Chapter 7: Don’t Let Me Catch You

Exploring uncharted territory was always a thrilling novelty, laced with excitement.

Lu Zhixia, the owner of this body, wasn’t the one who knew it best. At this moment, she truly felt the illusion that Shen Wanqing was even more familiar with it than she was.

Those deft movements—how many times did it take to perfect them?

An inexplicable pang twisted in Lu Zhixia’s heart, but it lasted only an instant before she tumbled back into the world of ecstasy that Shen Wanqing had crafted.

Her gaze drifted, though she couldn’t resist stealing glances downward now and then.

The sight was overwhelmingly intense. One look, and it was as if some bizarre elixir had been pumped into her veins, sending shivers wracking through her entire body.

She trembled uncontrollably, her breaths ragged and chaotic.

She fought to hold back, yet her instincts overpowered her. When Lu Zhixia realized her hand was pressing down on Shen Wanqing’s head, she yanked it away in a panic.

Shen Wanqing’s brows would dip low at times, her lashes quivering; at others, they’d sweep upward, revealing those glossy dark eyes that seemed to pierce straight to Lu Zhixia’s soul.

In contrast to Lu Zhixia’s anxious trepidation over the unknown, Shen Wanqing moved with the assurance of certain victory. She knew precisely which motions to use, the exact pressure to apply, and the perfect moments to glance up… Yet that look in her eyes always felt mismatched to Lu Zhixia, somehow out of sync with the heat of the moment.

Lu Zhixia was lost in a blaze of passion, but Shen Wanqing’s gaze remained cool and detached—like that of a bystander, a rational observer on the sidelines.

Those expert motions carried not a trace of warmth. Lu Zhixia couldn’t quite pinpoint what was lacking in them.

Something was missing, all the same.

Her senses sharpened to an excruciating edge, every cell in her body screaming for more. Lu Zhixia stopped fixating on the details; she surrendered completely, trembling from head to toe.

The initial sting slowly dissolved into a warm tenderness, giving way to waves of pleasure. Lu Zhixia hated to admit it, but the thrill was too much to contain.

Her breaths came in desperate gasps, her heart thundering. A wild surge of energy rampaged through her.

With each precise nudge from Shen Wanqing, that chaotic force began to smooth out, yielding obediently to her rhythm.

It was like a martial artist channeling qi deep into the dantian before unleashing a powerful strike.

The energy building in Lu Zhixia’s body converged toward that final gland, like a torrent bursting through a dam.

She had tried to hold it back… but her body went limp, and control slipped away.

The cigarette clutched in her hand chose that exact moment to burn down to the filter, scalding her fingers. She flung it aside with a hiss.

“You’re definitely a first-timer,” Shen Wanqing said, wiping the corner of her mouth. Only a novice little alpha would falter in endurance like that.

Lu Zhixia’s face burned crimson, and she stayed silent. It was, in fact, her first time.

Shen Wanqing scooped up the cigarette butt and headed slowly toward the bathroom.

Lu Zhixia’s blush went straight to her bones. She never saw it coming when Shen Wanqing suddenly turned back.

Their eyes locked. Shen Wanqing’s gaze was crystalline clear, her breathing even. “Don’t run,” she said coolly.

Lu Zhixia didn’t respond, and Shen Wanqing didn’t wait for one. She continued into the bathroom.

Lu Zhixia eyed her gland. It had settled back to normal.

She exhaled in profound relief. If not now, then when?

As always, Lu Zhixia left a note—her number was blocked, after all, making further contact impossible.

Shen Wanqing emerged from the bathroom, towel-drying her hair as she drifted to the table. Her eyes fell on the sticky note.

Shen Wanqing, thank you, but I really don’t think we need to stay in touch. Farewell from the jianghu; may we never cross paths again. All the best.

Shen Wanqing plucked the note and carried it to the cabinet beside the bathroom, tucking it inside.

Her phone screen flickered to life, then dimmed again.

Two missed calls, both from the same number.

The screen lit up once more. She picked up, and a voice on the other end said flatly, “You broke our agreement.”

“I’m only human,” Shen Wanqing replied evenly. “I can’t be on call twenty-four-seven.”

