Chapter 6

It was late March, and the days were growing longer, but by the time Gu Yizhen returned, the sky had already completely darkened.

Or rather, it had been completely dark for some time.

After getting out of the car, Gu Yizhen maneuvered her wheelchair toward the gate. Housekeeper Ye was already waiting to open the door for her.

"Where is she?" Gu Yizhen asked, referring to Xi Keqing.

Housekeeper Ye lowered his voice and replied respectfully, "She's on the sofa, already asleep." He added, "She didn't want to go upstairs."

Gu Yizhen's hands paused on the wheelchair controls. "Is that so?" Her voice, now softer, lost its earlier chill.

Housekeeper Ye couldn't help but glance up, cautiously observing Gu Yizhen with a flicker of confusion. But Gu Yizhen simply waved him off. He stopped, watching as she slowly wheeled toward the sofa.

Alphas didn't sleep well.

After last night's—or rather, this morning's—ordeal, Gu Yizhen had already braced herself for what she might find. Yet seeing the Alpha's sleeping posture still made her raise an eyebrow.

Xi Keqing's lower body was pressed against the sofa's backrest, her legs draped over it. Her upper body faced the coffee table, one arm dangling limply to the floor. She looked like she had twisted herself into a pretzel.

How could anyone sleep like that?

Just then, she saw Xi Keqing smack her lips and suddenly open her eyes, looking at her.

Those big, obsidian-like eyes were drowsy and unfocused. The moment they saw her, they immediately crawled toward her.

Her leg, propped high, suddenly dropped with a thud. She twisted her body and somehow rolled off the sofa, landing with a loud clang.

Gu Yizhen flinched, instinctively reaching out to help, already bracing herself for the Alpha's wailing.

But Xi Keqing didn't cry. Instead, she grabbed Gu Yizhen's outstretched hand, howling in pain as she complained, "Ah—whine—you came back so late!"

It was as if everything was tumbling out of her mouth at once, all jumbled together.

Gu Yizhen, also confused by the jumbled words, gently pulled her up. "Did you hurt yourself?"

Xi Keqing sat back on the sofa, hugging her knees pitifully. Her voice grew slurred as she mumbled, "It hurts."

Gu Yizhen turned and took the medicine box from Housekeeper Ye, who had rushed over at the noise.

Seeing this, Xi Keqing boldly extended her leg, resting it on the footrest of Gu Yizhen's wheelchair.

Housekeeper Ye stepped forward, about to intervene, but Gu Yizhen waved her away.

Turning, Gu Yizhen noticed Xi Keqing had rolled up her pant leg, revealing her knee. Though no marks were visible yet, they would likely turn blue by tomorrow.

She took out a sterile cotton swab and gently applied the antiseptic. Looking up, she glanced at the half of Xi Keqing's face pressed against the sofa, leaving it red. "Why are you sleeping here?"

Xi Keqing, who had been about to pull her leg back, froze. She huffed, "Gu Yizhen, your house is so boring."

"Hmm?"

Xi Keqing turned, her face still flushed and her lips pouting petulantly. "I waited for you until I fell asleep."

Gu Yizhen lowered her gaze. "Why were you waiting for me? Was something wrong?"

Xi Keqing shook her head vigorously. "It's getting dark. I need to go home soon."

It was a perfectly reasonable explanation, requiring no further elaboration.

Before her, those shallow amber, phoenix-like eyes watched her, their depths glinting with a cold, glass-like light.

Before Xi Keqing could react, she let out a gasp. Gu Yizhen instinctively raised her hand, about to ask, "Does it hurt?" but saw Xi Keqing lean closer.

Her large eyes blinked rapidly. "Food."

She added, "And food."

Filled with questions, Xi Keqing ate a late-night snack with Gu Yizhen.

She stared absently at the elegant Omega across from her, then glanced down at the pigeon soup in her bowl. While it was food, it wasn't the food she'd been craving.

Besides, she'd already eaten this kind of meal earlier that evening and didn't particularly want more.

As for the other kind...

It wasn't that her stomach was rumbling. The sense of fullness from Gu Yizhen still filled her belly completely, showing no signs of diminishing.

But once you've tasted something delicious, how could you not want it again?

Xi Keqing was a greedy little succubus.

After mulling it over for a long time, she finally followed Gu Yizhen's wheelchair to her room on the third floor.

