Chapter 1 – The Heiress Has Arrived
The autumn wind rustled through the air, lifting the strands of hair at the temples of the swordswoman dressed in white. The beauty’s features were striking, her brows and eyes sharp as she stood at the very center of the frame.
Another withered leaf spiraled down before her eyes. The woman’s brows drew together slightly, her expression resolute. Her ethereal figure, as flawless as jade and picturesque as a painting, blended seamlessly into the ancient city’s autumn scenery.
“Cut—”
At the director’s command, the woman in period costume abruptly closed her eyes.
After facing the cold wind for so long, her eyes were unbearably dry. The moment the camera stopped rolling, the pain she had forcibly ignored and concealed came flooding back.
Chi Zhaoying pursed her lips. Only after the involuntary tears brought on by the pain had subsided did she turn and walk out of the shot.
“Thank you.” She bowed to the crew.
She played a supporting character in the production of Among the Clouds, and the scene they had just filmed was her final one.
“Good, good! Very good!” The director praised her repeatedly, nodding as he watched the playback. Patting his beer belly, he rose from the low stool.
“It’s getting late. Let’s wrap for today.” A gust of autumn wind made him shiver before he spoke again with a cheerful laugh.
Chi Zhaoying acknowledged the greetings from the crew. Just then, her young assistant hurried over and draped a coat around her shoulders.
“Sister Zhaoying, hurry and put this on.”
“Thank you.” Chi Zhaoying nodded, then saw the director beckoning her over.
“Xiao Chi, come look at your shot. You look beautiful.”
Chi Zhaoying went over as instructed and carefully watched the playback, habitually searching for anything she could have done better.
This was a popular costume idol drama whose Alpha and Omega leads were both men. The character she played was nothing more than a plot device with no romantic storyline of her own.
According to her manager, Sister Wang, if she wanted the roles she truly desired, she first needed to become more famous and make her face familiar to the audience.
The current market favored Alpha appeal. As an Omega, she could naturally only land these bland, inconsequential roles.
But there was no need to rush, Chi Zhaoying told herself.
Once everything had been packed up, they headed back to the hotel. Her tiny, slender assistant tugged on her sleeve.
“Sister Zhaoying, happy birthday!”
Only then did Chi Zhaoying remember that today was her birthday. Her face blossomed into a smile as she replied gently, “Thank you, Xiao Yan.”
She took out her phone. The moment it finished turning on, notifications began buzzing nonstop. Ignoring them for the time being, she opened her conversation with Xiao Yan and sent the girl a two-hundred-yuan red envelope.
“Thank you for remembering my birthday.” Chi Zhaoying’s eyes curved with her smile. Her features were vivid and dazzling, yet her expression was soft and gentle as she thanked her once more.
“It’s getting colder. Go buy a few cups of milk tea.”
“Okay!” Xiao Yan promptly agreed. After escorting Chi Zhaoying to her door, she confirmed, “Full sugar, right?”
“Mm.” Chi Zhaoying nodded and accepted the room keycard from her. Then she saw the girl’s expression suddenly change.
“Oh, right! I kept forgetting to tell you.” Xiao Yan stuck out her tongue apologetically. “Um…”
“The heiress is here.”
Chi Zhaoying’s fingers froze.
“I’ll get going, then. Hurry inside, Sister. It’s getting colder and colder.” Xiao Yan smiled cheerfully, failing to notice anything unusual about Chi Zhaoying.
In her mind, the heiress and Sister Zhaoying were a match made in heaven.
Just look—the heiress had traveled thousands of miles to celebrate her wife’s birthday.
…
The keycard reader beeped, and Chi Zhaoying pushed open the door.
The room was much warmer than outside, and the patter of running water could be heard. Chi Zhaoying set down her coat, poured herself a glass of juice, and sat on the sofa to wait for the person in the bathroom to come out.
Young Miss Yu.
Her wife in name only.
Yu Li.
Although people in the industry constantly praised Chi Zhaoying’s face for possessing an innately aristocratic air, she could only feel inferior when compared to Yu Li.
Yu Li was the most beautiful, distinguished, and exceptional person she had ever met.
The difference between them was like the clouds and the mud.
