Chapter 44: Come In

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

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Lu Qingzhuo finished her shower and stepped out, her right wrist marked with a dense cluster of kiss and bite marks.

Fu Yumian had been both kissing and biting her there, seemingly unable to resist marking her everywhere, inside and out. Now, her body was entirely saturated with Fu Yumian's pheromone scent, and even after a shower, she could still smell it.

"Is her possessiveness too strong?" Lu Qingzhuo wondered as she looked at herself in the mirror. Aside from her right wrist, even her snowy white shoulders and the hollow of her collarbones were covered in bright red marks.

When she walked into the bedroom, the culprit behind all this was already lying on the bed, with Oreo, the cat, crawling on the carpet, trying to jump onto the bed.

Lu Qingzhuo knew that Fu Yumian wouldn't allow the cat on the bed, so she gently picked up the soft, squirming Oreo with both hands and placed it outside the door before closing it.

Fu Yumian put down the book she was holding and quietly watched the scene unfold before her, the corners of her mouth curling into a faint smile.

The moment Lu Qingzhuo turned around, that was the sight she saw.

Fu Yumian was wearing her red nightgown, the velvet-like fabric clinging to her lithe, curved waist. Lu Qingzhuo couldn't help but recall the sensation of her hand sliding over it not long ago.

"What are you staring at? Hurry up and come here."

At Fu Yumian's urging, Lu Qingzhuo, wrapped in a bathrobe, made her way to the bed. As soon as she got close, Fu Yumian grabbed her arm and pulled her down onto the bed.

"I'm not even wearing my sleepwear yet!"

Seeing Fu Yumian launching another round of advances, Lu Qingzhuo's soft, smooth hair fell over her chest. She covered her chest and began to resist.

"Let me put on my nightgown first!"

"Put it on? Why bother?" Fu Yumian pressed on Lu Qingzhuo's delicate collarbone, her thumb tracing the red bite marks on the pale, smooth skin, satisfaction almost spilling over. "In the end, you'll just have to take it off anyway."

Lu Qingzhuo turned bright red at Fu Yumian's words. She stubbornly continued to cover her chest, unwilling to be forced into submission again.

"Fu Yumian, can you give me a break for a moment?" Lu Qingzhuo blinked her sparkling eyes, her gaze like that of a newborn fawn, making her appear especially irresistible. "At least wait until I put on my clothes."

Fu Yumian lowered her hand and leaned against the bed's headboard, watching Lu Qingzhuo. "Fine, go ahead and get dressed."

After receiving Fu Yumian's permission, Lu Qingzhuo practically ran to the changing room, quickly pulling out a plain silk nightgown.

She held it up in front of her and examined herself in the mirror, but she couldn't help but shake her head.

The neckline of the dress was far too low, and just a slight bend or tilt of the head would expose her chest and stomach. Plus, it was very easy to take off.

Lu Qingzhuo immediately put the nightgown back, fearing that if she wore it, Fu Yumian would immediately devour her.

She spent the next several minutes indecisively choosing another nightgown. 

Meanwhile, Fu Yumian, lying in bed, waited and waited but was still not greeted by Lu Qingzhuo, wondering if she had secretly run off.

Fu Yumian opened the app on her phone and clearly saw Lu Qingzhuo standing in front of the full-length mirror, scratching her head, looking quite troubled.

Then, in the next moment, Fu Yumian saw Lu Qingzhuo rummaging in the back of the wardrobe, pulling out a slightly thicker nightgown and changing out of her bath towel into it.

Fu Yumian immediately understood what Lu Qingzhuo was up to.

Lu Qingzhuo emerged, wearing a pink sleep set and bunny slippers, the outfit resembling something one might wear for comfort rather than seduction, which made Fu Yumian chuckle.

Lu Qingzhuo approached, holding a glass cup, and smiled as she came closer.

"What kind of play are you planning to do now?"

Lu Qingzhuo, dressed like this, figured Fu Yumian should have no desire left.

"Huh? President Fu, I’m just here to sleep."