“When are you reporting for duty?”

“A few days late.” Shen Wanqing stood before the full-length mirror. She didn’t need to check to know all six of her glands were swollen.

The last one was the worst—nearly wrecked, devoid of any pleasure. Even walking hurt, forcing her to move at a deliberate crawl.

The caller sounded displeased but didn’t press: “There’s an online meeting this morning, mostly about your onboarding plans. You available?”

Shen Wanqing angled her face toward the mirror and replied offhandedly, “No.”

“Afternoon, then?”

“Bad timing.” Shen Wanqing massaged her cheeks, where the glands ached with fatigue. “I don’t feel like talking.”

Her interlocutor went silent—probably exasperated—before hanging up.

Shen Wanqing tossed the phone aside and sank onto the edge of the sofa, sitting stock-still for a long moment.

The device buzzed insistently again. She glanced at it and answered. It was a WeChat from her father.

His flight was tomorrow evening, accompanied by a few photos of scenic overseas landscapes. She scrolled through them and typed her standard reply: Nice.

He fired back instantly: Dinner together tomorrow night?

Shen Wanqing: Pass.

Another quick reply: I have something to discuss.

Shen Wanqing: We can talk then.

The brief conversation wrapped up, and Shen Wanqing tidied up quickly before opening her laptop to get back to work.

Meanwhile, Lu Zhixia slipped away under the bodyguards’ seemingly nonchalant gazes—they had clearly grown used to her popping up.

This time, Lu Zhixia hurried straight home. At this hour, her mother should be out.

Unfortunately, she had miscalculated. Yan Fanghua caught her right at the door, eyeing her disheveled state with a helpless sigh. “What, were you out burglarizing last night?”

Lu Zhixia grinned. “Didn’t you head to the art gallery?”

“Wasn’t I just waiting at home for our exalted ancestor to grace us with her return?” Yan Fanghua didn’t hold back her teasing as she headed to the kitchen. “You stink of booze. Go shower, then come out for some sobering soup.”

A real mom was a real mom, after all—even when she was chewing you out, it was always with love.

While showering, Lu Zhixia suddenly got curious and inspected her body. She glanced down; everything looked like standard girl parts.

But during her heat period, her gland acted like a seed sprouting from the inside, swelling up fast.

It was magical. Lu Zhixia had studied biology, but she still found it utterly amazing.

By the time she emerged, the sobering soup and a hot meal were ready. Yan Fanghua sat across from her, clearly wanting to probe a bit.

Lu Zhixia slurped down the soup noisily and shoveled in the food like she was starved.

Yan Fanghua sighed. “Slow down, at least.”

“Your classes haven’t been too packed lately?” Lu Zhixia mumbled around a mouthful of rice.

Yan Fanghua was a professor at the art academy and ran her own art gallery—something of a big name in those circles.

“They’re manageable.” Seeing that Lu Zhixia wasn’t in a chatty mood, Yan Fanghua tested the waters. “Should I head to the gallery, then?”

Lu Zhixia nodded around her mouthful of rice with a muffled “Mm-hmm.”

Yan Fanghua ducked into the bathroom and came out a moment later, brow furrowed. “Cut back on the smoking. And where’d you even get these? Aren’t they impossible to buy? Don’t tell me it’s a gift.”

Lu Zhixia swallowed. “Ye Lanxi gave them to me.”

Yan Fanghua let out a breath of relief. “That girl’s sweet, but remind her to be careful. Her dad’s a government official—gotta watch herself out there.”

Lu Zhixia murmured agreement. Yan Fanghua set the cigarettes down, took a few steps toward the door, then doubled back, hovering by the table. “You’re just in panties? Where’s your garter belt and stockings?”

Lu Zhixia groaned inwardly. It was those exact panties Shen Wanqing had glimpsed last night—mortifying.

“Mom, I rotate them. Layering everything on at once would make me look like some overdressed kid.” Lu Zhixia focused on her food. Yan Fanghua ruffled her hair. “Always an excuse with you.”

Yan Fanghua leaned against the table instead. “Sweetie, there’s something I want to talk over with you.”

