Chapter 43

Yan Qingqiu unconsciously sat down in Song Qingre's wife's seat. She didn't feel uncomfortable; instead, she began to enjoy the position, her gaze resting on Song Qingre's cheeks as she poured her some juice.

Song Qingre treated her with extreme gentleness, her eyes full of tender affection.

Yan Qingqiu didn't drink alcohol. She took a sip of the sweet and sour juice, then picked up her knife and fork to cut her steak. Because of excessive nervousness, she failed several times.

She didn't want the person across from her to notice her awkwardness, so she just held her cup and drank juice.

"Give it to me," Song Qingre said softly.

"No need to feed me mouth-to-mouth. I'm thirsty," Yan Qingqiu said.

Song Qingre chuckled lightly. "It's the steak."

Yan Qingqiu didn't understand what she wanted with the steak, but she did as she was told. She pushed the steak over and watched as Song Qingre cut it up with her knife and fork, then pushed it back. Yan Qingqiu suddenly realized—she had seen her awkwardness and was helping to ease it. How gentle.

Yan Qingqiu picked up her utensils and ate slowly.

Her empty stomach was filled with food, and she felt much more comfortable.

In the flickering candlelight, Yan Qingqiu finished the steak, but she was still not full. She ate a little more dessert. Song Qingre finished eating and rested her chin on her hand, watching her.

It was as if she could never tire of looking at her. Under such gentle attention, Yan Qingqiu ate more and more. Song Qingre reminded her, "Don't stuff yourself. If you end up in the hospital, you'll be the first person to get hospitalized from a date meal. How embarrassing would that be?"

Yan Qingqiu stopped eating. Song Qingre had someone come up to clear the table. Yan Qingqiu stood stiffly nearby, and Song Qingre said, "Look out the window."

Following her words, Yan Qingqiu looked outside. The hotel Song Qingre had booked was relatively remote, perfect for a date. She had driven an hour and a half herself, then circled the hotel for another half hour. Thinking back on her own rush over, it seemed like she had been lost the whole time, even though she clearly knew the address.

The more she circled, the clearer it became—the more she got lost, the more she wanted to reach the destination.

A rebellious spirit.

By the time she snapped back to reality, she was at the hotel entrance. Now, snapping back again, she was watching the hotel scenery with Song Qingre.

There weren't many stars in autumn; they were all wrapped in the moon's silver veil. The most beautiful sight was the moon itself. Today happened to be a first quarter moon, curving toward the west, a thin crescent that looked incredibly sharp.

"Go take a shower," Song Qingre said.

Yan Qingqiu walked a few steps into the bathroom, then stopped as soon as she saw the setup. Even though she rarely stayed in hotels and her knowledge was limited, she recognized this was a couple's massage bathtub—a large round tub, not too big, not too small. If two people soaked together, they could cuddle up in all kinds of ways.

She caught on quickly and asked, "So... should I test out the bathtub's effect for your wife?"

"Mm..." Song Qingre didn't refute it. She expressed her gratitude and said, "Thank you. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't know what to do."

There really was that thrilling sense of moral transgression. Luckily they were both single—otherwise, she, the matchmaker, would be the one getting into the bath with the other person's spouse. How sinful. Sigh, wife, wife... where are you? Come catch us. I'm taking a bath with your wife.

Yan Qingqiu had a sense of shame, but not much. She chose to turn around and take off her dress. She lifted her leg and stepped into the bathtub. Song Qingre helped her fill the water beside her, and the warm stream slowly rose past her calves and chest.

She told herself not to panic. Before, Song Qingre had always sat on the shore and watched her—many times. She had seduced her, and she never moved.

Sometimes Yan Qingqiu didn't understand what Song Qingre was enduring. She shouldn't be called Song Xiaore; she should be called Song Endurance.

Steam billowed, the temperature slightly higher than her body.

Yan Qingqiu squinted and lay on the edge of the tub. There was a rustling sound beside her—Song Qingre was tearing open some packaging. Yan Qingqiu tilted her head to look, thinking it might be condoms. She quickly realized her thoughts were ahead of time—she had imagined Song Qingre as too bold. What Song Qingre tore open was the hotel-provided special dried flowers for bathing.

Yan Qingqiu asked curiously, "What's that for? Isn't clean water clearer and easier to see?"

The water surface was crystal clear. Her fingers rested on it and gently poked, her fingertips skimming across the water, creating ripples that spread outward.

"Mm... it feels nice."

Yan Qingqiu looked at Song Qingre again. Song Qingre hadn't even gotten in yet, but she nodded in agreement.

Song Qingre didn't fuss with it anymore. She put down the dried flowers, but knowing Yan Qingqiu's personality well, she grabbed a handful for her to play with.

Song Qingre was still like before, sitting sideways on the edge of the bathtub watching her, her long legs neatly together. She gazed at Yan Qingqiu with tender affection, her eyes as warm as the bathwater, unable to hide it.

