Chapter 37

After fiddling with it for a little longer like this, Ye Chengxing suddenly remembered that there was one important thing she still hadn’t mentioned.

Although the issue with Lin Que would definitely be resolved this time, the rumors on Star Net would still heat up over the next couple of days. Good news didn’t always spread as far and wide as bad news—especially scandalous negativity, which always got amplified the most.

Ye Chengxing really didn’t want Li Jia to see any of it.

To better gauge the public sentiment on Star Net, she had already skimmed through most of the comments and posts. And precisely because she had gone through so much of it, she felt even more strongly that Li Jia shouldn’t lay eyes on those messages.

Li Jia had only recently gone through such a traumatic ordeal. With Ye Chengxing’s gentle guidance, she had finally started to show signs of moving past it. If those repulsive, stomach-churning comments on Star Net dragged her back down, her emotional state would only worsen.

Ye Chengxing couldn’t quite put words to the complex feelings she now held for Li Jia, but she wanted to protect her even better—to keep all that darkness far away from her.

Perhaps that impulse had been sealed from the very first moment she’d laid eyes on her.

She had long puzzled over why, out of everyone in the world, System 001 had chosen her specifically. Sometimes, you really had to admit that fate worked in mysterious ways.

With that thought, Ye Chengxing glanced back at her reflection in the mirror, her gaze softening as it fell on the necklace around her neck—now transformed into a complete butterfly. She spoke in a tone full of cherish and gravity. “This necklace is beautiful. I love it… But Xiao Li, there’s something I need to tell you.”

They were still in the same position from when she’d helped clasp the necklace, with Li Jia holding her in a close half-embrace. Li Jia’s fingertips brushed idly over the necklace on the Alpha’s neck, the distinct texture of the butterfly wings vivid against her skin. “I’m glad you like it. I’m listening, Sister. Go ahead.”

Ye Chengxing nodded, gathering her thoughts before turning to meet Li Jia’s eyes. “Here’s the thing—could you avoid logging into Star Net for the next couple of days?”

Truth be told, Ye Chengxing hadn’t originally planned to make a big deal out of it.

After all, in her view, Li Jia barely had time to glance at Star Net anyway. Her homeschooling lessons were packed, with homework and new material to digest every day. She got up incredibly early and went to bed terribly late—rivaling even the grueling prep schedule Ye Chengxing remembered from before transmigrating into this world.

It hurt Ye Chengxing just to watch.

The tutor hadn’t stopped praising Li Jia, saying she’d rarely seen such a diligent, outstanding, and intelligent student.

That was all well and good, but just to be safe, Ye Chengxing had emphasized it anyway.

As soon as the words left her mouth, though, she studied Li Jia’s expression and started to worry. What if Li Jia hadn’t planned to check Star Net, but now Ye Chengxing had put the idea in her head? Hadn’t she just done the opposite of what she intended?

“Sure, I don’t check it much normally,” Li Jia agreed readily. She met Ye Chengxing’s gaze with what seemed like pure curiosity. “But can Sister tell me why I shouldn’t look these next couple of days?”

“Because…” Ye Chengxing hesitated, realizing how abrupt it sounded. Before this, she’d never really made a request like that of Li Jia.

After a brief moment of thought, she steeled herself and rephrased. “Actually, forget just these couple of days. Don’t look at it for a while. Your entrance exam is coming up soon, and I want you to focus entirely on your studies.”

As she finished speaking, Ye Chengxing’s expression turned hesitant.

…That came out sounding like something an overly strict parent would say. Li Jia was already working so hard—wasn’t pushing her like this a bit much?

And sure, the exam was approaching, but what Ye Chengxing really wanted was for Li Jia to take care of her health. Studies weren’t even the top priority.

So, after a pause, Ye Chengxing added, “Of course, our Xiao Li is already doing so much. I know you can do it! And don’t feel any pressure—even if the results aren’t perfect, it’s fine. As long as we’ve given it our all.”

There. That should sound reasonable enough—not so out of nowhere.

“Got it. I’ll do it,” Li Jia replied solemnly. “I won’t let Sister down.”

Ye Chengxing nodded earnestly in return.

On the surface, the Alpha looked perfectly composed, but inside, she’d just heaved a huge sigh of relief.

She truly trusted Li Jia. If she’d promised, she wouldn’t log into Star Net and stumble across those awful comments.

Many accounts on Star Net weren’t fully tied to real IDs, and plenty were anonymous. After that so-called whistleblower posted about Li Jia, the resulting bile was downright unwatchable—enough to make anyone sick.

Some of it was too vile to repeat, but Ye Chengxing still wanted Li Jia to witness the bad guys getting their comeuppance, to feel the light breaking through—not to be shrouded in rot and stench again, surrounded by shadows.

She would bring all the sunlight into Li Jia’s world.

That resolve growing firmer in her mind, Ye Chengxing reached up and ruffled Li Jia’s hair. “No worries at all. Don’t stress about anything—I’ll always be right here by your side.” Until the day you no longer need me.

The gesture caught Li Jia off guard for a split second, but then her eyes curved into gentle crescents, her voice soft and unhurried. “Mm, I have no pressure… And of course Sister will always be by my side. I trust you too.”

As she spoke, she tilted her face up slightly, rubbing the top of her head against Ye Chengxing’s palm a couple of times.

Ye Chengxing hadn’t thought much of the action at first, but those rubs left her feeling a bit embarrassed.

Especially the soft, fluffy sensation in her palm—like petting some gentle, harmless little creature.

