Chapter 42: Bite Marks

Dedicated to RolandSmith, thank you for the Ko-Fi.

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“So, that’s your explanation?”

Lin Zhiyu sat at the far end of the couch, putting as much distance as possible between herself and the two lovebirds. Her expression was a kaleidoscope of disbelief, her eyes desperately trying to look anywhere but at the two tightly handcuffed hands.

Lu Qingzhuo, that sly devil, had the audacity to claim they were testing out a handcuff prop for an upcoming show—and that it just happened to get stuck.

Anyone with a functioning brain, even of average intelligence, wouldn’t buy that kind of nonsense.

Especially when the two of them looked clearly disheveled, their cheeks flushed, and the air still carried the faint trace of pheromones. Lin Zhiyu couldn’t help but suspect something highly inappropriate had just gone down.

Lu Qingzhuo’s slightly red face didn’t help her case—it screamed guilty. As for Fu Yumian...

Lin Zhiyu had only glanced her way briefly before immediately retracting her gaze. The rumors were true—President Fu was indeed unfazed under pressure. Aside from her slightly rumpled collar, her face was composed, flawless even, with not a single crack in her calm facade.

Lu Qingzhuo cleared her throat and tried to shift the conversation. “So... what exactly did you come here to talk about? You insisted on seeing me in person—what’s up?”

“Ah, it’s nothing really. I made a cake and wanted you to try it.” Lin Zhiyu pointed to the lopsided cake on the table and said cheerily, “This is your new place, huh? Not bad, haha.”

In truth, the main reason she’d come was to talk about the new variety show. Bringing the homemade cake was just an excuse—and, if she were honest, she mostly wanted to test it on Lu Qingzhuo first, her strong alpha friend, in case it turned out to be a disaster.

Fu Yumian sat on the sofa like she owned the place—more so than Lu Qingzhuo herself. She glanced coolly at Lin Zhiyu, whose body immediately stiffened under the pressure of her gaze. Fu Yumian didn’t say a word.

Lin Zhiyu’s forehead had already started to sweat. She hadn’t expected Fu Yumian’s presence to be this overwhelming up close. With a couple of awkward chuckles, she began planning her escape.

“Qingzhuo, I’ll just leave the cake here. Don’t forget to try it.” Lin Zhiyu stood up, casually wiped the sweat from her brow, and said with a strained smile, “Well, I’ll leave you two to it. About the handcuff situation—I swear, I won’t tell a soul.”

She backed away, retreating toward the door and vanishing out of sight. Only then did Lu Qingzhuo finally exhale in relief—only to be met with Fu Yumian’s scrutinizing gaze.

“You asked her to come over for something?”

Now that it was just the two of them again, it was Lu Qingzhuo’s turn to squirm. “It was nothing major. We just haven’t hung out in a while, and she wanted to come over for a meal.”

Fu Yumian’s gaze dimmed noticeably. “You were going to cook for her?”

“I was…” Lu Qingzhuo faltered under that look, quickly changing her story mid-sentence. “I mean, she insisted I cook, but of course I wasn’t actually going to do it, haha…”

People do all sorts of pointless things when nervous—Lu Qingzhuo started picking at her nails, scratching her head, her smile stiff and clearly forced.

“That’s better,” Fu Yumian said, pulling Lu Qingzhuo back into the bedroom. Her hand landed on Lu Qingzhuo’s nape, and she smiled. “Let’s pick up where we left off.”

Lu Qingzhuo: “…”

The bedroom door was shut tight and locked from the inside by Fu Yumian. Lu Qingzhuo paused for a moment, wondering what the point of locking it was—only to be immediately pushed down onto the bed.

“I told you to use your mouth to undo my belt earlier. Let’s continue.”

Lu Qingzhuo had no choice but to kneel over Fu Yumian, bracing her knees on either side of her legs and leaning down to gently press her lips against the belt.

She was noticeably more skilled this time. When she used her teeth to unfasten the belt, her jaw ached from the effort.