Before she sat down, Yan Qingqiu deliberately acted mischievously. She purposely made the edge of the tub all wet. Now that Song Qingre sat down, her pants were definitely soaked.

Yan Qingqiu waited quietly for her to move. Song Qingre stayed perfectly still, not shifting at all. Originally leaning against the tub edge, Yan Qingqiu now changed direction, kneeling in the tub. She lay on the edge and pressed the dried flowers against Song Qingre's hand, then poured slightly hot water over her wrist.

"Come down and wash together. I think it's pretty comfortable. When your wife comes next time, will you just sit on the shore again?"

While pouring water over her hand, Yan Qingqiu looked up at her. If Song Qingre wanted, she could lower her head and bite her lips.

Yan Qingqiu pressed her lips together. She thought of a very cruel punishment from ancient times—pasting paper over a person's face and letting water droplets fall on it. At first, unnoticed, but as the water slowly soaked the paper, it became saturated, and the facial features would be blocked by the thin paper, causing suffocation... Song Qingre's behavior was even worse than that punishment. If she made her wife soak alone in the future, wouldn't she feel thirsty? Wouldn't she feel suffocated?

"Had enough fun?" Song Qingre asked.

"Hmm?" Yan Qingqiu looked up at her.

Song Qingre said, "If you're done playing, I'll come down."

"Huh?" Yan Qingqiu froze, instinctively backing away. Her body in the water gradually grew cold. Wasn't Song Qingre supposed to be able to endure? Why was she...

Facing her surprise, Song Qingre's fingers undid the button of her wet suit pants. "Before, I didn't have a wife, so I was more reserved. Now that I have a wife, and you're willing to help me try things out, if I keep hiding... that wouldn't be normal."

She took off her suit pants, lifted her long leg, and stepped on them. "I'm afraid my future wife will think I'm not alpha enough, suspect I'm incapable. Also, I want you to check for me—could I charm my wife by soaking in the tub like this? When she sees me like this, would her heart wander?"

Then she stood in the tub, grabbed her sweater, and took off her top in the steaming water. Yan Qingqiu looked at Song Qingre's seemingly sculpted body—sexy and crossing the line, yet not too much. But her gaze landed on her lower abdomen. An inch below her waist was a scar about the length of a palm, very long, like a precision display frame for a work of art that had a crack running through it, defying aesthetics.

Yan Qingqiu felt a pang in her lower abdomen. Her gaze kept following the scar until Song Qingre submerged into the water, her body soaked.

"That spot... what happened?"

"What spot?" Song Qingre lowered her brows. The ripples around her eagerly swallowed her skin, wave after wave. She smiled at her with an ambiguous look in the warm, damp steam.

Yan Qingqiu's cheeks flushed. She lowered her head—indeed, everything was very clear under the water.

"The scar on your abdomen. Is that why you always wore clothes before?"

"Ah... half the reason."

"How did you get it?" Yan Qingqiu asked.

Song Qingre didn't speak. Yan Qingqiu flicked a finger, sending water droplets toward Song Qingre. Song Qingre still stayed silent. Yan Qingqiu, unable to hold back, continued splashing water at her, wetting her face. The tub was exactly sized for two people. She lifted her leg and kicked Song Qingre to make her answer. Song Qingre's body rose, and Yan Qingqiu immediately dared not move, afraid Song Qingre would retaliate.

Song Qingre said softly, "Once I ran into a robber. He demanded I hand over my treasure. I refused, so he stabbed me."

"You're an idiot. Why didn't you just give it to him? Then call the police and have him caught. You actually fought him for it."

Song Qingre's eyes held stubbornness. Her lashes trembled slightly, unable to meet the gaze across from her. "But that was my most precious thing—a treasure of this world. So I thought I'd try to fight for it. What if I could win it back? I've already lost too much. I have to win at least one thing back, don't I?"

Yan Qingqiu understood what she meant. Her parents had died, the person she loved no longer loved her. If even her money and treasures were gone, life couldn't continue. Song Qingre was trying hard to live. "Were you prepared to die together with him? You can't do that in the future. Even alone, you need to live well."

Song Qingre just smiled and didn't answer. She stepped on Yan Qingqiu a few times with her foot. Yan Qingqiu felt a bit uncomfortable, mumbling, "Does it hurt?"

"When Qiu Qiu says that... it doesn't hurt at all."

Yan Qingqiu hummed and soaked in the water. She told Song Qingre to stop stepping on her. Then her leg was grabbed. She didn't dare move, pretending not to notice, trying to block out the sensation.

She turned her face to look elsewhere. The movements beside her grew bolder—she came over directly and lay down on the same side as her. She had been staring at the bathroom door, but Song Qingre shifted to her side and held her shoulder. She turned her head to look at Song Qingre, then after a while, turned back again.

