Having Desires Is a Perfectly Normal Thing

After she hung up, a hint of helplessness crossed Su Yurong's face.

In truth, agreeing to let Su Yutang return wasn't entirely because of Huo Yi's call. Over the past month on Xia Island, Su Yutang had behaved beautifully. She'd stopped her hunger strike and started eating properly. She'd even gone out to see the sea and spent two hours in the villa gym every day.

Especially two days ago, when Su Yutang had called her first. Over the phone, Su Yutang's voice had turned soft and gentle, like the child she'd been as a little girl, wheedling her mother—

“Mom, I know I was wrong... I'll be good from now on. Didn't you say you'd let me out and have me marry that Miss Cen? I agree. Actually, it's fine if you don't let me out yet. I've thought through a lot on the island. I really have caused you trouble all these years. I'll listen to you from now on. I won't do anything willful again.”

Su Yutang had never had her omega mother by her side growing up; Su Yurong had raised her alone. No one in the world understood Su Yutang better than her own mother.

This child was hardly the type to bow her head and admit fault after only a few months of confinement.

Su Yurong had confined Su Yutang before, but it had only made her daughter more rebellious—to the point that she'd talk back to her own mother without an ounce of improvement. Yet after only a few months locked on a deserted island, Su Yutang had become so obedient... That really was a little abnormal.

When Su Yutang bowed her head to admit fault, it was usually to beg to be let out. This time, though, she hadn't asked for that—she'd even said it was fine to keep her confined for now.

For over twenty years, Su Yutang had been Su Yurong's only daughter. All these years, she had done her utmost to raise Su Yutang as the sole heir of the Su family. So even when Su Yutang was rebellious, she tolerated it to a certain extent.

She sensed something off about Su Yutang softening toward her, but she couldn't ignore that this was the child she had doted on and raised since childhood. And just then, Huo Yi and the other second-generation elites of Jing City's circles had begun asking after Su Yutang.

As the Su family heir, Su Yutang really shouldn't disappear from these people's sight for too long. Otherwise, once new competitors emerged in Jing City's circles, she wouldn't know anything about them and would seem out of touch in the business world.

At that thought, Su Yurong let out a deep sigh, then called for Ji Quanying. “Send someone to Xia Island to bring the Young Miss back.”

Ji Quanying, whose face was usually expressionless, actually looked relieved. “Yes. Madam still cares for the Young Miss after all.”

Su Yurong let out a bitter laugh. “What else can I do? She's the only daughter I'll ever have.”

Ji Quanying had served Su Yurong for over thirty years. She knew that the softest part of this lofty sovereign's heart was reserved entirely for Su Yutang.

As the outside world rumored, Su Yurong and her former partner had an open marriage. The S-rank omega may have had noble blood, but her origins were low. She was clever, and she knew how to use her advantages to trade for greater benefits.

So before conceiving, the omega had signed an agreement with the Su family—as long as she bore the child, the Su family would give her money and villas she couldn't spend in a lifetime, plus protection. Whomever she chose to date afterward, the Su family would not interfere. In exchange, she would never come back to see the child again, as if the child had no mother.

Her sham marriage with Su Yurong, and even her pregnancy, had all been a transactional exchange of benefits—a way to escape poverty and leap across class lines.

As for Su Yutang, the omega had only been responsible for giving birth; she never developed any feelings for the child at all.

To this day, Su Yutang had never met the omega who gave birth to her.

In truth, Su Yutang had always known, but to preserve her beautiful mother-daughter relationship with Su Yurong, she had always pretended otherwise. It was only when Su Yurong confined her on a deserted island that she finally poured out all the grievances and resentment she had suppressed for years.

Why did everyone else have a happy family while she didn't?

Whenever Su Yutang wanted a happy family, everyone around her told her—so what? You're the Young Miss of the Su family in Jing City. You're the only one in the Su family line. You'll inherit everything the Su family has.