A dark patch of moisture bloomed around the waistband of Fu Yumian’s light-colored pants. As she tilted her head downward slightly, she could see Lu Qingzhuo completely focused on pleasing her. One hand reached out to gently stroke her hair, then slid upward, fingers threading into her scalp.

“Good job. Keep going.”

Lu Qingzhuo’s breath hitched. This wasn’t their first time doing something like this—half a month ago, they had crossed that line. Back then, Fu Yumian had been the one in control. And now, nothing had changed.

As an adult alpha, Lu Qingzhuo found being so passive somewhat humiliating. But since it was just the two of them, no one else would ever know.

Ye Ye and Oreo had both been locked outside by Fu Yumian. The dog and cat were currently scratching at the door. Lu Qingzhuo seized the moment to try and shift Fu Yumian’s attention. “President Fu, Ye Ye and Oreo are probably hungry. I should go feed them first—”

Before she could finish, her wrist was suddenly gripped tightly by Fu Yumian, who refused to let go. “What now? Don’t push me—I only have so much patience.”

Since there was no escaping tonight, Lu Qingzhuo gave up struggling. Better to give in than provoke Fu Yumian any further.

"Alright."

Lu Qingzhuo lowered her head and gently tugged down Fu Yumian’s waistband with her teeth.

Fu Yumian caressed her cheek and softly encouraged her, “Yes, just like that. Be gentle.”

Lu Qingzhuo’s upper body pressed against Fu Yumian’s calves. She used her knees to pin Fu Yumian’s long legs together, while one of her hands was cuffed and couldn’t move freely.

Fu Yumian realized she had probably chosen the wrong moment to cuff her, but with the key out of reach, there was no choice but to endure it a little longer.

“Mmnh…”

Fu Yumian’s long neck arched high, delicate sweat droplets glistening on her snow-white skin, trailing down her throat and disappearing between the curves of her chest.

She held the back of Lu Qingzhuo’s head, forcing her to look up.

The moment their eyes met, sparks seemed to ignite—crackling with electricity. Fu Yumian’s gaze lingered on Lu Qingzhuo’s soft, moist lips, then she leaned forward and kissed the lips she had longed for.

“Mm… mmph…”

Their lips and tongues collided, saliva exchanged. The kiss lasted a full five minutes. Lu Qingzhuo licked the dampness on Fu Yumian’s chin and couldn’t help but ask, “Didn’t you say this was dirty?”

“It’s not,” Fu Yumian replied, hooking her arm around Lu Qingzhuo’s neck. Her fingers expertly massaged the gland at the nape of her neck and peeled off the suppressant patch with a smile. “Let me smell your pheromones.”

Very quickly, their bodies were entangled again, inseparable.

Their pheromones clashed, then slowly melded—sticky, intense, permeating every nerve, every bone, as if even their skeletons carried the scent of each other.

Ye Ye and Oreo seemed to especially love the refreshing tea scent of Lu Qingzhuo’s pheromones. Oreo, in particular, had become like a little furry pendant—clinging to Lu Qingzhuo’s shoulders and neck every day, refusing to let go, even needing to be carried while she cooked.

When Ye Ye saw Oreo clinging to Lu Qingzhuo’s back, she looked like she wanted to climb up too, but Lu Qingzhuo shut her out.

By the time Fu Yumian came out of the shower, Lu Qingzhuo had already prepared dinner. Lately, Fu Yumian had been eating lighter meals—healthier, but not in that bland “white people food” kind of way.

“What yummy things did you make today?”

Fu Yumian carried the sweet scent of white peach from head to toe—she had used Lu Qingzhuo’s body wash, making her skin soft and fragrant like milk.

Lu Qingzhuo paused, plate in hand, and noticed Fu Yumian was wearing her pajamas. Judging by the color, it looked like the one she wore while filming on Island.

It all seemed to point to something. Lu Qingzhuo suspected that Fu Yumian’s interest in her wasn’t recent—it had probably been premeditated for quite some time.

