The Live-in Alpha Only Wants to Be a Quiet Salted Fish - Chapter 22

That posture, as if some chaste martyr was about to be defiled by a villain.

Su Mo’s face instantly darkened. In Lin Mu’s terrified gaze, she slowly curved her lips, revealing a bloodthirsty, ferocious grin.

“Ill intentions? Not letting me succeed?”

The pillow became the ultimate weapon, clutched by Su Mo and slammed fiercely into Lin Mu’s face.

One day, she was going to smother this silly Alpha! So that this mouth could never utter such filthy words again!

“Mmm-mmm…” Lin Mu frantically waved her hands in surrender.

Having vented her anger, Su Mo’s fury subsided considerably. She finally deigned to let go.

“Are you awake now?”

“Ptooey, ptooey, a-awake now.” Spitting out the hair that had gotten into her mouth, Lin Mu said sheepishly.

It was early morning, she just hadn’t reacted immediately! Did she have to be so brutal?!

“If you’re awake, go make breakfast. Something light, not greasy.”

The young lady commanded as if it were her absolute right, then turned to wash up. The sycophant could only wipe away a bitter tear and dutifully get up to serve.

She began to miss Aunt Liang. When would these hard times end?!

••••

Due to the young lady’s request for something light, Lin Mu could only rinse rice and cook congee. To save time, she even used a pressure cooker.

After the congee was simmering, she yawned and returned to the room to wash up.

When she returned, Su Mo was still in the bathroom, patting and slapping her face in front of the mirror. Seeing her approach, she merely gave her a sidelong glance, silently moving aside.

The sink was wide enough, more than ample for two people.

In the mirror, the two stood side by side, inexplicably harmonious.

Lin Mu glanced at the tooth mugs and toothbrushes placed together, feeling somewhat subtle. They were all new, provided by the maids, and of the same style, just different colors, giving them a bit of a couple’s vibe.

She tentatively reached out.

“You use the blue one.” Su Mo kept her eyes straight ahead.

“Oh.” Lin Mu responded disappointedly, her hand temporarily changing direction.

What a pity, who wouldn’t want to be a cute little pink princess!

Su Mo didn’t say anything, but her brows furrowed slightly, and she squeezed her face cream a little harder.

“Splurt…”

A large blob landed in her palm.

“…”

Lin Mu was highly efficient, and didn’t need any skincare products, so she finished washing up in less than two minutes. She dried her face, ready to leave.

“Wait, take this and put it on your face. Look how rough your skin is.”

Su Mo looked at her with disdain, smearing a blob of face cream onto her hand.

Hmm, used up most of it. The rest should be enough.

Lin Mu: ???

She looked at herself in the mirror in disbelief. Never having to stay up late, waking up naturally every day… how could her skin, so smooth and radiant, be rough?!

Though she thought this inwardly, she didn’t hesitate with her hands. It was a rich woman’s gift; she knew she couldn’t afford this skincare herself. No harm in using it for free, freeloading was simply that joyful.

••••

They woke up at 8 AM, but it was almost 10 AM by the time they left. This was because Su Mo’s styling team had made another visit, bringing not only matching couple’s outfits and accessories but also providing full makeup and hair services.

“Are we going shopping?” Lin Mu questioned reality. I’ve been shopping before, don’t fool me!

“I’m going out today, so I arranged for a follow-up shoot to shift public opinion and build momentum for the variety show.” Su Mo adjusted the sunglasses on her nose. She hadn’t done too much disguise today, only wearing a mask and sunglasses, also to allow people to photograph her as clearly as possible. If fans recognized her and provided some candid photos, that would be even better.

Lin Mu twitched her lips. Presumably, taking photos was the main goal, and shopping was just a convenient excuse.

Stepping from the elevator into the mall, the cold air sent a shiver through her skin.

Lin Mu peered around, left and right, like a curious child.

Various unfamiliar brands, coupled with the lavish, opulent decor, all screamed one word from inside out: expensive!

She had never entered such stores in her previous life, because there was no point; she couldn’t afford anything anyway.

“I remember you’re a local, right? Haven’t you been here before?” Su Mo’s eyes held a hint of inquiry, implying something.