Your mother loves you very much. What does it matter if you don't have another one? She left when you were so young and hasn't come back to see you all these years. It must be because you mean nothing to her.

When Su Yutang was young and naive, she would harbor a sliver of fantasy—that perhaps the mother she had never met was prevented by her status from coming back to see her. Perhaps in a few years, when she grew up, they would still meet again...

But reality dashed those expectations.

...

While Lin Meng slept, Huo Yi used her connection with Tan Xiangwei to request a few days off for her. She also gave Tan Xiangwei a deadline to disappear from Lin Meng's company within those few days.

When Tan Xiangwei got the news, she was inspecting her high-end dessert shop. Her good mood shattered instantly. Suppressing her temper, she said, “Hey, Huo, you fox, are you messing with me? Didn't I finish every task you gave me? And you told me to see less of the person you're pursuing, so I barely even go to the company. I only hold the title of director. I haven't even had my fill of being director for two months, and you're already so eager to chase me away?”

You're not afraid I'll steal your little girlfriend, are you?

Tan Xiangwei wanted to say that, but in the end she held her tongue.

Huo Yi didn't waste words. “She found out. She thinks I sent you to spy on her. She's terrified now, so please leave quickly. Besides, I'll give you another card with five million on it. How's that?”

Tan Xiangwei's eyes widened. “No... wait, how did she find out? We never show our faces in public. In Jing City's circles, apart from those close to you, no one even knows me.”

Huo Yi got angry just hearing that. “It's all because of Yun Huaizhu. When Su Yutang was around, she constantly came out to make trouble for her. Now that Su Yutang has been locked up by her mother, she's started making trouble for me. The task I gave you was to make her job look easier and be nicer to her. And what happened? She took a week off, and you paid her as if she had perfect attendance. She's not an idiot; of course she'd get suspicious!”

Tan Xiangwei said, “Huh?”

By normal logic, what was wrong with a company overpaying wages? She had specifically told the others that Lin Meng had been doing work for her that week, not taking leave. She didn't want this spread around—did Lin Meng really go around asking multiple departments to verify?

This person's character was far too upright. No wonder Huo Yi was so smitten.

Even though she'd messed this up, Huo Yi was still generous enough to transfer her that much money. For that kind of money, she could withdraw entirely as Huo Yi requested.

“All right, then. But I've heard of this Yun Huaizhu you mentioned. She seems gentle on the surface, but at her core she's ruthless and decisive. She's hard to deal with. You'd better be careful, cousin.”

Huo Yi let out a light sigh. “I know.”

Yun Huaizhu's true nature was like that—even Tan Xiangwei could see it. Why couldn't Lin Meng?

Lin Meng was a little surprised when she learned Huo Yi had requested leave for her. She hadn't gotten perfect attendance last month, but this month she was determined to earn that eight-hundred-yuan bonus. Eight hundred yuan was enough for a week of luxurious dinners.

She had just made up her mind when Huo Yi shattered that fantasy.

Lin Meng had been a little angry at first, but when she got up and saw the sumptuous breakfast covering the table, her anger vanished.

When Huo Yi came to her home, she'd said something about not needing Lin Meng to provide meals and would clean as well.

Huo Yi knew Lin Meng was softhearted, so after requesting the leave, she had her assistant buy breakfast from all the highly rated places nearby. Then she ordered lots of snacks and ingredients online; they would probably arrive after noon.

Although Lin Meng didn't want her money or expensive gifts, she could just barely accept food. Since Huo Yi was pursuing her, she naturally had to cater to her likes.

Lin Meng's face had shown only a flash of displeasure; when she saw the breakfast, her anger had already dissipated.

Since things had come to this, she might as well eat first.

Huo Yi made a point of pulling out the chair on the inner side of the dining table, then looked at Lin Meng affectionately. “Mengmeng, come sit. Try the breakfast and see if it suits your taste.”

