Chapter 3

Duan Chi's hand rested on Xu Bai's waist, the strange sensation making it impossible for Xu Bai to ignore. She knew her smile must look odd, but she met Duan Chi's gaze squarely. Her lips moved, and the hand on her waist tightened slightly. She heard her own voice:

"Okay."

Duan Chi's lips curled into a faint smile. The emotion in her eyes returned to its usual calm. The Alpha released her. Xu Bai's fingertips curled inward as if she'd touched something dirty. Suppressing the urge to wipe them, she asked in a low voice, "Are we living together?"

Xu Bai straightened, smoothing her skirt. She answered calmly, "Yes, we are. But you moved out after our fight."

Hearing this, Qin Feng nearly surged forward to interrupt their conversation, but Meng Chunhe restrained her. Meng Chunhe stared intently at Xu Bai, her phone clutched tightly. The bright screen clearly displayed her conversation with a researcher from the Gland Research Institute:

Can this illness be cured?

The reply came swiftly:

This gland issue looks severe. Without prompt treatment, she might only have six months left. Can she come to the institute?

Meng Chunhe didn't answer, instead asking, "Is there any possibility of forgery?"

"No."

No—

Xu Bai hadn't lied to them. Duan Chi was truly ill, and it was a serious illness.

In that case, she could tolerate some of Xu Bai's minor actions.

"Then I'll move back with you as soon as I'm discharged," Duan Chi said, her tone as usual, as if she had accepted the situation. "Maybe it will even help me regain my memory."

Xu Bai saw through Duan Chi's feigned sincerity and sneered inwardly, but outwardly, she nodded, appearing compliant. "Alright, I'll ask the doctor when you can be discharged and make arrangements."

Duan Chi took a deep breath, absently wiping her hand on the blanket. Even her raised eyes held a hint of mockery. "Okay."

Since they all said she was with Xu Bai, there was no point in struggling.

Better to go along with it.

Xu Bai pretended not to notice Duan Chi's disgusting behavior, maintaining her smile. She turned to leave, and Meng Chunhe followed. "I'll come see too."

Duan Chi hummed in agreement. She watched Xu Bai's retreating figure, then looked down at her hand, which had touched Xu Bai's. Her pupils trembled slightly. As she suppressed the irritation rising in her heart, she suddenly realized how frighteningly thin Xu Bai had become.

Could someone really be this thin?

Xu Bai heard footsteps approaching behind her. She paused briefly, and the moment she stopped, an irresistible force slammed her against the wall. As her shoulder blades hit the plaster, she swallowed the sharp pain with a muffled groan. She looked up at Meng Chunhe with a wry smile. "President Meng, what is the meaning of this?"

Meng Chunhe glared at Xu Bai, her voice laced with menace, as if her hand, gripping Xu Bai's collar, were a knife. "You'd better behave yourself and not do anything you shouldn't."

"Anything I shouldn't?"

Xu Bai showed no fear, her expression listless. "I'm an Omega, after all. I'm the one who's more likely to be at a disadvantage, wouldn't you say?"

Meng Chunhe scoffed as if she'd heard a joke. "Didn't you say you liked Duan Chi?"

"I do."

Xu Bai sighed, feigning utter helplessness, her voice rising slightly in pitch. "But liking someone doesn't mean I have to give them everything."

Hmph.

Xu Bai watched Meng Chunhe shove her away with disgust. She bit her lip, forcing down the curse that rose in her throat.

"Xu Bai, you know what I'm capable of."

With that, Meng Chunhe turned and strode toward the doctor's office, leaving Xu Bai standing there, forced to endure the curious stares of those around her.

Xu Bai straightened up and brushed the dust off her clothes, as if Meng Chunhe's words meant nothing. She simply marveled at how close the three of them were. Their families and social standing were similar, and though Duan Chi had lost her mother early on, the Duan family's legacy remained. Unlike her, who had nothing.

But so what?

As if nothing had happened, Xu Bai lifted her leg and felt a sharp pain in her left ankle—she'd probably twisted it. With her high heels, it was easy to lose her balance. So... it was all Meng Chunhe's fault.