The place she chose was the most famous shopping center in the city. The silly Alpha’s family used to be well-off; it shouldn’t be possible that she hadn’t been here before.

These words stirred many memories in Lin Mu, making her somewhat lost in thought.

“Been here, yeah, I remember…”

Remembered?

Su Mo frowned. “Remember what?”

“I remember there’s a really good ice cream shop around that corner!” Lin Mu’s eyes sparkled as she looked at Su Mo, her face full of longing, practically screaming “I want to eat.”

Is that all??

Su Mo was speechless. She thought it was something important!

“Oh, then go buy it yourself. I’m not eating any.”

“I’m poor, no money, it’s really expensive.” Her voice trailed off as she tugged on Su Mo’s sleeve, looking pitiful.

You’re poor, so I have to be the chump who pays?

Su Mo didn’t want to talk and showed her the back of her head.

“Oh, come on, just one portion, please, just one, I just want to taste it.” In her desperation, Lin Mu grabbed Su Mo’s left hand and swung it back and forth, playfully whining.

In her memories, the original owner and another girl ate happily, while she could only watch enviously.

Su Mo’s face felt hot. Luckily, there weren’t many people around at this time, though quite a few store clerks were already secretly glancing over.

“Alright, just one portion. Can you remember you’re an Alpha? Don’t whine all the time, it’s embarrassing!”

“Okay, okay, I’ll remember!” Lin Mu cheered, nodding profusely, and dragged Su Mo towards the ice cream shop.

Su Mo looked at their clasped hands, feeling a bit dazed for a moment.

••••

Upon reaching the place, Lin Mu released her hand and happily placed her order. Su Mo’s heart inexplicably felt empty. She curled her fingertips, silently stuffing her hand into her pocket.

Such a nuisance.

“I want this one, and this one, vanilla, chocolate…” She said “one portion” but meant the largest size, with every flavor.

“That’s 68 total. Please show me the barcode.” The clerk completed the order, holding up the scanner.

Five scoops for 68? Really expensive.

Lin Mu silently stepped back under the clerk’s gaze, her hopeful eyes falling on Su Mo.

Darling, it’s time to pay.

Clerk: ???

Su Mo sighed inwardly, stepping forward and pulling out her phone.

“Ah, I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” The clerk was a female Beta and couldn’t smell pheromones, but when Lin Mu turned, she saw the inhibitor patch on her nape. She had thought it was a female Alpha buying dessert for her girlfriend, but it turned out…

After scanning the code, the clerk thought for a moment and reluctantly offered a compliment.

“Miss, your Omega… is quite tall…”

Su Mo: …

She glanced at the Alpha who was half a head taller than her, then at her phone which she used to pay.

Gritting her teeth, her voice came out through clenched jaws, “Thank you, I also think she’s quite tall. Maybe she’s just so tall that she has insufficient blood supply to her brain, so her mind isn’t quite right.”

Clerk: …

Sorry, I can’t respond to that.

Lin Mu, whose “mind wasn’t quite right,” was sprawled against the display window, oblivious to the outside world, focusing solely on waiting for her ice cream.

When she was little in the orphanage, conditions were difficult, and many wishes couldn’t be fulfilled. She vaguely remembered once, when she was sick, the director carried her to the hospital, and asked her what she wanted to eat. Her answer was, surprisingly, that she wanted to drink a bottle of three-yuan cola.

She still remembered that taste now: a strange sweetness, crackling bubbles that scratched her throat, but it was delicious. She drank the whole bottle, burping all the way.

Though it was just a small bottle of cola, it was the first time her wish had been granted.

And now, there was a second time…

“Thank you.” Taking the ice cream, Lin Mu flashed a wide, radiant smile, full of wattage and sweetness.

The clerk watched the two figures walk away, clutching her heart.

Indeed, worthy of being an Omega, so sweet, boohoohoo!

Lin Mu scooped the ice cream, eating it in small bites, eyes narrowed, a look of pure contentment on her face. Su Mo could almost visualize her dog tail wagging back and forth.

“Isn’t it just ice cream? Is it really that good?” Su Mo looked at her strangely. She always felt like this person could make anything taste like a delicacy.

“Of course, it’s the first time…”

“Hm?” Didn’t you just say you’d eaten it before?

