Chapter 4

At the words “Come back,” Jin Yue immediately turned around.
She was like a little puppy that came when called and left when dismissed.

But just as the puppy happily scurried back to the doorway, she suddenly remembered the character she was supposed to be playing.
Jin Yue rubbed the smile from her face and struggled to pull down the corners of her lips. Only then did she slowly push open the door she had deliberately left ajar with her shoulder. “What?”

“How is your wrist?” Bo Xianyue asked flatly. She sounded less concerned than if she were conducting a routine inquiry.

Jin Yue lowered her gaze to the wrist Bo Xianyue had bitten and answered casually, “Thanks to you, it isn’t crippled.”

Her words were abrasive, making it sound as though she were deliberately provoking her.
Bo Xianyue had expected precisely this kind of response from the young heiress, so her expression did not change.

She stared expressionlessly at Jin Yue while recalling the previous night with equal impassivity.
Her tongue swept across her teeth, where traces of the Alpha’s scent still lingered.

That rich and complicated blend of alcohols remained hidden in her throat, as though a single spark could ignite it inside her.

Scorching and explosive, ready to erupt anytime and anywhere.

—“I’m an S-class Alpha. Countless Omegas line up hoping for my pheromones, and I’ve never given them any. Don’t think that just because we’re married, I’ll give them to a cripple like you. You’re on your own.”

The Alpha’s biting mockery still echoed in her ears. Those amber eyes had gleamed with contempt when she smiled, making her utterly detestable.
Last night, Bo Xianyue had genuinely wanted to know what would happen if Jin Yue marked her.

Would Jin Yue fly into a rage?

Would she slap her?

Or would she sever all ties with her?

It would be even more entertaining if the matter reached Jin Shengnian or became public knowledge.

Yes, even after everything that had happened, Bo Xianyue did not mind making her circumstances slightly worse.
Rather than possessing an empty marriage whose dignity she alone had to maintain, she wanted to admire Jin Yue’s reaction upon waking and see whether this useless fool would behave as Bo Xianyue hoped.

The slap had indeed come.

It had merely landed on her bottom.

Bo Xianyue never could have imagined that what greeted her would not be a violent storm, but a burning heat spreading from her tailbone.

Unfortunately, only her legs were disabled and unable to move.
She could feel everything an able-bodied person could feel, yet she could not evade anything an able-bodied person could avoid.

Should she thank Jin Yue for being merciful enough to remove her hand?

Should she be eternally grateful that the young heiress had not ordered her out of the room and had instead stormed out herself?

A trace of derisive amusement rippled through Bo Xianyue’s heart. Her physical disability and mental strain had long since drowned her genuine emotions. She no longer knew why she had called Jin Yue back or why she had asked about her wrist.

“What? You want to show concern for me but don’t know how to say it?”

Sunlight covered her vision with a thin white veil. Jin Yue’s frivolous voice carried a smile.
Those [unauthorized copy]amber eyes pressed into Bo Xianyue’s field of vision, as though puncturing something.

Bo Xianyue’s expression grew even colder.

Jin Yue noticed it too.

She simply could not determine what was wrong with Bo Xianyue. Even last night, she had failed to understand what Bo Xianyue was thinking.

But there was no need to rush. She had known Bo Xianyue for less than twenty-four hours. They had plenty of time ahead and would eventually become familiar with each other.

Jin Yue believed that with Bo Xianyue’s intelligence, she would eventually realize that Jin Yue’s sharp tongue was merely an essential trait of a proud, prickly young heiress. She was not actually a bad person.

Once their relationship improved, Jin Yue could complete her achievements. Completing achievements would earn her points and rewards. Once she had those points and rewards, she could finally achieve her dream of financial freedom!

The plan fell neatly into place like a row of dominoes, leaving Jin Yue delighted.

Since Bo Xianyue remained silent, Jin Yue decided to take the initiative and make a friendly gesture. She entered the room and closed the door behind her. “Since you don’t know how to say it, tell me what happened last night instead. Explain it to this young miss, and perhaps I can help you.”

Jin Yue raised an eyebrow, her eyes brimming with the young heiress’s pride.

Yet inside the room flooded with sunlight, the silence stretched on for an unusually long time.

“Miss Jin once said that we would stay out of each other’s affairs. There is no need to trouble yourself with mine.” Only after a long while did Bo Xianyue coldly respond to Jin Yue’s “generosity.”

