Chapter 49 Part 1

The matter of Li Jia signing with the entertainment company was settled.

But one issue remained pressing—

Li Jia’s entrance exam was fast approaching.

Ye Chengxing had rarely felt nervous about exams in the past, but she worried that Li Jia might be tense about this one. Apart from some simple encouragement laced with praise, she didn’t say much else.

After all, sometimes saying too much could make a person even more anxious.

With that thought, Ye Chengxing carried herself with even greater ease.

As if the entrance exam weren’t looming just two days away.

That evening, after exchanging goodnights as usual, they each retired to their own rooms.

Ye Chengxing sorted through her pre-scheduled client list, took a shower in the bathroom, and prepared to turn off the lights for bed.

Ever since that near-death scare from overwork, she’d adopted a much healthier routine.

But just as she reached for the light switch, a gentle knock sounded at her door. At the same time, the Omega’s hesitant, cautious voice drifted in. “…Sister, are you asleep?”

Li Jia never knocked on doors like this.

Ye Chengxing’s first instinct was that something was wrong.

She hurried over and opened the door, her voice warm. “Not yet. What’s the matter?”

Li Jia had already schooled her expression into one of perfect nervousness tinged with worry, performing it flawlessly. But she hadn’t expected Ye Chengxing to answer the door wrapped only in a towel. The Alpha’s pheromones, laced with the fresh scent of water, hit her clearly, and her breath caught for a moment.

“Is something wrong?”

Ye Chengxing asked, concern evident in her tone.

“Yeah,” Li Jia replied, lowering her gaze. “Just thinking about the exam tomorrow has me so nervous I can’t sleep.”

She lifted her eyes to meet Ye Chengxing’s, then bit her lip guiltily. “I didn’t think it through—I just came over. Now I realize it’s late. I must be bothering you…”

Seeing Li Jia turn to leave, Ye Chengxing quickly reached out and caught her wrist.

“How could that be a bother? Coming to me first thing means you trust me. I’m happy about it.”

Held by her wrist, Li Jia obediently stepped back and turned around. When her gaze met Ye Chengxing’s again, her eyes were rimmed red. With a look of deep gratitude, she threw her arms around her.

But the embrace was fleeting. She released Ye Chengxing and stepped back, her eyes curving into a smile. “But sister, you should be sleeping. I’m fine now. Really, just hearing you say that earlier made me feel so much better.”

Those words tugged at Ye Chengxing’s heartstrings.

She looked at Li Jia and suddenly sighed. “Xiao Li, you don’t have to pretend anymore.”

Before the Omega could respond, Ye Chengxing continued. “I’ve seen right through you.”

Li Jia blinked slowly.

…So she’d been found out?

But as she parted her lips to speak, her hand was taken again by Ye Chengxing.

Meeting her gaze, Ye Chengxing’s tone grew utterly earnest. “Xiao Li, I told you before—you can rely on me. You don’t have to be so understanding all the time. You said all that, but you’re still nervous inside. You just wanted me to let go so you could deal with it alone, right?”

Li Jia had her explanations ready, but Ye Chengxing’s “seeing through” turned out to be something else entirely.

Oblivious to the rose-tinted glasses she wore, Ye Chengxing only felt more heartache. She even tried to coax her. “Why don’t you stay and talk with me for a bit? Getting it out might help.”

Meeting Ye Chengxing’s worried eyes, Li Jia smiled imperceptibly, though her face maintained that cautious expression. “…Can I?”

Ye Chengxing nodded firmly. “Of course.”

The Omega’s lips curved into a delighted smile.

“That’s perfect, then.” Li Jia looped her arm through Ye Chengxing’s, her concern pure and innocent. “Let’s go inside. Sister, you’re just in a towel—you’ll catch a chill.”

Hearing this, Ye Chengxing felt a swell of affection and worry.

Their Xiao Li was just too good-hearted. What if someone took advantage of her beauty and kindness out in the world?

The thought made Ye Chengxing even more uneasy. She resolved to remind Li Jia later not to be quite so trusting.

…

Once inside the room, Ye Chengxing changed into pajamas and applied a Pheromone Blocker Patch.

She’d been in too much of a rush opening the door to bother with clothes.

