Chapter 4

It was eight in the evening, and the sky had darkened.

Yan Qingqiu had spent the entire day searching for clues in the house. She hadn't rummaged blindly—first, she'd found her phone, bank card, and ID.

With these three things, she could figure out everything she needed to know and survive in this world properly.

Name: Yan Qingqiu

Gender: Female Alpha

Age: 24

This was an ABO game. Everyone had a third gender. Alphas had the strongest mental fortitude and were dominant; Betas were average, with no pheromones and no ability to sense others'.

Song Qingre was definitely an Alpha—that much was beyond doubt. She had a fragrant scent, citrusy, and just smelling it felt pleasant.

Yan Qingqiu lifted her hand to sniff herself. She didn't have much of a scent on her. She still didn't know what her own smelled like—she'd need to get a checkup to confirm later.

She didn't know the bank card password. She'd tried a couple of times but couldn't guess it. That wasn't urgent either; she could just get it reissued later. Her phone could be unlocked with her fingerprint. She opened the messaging app to see how "she" talked to others, judging her social circle and her relationships with the people around her.

She'd managed to sort out the relationships among the three of them. She and Song Qingre were neighbors. Fu Ye and Song Qingre were classmates—she was a year behind both of them. Fu Ye had always liked Song Qingre. Song Qingre had stellar grades, and Fu Ye had harbored feelings since high school, sending her flowers, fighting for her, watching over her.

The two of them were a match made in heaven—that was what the whole internet said.

The descriptions of the two online were very clear. Song Qingre's background was the standard Female Lead setup: blessed by the heavens, parents both in business. But then a plane crash killed her parents, her family fell into decline, and she was sent to live with relatives who beat and scolded her—a textbook pitiable heroine. Devastated, she'd gone abroad for university, and Fu Ye chased her all the way there. Later, Fu Ye suddenly returned home, and the rumor was that Song Qingre had rejected him.

As for "Yan Qingqiu," she was deeply in love with Fu Ye. She'd chased after him endlessly, showering him with affection, trying to heal his wounds, shamelessly pestering him no matter how many times he refused.

Fu Ye rejected her every time, never giving her face, yet she kept clinging to him. Everybody knew it—she was madly in love with Fu Ye.

Eventually, Fu Ye, as if a god descending, lowered his head to the little princess, and the two entered a romantic relationship.

Lower his head, my ass!

"Yan Qingqiu," how could you be so spineless, so pathetic!

Look at your face, look at your wealth—you could have anyone you wanted. If you really couldn't get over him, you could've had someone throw dog shit at Fu Ye, and the next day you'd forget him completely.

Just then, a "ding" sounded in her mind.

System: 【Congratulations, character relationships unlocked! Plot progression at 30%. Keep it up! Reach 50% to receive a reward!】

Yan Qingqiu sniffed.

She felt a little smug inside. She didn't think this was enough though—she still needed to understand what had happened between her and Song Qingre, what their past was like.

She asked: 【What kind of specific rewards are there? Anything that can keep me alive?】

System: 【Rest assured, of course there are. And there will also be other unexpected little tools~ Keep unlocking the plot.】

Trash game.

Still, Yan Qingqiu had already thought of a new approach. She called the butler from her room; he answered on the first floor. "Miss, is there anything you need?"

"Bring up some fruit. And find some time to write up everything that happened between me and Song Qingre in the past—every last detail. I want to read it."

The butler was silent for a few minutes before saying, "That might not be possible to finish. There's too much between the two of you. What do you need it for?"

He had a feeling this wasn't heading anywhere good.

"Tell you what—write one chapter every day, and give it to me as soon as it's done. I want to see a chapter tomorrow. I'll give you a raise." Yan Qingqiu said seriously.

The butler nodded. "Alright."

After hanging up, he sighed softly. Ah, Miss really knows how to make a fuss.

By now, Yan Qingqiu was so sleepy her eyelids were fighting. Still, she didn't waste time. She grabbed a piece of paper and, from memory, wrote out the personality selection questions from before.

