Chapter 22

By now, the food was indeed getting cold. Yan Fu still had a lot he hadn't said; Secondary Differentiation was extremely dangerous—for someone with a weaker constitution, it was nothing short of an ordeal.

Either you bit through the cocoon that bound you and emerged a butterfly, or you died bloated inside it. Cases of Secondary Differentiation were rare domestically, and Yan Qingqiu's situation was even more uncommon. The entire household had to stay on high alert.

Yan Fu set down the mouse and keyboard and ate a bit. He couldn't help but ask with concern, "Have you felt any discomfort lately?"

Yan Qingqiu instinctively looked at Song Qingre, thinking she'd given away her secret. Gripping her phone, Yan Qingqiu typed a string of gibberish and said, "I'm fine, actually. It's just the heat—I get dizzy now and then."

Yan Fu recalled the report: the body of an Omega undergoing Secondary Differentiation would run a persistent high fever, and the fever could cause a loss of rationality, leading to fragmented pleas for marking.

Very dangerous.

Yan Qingqiu pulled her gaze away from Song Qingre and looked back at Yan Fu. His grim expression frightened her. She hesitated and said in a small voice, "I'm hungry. Can I eat now?"

Yan Fu nodded and had the head chef prepare something. The butler asked, "Sir, should I clear your meal?"

Yan Fu finished his steamed egg with shrimp, intending to eat a bit more with them. A maid cleared the dishes, and Yan Fu said, "Dong Shu, sit down and eat too."

The four of them sat at one table, all watching Yan Qingqiu. Her heart pounded. The atmosphere at the table was strange, and she wished someone would say something to break the awkward silence.

The table was quiet, and Yan Qingqiu sat there, restless.

Because there had never been an Omega in the household, the head chef had always cooked to Alpha tastes, rarely making meals specifically for an Omega. He'd searched online for a guide to Omega differentiation meals and followed it while cooking.

He'd once been a five-star chef, even winning a culinary god award. Now he was following a tutorial to cook—a considerable blow to his professional pride.

The head chef read through it once, added his own signature touches, then brought the dish out and set it specifically by Yan Qingqiu's hand. "Miss, please have a taste."

Yan Qingqiu was in a good mood. She nodded, and as she washed her hands in the flower-infused water a maid brought over, she paused slightly. "Didn't you not add petals before?"

The maid was quick-witted. "These flowers were just picked today. They're best for soaking in water to moisturize the skin. I thought I'd try it for you, Miss. If you don't like it, I'll change it."

Yan Qingqiu glanced at Song Qingre's washbasin—hers didn't have petals. That made her seem high-maintenance. But... she raised her hand and sniffed, touching her fingertips to the tip of her nose. A faint rose fragrance refreshed her spirits. She said, "Add roses to Miss Song's basin from now on, too."

The maid looked at Song Qingre, who wiped her fingers with a handkerchief and said, "Thank you."

Yan Qingqiu then glanced at Yan Fu's basin. Yan Fu said, "I don't need it. That's for you young ladies."

Yan Qingqiu picked up her chopsticks and ate from the dishes nearby, then raised a spoon to her lips. Everyone seemed to be doting on her, and she felt a little moved.

Her lips pressed together lightly. Perhaps because she was in a good mood, the food tasted sweet. As she brought a bite to her mouth, she caught the chef out of the corner of her eye and inexplicably felt his gaze was eager—like he really wanted to be praised.

She could understand why. Yan Fu was back today, which meant their direct boss had returned, and they couldn't wait to show off in front of him.

"It's quite good," Yan Qingqiu praised generously, not stinting at all. "Your skills have improved."

The head chef was overjoyed and could barely keep from clapping.

He finally figured out a question that had been bothering him for a long time: it wasn't that his cooking had declined—it was that Miss had undergone differentiation, so her tastes had changed, which was why she'd been finding fault.

Yan Qingqiu didn't understand what he was so moved about, as if she'd be failing the farmers who grew the grain if she didn't eat another bowl of rice.

It wasn't that she thought it was all that delicious. She'd just transmigrated over; in her original world, she'd never eaten any high-end cuisine. After arriving, she'd binged for a month until she was sick of it, so she was picky about what she deemed tasty and had tried to find fault to get the chef to make some vegetables.

Today's cooking suited her palate. A bowl of delicious vegetable porridge opened up her taste buds.

"One more bowl, please."

The head chef took the bowl to refill it.

Yan Qingqiu took the opportunity to hint that he didn't need to put on such elaborate displays with the food every day—sometimes simple home cooking was fine. She hadn't dared to bring it up before for fear of blowing her cover, of being mistaken for a "mountain pig that can't appreciate fine chaff."

"You can make more dishes like this in the future. These flavors are good."

The head chef nodded. "Okay, I'll remember that."

He thought to himself: Sure enough, she's a delicate, soft Omega—can't stomach the coarse grains Alphas usually like.

He'd completely forgotten that today's rice was the same as yesterday's. There was no difference at all.

Song Qingre sat across from Yan Qingqiu, eating unhurriedly. Every time she looked at Yan Qingqiu, her gaze was gentle, but after each look, she'd pick up a napkin to wipe her mouth and hide the corner of her lips.

Yan Qingqiu didn't understand what that meant and felt she was being weird for no reason.

After dinner, Yan Fu's phone rang nonstop—all calls from the company. His brows furrowed. "Little Re, come to my study for a bit."