“Creamy clam chowder,” Lu Qingzhuo said, shifting her gaze and turning to the kitchen. “Also, stir-fried lettuce and tomato beef stew.”

Fu Yumian sat at the dining table, teasing the cat and dog before going to wash her hands again.

Their eyes met for a brief second. Lu Qingzhuo quickly looked away and, after listing the dishes, fell silent.

There was still a strange taste lingering in her mouth—a hint of red wine, and something else…

“What are you thinking about? Come eat.”

Lu Qingzhuo snapped out of it, softly replied, and walked over to see Fu Yumian skillfully scooping soup and rice into bowls for her. If someone walked in, they might’ve thought Fu Yumian had cooked the entire dinner herself.

Midway through the meal, just as Lu Qingzhuo picked up a piece of tender beef with her chopsticks, Fu Yumian suddenly asked, “Is there anything you want?”

Lu Qingzhuo: “…”

Did she really have to ask that after everything?

“No,” Lu Qingzhuo replied, voice slightly muffled. “I don’t need anything. President Fu has already given me more than enough.”

The moment Fu Yumian heard that tone, she knew what Lu Qingzhuo was thinking. She also realized her semi-forceful approach might’ve hurt her a little.

“This is my supplementary black card. Take it. Spend as you like.”

Lu Qingzhuo’s hand froze mid-sip of soup. She slowly looked up and saw Fu Yumian’s slender fingers holding a thin black card. Its vintage design was unlike anything she’d seen before—though a bit similar to the gold card Han Tian had given her once.

Her eyes couldn’t help wandering over Fu Yumian—there were no pockets on that nightgown. Where had she pulled that card from? Did she have some kind of magical space technique?

Lu Qingzhuo casually took the card and gave it a quick glance as if it meant nothing, then tucked it into her shirt pocket.

This was something she deserved.

Still, the ease with which she accepted Fu Yumian’s “gift” made it feel a little too much like a post-transaction reward…

After dinner, Fu Yumian headed straight to the bedroom—so familiar and at home, like she’d lived there all along.

Lu Qingzhuo didn’t say anything but quietly cleaned up, putting all the dishes into the dishwasher. Then, taking advantage of Fu Yumian’s absence from the living room, she discreetly pulled the black card from her pocket.

She sat on the sofa, examining it closely. Thin as a leaf, not even as thick as an ID card—was this really something she could use without limits?

Lu Qingzhuo pressed her lips together, trying to hide the growing smile on her face. But after a while, she couldn’t help it—lowering her head and giggling like a fool.

---

In the bedroom, Fu Yumian lay on her side, watching her phone. She saw Lu Qingzhuo holding the black card, repeatedly kissing it. The corners of her lips curled into a helpless smile.

Fu Yumian lounged in her loose sleepwear, her fair, smooth legs on full display. The neckline of her nightgown hung low—just one step closer and there’d be nothing left to the imagination.

Right—Fu Yumian had come over without bringing anything. And after showering, it seemed like she hadn’t put on any underwear either.

Lu Qingzhuo: “…”

This kind of terrible habit was truly outrageous. She mentally chastised her, grabbed another blanket, and got ready to sleep in the guest room.

As soon as Fu Yumian’s eyes met hers, Lu Qingzhuo faltered in her steps—she almost surrendered on the spot.

"Where are you going?"

Lu Qingzhuo answered honestly, “I’m going to sleep in the next room. I don’t want to disturb your rest.”

Just as she turned around, a chilling voice came from behind her. “Get back here. You’re not going anywhere.”

Lu Qingzhuo marched forward with her blanket in her arms. “This is illegal confinement. I can go wherever I want.”

But even as she said it, her voice lacked conviction. Once she stepped out of the room, she didn’t hear Fu Yumian call her back—an unusual silence.

Lu Qingzhuo shut the door behind her, lingered outside for a moment, then leaned her ear against it to listen. Once she was sure there was no further movement, she finally let out a breath of relief.

The second bedroom was unoccupied. Lu Qingzhuo closed the door, laid the blanket on the bed, and flopped down stiffly. She hid the black card Fu Yumian had given her under the pillow.