Chi Zhaoying folded her arms and let her thoughts drift. Now that work had temporarily come to an end, she found herself unable to adjust. Moreover, only a few steps away was someone whose presence unsettled her even more.
Yu Li always took a long time in the shower, so Chi Zhaoying settled in to wait. Night fell quickly during late autumn. In only half an hour, the sky had become completely dark, without a trace of daylight remaining.
The sound of running water stopped, and the bathroom door slid open.
Chi Zhaoying slowly opened her eyes.
“A-Chi,” a voice called.
The voice was cool and clear, yet held a tenderness unique to its owner.
There was nothing about Yu Li that wasn’t perfect. Hearing her voice alone was enough to evoke countless beautiful scenes in one’s imagination.
Chi Zhaoying curved her lips and put on the expression she always wore around Yu Li—docile, gentle, and soft.
She turned to look at her.
Contrary to what she had expected, Yu Li wasn’t wearing a bathrobe or wrapped in a towel.
The perpetually elegant and impeccably dressed heiress wore an extremely unfamiliar outfit: casual pants and a loose T-shirt decorated with sequins.
These were not clothes Yu Li should be wearing.
Yu Li should be dressed in garments with exquisite, distinctive designs—long dresses, short dresses, qipaos, and haute couture that draped her in the brilliance of the sun, moon, and stars, making her dazzling enough to steal away one’s soul.
She deserved every word of praise and every honor bestowed upon her. She was a divine maiden, Heaven’s favored daughter standing high above everyone else.
When they first met, Yu Li had looked like a noble little princess too precious and distant to touch.
“Why are you wearing this?” Chi Zhaoying suppressed her confusion and asked with a warm smile.
“I wanted to celebrate A-Chi’s birthday, but I didn’t know what present to give you.” Yu Li toyed with the hem of her T-shirt. She appeared slightly unaccustomed to the clothing, yet she remained elegant and composed. “You told me before that you liked VX’s dances, so I learned one.”
“Would A-Chi like to see it?” She lowered her lashes slightly and gazed at the seated Chi Zhaoying.
“Of course.” Chi Zhaoying nodded, her smile brimming with tenderness.
Expressions and gazes like these always came effortlessly to her.
How could she possibly say that she didn’t want to see it? She rose and walked over to Yu Li, first offering a reassuring remark.
“You must have worked hard.”
She knew exactly how someone supported by a wealthy patron ought to behave.
Her mention of VX had been more than half a year ago. She had been filming a short production in which her character was a young woman who liked pop-rock dance music. To better embody the role, Chi Zhaoying had done extensive research.
Information about VX had been part of it. She no longer remembered exactly what she and Yu Li had said while discussing the subject, but she vaguely recalled the conversation. She had casually mentioned VX’s choreography to Yu Li.
Yet Yu Li had remembered it and now intended to give this dance to her as a birthday present.
As the little bird sheltered beneath Yu Li’s wings, Chi Zhaoying naturally had to thank her for her efforts first.
She couldn’t imagine what Yu Li would look like performing a rock dance.
A waltz, ballet, or tango—any of those would have suited her perfectly. How could such an elegant heiress possibly perform such an energetic dance?
“Did you prepare the music?” Chi Zhaoying noticed the faint blush on Yu Li’s cheeks and thought that she really was feeling shy. Pretending not to notice, she considerately asked the question instead.
Yu Li nodded. A faint smile shimmered in her beautiful eyes, as subtle as ripples spreading across a springtime lake at dusk, yet intoxicating enough to make anyone lose themselves.
Chi Zhaoying looked away.
They used the hotel’s sound system, and the backing track soon began to play. Beat after beat of the drums pounded in her ears, gradually awakening her memories. Chi Zhaoying recognized it as the title track from VX’s previous album.
It was the song she had listened to most often during that period.
“Happy birthday, A-Chi.”
Beneath the room’s lights, Yu Li spoke softly. Her voice was cool and clear, her tone gentle and unhurried as she offered a blessing overflowing with affection.
Yu Li’s skin was extremely pale, resembling the finest porcelain glaze, with every delicate detail clearly visible.
Under the lights, her complexion appeared even fairer. Every subtle expression was magnified and slowed, making her breathtakingly beautiful.