Song Qingre's coiled hair was dripping. Their lips touched each other. The bathwater splashed noisily, the surface rippling. They didn't separate. Song Qingre's fingers touched the back of her neck. Yan Qingqiu turned over and sat back, pressing down on that scar. The water overflowed, splattering onto the floor with a crackling sound...

◆◆◆◆

The next morning, when Yan Qingqiu woke up, her head was fuzzy. Song Qingre was sleeping beside her, bare-shouldered, with several obvious red marks on her skin—probably the traces left by yesterday's bites spreading out.

Yan Qingqiu hadn't had a single drop of alcohol, but her head ached as if it were about to explode.

She was just wondering what had happened when Song Qingre, lying on her side beside her, spoke with a lazy, just-woke-up tone. "Maybe we soaked too long yesterday. That's why you're dizzy."

That had been a while.

Yan Qingqiu checked the time—good, it was seven. She wouldn't be late for work. She was about to get up, but then she thought: her clothes were soaked through. What should she do?

She turned to look at Song Qingre. Song Qingre was already prepared and said, "It's fine. Someone will bring clothes soon."

Song Qingre was thorough in her preparations. When the knock came at the door, Yan Qingqiu's mind wandered wildly—if Song Qingre really had a wife, wouldn't they be caught in bed right now? She pulled the blanket over her face, then lay back down. Thrilling.

With the System offline, Yan Qingqiu felt like she could run wild.

Song Qingre came back with the clothes, placing them by the bed. "Wear these first. I'll take you out to eat later."

"Mm-hm," Yan Qingqiu nodded.

She tried to put on her bra under the covers but couldn't get it on after several attempts. She slowly emerged. Song Qingre dressed quickly—by the time she came out, her sweater was already on. Catching sight of Yan Qingqiu's struggle, Song Qingre walked over and fastened the hook at her back.

Yan Qingqiu felt the chill of her fingers. She got dressed, and the two of them went to the bathroom to freshen up together. She didn't dare look in the mirror—yesterday, in front of the mirror, they hadn't been as polite as they were today.

She followed Song Qingre out. Song Qingre packed up yesterday's clothes and had the concierge send them to the dry cleaner, who would deliver them directly to their home.

Song Qingre held a pen and wrote something. Yan Qingqiu tilted her head to look—her signature was now much more cursive, unlike the rigid, straight style she had used before.

Deliver to home... would the butler accept it?

It seemed... too obvious.

The butler had too vivid an imagination. He might write about how the two of them hadn't returned that night, and only their disheveled clothes came back.

Ew.

But delivering to the company was even worse.

As she was lost in thought, Song Qingre capped the pen. "Let's go. You must be hungry." Yan Qingqiu nodded.

In the morning, commuters were everywhere. The streets were bustling with traffic. The morning wind blew with a chill, and shops on both sides of the street competed to puff out clouds of warm steam.

Customers were nearly crowding onto the road, and most pedestrians walked sideways.

Song Qingre turned the steering wheel, occasionally glancing out the window to ask if she wanted to eat. Yan Qingqiu shook her head. She saw that Song Qingre's navigation had a destination set—they'd eat there directly.

Song Qingre took her to a Hong Kong-style restaurant for breakfast. She didn't know if it was pre-booked, but there were many people waiting outside, and only they walked straight in to eat.

The food suited her taste. Yan Qingqiu felt like she had eaten here once before.

After a full meal, they left. Song Qingre ordered a hot pearl milk tea for her to take, then drove her to the company. Even though they'd been together the whole time, Song Qingre still took out a bouquet of sunflowers from the trunk and gave them to her.

"See you later?"

Yan Qingqiu was about to faint from the sweetness. When Song Qingre's gaze met hers, she panicked, unable to hide, completely unable to look at Song Qingre.

See you later to your wife? Don't we have a wife in between us?

"Hope I can see my wife next time?" Song Qingre added.

Yan Qingqiu nodded. Wife really was a good excuse.

She let out a deep sigh of relief.

They parted ways. Yan Qingqiu carried the flowers upstairs, and the System popped up right then—or more precisely, after she went upstairs and watched Song Qingre's car drive away, the System successfully came online. When she was alone with Song Qingre, the System couldn't jump out and be a third wheel.

System: 【What exactly did you two do yesterday?】

Yan Qingqiu briefly savored the events in the bath and the quiet peace of breakfast. She took a sip of milk tea and ate a soft pearl.

There were many models in the company. Yan Qingqiu squeezed into the elevator, feeling like everyone was much taller than her. There was also a chill in the air—these models were wearing very little, while she wore a sweater and a warm yellow coat today.

The System jabbed at her brain. Yan Qingqiu snapped back: 【Just took a bath. Nothing else.】

System: 【She washed you?】

Yan Qingqiu: 【I washed her too.】

System: 【No crossing lines? No hands? No touching?】

Yan Qingqiu: 【Mm, no.】

But she used her whole body to scrub. So much foam.

Song Qingre even said she scrubbed well—had stamina, had strength.

Damn, she was about to blush.