Song Qingre said okay.

What he wanted from her, everyone at the table knew except Yan Qingqiu.

Song Qingre went upstairs and said directly, "Don't worry, Uncle. I'll take good care of her."

Company matters were making Yan Fu frantic, and he had no way to also look after his daughter. He patted Song Qingre on the shoulder. "Sorry to trouble you."

Song Qingre said, "It's no trouble."

Her composure made Yan Fu zone out for a moment.

He couldn't help thinking of the two years right after his wife died. His daughter had been only one or two years old, and he'd been swamped with company work. The neighbors had helped take care of her, and the two families had always been close. The Song family had done more for his daughter than he had. It was only in the last few years that his daughter had gone wild with a strange rebellious streak, and in pursuit of Fu Ye, she'd deeply hurt Song Qingre. If not for his own gentle temperament, he would've beaten that daughter of his to death long ago.

"If she doesn't behave, you deal with her. Don't bother telling me."

"How could I ever hit her?" Song Qingre smiled. "Qiuqiu is my sister, after all. No matter how she acts up, I would never raise a hand to her."

Parents said they'd beat their kids, but they never really meant it. If they did, Yan Qingqiu would've died eight hundred times over for her antics these past few years.

Yan Fu felt even warmer toward her, and a faint guilt welled up in him.

"If Qiuqiu becomes an Omega, the two of you won't have such a hard time being together," Yan Fu hinted, watching Song Qingre's expression.

Song Qingre only said, "Even if she differentiates into an Omega, she's still my little sister." She was measured, and even when Yan Fu wanted to play matchmaker, she held back.

Secondary Differentiation... heat cycles...

Song Qingre said, "I just want her to suffer less. I haven't thought about anything else."

The more she said that, the more regretful Yan Fu felt, thinking his daughter had hurt her far too deeply.

"There's nothing else. I'll head downstairs. I have to go to the company today—I made plans with friends a few days ago to help with a bar design."

"Okay."

Yan Fu walked her out a few steps, then looked down. Yan Qingqiu was still sitting downstairs, eyes fixed on the upstairs. When Song Qingre came out, she stared at Song Qingre, her gaze restrained but readable—a hint of warning in it.

"Butler, come up here," Yan Fu said.

Yan Qingqiu, sitting below, thought, Is it my turn now?

She racked her brain: Did Song Qingre tattle on me?

The butler went upstairs, and Yan Fu talked with him about company matters.

"Does it have to do with the Fu family?"

Yan Fu let out a long sigh and explained the whole story. The Yan family made skincare products—an old brand. A few years back, they'd had a solid market, with everyone loving their affordable products. Then influencer brands rose, and everyone chased elaborate, flashy, expensive skincare.

The Yan family's old brand increasingly lost its competitiveness. Even under the banner of a domestic brand, people preferred flashy, hyped-up labels.

Because it had always been the same old line, the Yan family couldn't raise prices either—if they went too high, he himself would've felt guilty, and it would've shattered their original reputation. For a while, they'd barely held on. But staying stuck like that wasn't a solution. The Yan family had to cater to the market and customers, so they planned to develop premium products. He'd pushed a lab through against all the shareholders' pressure, and the product was nearly done—only for the Fu family, which had funded the project, to pull out.

They'd invested a hundred million, and now they'd cornered Yan Fu. Even with breach penalties, he'd still have to go to court, and a case could drag on for a year or two—the Yan family couldn't afford to wait. At this rate, they'd go bankrupt.

Yan Fu was mentally and physically exhausted. He had to keep the company and other investors and shareholders stable, and he wished he could split himself in half to juggle domestic and foreign fronts.

The Fu family had also said their main reason for pulling out was that his daughter had been disobedient, fighting with Fu Ye and even hitting him—implying that Yan Qingqiu should apologize.

The day before he returned, Fu Ye had called, saying that if Yan Qingqiu hadn't treated marriage like a game, getting engaged one minute and calling it off the next, he wouldn't have been so ruthless. The Yan family's current mess was largely Yan Qingqiu's fault.

The butler asked, "So how do you plan to handle this—have Miss apologize?" The Fu family had been hinting at this openly and covertly, and today they'd sent word for Yan Fu to bring Yan Qingqiu to dinner to discuss things properly.

Yan Fu was furious at his daughter's lack of ambition, his chest aching from the anger. He took a breath and said, "I hope she's truly sober this time. If she wavers again, then so be it. She can stop calling me her father—I don't have such a worthless daughter."

Hearing this, the butler understood: Yan Fu wasn't going to bring his daughter to the banquet. Yan Fu said, "This can't be blamed on Qiuqiu though. I was the one who fell for Fu Ye's trick back then, taking that hundred million. If not for that, today wouldn't have happened. It just proves my initial judgment was right—Fu Ye is a dishonest man. They have a fight and he pulls his investment? If they get married and have a quarrel, who knows what he'd do. That kind of man is a keeper."

Men understood men best. If he didn't cherish his wife before marriage, you could forget about it later. And pressuring his father-in-law with money? Yan Fu snorted and slapped the table hard. "He'd better actually pull his funding. Once I get through this crisis, we'll see if I don't fix him. Does he think I'm selling my daughter off?"