A moment later, she cheerfully retrieved the card and held it up to the light for closer inspection.

At last, she’d seen one of those legendary black cards from domineering CEO novels. It turned out to be just an ordinary black card. Other than the color, it didn’t seem to have any special features.

Seeing that Lin Zhiyu hadn’t messaged her since leaving her place, Lu Qingzhuo simply gave her a call to ask what exactly she had come over for that afternoon.

The call connected quickly.

“Qingzhuo, you’re still up?”

“Yeah.” Lu Qingzhuo twirled the black card between her fingers and asked, “Did you come over for something important this afternoon? You clammed up the moment you saw Fu Yumian. Are you afraid of her?”

“Well, you’ve spent time with her, so you’re used to it, but that omega is scary. I swear she looks at you like she wants to eat you alive.”

Fu Yumian wasn’t even wearing her glasses earlier—how Lin Zhiyu picked up on that supposed ‘man-eating’ glare was anyone’s guess.

“Really?” Lu Qingzhuo thought to herself that although Fu Yumian was a bit more domineering toward her than toward others, she was actually a good person overall. “Did you do something to upset her?”

“Why would I? I don’t even have a grudge against her. I’m just worried about you.”

Lin Zhiyu added, “You two are stuck together like conjoined twins. So, when exactly did you get together?”

“I forgot,” Lu Qingzhuo replied vaguely. She genuinely didn’t know how their relationship had gotten to this point. So, she changed the subject. “That cake you made was pretty good. You could tell it had quality ingredients. I even got a bite of eggshell.”

“That’s not the point right now! Eggshell or not, I don’t approve of this marriage.”

Lu Qingzhuo thought to herself—well, your disapproval doesn’t really matter. She and Fu Yumian were already legally married. On paper, they were wives.

Lin Zhiyu kept rambling on the other end of the call, but to Lu Qingzhuo, it was all just a bunch of schemes—nothing Fu Yumian wouldn’t dismiss as spoiled antics from someone too used to being doted on.

She was an alpha—not some delicate little housewife!

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Late that night, Lu Qingzhuo rolled over in her sleep, sending her blanket tumbling to the floor.

Her pajama top had ridden up, exposing her snow-white stomach and cute, tiny belly button. Then she rolled over again, now lying face-up.

The bedroom door opened from the outside. A tall, slender figure stepped in—Fu Yumian.

She walked to the bed and bent down to pick up the fallen blanket.

Standing in front of the sleeping Lu Qingzhuo, Fu Yumian gently pulled her pajama top back down to cover her belly, then draped the blanket over her again. She quietly exited and carefully closed the door behind her.

After Fu Yumian left, Lu Qingzhuo slowly opened her eyes, staring blankly at the shut door.

In truth, she had woken up the moment Fu Yumian opened the door. At first, she’d thought Fu Yumian was going to sneak in and do something while she slept—but the touch she expected never came.

All Fu Yumian did was pull her shirt back down and tuck her in with the blanket that had fallen.

She was unexpectedly... really nice.

Back in the master bedroom next door, Fu Yumian lay on the bed and opened an app. Even in the dark of night, she could see everything happening in Lu Qingzhuo’s room—including the moment she opened her eyes after Fu Yumian left.

Fu Yumian gently stroked the image of Lu Qingzhuo twisting and turning on the screen, a faint, unreadable smile tugging at her lips.

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The next morning, Lu Qingzhuo once again slept in until the sun was high.

Still groggy, she reached out toward the nightstand to grab her phone and check the time—only to realize her waist was being held tightly by two soft, slender arms.

“Mm…”

She opened her eyes and turned her head, instinctively feeling around with her hand—only to come face-to-face with a sleeping Fu Yumian.

“!!!”

When had she crawled into her bed?!

Lu Qingzhuo jolted, instinctively trying to sit up, but the arms around her waist tightened, and a soft chin nuzzled against the top of her head.