A: Gentle and moving (gentle older sister *longing to be embraced*) B: Dark and insane (the slightest upset, and your parents and you all disappear) C: High and mighty flower (the cold moon, viewable but untouchable) D: Passionate, wavy-haired, long-legged older sister (all the thrills you crave, she has them)

The latter two didn't seem that dangerous.

Forget A—just look at B. It gave her chills just thinking about it. If that plotline triggered, would she end up with her family destroyed and dead? That was the typical fate of a vicious supporting female character.

This plot absolutely could not be triggered.

Song Qingre was clearly a very dangerous woman.

If she had a relationship with her—I mean, could she take the Female Lead's place, steal her away, and claim the top spot herself?

Then the question was: could she handle the Female Lead?

Yan Qingqiu looked at the choices she'd written down again. A, B, C, D...

Forget it. Yan Qingqiu tried to recall what other strange multiple-choice or fill-in-the-blank questions she might have answered, and found she couldn't remember at all. Thinking harder just gave her a headache.

Finally, the sound of a car came from outside. This area was quiet; you'd see maybe a few cars in a whole day. Yan Qingqiu listened, guessing Song Qingre had arrived. She hurriedly threw the paper into the trash, tearing it into shreds first so no one would pick it up and see.

The car drove past the gate. The butler, dutifully still awake, went over and opened the courtyard door, inviting Song Qingre in before she could get out of the car.

Song Qingre was still in the same outfit as during the day, standing in the yard like water, like moonlight.

Yan Qingqiu had already figured out during the day that Song Qingre had indeed slept at the Yan residence. She'd just returned to the country and her own place wasn't ready yet, so the Yan family, out of neighborliness, had let her stay.

As for why Song Qingre had ended up in Yan Qingqiu's room, and what had happened in between—only the two of them knew that.

Yan Qingqiu cursed the System inwardly. Everyone might not know, but it didn't either!

"She's been well-behaved all day, staying at home," the butler said to Song Qingre in the yard. "You should go check on her. She probably hasn't gone to sleep yet."

Song Qingre gave a slight nod.

The butler kept singing Yan Qingqiu's praises. "She's probably afraid you'll know she's waiting for you—she even cleaned her room top to bottom."

Soon, the courtyard door closed automatically, and the butler politely invited her upstairs. Yan Qingqiu listened to the footsteps as Song Qingre walked step by step to the door. She quickly dove into bed, picked up a book, and lay back, arranging her pose.

One second, two seconds, three!

Wait—why hadn't she come in yet?

Yan Qingqiu felt something was off and climbed out of bed. Standing by the window, she saw Song Qingre carrying a suitcase out of the living room.

She's not leaving, is she?

Yan Qingqiu shouted down at her, "Where are you going?"

Song Qingre turned her head toward the voice and said, "To a hotel. I've already found one to stay at—I won't impose any longer."

"Butler, hold her suitcase." Yan Qingqiu ordered. There was no way she could let her leave—if she couldn't find her tomorrow, she'd be done for.

The butler walked over and tried to persuade her, taking Song Qingre's suitcase. He gave a slight bow and made a gesture of invitation.

His manner was like he was forcibly hauling her in. "Miss Song, if you please."

Song Qingre stood for a few seconds, then turned around. This time she came upstairs quickly. She knocked on the door, and since it wasn't latched, it opened on its own. Looking at the person inside, she asked, "You've been waiting for me?"

Yan Qingqiu didn't answer the question. She said, "What did you come back for? Just the suitcase?"

Song Qingre glanced at her, saying nothing.

Yan Qingqiu crossed her legs again, watching Song Qingre's unreadable half-smile. It was hard to tell what she was thinking. Then, out of nowhere, she recalled that "gentle older sister" thing again.

It felt like the woman's attributes were still loading. Either she'd push her down directly, or she'd finish her off outright.

Song Qingre took a step forward and pushed the door shut. The light from outside was cut off, and the room's own light grew brighter, slightly stinging the eyes.

She leaned against the door, her smile not particularly strong, as if asking Yan Qingqiu: what do you mean, keeping me here?

