Chapter 13

Song Qingre was very close to her. Yan Qingqiu's legs slipped off the bed several times, and each time Song Qingre lifted them back up and shifted her further in, curling her against the edge. Song Qingre recalled, "Speaking of which, those first two days when you came back, you kept taking off your clothes in your sleep... Was something wrong?"

Yan Qingqiu stopped squirming. She was curious about what had happened during those two days as well.

Song Qingre said, "I have a way to make you feel as comfortable as you did those two days."

Afraid she wouldn't be able to endure the fever at night, Yan Qingqiu had dressed especially lightly before resting—a small tank top and short shorts. She squirmed around, all her skin exposed.

Song Qingre tapped her finger on the pillow, saying, "It's not like I haven't helped before. You used to take off your clothes in the middle of the night and climb onto me. You really don't remember?" She leaned down, narrowing her eyes to study Yan Qingqiu's expression.

Yan Qingqiu avoided her gaze. "...No."

"Don't you want to experience it clearly?"

Yan Qingqiu pressed her forehead against the pillow, letting out a muffled groan. The fire in her throat had gone out; she exhaled softly.

For an adult, resistance was just for form's sake.

She lay limp, and the other could understand immediately.

Song Qingre got up, walked around to the other side, and sat down. Her fingers first rested on Yan Qingqiu's shoulder; the moment she touched, she felt the heat of her body. Her fingertips teased lightly, not hard, as she said, "Don't stay tense for so long. Lower your head."

The girl lying limp on the bed gave a muffled groan. Slowly, she lowered her head. The golden hair spread across her shoulders was brushed aside, and cool fingers landed on the back of her neck, kneading the soft flesh there.

"Have you seen a doctor?" Song Qingre asked.

Yan Qingqiu wanted to say yes, but she was afraid of being discovered as a fake Alpha, so she pretended not to hear, her forehead pressed against the pillow.

Half an hour later, Song Qingre asked in a gentle voice, "Are you really in your rut?"

The heat had made her sweat; she was about to fall asleep.

Yan Qingqiu said dully, "What else would it be?"

"It's different from mine," Song Qingre said.

Yan Qingqiu's heart jolted. Luckily, she was hiding her face in the pillow. She asked calmly, "What's your heat like?"

Suddenly, it felt like she was touched.

Like a feather gliding over, tracing a contour.

It felt so good.

Then, it seemed like nothing had happened. It became empty and strange.

Song Qingre had crossed the line, but... but... she liked it.

She touched me, she touched me...

Time passed slowly. The comfort her body felt made her close her eyes and drift off. During it, her neck felt cool. She reached back to touch, feeling something stuck to her neck, and quickly went to pull it off—the doctor had said she wasn't a real Alpha and couldn't use certain medications carelessly.

"What are you panicking about? It's a cooling patch."

Song Qingre's voice came from behind her.

Startled, she turned her head to look. Song Qingre stood by the window, scattered moonlight falling on her shoulders. She held a syringe against her slender neck, her eyes red, like a beast that had abandoned reason.

Their heats were indeed different.

Her thumb pressed against the end of the plunger. The needle pierced a spot on her neck. She injected the liquid into her gland, eyes slightly narrowed, brows furrowed as the liquid ran out.

She didn't look at Yan Qingqiu.

Yan Qingqiu's gaze fell on her profile. She was gentle yet cold, standing silently by the window, then taking a tissue to wipe away the oozing blood.

Yan Qingqiu's heart stirred.

"Sleep early." Song Qingre's hand holding the syringe hung limp at her side. She walked out from the window area, her shadow stretching long by the light, reaching all the way to the door.

Open the door, close the door. She was gone, but Yan Qingqiu still stared at that direction.

Dull and strange.

At that moment, she thought: if she were to do something with Song Qingre in this body, what would it mean for her, for 'her', for Song Qingre?

But... she really wanted to do it.

Damn.

··

The weather was as muggy as ever. The gardener had already sprayed the courtyard wet, raising the villa's comfort level by a notch. A few birds seeking coolness had landed on the fence, chirping all morning.

Yan Qingqiu was full of energy and vigor.