“Cough, it’s the first time you’ve bought me something, so everything tastes good, of course.” Lin Mu coughed, turning to look at her, her expression very serious.

“Oh… really? It’s not the first time you’ve eaten it?” The fox narrowed her eyes, clearly disbelieving. Such a small trick wouldn’t fool her.

“Oh, really, really, this ice cream is quite good. Do you want to try some…” Unable to fool her, she could only joke and change the subject.

A spoonful of milk-flavored ice cream was offered to Su Mo. It was melting because Lin Mu was eating too slowly. Su Mo looked disgusted. Who wants to eat your spit?

Just as she was about to refuse, her peripheral vision caught a couple nearby.

The two were excitedly whispering about something, and one had even taken out their phone, aiming it at them.

Su Mo hesitated for a moment, then pulled down her mask, leaned in, and took the bit of ice cream onto her tongue.

“How is it? Good, right!” Lin Mu’s eyes were starry, just like someone who had successfully recommended something and was waiting for their friend’s review.

“It’s alright…” Su Mo couldn’t give much of a review; her mind was no longer on the ice cream, only feeling shy.

“What do you mean ‘alright’? It’s clearly…” Lin Mu was disappointed. She scooped another spoonful, about to put it in her mouth.

“Wait!” Su Mo reacted. If she let the silly Alpha eat more, it would be even more embarrassing.

She quickly snatched the bowl and spoon. “Now I think it’s quite good. You’ve eaten so much, so the rest is mine.”

Lin Mu was shocked, clutching her empty palm.

So much? She had only eaten two scoops in total. That’s “so much”??

“I was just letting you taste it! How can you just snatch it from me?!”

Lin Mu complained bitterly, but only received a roll of Su Mo’s eyes and a decisive blow.

“I bought it, I paid for it!”

The one who pays is the boss.

Lin Mu immediately chickened out. “Oh, come on, we’re friends, you can eat it if you want, don’t be shy with me.”

Watching a dramatic face-changing opera unfold, Su Mo sneered inwardly. She looked at the bowl in her hand, feeling a bitter taste in her mouth.

Why is there still so much?!

She had snatched the ice cream herself, so she had to eat it, even with tears in her eyes. Spoon after spoonful went into her mouth. With the spoon in her mouth, she remembered the silly Alpha had just used it, and felt another wave of disgust. Yet, her wildly beating heart betrayed her inner disquiet.

What a terrible shop, they wouldn’t even give an extra spoon. Bad review!

••••

Walking and stopping, she finally finished eating. Su Mo only felt a chill in her stomach, her body temperature dropping by a few degrees.

Luckily, she hadn’t forgotten the purpose of coming out this time. She began to drag Lin Mu into various stores for a frantic shopping spree.

Sales assistants came and went, and Lin Mu became a relentless fitting machine. Though tired, she experienced the joy of shopping for the first time.

Before, trying on clothes was about picking the most suitable outfit. Now, trying on clothes was simply about filtering out the least suitable ones.

Especially when Su Mo nodded and said, “Don’t want A, B, C; pack everything else.”

That joy of being supported by a rich woman, you wouldn’t understand!

They exited another store they had plundered, clothes piled onto two carts. The clerks were busily packing, preparing for delivery.

Su Mo estimated that Lin Mu’s wardrobe was pretty much stocked, so she turned to shop for herself. It had been a long time since she’d been out shopping, and she didn’t know what new styles were out. And it was at this moment that Lin Mu’s suffering truly began.

Unlike Lin Mu’s bulk purchases, which could be delivered, Su Mo often only bought one or two items, which she had to carry herself. Thus, Lin Mu transformed into a walking, human shopping bag, loaded down to the brim, and the number of bags continued to increase.

Entering a new “map,” Lin Mu sat on the sofa provided by the store, stretching out her long legs. Beside her was another poor soul in the same predicament.

“Silly Alpha, how do I look in this one?”

“Darling, do I look pretty?”

Almost at the same time, the dressing room doors opened, and two figures emerged.

The other person clearly paused when they saw Lin Mu, their expression turning to disgust.

“Lin Mu, what are you doing here?! Didn’t I tell you to stop bothering me?!”