Damn the original Jin Yue.

Jin Yue was certain that whatever the original had said could not possibly have been so mild.

“All right.” Jin Yue quickly adjusted her attitude and followed Bo Xianyue’s lead. “Since you mentioned staying out of each other’s affairs, let’s agree on what we can and cannot do.”

“Establish some rules,” Bo Xianyue said.

“Exactly.” Jin Yue nodded and spoke first to demonstrate her sincerity. “Without your permission, I won’t touch your personal belongings. Unless you agree, I won’t share a bed with you. If you’re unwilling, I won’t mark you…”

“I will fully respect your personal wishes.”

—She could not imitate the original Jin Yue and use force if she wanted to complete the system’s achievements.

Her personal wishes?

Bo Xianyue found that amusing.

No one had ever truly respected her wishes.

After listening to Jin Yue rattle off a string of one-sided promises that benefited only her, Bo Xianyue asked coldly, “Why is the young heiress suddenly so understanding?”

“Why what?” Jin Yue did not understand the Cantonese phrase.

Bo Xianyue lowered her lashes and repeated, “I asked you ‘why.’”

“Oh…” Jin Yue had the persistent feeling that Bo Xianyue’s previous sentence had meant more than that.

However, she did not dwell on it. Her most urgent task was still to change Bo Xianyue’s impression of her. “Because you called me back and showed concern for my wrist.”

Jin Yue spoke decisively, as though the answer were self-evident.

This clearly exceeded Bo Xianyue’s expectations.

In her view, that small gesture could not possibly equal Jin Yue’s long list of unequal concessions. It was not a worthwhile exchange.

What exactly was she planning?

“Grandma obviously hopes that we’ll have a good relationship, and naturally, I want Grandma to feel reassured too.” Jin Yue offered an additional explanation, raising three fingers as she swore, “Therefore, this young miss will never become involved in any romantic scandals. I guarantee that I will remain faithful in both body and heart and stay unwaveringly loyal to my wife.”

At last, Bo Xianyue raised her head and seriously scrutinized her wife.

The intense sunlight illuminated the Omega’s pale blue eyes until they seemed almost translucent. An indescribable complexity lay concealed within them, along with thoughts no one could decipher.

This spoiled heir had actually taken the initiative to preserve the dignity of their marriage.

How amusing.

After a long while, Bo Xianyue finally spoke slowly. “Jin Yue.”

“Hmm?”

“I don’t like unequal agreements,” Bo Xianyue said.

“I will follow everything you just promised as well. Neither of us will owe the other anything.”

Compared with Jin Yue’s enthusiasm while listing examples and her confident yet utterly untrustworthy oath, Bo Xianyue’s voice approached an emotionless calm. She resembled a contract printed in standard black type, and her two sentences were more rigorous than anyone else’s could have been.

Even vows between lovers could not last forever.

Much less vows between partners joined through an arranged marriage like theirs.

“Deal,” Jin Yue agreed brightly. Like an inexperienced rookie who had finally secured a major contract, she took Bo Xianyue’s hand with such enthusiasm that it bordered on offensive, sealing their agreement with a handshake.

The Alpha’s palm was hot and coated in a thin layer of perspiration.

Bo Xianyue disliked the sensation and immediately withdrew her hand.

The Omega’s long, slender fingers slowly rubbed the inside of her palm, attempting to wipe away the damp warmth Jin Yue had left behind.

Yet the warmth faded very slowly, as if prolonging the lingering sensations of the previous night.

Expressionless, Bo Xianyue thought that no matter what [bailiantales.com]Jin Yue planned to do in the future, she would see it through to the end.

.

Bo Xianyue ultimately went downstairs.

However, she did not do so for Jin Yue’s sake. Lan Yuyi had asked her to convey her desire to have a video call with Jin Shengnian.

Jin Shengnian agreed.

After all, Lan Yuyi had been unable to meet Jin Shengnian before or during the wedding due to “health reasons.”

Everyone involved was shrewd. Now that a video call was possible, it was a promising sign no matter how one looked at it.

As Bo Xianyue and Jin Shengnian entered the tearoom, Jin Yue remained alone in the dining room, continuing to play the role of an Alaskan brown bear.

She had never eaten such delicious salmon before. Whether cooked or eaten raw, the salmon slid into her mouth as though its flesh had never exerted itself once in its life. It evenly kissed her lips, tongue, and throat before traveling straight to her stomach.

