Chapter 8

While Xi Keqing was upstairs crying her eyes out, Sister Donkey and Housekeeper Ye had just met downstairs.

Both were equally baffled by Xi Keqing.

However, Sister Donkey was baffled by Xi Keqing's excitement, while Housekeeper Ye was baffled by how quickly Xi Keqing's expression shifted from sheer excitement to utter despair upon hearing that Gu Yizhen wasn't home.

In truth, given Xi Keqing's acting skills, she rarely finished filming on schedule. But perhaps because of what Sister Donkey had said when she stopped Xi Keqing two days ago, Xi Keqing had genuinely accelerated the filming process.

She had finished more than half a day ahead of the original schedule.

According to the previous estimate, they wouldn't have finished until around noon tomorrow. Returning to Beicheng would have taken until tomorrow night at the earliest.

Ah, no, it was already past midnight, so it would have been tonight.

Though it was a rare achievement, it was clear that Xi Keqing wasn't happy about breaking the record for a smooth shoot. She was happy to be going home.

Home to this villa? A place that looked so luxurious it clearly had nothing to do with Xi Keqing.

When Sister Donkey had arranged for someone to pick up Xi Keqing earlier, she had been busy assisting another artist and forwarded the address without a second glance.

Even when Xi Keqing sent her that boastful photo, Sister Donkey had been so dazzled by the prominent ring and marriage certificate that she completely failed to notice the blurred villa in the background.

Later, while accompanying Xi Keqing for a shoot, Sister Donkey finally had a moment to look into the place. The more she searched, the more convinced she became that Xi Keqing had been scammed.

Xi Keqing wasn't exactly the brightest, and anyone who could afford to live in Nanjing Villa was either incredibly wealthy or powerful. Why would they ever take an interest in a minor celebrity with such a terrible reputation?

Standing here now, Sister Donkey's conviction only strengthened.

But with Xi Keqing still in the other party's hands, Sister Donkey didn't let her frustration show. She looked at Housekeeper Ye, whose smile was perfectly composed. "Hello, I'm Qingqing's manager. How should I address you?"

Housekeeper Ye replied with a smile, "My surname is Ye. I'm the housekeeper here."

Hearing that he wasn't the owner, Sister Donkey's confidence grew. "Heh heh, Housekeeper Ye, has Qingqing been staying well here?"

She pointedly refrained from asking any questions about the owner.

Sister Donkey considered that housekeepers of wealthy families were often shrewd, and Housekeeper Ye, who seemed unassuming, had just stepped out of the door, yet Sister Donkey, who had seen countless people, couldn't see through his identity for a moment.

Instead of asking questions that this person was unlikely to answer, she might as well take this opportunity to show concern for Xi Keqing first, so that people would know that Xi Keqing still had someone who cared about her.

Housekeeper Ye instantly understood and said, "The Young Mistress instructed that Ms. Xi must be taken care of."

It didn't look like a lie.

And it indeed wasn't a lie.

Having been by Gu Yizhen's side for so many years, Housekeeper Ye was seeing for the first time that Gu Yizhen was so attentive to an Alpha.

It was a very classic housekeeper's line, but it also truly came from Housekeeper Ye's heart.

Xi Keqing must have some strengths that she hadn't discovered online or in their brief contact, and she believed that Gu Yizhen must have seen that strength.

Just as she had never seen such urgency in another person as an Alpha who had to come home to find Gu Yizhen in the middle of the night.

However, in the conversation at the door at night, each with their own purpose, they were completely unaware that the Xi Keqing on the upper floor, whom they both cared about, was already crying so hard that she couldn't bear it anymore.

Xi Keqing finally lay back down on her own bed.

Her long, slender tail drooped listlessly across her body, even its plump, heart-shaped tip hanging limp and motionless.

And just as wilted as her tail was the little succubus's heart.

She clutched her phone, its glowing screen illuminating the silent tears that streamed down her face, one glistening trail after another.

She'd sent Gu Yizhen a message, desperately asking when she'd be back, but Gu Yizhen hadn't replied.

Of course, she thought. It's already two in the morning. The sun will be up soon. Gu Yizhen must be asleep.

Xi Keqing raised an arm to wipe her tears, her lips trembling into a frown, but she still couldn't hold back a sob.

I'm so hungry.

She'd never considered the possibility that Gu Yizhen might not be home, which only deepened her crushing disappointment.

Heaven only knew how she'd managed to get through the last two days on that single shred of hope. She'd tried so hard to keep busy that she felt like she was practically withering away.

Tears, hunger, and the crushing loneliness of being a succubus all by herself—it was the same as every single day for the past three years. Xi Keqing was utterly overwhelmed with grief.

Only when she was too exhausted to cry anymore did she finally drift into a hazy sleep.

She didn't know how much time had passed. The sky seemed to have already brightened, and the faint sound of voices drifted in from outside the door. Xi Keqing ignored them, rolled over, and went back to sleep.

But the next moment, her phone rang.

Xi Keqing fumbled around groggily, then rolled over completely and searched the other side before finally finding the phone by her pillow.

Without even opening her eyes, she cracked one open just enough to tap the answer button. Before she could even mutter a sleepy greeting, a familiar voice came through the receiver.

