After The Shared Beta Was Abandoned By The Scumbag Alpha - Chapter 9

By the time they returned to the base from the hospital, it was already evening.

The police department had sent over warm meals and other necessities, arranging everything neatly outside the door.

Lin Xiaogu silently heated the meal boxes in the microwave and carried them over to Xi Bingye. Looking at Xi Bingye’s bandaged left arm and her difficulty moving it, she hesitated before asking quietly, “Do you need me to… feed you?”

Xi Bingye was trying to open the meal box with her right hand. Hearing the question, she glanced at Lin Xiaogu and replied calmly, “No. I can do it myself.”

“Okay.” Lin Xiaogu lowered her head.

“Hiss—”

A nearly inaudible intake of breath sounded.

Xi Bingye tried to raise her left arm to steady the edge of the container, but the movement pulled at her wound. Her body immediately stiffened, and her brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

Lin Xiaogu immediately put down her chopsticks.

“Prosecutor Xi, let me feed you.”

Xi Bingye looked at the spoon held to her lips, then at Lin Xiaogu’s worried yet stubborn expression.

After several seconds of silence, she finally sighed lightly in surrender. Her voice carried a trace of helpless amusement.

“All right. I’ll have to trouble you, then.”

Lin Xiaogu carefully fed her one spoonful at a time, while Xi Bingye quietly cooperated.

The atmosphere was somewhat subtle. The only sound in the room was the occasional soft clink of the spoon against the bowl.

When the meal was finally finished, Lin Xiaogu breathed a sigh of relief.

“Prosecutor Xi, it’s time to change your dressing.”

She had Xi Bingye sit properly on the living room sofa.

Lin Xiaogu took a deep breath and very gently loosened the tape holding the bandages in place, slowly peeling them away layer by layer.

When the final strip of gauze was removed and the long, narrow, stitched wound was fully exposed beneath the light, Lin Xiaogu’s nose suddenly stung.

“Does it hurt?” she asked, her voice choking.

“No,” Xi Bingye answered steadily.

“How could it not hurt…” Lin Xiaogu’s eyes burned as she said quietly, “I’ll be very gentle, but it might still hurt a little. If it becomes painful…”

Lin Xiaogu held out her own arm in front of Xi Bingye.

“You can pinch me.”

Xi Bingye looked at her in surprise.

“Why would I pinch you?”

“Because… you were injured because of me.” Lin Xiaogu’s voice grew quieter.

“Lin Xiaogu.”

Xi Bingye’s voice was clear and composed.

“If the person standing there had not been you, but another colleague—or even an ordinary civilian—I would have made the same choice as long as it was within my responsibilities and capabilities. Protecting the people at the scene is the team leader’s duty. It had nothing to do with you personally.”

Lin Xiaogu knew Xi Bingye was trying to comfort her, but her guilt wrapped around her heart like vines, impossible to escape so easily.

She merely became even more careful, disinfecting the wound little by little with a cotton swab dipped in antiseptic.

At that moment, Xi Bingye’s gaze happened to pass over the slightly open collar created by Lin Xiaogu lowering her head.

Just above her collarbone was an extremely faint, dark-red puncture mark.

“On your neck,” Xi Bingye said softly. “What is that?”

Lin Xiaogu’s movements suddenly stopped.

She instinctively raised her hand and tightly covered her collar, lowering her head in panic.

“It’s… it’s nothing.”

Xi Bingye did not look away. Instead, she observed her more intently, her tone gentle but carrying an insistence that could not be avoided.

“Would it be convenient to let me see?”

“This… No…”

Lin Xiaogu gripped her collar even more tightly, her knuckles turning slightly white.

A warm palm gently covered the back of the hand Lin Xiaogu was pressing against her collar.

The warmth of Xi Bingye’s palm seeped through her skin, carrying a strangely soothing power. Her voice dropped even lower, almost becoming a whisper.

“It’s all right. Let me take a look.”

“If I’m not mistaken… it’s a needle mark, isn’t it?”

Lin Xiaogu’s heartbeat abruptly lost its rhythm.

It was only a needle mark.

There should not be any harm in letting Xi Bingye look at it, right?

Slowly—extremely slowly—she loosened her fingers and pulled her collar down slightly, revealing the distinct puncture mark on the side of her neck.

“Y-Yes,” she explained hoarsely. “But it was only… an ordinary injection for treating insomnia.”

“Secretary Lin.”

“Hmm?”

The next instant, the light in front of Lin Xiaogu was blocked.

Without warning, Xi Bingye leaned closer.

She was so near that Lin Xiaogu could feel the faint current created by her breathing brushing across the sensitive skin at the side of her neck. A unique scent combining icy freshness with a faint medicinal fragrance surrounded her.

