Chapter 4

Hearing Xu Bai's words, Duan Chi's lips twitched slightly. She studied Xu Bai carefully, her tone casual. "Red Flower Oil?"

Xu Bai nodded, deliberately leaning closer to Duan Chi to make the medicinal scent more noticeable. "Doesn't it smell good?"

"It's fine," Duan Chi said, her gaze locking precisely onto the twisted area of Xu Bai's left ankle. She casually raised her eyes. "It's just that your pheromones leave me completely unmoved."

Xu Bai's expression tightened slightly. She gave a perfunctory "Ah," and retorted, "That's your problem. Blaming an Omega for an Alpha's lack of desire? How pathetic."

She didn't want to dwell on the matter. After all, it was late and dark, and they were alone together. It was rather embarrassing.

Duan Chi found this amusing. She set her book aside, her sharp gaze fixed on Xu Bai. The intensity of her stare made it impossible for Xu Bai to ignore. "We're both adults," Duan Chi said. "Isn't it normal to have desires? Haven't we... done this before?"

Xu Bai blushed slightly at the question. She stood up, feigning shyness. "Ah, you want to do it here? How embarrassing."

The moment Xu Bai finished speaking, Duan Chi's expression shifted, the teasing glint disappearing without a trace.

Duan Chi chuckled. "No rush. We'll take our time later."

Xu Bai turned away, rolling her eyes silently. When she looked back at Duan Chi, her expression was serene. "Have you eaten?"

"Yes."

Duan Chi pushed her glasses up her nose with a single finger. "Are you still going to wear such heavy makeup tonight?"

Xu Bai leaned back in her chair, ordering takeout. "People are visual creatures," she replied. "I have to make you fall in love with me."

Her makeup was slightly lighter than before, but Duan Chi still couldn't discern Xu Bai's true features. The only thing she could sense was that Xu Bai's features were delicate and refined.

Duan Chi sighed silently. She removed her glasses and placed them aside, pinching the bridge of her nose with a weary expression. "Falling in love with you would scare me to death."

Her aesthetic standards weren't that low.

Xu Bai ignored Duan Chi. After ordering her food, she put down her phone. Standing up, she surveyed the single-occupancy room. There was a bed for an accompanying person, where she could sleep that night.

Duan Chi's gaze fell on Xu Bai. She narrowed her eyes, her attention returning to Xu Bai's ankle, which was swollen and red. The pungent smell of the red flower oil suddenly seemed overwhelming. She raised an eyebrow and asked softly, "What are you looking at?"

"I'm figuring out where I'm going to sleep tonight," Xu Bai said, her eyes fixed on Duan Chi. "You asked me to stay and take care of you, so I need to make sure I'm somewhere I can easily look after you."

Duan Chi found Xu Bai's gaze blinding. She pulled at the corner of her mouth and patted the side of her bed. "Xu Bai."

"What is it?"

Xu Bai tensed slightly, her eyes on Duan Chi's face. She guessed, "Do you want some water?"

She didn't understand why Duan Chi was acting this way. She'd only hit her head, not broken any limbs. If she had, Xu Bai would have immediately set off fireworks across Gang City for a whole night.

Duan Chi looked up, smiling at Xu Bai. "If you're going to take care of me, how can you sleep alone in that small room? What if I need something?"

Go to hell.

Xu Bai clasped her hands behind her back, leaning slightly to ease the pressure on her left ankle.

"I can sleep on the sofa."

She endured.

Xu Bai seemed genuinely willing. She even moved closer to Duan Chi, saying, "This way, I'll hear you right away when you call me."

"Why don't we sleep together?"

Xu Bai froze at Duan Chi's words. She stood at the foot of Duan Chi's bed, looking down at her. She turned the phrase over and over in her mind: sleep together.

"You don't want to?"

Truthfully, Duan Chi hadn't liked Xu Bai from the start. She looked down on her from the bottom of her heart. Even though she had accepted the situation, her words were laced with mockery. Xu Bai wasn't stupid; she was playing along, teasing Duan Chi in return.

So—

Xu Bai directly took off her shoes and climbed onto the bed. She patted Duan Chi's leg casually. "Move over. I don't have any space. The bed's too small."

Her movements were so fluid they startled Duan Chi. But the Alpha quickly sat up, crossing her legs. Duan Chi had adjusted quickly. Xu Bai was wearing flat shoes and white socks embroidered with daisies. Because of her sprained ankle, she couldn't cross her legs and had to keep her distance.

"Is this the red flower oil you were talking about?"

Duan Chi raised an eyebrow. "How did you twist it? Did someone bully you?"

"Yes, I was bullied. By your dear friend, Meng Chunhe, of all people."

"I twisted it accidentally." Xu Bai, still a bit annoyed, casually placed her leg in front of Duan Chi. Leaning back with her hands supporting her weight, she said, "Give me a massage, will you?"

Her voice sounded even more awkward to her own ears.

Duan Chi's breath hitched. She hadn't expected Xu Bai to be so bold. The Alpha bit her lip, suppressing the urge to throw Xu Bai out. She let out a soft chuckle, her gaze dropping as she remained silent for a long moment.

Xu Bai grew uncomfortable under Duan Chi's intense stare. She fidgeted with the bedsheet. "You're so weird, just staring at my feet like that."

"Haven't I touched them before?"

"Of course you have! You love it—kissing and—"

"I'm just looking because I'm worried..." Duan Chi cut her off, raising her head calmly. "Do you have toenail fungus?"

Xu Bai rarely spoke so crudely. Her earlobes had already turned pink, but Duan Chi's blunt question completely cooled her head. The intimate atmosphere vanished, leaving only her murderous intent.