Truth be told, Ye Chengxing wasn’t anxious about the exam herself, but she’d seen plenty of her peers’ nervous reactions to such tests.

Things like insomnia the night before, racing heart, mounting anxiety…

It was common, but if left unaddressed, it could spiral.

Ye Chengxing guided Li Jia to sit on the edge of the bed, then fetched a cup of warm milk.

The bedroom lights cast a soft, cozy glow as Li Jia accepted the milk.

She wasn’t truly anxious to begin with, but now her heart felt utterly at peace—especially enveloped in Ye Chengxing’s pheromones. She loved this sensation.

It felt just like sharing a bed with her.

Ye Chengxing handed over the milk and sat beside the Omega.

Her voice was gentle. “It’s normal to feel nervous and sleepless before an exam like this. Can you tell me what specifically is worrying you? Do you feel unprepared, or are you anxious about the results?”

Li Jia leaned closer, her lashes lowering demurely, her tone pitiful. “It’s just this vague unease I can’t quite name… especially when I’m alone. But now that you’re here, sister, it’s so much better.”

Ye Chengxing considered this. It made sense—having company probably helped more than being alone.

Most importantly, Li Jia already seemed less tense than before.

So it was working.

With that, Ye Chengxing hesitated before speaking. “Then, Xiao Li, why don’t you finish the milk and sleep here tonight? I’ll stay right by your side.”

The Omega’s eyes widened slightly.

After saying it, Ye Chengxing second-guessed herself, but before she could retract the offer, Li Jia spoke. “Can you hold me while I sleep, sister?”

The girl in front of her looked even more guilty after asking, her eyes glistening red. “Sorry, that request is too forward. I know you don’t like it, but being in your arms really makes me feel safe…”

She rubbed at her eyes, took a deep breath, and continued. “I know I’m being selfish—bothering you when you’re trying to sleep and now making this demand. It’s okay if you say no.”

Ye Chengxing gazed at Li Jia.

The Omega’s eyes were red-rimmed, making her look like a pitiful little rabbit.

She recalled her own words about keeping distance and realized they might have hurt Li Jia, leaving her heartbroken and unsure if she was disliked.

Ye Chengxing’s expression softened, and she smiled gently. “How about this? Once you’re asleep, I’ll go. Okay?”

The red-eyed little rabbit bit her lip and nodded.

Unable to resist, Ye Chengxing reached out and ruffled Li Jia’s hair. “Finish your milk, then. I’ll tuck you in.”

The milk was perfectly warm—not too hot, just soothing.

The bedroom lights dimmed.

Coaxing someone to sleep got easier with practice.

Ye Chengxing drew the Omega into her arms and patted her back softly.

Moonlight shone cleanly through the window, serene and peaceful.

Time passed—she didn’t know how long—until drowsiness tugged at Ye Chengxing herself.

She glanced uncertainly at Li Jia.

Yeah, she must be asleep by now.

Better move carefully, or she’d wake her.

With that, Ye Chengxing eased away slowly.

Good—her arm slipped free without stirring her. Now, just roll over, and she could get up…

Ye Chengxing turned quietly.

But suddenly, arms wrapped around her waist.

“!”

Her eyes widened slightly.

She opened her mouth to speak, but before a word escaped, the Omega pulled her back onto the bed by the waist.

Ye Chengxing never imagined getting out of bed would be this difficult.

“Li Jia.” Assuming she was awake, Ye Chengxing turned her head helplessly and called softly.

The Omega holding her from behind seemed caught in a nightmare. Her long lashes were damp with tears, fluttering anxiously. Her voice was fragile. “Don’t go… don’t leave…”

She looked pained, adrift like duckweed, clutching desperately at anything solid.

Any flicker of irritation in Ye Chengxing’s heart extinguished instantly.

…How could she not ache for her?

Being held like this wouldn’t hurt. Let Li Jia cling a little longer.

Pinned by the tight embrace, Ye Chengxing patted her arm soothingly. “No need to be scared. I’m right here.”

Whether the dreaming girl heard her, the tears and murmurs stopped.

Relieved, Ye Chengxing let her eyes drift shut.

The moment her eyes closed, the Omega—who had just been “nightmaring”—opened hers, gaze crystal clear.

She watched for a moment, utterly content, before closing her eyes again and pulling Ye Chengxing even closer.

