Chapter 14

“That alpha over there, your girlfriend is here!”

That shout also made the people around look over, causing Xie Shuyun’s hand to tremble. She almost failed to hold onto the drinks in her hands as she watched the omega girl continuously wave in her direction.

Girlfriend…?

She subconsciously looked left and right, but did not see any suitable candidate. In the end, she shivered.

She couldn’t be talking about me, right…?

The moment this thought flashed through her mind, the omega girl put her hands on her waist. Xie Shuyun watched as she very directly raised her hand and pointed her finger straight at her.

“Yes, you! Why are you looking elsewhere? Xiao Xue waited for you for so long. You’re too slow.”

She really was talking about her.

Xie Shuyun instantly felt the burning gazes around her. She subconsciously shrank her neck, her face somewhat bitter.

With just a few short words, this girl had basically maxed out the hatred directed at her. Countless eye-daggers flew over. If looks could kill, bailiantales.com she would have died countless times already.

She could only hurry forward and, with a bit of hesitation, hand the drink in her hand to Cheng Lingxue.

“Sorry for making you wait. This is…”

Xie Shuyun paused. She really could not bring herself to say the drink’s name, so she could only settle for something else.

“…This shop’s limited holiday cherry-berry fruit milk. Try it.”

Looking at the pink, heart-filled drink cup, Cheng Lingxue had the same first reaction Xie Shuyun had when she saw it. She fell silent for a moment before slowly raising her hand to take it.

Although she took it quite decisively, Xie Shuyun still caught the trace of displeasure that flashed through her eyes.

At this moment, Xiao Muran appeared very envious. Looking at the drinks in their hands, she also took a coupon out of her pocket.

“I heard this shop’s drinks are really good. I originally planned to come try it with my boyfriend too, but then…”

As she spoke, her little face suddenly darkened. Her fingertips tightened, and the ticket was instantly crumpled halfway.

Seeing that the other girl’s boyfriend was not beside her, Xie Shuyun could more stolen contentor less guess what had happened. She glanced at the drink in her own hand, then finally handed it to Xiao Muran.

“If you really want to drink it, then this cup is for you.”

As she spoke, she added,

“Only the first hundred customers today can get this limited version. I just happened to be the last one. If you go line up now, it’s already gone.”

“Ah? Then this ticket is useless.”

Xiao Muran looked at Xie Shuyun, then at Cheng Lingxue. Then, under both their surprised gazes, she tore the ticket in her hand into pieces and threw it into the nearby trash can. She shrugged.

“You should keep the drink and have it yourself. This is a couple’s version. What would I, a single dog, drink it for?”

“We’re not—”

Xie Shuyun wanted to explain that she and Cheng Lingxue did not have that kind of relationship, but Xiao Muran had already raised her phone and looked at the time.

“It’s already this late. I should go. You two enjoy your date! Bye, Xiao Xue!”

Watching Xiao Muran quickly leave and disappear into the crowd, Xie Shuyun [stolen content]could only look at Cheng Lingxue and dryly say,

“She really is swift and decisive. But she seems like a pretty nice person.”

Unfortunately, Cheng Lingxue still did not answer her. She only glanced at her faintly, lowered her head slightly, parted her thin lips, and held the straw in her mouth, gently taking a sip.

At first, there was the slight tartness of fruit, but it quickly turned into a sweet fruity fragrance mixed with a rich but not greasy milky flavor. The two tastes wrapped around each other and blended together, creating a warm yet refreshing sensation in the mouth, dispersing the restlessness in her heart.

Not only that, the soft, chewy jellies floating at the bottom each had different fruit flavors depending on their color. Overall, the combination was quite good. It made one’s mouth water and made one want to continue tasting it.

Cheng Lingxue lowered her eyes slightly.

Drinking it really did make one’s mood improve.

But…

Out of the corner of her eye, she glanced at Xie Shuyun, who was also tasting the drink and whose eyes immediately lit up. That bright smile was not only eye-catching…

It was also very dazzling.