Seeing Huo Yi's eager expression, Lin Meng's brows drew together slightly. She had felt that Huo Yi was acting a little strange ever since she entered her home. When she saw the breakfast that was about to fill the entire table, she frowned deeply. “Yiyi, the two of us probably can't eat all this.”

Huo Yi sat down beside her and smiled. “It's fine. I bought all this just to see which ones you like. Next time I'll only buy your favorites. None of it will go to waste; the rest can go in the fridge.”

Lin Meng nodded, then picked up the plate of crab roe soup dumplings. When she sucked out the juice and bit into the thin-skinned, fragrant bun, her eyes lit up. She looked at Huo Yi in pleasant surprise. “These crab roe buns taste just like the old shop on Pedestrian Street.”

These soup dumplings were perfect for breakfast. Unfortunately, the line there was always too long when Lin Meng went to work in the morning, so she always bought them after work in the evening.

Hearing this, Huo Yi narrowed her eyes and broke into a brilliant smile. “Oh my, Mengmeng's tongue is really sharp. You're right—I bought these crab roe buns from that Pedestrian Street.”

Lin Meng's smile froze. She looked at the steamed dumplings, fried cakes, fresh soy milk, and red bean wine-fermented rice balls on the table...

“Yiyi, did you get up early and buy all this breakfast yourself?”

Seeing Lin Meng's astonished expression, Huo Yi smiled. “As long as you like it. I said I wouldn't freeload at your place. I noticed your fridge was empty, so I ordered some ingredients online. They should arrive this afternoon. And I didn't know what snacks you like, so I bought a bit of everything.”

Hearing that Huo Yi had bought so many things online, Lin Meng quickly waved her hands and shook her head. “No, no, Yiyi, you don't need to do this. I can't eat that much.”

Huo Yi chuckled. “It's fine. Snacks have a long shelf life; you can eat them slowly. Anyway, I have nothing to do at your place. I'd be happy just spending every day with you.”

Then she pointed at one of the two large suitcases she had brought. “I also brought a mini projector. When we're bored, we can eat snacks and watch movies. What kind of movies does Mengmeng like? Romance, horror, or something more artsy?”

Lin Meng followed her finger to the suitcase.

She hadn't expected Huo Yi to be so thoroughly prepared for this visit. It seemed she wouldn't have to worry about food or drink for the coming week, so that eight-hundred-yuan attendance bonus didn't matter much anymore.

But it still felt strange to her.

After a moment of silence, she raised her head and looked at Huo Yi seriously. “Yiyi, don't buy anything else from now on. This is really enough... And I'm not the kind of person who expects you to buy me things just because you're staying here. You came to my home to help me catch the bad person. How could I let you do so much for me?”

After she said this, Huo Yi walked behind her and suddenly embraced her. “I know. Mengmeng is a very good person. You never asked me to do anything. This is all voluntary on my part, so you don't need to feel burdened by it.”

“But...” Even if it was voluntary, she shouldn't do this much.

Before she could finish, Huo Yi interrupted her. She walked over and pinched Lin Meng's chin, tilting her face up to meet her eyes. “There's no 'but.' We're good friends, aren't we? If you're so calculating with me, what kind of friends are we?”

Hearing this, Lin Meng swallowed the rest of her sentence.

That was true. Huo Yi made a lot of sense. If she really said that, it might hurt Huo Yi's feelings. After all, the other woman had gotten up early to buy her so much breakfast. How could she be so ungrateful?

Lin Meng looked into Huo Yi's eyes, which seemed to shimmer with light, and her breath caught.

Especially with Huo Yi being so beautiful and rich.

There was nothing about her that Huo Yi could covet. Apart from the “marriage” Huo Yi had mentioned, the only explanation for Huo Yi doing so much for her was that they were “good friends.”

Besides, she had firmly rejected Huo Yi's proposal to marry her.

She felt that her relationship with Huo Yi could only be friendship. Viewing Yun Huaizhu and Huo Yi as her best friends felt like challenging her past self.