Meng Chunhe takes full responsibility.

Thinking this, Xu Bai felt much better. She stifled the pain and walked toward the office with rigid posture.

The doctor said Duan Chi's main injuries were to her head and that she'd need to stay for another two days of observation. She could be discharged if there were no complications.

Hearing this, Xu Bai immediately started calculating whether she could find a place to pretend they lived together in the short term.

But it seemed difficult. Duan Chi was too shrewd.

Xu Bai followed Meng Chunhe leisurely, stopping when Meng Chunhe paused at the hospital room door, having opened it just a crack. Xu Bai stopped too, crossing her arms and joining Meng Chunhe in eavesdropping.

This was the second time she'd listened in today.

The first time it was Duan Chi and her secretary, and now it was Duan Chi and Qin Feng. Yet the conversation still revolved around Xu Bai.

Xu Bai tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, completely unashamed, as if the topic had nothing to do with her.

"Why did I fall for Xu Bai?" Duan Chi asked, her voice full of confusion. "She's completely not my type."

Qin Feng made a noncommittal sound. She glanced at Duan Chi, looking troubled. "I don't know. Maybe that's just love."

"Love?" Duan Chi scoffed as if she'd heard a joke. "What kind of love could make me change my taste?"

Qin Feng wasn't good at lying. She rubbed her legs with her hands and finally went along with Duan Chi. "I'm puzzled too. Xu Bai always dresses so hideously, with that heavy makeup that makes her look so fierce. I don't understand why you like her."

Meng Chunhe raised an eyebrow at this and turned to look at Xu Bai. "Actually," she said softly, "I agree with that."

"I don't."

Xu Bai certainly knew her makeup was heavy. She narrowed her eyes, growing impatient. "Talk about me behind my back all you want, but isn't it disrespectful to do it right in front of me?"

Meng Chunhe sneered but still pushed the door open and walked in. "The doctor said it'll be two more days."

Duan Chi fell silent, her gaze fixed on Xu Bai. The Omega stood quietly by the door, looking rather unhappy.

Duan Chi felt a surge of delight seeing Xu Bai upset.

"If it's two more days..." Duan Chi met Xu Bai's eyes, then suddenly smiled and declared, "Does that mean you'll have to take care of me, Xu Bai?"

Now Xu Bai was genuinely displeased. She pushed past Meng Chunhe to stand before Duan Chi, lowering her voice. "I have to work. I can hire a caregiver to look after you."

"Xu Bai."

Duan Chi looked up, meeting Xu Bai's eyes. She saw the anger in the Omega's eyes, and it pleased her. "You're the one who wanted to get back together. You're the one who swore to help me regain my memories. Are you going back on your word now?"

Xu Bai stared into Duan Chi's eyes. The Alpha's pupils were pitch-black, as if filled with malicious intent, making her look every bit the villain. Xu Bai took a deep breath, then thought, This isn't so bad after all. She nodded. "Alright. I'll take care of you."

Meng Chunhe felt something was off. She patted Qin Feng, but seeing Qin Feng's bewildered expression, she swallowed the words that had risen to her lips.

"It's six o'clock in the evening. I'm going home to get some clothes to keep you company."

Xu Bai raised an eyebrow, deliberately adopting a melodramatic tone. "Is that okay?"

Duan Chi shook her head. "Just your clothes? What about my toiletries?"

"I took all your toiletries. After all, we broke up so messily. I can buy you new ones if you need them."

Her face?

So many demands.

Seeing Duan Chi fall silent, Xu Bai turned and left immediately, unwilling to remain in the hospital room any longer. The three of them standing together made her want to gouge her eyes out.

Duan Chi watched Xu Bai's retreating figure again, her heart finally calming. "You don't need to take care of me. Let her handle it."

Meng Chunhe hesitated. "Are you sure?"

"Didn't you say we were deeply in love? She wouldn't stab me, would she?"

Duan Chi opened the new phone delivered by her secretary, her tone indifferent. "We need to nurture our relationship properly."