She said this while taking a sip of the wolfberry tea in her glass and then lay down on the bed, playing on her phone, turning her back on Fu Yumian, and not saying another word.

Fu Yumian’s eyes brightened, and she tilted her head slightly, gazing at the Alpha before her—this unremarkable, yet extraordinary woman. One of Fu Yumian’s hands gently slipped under the other’s clothes.

The moment her fingers and palm made contact with the smooth, soft skin, Lu Qingzhuo’s body stiffened momentarily before quickly relaxing into its natural state.

The nightwear appeared thick, almost like the clothes their housekeeper wore while working during the winter.

Fu Yumian’s fingers continued to tease and knead Lu Qingzhuo’s skin, and finally, the other couldn’t take it anymore. She lifted the nightwear and grabbed Fu Yumian’s mischievous fingers.

“Fu Yumian! I just want to sleep!”

“Why aren’t you calling me ‘President Fu’ anymore?” Fu Yumian’s hand naturally caressed the little Alpha, then she skillfully unbuttoned Lu Qingzhuo’s nightwear, continuing to behave like a rascal. “You call me ‘President Fu’ in public, but when you’re all riled up and embarrassed, you call me by my name, huh?”

“I’m not embarrassed,” Lu Qingzhuo said, pinching Fu Yumian’s hands. Fu Yumian’s fingers were soft and delicate, making her reluctant to let go. After a moment, she shifted slightly, moving toward the edge of the bed. “Let’s just leave each other alone for now. You’re not allowed to come closer.”

“Really? You’re about to fall off the bed.”

Seeing Lu Qingzhuo trying to avoid her by pressing her body against the edge of the bed, motionless, Fu Yumian grabbed the back of her nightshirt and yanked her back toward herself, like pulling a grumpy kitten closer.

“Ah, don’t pull me…”

Lu Qingzhuo could only act like a cat, showing her teeth and maybe threatening Fu Yumian by fluffing up her fur, though it was all in vain.

Fu Yumian turned over and straddled Lu Qingzhuo’s abdomen. “I still prefer you when you’re not wearing anything.”

Lu Qingzhuo: “…”

Pervert!

Could Fu Yumian have been possessed by some terrifying mysterious organization?

On the surface, she seemed cold and abstinent, but behind the scenes, she was this twisted, naughty person who spewed nothing but sweet lies. Lu Qingzhuo had fallen for her trick more than once.

Fu Yumian rubbed against Lu Qingzhuo’s abdomen, then leaned in close to her ear, biting the soft, small earlobe.

“Do you know how cute you look right now?”

After Fu Yumian bit her earlobe, Lu Qingzhuo was in an excited state, especially since they had just shared a small intimate moment on the couch not long ago.

Her body was sensitive, and Fu Yumian’s was even more so.

But seeing the needy, hungry look in Fu Yumian’s eyes, Lu Qingzhuo thought that by the end of this night, her tongue and wrists would be utterly exhausted.

No one had ever told her that an Omega could be more eager for physical satisfaction than an Alpha.

Lu Qingzhuo held back her Alpha instincts, resisting marking Fu Yumian, while Fu Yumian continued to press her, demanding more, leaving various marks all over her body.

She swore, one day, she would become a powerful Alpha. She would make Fu Yumian speechless, begging her while lying on the bed, crying and pleading for mercy!

Fu Yumian noticed Lu Qingzhuo seemed lost in thought, probably not thinking about anything serious. She wasn’t sure when it started, but she realized that the things she said were becoming more and more outrageous. She probably got it from Lu Qingzhuo’s influence.

“What are you thinking about?” Fu Yumian pinched Lu Qingzhuo’s chin with two fingers, forcefully making her look at her. “You’d better be thinking about how to make me unable to get off the bed.”

Lu Qingzhuo: “…”

Lu Qingzhuo stared at Fu Yumian in shock, never expecting such words to come from the usually composed Fu Yumian.

She couldn’t help but touch Fu Yumian’s forehead with the back of her hand, surprised. “Fu Yumian… you… you’re a little scary. Are you still the same high and aloof Omega I used to know?”