All the blood in Lin Xiaogu’s body seemed to rush into her head at once.

Her mind went completely blank.

Almost instinctively, she shoved Xi Bingye away with all her strength and stumbled backward herself, her face turning bright red.

“What are you doing?!”

Xi Bingye leaned slightly backward from the force of the push.

Just now, while they had been extremely close, she had quickly smelled the exceedingly faint trace of pheromones remaining around the puncture mark.

Xi Bingye then seemed to fall into deep thought, her gaze turning sharp and profound.

Lin Xiaogu stood nearby, her eyes slightly red from humiliation and fright. Her voice trembled.

“You said you wouldn’t offend me… but just now, you…”

“Was it really only an injection for treating insomnia?”

“W-What?”

“Was what you injected into yourself truly nothing more than an ordinary treatment for insomnia?” Xi Bingye repeated patiently, pronouncing every word clearly.

“Yes! It was only an ordinary insomnia injection!” Lin Xiaogu shouted while clutching her collar.

Xi Bingye did not immediately contradict her. She merely observed Lin Xiaogu’s expression in silence.

In a flash, numerous scattered clues connected like pieces of a puzzle in her mind: the enormous gaps in Lin Xiaogu’s résumé, her habitual humility and timidity around others, and the puncture mark on her neck that emitted the scent of unusual pheromones…

Everything now seemed to have a reasonable explanation.

After a long moment, Xi Bingye’s lips curved into an extremely faint smile, but her eyes remained icy.

Looking at the needle mark on Lin Xiaogu’s neck, she said calmly, “General Yu truly is a beast.”

---

Early the following morning, Lin Xiaogu was awakened by the faint sounds of engines and arguing outside the window.

She sat up in a daze.

A strange sense of unease drove her to hurry toward the door and pull it open.

The scene before her instantly left her frozen.

Lin Xiaogu rubbed her eyes in disbelief.

Yu Baiyi stood in the middle of the living room wearing a perfectly pressed military uniform, her expression as cold as frost. Two solemn-looking adjutants stood behind her.

Xi Bingye, meanwhile, was blocking the corridor leading to the bedrooms. The bandage around her arm remained conspicuous. She was speaking quietly to Yu Baiyi, her pace calm and even, but Yu Baiyi’s expression was growing increasingly ugly, her jaw tightly clenched.

“Bai… General Yu?”

Lin Xiaogu instinctively called her by the intimate name before hurriedly correcting herself.

Hearing Lin Xiaogu’s voice, Yu Baiyi abruptly turned around.

The instant she saw Lin Xiaogu, the frozen fury in her eyes seemed to melt slightly, replaced by a more complicated mixture of anxiety and urgency.

She ignored Xi Bingye and strode quickly toward Lin Xiaogu, pulling her tightly into her arms.

“Come on. We’re going home,” Yu Baiyi said in a low, hoarse voice.

“O-Okay…”

Lin Xiaogu’s mind was in complete chaos, and she could only respond mechanically.

She could tell that Yu Baiyi was extremely angry.

But why was Baiyi here?

Could it be…

Had she come all this way to find her?

Yu Baiyi held her so tightly that Lin Xiaogu felt as though she could barely breathe.

But…

Her work had not yet been handed over, and Prosecutor Xi’s injury still…

That was right. Where was the prosecutor?

Lin Xiaogu tried to look over Yu Baiyi’s shoulder and find Xi Bingye, but she was trapped within the firm embrace, obstructing her view.

Just as Yu Baiyi half-embraced and half-carried her through the front door toward the military SUV waiting outside, Xi Bingye’s cool voice sounded behind them.

“General Yu, are you really going to take my secretary away right in front of me?”

Yu Baiyi stopped and turned around.

“What else should I do? Do I need to submit a report to you first?”

Xi Bingye stood at the boundary between light and shadow inside the doorway, her expression perfectly calm.

“Lin Xiaogu is currently employed by the Inspectorate. She still has unfinished work and needs to return with me to organize the case documents from the past several days.”

Yu Baiyi could not think about so much at that moment. Her tone was hostile.

“Not today. Those useless documents of yours… can wait until another day.”

Xi Bingye’s gaze passed over Yu Baiyi’s shoulder and landed on Lin Xiaogu’s slightly pale face.

Her eyes suddenly softened.

“Xiaogu,” she called gently.

Lin Xiaogu’s heart trembled.

As though drawn by an invisible force, she unconsciously turned her head within Yu Baiyi’s embrace and met those calm, gentle eyes.

Xi Bingye looked at her and asked in a soft, almost consultative tone, “Xiaogu, do you want to leave with her now, or would you prefer to return to the Inspectorate with me first and finish the necessary work?”