Duan Chi... I want to strangle her right now.

She suddenly regretted lying to Duan Chi. She'd really lost her mind!

"If I had it, you would have been infected long ago when we were whispering and cuddling last night."

Xu Bai's face turned cold. She snorted, and just as she was about to get out of bed, she was yanked back.

Huh?

Xu Bai looked over in surprise. Duan Chi had grabbed her ankle and was pulling her back with no resistance.

Duan Chi was an Alpha, standing at 1.8 meters tall. Xu Bai had differentiated late, and while she wasn't short at 1.7 meters, she was very thin. Duan Chi's hand was larger than hers and much warmer. The Alpha easily encircled her ankle, making Xu Bai's heart skip a beat.

What did Duan Chi mean by this?

Her palm was so hot. Had she even showered? What right did she have to touch her?

Duan Chi tugged again, watching the Omega's eyes widen. Xu Bai's slender hands clutched the blanket tightly, terrified of another forceful pull.

Hmph, no matter how sharp her tongue, Xu Bai's still a pushover.

Duan Chi found it particularly satisfying to watch Xu Bai's panic.

It was in that moment she noticed how thin Xu Bai really was. How could she be so skinny?

"Duan Chi."

As Xu Bai spoke, her phone rang with a sharp, urgent tone, interrupting their conversation. Duan Chi didn't release her, instead answering with her free hand.

Xu Bai watched Duan Chi make the call, and tried to pull away again, but it was no use.

Is Duan Chi a pervert? Could she really be into foot fetishes?

"My secretary just told me the S City project is back on the table."

Duan Chi slowly loosened her grip, still holding Xu Bai's ankle. Her palm was slick with the scent of red flower oil, and the redness around Xu Bai's injured area became even more pronounced.

Xu Bai remained silent, her head bowed as she calculated her chances of intercepting the S City project. She had been the first to approach it, but Duan Chi had swooped in, the Duan Corporation offering better terms. The client had rejected Xu Bai outright.

But that doesn't mean I can't counter.

Xu Bai suddenly felt a surge of hope. Relaxing her body against Duan Chi, she thought maybe she could salvage some of the situation. If Duan Chi acted recklessly, she might even be able to snag a bargain.

She was nothing like Duan Chi. Duan Chi had Qin Feng and Meng Chunhe backing her. What did she have?

Nothing.

Xu Bai had her pride, but not much. She'd initially planned to deceive Duan Chi out of revenge, but on second thought, she realized there were benefits to it, which only strengthened her resolve to continue the charade.

If anyone found out about my relationship with Duan Chi...

Tsk.

So annoying.

Would one wrong move really lead to my downfall?

"Why aren't you saying anything?"

Duan Chi pulled out a wet wipe and carefully wiped her fingers. "I heard you were supposed to negotiate in S City."

Xu Bai climbed out of bed, straightened her clothes, and turned to Duan Chi with a smile. "Yeah, you're so awful. You have to snatch everything, forcing me to back down first. But you really don't want to let it go?"

"I'm a businesswoman."

"You're a terrible person."

Xu Bai chuckled. "Always trying to bully me."

Duan Chi showed no reaction. She cared less about Xu Bai's feelings than about her money.

"My food's here."

Xu Bai opened the door to retrieve the takeout. There was a dining table in the room, but she didn't even glance at Duan Chi. She'd ordered fried chicken and a burger—greasy foods that Duan Chi couldn't eat, as she was currently restricted to a bland diet.

"Eating this garbage?"

Duan Chi felt nothing for fried chicken; she'd never eaten anything like it.

Xu Bai tied her hair back, wiped off her lipstick, and put on gloves before starting to eat. She couldn't actually stomach the food, but she was too thin, and being so thin was bad for her health.

She still valued her life.

"I'm broke."

Xu Bai gave Duan Chi a pitiful look, but quickly resumed stuffing fried chicken into her mouth. Seeing this, Duan Chi said nothing more, simply turning her head away in disgust. The smell was awful.

She was now utterly convinced of one thing: Xu Bai and she were from different worlds.

Completely different. She would never love an Omega like this.

Xu Bai was completely unaware of Duan Chi's thoughts. She couldn't even eat the takeout she'd ordered. After a couple of bites, she threw it away—it was just too greasy, so greasy she felt like she was going to vomit.

"I'm full. I want to sleep now."

Xu Bai wiped her mouth, her lips no longer pale but tinged with a faint pink. "Duan Chi, is that okay?"

Duan Chi stared at Xu Bai for a few seconds before nodding, naturally accepting her status. "Go to sleep. And remember to take care of me tonight."

Heh.

Xu Bai smiled. "Okay."

Okay, my ass.

I'll smother you with a pillow in the middle of the night.

Xu Bai entered the small room, leaving the door ajar. She brushed her teeth but didn't remove her makeup before collapsing onto the bed. Sleep eluded her; she lost count of how many times she watched the moon vanish and the sun rise through the window.

She lay on her side, facing Duan Chi, replaying her words in her mind. I have to fight. I have to fight one more time, no matter what.

When she closed her eyes, she could feel her scent gland throbbing. Ugh.

I can't sleep. This is so frustrating.

The thought of having to care for Duan Chi made her even more frustrated.

"Xu Bai."

Duan Chi's voice was like a soul-snatching chain, sending a shiver down Xu Bai's spine. Her eyes darkened as she sat up, staring intently at Duan Chi lying in bed. Just looking at the Alpha's figure made her clench her fists.

Hmph, you better have a damn good reason for waking me!