Yan Qingqiu had no answer. She was just thinking about completing her task.

"Who knows if you'd go out to secretly meet someone?"

Good question. It tested whether the two of them had a relationship beyond neighbors, and whether she still had any thoughts of getting back together with the Male Lead.

If they did have a relationship beyond neighbors, she'd have no choice but to explain, to coax her with flirtatious words; or, alternatively, she'd furiously curse at her...

"Qiuqiu cares about me so much—that's rare." Song Qingre suddenly let out a soft laugh, her tone gentler. She asked, "You haven't showered yet?"

"..."

She'd actually changed the subject, and so smoothly.

"Do you want to go first, or should I?" Song Qingre asked again.

Yan Qingqiu bit her lip, dying of nerves. Without meaning to, her leg gave a little tremble—just as Song Qingre happened to catch it. Their eyes met.

Yan Qingqiu's heart hammered wildly. She felt like she'd been caught.

What was going on? It felt like a sword was hanging over her neck.

But Song Qingre simply walked over and sat on the edge of the bed.

The ornate mirror beside the bed reflected the two of them just then. Yan Qingqiu turned her head slightly and saw Song Qingre, body turned, watching her. She sat there for only a few seconds before asking, "Want me to help you take your shoes off?"

So direct.

Yan Qingqiu's ankles were burning. This felt completely different from when the butler helped her with her shoes during the day.

"No need." Even her toes were burning where they touched the floor.

Song Qingre let out a laugh. She rose, took a wet wipe from nearby, and wiped her fingers. "I thought you were going to make things difficult for me for a while."

Yan Qingqiu said, "In a bad mood. Too lazy to bother."

She got straight off the bed and slipped her feet back into her slippers. Crossing her arms, she edged carefully toward the window. "Whatever you lost, hurry up and find it."

Song Qingre sat back down on the bed, her gaze fixed on Yan Qingqiu. Her fingers tightened on the bedsheet, her expression seeming to say: "I lost you."

Yan Qingqiu felt a tingle running through her, savoring the tease even as she was terrified out of her wits.

"Don't you try to fool me." Yan Qingqiu shot back ambiguously. She could tell Song Qingre was deliberately not being explicit.

Song Qingre said, "I'll tell you a secret. Do you want to hear it?"

Yan Qingqiu said nothing.

"The clothes you wore out today—they were my pajamas."

Yan Qingqiu's eyes slowly widened.

When she'd put them on, the fabric had felt soft and thin, the straps delicate, and the neckline low-cut. She'd worn a tube top underneath... The tube top couldn't be Song Qingre's, could it? It had felt pretty fitted. She'd tied the sash, and it seemed like an ordinary princess dress—just more sexy than cute.

Yan Qingqiu didn't speak.

Her mind went blank. She quickly added, "You think I didn't know? I wore it on purpose, just to piss you both off."

Song Qingre said, "Fu Ye has never seen what my pajamas look like."

Yan Qingqiu's toes curled against the floor. Damn it, damn it.

Song Qingre wasn't just a little dangerous. She was very, very dangerous.

Song Qingre said, "Do you need me to help you take them off?"

"You're way too casual, always offering to undress people?"

"Who asked me to be Qiuqiu's little slave?"

"!"

Song Qingre's voice was soft, indulgent—like she was genuinely helpless, or like she was just teasing.

Song Qingre sat at the edge of the bed and asked gently, "Or... do you want me to carry you to the bath?"

Her attitude was so respectful, like even more attentive service than the butler's. Yan Qingqiu wanted to say no with all her might, but—but—

Suddenly, a thought clicked in Yan Qingqiu's mind. That word she'd been given earlier... Could Song Qingre be her slave? A sex slave? That kind of thing—specifically to satisfy her.

The term definitely wasn't proper.

"Do you need it?" Song Qingre asked.

Yan Qingqiu had already planned her future today. All she had to do was: hold the persona, raise the Female Lead's affection, and survive at all costs.

It's over, it's over.

Yan Qingqiu really wanted it.