"Calm down," the butler said, soothing him and pouring him a cup of tea. Yan Fu held the cup and sighed. "I still think Little Re is the best. Not to mention she grew up at my side—Qiuqiu basically grew up in their house. It's just a shame her parents passed away so early, or I really would've gone to talk to her family about this. Besides, in those years when Qiuqiu misbehaved and kept hurting her, she stayed abroad, and I felt so guilty toward her that I never brought it up again. Ah, if only the two of them could be together. I really owe Little Re."

The butler naturally understood his reasoning. "I've been watching. Miss Song was cold to Miss at first when she came back, but now she's always teasing her. I think there's a chance..."

A smile finally appeared on Yan Fu's face, but it quickly turned worried. "Let's not think about that yet. I'll handle the company matters first. If they do get together, I can't be dead weight. Otherwise, they'd be weighed down by debt, and it wouldn't last."

Yan Fu was a businessman who saw things clearly and realistically. If he was in trouble, Song Qingre's burden increased. Her career was just starting, and she had a bright future. There was no need to rush things—just let it develop naturally and quietly nudge them together.

"You should pay attention too and help push them along. Don't let Little Re keep seeing Qiuqiu as a little sister. They're grown now—no more of that sister act."

The butler said plainly, "I've been paying close attention lately."

He didn't say it was because Yan Qingqiu made him recount memories every day, and now he'd developed a habit of taking notes to update Yan Qingqiu's articles.

Yan Fu said, "Don't tell Qiuqiu. I'll figure something out for this. Cut down on household expenses where we can, but don't skimp on Qiuqiu's share—she still gets the best."

The butler said yes, closed the door, and came out. Yan Qingqiu stood up, craning her neck. "Is it my turn?"

"Hm? Oh, no. Don't worry. The master just went over some arrangements."

Yan Qingqiu breathed a sigh of relief.

The butler continued, "Your room will be sterilized shortly. I'll take you out for a stroll."

"Fine." Yan Qingqiu also felt the pressure of staying cooped up at home.

Outside, the gardeners were tending the flowers, some pulling weeds. The small pond at the entrance had been cleaned, and the swing nearby had a soft cushion added.

Yan Qingqiu had never imagined that the luxurious life could get even more refined.

She asked the butler, "Was it always like this at home?"

The butler thought she'd noticed something. "Yes, why?"

Yan Qingqiu shook her head. These people were really slacking off. When she was home alone, they half-assed everything; the moment her father came back, they suddenly worked with gusto.

She turned to look at the butler. She'd thought he was the most diligent, but even he was slacking off. The household spent over a million a month, and they still slacked. Yan Qingqiu thought to herself: if I were the boss, I'd fire every single one.

The butler, unaware of her thoughts, asked, "So, what do you think?"

Yan Qingqiu said seriously, "The house needs to stay in this state from now on. What kind of life was that before, all sloppy and messy? If you slack off again, don't blame me for being harsh."

"Understood." The butler made a note. Good that she liked it—she was indeed a delicate, soft Omega. If Yan Qingqiu weren't still hopping around lively, he might've reached out to steady her.

Yan Qingqiu wandered over to the flower garden. Usually she just looked, but now she went over and sniffed. The tended garden smelled even better. She said, "Pick some flowers and bring them to my room..." She paused. "Send them to the master's room first. In mine, put some citrus—oranges and the like."

The butler didn't ask questions. Yan Qingqiu had prepared a string of excuses, afraid he'd ask why, but he didn't, which left her puzzled.

Yan Qingqiu walked around, and with everyone's efforts, the house had been transformed. The air was filled with scents she loved.

She sat on the swing, legs dangling. Today she wore a loose tank top and shorts, with flip-flops on her feet.

The butler asked, "Hot, Miss? Want to go inside for some shaved ice?"

Yan Qingqiu was a bit warm. She asked, "Where's Song Qingre?"

The butler pointed to the balcony on the second floor. A woman sat there, hair pinned up with a black butterfly clip at the back of her head. A few unruly strands of black hair escaped the clip. Song Qingre wore a leather collar around her neck, and she was painting seriously with an oil brush, occasionally glancing down at Yan Qingqiu...

Yan Qingqiu asked, "Is she painting me?"

"Not sure. Should I go check?"

Yan Qingqiu said, "Never mind. Don't forget my shaved ice."

The butler asked, "Strawberry or blueberry?"

"Is that all the flavors you have? I want a mix, with condensed milk on top and some fruit." Yan Qingqiu frowned. She was getting tired of the stuff they made at home.

The butler nodded. Right, Miss was an Omega now—naturally she couldn't just make do with anything like before. "Okay, I'll have the chef make it."

The butler left. Yan Qingqiu looked up. It wasn't that she didn't like being painted by Song Qingre—she actually loved it. The problem was she was mad at Song Qingre and held a grudge. The more Song Qingre wanted to paint her, the more she moved around, deliberately shuffling here and there. Only when the butler brought the shaved ice did she settle on the swing.

Yan Qingqiu took a few bites of ice and asked, "Why hasn't Xing Xing come? Give her a call and ask." Being alone at home was too boring—mainly because she couldn't really talk to the servants, and she didn't feel like chatting with Song Qingre either.

Soon, she didn't have the chance to talk to Song Qingre at all. Song Qingre changed into formal wear, got in a car, and left. Then Yan Fu went out too.

They were all off to work.

That left Yan Qingqiu alone at home. She squeezed her ice and said, "Look at everyone working while I laze around. Isn't that bad?"