It was the last day of the art exhibition. Yan Qingqiu thought she'd go again, tally up how much Song Qingre had sold, and then she could ask her to pay up.

Yan Qingqiu asked the System, 【How long until the plot point?】

The System replied, 【This plot point hasn't been triggered yet. Don't be nervous, Host. Just get through it safely. Oh, by the way, I have good news: your current plot exploration has accumulated to 42%. Just 8% more and you'll get a reward!】

Yan Qingqiu wasn't in a hurry to explore the plot. She had no desire to; what if she uncovered that someone was a pervert, or found a scene about cutting out glands?

Heh. Not worth it.

Just letting the 8% plot points accumulate naturally would be just fine.

Yan Qingqiu packed up a few cosmetics. Downstairs, the butler had just hung up the phone and turned to her, saying, "The master just called."

Yan Qingqiu stopped in her tracks, feeling a flutter of panic. "What did he call about?"

"Asked if you're short on money, and said it's embarrassing that you went to the art exhibition and didn't even win the argument." The butler reported truthfully.

Yan Qingqiu felt irritated. Why couldn't her father just tell her directly? Why did he have to relay messages through the butler? Even worse, the news had gotten out—that must have been Luo Xi's doing.

The butler added, "The master said to give you two million to spend. Is that enough?"

Yan Qingqiu's eyes lit up. With money, she immediately stopped being angry. She snorted, "Dad still loves me after all. I guess two million will do for now."

As the butler handed over the card, he noticed Yan Qingqiu biting her lip, looking like she could fly with joy. He said, "You should thank the master yourself. He definitely dotes on you. Don't anger him so much from now on, okay?"

"Got it." Yan Qingqiu took the card. Just as she was about to kiss it, she remembered the last time she'd kissed one, she hadn't even warmed it up before giving it away.

Hmm. Bad luck.

The butler also handed her a piece of paper. "The update is written."

Yan Qingqiu clutched the paper and ran out the door, promising him a reward as she went. Her whole body radiated joy, hopping and skipping in a way that was truly healing.

After the car had driven away, the butler came to his senses and made a call to book an in-home doctor's appointment. Miss Song had mentioned before leaving this morning that it was for a physical checkup.

At the venue, Su Xingjie, who had arranged to meet her, was already there.

Su Xingjie approached, looked her up and down, and said suspiciously, "Are you here today to sell paintings for Song Qingre again?"

"No."

Su Xingjie let out a sigh of relief.

Yan Qingqiu said happily, "I'm here to buy paintings."

Su Xingjie's feelings were complicated. She'd guessed right, but also not quite. She said, "Alright. I brought money. You go in and buy whatever you want. Song Qingre's paintings are pretty valuable; buying one or two isn't a bad deal..."

She pulled a card out of her bag. "There's a million here. Use it first."

"!"

The group's favorite, huh?

Yan Qingqiu felt a bit embarrassed. She looked around, and seeing no one, lowered her voice. "My dad gave me two million. I can spend it freely. We can buy whatever we want when we go in."

But what's your angle!

Su Xingjie's look grew even more suspicious.

Yan Qingqiu said, "I can't accept it. I haven't done anything to deserve it."

Su Xingjie said quietly, "You weren't like this before." In the past, the two of them used to spend money on each other freely; Yan Qingqiu had gotten God knows how much money from her.

The two stood at the door; talking about money in the open wasn't safe, so they walked and talked.

Su Xingjie said, "How about this: I'll still give you this money. I'm going to shoot a new seasonal line later, and you can help me shoot it."

Yan Qingqiu was tempted. "But I have no photography experience."

"You'll be the model. I'll give you a 500,000 deposit first."

Yan Qingqiu couldn't hide her shock. Models made this much money?

Su Xingjie played with a lock of Yan Qingqiu's hair. "Yes. The day after tomorrow, come to my company, and we'll shoot some promo photos. Take the money for now. After you buy the paintings, won't you be flat broke?"