Fu Yumian had curled up completely in her arms. Still seemingly asleep, she let out a sleepy hum at the movement and shifted into a cozier position, drifting back into slumber.

Lu Qingzhuo froze completely.

She stared blankly at the ceiling, feeling the soft warmth of the omega in her arms. From this close, she could even smell the faint, sweet scent of Fu Yumian’s skin.

How had Fu Yumian snuck into her bed while she was sleeping? And how had she not woken up at all—not even when the blanket was lifted and someone laid down beside her?

Was her body already this unresponsive, and she was only in her early twenties?

Lu Qingzhuo silently vowed to start locking her bedroom door from the inside at night. Otherwise, she might actually encounter perverts in her own house.

Fu Yumian had her face nestled against Lu Qingzhuo’s chest. Lu Qingzhuo could feel her soft breath brushing against the skin of her neck, and the gentle rise and fall of her chest.

This was too much.

How could Fu Yumian be like this?

Lu Qingzhuo was in the middle of an inner struggle. A part of her wanted to get up and leave right away, but her gradually relaxing body told her she had already accepted this life—with Fu Yumian in it. Even so, her mindset was still in the painful process of changing.

It wasn’t that her body didn’t want to be close to Fu Yumian. On the contrary, the moment Fu Yumian touched her, she responded instinctively. And it was this kind of natural intimacy that terrified her the most.

Lu Qingzhuo didn’t dare give herself to Fu Yumian completely. This was a high-stakes gamble, and she had no capital to play with—she simply couldn’t afford to lose.

They stayed in that position for a long time—so long that Lu Qingzhuo thought it must be noon already. She lay still in bed, not the least bit sleepy, yet unwilling to close her eyes.

Eventually, the person beside her stirred slightly. Lu Qingzhuo turned her head to glance over, only to find that Fu Yumian was already awake, her clear eyes watching her.

For a brief moment, Lu Qingzhuo panicked. Then she quickly composed her expression.

“Awake already?”

“Mhm.” Fu Yumian rubbed against her like a content cat, giving off the illusion of newlyweds enjoying their honeymoon. “Slept pretty well.”

It had been a long time since she last closed her eyes and opened them again to find it was morning. Fu Yumian suffered from severe insomnia. She disliked taking medicine and couldn’t be bothered to undergo treatment at top-tier international facilities.

Last night’s decision had been completely on a whim. Fu Yumian just wanted to see how Lu Qingzhuo would react if she climbed into her bed.

To her surprise, not only did Lu Qingzhuo not wake up, but her steady, calming heartbeat actually lulled Fu Yumian to sleep.

A deep, dreamless sleep.

Her whole body now felt relaxed and at ease—she hadn’t slept this well in a long, long time.

Lu Qingzhuo hadn’t yet decided what to say when Fu Yumian leaned down and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. Then she lifted the blanket and got out of bed.

Hearing the sounds of washing up from the bathroom, Lu Qingzhuo flopped back onto the bed, too lazy to move. The spot beside her was still warm. She reached out and touched it—and for some reason, her nose suddenly stung.

She didn’t know what was wrong with her—how such a trivial moment could trigger such a strange wave of emotion.

Maybe it was because she’d been alone for too long.

Ever since school, she’d had few friends, always planning day after day just to make ends meet.

Fu Yumian once told her she was strong. But only Lu Qingzhuo herself knew the weight behind that strength—how she had worked various part-time jobs to earn money whenever school wasn’t in session.

She glanced at the bathroom door, which hadn’t closed completely, then picked up her phone and rolled over.

It was already 11:30 AM—nearly lunchtime. She checked her notifications, but there was nothing important. She just wanted to keep lying in bed.

Fu Yumian came out after freshening up and saw Lu Qingzhuo lying with her back to her, playing on her phone. She couldn’t help but lean in closer.

Lu Qingzhuo smelled really good. Her pheromones carried a light scent of green tea—never overpowering, even when flaring. Instead, they were soft and pleasant to the senses.

Her skin had the same clean scent. Even her hair seemed to carry a subtle fragrance of jasmine tea. It was utterly addictive.