"It's fine," the butler replied matter-of-factly. "You can't do anything anyway, and you always mess up. It's better if you don't work."

"...You make me so mad saying that."

"ER seems to be in trouble." The butler changed the subject.

ER was Su Xingjie's company, full name "Earl of Roses." It used to be a failing company with a name that couldn't stand up to scrutiny, but after Su Xingjie turned things around, people started calling it aristocratic. Now it was shortened to ER.

The butler said, "It seems a model Miss Su signed got into trouble."

He lowered his voice. "The model did drugs, got high at the hotel yesterday, puking and screaming, then lay in the bathtub frothing at the mouth. The manager called Miss Su to handle it, but she arrived late, and the reporters got the news before she did. She's trapped in the hotel now."

Yan Qingqiu had been so caught up in her father's return yesterday that she hadn't heard about this. Su Xingjie hadn't mentioned it either.

She took out her phone and searched. The trending topic was gone, but plenty of netizens were speculating, and a bunch of marketing accounts were reposting. The impact was pretty big.

That model was someone Su Xingjie had signed with heavy promotion, pouring company resources into her—she was the face of Su Xingjie's company. If she got in trouble, Su Xingjie's image and brand were destroyed, and if mishandled, it could hurt sales for months.

Yan Qingqiu knew nothing about business, let alone Su Xingjie's company. Back in the real world, she'd loved reading celebrity gossip and had often joined the chorus cursing out drug-using scumbags. People like that were just wasting the country's resources.

And she'd always believed that people like that usually had those around them in the know—maybe even abetting the crime and covering for them. Su Xingjie would definitely get dragged down. She searched again and sure enough, plenty of people were cursing Su Xingjie too.

Yan Qingqiu frowned. She knew who Su Xingjie was. She only cared about design, and while her moral compass might be skewed toward Yan Qingqiu, her other values were perfectly normal.

The butler asked, "Want to call and check in?"

Yan Qingqiu shook her head. "She's probably busier than a bee right now. I shouldn't bother her."

She looked up at the sky. It seemed like rain was coming.

Yan Qingqiu took her cup and went inside.

The maids were just bringing in the laundry. Yan Qingqiu had been headed straight up, but after two steps she stopped. Her eyes zeroed in on a black lace collar on the floor—it looked like the one Song Qingre always wore around her neck.

She'd looked it up before: it was an Alpha's inhibitor ring, used to block Omega pheromones and also filter out the pheromones Alphas released.

Yan Qingqiu went over and picked it up. She had to say, Song Qingre's pheromone scent was intense—still lingering even after being washed so clean. So fragrant.

It came in waves, like iced orange juice in summer.

A woman like Song Qingre was more like hard liquor—one sip and your head spins.

As she thought, she took a sniff. Addictive. She took another sniff. To put it delicately, she really wanted to wad it up and swallow that inhibitor collar in one bite.

Maybe it was the so-called differentiation at work—her body felt hungry all the time, hungry enough to swallow an Alpha alive.

Yan Qingqiu couldn't help leaking a little pheromone. She stuck out the tip of her tongue. Then a thought struck her: she couldn't beat an Alpha in strength, they were naturally stronger. But what about other methods? Say, a sneak attack—she could rush up and grab an Alpha's neck, and they'd be done for.

Tsk, tsk, tsk. Satisfying.

Thinking about it, she took one last deep breath of the fragrance. She was about to put the collar down when she suddenly felt something very, very wrong.

Yan Qingqiu whipped her head around and saw a maid standing right there. Caught, the maid instinctively tried to run—she hadn't wanted to witness a soft Omega inhaling pheromones like crazy either!

Miss was way too wild!

"Stop!" Yan Qingqiu's face burned red. Caught by a maid! The maids in this house loved to gossip—what if she went and told everyone?

Word would spread, and it could easily expose her identity.

But how do I explain this?

Such a headache.

The maid was panicking too. If she leaked this, she'd get fired. That would be terrible.

When Yan Qingqiu walked over, the maid asked earnestly, "Miss, do you like this style too? I'll order one for you later."

Right.

Yan Qingqiu breathed a sigh of relief. She'd been so tense she'd almost blown it.

She was an Alpha too—no harm in checking out styles.

The maid probed again, "Or do you want to eat some oranges?"

Both excuses convinced Yan Qingqiu she hadn't been exposed. She thought for a moment and said, "I want both!"

"G-Got it..." The maid made to leave.

Yan Qingqiu called after her. "Come up with me. I have something for you to do."

The maid followed her up nervously. Yan Qingqiu had wanted to speak gently, but every time she glanced over, the maid looked flustered.

Forget it.

There was no helping it—the original "her" had been too much of a terror. Everyone's impression of her was deeply ingrained, and they were all scared of her.

Yan Qingqiu tried to soften her voice. "Aren't we putting aromatherapy in the room? For the next few days, switch mine to a fruity scent."

The maid noted it down.

Yan Qingqiu was too embarrassed to say she wanted citrus, so she added, "I've also been craving fruit lately. Put some extra oranges in my room."

"Okay, don't worry."

The maid said, "There's this yogurt orange slice thing that's been popular. Want me to stop by the dessert shop and get some for you?"

"You're pretty on the ball." Yan Qingqiu praised her.

The maid, suddenly praised, was full of energy. "I'll go get it ready, then!"