Fu Yumian couldn’t help but chuckle. She pushed one finger into Lu Qingzhuo’s mouth, enjoying the tingling sensation as Lu Qingzhuo lightly nipped at her finger with her sharp canine teeth.

“I only say things like this to you.”

Lu Qingzhuo was dying to block her ears. Every time she heard Fu Yumian speak such shameless words, her face would turn red, and she couldn’t control herself.

Fu Yumian shoved two fingers into Lu Qingzhuo’s mouth, her pale pink fingertips gently stirring against her soft tongue. When they touched her hard teeth, Fu Yumian pulled her fingers out, wiping the sparkling moisture across Lu Qingzhuo’s chin and neck.

“You’re so cute.”

After withdrawing her fingers, Fu Yumian replaced them with her lips, voluntarily parting her lips, hoping Lu Qingzhuo would be more dominant, kissing her fiercely until her legs and arms turned weak.

“Kiss me… hmm…”

Fu Yumian’s fingers caressed the slight arch of Lu Qingzhuo’s back, gently gliding down to the curve of her tailbone, a motion of affection and encouragement.

“Harder… a little harder…”

She basked in the dizzying feeling of oxygen deprivation, wishing that Lu Qingzhuo’s control over her would become deeper.

The soft tongue was forcefully swept away by another, and Fu Yumian couldn’t close her mouth, her shiny saliva trickling down her chin, dripping onto the pillow and sheets, soaking them with dark patches.

After countless days and nights of kissing, Lu Qingzhuo’s technique had greatly improved, and Fu Yumian often found herself too weak to stand, her body held firmly by Lu Qingzhuo’s strong arm around her waist.

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The next morning, Lu Qingzhuo woke up to the sound of birds outside, only to find herself kissed awake by Fu Yumian.

She didn’t know when Fu Yumian had woken up, but when Lu Qingzhuo opened her eyes, Fu Yumian was lying on top of her, her legs entangled around Lu Qingzhuo’s waist, their lower bodies pressed closely together.

Lu Qingzhuo’s pants, which had been perfectly fine the night before, were now completely stripped off, leaving her with no fabric on her body. Sooner or later, she would find herself joining the ranks of those who slept naked.

She had no idea when Fu Yumian had taken off all her clothes, but now, they were both bare. Fu Yumian’s hoarse voice rubbed against her.

"Last night wasn’t enough... Early this morning..."

The two hadn’t officially confirmed their relationship yet, but they had already gone this far. Sometimes, Lu Qingzhuo half-heartedly agreed, knowing she wasn’t the one being taken advantage of.

“It’s exactly because we’re so worked up early in the morning that it’s more fitting to burn off some of that fire in bed.”

Fu Yumian lowered her head, her perky breasts swaying in front of Lu Qingzhuo’s eyes, making the Alpha’s mouth dry, itching to bite down just like last night.

But the consequence of biting was being marked all over by the Omega, who would latch onto her neck and incessantly mark her with countless bites.

In fact, it wasn’t ideal to engage in such activities early in the morning, but since Fu Yumian had started it and sparked the fire, Lu Qingzhuo had no reason to refuse.

Fu Yumian’s snow-white toes, tinged with a hint of pink, curled on the soft bedspread. Her long legs were taut, and her waist and hips formed a perfect curve.

After what felt like an unknown amount of time, Fu Yumian lay limp on Lu Qingzhuo, unable to muster the strength to lift even a finger.

The two were drenched in sweat, the faint scent of their pheromones tangled together, hard to separate.

Lu Qingzhuo gently lifted Fu Yumian in her arms, cradling her legs in each arm, with Fu Yumian’s chin resting on her shoulder. The Omega was too exhausted to say a word, only breathing heavily.

Fu Yumian knew this position was very embarrassing for an Omega, especially since she was naked and easily carried by Lu Qingzhuo.

But she was too tired to even open her eyes, her lower body nearly numb, only wanting to lie still on Lu Qingzhuo’s shoulder.