Having such a rich best friend spoiling her felt like a dream. Yan Qingqiu was very tempted, but she still stubbornly shook her head, refusing Su Xingjie's money. "Pay me after we take the photos. For now, it's fine. My dad gave me money. But if you still need my help with the photos, I can come. Work's important; don't change anything for me."

Su Xingjie was puzzled. She didn't follow.

She had no idea that 500,000 was no small amount to someone like Yan Qingqiu, who used to be a wage slave earning 3,000 a month. She didn't dare use it for early spending. When Yan Qingqiu had encountered trouble in the real world and borrowed 500 yuan from someone, she'd have to pay it back from the next month's salary, leaving her barely scraping by for the next month or two. If anything else went wrong, she couldn't even afford to eat.

Su Xingjie thought for a moment, then asked, "Is Song Qingre still staying at your place?"

Yan Qingqiu nodded. "My dad said so. So annoying."

Su Xingjie looked at her, surprised. Going by Yan Qingqiu's old personality, if she hated Song Qingre, she would have just kicked her out.

"How about this... come to my company later, then stay at my place for a few days. We haven't hung out in forever. I'll cover everything. Leave the stuff with Fu Ye and Song Qingre to talk about after your dad comes back. You've offended a lot of people in the past two days. I'm afraid you'll get beaten up going out. Especially Luo Xi; I asked around, and she's dropped 5 million here." Su Xingjie held up five fingers, feeling someone staring at her, a cold glint. She thought it was Luo Xi who had overheard, but when she turned to look, it was Song Qingre.

Song Qingre stood on the second floor, smiling at them. Her eyes beneath her long lashes were cold, and her face looked smiling, but it was clearly a warning.

If these two hadn't been mortal enemies before, fighting over men till they drew blood, she'd suspect Song Qingre was saying, "Stay away from my woman."

Yan Qingqiu's reappearance surprised everyone at the exhibition.

She hadn't come yesterday, and people thought she'd chickened out.

Yan Qingqiu strode in with a triumphant, swaggering demeanor.

The crowd then looked at Luo Xi. Luo Xi hadn't planned to come today, but since Fu Ye was here, she had to doll up and reluctantly tag along.

This time, the clash between the two was even more intense than last time.

Yan Qingqiu held a card in her hand, chin raised, looking down on everyone. Fu Ye kept staring at her and sent his secretary over to speak with her.

"Miss Yan, our CEO says it's the last day of the exhibition, and the media is all here. He suggests you not cause trouble today. Just pick any painting you like, and it'll be charged to his account. If money's an issue, just name a figure."

"..." Another one sending money?

Too bad Yan Qingqiu didn't appreciate it. She just sent back a few choice words.

The secretary returned with a strange expression. Fu Ye maintained his haughty posture. "Does she realize she's wrong? Has she apologized yet?"

"No. Miss Yan said to tell you to get lost, that you're a toad from the well who wants to eat swan meat without checking the mirror, that looking at you makes her sick, that recalling the days she liked you makes her want to slap herself, that whoever likes you has a screw loose, and that you should go to the hospital to get your IQ tested. She said a man who plays three or four women at once will end up splitting, getting run over by a cart, and struck by heavenly punishment, that a disgusting man like you who tries to use an art exhibition to force her hand should have his gland cut out, that you should go bankrupt, bankrupt, bankrupt. She also said to give Miss Luo a message..."

The secretary recited with great emotion, took a breath, and continued, "Luo Xi, you lovesick fool deserve to be cheated on by a scumbag. A man even a dog wouldn't want is the one you're fighting over!"

"Alright, that's enough!"

Fu Ye was furious, his head throbbing, but he couldn't help glancing at Yan Qingqiu again.

This woman was playing hard to get again. He'd had enough!

Luo Xi had been quite headstrong these past two days. People around her with clearer vision had told her she was being played. She hadn't believed it at first, but now, hearing that, she almost choked on her own blood.

Now that she knew Yan Qingqiu had tricked her, even if she'd woken up, it was too late. She couldn't very well go around saying she'd been fooled by Yan Qingqiu.

What was worse was that no matter where she went, she could see that blonde b*tch in the crowd, buying up everything, every move more grand than hers.