Lu Zhixia shot up a hand. “Mom’s decisions? I’m all in—hands, feet, the works.” She kicked up a leg for emphasis. “Full support, no question.”

Yan Fanghua laughed, her tone turning serious. “That’s all I needed to hear. I’ll take care of everything. You’re swamped with work—just look after yourself.”

Lu Zhixia mumbled assent into her bowl. She hadn’t mentioned quitting the Translation Bureau yet.

Once Yan Fanghua was gone, Lu Zhixia set down her dishes and let out a long breath.

After days of nonstop chaos, she was beat. She cleared the table halfheartedly, then stood there staring at the door.

Lu Zhixia lingered for a good while before drifting to the entrance and peeking through the cat’s eye.

The hallway was empty. She exhaled in relief, shuffled to her bedroom, and crashed onto the bed, out cold in seconds.

In her dream, a stunning woman was surrounded by dogs.

Strays, rabid ones, pets… Amid the dog pile, Lu Zhixia spotted a Czech wolf dog.

No clue where the hostility came from, but she picked a fight with it anyway.

She had no idea what breed she was in the dream, but they went at it for three hundred rounds—until one final wolfish pounce.

Crash!

Lu Zhixia jolted awake. Dusk painted the window outside.

She snatched her phone—tons of new WeChat messages. She tapped through them one by one.

Scrolling farther down, she spotted a blocked text.

A hunch hit her. She opened the security center: sure enough, Shen Wanqing.

The opening words spelled trouble: Broke your promise, sneaked out, blacklisted me… The rest was locked behind a whitelist prompt.

Curiosity won out, and Lu Zhixia added her.

Shen Wanqing: Broke your word, sneaked off, blacklisted me—guilty on all counts. Just wait till I catch you.

Lu Zhixia pursed her lips and huffed. As if—you’re the one who better not let me catch you!

She did owe Shen Wanqing thanks for soothing her gland, but hey, Shen was the one who’d triggered it in the first place. Fair trade, Lu Zhixia figured.

Her email inbox had olive branches from plenty of companies, but nothing that grabbed her yet.

As she scrolled her phone, Ye Lanxi messaged: How’re you holding up?

Lu Zhixia: Pretty good.

Ye Lanxi: Wanna hang?

Lu Zhixia: Nah, I’m home for once. Making Mom dinner. You should head home more too when you’ve got nothing going on.

Ye Lanxi: Filial daughter of the year!

Unfortunately, Yan Fanghua had plans that evening, so there was no home-cooked meal waiting.

Lu Zhixia couldn’t be bothered to cook for just herself, so she headed downstairs to scavenge for food.

There was a Mala Tang shop nearby that had been around since her childhood, serving up the most authentic flavors.

She’d always snuck over to eat there behind her mother’s back. The shop owner clearly remembered her and greeted her warmly, chatting away.

The familiar taste brought familiar faces to mind. She pulled out her phone, tapped on Qin Zheng’s profile picture, hesitated for a long moment, but in the end, didn’t send that message.

She polished off a steaming bowl of Mala Tang, scarfing it down while making small talk with the owner. Inevitably, the conversation turned to dating.

The owner teased her outright. “Got yourself a pretty girlfriend you don’t want to show off to the world?”

Lu Zhixia laughed helplessly. “When I get a girlfriend someday, I’ll bring her here to meet you. You’ll have to make it for her for free.”

The owner roared with laughter. “You got it!”

After dinner, Lu Zhixia popped into the dingy little convenience store next door for a popsicle.

Old Grandma remembered her too. She fussed over her with endless “awws” and coos, while Lu Zhixia stood there grinning.

The moon hung bright amid a sparse scattering of stars. Lu Zhixia sat beneath the dim yellow glow of a streetlamp, listening to the cicadas and crickets strike up their nightly symphony as Old Grandma rambled on about old times.

It was well into the night when Yan Fanghua finally came home and spotted her daughter at the roadside. She paused in surprise.

Lu Zhixia hurried over to meet her, and they walked back together. Yan Fanghua tsked twice. “Look at you, all grown up.”