Lu Qingzhuo carefully placed Fu Yumian into the bathtub, then sat beside her. She poured body wash into her palm, lathered it into fine bubbles, and gently applied it to Fu Yumian’s smooth back, softer than the bubbles themselves.

Fu Yumian hoarsely pressed her palm against Lu Qingzhuo’s hand. “Come in.”

Lu Qingzhuo hesitated with the hand that was rubbing Fu Yumian’s back and couldn’t help but ask, “Are you sure?”

Fu Yumian closed her eyes. “Mm, come in.”

The sound of water splashing was heard, and Fu Yumian suddenly opened her eyes, her abdomen tightening, her foot pushing against Lu Qingzhuo’s chest.

“I meant for you to get in the bathtub, not... ugh...”

“...”

Fu Yumian’s long legs were spread open, hanging on either side of the bathtub, her pale pink toes curled up, her arms tightly wrapped around Lu Qingzhuo’s neck, unwilling to let go.

She felt like she had become a floating reed swaying in the waves, needing to hold onto something for security.

In the blink of an eye, it was already noon. Lu Qingzhuo glanced at Fu Yumian, who had fallen into a deep sleep, and realized that Fu Yumian’s limits were even higher than she had imagined.

Looks like she would need to continue learning and work on increasing both depth and intensity.

When Lu Qingzhuo pulled her arm out of Fu Yumian’s embrace, the Omega didn’t wake up. Her cheeks were still tinged with a suspicious pink, her lips more red than usual, slightly swollen.

It seemed she was really exhausted.

Lu Qingzhuo looked at the cooled cup of goji berry tea on the bedside table and decided that it should be Fu Yumian who drank it.

She dressed and went to the kitchen, took out the vegetables she had bought yesterday, and cleaned them by the sink. As someone with OCD, she arranged each vegetable neatly, even making sure the potato slices were all the same thickness.

Lu Qingzhuo placed the potato slices in a steamer, preparing to make creamy mashed potatoes for Fu Yumian. She also cut up some fresh meat for Ye Ye and Oreo’s lunch.

After Fu Yumian woke up, the person beside her was already gone. She felt the coldness of the blanket and knew Lu Qingzhuo had been up for a while.

Though the room door was closed, Fu Yumian still caught the rich scent of food wafting from the open window.

She checked the time—it was already past noon, and she had slept for another three hours.

Fu Yumian sat up on the bed, using her arms to prop herself up, and looked down.

It seemed a little swollen.

She touched her lips, found they were swollen and sore, and then flopped back down on the bed, feeling refreshed.

Fu Yumian opened her eyes, casually grabbed a loose blue-striped shirt from Lu Qingzhuo’s wardrobe, and wore it. She didn’t bother with any bottoms, walking barefoot across the carpet.

She saw Lu Qingzhuo cooking in the kitchen, barefoot, and walked into the kitchen, hugging Lu Qingzhuo from behind.

Lu Qingzhuo, startled by the sudden hug, nearly dropped the knife in her hand.

She turned around and saw Fu Yumian with her forehead resting against her back. Upon closer inspection, the Omega wasn’t wearing shoes or pants.

Her long, snow-white legs were fully exposed, walking around without a care.

“You’re not wearing pants...” Lu Qingzhuo washed her hands, then picked up Fu Yumian, carrying her outside while grumbling, “Not even shoes? The floor’s dirty.”

“There’s only you and me. I don’t want to wear them.”

Lu Qingzhuo: “...”

Fine, she was the boss. Whatever she wanted, she could do. Even if that meant walking around without clothes in front of her.

Lu Qingzhuo, wearing a pink pig apron, was busy in the kitchen, chopping vegetables and cooking soup.

Fu Yumian didn’t know how to do anything and found everything in the kitchen fascinating. She put her shoes back on and followed Lu Qingzhuo, her eyes never leaving her movements.

Lu Qingzhuo, feeling her intense gaze, couldn’t help but feel like wearing clothes made no difference. She couldn’t resist saying, “The kitchen’s full of fumes. Why don’t you step outside for a bit, President Fu?”