"Gu Yizhen!"

Gu Yizhen stopped and looked up. "Hmm?"

Xi Keqing stated plainly, "I want a kiss."

Her obsidian-like eyes blinked, and an inexplicable pride shone in her expression.

This was something Xi Keqing had thought long and hard about. She was sure it wouldn't lead Gu Yizhen to misunderstand again and think she was just suggesting they go for pigeon soup.

After all, food obtained through kisses was the only true late-night snack for a succubus.

The little succubus was greedy, but only a little bit.

A succubus who was only a little bit greedy was a good succubus, and Xi Keqing puffed out her chest proudly.

Under the soft light of the hallway, Gu Yizhen's cool and beautiful face showed a barely perceptible raised eyebrow.

From the moment they sat down at the dining table, the Alpha's gaze hadn't left her. Gu Yizhen saw it clearly.

After all, this was an Alpha who had cried uncontrollably the first time she'd "indulged" last night. It would be strange if she remained indifferent after tasting the sweetness.

Gu Yizhen likely felt the same.

She beckoned to the Alpha with a finger, and the Alpha immediately crouched down, her body carrying a faint scent of strawberry candy, and eagerly leaned in.

Gu Yizhen cupped the back of her head and drew her closer, aligning their breaths.

Their lips met softly. Gu Yizhen slid her tongue into her mouth, brushing against her palate, and lightly hooked the tip of her tongue.

It tickled slightly, but it felt very pleasant.

Xi Keqing instinctively tried to entwine her tongue with Gu Yizhen's, but Gu Yizhen had already pulled back.

"That's enough. Go to sleep."

The sudden end caught Xi Keqing off guard.

The sweet, delicious aroma of the food had barely registered in her nose and stomach before she was already feeling a strange daze.

She inexplicably froze, then licked her lips. "Oh."

The wheelchair and Gu Yizhen, seated in it, quickly disappeared behind the closed door. Still dazed, Xi Keqing returned to her room.

Later, Xi Keqing lay in bed, her eyes closed in peaceful slumber.

After a moment, she suddenly snapped them open.

Still hungry!

Without hesitation, Xi Keqing sat up, quickly slipped on her shoes, and hurried to Gu Yizhen's door.

She knocked, and when Gu Yizhen answered, she swiftly opened the door and popped her head out with a bright smile.

Gu Yizhen hadn't fallen asleep yet. She was sitting up, leaning against the headboard, with a blanket draped over her lap and a tablet she had just set down.

Seeing her fluffy head peeking out, Gu Yizhen asked, "Not asleep yet?"

Xi Keqing nodded vigorously, her eyes sparkling. "Can I have another kiss?"

She added, "I want more."

After a moment, Gu Yizhen sighed silently and patted the space beside her. "Come here."

The diamond on her slender finger glinted under the light, and Xi Keqing's eyes lit up. She quickly scrambled onto the bed, puckering her lips at Gu Yizhen as she climbed.

The next morning, Xi Keqing once again emerged from Gu Yizhen's room with a cheerful bounce in her step.

This time, however, she walked out with Gu Yizhen, both of their lips glistening and rosy.

It goes without saying that Xi Keqing had sought out Gu Yizhen early that morning to demand a "kissing snack."

Yes, that's right!

A kiss was a snack.

And this time, it was much larger than the usual small snacks—a fifteen-minute-long snack, to be precise.

Without such a substantial snack, Xi Keqing didn't know how she would have managed to leave Gu Yizhen for several days.

She was about to join a film crew for a shoot in a distant province, making daily returns impossible.

She had looked at Gu Yizhen with such longing that Gu Yizhen had kissed her for fifteen minutes, even letting her nibble on the scent glands at the nape of her neck.

Her slightly empty stomach was full again!

Feeling utterly delighted, Xi Keqing went downstairs and saw Housekeeper Ye standing in a hidden corner. She cheerfully greeted him from a distance, "Good morning, Housekeeper Ye! What are you doing over there?"

This was the first time Xi Keqing had addressed Housekeeper Ye since arriving the day before, and it was a polite greeting without her usual haughty posture.

Housekeeper Ye stared at her as if he'd seen a ghost, then glanced at Gu Yizhen. With a stiff nod, he lowered his head again, his gaze fixed on his nose and his mind on his heart.