Yan Qingqiu's lustful heart was pretty big. She raised an eyebrow. "Can you even carry me?"

Yan Qingqiu felt like she'd thrown all her face away.

Not only perverted, but lecherous too.

Her cheeks were heating up, but she was also a little scared—what if she got "taken out" instead?

Song Qingre smiled.

Stick your neck out—“chop”—one slice.

Yan Qingqiu thought it over, then looked up and said, "Yes."

"Carry me."

Song Qingre was actually stunned for a second.

Probably hadn't expected Yan Qingqiu to be this brave.

Song Qingre said, "Then lie down on the bed and get ready."

Yan Qingqiu closed her eyes, adopting the look of someone waiting to be carried. Then she smelled a rich scent—Song Qingre's natural fragrance. Strangely, her body began to heat up, especially her neck—hot and burning.

They said Alphas and Alphas repel each other. This must be that feeling.

Yan Qingqiu couldn't take it—it was too fragrant. She snapped her eyes open, and Song Qingre was right in front of her. She cowered backward and said, "So slow. I'll just go in myself. You wait here—I'll change and give your clothes back. It's just some old rags; who'd want them anyway."

Song Qingre caught her hand and pressed her shoulder. "Since you said yes, I'll still carry you over."

"I'm this big, you—"

Song Qingre's hand slid to her waist, seeming ready to lift her. "Can't help it. I'm an Alpha. Born strong."

"!"

"Me too!"

Yan Qingqiu wrenched her hand free and fled into the bathroom. Inside, she gnashed her teeth in self-loathing, pressing her forehead against the wall and knocking it lightly. Yan Qingqiu, you shameless wretch.

She quickly changed out of the clothes and neatly folded them. She'd wash them tomorrow and give them back to Song Qingre. Her heart was pounding like thunder. She glanced at her undergarments—that bra couldn't be hers too, right?

When she got up this morning, she'd just grabbed a set.

Did that mean they'd slept together last night?

Yan Qingqiu took a shower. Since she hadn't brought clothes in, she didn't dare call out. Fortunately, there was a clean towel inside. She washed up and wrapped herself in it before coming out—only to find Song Qingre was nowhere in the room.

She left?

Then where was she supposed to find her tomorrow?

Yan Qingqiu hurried out the door and shouted to the butler, "Where did Miss Song go? Why did you let her leave? Did she say where she was going?"

The butler answered from the living room downstairs. Just then, the door to the next room opened—she turned her head, and out stepped Song Qingre.

Her hair was pinned up, the tips still damp and wispy. So she hadn't been waiting in the bedroom—she'd gone next door to shower.

Yan Qingqiu turned back into her own room, a hint of awkwardness on her face. "You—come over here. Sleep together."

Yan Qingqiu got into bed first. Song Qingre glanced at her, and Yan Qingqiu pointed to the empty spot on the bed. "Lie down!"

First day after transmigrating, and she was already sharing a bed with the Female Lead—completely bare, even. And she still had no idea what had happened in between.

She'd made up her mind: she'd wake up in the middle of the night, act like the pervert again, and kiss Song Qingre wildly until she suffocated.

She drifted into a dazed sleep, her neck growing hotter and hotter. An indescribable feeling crept over her—she couldn't help wanting to tear her clothes off. It was unbearable.

Yan Qingqiu let out an unconscious moan, her long legs kicking out from under the covers. She parted her lips to breathe. In the dark, her body began to heat and sweat. She tried to wake herself up, but she couldn't escape the feverish state.

At some point, she felt a hand resting on her waist. A woman's warm body pressed against hers, something even rubbing against her shoulder.

A fingertip pressed at the spot on her neck, kneading it gently.

So comfortable.

But there was one place Yan Qingqiu really wanted to say was still uncomfortable.

"Where?" The voice landed in her ear, hot.

"My leg..."

It wasn't clear enough. Too shameful—her subconscious wouldn't let her say it.

When she woke again, it was broad daylight. The other side of the bed was empty.

Song Qingre was gone. And she was still bare, not a thread on her.

God.