“You look pretty good in that apron,” Fu Yumian teased, tugging on the apron strings behind Lu Qingzhuo, her hands starting to wander. “If you weren’t wearing anything inside, just the apron…”

Before she could finish her sentence, Lu Qingzhuo suddenly grabbed her waist with both hands and lifted her, placing her directly on the dining table outside.

Lu Qingzhuo leaned in, sealing her lips over the other person’s. Before pulling away, she gently bit the bottom lip and then threatened as she pinched Fu Yumian’s soft waist: "No more entering the kitchen! Otherwise, I’ll add extra chili to the soup!"

"Okay."

It was rare for Fu Yumian to cooperate so fully with Lu Qingzhuo. One hand braced on the dining table, she ran her fingers over the soft tablecloth beneath her, thinking that if she were to do something on it, it could be quite fun.

It seemed like "table play" was now on the agenda.

Lu Qingzhuo was busy in the kitchen, completely unaware of what was running through the other person’s mind.

She served the freshly made creamy mashed potatoes in a cute panda bowl and placed it on the table.

At that moment, Fu Yumian was already seated, waiting for the meal to begin.

Lu Qingzhuo had prepared sweet and sour ribs and also simmered a bowl of pigeon soup, adding a handful of goji berries.

While eating, Lu Qingzhuo noticed that Fu Yumian’s gaze on her was a bit intense. She felt an urge to rush to S City to film the show. Otherwise, at this rate, she might not be able to handle it much longer.

Lu Qingzhuo decided to bring it up: "President Fu, I’m going to S City to film a show in a couple of days."

Fu Yumian, eating the mashed potatoes that Lu Qingzhuo had specially made for her, nodded.

Something was off...

Normally, when Fu Yumian heard about any of her plans, she would ask a million questions, almost as though she wanted to chain her to her side. Why was Fu Yumian acting so strangely today?

Lu Qingzhuo, not receiving a response, cautiously added, "President Fu, I’ll be gone for a month or so."

Fu Yumian, sipping the pigeon soup, nodded again. "That’s fine. Meet some new people and gain some experience."

Lu Qingzhuo paused, staring at Fu Yumian, feeling that something was not right. This wasn’t the reaction she would expect.

Either Fu Yumian had been possessed, or perhaps Fu Yumian thought she owed her too much lately and wanted to let her relax a bit.

However, the true reason behind Fu Yumian’s indifferent response only became clear on the first day of filming the show.

---

On the first day of filming, Fu Yumian appeared as a mysterious guest.

As the owner of the villa, she naturally became part of the whole setup. She had even arranged for Lu Qingzhuo’s room to be moved next to the master bedroom, making them neighbors.

Lu Qingzhuo opened her mouth, unsure of what to say, as the entire crew clapped to welcome the special guest, Fu Yumian, and they were all grateful for the extra benefits she brought.

Everyone knew Fu Yumian’s identity, and even the normally sharp-tongued beta host, Song Huai, showed respect by slightly bowing when shaking hands with Fu Yumian.

When Fu Yumian reached Lu Qingzhuo, extending her right hand adorned with a ring, Lu Qingzhuo awkwardly extended her left hand. Their hands met, and the ring glinted faintly in the camera’s light.

Song Huai adjusted her glasses, saw the rings, and couldn’t help but smile. "Wow, Little Lu, you’re early for marriage, huh?"

It was the first time someone had mentioned the ring on camera, but Lu Qingzhuo didn’t mind revealing the truth about her marriage. What she feared most was that Fu Yumian might be upset.

She glanced at Fu Yumian, who had already returned to her spot, and saw no sign of displeasure on her face. Lu Qingzhuo then looked down at the ring on her ring finger.

"Sister Huai, your eyes are so sharp! You should be the one to host my wedding."

Lin Zhiyu couldn’t hold back a laugh and then awkwardly shifted her gaze, stunned. "Well, Lu Qingzhuo, we’re such good friends, and you didn’t invite me to your wedding?"

Lu Qingzhuo, pushed by her, was helpless. "I’ll definitely invite you next time."

