Peeking

Two minutes later, Wei Yin let Xu Yaqing in.

A little embarrassed, Wei Yin handed her a glass of honey water. “Dr. Hua’s a little drunk. Could you help me get her to the bedroom?”

“I’m not drunk; I don’t need sobering up.” Even so, Xu Yaqing’s behavior was honest enough. She took the glass and drained it in one go. “Hey, this is good. Wait—take her to the bedroom?”

She glanced at Hua Yu, who was sitting on the sofa and pretending to be sober, and thought, Oh, like hell she’s getting carried to the bedroom. She can lie on the floor and sober up!

Wei Yin packed up the whole box of pomelo slices and a small bottle of dried honey, then set them in front of Xu Yaqing, her cheeks red. “I made these myself. If you like them, take them with you.”

Xu Yaqing looked at Wei Yin, so obedient and considerate, blushing with shyness.

Mm. For Wei Yin’s sake, then.

“Why aren’t you coming in?” Xu Yaqing asked as she and Wei Yin helped Hua Yu to the doorway. But Wei Yin stopped there and didn’t follow.

Wei Yin shook her head. “I just cleaned the house, so I’m dirty.”

Saying the truth—that Hua Yu wouldn’t let her into her room because she wanted privacy and distance—felt too strange, so Wei Yin casually made up an excuse. Luckily, Xu Yaqing didn’t press her.

“I can just dump her on the bed, right?” Xu Yaqing panted. “Hua Yu’s asleep.”

Wei Yin reminded her softly, “Dr. Hua’s long dress.”

Before Hua Yu had gone out, Wei Yin had already admired that silver-white fishtail satin gown, even in a daze; the dress clung to Hua Yu’s perfect waist-to-hip line and was almost intoxicating.

Pretty was pretty, but it would definitely be uncomfortable to sleep in.

“I’m not taking it off. Two alphas should keep their distance,” Xu Yaqing said, goosebumps rising all over her. “She can take it off herself when she wakes up later.”

Wei Yin thought about it and agreed; being stripped out of a dress by someone else probably didn’t feel great.

Xu Yaqing came back out, slammed the door behind her, and stopped in front of Wei Yin with an aggressive air. “You...”

Wei Yin took half a step back. “Me?”

Xu Yaqing: “You are...”

She had just heard this person call herself “Wei Yin,” and though she didn’t know which two characters those were, there was a very high chance this was Hua Yu’s so-called “ex-girlfriend.”

Mm. Yu Tiantian’s ex-girlfriend.

Xu Yaqing sized Wei Yin up from head to toe; her gaze shifted from confused to thoughtful to suddenly enlightened.

This was a beta, wasn’t she?

Wei Yin had no pheromone scent, and from her appearance she didn’t quite have the soft delicacy of an omega either. All signs pointed to her being a beta.

Hua Yu had never dated an omega, not because she was picky, but because she was afraid of omegas!

Convinced she’d uncovered the truth, Xu Yaqing felt she now had Hua Yu’s weakness in her hands. Then she saw Wei Yin point to her apron and say solemnly, “Maid.”

Xu Yaqing was genuinely shocked this time.

“You’re not that person’s ex-girlfriend?” she blurted out.

Wei Yin shook her head and answered honestly, “No. I’ve never dated anyone.”

Xu Yaqing was speechless.

Good heavens, she’d gotten the wrong person.

So this Wei Yin wasn’t that “Wei Yin.”

She’d thought she’d finally get a glimpse of Hua Yu’s gossip.

“Uh, it’s getting late,” Xu Yaqing said, scratching the back of her head. “I’m heading out. Hua Yu can call me herself if she needs anything. Bye.”

Wei Yin nodded and handed her the bag with the pomelo and honey. “Thank you for bringing Dr. Hua back. Take care on your way.”

Her voice was still soft and gentle.

A well-behaved, sensible little maid; and so gentle too.

Xu Yaqing slowed. Then she turned back and took out her phone. “Beauty, let’s add each other on WeChat.”

Wei Yin didn’t really understand, but since the person in front of her was Hua Yu’s cousin, she still took out her phone and scanned the code to add her as a friend.

“If you stop working with Dr. Hua one day, remember to message me,” Xu Yaqing winked. “I’ll come take care of your business.”

Wei Yin: “Mm.”

After seeing Xu Yaqing off, Wei Yin stood guard at Hua Yu’s bedroom door and called out, “Dr. Hua, I’m right outside. If you feel unwell, you can call me.”

If Hua Yu were awake, she’d definitely hear her.

If she was asleep... well, drunk people couldn’t really be called awake; it was fine.