For the past twenty-some years, she had followed her mother's wishes. She had never actively made friends and had no idea how to interact with others. The so-called “friend-making” experience she had learned came entirely from when she had transmigrated into this novel and met its protagonists.

Making a few “good friends” felt like shattering her former worldview, pushing herself to the edge of a cliff. She couldn't take another step forward.

If she took one more step, she would fall off the cliff and shatter to pieces.

Lin Meng uneasily avoided Huo Yi's gaze and nodded. “Mm, thank you, Yiyi.”

No matter what purpose Huo Yi had in doing these things for her, she sincerely thanked her from the bottom of her heart.

...

Since she didn't have to work today and had slept well last night with Huo Yi there, Lin Meng's spirits were much better. After breakfast, she picked up her phone as usual and sent Yun Huaizhu a message: [Good morning, Zhuzhu.]

Yun Huaizhu quickly replied: [Morning, Mengmeng-jie. Can I come to your place today?]

Lin Meng's brows furrowed as soon as she saw the message. She didn't know when it had started, but whenever Yun Huaizhu wanted to come to her home, she would message first to ask. Regardless of whether Lin Meng responded, Yun Huaizhu would always show up at her door on time when she got home from work.

Right—sometimes she even came without any notice.

In the past, Lin Meng wouldn't have minded. If Yun Huaizhu wanted to come, she could.

But today Huo Yi was at her home. Last time, when she had treated Tang Xiaoman to a meal, the hostility between Yun Huaizhu and Huo Yi had been intense. If the two of them met at her place...

That scene would be a disaster; Lin Meng couldn't even imagine it.

So she quickly replied: [Sorry, Zhuzhu. Today might not work. I have to work overtime and won't be home until very late.]

Yun Huaizhu soon replied: [Angry][Angry][Your company is really exploiting people! I want to file a complaint against your company!]

If an ordinary person filed a complaint, that would be fine. But if Yun Huaizhu filed one, her small company might really go bankrupt on the spot.

Seeing this, Lin Meng quickly typed: [Haha, Zhuzhu, you're such a joker. Our company has overtime pay, and the hourly rate for overtime isn't low either. Okay, Zhuzhu, I'll stop here. I'm off to work.]

After sending that, she sent a patting-head comforting meme.

...

After Lin Meng put Yun Huaizhu off with excuses, Huo Yi, who had finished clearing the dishes and putting leftovers in the fridge, suddenly noticed that the refrigerator in Lin Meng's rental apartment was a bit small.

If all the ingredients she had ordered arrived, this fridge might not hold them all. Should she order another fridge online?

Just as she was thinking this, she suddenly felt her heartbeat accelerate. Even the hand holding the fridge door began to tremble slightly.

Clearing the dishes wasn't something a guest should do, but Huo Yi had insisted on doing it herself. Before Lin Meng could even stand up to clear the table, she had rushed to do it.

If Lin Meng went to help now, she would only get in the way.

After Lin Meng finished messaging Yun Huaizhu, she noticed Huo Yi hadn't moved for a long time, so she quickly stood up and looked toward the fridge.

At that moment, she saw the other woman with her head lowered, one hand on the fridge door and the other pressed against her chest.

Seeing this, Lin Meng immediately sensed something was wrong. She ran over and supported Huo Yi. “Yiyi, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell? Do you need me to take you to the hospital?”

In that instant, Huo Yi realized her heat was approaching. To be safe, she always kept suppressants on her. There was indeed a box of suppressants in her suitcase. But when she felt Lin Meng's cool hand touch her arm, a wave of refreshing coolness shot from her arm straight to her mind.

She instantly felt as if a cat were gently kneading her, stirring an itch in her heart.

Lin Meng also felt Huo Yi's frighteningly hot temperature. She seemed to recall how the two of them had looked in heat.