Yan Qingqiu sat on the edge of the bed and lay down. Her bed felt different too—soft and silky, more comfortable than before, with a cool touch.

"So comfortable. Nice work. You're really clever."

The maid had been scolded by her plenty in the past. Now, with a bit of open-mindedness, she expanded her thinking. It wasn't that Miss liked inhibitor collars or had a craving for citrus fruit—clearly she was craving citrus pheromones! In other words, she was craving Miss Song, that Alpha!

If only she dared, she'd kidnap Miss Song and deliver her to Miss for her enjoyment.

After a few trips, Yan Qingqiu's room was visibly fragrant. Yan Qingqiu felt like she was soaking in citrus scent, the comfort matching her afternoon nap yesterday. Tonight's sleep would definitely be pleasant.

Though... it was too obvious. It could easily be noticed.

Yan Qingqiu peeled an orange, giving half to the maid and keeping half for herself. She asked rhetorically, "Isn't this a bit too fragrant?"

The maid shook her head. "No, it's not fragrant at all. Not one bit."

"Really?"

"Really!!!" The maid nearly swore to heaven.

Yan Qingqiu began to doubt herself. Maybe the scent wasn't strong enough? If the effect was too weak, hadn't she done all this for nothing?

"Really not fragrant?" Yan Qingqiu asked again, as if her soul were at stake.

The maid was also doubting. "Want me to go grab another bottle of aromatherapy?"

Yan Qingqiu nodded and continued eating her orange.

The maid took a bite—it really was especially fragrant. She closed the door behind her and went out. A few more trips, and the room was even more fragrant. The butler came up to check everyone's work. He raised a hand to cover his nose and asked from the doorway, "Did you break an essential oil bottle in Miss's room?"

Mentioning essential oil reminded the maid—she could go get some later for Miss to use in her bath tonight. She lowered her voice and said, "No, nothing broke. Miss likes this scent. It was already strong, but she kept asking if it wasn't fragrant, so I put out a few more bottles, and now it's really strong. I'll go downstairs and grab the essential oil."

"Take the one just brought back from Country F," the butler instructed. "That one's closest to Miss Song's pheromone scent, and it's one of our own products, so it's safer to use."

"Got it."

The butler knocked on the door and said, "Miss, there's a heavy storm coming. Stay in your room and don't go out, or you'll get soaked. Catching cold is bad for your health."

How could an Omega in the middle of differentiation, soft and delicate, be allowed to go out in the rain?

"Okay." Yan Qingqiu hummed in acknowledgment.

She lay on the bed playing with her phone, continuing to search for news about Su Xingjie.

ER must have been targeted by rivals. It wasn't on the trending list, but a flood of posts was calling their company a drug den, especially Su Xingjie—claiming she was secretly a soft Omega and only became that aloof, outstanding person because she did drugs.

Rumors were saying Su Xingjie was still trapped in the hotel.

Yan Qingqiu thought for a moment and sent a message: 【Xing Xing, where are you right now?】

Su Xingjie replied quickly: 【I'm fine, don't worry.】

Yan Qingqiu: 【I'm coming to get you.】

Su Xingjie: 【Really, I'm fine. Don't let this drag you down. I can handle it soon.】

Yan Qingqiu: 【What do you mean, drag me down? Just wait.】

No wonder she'd been hesitant today. Yan Qingqiu couldn't stand it—this friend of hers gave and gave one-sidedly, making it seem like she'd been brainwashed.

Yan Qingqiu asked: 【Are any of your company people there?】

Su Xingjie: 【I didn't let them come. If they got caught, it'd hit the trending list. Besides, I don't know yet who's involved in this.】

Yan Qingqiu shoved her phone in her pocket and headed straight out.

She couldn't use the family driver to go pick someone up from a hotel. A luxury car would be too easy to spot. She went out, paid for the bus, then transferred to the metro.

If the people at home found out, they'd definitely make a huge fuss. Yan Qingqiu kind of liked the Yan family but always felt out of place. She enjoyed the rich lifestyle, yet underneath she had a little self-consciousness, afraid of slipping up.

The metro was packed.

She thought to herself, Can you tell this outfit costs hundreds of thousands? My earrings and necklace are worth over a million.

They probably can't, right? She'd never seen any rich lady on the metro before, and she'd never imagined she'd one day dress this well.

The long car was loaded with people.

In the past, she'd hesitate even to take an empty seat, worried about crowds and not being able to squeeze out in time. The time to get on and off was limited.

For a while, she'd loved the sea train in Spirited Away.

The little girl and No-Face boarded the train. Everyone on it was a shadow, the train moved forward, wheels pressing on tracks through the sea, heading somewhere unknown.

She wasn't even as good as the little girl.

She had no home, no place to go.

If one day she lost her job, she'd truly... have no place to stay.

"The next stop is Jinye Street Station. Please prepare to get off..."

Yan Qingqiu got off, tucked all her golden hair into a helmet, put it on, scanned a shared e-bike, and followed the navigation to the hotel entrance. She picked up a bag and walked in. She'd delivered food in college, so her walk looked natural, like a real delivery person. She hadn't stayed in hotels much, so she had to ask the front desk where the elevator was.

When she appeared before Su Xingjie, Su Xingjie was stunned. She couldn't figure out how the change came about. Yan Qingqiu put the helmet from the bag onto her head, and Su Xingjie startled, hurrying to take it off. "What are you doing..."