In Fu Yumian’s mind, most alphas were unpleasant beings. But her alpha was sweet and well-behaved—even if she sometimes acted like a little kitten baring its teeth.

“Why are you still in bed? Aren’t you hungry?”

Fu Yumian wasn’t used to living with someone else. Despite being married to Lu Qingzhuo for a while now, this was the first time they had actually shared a bed—though she hadn’t exactly asked for permission.

“Not hungry.”

Lu Qingzhuo still had her back to her, seemingly chatting with someone on WeChat. Fu Yumian’s eyes dimmed slightly.

“Come on, I’ll take you out for lunch.”

Lu Qingzhuo shook her head in refusal. “President Fu, you go ahead. I’m not—”

Gurgle.

Her stomach made a perfectly timed protest. Lu Qingzhuo bit her lip hard, her face full of embarrassment. She shut her eyes and buried her head in the pillow.

Fu Yumian laughed and tugged the pillow out from under her. Lu Qingzhuo grabbed at the blanket in an attempt to bury herself alive.

So embarrassing!

All the most humiliating moments of her life had apparently chosen to play out in front of Fu Yumian!

Fu Yumian grasped her left wrist and yanked her out of the blanket like she was dealing with an unruly cat.

“Stop fussing. Get up and eat.”

It wasn’t Lu Qingzhuo’s first time riding in Fu Yumian’s car, but today she had the distinct honor of being chauffeured personally.

When Fu Yumian turned onto a strangely remote road, Lu Qingzhuo instinctively tightened her grip on the seatbelt, staring at the passing scenery like she was calculating whether jumping out of the car would be fatal.

Fu Yumian glanced sideways at the visibly anxious Lu Qingzhuo, a faint smile tugging at her lips.

Lu Qingzhuo sat stiffly, as if on pins and needles. She couldn’t shake the feeling that Fu Yumian was planning to sell her off. “President Fu, why does this road keep getting more and more remote?”

Fu Yumian’s voice was lazy and casual, her smile teasing. “Afraid I’m going to sell you?”

“How could I possibly be afraid? I’m an alpha.”

Lu Qingzhuo tried hard to assert herself as a strong A, even flexing her arm and pinching the muscle on her shoulder. Fu Yumian turned to glance at her little display and couldn’t stop the smile from creeping up her face.

Just when it seemed like the road was about to end, Lu Qingzhuo spotted an estate in the distance. The car slowly pulled in.

“The Cantonese food here is quite famous. I’m sure you’ll like it.”

She drove all this way just for a meal? Lu Qingzhuo had spent the entire ride worrying she was about to be trafficked, only to find out she was being treated to Cantonese cuisine.

She wasn’t very familiar with it, but followed Fu Yumian out of the car anyway—only to notice another car had pulled in right behind them.

From it stepped an omega wearing sunglasses, tall and elegant—about the same height as Fu Yumian. The moment she took off her sunglasses, Lu Qingzhuo recognized her.

It was Ye Ran, currently one of the hottest actresses in the industry.

Ye Ran was in her early thirties. She had debuted at the peak of her career and was now considered a senior in the field. No matter what, Lu Qingzhuo knew she had to go over and say hello.

Lu Qingzhuo wore a sweet smile. “Hello, Ms. Ye. What a coincidence—are you here for Cantonese food too?”

Ye Ran’s gaze lingered on Lu Qingzhuo’s face for a moment before she nodded. “Ah, it’s Qingzhuo. I haven’t been filming much lately, so I’m taking some time to enjoy life. I’ll be on a reality show soon.”

“And this is…?”

Her gaze shifted to the Omega beside Lu Qingzhuo. The woman looked very familiar, but she couldn’t quite recall her name.

Fu Yumian remained expressionless as Lu Qingzhuo introduced her. “Ms. Ye, this is Fu Yumian, Chairwoman of the Fu Group. We came to have lunch together.”

Ye Ran nodded in realization. “So you’re President Fu—I’ve heard so much about you.”