Yan Fanghua had been swamped lately, heading out early and coming back late. Lu Zhixia asked, “Need a hand with anything?”

“With that hotheaded temper of yours? You’d probably wreck my art gallery,” Yan Fanghua sighed. “You’re home for once—take it easy and rest up.”

Lu Zhixia opened her mouth to reply, but her mother’s phone rang. Yan Fanghua picked up, and her tone shifted in an instant.

Had Lu Zhixia heard that right? Was that her mom using a cutesy, girlish voice, laced with a touch of shy coquettishness? She trailed behind, catching snippets of her mother’s delighted giggles now and then.

By the time mother and daughter made it home, Yan Fanghua was still deep in conversation.

Lu Zhixia showered and retreated to the study, where she read and practiced her calligraphy in perfect contentment.

Before bed, as was her habit, Lu Zhixia lingered in the doorway for a few seconds, then pressed her eye to the peephole for a peek.

The hall light was on, completely empty, everything in view bright and clear. She let out a breath of relief and headed to her room.

Nights like this, when she lay awake, the intense memories of that first encounter always came flooding back.

Shen Wanqing’s long hair cascading down, her cool and aloof eyes, her full, luscious lips… even the way she smoked was alluring and seductive.

Irritated, Lu Zhixia rolled over. The harder she tried not to think about it, the more that woman invaded her thoughts.

She grabbed her phone and checked the security center. No blocked messages or calls.

Lu Zhixia tossed the phone aside and sprawled out starfish-style on the bed, only for that flashy Bugatti to flash back into her mind.

Next came the hotel layout—bottles of liquor everywhere, the scent of tobacco in the room, those heavy curtains left undrawn… Her head was filled with scenes from that day.

Lu Zhixia clutched the quilt tight, eyes narrowed to slits.

The door creaked open slowly. Yan Fanghua tiptoed in, as if to tuck her daughter in, but jumped at the sight of Lu Zhixia’s wide-eyed stare. “You and your antics.”

“Mom, I’m not a little kid anymore. I don’t need tucking in,” Lu Zhixia said with a helpless smile.

“Guests are coming over tomorrow. Get up early and dress nice.” Yan Fanghua planted kisses on her cheeks. “Got it?”

Lu Zhixia mumbled an agreement. Once her mother had left, she lay there restless. She picked up her phone and was surprised to see some blocked messages.

Her heart skipped a beat for no reason. She tapped into the security center—only spam.

Lu Zhixia tossed and turned, not falling asleep until the early hours. In her dream, someone knocked on the door.

Peering through the peephole, she saw it was Shen Wanqing.

Shen Wanqing’s face was cold and impassive, like she was furious.

Lu Zhixia opened the door, but Shen Wanqing curved her lips into a seductive smile. “Please take good care of Zhi,” she purred.

She put heavy emphasis on “Zhi,” making it sound like it meant something more.

The scene shifted. Lu Zhixia’s gland awakened once again.

Shen Wanqing cornered her in the bathroom. The smile faded as she advanced, pinning Lu Zhixia against the vanity and leaning in close. “I’m going to punish you,” she whispered, burying her face.

Outside came her mother’s voice calling. Lu Zhixia was terrified—yet secretly thrilled.

The next instant, just as Shen Wanqing moved to act, a sharp real-life knock jolted her awake.

“Little Xia, you up yet?” her mother called.

“Yep!” Lu Zhixia wiped the sweat from her forehead. What a nightmare.

A faint throb still lingered in her body. She pushed open the door and blinked in astonishment.

The house was spotless, gleaming like new. “Mom, did you pull an all-nighter?”

“Got up early to tidy,” Yan Fanghua said, nudging her. “Now go wash up.”

Lu Zhixia freshened up, slipping into a simple T-shirt and casual shorts. Yan Fanghua eyed her outfit dubiously. “I said dress nice. Is that what you call nice?”

Knock knock knock.

Lu Zhixia pulled a face. “Too late now.”

“Aren’t you going to get the door?” Yan Fanghua said helplessly.

Lu Zhixia walked up to the door and peered out through the Cat’s Eye. Her heart suddenly pounded.

Holy shit, Shen Wanqing!