"Getting you out. Just wear this helmet and walk out looking down at your phone."

Yan Qingqiu also handed her an oversized jacket to put on. Su Xingjie resisted with her whole body. "If I get photographed like this, I'll be a laughingstock..."

"Do you want to go back, then? Don't you trust me?" Yan Qingqiu retorted.

"I trust you." Su Xingjie, though trapped in the hotel, was still impeccably put together. Yet somehow, she just wanted to believe Yan Qingqiu.

Who said a hero had to be gorgeous and dashing to save someone? It could also be a delivery person appearing out of nowhere!

"Alright, even if you look like a delivery girl, you're the hottest one. Dear customer, would you like an Omega self-service dinner? Tonight I'm yours—you can do whatever you want to me~" Yan Qingqiu said, fussing over her to cheer her up. "Don't be so serious."

Su Xingjie burst out laughing.

"Go down first. Don't worry."

The two went down, both wearing helmets. Su Xingjie walked ahead, her composure intact, looking at her phone as she made her way out. She wore that ugly, oversized blue jacket, and no one paid her any attention. No one would suspect that the CEO of ER would dress like a delivery person.

When they reached the door, Su Xingjie paused. There really were no camera flashes.

Yan Qingqiu walked out behind her, hamming it up with a snort: "Ate it all up and still left a bad review. Trash."

Su Xingjie thought, She doesn't look like an Omega delivering herself—Qiu Bao is the real stunner. If she could order delivery, she'd be spamming the button.

Yan Qingqiu smoothly wheeled out a shared e-bike and swung onto it. Su Xingjie blinked, then sat behind her.

The reporters and paparazzi crammed in the building and lurking outside the hotel never noticed two stylish Omegas riding off on a shared e-bike.

"Thanks, Qiu Bao," Su Xingjie said softly, gripping her waist.

"Alright." Yan Qingqiu smiled. She was happy to help a friend. Her smiling face reflected in the rearview mirror. When they reached a spot where they could stop, she had Su Xingjie take off the ugly blue jacket and continued on.

"But when did you learn to ride an e-bike, Qiu Bao?" Su Xingjie asked, puzzled.

Yan Qingqiu sped up, pretending the wind was too loud to hear.

In truth, it didn't matter when she'd learned. Su Xingjie felt a sense of being back in school days—Yan Qingqiu had always protected her, stood up for her. Her nose suddenly stung. In the hotel, she hadn't said anything, thinking Yan Qingqiu probably wouldn't come, because as adults, she was usually the one protecting Yan Qingqiu. She'd simply left it unsaid, thinking she shouldn't drag her down.

She never expected Yan Qingqiu to ride an e-bike to pick her up.

The light ahead was red. Yan Qingqiu held the handlebars.

Su Xingjie steadied her grip and said, "Qiu Bao, this year marks ten years since we met."

"That long?" Yan Qingqiu mused. Ten years of friendship was something special. She also wanted to examine her own heart: she'd been twenty-four years old with no friends. There had been plenty of kids her age at the orphanage, but many who got adopted never came back, never got in touch. Over time, she'd gotten used to being alone.

Su Xingjie hummed in agreement. She was about to enjoy the evening breeze when it started raining—drops falling hard and fast. By the time Yan Qingqiu drove past a street, the rain was pelting their helmets with a clatter.

Yan Qingqiu pulled over to the curb. They both got off, and she quickly hailed a taxi. "The e-bike's dead. You go back first."

"What about you?" Su Xingjie asked. "Aren't you getting on?"

"Song Qingre's studio is up ahead. I'll go find her there. My dad just got back, and he doesn't know I snuck out. I'm afraid he'll get home and find me gone and think I went to see Fu Ye. I'll go home with Song Qingre."

Su Xingjie wanted to say more, but the driver was urging. Yan Qingqiu put Su Xingjie in the taxi, then, still wearing the helmet, went to hail another ride.

Su Xingjie took off her helmet in the car and turned to look. Yan Qingqiu had scanned another e-bike and was riding off in the opposite direction, rain pouring down on her without a care, charging through the downpour.

Su Xingjie placed her hand on the helmet, tracing the cartoon pattern on it. She gave the driver her address. The driver clicked his tongue. "People who live here ride shared e-bikes? Never would've guessed. I thought folks like you would ride those super expensive motorcycles even when biking."

Back in the day, Yan Qingqiu couldn't ride a bike at all—not even a bicycle. In middle school, she'd ridden a bicycle straight into a tree and scraped a big patch of skin off her thigh. She'd never touched one since.

Yan Qingqiu's e-bike couldn't outrun the rain. The downpour soaked her clothes through, her arms and legs dripping wet. She wasn't cold, but her whole body felt sticky and uncomfortable.

When she reached the bottom of Song Qingre's studio, she stood at the entrance, too embarrassed to go in all drenched. Her phone had been buzzing since it started raining, vibrating so much her leg was going numb!

The butler, her father, and the maids at home had all been calling.

What's so strange about an Alpha going out? In the wealthy world, there was no freedom, especially with her father back—everyone was vying to show off and watching her closely. She had to report wherever she went.

Of course, she also didn't dare answer.

She waited quietly. Growing bored, she chatted with the System: 【Do you think they've figured out I'm an Omega? Why has everyone been paying me so much attention all of a sudden.】

The System had been in hiding, rarely speaking, but it came out when she called: 【Probably not. Rest assured, Host.】

As she chatted, someone called out to Yan Qingqiu.