There was no response from inside. Wei Yin waited a while, then called again, confirming that Hua Yu didn’t need her to go in.

“Then I’ll go make sobering soup first,” Wei Yin muttered to herself. “It’s better to eat something easy to digest at night; it’ll be good for her stomach.”

She set pumpkin millet porridge to simmer, took out some arrowhead stalk and lotus root, and planned to make fish-fragrant arrowhead stalk and cold lotus root slices for dinner. Hua Yu had said before that it was best not to make more than three dishes, or it would be wasteful, so she’d make one more garlic lettuce dish.

That would be lighter. Mm, perfect.

After finishing the prep work and waiting for Hua Yu to wake up, Wei Yin ran back to the bedroom door, pulled over a small stool, and sat there scrolling on her phone.

【You Bastard】: Xu Yaqing; the “Yaqing” is the “ya” in raven, okay

【in】: Wei Yin

【You Bastard】: How did the little beauty know my cousin?

Wei Yin bit the side of her finger and typed.

【in】: At the hospital, Dr. Hua is my attending physician

【You Bastard】: As expected, this workaholic can’t expand her social circle outside of work even a little

【in】: Dr. Hua is dedicated and responsible

【You Bastard】: Fair enough

【You Bastard】: What are you doing now?

Wei Yin snapped a photo of the dinner she had prepared and sent it to Xu Yaqing.

【in】: Waiting for Dr. Hua to wake up; making dinner

【You Bastard】: Then you’ll be waiting a long time. Her tolerance for alcohol is terrible, and she hasn’t drunk in years. Who knows why she had two drinks today

【in】: Do I need to do anything?

【You Bastard】: Just keep an eye on her

Wei Yin put her phone away and stared firmly toward the bedroom.

The moment Hua Yu made the slightest unusual sound, she’d go in.

Another half hour passed; the millet porridge was ready. Wei Yin poured herself a bowl and sat at the bedroom door drinking it when suddenly she heard someone getting out of bed.

Xu Yaqing hadn’t shut the door properly and had left a crack; Wei Yin could hear clearly. Hua Yu probably sat up first and rested for a while, then took off her dress, changed into sleepwear, put on slippers, and went to the bathroom.

【Dr. Hua, Home Late】: Where are you?

Wei Yin straightened at once.

【in】: At your bedroom door

【Dr. Hua, Home Late】: ?

No further message came. Hua Yu walked over and opened the door, then looked down and saw Wei Yin holding a bowl and drinking porridge.

Wei Yin quickly got to her feet and also scooped a bowl for Hua Yu. “Does your stomach feel upset? There’s honey water and tomato juice too. They’re good for drunkenness.”

“...I didn’t drink much.” Hua Yu herself was a doctor; she knew her limits when it came to drinking. She just had an especially poor tolerance. “Why were you waiting outside?”

As soon as she said it, she remembered that she had told Wei Yin before that she didn’t want her entering the bedroom.

Hua Yu pressed her lips together and met Wei Yin’s round eyes, full of concern.

“Come in,” Hua Yu said, pushing the door open with the back of her hand. She walked to the bed and sat down, quickly finishing a small bowl of pumpkin porridge. She ate fast, but the porridge must have been left to cool; it was the perfect temperature. “Eat first tonight; don’t wait for me. I’ll probably need to sleep a while longer.”

Wei Yin nodded and took the empty bowl, but she didn’t leave.

Hua Yu didn’t pay her any more mind. After rinsing her mouth, she lay down and kept sleeping.

Wei Yin sat by the bed. It was now five in the afternoon; the slanting sunset shone through the inner gauze curtains, gathering the fading light into a soft halo. Wei Yin moved a little closer, folded her forearms over the edge of the bed, and rested her chin on them.

Hua Yu lay flat in the center of the bed. The halo brushed across the side of her face, making her features look even more beautiful.

What a beautiful face. Wei Yin stared at Hua Yu without blinking, at her full brow, her well-proportioned brow ridge and nose bridge, her gently tapering cheekbones, and her neat, inward-set jawline, all of which gave her excellent bone structure. Wei Yin had long wanted to ask Hua Yu whether she had some other bloodline in her; otherwise, how could she have ended up with a face like this... one that fit her aesthetic so perfectly?

Her gaze drifted uncontrollably. The thin blanket on Hua Yu was probably silk, clinging to the contours of her body; the exposed collarbone and shoulders needed no mention, and the black camisole pressed against her shoulder blades. Her skin was very fair...

Wei Yin slapped a hand over her own forehead.

If she kept looking, that would be too much!

Covering her face, which had gone hot as a light bulb, Wei Yin bolted out of the room.