“Right, what’s that omega’s name? Did you two know each other before?”

Xie Shuyun licked her lips and asked softly with some curiosity.

Someone who could build a good relationship with Cheng Lingxue felt like a capable person!

What she did not know was that this one question instantly made Cheng Lingxue’s eyes become dazed.

Her inner consciousness seemed to fall into a sea of memories. The needle-like pain in her heart followed, even eating into her bones, making Cheng Lingxue’s body ache faintly.

How had she forgotten?

At this point, she should have been locked inside the Xie family residence, reduced to Xie Shuyun’s forbidden possession, shut inside a room by her. In the end, even whether she could go to school or not depended on the other party’s mood.

This person would always give her a taste of sweetness, then throw her into an even deeper layer of hell.

She clearly knew the other party’s usual tricks, yet she could not stop a faint hope from appearing. That was why she always fell even harder, until in the end, she was almost shattered to pieces.

Now that there had been a slight change, she had been able to meet her future close friend earlier because of this opportunity.

But she had overlooked one thing.

Xie Shuyun’s interest in Xiao Muran…

seemed not to have changed.

Thinking of the person who had ended up covered in wounds because she clashed with Xie Shuyun for her sake, Cheng Lingxue’s fingertips tightened around the drink cup, turning slightly white.

This time, Cheng Lingxue absolutely would not allow the other party to be hurt.

During this period…

She had been too careless!

Beside her, Xie Shuyun looked at Cheng Lingxue, not really understanding why such a simple question from her would make Cheng Lingxue’s aura become unstable.

Had she said something wrong?

Cheng Lingxue closed her eyes and opened them again. The emotions in her eyes had already been completely hidden. Then she slowly stood up.

“Let’s go back.”

“Eh? But we still haven’t used the Western restaurant voucher, and lunch—”

Xie Shuyun was shocked by Cheng Lingxue’s sudden words. But before she could finish speaking, Cheng Lingxue was already walking toward the entrance, leaving behind only three light words.

“I’m not in the mood.”

Xie Shuyun stared at that figure walking away without looking back. Her words stuck in her throat, unable to come out.

She felt that the ice block that had originally gained the slightest crack had, in just these few short minutes, frozen over again.

And it had become even harder.

Completely unbreakable.

This result was something she had not expected. She also did not know what to do. She could only smile bitterly, take out her phone, and tell the driver to come pick them up, while she lowered her head and slowly followed behind Cheng Lingxue.

She opened her mouth and bit onto the straw, sucking with a soft slurping sound.

The sweet-and-sour, delicious drink now tasted only sour and a little bitter.

Mechanically chewing the jelly, Xie Shuyun felt that today’s date was simply torture.

How was she supposed to recover the favorability that had gone backward?

The car soon drove into the Xie family residence.

Just like before, Cheng Lingxue moved quickly. The moment the car stopped, she got out and strode inside.

Xie Shuyun, who had just entered the door, subconsciously searched for her figure, but all she caught was a flash of a skirt hem disappearing at the top of the stairs.

Throwing herself onto the sofa, Xie Shuyun irritably scratched her head and sighed lightly with her chin propped up.

At this moment, Qin Yu walked into the living room holding a neatly trimmed potted plant. Seeing Xie Shuyun, who should not have appeared here at this time, she asked in surprise,

“Eldest Miss, you’re back? Why so early?”

Xie Shuyun rubbed her temples. She could not bring herself to blame Qin Yu either. After all, the other party had acted out of good intentions. Who would have known the result would turn out like this?

She gave a dry cough before slowly saying,

“Something happened, so we came back early.”

As she spoke, she shook the nearly empty fruit drink in her hand and smiled at Qin Yu.

“This shop’s drink is really good. You put thought into it. But we didn’t use the Western restaurant voucher, so I’ll return it to you. When the time comes, take a day off and go on a date with your partner. As for the cost, you can have it reimbursed.”