She turned to look—she knew the person. It was Song Qingre's assistant, Xiao Fu, it seemed. Xiao Fu held a file in her hand, saying, "Are you waiting for our boss? I just went up, and Miss Huajian said the boss headed home half an hour ago."

"Ah?" Yan Qingqiu did the math—that meant she'd arrived only a few minutes after Song Qingre had left. What bad luck. Damn it, she thought.

Xiao Fu said, "Wait a moment, let me call the boss."

Yan Qingqiu definitely didn't dare go home alone now. She didn't know if Song Qingre would come back for her either. She watched Xiao Fu dial, eyes tense.

The rain outside grew heavier, the sky darkening to near black.

The call connected quickly. Xiao Fu said, "Boss, Miss Yan came to see you. She's been waiting a while... Okay... I'll have her wait inside."

Xiao Fu hung up and invited Yan Qingqiu in, offering her tea. Yan Qingqiu said apologetically, "Sorry to hold up your leaving work." Then she glanced at the file. "Actually, why don't you go ahead? I can give that to Song Qingre for you."

"It's no trouble, you're too kind." Xiao Fu was alarmed. She felt like Miss Yan, sitting on the sofa across from her, was speaking some demonic code. She clutched the file tighter, afraid that if she let her guard down, Yan Qingqiu would snatch it.

Half an hour later, Song Qingre appeared, stepping out of her car with rapid steps. Her face was full of smiles as she fixed her eyes on Yan Qingqiu.

"I came to pick you up from work. The rain's coming down so hard." Yan Qingqiu glanced at the cascading downpour.

Song Qingre's smile faded. She looked at her hands—only a helmet. "You're planning to use that helmet to catch the rain?"

"..."

Yan Qingqiu ignored her, hugging the helmet as she headed out. Song Qingre grabbed her. "Wait."

"What?"

Song Qingre took off her suit jacket and draped it over her, tugging at the hem to cover her thighs. "You're soaked through."

Yan Qingqiu looked down at herself. Her flip-flops left wet prints with every step. She turned to see the sofa behind her was soaked where she'd sat. How embarrassing.

She didn't realize that just now, she hadn't just been soaked—the thin fabric clung to her body, revealing everything that should be covered and shouldn't be, faintly outlining every curve.

She felt awkward wearing the Alpha's suit jacket, shifting her body.

Yan Qingqiu thought Song Qingre was about to do something, but she just went and got an umbrella. It was only a dozen steps away—Yan Qingqiu could've just sprinted. But Song Qingre still brought the umbrella over. She opened the car door. "Get in."

Yan Qingqiu bent to enter the car and was about to take off the jacket, but Song Qingre said, "Keep it on."

In the car, Song Qingre didn't ask many questions. She kept her head down, looking at her phone. Yan Qingqiu figured she was tattling.

Yan Qingqiu tugged at the corner of the suit jacket. "Fine. I did sneak out."

Song Qingre looked up at her and said, "This once, I'll take it as you coming to pick me up. I'll cover for you."

Yan Qingqiu squeezed the armrest beside her. "Mm."

She felt Song Qingre had agreed too readily, which made her uneasy. "You won't tattle, right? You seem angry."

"I'm not angry." Song Qingre said. "At least you knew to come find me instead of running home in the rain."

Yan Qingqiu said oh, thinking that made sense, but the words felt off somehow.

The car arrived at the villa complex entrance. Song Qingre got out with an umbrella, and Yan Qingqiu got out too. The umbrella was raised high above her head. This summer had been stifling for too long, and now the clouds were squeezing themselves dry in this downpour. They walked home sharing the umbrella. Yan Qingqiu didn't understand, but she followed along without asking.

Song Qingre raised the umbrella, long fingers gripping the handle. Yan Qingqiu looked up at the sight and thought, I wish I were a painter too.

They walked ten minutes to the front door, where the butler was pacing anxiously. Finally seeing someone in a long black suit jacket over white shorts, he hurried over. "Miss, where did you go? Everyone was frantic."

"What's there to be afraid of? An Alpha like me isn't going to get lost." Yan Qingqiu said nonchalantly.

The butler was momentarily speechless, holding the umbrella over her. "Your hair is soaked."

Song Qingre said, "I went to close a business deal. I got separated from my driver midway, so I texted Qiuqiu and she came to get me."

Yan Qingqiu kept glancing at Song Qingre. Wow, she lied like a pro. Even I'd believe it.

When they got into the living room, she muttered quietly, "Pretty clever of you, walking around the neighborhood in the rain before coming in."

"No."

"Huh?" Yan Qingqiu looked at her.

Song Qingre closed the umbrella and said, "It wasn't to cover for you. I just thought, since it rarely rains, I wanted to walk three extra minutes with you."

Yan Qingqiu was choked.

What did that mean? Why was her heart racing at those words?

The maids hurried over with towels, wiping Yan Qingqiu's hair constantly. One wiped her hands, another tried to dry her body. Song Qingre glanced over, wiped the rain from her own fingers with a handkerchief, and said, "Let her dry herself. Don't rub her too hard."

The maid quickly stepped back. Right, right, Miss's skin was sensitive. But she didn't stop bustling and ran upstairs.