System: 【Good. Better not cross too many lines.】

Yan Qingqiu still felt a little regret that she hadn't seen Song Qingre's ring. But that made sense—the ring was for her wife to see.

Outsiders weren't allowed to see it.

She felt uncomfortable, just uncomfortable, really uneasy.

System: 【So you spent the night with Song Qingre?】

Yan Qingqiu hummed: 【Her wife didn't come. I drank juice.】

Yan Qingqiu kept drinking milk tea, and kept drinking. When she reached her floor, she stepped out, her face hot.

System: 【Host, if you cross the line, it's very easy to enter heat. When that happens, the task will come, and I'll be blocked, unable to help you.】

It's not like you ever helped me.

Yan Qingqiu snorted coldly. She now felt that every word the System said was a lie. Maybe if the System were blocked, she wouldn't even enter heat.

But she still needed to put on a show. She performed with great emotion: 【No way. System, you have to help me then. If I die, what will you do? Where else will you find a strategist as smart as me?】

The System didn't respond, probably speechless.

After finishing her act, Yan Qingqiu felt disgusted with herself. She said: 【By the way, can you actually get fixed? Why have you been so unresponsive lately?】

The System was clearly angry at this, and there was an obvious sound of electric current.

But it was unwilling to say. Yan Qingqiu guessed it had tampered with her memories about the 365 wives. The System now thought she remembered nothing, so it didn't want to—and couldn't—mention why it had glitched.

Hehe, I crashed you, didn't I? Suffer in silence.

What would you call this? Serves you right!

Really, serves you right!

Yan Qingqiu wished she could buy a loudspeaker and blow it right in its face!

First crying, then fussing, then threatening suicide—a widow tending her husband's grave while laughing at a photo of his whole family.

Yan Qingqiu wasn't stupid enough to gloat. She was afraid the System would delete her memories again. She needed to find a way to completely crash the System a second time.

【If you keep crashing like this, how am I supposed to do my tasks? How am I supposed to collect plot points?】

Yan Qingqiu sighed and complained a few lines: 【Before, you'd remind me, and I'd know which way to go. Now I'm completely in the dark, with no idea what to do. At this rate, I'm thinking of finding someone to fall in love with and just live a good life. Is Song Qingre affecting you? Ah Tong, you're not talking now, so I understand—I really can't do this without you! Come back, Ah Tong!】

Hilarious.

Without you, I don't know how much freer I am. I don't have to worry about accidentally triggering the plot or entering heat. I can cross lines all I want, all shy and flustered!

The System could only respond with the same line: 【Host, please don't worry. We are currently investigating the bug and repairing it. This is just a small issue—just normal data fluctuation and game updates. Soon I will be upgraded to a more advanced AI to serve you in all aspects.】

See, lying.

Last time, it clearly said it had glitched because it couldn't identify which one was Song Qingre.

However, Yan Qingqiu felt she needed to be cautious. If the System really did update some advanced features—like increasing the intensity of zapping her brain—Yan Qingqiu might really not be able to take it.

Yan Qingqiu held back: 【Fine, I'll wait for you.】

The System also replied with a smile: 【To avoid affecting the plot, I can give you direction. For the remaining 50% of the plot points, you can...】

Yan Qingqiu interrupted: 【Oh right, I don't know if it's my brain acting up, but I feel like I exchanged something back then. What did I get for my 50% reward?】

The System lied without batting an eye: 【You forgot? You didn't exchange anything and it expired. I kept reminding you about it. Host, don't do this next time ≈ This was a benefit I worked hard to get for you. Such a waste. Really such a shame ≈】

Yan Qingqiu cursed the System countless times in her heart. The System was truly vicious—recycling the 365 wives, wiping her memory, and even... pushing the blame onto her, saying the reward expired.

The System seemed to be testing her too: 【If the host really wants it, I can file another report with the higher-ups. Next time, I'll apply for 365 little toys for you ≈ Guaranteed to make you happy, make you joyful ≈】

No thanks.

I have psychological trauma from your rewards.

Yan Qingqiu: 【When I can't get by one day, I'll come exchange with you, then open a sex shop and live beautifully. I'll support you then! I think you're not bad at heart!】

【...】

The System was rendered speechless by her. It was silent for a moment, then continued the previous topic: 【If the host wants to accumulate new plot points, I suggest you go through Fu Ye's storyline～ Some plots are related to him.】

Yan Qingqiu replied with a simple "Got it."

Her attitude was extremely dismissive, but it was enough to deal with the System.

She remembered the last plot point—she had pushed it to where "she" called Song Qingre a pervert, and the System immediately popped up to give her a reward.

She had even doubted it for a while... Song Qingre being a pervert?

Not likely. The System must be slandering her.

Yan Qingqiu entered the office and immediately turned on her computer. She put the milk tea aside and arranged the sunflowers nicely. Just looking at them improved her mood. She sprayed the flowers with a little mist, then looked at the flickering reminder in the bottom right corner of the screen. It beeped, the avatar bouncing constantly, looking abnormal somehow. She moved the mouse over—it was Song Qingre's avatar jumping. What did she want?