She’d finally gotten this chance—why let it slip away so easily?

The next day’s entrance exam arrived as scheduled.

Ye Chengxing had planned to drive Li Jia herself, but after a restless night, she opted for safety and called the driver.

After breakfast, Li Jia joined her in the back seat.

Unlike Ye Chengxing, the Omega looked wonderfully rested, brimming with energy and vitality.

Seeing her, Li Jia gave a shy smile. “I don’t know when you left last night, sister, but thanks to you, I slept so well.”

Meeting her eyes, Ye Chengxing’s mind flashed to the image of Li Jia’s red-rimmed eyes and desperate anxiety even in sleep.

…Never mind. Since Li Jia didn’t know, she’d leave it unspoken.

Ye Chengxing nodded with a smile. “Good. As long as you rested well.”

Today’s entrance exam wasn’t just for Li Jia—several others were scheduled together. There were no quota limits; anyone who passed qualified for admission.

There was only one exam, but it lasted an extraordinarily long time.

After preparing all the food for sale, Ye Chengxing dropped Li Jia off and headed to the Risheng Gourmet Shop to sell it. She usually found the sales process quick, but today it dragged on interminably.

Finally, the last portion sold out. Ye Chengxing swiftly closed up shop, tidied everything away, and drove to wait outside the school for Li Jia to finish her exam.

Even though she knew there was still a long time before the exam ended, she couldn’t help worrying. That’s why she had arrived so early.

Lost in her swirling thoughts, Ye Chengxing suddenly spotted Li Jia’s figure in the distance beyond the car window.

Without pausing to wonder why Li Jia had finished early, she flung open the car door, hopped out, and hurried to her side.

Seeing her there, Li Jia seemed momentarily stunned. “Sis, you came this early to pick me up?”

Ye Chengxing nodded, and Li Jia’s eyes curved into happy crescents. “…This feeling of being cared for is so nice. I didn’t think I’d see you when I came out.”

“What kind of talk is that?” Ye Chengxing’s heart softened completely. She ruffled Li Jia’s hair and led her into the car.

Once they were seated, Ye Chengxing remembered the question she’d forgotten to ask. “By the way, Xiao Li, how did you get out so early?”

Li Jia looked at her, her tone sweetly obedient. “Because the questions were way simpler than I expected. Once you finish and the results come out, you can leave.”

Hearing this, Ye Chengxing acknowledged it with a smile and beamed at her. “Wow, our Xiao Li is amazing.”

After saying that, Ye Chengxing paused for two seconds. Then it hit her.

…You can only leave after the results are out. So that meant the results were already in?

Meeting Ye Chengxing’s gaze, Li Jia smiled knowingly, her eyes curving again. “Yes, Sis. I passed the entrance exam.”

After passing the entrance exam, Li Jia could start school, but it happened to fall during the school’s scheduled break days. She wouldn’t begin until they ended.

Ye Chengxing planned to take Li Jia out for a couple of days of fun to unwind. They’d prepared intensely for the exam, and once school started, the workload would ramp up—not to mention Li Jia had signed with a new entertainment company. Juggling both would be exhausting.

And indeed, it was.

The two rest days flew by.

With her new entertainment company contract and school, Li Jia suddenly found herself incredibly busy.

She was enrolled as a day student, but with her packed schedule, she might not even have time for classes. Right now, she was making an effort to spend more time at school this month. Even so, no matter how hectic things got, the Omega always made sure to come home for meals with Ye Chengxing.

It broke Ye Chengxing’s heart. Half-jokingly, she said, “I guess my cooking really is that good, huh? But if you’re too busy, Xiao Li, you don’t have to rush back just for this.”

Li Jia shook her head earnestly. “No.”

She looked at Ye Chengxing and continued, “Sis is busy too, but you always come home for meals, right?”

“…”

Ye Chengxing coughed lightly.

Fine, it was their unspoken agreement—this tacit understanding between them. Truth be told, the food tasted the same anywhere; they rushed back just to see each other for a little while.

Noticing the Alpha’s ears tinting faintly pink, Li Jia chuckled softly. “Sis, you’re so cute.”

Ye Chengxing: “…Focus on eating.”

As she spoke, she casually raised a hand to press against her warming cheek.