It was a peerless beauty that deserved to be framed and displayed for countless people to admire.
Yet the woman who possessed such beauty was now gazing softly at Chi Zhaoying, her eyes shining faintly.
Chi Zhaoying didn’t dare look for long. She brushed aside the long bangs framing her face to conceal her unusual reaction.
“Look at me.”
The main lights had already been switched off, leaving only the ambient lights around the walls. Following the rhythm, Yu Li began to move.
It was a song with a catchy melody and a crisp, lively arrangement. Only two lines of vocals appeared during the chorus.
The lead singer’s voice was exceptionally sultry, making the dance track even more sensual and seductive.
Chi Zhaoying knew the choreography. It had originally been designed for a woman, with every element intended to display the beauty and sensuality of the female body. Therefore…
It wasn’t surprising that Yu Li had chosen this song.
The noble young woman’s cheeks were faintly flushed as she earnestly performed the dance beneath the dim lighting.
Her skill astonished Chi Zhaoying.
Although Yu Li had never performed dances like this before, her innate talent in the arts naturally made every movement pleasing to the eye.
It was obvious that she had practiced extensively. Her movements were extremely familiar and precise.
Although they weren’t entirely precise…
During certain specific moves, Yu Li couldn’t quite let herself go.
She didn’t dare fully commit to a single one of the sexier movements.
She was awkward and inexperienced, yet adorable.
Chi Zhaoying’s heart stirred, as though the soft fluff of a dandelion had gently brushed across it, leaving behind the faintest itch.
Her mouth suddenly felt a little dry.
Yu Li didn’t fully perform the sensual movements, nor did she dare display the beautiful curves of her body. Yet those slightly timid, almost guilty motions made Chi Zhaoying even more afraid to look at her.
The stunning Omega watched the young woman dancing for her with a smile upon her lips. A faint trace of infatuation lingered between her brows and in her eyes, making her appear utterly devoted.
Only Chi Zhaoying herself knew that her thoughts had gone blank.
She didn’t dare look at Yu Li for too long.
It felt as though she had taken one glance too many at a little rose growing in a garden among the clouds.
That garden was extravagantly beautiful, while the rose was delicate, vibrant, and unbearably tempting.
Yet no matter how beautiful or tempting they were, Chi Zhaoying knew that the garden in the sky did not belong to her.
She wouldn’t risk putting herself in a compromising position. She didn’t even dare steal a glance.
The final drumbeat sounded. Yu Li was already slightly out of breath. Instead of holding the finishing pose, she straightened and looked toward Chi Zhaoying.
“That was amazing!” Chi Zhaoying’s eyes curved as she praised her with complete sincerity.
Yu Li pursed her lips, her smile becoming a little more obvious. She walked over to Chi Zhaoying.
“Happy birthday.”
A trace of sweet fragrance drifted through the air—the scent of a small cake.
Chi Zhaoying had always had a sweet tooth. Whenever she smelled that sweetness, she found it difficult to control herself.
Now, with every breath she took, she could imagine how delicate, soft, and creamy that little cake would taste. No dessert shop or pastry chef in the entire world could reproduce even a fraction of its deliciousness.
It was Yu Li’s pheromones.
Merely catching the faintest trace of them made Chi Zhaoying press her tongue against the roof of her mouth as her throat tightened.
No one knew better than she did just how sweet and delectable that little cake was.
“A-Chi.” Yu Li stepped half a pace closer. Her breathing was slightly uneven, lending her an indescribable sensuality.
She came closer and closer.
Close enough that Chi Zhaoying could clearly see the young Alpha’s long lashes and the eager desire stirring within her eyes.
The little cake’s sweet fragrance grew even richer.
Chi Zhaoying sighed inwardly and reached out, pulling Yu Li into her arms.
“Mmh.” Yu Li gasped softly, her heated breath curling around the hollow of Chi Zhaoying’s neck.
Chi Zhaoying leaned forward and pressed Yu Li down against the sofa. The rustling of their clothes filled the air.
“You don’t need to shower again. You just took one.” Chi Zhaoying moved closer, pressing her lips against the side of Yu Li’s neck.
“Mmh… You haven’t washed your hands yet,” Yu Li said.
“I won’t use my hands yet.”
“Mmmh…”
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