Qin Feng rolled her eyes beside her, thinking, If this were a lawless society, you two would have already stabbed each other to death. Nurture your relationship?

Xu Bai stomped her foot hard when she got home. She swept her hair back with both hands, took a moment to calm herself, and then took off her shoes. Now she needed to figure out her next move.

First, she had to find a suitable place and create the illusion of having lived there for some time. If it looked too fake, Duan Chi would see right through it. The best option would be a place filled with her pheromones.

Where could she find such a place?

The only place was the one she was currently living in.

This apartment was in the heart of Port City, in a prime location. It was 300 square meters, with two bedrooms and one living room. She had bought it for herself when she turned eighteen. In all these years, no one else had ever set foot in it. Could she really ask Duan Chi to come over?

But if Duan Chi didn't come, how could she deceive her?

Xu Bai still wanted to steal a few projects from Duan Chi. In the past two years, Duan Chi had snatched many of her collaborations, and the board of directors was increasingly displeased, constantly pressuring her.

"No way."

Xu Bai licked her lips, the lipstick tasting slightly bitter. She surveyed her apartment, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath after some mental preparation. "Duan Chi, you're getting off easy."

Just staying here for a while?

Fine. I, Xu Bai, accept.

Xu Bai returned to the master bedroom, which was exceptionally large, with a dedicated walk-in closet and a spacious balcony. A swing hung on the balcony, and her bathroom was also quite large, but sparsely furnished, making it feel somewhat empty.

She had to stay at the hospital with Duan Chi that night, so she needed to wash up first.

Xu Bai removed her makeup. Her makeup was indeed very heavy and gaudy. At first glance, she looked closer to thirty than twenty-four. She knew this well, as Duan Chi hadn't just mocked her this time; he'd done it before too:

"President Xu's makeup always impresses me. My family used to have a housekeeper who loved this kind of makeup. She thought it was the only way to climb to a position she didn't deserve. Later, I understood—it's called self-deception."

Xu Bai turned off the faucet, her hands still wet. She looked at her reflection in the mirror. Dark circles shadowed her eyes, and her lips were pale and bloodless. She was naturally fair, but now her complexion was frighteningly white. Staring at her gaunt cheeks, she remained silent for a long time. The water droplets falling from her face into the sink made drip, drip sounds, making the entire house feel eerily empty.

Still, Xu Bai had always been alone. She was alone before, and she was alone now.

Sometimes, Xu Bai envied Duan Chi. To be honest, the three of them had a really good relationship.

A bitter smile tugged at Xu Bai's lips as she tore off the suppression patch from the back of her neck. Unlike her appearance, her gland was swollen and red. If you looked closely, you could see the blood vessels pulsing beneath the thin skin, as if they might burst at any moment.

Without overthinking it, she carefully washed herself all over, paying special attention to her waist. Duan Chi actually touched my waist? Ugh, so gross.

Xu Bai spent nearly an hour in the shower. After drying her hair, she changed into casual clothes. Her ankle was already swollen, but she didn't feel the pain until she tried to walk. She sat on the sofa and quickly massaged it with safflower oil. The scent was too strong, and she wrinkled her nose in disgust, waving her hand at it. But the smell lingered, and she could only let Duan Chi put up with it.

She reapplied her makeup and tidied herself up. Before leaving, she popped a vitamin C tablet from the bedside table and headed to the hospital.

By the time Xu Bai arrived at the hospital, it was 8 PM. Qin Feng and Meng Chunhe had already left.

She pushed open the door with a flourish. Duan Chi was wearing glasses, staring at data on her computer. Xu Bai suppressed the urge to roll her eyes and silently thought, Fake refined.

What a show.

She pulled out a chair and sat down. Just as she was about to speak, Duan Chi frowned and asked, "What's that smell on you?"

Xu Bai made a soft "Ah" sound. She looked at Duan Chi innocently and replied softly, "It's my pheromone, darling. Don't you remember?"

She said seriously, "My pheromone smells like safflower oil."