Yu Baiyi was nearly driven mad with anger.

What had that woman just called Lin Xiaogu?

Xiaogu?

Who the hell had given her the right to call her that?

Caught beneath two entirely different yet equally intense gazes, Lin Xiaogu felt suffocating pressure.

She looked at the livid Yu Baiyi, then at Xi Bingye, who waited calmly.

Her lips moved several times before she finally lowered her head and spoke in a voice as faint as a mosquito’s.

“I’m sorry, Prosecutor Xi… Could I organize the documents tomorrow instead?”

Xi Bingye studied her for a moment, then nodded.

Her voice remained gentle.

“All right.”

Yu Baiyi did not give them any further opportunity to speak.

She shoved Lin Xiaogu into the vehicle, and the SUV’s engine released a low roar before speeding away in a cloud of dust.

---

When they returned home, the heavy solid-wood door slammed shut behind them with a muffled echo.

Lin Xiaogu flinched.

“Baiyi…” she called timidly.

Yu Baiyi abruptly turned around, her eyes filled with fury.

However, when she saw the fear and unease filling Lin Xiaogu’s eyes, her overwhelming anger seemed to be forcibly suppressed.

She closed her eyes.

When she opened them again, she tried her best to make her voice sound calm.

“Starting tomorrow, you’re not going to work anymore.”

“Why?”

That question instantly ignited Yu Baiyi’s anger again.

“What do you mean, why? You disappeared for so many days! You didn’t reply to my messages or answer my calls. I couldn’t eat during the day or sleep at night. Every day, I wondered whether something had happened to you, and now you’re actually asking me why?”

Only then did Lin Xiaogu remember the terrible signal at the border and hurriedly explained, “Baiyi, there was no phone signal over there. I didn’t deliberately avoid contacting you…”

“Say whatever you want. You always have your own reasons,” Yu Baiyi interrupted her harshly. “I regret it, all right? I regret sending you to work. I want to see you every day. Is that unacceptable? Or do you want to leave me now and go find Xi Bingye?”

Lin Xiaogu turned pale with shock and repeatedly shook her head.

“There’s nothing like that between Prosecutor Xi and me. Baiyi, you can’t think of me that way.”

That was true.

How could Lin Xiaogu possibly have the courage to do such a thing?

Yu Baiyi’s emotions eased slightly.

She walked up to Lin Xiaogu and gently wiped away her tears with the pad of her thumb. Her voice softened.

“I’m sorry. I was too anxious. But there’s no room for negotiation regarding your job. Resign.”

“I’m sorry, Baiyi… I won’t make you angry.”

Lin Xiaogu bit her lip and forced herself to say, “I won’t go to work anymore.”

Only then did Yu Baiyi smile.

She pulled Lin Xiaogu into her arms and kissed her forehead.

“That’s my good girl.”

“I’ve spent the past several days wondering whether letting you work was the correct decision,” Yu Baiyi murmured beside her ear. “I was afraid that if you always remained by my side, you would lose your basic social skills and become overly dependent on me. That’s why I thought it might be good to send you somewhere relatively safe, where you could interact with the outside world and gain experience.”

“But I regret it, Xiaogu. Three days—three entire days—I couldn’t contact you at all.”

Her arms tightened around Lin Xiaogu, and an almost imperceptible tremor entered her voice.

“For those three days, I regretted it terribly. I regretted sending you somewhere so distant and chaotic. I regretted not keeping you tied to my side every second of every day. I truly regret it.”

“Xiaogu, what I want is actually very simple. I only want you to remain beside me and let me love you, care for you, and protect you properly. All you need to do is look at me and depend on me. That’s enough.”

“Can you promise me?”

Lin Xiaogu was somewhat dazed by the forceful yet affectionate confession. Her heart was pulled between bitterness and the warmth of being needed.

Looking into Yu Baiyi’s focused, loving eyes, her cheeks grew slightly hot.

In the end, she obediently leaned back into Yu Baiyi’s embrace and whispered, “Okay.”

Yu Baiyi smiled in satisfaction, holding, kissing, and caressing her.

After a while, she seemed to remember something. She stood, entered the bedroom, and returned with an exquisite silk nightdress.

“Baby, I bought you a new dress. Try it on. Do you like it?”

It was a replacement for the nightdress that had been torn before.

Lin Xiaogu happily accepted it and embraced Yu Baiyi.

“I like it! Thank you. I really like it.”

“As long as you like it,” Yu Baiyi replied calmly. “I have work tomorrow morning. I’ll ask the driver to take you to the procuratorate so you can complete your resignation. Is that all right?”

Lin Xiaogu nodded.

“Okay.”

---

Early the following morning, the driver dropped Lin Xiaogu off beneath the procuratorate building.

