbs and surging back, manifesting as one irrepressible heartbeat after another.

The hedgehog, once bristling, now tucked away every spine and grew even softer, lest the gentle hand stroking it feel the slightest prick.

Ye Chengxing noticed the shift and couldn’t help but let her eyes curve in a soft smile.

She had sensed that Li Jia was too calm since leaving that place—adapting to her presence far too easily. But excessive calm often masked deeper troubles. Now that some emotion was spilling out, things should improve.

“I’ll whip up some light dishes for dinner. Anything you’re craving?” Ye Chengxing turned to Li Jia.

Her eyes still sparkled with amusement. Meeting them rattled Li Jia’s heartbeat; she shifted her gaze away. “…Anything’s fine.”

“Good.” Ye Chengxing released her hand with a nod.

Xiao Bai scooped up their discarded outer coats along with the books and test papers Li Jia had bought, carrying them off to sort later.

As Ye Chengxing headed to the kitchen, she lifted a hand to gather her loose waves of long hair—only to realize she’d forgotten her hair tie.

She turned back to fetch one, but there was Li Jia, right beside her.

“Here, Sis—use mine for now.” The Omega held out a small hair tie, meeting her eyes.

Ye Chengxing considered it—close enough—and was about to say thanks when Li Jia reached up to gather her hair.

Seeing her intent to help, Ye Chengxing let her raised hand hover for two seconds before dropping it.

Li Jia’s touch was featherlight; not a single strand tugged.

Once finished, Ye Chengxing patted the neat ponytail, a sweet warmth blooming in her chest.

Did this mean Li Jia was starting to warm up to her?

Unable to hold back a grin, she said, “Thank you, Li Jia.”

With her hair secured, Ye Chengxing stepped into the kitchen.

Li Jia lingered behind.

Standing in place, she froze for two seconds, then impulsively lowered her head to sniff her palm.

Whether from their clasped hands earlier or helping with the hair just now, her fingertips seemed to carry traces of Ye Chengxing’s scent.

But…

Li Jia curled her fingers slightly.

She didn’t hate the feeling at all.