She rested her chin on her hand, not in a hurry to read. After waiting a minute, she opened it.

Song Qingre: 【I got two opera tickets. Want to go tonight?】

Yan Qingqiu lowered her head and enlarged the font to read. She typed slowly, tapping with two fingers.

After staring for a long time, she clicked send: 【Not meeting your wife today?】

She regretted it the moment she sent it. Probing like this could easily backfire, but people were always testing their luck again and again.

Song Qingre: 【You helped me so much yesterday and worked so hard. Today I'm taking you. No wife today.】

Yan Qingqiu was a little touched. She rested her chin on her hand—her status was very high right now, ranked above Song Qingre's wife. Her fingers tapped randomly on the keyboard. Even her assistant noticed she was in a good mood and asked if her teacher had praised her. Yan Qingqiu said, "Something like that."

Song Qingre sent her a photo—the story of a princess and a mermaid. Yan Qingqiu had seen the movie musical before, but she had fallen asleep watching it. She typed honestly that she wasn't a big fan and might fall asleep. The picture showed two beautiful women, one sitting on a rock, the other wrapping her arms around her neck. She zoomed in and found a corpse on the beach. She leaned closer to the screen and saw the crown on the person's head. The prince was killed? Nice, that's exciting.

She deleted what she was about to type and rewrote it: 【Mm, I'll come see it.】

Song Qingre: 【There's an extra ticket. Want to call a friend? If you do, I'll buy another one.】

Yan Qingqiu: 【No need. Xing Xing's been busy lately—she's preparing for the Winter Show.】 She added after sending: 【I'm participating too. My debut.】

She couldn't help but cough. Heh.

After confirming the meeting time, Yan Qingqiu still went to ask Su Xingjie. She felt like Su Xingjie had been buried in work lately. Her secretary said Su Xingjie wasn't in the company—she had gone to Wilderness and wouldn't be back until evening. Su Xingjie wanted to win this Winter Show and be the organizer. ER had designed an entire collection for it. If they won, they could control the show's style, have an advantage in promoting models, and ER's reputation would rise.

Yan Qingqiu went back and sent Su Xingjie a message: 【Thanks, babe. When you're done, I'll treat you to a big meal!】

Su Xingjie replied quickly: 【Thanks, babe. Work is something I enjoy. Can't wait to see Qiu Bao on the runway!】

Yan Qingqiu, the salted fish, was moved. She was even more serious in the afternoon class, and had basically mastered the model's stage walk and posture—she was a qualified model now. The teacher said she'd try the company's runway tomorrow, but most of the shows she'd do in the future wouldn't have a runway; wherever the organizer set up, that's where she'd walk.

Yan Qingqiu was quick to accept and serious. The annoying part was the System, which kept interrupting her every now and then, asking who Song Qingre's wife was and whether she had ever met her.

Yan Qingqiu thought: Annoying. Song Qingre isn't even rushing me, but you keep nagging, nagging, nagging. Where am I supposed to find her a wife?

System: 【If you have the chance, you should go meet her wife!】

Yan Qingqiu: 【Aren't you the System? Just pull up her wife's file and take a look yourself. Faster than asking me?】

The System was silent for a long time. Then it said, 【I can't find any information on her status.】

Yan Qingqiu: "!!!"

This was big news. You don't know her whereabouts? You've lost contact with the female lead?

So if I secretly get married and register with the female lead, you'd know nothing, and the game would crash completely? Hahaha, brilliant!

The System added: 【We can't contact her directly, but we can infer through other information. After all, she still needs to socialize. Please also stabilize the plot and collect plot points. We'll give you new rewards accordingly later, like helping you unlock character affinity displays, or lottery numbers, to help you reach the top.】

Yan Qingqiu said: 【Alright then, I'll go meet her wife today.】

Material wealth at the top didn't appeal to her much. She couldn't use the game's money in the real world anyway. But if some kind of comfort could reach the peak, thanks, love it, love it...

Before leaving work in the evening, Yan Qingqiu texted the butler that she wouldn't be home for dinner again tonight. The butler replied with a receipt and forwarded the message to Yan Fu. Yan Fu, about to start a meeting in the company, glanced at the computer screen and let out a heavy sigh. "Out at night again. Sigh, more and more wild."

The opera was scheduled to start at seven-thirty. Yan Qingqiu got off work at five. She drove to the theater early and then watched the clock, which moved painfully slow.

She sat in the car until her butt went numb. She felt she had arrived too early, and she was embarrassed to text Song Qingre, as if she cared too much about this date.

But sitting around was boring, so Yan Qingqiu drove around aimlessly. She thought about going to find Su Xingjie and hanging out with her, but when she looked back, she saw a car following her.