[Host, you have already consumed too much salmon today.] Just as Jin Yue was about to finish the plate of salmon at the far end of the table, the system appeared to stop her.

[But it’s delicious.] Jin Yue looked aggrieved.

[Host, you look as though you’ve never eaten anything good before,] the system said disdainfully.

[I really haven’t. Didn’t you know?] Jin Yue replied [read the original at bailiantales.com]frankly. [To keep my body in optimal condition, I couldn’t eat anything that might contain parasites.]

Realizing that it had inadvertently touched upon Jin Yue’s past, the system felt guilty. [I’m sorry, Host.]

[It’s fine. That’s simply where the conversation led.] Jin Yue waved it off generously, then pushed away the plate of salmon she had pulled closer. [Your reminder was correct. I really shouldn’t eat any more. This is too pathetic and nothing like the original Jin Yue.]

[But Host behaved very much like the original in front of Bo Xianyue just now.] Perhaps trying to encourage Jin Yue, the little ball affectionately pressed itself against her cheek. [Neither servile nor overbearing—proud and sly.]

“Hehe, that tickles.” Jin Yue enjoyed the praise and giggled twice before grabbing the little ball and pulling it away from her face.

But even after she moved the ball away, her cheek still itched.

Extremely confused, Jin Yue raised a hand to touch it.

A lock of brown hair entered her vision. When she turned, she saw a woman dressed as a servant holding the strand and deliberately using it to tickle her face.

“What are you doing?” Jin Yue was startled.

The servant did not move away. Instead, she tilted her head and smiled at Jin Yue. “Isn’t Young Miss lonely eating by herself?”

“I’m not lonely.” Jin Yue’s tone was cold, and she immediately became guarded.

“That isn’t what Young Miss said before.” The servant lightly furrowed her brows, her pretty face seemingly filled with endless grievance. An Omega’s scent slowly spread around the dining table. “You said you were lonely by yourself and wanted me to keep you company.”

Jin Yue sprang to her feet.

What did she mean by accompanying Jin Yue whenever she felt lonely? Had the original Jin Yue marked this Omega?

That unfaithful, scumbag Alpha! Not only had she offended Bo Xianyue, but she had also left Jin Yue this mess to clean up!

What should she do? What should she do…?

“Young Miss, what happened to your hand? Who bit you?”

Jin Yue’s mind was spinning so rapidly that it was almost smoking, and she failed to notice her hand being lifted between someone else’s palms.

She had no idea how this Omega’s eyesight could be so sharp. Bo Xianyue’s bite marks had already faded considerably, yet she could still see them.

Although a pretty young woman’s sympathy was certainly touching, Jin Yue’s desire to survive and achieve financial freedom was more tempting than anything else.

Jin Yue exerted force, trying to pull her hand from the Omega’s grasp. “Y-You, let go.”

The Omega had no intention of releasing her. Instead, she tightened her grip. “Let me take a look, Young Miss. Didn’t you say I was your remedy?”

What the hell?!

What did the original Jin Yue need her to remedy?

“What remedy? Don’t… don’t talk nonsense.” Jin Yue’s mind went completely blank as she continued retreating.

Yet whenever she retreated, the Omega continued advancing. She lightly furrowed her brows and acted coquettishly. “When Young Miss had a headache from a hangover last time, my massage made you feel very comfortable. Have you forgotten?”

Jin Yue blinked and finally summoned the courage to ask, “It was only a massage? Nothing else… right?”

“Is Young Miss finally in the mood?”

Jin Yue had no idea how the Omega had interpreted her question, but her gaze unexpectedly became expectant. As she spoke, she guided her face toward Jin Yue’s palm.

Jin Yue felt none of the warmth or softness. Her entire body stiffened like a sheet of iron.

How could she possibly be in the mood? She had only just established rules with Bo Xianyue!

Besides, she was a married woman. If she did something like this, the heavens would strike her with five bolts of lightning!

“Nannan, what are you doing?”

Across the cloudless, brilliant day, a faint thunderbolt seemed to split the old residence.

Jin Yue trembled. Her hand was still trapped, immobilizing half her body, so she could only twist awkwardly to look behind her.

Jin Shengnian had already finished her call with Lan Yuyi and emerged from the tearoom.

Beside her, a wheelchair slowly rolled forward, ​read the original at bailiantales.com​shackling Jin Yue’s gaze beneath Bo Xianyue’s cold, silent eyes.