Ye Ran’s lips curled slightly, her gaze instinctively turning toward Fu Yumian, sitting across from her.

Their eyes met. Ye Ran stared into Fu Yumian’s sharp eyes and, for the first time, found herself losing in terms of presence.

Lu Qingzhuo had messaged her some time ago, saying she had married. Her spouse must be Fu Yumian, right?

Ye Ran pursed her lips, recalling the way Lu Qingzhuo had looked at Fu Yumian at the manor. It wasn’t obvious that there was much affection.

In that case, how had they ended up together? Not only were they married with matching rings, but they were also on the same variety show—wasn’t that just an open display of PDA?

Could it be that Fu Yumian was sponsoring Lu Qingzhuo?

As the camera flashed by, Ye Ran quickly readjusted her expression and smiled slightly at the camera.

Lu Qingzhuo had thought this variety show was related to horror, but once she arrived, she realized it was actually a slow-life reality show.

The villa faced the sea, and when everyone arrived on the island, all their equipment and money were taken away. Only clothing for changing was left behind. No one was allowed to use their phone’s money for survival.

Each person was given 200 yuan to survive for a month, and during this time, other guests might join them for the survival challenge.

With no money, how was this any different from being stranded on a desert island?

Lu Qingzhuo glanced at Fu Yumian, as though seeking help. But seeing Fu Yumian shake her head, she understood why the director hadn’t given out specific tasks at the beginning.

That meant Fu Yumian was going to "suffer" alongside her.

Just then, the director smiled and said, "Fu Yumian is the biggest boss of this variety show. She will assign all the tasks from now on. You can also try to strategize."

This meant that since Fu Yumian had invested the most, she would have priority over all the rights.

After the director explained the rules, Ye Shutong began to complain about not having enough clothes for the trip, feeling that she didn’t have enough to change into.

Lu Qingzhuo raised her hand and suggested, "How about this? After the tide goes out, we can go shell fishing and then sell the seafood we collect."

Song Huai couldn’t help but give Lu Qingzhuo a thumbs-up. "Not bad, young one, you really have some ideas. I saw some buckets in the yard when I came in; they’re just perfect for this."

"Is shell fishing really reliable?" Ye Shutong, upon hearing that it was Lu Qingzhuo's idea, pressed her lips together slightly and raised a concern. "Also, can seafood lying on the beach even be sold?"

Lu Qingzhuo smiled faintly at her words. "Then may I ask, do you have a better idea?"

Seeing that Ye Shutong couldn’t come up with anything, Ye Ran stood up and said, "I think Qingzhuo’s suggestion is good. After the tide goes out, we can go to the beach and see. Maybe we’ll find something valuable."

Everyone's movements and expressions were fully captured by the cameras. Even if Ye Shutong didn’t want to go out, she still had to maintain a natural expression in front of the camera.

When Lu Qingzhuo was filming Summer Days, she stayed by the seaside with Fu Yumian for several months. Back then, there were no cameras around, and she could do whatever she wanted.

But now, with a different channel, every word and action was recorded, and Lu Qingzhuo had to maintain a safe distance from Fu Yumian.

As for Fu Yumian, who was usually very proactive, she seemed like a different person in this variety show.

In the mornings, she was full of fiery enthusiasm, and the two of them spent two hours in bed before getting up. Now, Fu Yumian looked at her with eyes that seemed unfamiliar.

Cold and distant.

Lu Qingzhuo knew this was all an act. Without the cameras following them, she could be as passionate as she wanted.

As the homeowner, Fu Yumian naturally had no reason to help them make money from shell fishing. She stood by the open window on the first floor, feeling the sea breeze, her gaze fixed on Lu Qingzhuo.

Her little Alpha seemed to be particularly popular with others. As for Lin Zhiyu, that was no surprise; she was always Lu Qingzhuo’s shadow, following her wherever she went.

Ye Ran had started to keep her distance from Lu Qingzhuo, but now a Beta host had emerged, and the three of them were huddled together, heads down, searching for seafood.