Yan Qingqiu drove back to the theater entrance and parked. She rolled down her window to look back, but realized that move was too dangerous. She got out of the car and walked over to the flashy red Ferrari.

"Come out and talk. Why are you always following me?" Yan Qingqiu was speechless. If you're going to tail someone, at least switch to a low-profile car.

"Why are you driving so slow? I'm worried a traffic cop will give you a ticket," Luo Xi said without getting out, maintaining some distance, clearly disgusted by her speed.

Yan Qingqiu rolled her eyes at her.

Luo Xi said irritably, "My brother asked me to keep an eye on you."

"So all our previous meetings were you deliberately following me?"

Of course not. She just started today. Luo Xi was furious and ready to snap back—How narcissistic. Who's stalking you for no reason?

Just as she was about to speak, she heard Yan Qingqiu say gloomily, "You scared me. I thought you had a crush on me and kept manufacturing coincidences. I was all nervous just now."

Luo Xi was stunned by that. For a moment, she couldn't get the breath out of her nose. Fine, better to let her think she'd been following her all along than to explain.

Luo Xi said, "What are you standing here for? Why aren't you looking for Song Qingre?"

"Mind your own business. Just do your stalking job properly and don't get distracted."

"..." Sometimes Luo Xi felt Yan Qingqiu wasn't that annoying; other times, she found her really irritating.

Now that she'd been discovered, she planned to drive off directly. But seeing that Yan Qingqiu showed no sign of leaving—standing under the tree, hands in her coat pockets, looking leisurely—Luo Xi grew curious again and couldn't help asking, "What kind of play are you planning this time?"

"..."

Luo Xi said disdainfully, "My brother might come looking for you today. I hope you act normal then. Don't be disheveled and doing weird stuff—or if you do, at least be discreet."

Yan Qingqiu was getting a bit angry and wanted to fight her. Do I really seem that perverted to you? I told you, that jellyfish thing wasn't a play at all! No, no!

Explaining was just covering up. She closed her eyes and stayed silent.

"What are you doing now?" Luo Xi pressed her hand against the window, full of curiosity about Yan Qingqiu. Mainly because Fu Ye had told her to tail someone today, and her mind was muddled, so she couldn't help running over. She almost felt like she was being masochistic.

"When I open and close my eyes, someone who loves me will appear in my sight," Yan Qingqiu said seriously.

She opened her eyes—and it seemed to be Fu Ye.

Fu Ye's car drove over and stopped directly opposite the theater.

Damn, annoying.

Luo Xi laughed when she saw it.

After laughing, she noticed Yan Qingqiu had closed her eyes again. Yan Qingqiu said, "Sometimes heaven makes mistakes, you know. With billions of people, it's normal for it to slip up occasionally."

Yan Qingqiu kept opening and closing her eyes. Luo Xi frowned at her. Apart from her brother, there was no one else around. She said, "You're not waiting for someone who loves you. You're waiting for someone specific. You know who's coming, right?"

Yan Qingqiu's breath caught slightly, looking flustered at being seen through. "Who said that? I was just making an offhand comment."

"You obviously look like you're waiting for your person. Do you think I'm that stupid?" Luo Xi said.

"Everyone who likes Fu Ye is stupid," Yan Qingqiu said without any tact.

Luo Xi bit her lip, not wanting to argue. Instead, she said with a hint of pride, "I've already decided to let it go. We'll see who's stupid then." She gripped the steering wheel, drove a bit, then stopped. Thinking of Yan Qingqiu's words just now—open eyes, close eyes, then...

Maybe I should try too.

While she was lost in thought, Yan Qingqiu got back in her car. Yan Qingqiu didn't want to deal with Fu Ye. She drove off, and Luo Xi followed behind.

Not long after, the car stopped.

Ye Sichun appeared not far away, holding a bottle of water. Their eyes met, and Ye Sichun walked over. Her hair was half pulled up in a bun, the rest falling loosely on her shoulders. She wore a deep wine-colored top with both sleeves rolled up. She looked like Luo Xi had been wronged somewhere again. Ye Sichun stood for a few seconds, then walked to the window and asked, "Miss Luo, what's wrong? Crying again?"

"What are you doing here?" Luo Xi looked at her in panic.

Ye Sichun thought for a moment, then earnestly pointed to the sign beside her. "You... did you not park in front of my shop?" Seeing that she was genuinely flustered, and realizing she wasn't crying, Ye Sichun found her an excuse. "Um, are you here for a hair treatment?"

Luo Xi wanted to explain that she hadn't come here on purpose—she had followed Yan Qingqiu.

She couldn't speak. She looked up and saw the sign starting with "leaf." She was about to leave, but from the rearview mirror, she saw her brother's car. She looked back at Ye Sichun seriously, indulging in her beauty for a moment.

Luo Xi took a deep breath. Better, much better. Whatever her brother says to me later, I won't lose my head.

She turned the car around and slowly drove back. Yan Qingqiu hadn't returned; she was still standing at the shop entrance, staring off into space.