She extended her right hand in a friendly gesture, and Fu Yumian gave a brief nod before quickly shaking it.

Smiling, Ye Ran looked at the two of them. “Let’s head in, then. I’m a regular here—I come every few days. Sometimes I even wish I could move to this neighborhood.”

Lu Qingzhuo chatted with Ye Ran the whole way inside, her lips curled in a polite smile. 

But then Ye Ran suddenly said, “Qingzhuo, about those rumors from a while back—about us being involved. That was my oversight at the time. I’m just glad it didn’t cause you any serious trouble.”

“How could I blame you for that, Ms. Ye? That situation…” Lu Qingzhuo turned her head, and the moment she saw Fu Yumian’s blank expression, she quickly added, “That situation has long passed.”

“I’m glad to hear that. I actually wanted to find a chance to apologize in person, but I never had your contact info.”

Ye Ran smiled gracefully and opened her phone to display her WeChat QR code, holding it out toward Lu Qingzhuo. “Let’s add each other on WeChat, Qingzhuo.”

As soon as she said that, Lu Qingzhuo instinctively glanced at Fu Yumian. There wasn’t a single trace of emotion on Fu Yumian’s face—no possessiveness, no anger, no jealousy.

But after spending so much time with her, Lu Qingzhuo knew all too well: the calmer Fu Yumian looked on the outside, the more turbulent her emotions were on the inside.

“President Fu…”

Fu Yumian gave a slight nod, but the hand hanging at her side clenched without her realizing it.

She watched helplessly as Lu Qingzhuo pulled out her phone, scanned the QR code, added that Omega surnamed Ye on WeChat, and even edited the contact note. A fleeting shadow passed through her upturned, fox-like eyes.

Ye Ran either didn’t notice or pretended not to. After adding Lu Qingzhuo, she even sent her a cute little bear sticker.

Lu Qingzhuo wanted to respond with an emoji of her own, but after scrolling through her 500+ sticker packs, she realized they were all sarcastic or wildly inappropriate—none were fit to use.

“Let’s go. The set meal I ordered should be out soon.”

Right in front of Ye Ran, Fu Yumian naturally reached out and took Lu Qingzhuo’s hand, leading her toward the private dining room. Once they were out of Ye Ran’s line of sight, her pace quickened noticeably.

Left standing alone, Ye Ran stared at their retreating backs in thought. She took out her phone, changed Lu Qingzhuo’s contact note, and even pinned the chat to the top of her list.

---

Lu Qingzhuo trailed behind Fu Yumian, confused. It wasn’t until she felt the tightening grip on her hand that she realized something was wrong. Could it be because she added Ye Ran on WeChat? But she had gotten Fu Yumian’s approval…

“President Fu, what’s wrong?”

Fu Yumian dragged her to the restroom. She turned on the faucet, wet her hands, then squeezed out a generous amount of hand soap, working it into a lather of snowy foam, vigorously scrubbing to wash off the unpleasant scent of white camellia pheromones from her right hand.

She frowned, brought her fingers to her nose, and only after confirming there was no trace of the scent did she turn and instruct Lu Qingzhuo, “Wash your hands.”

Lu Qingzhuo obediently complied. Just as she rubbed the foam over her hands, Fu Yumian grabbed the back of her neck with damp fingers, then lowered her head and bit down near Lu Qingzhuo’s gland, leaving behind a vivid red bite mark.

“Ah… that hurts!”

Lu Qingzhuo yelped, forgetting all about the soap on her hands. She grabbed Fu Yumian’s wrist, eyes misting from the pain, her brows deeply furrowed.

She tugged at her collar and turned to the mirror to check her neck. The skin was flushed, and on the pale area was a bold red mark.

It was a mark of claiming—a silent yet dominant show of possession and territorial declaration.

Lu Qingzhuo rinsed her hands, then touched the back of her neck and couldn’t help blurting out, “Fu Yumian! Are you out of your mind?!”

After her shower and drying her hair, Lu Qingzhuo opened the bedroom door and was greeted with a scene that made her freeze.

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