Lin Xiaogu held the employee card that still carried the warmth of her body and carried the laptop she had barely used.

She slowly raised her head and looked at the tall, solemn procuratorate building before her, appearing especially dignified beneath the morning sunlight.

Only a single week had passed.

Yet when she stood here again, it was to resign…

It would be a lie to say she felt no regret.

Although she had spent very little time at the procuratorate and Xi Bingye sometimes left her feeling confused, she had still liked the person she became while working.

But if continuing would make Baiyi angry…

Lin Xiaogu took a deep breath and entered the building.

She found Luo Yu and handed over her employee card completely intact.

Luo Yu accepted it, appearing hesitant.

“Are you certain… you’re resigning just like that?”

“Yes,” Lin Xiaogu said solemnly. “Thank you very much for your care and guidance during this time. It’s just… there are some matters at home, and I have to leave.”

“You…”

Luo Yu sighed.

“Forget it.”

She accepted the laptop Lin Xiaogu handed over and pointed toward the tightly closed door at the end of the corridor.

“Go ahead. Prosecutor Xi is waiting for you in her office.”

Lin Xiaogu stood before the heavy wooden door and took several deep breaths before raising her hand and knocking gently.

“Come in.”

The familiar, composed voice came from inside.

She pushed open the door.

Xi Bingye was seated behind her large desk, processing documents on her computer.

Morning light filtered through the blinds, cutting alternating bands of light and shadow across her body.

Hearing the sound, Xi Bingye raised her head and removed the delicate, thin-framed silver glasses resting on the bridge of her nose.

She smiled faintly at Lin Xiaogu.

Lin Xiaogu’s gaze involuntarily drifted toward Xi Bingye’s left arm.

“Prosecutor Xi… How is your arm?”

“It’s recovering well. There’s nothing serious anymore,” Xi Bingye replied calmly.

“That’s good.”

Lin Xiaogu lowered her head.

“Even after it heals, you still need to be careful. The doctor said you should eat light meals and avoid drinking alcohol or engaging in strenuous activity…”

“Although I know you probably don’t want to hear this, I still need to say it. I’m sorry. I was too foolish. I not only made you angry but also caused you to become injured.”

Xi Bingye quietly looked at her.

She did not respond to the apology and instead asked directly, “Why are you resigning?”

Lin Xiaogu pressed her lips together. The explanation she had prepared circled at the tip of her tongue.

“I think… I may not possess enough ability for this job. Prosecutor, you treated me very well and gave me many opportunities. The problem is with me… I can’t adapt.”

“You learn extremely quickly, and you’re very intelligent. Even though you began with no experience, you completed your work exceptionally well,” Xi Bingye said softly. “However, if this is your own decision, I will respect it.”

She leaned forward slightly and folded her hands on top of the desk.

Her gentle gaze rested on Lin Xiaogu, and her voice became extremely soft.

“So, Xiaogu, tell me—is this your own decision?”

The air in the office seemed to freeze.

Lin Xiaogu could clearly hear her own heartbeat.

The sounds of traffic outside and distant conversations became indistinct.

After a long while, she ultimately lowered her eyes, avoiding Xi Bingye’s gaze.

“Yes.”

Xi Bingye studied her for a moment.

“All right. I’ll let you leave. If anything happens in the future, you can contact me.”

Xi Bingye smiled gently at her.

“Goodbye.”

At that moment, Luo Yu quietly opened the office door and stood at the entrance, making an inviting gesture.

“Miss Lin, please.”

After those words, Xi Bingye put her glasses back on and returned her gaze to the screen.

Her profile was calm and focused, as though the conversation had never taken place.

A complicated emotion surged through Lin Xiaogu’s heart—an indescribable mixture of disappointment, guilt, and a faint sense of relief.

She slowly turned around, preparing to leave.

“Oh, right, Xiaogu.”

Xi Bingye’s voice suddenly sounded again.

“There’s a question I would like to ask you.”

Lin Xiaogu stopped and turned around.

“Go ahead.”

Xi Bingye moved her gaze away from the screen and looked at her.

“Yu Baiyi and I grew up together. We graduated from the same military academy. She entered politics and became a general, while I joined the judicial system and became a prosecutor. Our families have been close for generations, and we’ve always maintained a good relationship. Logically speaking, we should be considered friends.”

She paused, lightly tapping her fingertips against the desk. Her tone carried a trace of grievance.

“But you have probably noticed that Yu Baiyi seems to possess some inexplicable, instinctive hostility toward me… to the point that she did not even want to tell me she was engaged.”

Xi Bingye tilted her head slightly and looked at Lin Xiaogu with clear eyes.

“Xiaogu, did you know about this?”