Yan Qingqiu was thinking—she had two hours. Should she do something to her hair? But an hour wasn't enough either. She couldn't miss the opera, after all.

Not long after, Yan Qingqiu drove back. Just then, she received a message.

Song Qingre: 【I'm here. Where are you?】

Yan Qingqiu parked. She sent a voice message: "At the main entrance. I'll honk."

She honked, and Song Qingre's car drove over, parking in the spot next to hers.

Song Qingre got out first and came to her side.

Yan Qingqiu pushed open the car door but didn't get out for a while, staring at the person before her in a daze. Soft light fell on her loose strands of hair. Song Qingre always wore her hair up, revealing her slender, fair neck, her face always half in shadow, making her look cold and sinister. Today, her hair ends fell to her chest, one side tucked behind her ear, revealing her striking profile—much gentler than her previous coldness.

The corners of her lips curved, softening the moonlight of the night.

"Why are you dressed... so beautifully today?" Yan Qingqiu asked.

Compared to her, Yan Qingqiu was dressed rather casually.

Song Qingre said softly, "On my way here, I ran into Ye Sichun. She told me that for a date, you should dress up well. If I just changed clothes like yesterday, it would feel like..."

Yan Qingqiu felt like she was about to say "not sincere enough." She gripped the bag at her waist tightly. She had gone there too, but was afraid of running out of time, so she didn't go in.

"...I couldn't express my passion," Song Qingre said. Her gentle smile didn't embarrass Yan Qingqiu. "I was too cold before. I changed to something more comfortable for you. How do I look?"

She wore a white sweater under a warm beige-toned coat.

Yan Qingqiu clutched her bag, feeling more and more like she was dressed like a schoolkid. The small shadows of trees cast on the ground, the multicolored light from LED billboards in the night, cars passing by them, and groups of friends and couples on the roadside walking arm in arm, chatting and laughing.

"Um..." Yan Qingqiu couldn't help speaking up.

"Hmm?" Song Qingre stopped. "What's wrong?"

"I'm sorry, I... I didn't think to dress up nicely. My hair's a mess too." Yan Qingqiu fiddled with her blonde hair. "Maybe I should go fix my hair?"

"It's fine," Song Qingre chuckled. A passing car blared its horn, half-drowning her voice. She waited for the car to pass before continuing. "I smelled the perfume on you. I smelled it yesterday too, so I thought I should dress up a bit more formally today."

Yan Qingqiu had indeed secretly sprayed perfume. She knew Song Qingre was trying to make her feel better, but she had to admit it worked. "I was... pretty dressed up yesterday. I think I look good even without getting done up."

Song Qingre hummed in acknowledgment and asked, "How long have you been here?"

"Just got here..."

Before she could finish, a horn sounded from the car beside her. Luo Xi stuck her head out and said, "She got here at five and was too embarrassed to tell you."

After speaking, Luo Xi retreated back inside. She was a bit smug, determined to trip Yan Qingqiu up and make her look bad.

Song Qingre looked at Luo Xi in confusion, then glanced around. Luo Xi showing up here probably meant Fu Ye was nearby.

Luo Xi called out again, "She opened and closed her eyes, saw my brother a few times, but insisted heaven was making a mistake. She says you're her one true love."

"Don't listen to her. She's not right in the head." Yan Qingqiu's head throbbed. She kicked her car door. "Luo Xi, are you crazy?"

Song Qingre hummed in response and smiled. She took Yan Qingqiu's arm and walked forward. Yan Qingqiu took a small step, still furious. Song Qingre walked upright and tall, and soon Yan Qingqiu bumped into her shoulder. "Why did you stop me earlier? I'd have torn her mouth apart."

Song Qingre's steps clearly paused. Yan Qingqiu's forehead pressed against her shoulder. "Did I hurt you?"

"No. I just had a delusion."

"What do you mean?"

Song Qingre smiled at the delusion of a promised soulmate. She continued walking, and Yan Qingqiu bumped her twice more, saying, "Do you know what this is called?"

"A calf bumping a person?" Song Qingre said.

"No culture. This is called 'bumping into a clear sky.'"

Song Qingre chuckled softly.

"A very clear autumn day, indeed."

Going out to watch an opera in the evening was a good decision. They couldn't see each other's faces in the dark, and being too close didn't feel too awkward.

She had come at five without eating dinner. Song Qingre took her to get some food. Yan Qingqiu followed behind her, and when Song Qingre's steps paused and her hand wrapped around her arm, Yan Qingqiu froze. Song Qingre said, "Afraid you'll move around and accidentally run into a car."

Yan Qingqiu was shy, so she said whatever came to mind: "Um, I think I saw Fu Ye today. Be careful. I think he's got his eye on you."

Just then, an angry car horn blared.

Song Qingre laughed. "Let him come. In the story of us two, he doesn't get a name."