Lu Qingzhuo, bored, often watched shellfishing videos, so she had to enjoy the real thing when given the chance.

She wore slippers and walked to the beach, lowered her head, and started searching in the sand. Then, she lifted a rock and found a red-shelled crab underneath.

"Ah! I found a crab!"

Finding a crab was more exciting than finding a diamond. Ye Shutong and Ye Ran were picking seafood on the west side. She glanced at Ye Ran and muttered, "It's just a small crab; it's even smaller than my hand."

Ye Ran’s smile slowly faded, and she couldn’t help but say, "At least it's a successful first step. Unlike us, we haven’t even seen a seashell."

Suddenly, Lu Qingzhuo seemed to be possessed by the sea god, digging up a few fat cat-eye snails on the beach.

Although she didn’t know exactly what these seafood tasted like, shell fishing was really both relaxing and fun.

Fu Yumian sat by the floor-to-ceiling window, observing the scene at the beach. Their group had warmed up to each other faster than she expected, especially that Beta host, Song Huai. She seemed to quite like Lu Qingzhuo.

Song Huai, in her forties, was an excellent and humorous host, with many fans. Her personality was also quite cheerful.

Before this, Fu Yumian had looked up their profiles. The only person who had a grudge with Lu Qingzhuo was that Omega, Ye Shutong.

Although they signed with the same entertainment company, Lu Qingzhuo and Ye Shutong often had conflicts, and some unscrupulous media outlets made a big deal out of it, leading many to believe they were on bad terms, secretly backstabbing each other.

Before she knew it, night had fallen, and a cool breeze swept in. Lu Qingzhuo, blown by the sea breeze, returned to the yard.

She and Lin Zhiyu were the first to come back. Song Huai wanted to stay by the beach a little longer, so Lu Qingzhuo went ahead and carried her bucket back.

Lu Qingzhuo and Lin Zhiyu’s seafood was placed together, filling nearly half a bucket. Lin Zhiyu even found two small octopuses, which, although small, were still edible.

The most impressive find was the sea cucumber Lu Qingzhuo managed to grab from a crab’s mouth. She had never collected a sea cucumber before.

The kitchen was fully prepared with everything they needed. As soon as Lu Qingzhuo saw the kitchenware, her eyes lit up. She loved cooking.

When Ye Ran and Ye Shutong returned from the beach, they saw that Lu Qingzhuo had already put on her apron and was handling the seafood.

Ye Shutong saw that Lu Qingzhuo was preparing to cook the seafood they had collected and couldn’t help but say, "If we eat the seafood, how are we going to make money?"

"Since it’s our first time gathering together, this little seafood won’t sell for much anyway. Why not just turn it into a meal and eat together?" Lu Qingzhuo suggested.

Although Lin Zhiyu didn’t particularly like Ye Shutong, she couldn’t deny the logic in what she said. "Yeah, Qingzhuo’s cooking is really good. I love eating at her place."

Ye Ran took out one hundred yuan and handed it to Ye Shutong with a smile. "Shutong, you and Zhiyu go buy some drinks. Qingzhuo and I will cook."

She then asked, "Is anyone here unable to drink?"

Good, everyone could drink. After Ye Zhiyu and Ye Shutong left on their little electric scooter, the three of them—Song Huai, Lu Qingzhuo, and Lin Zhiyu—began preparing dinner.

Ye Ran and Lu Qingzhuo stood in the spacious kitchen, processing the sea cucumbers together, their gazes falling on each other’s skillful hands that could do everything.

Song Huai, whose mouth never stopped, had appeared on many variety shows. She had always been the one assisting with cooking, so it was the first time she encountered a young star like Lu Qingzhuo who was so good at cooking.

"Qingzhuo, do you cook for your wife every day at home? Your knife skills are incredible."

Lu Qingzhuo was a little embarrassed by the compliment but nodded and said, "Yes, when I’m not working, I take care of her three meals. I’ll make you all some braised octopus. She really likes it."

When Song Huai heard such a genuine answer, she was momentarily stunned. Her expression almost slipped. "What? You really have a wife?"

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