If Yan Qingqiu was buying, Luo Xi had to buy even more. The media was looking for material; besides Song Qingre's paintings, the two young ladies from the Luo and Yan families buying paintings had become a highlight too.

Song Qingre hadn't planned to sell all her paintings. Some had to be kept for prestige, so that when the studio opened later, there'd be promotional materials.

So they ended up buying until they were told they weren't selling anymore.

Yan Qingqiu swaggered home, already planning the social media post in her head.

Song Qingre was busy wrapping up the exhibition and finalizing contracts when her assistant relayed the battle between the two young ladies. She said, "Take that painting, 'Golden Hair', to Miss Yan."

"Isn't that one not for sale?" the assistant asked.

"Just give it to her. The exhibition's success is largely thanks to her."

Not only had more paintings sold, but many had been bid up several times their original price. That was the nature of art: unnoticed, it was worse than roadside straw; once hyped, it could fetch astronomical prices.

As the staff member was about to leave, she added, "Tell her she bought it."

Back home, Yan Qingqiu immediately had the butler hang them all on the walls. She took a bunch of photos and sat on the sofa, starting to compose her post.

【Just got home and found the whole place covered in paintings. So speechless. Why does Dad always hang museum stuff on the walls? So not trendy. I asked the butler to take them all down and put up new ones. He actually argued that one of them is worth over a hundred million. If I didn't know he went to Harvard and could fight, I'd seriously send him to art school for some refinement. Buying paintings is just for fun anyway. The one thing I've never been short on my whole life is money. I just need some modern oil paintings to refine my taste. It's so annoying that he keeps measuring art in terms of a few hundred million.】

Very satisfying. She had to include a photo.

As soon as she posted, she got a like immediately.

It was from Song Qingre.

Song Qingre also commented: 【Well said. @Butler Dong Shu】

Yan Qingqiu's face flushed, her toes curling in embarrassment. She felt Song Qingre was doing it on purpose. She quickly typed below: 【Please pay me back.】

As soon as she sent it, she felt it wasn't a great idea. They were in the same circle. If someone saw it, hmm... maybe a private message would be better.

Shouldn't Song Qingre have come to her first?

But, thinking it through...

Yan Qingqiu calculated: she was a living bodhisattva.

Luckily, a message came through from the other side, along with a transfer notice above it: 【Song Qingre transferred 10,000 yuan to you】

Yan Qingqiu immediately accepted it, and some of the bodhisattva glow around her faded.

Song Qingre: 【Should we continue our last topic? The one about how to repay the debt. If you don't want the money, you can still have your way with me. I'll do whatever you want.】

Yan Qingqiu definitely didn't want to drag this out. Keeping Song Qingre was a trap! And almost two weeks had passed!

Actually, the money wasn't the problem. The problem was that she felt her body getting worse and worse.

"You probably know that the paintings sold at the exhibition are all under contract. Some payments come in fast, some slow, and some still need to be settled. So, from the profits, I'll take 20% to pay you back. If I have money, I'll give you 200,000. Under special circumstances, I'll give you 100,000. All told... I should have it paid back within a week at the soonest." Song Qingre sent a voice message.

Her voice was so husky.

Gentle, soft. Yan Qingqiu listened to it twice.

Yan Qingqiu asked, "And what if you can't pay it back?"

If her body weren't in this condition, she would have made Song Qingre come serve her. Thinking about how she'd been avoiding Song Qingre because of the gland was such a loss. If she could just get past this plot point, she'd keep her again.

Song Qingre was silent for a moment. "I can do some handiwork on the side to offset the interest."

"!" That was good. Yesterday's handiwork hadn't gone wrong.

Song Qingre's tone dropped a bit more, sounding even more alluring through the phone. 【You can calculate how much that handiwork is worth and deduct it from my side for now.】

Yan Qingqiu had never experienced a massage, but she'd walked past those blind massage parlors on her way home from work before and seen their ads. The way Song Qingre used her fingers, though it only skimmed the surface without going deep, had all the flair and proficiency of a top-tier technician.

Yan Qingqiu gave the highest price: 【198!】

Afraid she'd get cocky, she added, 【Don't get proud!】