Huo Yi was usually dignified and warm, almost never losing composure. But now her face was flushed as if she were drunk, and her eyes revealed a beast-like desire.

Lin Meng realized Huo Yi's heat had arrived, so she quickly let go of her arm. “Don't worry, I'll go buy you suppressants right now!”

Alpha and omega suppressants couldn't be shared. The omega suppressants left at her home would be useless to Huo Yi. She had to buy suppressants and get back as quickly as possible.

Just as she was about to turn and grab her phone to go out, the person behind her—whose heat was gradually surging—suddenly slammed the fridge door shut with a bang. Then she forcefully pulled Lin Meng over.

Before Lin Meng could react, she was pinned against the cold fridge door, unable to move.

She looked up at Huo Yi. This alpha's appearance gradually overlapped with Su Yutang's from that day when she had lost reason. Just thinking about what had happened that night made Lin Meng's body tremble uncontrollably. “Yi... Yiyi, calm down first. I'll go buy you suppressants and come back. Let go of me first.”

Huo Yi hadn't lost her reason because of her approaching heat. On the contrary, the higher an alpha or omega's rank, the less likely they were to lose reason during their heat. They wouldn't be like beasts driven by desire, unknowingly sleeping with whoever was closest, then mistaking it for a fated bond.

Huo Yi had seen many people come together under the influence of pheromones. If their personalities weren't too extreme, perhaps they could spend their lives together under that influence. But if their personalities truly clashed, they would live in immense pain—even the pheromone attraction they once loved becoming a kind of torture.

So Huo Yi rarely lost reason during her heat, nor did she release pheromones to lure omegas to her.

Among the seven deadly sins, desire was the one she hated most.

People who couldn't restrain their desires were beasts.

But standing before her was such a wonderful Lin Meng—a Lin Meng who couldn't smell her pheromones, who wouldn't be aroused by them.

If she cried and begged Lin Meng for help now, would Lin Meng save her?

Huo Yi stepped forward and buried her head in Lin Meng's neck, her voice soft and fragile. “Mengmeng, I'm feeling a bit unwell right now. Don't leave me here alone. Stay with me, okay?”

Her warm breath brushed against Lin Meng's neck. Lin Meng didn't know why, but she suddenly felt her body grow hot too—and this heat was completely different from a fever.

She had experienced two bouts of passionate lovemaking, so she naturally knew the difference between a fever and arousal.

But she wasn't an omega. She couldn't even smell Huo Yi's pheromones, so how could she be affected by an alpha's pheromones like an omega?

It must be psychological. She had to hold herself together and not make another mistake!

Huo Yi pressed her lips to Lin Meng's neck, then caught her off guard and bit down there like a temporary mark.

Lin Meng instantly felt pain and frowned tightly. She reached out with both hands to push Huo Yi away. But the next moment, Huo Yi only extended one hand to pin her restless wrists above her head. “Mengmeng, I'm really so uncomfortable, I feel like I'm dying... Since I was young, I've always restrained myself. I don't use pheromones to stir the desires in others' hearts, nor do I taint others with my own filthy desires. But... I'm also a normal alpha. Is it wrong for me to have desires? I've been enduring all this time. This feeling is so awful...”

As Huo Yi said these words, her eyes gradually reddened. Those fox-like eyes brimming with affection looked even more dazzlingly beautiful under the sheen of tears, making one unable to help but feel tender toward her.

Lin Meng understood Huo Yi very well. She simply gave up struggling and looked directly at her. “Yiyi, it's perfectly normal for a person to have desires. For example, anyone who has received normal sex education will masturbate. How can having desires be filthy? It's a normal physiological need...”

So can you let go of me now and let me go buy you suppressants?

Hearing this, tears instantly fell from Huo Yi's eyes. She released Lin Meng's wrist, then tightly embraced her as if trying to draw the coolness from Lin Meng's body to soothe herself. “Yes, Mengmeng-jie is so right. So... can you help me?”

...