“As long as Eldest Miss likes it. As for the date, I’ll thank Eldest Miss first.”

Even the shrewd and capable Qin Yu showed a trace of joy in her eyes when she heard she could take a paid date day off. The corners of her lips curved lightly as she thanked Xie Shuyun.

“It’s nothing. Oh, right, please ask the maids to prepare some food for me. I’m a little hungry.”

As soon as Xie Shuyun finished speaking, her stomach cooperatively let out a loud growl.

This time, it was not suppressed much at all and practically echoed through the entire living room. Although Qin Yu was the only person present, it still made Xie Shuyun unable to hide her embarrassment.

Qin Yu, however, did not change expression. She nodded slightly and prepared to walk toward the kitchen.

Seeing this, Xie Shuyun hurriedly called out to stop her.

“…Wait…”

Meeting Qin Yu’s puzzled gaze, Xie Shuyun pursed her lips tightly and glanced upstairs. In the end, she still said,

“Prepare a portion for Lingxue too. She didn’t eat lunch either. She only drank one cup of cold drink, so she should at least eat some proper food. If she doesn’t want to come downstairs, send it up to her. If she isn’t hungry, then at least serve her a bowl of nourishing soup. She just drank something cold, so drinking something hot would be better.”

“I understand. Eldest Miss, please wait a moment. Once the meal is ready, I’ll come call you. I’ll send someone to ask Miss Cheng as well. Please rest assured.”

After washing up, Cheng Lingxue sat on the bed hugging a pillow, her back leaning against the headboard.

Her eyes were lowered slightly, and her hair slid down, covering part of her face. Her fingers curled slightly, gently rubbing the pillow in her arms.

The phone by her feet vibrated from time to time, but she had no mind to pay attention to it.

Through the small gaps in her hair, her black eyes looked at the half-finished drink she had placed on the desk. Water droplets condensed on the cup and slid down along the little hearts printed on it before finally falling onto the tabletop.

“…Heh…”

A slightly hoarse and somewhat self-mocking laugh came from Cheng Lingxue’s mouth.

She raised her head a little, which also moved her hair, revealing those eyes. They were filled with deep exhaustion and sadness, enough to make one’s heart ache.

Knock, knock, knock.

The sound of knocking quickly restored Cheng Lingxue’s hollow eyes to their usual state.

She got off the bed, patted her clothes, and confirmed that nothing was wrong before opening the door slightly.

Looking at the person outside, Cheng Lingxue spoke softly.

“Housekeeper Qin, is something the matter?”

“Eldest Miss instructed me to prepare lunch for Miss Cheng. May I ask if Miss Cheng would like to go downstairs to eat?”

Qin Yu asked.

“…I’m not hungry. No need to trouble yourself.”

After saying that, Cheng Lingxue was about to close the door. bailiantales.comBut in the next second, Qin Yu took out a small tray from who knew where. On it was a small stew pot emitting white steam.

“It’s no trouble, Miss Cheng. Eldest Miss specially instructed that even if Miss Cheng isn’t hungry, since you just drank something cold, it would be better to drink some hot soup. This is Siwu soup stewed for you by the kitchen. Please have some.”

Cheng Lingxue’s small mouth parted slightly.

For some reason, she felt as though she had been arranged clearly and completely.

Looking at Qin Yu’s sincere gaze, she pursed her lips slightly. In the end, she still reached out, took the tray into her room, and placed it on her desk.

Picking up the small cloth beside it, she lifted the lid of the little stew pot. Even richer white steam, accompanied by the fragrant scent of medicinal herbs, immediately rushed toward her.

Cheng Lingxue took the small spoon and lightly sipped a mouthful.

Warmth flowed into her limbs and bones, finally gathering in her heart.

The hand holding the small spoon tightened slightly.

Faint tremors appeared in Cheng Lingxue’s pupils.

It seemed…

something had been thrown into disorder.