…It actually felt pretty nice. She kind of wanted to pet it more.

But Ye Chengxing reined in the thought.

She cleared her throat solemnly to cover it up. “Right, I need to head out again soon. Things might be busy these next few days…”

As she spoke, Ye Chengxing inexplicably felt the air around them chill a touch.

She frowned slightly. Must be her imagination?

Li Jia’s expression didn’t change, but she met Ye Chengxing’s gaze and asked softly, “Now that we’ve talked it out, Sister won’t keep avoiding me, right?”

“Of course not. That accident the other day…” Not bringing it up was one thing, but mentioning it made Ye Chengxing’s cheeks heat up.

Thinking back, even counting her age before transmigrating, she was several years older than Li Jia. Yet her handling of the situation had been ridiculously immature.

How could she have just run from problems instead of facing them?

With that in mind, Ye Chengxing paused before continuing. “And you can rest assured—nothing like that will ever happen again.”

Li Jia nodded—she wasn’t sure if Li Jia fully believed her—but pulled her into an even tighter embrace, which only made Ye Chengxing feel guiltier.

Li Jia must have been so confused and hurt by her sudden coldness these past few days.

Overwhelmed by remorse and self-reproach, Ye Chengxing promised again and again that they’d sleep together every night from now on. Only then did she see Li Jia’s eyes curve happily again. “Sister, you’re the best.”

Ye Chengxing waved it off repeatedly. “It’s nothing—just sleeping together at night. And your calming sachet really works wonders. Anyway, enough of that. I need to get ready; it’ll be time soon.”

Ye Chengxing headed to the kitchen to prep the ingredients she’d set aside. Her cooking skills had improved by leaps and bounds lately, and with this world’s advanced gadgets, every dish came out perfectly plated, aromatic, and delicious. Her progress was remarkable, and sales at Risheng Gourmet Shop were booming. The shop had even gained major traction on Star Net, drawing staggering daily traffic.

Several conglomerates had sent recruitment offers—tempting ones, honestly. But after the Lin Que incident, Ye Chengxing had gotten a front-row seat to the corporate underbelly and all its shadows. What other chefs might see as ultimate glory just turned her stomach.

She ignored every single offer. But she grew even more cautious about her outings and departures than before.

After all, she wasn’t alone anymore—Li Jia was with her. With everything Li Jia had been through, plus this world’s inexplicable malice toward her, Ye Chengxing had to be careful. Extra careful.

If it were just her, she could afford to be bolder. But anything involving Li Jia? She had to nip every potential threat in the bud, eliminating even the tiniest 0.00001% chance.

Ye Chengxing had gotten fast at prepping these dishes by now, and with Li Jia pitching in to help organize, they finished the new batch for sale in no time.

Ye Chengxing checked each appliance and device to make sure they were off. “Xiao Li, I can handle the rest myself. Xiao Bai’s around too, and your lesson’s about to start. Go rest.”

But Li Jia didn’t reply. “I’m not tired. Every second with Sister makes me happy—it’s enough to override everything else.”

Ye Chengxing noticed how Li Jia’s words could be so embarrassingly sweet sometimes, yet the Omega said them with such pure innocence, no ulterior motive.

She mumbled a vague “Mm” in half-response and spotted a device that wasn’t fully switched off. As she reached for it, Li Jia noticed too and lifted her hand as well.

One palm met the back of the other hand in a brief overlap.

From a glance, it looked almost like their fingertips were interlaced, fingers threading together.

They’d had plenty of physical contact before, but moments like this—right now—sent an indescribable flutter through Ye Chengxing, like her heart tip had been singed, her heartbeat thrown into disarray.

Ye Chengxing yanked her hand back. “Could you turn that off for me? I’ll finish packing and head out.”

Without another glance at Li Jia, she hurried out of the kitchen.

Li Jia stayed put, lifting her hand to examine it for a moment before suddenly chuckling. “…So cute. How can she be this cute?”

Unable to hold back, she let out another soft laugh before schooling her expression and leaving the kitchen.

Li Jia stood by the first-floor window, watching Ye Chengxing leave. She waved goodbye with an utterly innocent and bright smile.

Once she was sure Ye Chengxing had driven off, the Omega sauntered upstairs.

The virtual electronic screen in the room was turned on.

It clearly displayed the surrounding environment along with a coordinate point that was currently in motion.

Li Jia watched it for a moment before slipping on her headphones and monocle.

A slightly shaky image appeared before her eyes. She saw the sky stretching out in front of her, the stream of people flowing by. She felt herself pushing open a door, letting out a breath, and heard Ye Chengxing laughing as she greeted the shop’s artificial intelligence: “Good morning. Let’s do our best again today!”

…I like it so much. I like it so much. I like it so much.

I really like it.

Her mood lifted wonderfully, as if she had truly transformed into a butterfly fluttering at Ye Chengxing’s side.

Pleased down to her Omega core, Li Jia’s eyes curved into happy crescents, the smile on her lips growing ever more pronounced.

Meanwhile, inside the Risheng Gourmet Shop.

Ye Chengxing touched the butterfly necklace hanging around her neck.

She wasn’t sure if it was just her imagination, but the necklace had seemed to grow warm for an instant. When she checked more carefully, though, it held only the faintest trace of heat.

How strange.

Ye Chengxing shook her head, figuring it must be some kind of marvelous high-tech feature.

With that thought, she couldn’t help but feel a swell of happiness—and an inexplicable touch of pride—as she tucked the necklace inside her clothes, letting it rest directly against her skin.