"Open the door."

Xi Keqing shot upright, her eyes snapping open as she stared at her phone. Seeing "Z" clearly displayed on the screen, she momentarily wondered if she was dreaming.

But the voice on the phone continued. Gu Yizhen said, "It's me."

Faintly, the voice from the receiver merged with the sound from outside the door. Xi Keqing's eyes lit up instantly, and she practically leaped off the bed, about to dash to the door.

A happy tail wagged in her peripheral vision, and Xi Keqing froze again.

She reached up to touch her forehead—horns.

She reached back to touch her rear—a tail.

Xi Keqing hurriedly tucked them away and continued bouncing toward the door, flinging it open.

"Gu Yizhen!"

The bright light from the hallway flooded in. Just as Xi Keqing's joyful voice landed, she saw the strange condition Gu Yizhen was in at the doorway.

The Omega sat weakly in the wheelchair, her potent pheromones already flooding the room and rushing toward Xi Keqing's nose.

A clear flush spread across her exquisite face, and a thin mist of tears blurred her pale amber phoenix eyes.

The Omega forced herself to sit upright, her voice weak and airy. "Come in," she said. "Help me."

Xi Keqing froze for a moment.

Is this... time to eat?!

She nearly jumped for joy on the spot, quickly stepping aside to let her pass.

Soon, on the large bed in the room, Xi Keqing expertly tore off the long-defunct scent-blocking patch. She carefully bit down on the gland at the back of Gu Yizhen's neck and began the feast she had long anticipated.

She didn't spare a single thought for how Gu Yizhen had suddenly appeared. Her eyes sparkled with the sheer joy of witnessing a miracle.

I knew Gu Yizhen was a god!

A god heard my prayers and came to save my stomach!!!

The intense fragrance of juniper and iris slowly filled her senses. Xi Keqing released the slender, reddened nape she had been sucking and turned to seek Gu Yizhen's lips.

She wanted kisses.

She wanted so many kisses.

Xi Keqing cried again.

She seemed to want to sob aloud but was reluctant to let go, whimpering as she nibbled the small mole over Gu Yizhen's heart.

She sucked at it again and again, only pulling away halfway after a long moment to catch her breath. Tears still fell patteringly, each drop splashing onto Gu Yizhen's body.

Her beautiful face was likely flushed red from crying, though it was hard to see clearly in the dimly lit room with the curtains drawn.

Gu Yizhen cupped her face amidst the blurred, ambiguous outlines and brought her closer to kiss her lips.

The Alpha always carried a faint, sweet scent of strawberry candy, much like the non-existent scent of her pheromones. It was pleasant to smell.

And, very useful.

After a week's interval, the gland that the Alpha had previously soothed had long since grown restless again. Her pheromones had been on the verge of spiraling out of control every day.

And now, she had simply crossed the threshold.

Her pheromones were spiraling out of control.

The cold, profound pheromones surged forth endlessly, carrying an oppressive force far beyond common reason, violently crushing everyone beside her.

Omegas, Alphas, and even Betas who lacked glands and couldn't smell pheromones.

Gu Yizhen pulled away from the Alpha's lips, her breath shallow. "Why are you crying again? What's wrong?"

Her knuckles brushed against the Alpha's cheek, wiping away the tears that seemed to flow endlessly. Her voice was flat, carrying an almost imperceptible chill.

The light was too dim for her to immediately gauge the Alpha's state.

Or rather, the Alpha's tears had left Gu Yizhen unsure whether their last uninhibited intimacy had been a fluke—a mere accident.

The outcome forced her to reconsider the rationality of this marriage.

But Xi Keqing chased after her, nuzzling and rubbing against her like a puppy. With tears in her eyes, she whimpered, "Gu Yizhen, I missed you."

"I worked so hard just so I could come home early," she said.

"Waaah, but... but you weren't home."

Large tears splattered down, each one a testament to Xi Keqing's grievance.

By the end, her cries had escalated into loud wails.

Her food.

The only full meal she'd had in three years—the meal she'd been longing for all these days.

She had been so excited, yet the god who could conjure delicious food for her wasn't home.

Just two days ago, the god had promised her on WeChat that she would eat well. She remembered it so clearly, sob sob sob sob—

She had already cried herself out that night over this injustice, but seeing Gu Yizhen, actually getting to eat... Xi Keqing still couldn't help it.

She completely missed Gu Yizhen's momentary stun as she pressed herself against her again, her voice blurring with tears. "Gu Yizhen, hurry up, I want more."

Gu Yizhen's breathing grew heavier, waves of numbness making her tremble uncontrollably. She bit down on the lip Xi Keqing had just nuzzled. "No. That's impolite."

Xi Keqing paused, unable to understand what was impolite about it.

She protested softly, "I'm not, sob."

As she spoke, she was already moving down, intending to cherish the other side with her mouth.

Gu Yizhen grabbed her wrist, stopping her. "Xi Keqing."

The tone was cold and undeniable, the voice of someone in command.

Xi Keqing blinked, a tear falling from her eye.

The next moment, she burst into loud sobs.

"Waaaah— Sister, I want it—"