"Are you cold, Miss? Have some hot tea," a maid said, offering a cup.

Another said, "Miss, I'll run your bath shortly. We don't want you catching a cold."

A third opened her mouth as if to say, "Miss, I can scrub your back."

Yan Qingqiu was nearly overwhelmed, surrounded by them.

Song Qingre was soaked too, yet no one fussed over her. No tea, no hot bath offered. Now everyone was hovering over Yan Qingqiu like she was the fragile one, making her out to be delicate—like she was some soft Omega. And those eager looks were weird. Did they have something set up in the bathroom? She really didn't want to go.

She delayed, and the maids grew more worried, wringing their fingers. Yan Qingqiu didn't move, her clothes wet and sticky against her skin. She did want to shower, but she glanced around sneakily, and they were all sneaking glances back, as if the moment she went to shower, they'd line up and applaud, chanting, "Welcome the young miss to her bath."

Terrible, terrible. So awkward. She couldn't blend into this rich household life at all. She endured, afraid of soiling the sofa, sitting on a stool instead. "Miss Song isn't complaining. Why would I? Let her go first."

Because she was putting on a tough act, no one dared call her out. Everyone there was a beta, and Song Qingre was an Alpha besides—their constitutions were naturally better than hers.

An Omega in the middle of differentiation needed pampering!

How could they get her to shower without bruising her pride?

They racked their brains and turned to look at Song Qingre.

Song Qingre's gaze settled on Yan Qingqiu. Yan Qingqiu didn't notice—she was head down, wringing out the hem of her shorts, water dripping onto the floor. She'd practically exposed her upper thighs. She wrung one side, then the other.

Until Song Qingre came over and said gently, "Go shower. Don't catch cold."

Yan Qingqiu was enjoying wringing out her clothes. "I won't. You go."

Song Qingre: "I'll go. Will you?"

Everyone's eyes turned to Song Qingre at once. Miss Song was everyone's hope.

A knot tightened in Yan Qingqiu's chest. Why was everyone so supportive of them taking a joint bath, even though they were both Alphas? They're eerily pervier and wilder than I am. Too bad my current body can't handle it. Seeing her stand there unmoving, she thought to get the jacket and brush her off: "See if you can get me up there."

"Then I'll carry you?"

Yan Qingqiu just stood up to grab the suit jacket from the maid when something felt off. Song Qingre wrapped an arm around her waist and hoisted her up.

Very direct.

Yan Qingqiu was terrified within a second. "What are you doing? Help!"

Song Qingre ignored her, carrying her up to the stairs step by step. "Don't squirm. If you fall down these stairs, we'll both end up at the hospital for a full exam."

Yan Qingqiu dared not move. "You're carrying me by force! Why are you all just standing there? Hurry up!"

The maids below made a token effort to head upstairs, but even after Yan Qingqiu had squirmed free of Miss Song's embrace, they still hadn't reached the second floor.

Then Yan Qingqiu was pulled into the room by Song Qingre, bit by bit.

The maids bit their lips: Miss was going to feel pain!

Yan Qingqiu roared, "One word from me and you start crying? What use are you? Useless!"

Song Qingre caught her breath, laughter threading through it, and said, "Keep yelling. Scream your throat raw and no one's coming to save you. You'll be crying to heaven and earth to no avail. Better save your voice."

With that, she set her into the bathtub. "Exciting?"

Yan Qingqiu looked at her smiling and wanted to laugh too, but she felt she shouldn't drop her seriousness. She grew more convinced there was something weird in the tub and scrambled up. "It's just a bath, why the rush? Are you trying to do something to me?"

Song Qingre's lips moved like she was holding back, then she laughed.

Yan Qingqiu's phone was in her pocket and nearly fell into the tub. She grabbed it, fuming as she called Yan Fu, ready to rail against Song Qingre's forced carrying. The moment she pressed the voice button, messages started popping out.

Then she watched as her father—that serious, hardworking business tycoon—forwarded articles to the family group chat: "On the Importance of Alpha-Omega Shared Baths," "Signs That an Omega Who Doesn't Bathe Often Will Exhibit," "Why Hot Alphas Love Bathing—Read or Regret for Life."

And @ed her: @Pure·Left-Turn-at-the-Corner-Yuzu-Sorrow-Demon-Whisper-Hathaway-Er-Seraph. Qiuqiu, remember to shower after the rain.

"...?"

Song Qingre walked over and glanced at it, her lips moving.

Great. Dad had misunderstood her, and she could no longer count on him.

Yan Qingqiu pressed the screen dark, breathing deep, then deeper. She couldn't be embarrassed. Song Qingre wasn't in the family group, so she couldn't see it.

Her face was burning red, but she stayed calm, pointing at the door. "Bath, I'll take it. You, out."

Song Qingre hadn't even opened her mouth.

Just then, a bottle someone had left on the tub edge made a sound, wobbling and rolling down, landing right between the two of them.

Its label read: "Yan Family Citrus Essential Oil. Instructions: apply generously all over the body, then massage gently. The natural, mild citrus fragrance will moisturize every inch of your skin~"

Yan Qingqiu stared blankly. After this whole series of events, she couldn't exactly say she was red-faced—it was more accurate to say there wasn't a spot on her that wasn't red. She had no room to retreat, her throat tight, a surge of heat shooting straight to the top of her head. She raised her voice, "What are you looking at? Pick it up and get ready to scrub me later."