Oblivious to Gu Yizhen's mood, Xi Keqing happily followed her to the dining table. Instead of choosing the seat opposite Gu Yizhen from the previous night, she settled in right beside her.

Gu Yizhen glanced at her, seeing that she was clearly not in a state to listen to anything. She remained silent.

Unlike the Alpha's vibrant demeanor, Gu Yizhen's eyes held a suppressed, profound emotion.

Tentatively, she allowed the Alpha to bite her again at the nape of her neck, right where the gland seemed to be stirring once more.

This Alpha, devoid of pheromones, seemed to possess a magical power. Even her haphazard nips were enough to quell the disorder that had baffled the world's top medical teams.

But the gland was excruciatingly sensitive. The fresh bites layered over the fading marks from the night before, leaving an inexplicable itch deep within her.

After breakfast, Xi Keqing prepared to leave.

She bid Gu Yizhen a cheerful farewell and boarded the car that had arrived to take her to the airport.

Only after the vehicle had driven away did Housekeeper Ye cautiously glance at Gu Yizhen, finding it incredible that she had deliberately waited until Xi Keqing was in the car before preparing to leave.

His young mistress had never been the type to see guests off.

Still, it seemed Xi Keqing was indeed a bit more polite than when she had first arrived yesterday.

Housekeeper Ye wasn't the only one who felt this way.

In Jiangcheng, on the film set:

Xi Keqing, already fully made up and costumed, had been sitting on the sidelines for quite some time.

She seemed outwardly unchanged, settling into a corner whenever she wasn't filming and keeping to herself, radiating an air of haughty aloofness.

Yet, whether it was an illusion or not, everyone who passed by felt that Xi Keqing had undergone a transformation.

She was noticeably more polite and amiable. Just moments ago, when someone nearby had been laughing and snacking, she hadn't even complained about the noise or told them to be quiet.

Sister Donkey was deeply gratified.

Since Xi Keqing wasn't a big star yet, Sister Donkey served not only as her manager but also as her minder. She had just finished dealing with another artist before coming over to check on her.

Seeing from a distance that Xi Keqing wasn't wearing the ring from the photograph, Sister Donkey breathed a sigh of relief.

Thank goodness, it's not on her hand.

Of course. Ever since Sister Donkey had intercepted her before she could start flaunting it, using a combination of threats and bribes, Xi Keqing had become remarkably well-behaved.

Not only had she abandoned the idea of flaunting their marriage, but after sneaking into Gu Yizhen's room for a kiss one night, she also asked her not to reveal their wedding publicly.

She was a big star, and big stars had to follow big star protocols.

As she solemnly declared herself a big star, Gu Yizhen seemed to raise an eyebrow before her. Xi Keqing didn't notice, only seeing Gu Yizhen eventually nod in agreement without any objections.

The next morning, Xi Keqing carefully removed her ring before leaving for the set and tucked it away, planning to put it back on later. She didn't wear it to the set at all.

When Sister Donkey approached, Xi Keqing glanced up and lazily pointed to the side. "Sister Donkey, I want that one."

Sister Donkey slapped her hand away and, checking that no one was around, lowered her voice. "We'll talk about it later. Did you go through with the divorce?"

Xi Keqing blinked, then sat up straight. "No way! I'll never find anyone better than her."

She's a gift from the heavens, my precious! My food!!!

"She's been so good to me!"

She feeds me!

"Just... so good!"

She'd never leave me!

Sister Donkey eyed Xi Keqing up and down suspiciously. Seeing that the little drama queen seemed to have changed considerably in just two days, she figured arguing was pointless for now. It would be better to meet this "so good" person herself later.

With a sigh, Sister Donkey said, "Don't get fooled again. I don't want to bail you out of the police station again."

No matter how annoying Xi Keqing could be, Sister Donkey knew she was just a bit naive, easily deceived, and couldn't keep her mouth shut...

Xi Keqing snorted, tilting her chin. "Underestimating me."

Sister Donkey froze, closing her eyes for a moment. She felt a surge of anger nearly burst through her skull.

She waved her hand dismissively. "Go, go, get out of here."

In the distance, someone was calling Xi Keqing to the stage.

Oblivious to Sister Donkey's exasperation, Xi Keqing simply stood up. "Okay!"

Sister Donkey: "......"

She still didn't look entirely reassured.