Su Yurong's face remained as calm and indifferent as water as she said those words, but deep in her eyes there was not a trace of emotion.

Ji Quanying saw this and couldn't help saying, “Madam, are you really going to hand the Young Miss over to the Yin family? That Miss Yin is a dangerous figure, after all. The Young Miss is still young and has a rebellious temper. What if...”

Su Yurong didn't even lift her eyelids. She picked up the teacup from the table and took a slow sip. “No matter how dangerous she is, she's still just a pawn of the Yin family. With the Su family behind her, the Yin family won't dare to do anything to her. As for her temper—it's precisely because she's been too comfortable lately that she has the luxury to think about so many messy things. Once she's with Miss Yin, she'll know what it means to truly be unable to help herself.”

She put down the teacup, the sound crisp and clear in the quiet room. “Tangtang has been spoiled by me. I thought a little punishment this time would make her understand. But since she's still so disobedient, let her suffer a bit more. There's a charity gala soon. Have someone prepare the Young Miss's gown. After the gala, arrange for her to meet Miss Yin.”

“...Yes.”

At the same time, far away in Jing City, Yun Huaizhu looked at the message on her phone, her eyes dark and cold.

Su Yutang was coming back.

The woman on the other end of the phone was still chattering. “Zhuzhu, are you listening to me? I'm telling you, your plan can't fail this time. Huo Yi is a madwoman. She even dared to hit me for Lin Meng. The two of them are definitely not just ordinary friends. If we let them continue like this, your Mengmeng-jie will soon be in her bed.”

Yun Huaizhu's fingers tightened slightly around the phone. Her voice, however, remained gentle and soft. “I know. Thank you for your hard work, cousin. I'll take care of the rest.”

...

After Huo Yi's heat ended, Lin Meng sat slumped on the sofa, her face still slightly flushed. Her clothes were disheveled, and the marks from Huo Yi's bites were still faintly visible on her collarbone.

Huo Yi came out of the bathroom, already cleaned up. Seeing Lin Meng like this, a flicker of guilt crossed her eyes. She walked over and sat beside Lin Meng, pulling her into her arms. “Mengmeng, I'm sorry. I lost control today.”

Lin Meng shook her head. “I don't blame you. This is a normal physiological need.”

Huo Yi's hand paused. She lowered her head to look at Lin Meng. “Then... do you think I'm dirty?”

Lin Meng looked up at her. As an omega, she understood Huo Yi's feelings. She said seriously, “No. Yiyi, having desires is a perfectly normal thing.”

Was she saying this to comfort Huo Yi, or to comfort herself?

Lin Meng didn't know either.

Huo Yi held her tighter, burying her face in Lin Meng's hair, her voice muffled. “Mengmeng, you're so good. You're so good that I don't want to let go.”

Lin Meng let her hold her, her gaze drifting out the window to the distant sky.

After this incident, she had a premonition that the life she had planned was about to deviate once again—and this time, she didn't know where it would lead.

...

When Yun Huaizhu arrived at Lin Meng's apartment building, she saw Huo Yi's car parked in the open-air lot downstairs.

She raised her head and looked up at the seventh-floor window. The lights were on, and two figures could vaguely be seen moving.

Yun Huaizhu clenched the gift bag in her hand, her nails digging deep into her palm.

That was okay.

She lowered her head and sent Lin Meng a message: [Mengmeng-jie, are you home? I'm downstairs. I brought you some food.]

A few seconds later, Lin Meng replied: [Ah? I'm... I'm not home. Zhuzhu, you should go back first.]

Yun Huaizhu looked at the message and let out a soft laugh.

She typed: [All right, then I'll wait for you. No matter how late you come back, I'll wait for you.]

She put away her phone, leaned against the wall, and waited quietly.

She wanted to see how long Huo Yi could stay by Lin Meng's side.

And how long Su Yutang, who was coming back soon, could hold back from seeing Lin Meng.

This game had only just begun.