Yan Qingqiu didn't walk properly—she was hopping and bouncing around. She didn't know why, but her heart was extremely excited. She either kicked roadside stones or tried to pull at leaves. If there weren't people around, she'd hug a tree and bump into it a dozen times.

Being protected by Song Qingre like this, she felt like a butterfly caught in a spider's web—unable to fly, sticky, her wings nearly torn.

The restaurant wasn't far away, on the third floor by the window.

Yan Qingqiu chose it herself. She couldn't stomach those high-end dishes, so she went straight to the griddled meat shop next door. They ordered a three-person set meal, with dipping sauce, for only 148! What a deal!

Yan Qingqiu cracked the egg custard into it, and when the meat and vegetables arrived, she started grilling. Song Qingre's seat faced the door, and she glanced at the entrance. Yan Qingqiu hung the shop's bib around her neck and reminded her to put one on too. "You're wearing white. You should wear it."

Song Qingre looked at her phone for a moment, then said apologetically, "Wait a moment. I'll go to the restroom."

"Hurry up, or the meat will get overcooked."

"Okay." Song Qingre got up and walked toward the restroom. As she passed the table at the back, her finger traced a line across the table—in that instant, her long, slender finger looked like a silent seduction.

Song Qingre had just stepped into the smoking room when Fu Ye followed her in. The little omega inside, catching the scent of two high-level alphas and the suppressed fury in the air, quickly put out his cigarette and left.

Cigarette butts were scattered on the floor of the smoking room, and the air was thick with smoke—completely at odds with an artist like Song Qingre. Fu Ye, on the other hand, smoked. Watching such a cool, aloof person walk into the haze made his fingers itch.

"I heard from Xiao Xi that you're getting married?"

Song Qingre held her phone, her thumb pressing the smart shortcut button on the left. She nodded, her tone neither warm nor cold, hard to read. "Yes. I think your opinion on this isn't important."

"Are you playing a trick on Qiu Qiu, or are you trying to spite me?" Fu Ye stared straight at her. Even now, he still couldn't believe Song Qingre would switch to liking Yan Qingqiu. If that were true, then she had been deceiving him all along—maybe she had actually loved Yan Qingqiu from the start.

That meant he'd been fooled from the very beginning.

Fu Ye refused to admit he'd been fooled from the start—that would make him look like an utter fool!

"You and Qiu Qiu won't be happy. You're both alphas," Fu Ye chose to lie, refusing to reveal the truth to Song Qingre, letting her think Yan Qingqiu was an alpha.

Song Qingre looked at him as well, as if that extra 1% compatibility was written on his face. She pressed the shortcut button, and the call went through instantly. On the other end, she called out helplessly, "Fu Ye."

Fu Ye was looking at her face and saw a tender affection in Song Qingre that was hard to let go of. He didn't notice her phone. The call ended. Fu Ye walked up to her. "Qingre, I think you're just swept off your feet. Maybe you've done some not-so-nice things, some green-tea or white-lotus acts, but I can forgive all that. Just don't get between me and Qiu Qiu anymore. I don't think Qiu Qiu would marry you."

At the mention of marriage, if Song Qingre got married, he would definitely crash the wedding. He absolutely wouldn't let those two be together. He might even exercise his 100% destiny rights early.

Fu Ye didn't want to burn bridges. He spoke kindly, persuading her: "Qingre, I still remember our past feelings. I won't hold some things against you. I've found out a lot of things about you recently. If you keep being stubborn, I'll—pfft."

Suddenly, a heavy punch landed on his abdomen, and the pain made his face contort. Song Qingre had punched him in the kidney. The force came down instantly, nearly shattering his organs. He suspected Song Qingre was trying to make him unable to function.

"What's going on?" Yan Qingqiu kicked the door open the moment she heard the commotion, her eyes full of worry and urgency. Her gaze landed on Song Qingre first.

She felt she had come too late to save the damsel. "Did he do something to you? Fu Ye, you bitch!"

Song Qingre stepped back, retreating to the corner. She held her wrist, which needed a moment to recover from the force she'd used. From Fu Ye's hunched-over angle, she had a thick smile on her lips—a sly, cunning smile of triumph. But when she looked up to face Yan Qingqiu, her expression changed.

Her brow furrowed slightly, as if she were in unbearable pain. Her gaze at Yan Qingqiu softened.

Her voice was cool but calm: "It's fine. Don't be angry. It's just a small matter."

Luckily nothing major happened. Yan Qingqiu let out a breath and walked over to her, checking her wrist. Fu Ye clutched his abdomen, his face pale with pain. He gritted his teeth. At least Song Qingre wasn't the type to play the victim—she was still his moonlight. It wasn't like he'd been foolish before.

"Are you sure you're okay? Your hand is red," Yan Qingqiu said worriedly.

Song Qingre leaned close to her ear and hummed, saying,

"No need to worry, wife. It's nothing big. He just wanted to cuckold you—said he wanted an affair with me."