Chapter 46
Those red lips had fallen recklessly upon the hollow of her neck.
At that time, she was filled with endless terror, endless rejection, and endless loathing. The aggressive Beta’s patience had worn thin quickly.
Recalling those feelings now, they seemed very, very distant. She remembered how much she had feared her, but even with that same “aggressor” right in front of her, she felt no fear at all. Looking at those red lips that had once bullied her, she even felt a strange, different sensation.
She even thought that if Xiao Yun were to kiss her right now, she wouldn’t run away.
But she was certain that Xiao Yun was truly just demonstrating what she had seen; she wouldn’t actually kiss her. There was no desire for her in Xiao Yun’s eyes. It was completely different from that night. She even felt that Xiao Yun was a “little puppy” she could tease, and a bit of flirting wouldn’t hurt.
She looped her arms around Xiao Yun’s neck and asked, “How did she kiss her?”
Xiao Yun froze in panic for three seconds before pulling away to create distance. “Just like that. Anyway, you know now—Xiao Yu likes my aunt.” Having said that, Xiao Yun yawned, claiming she was sleepy.
Jiang Cha knew she was occupying Xiao Yun’s blanket and should return it. She fumbled to lift Xiao Yun’s quilt, moved her body further inward, and covered herself with her own blanket. Xiao Yun also fumbled onto the bed. Her pale hand gripped the red wedding quilt, the veins slightly prominent, exuding a raw attraction.
Jiang Cha took a shallow breath and lay down silently. Those hands had once been reckless with her, too. Yet, she wasn’t afraid. In just two short months, the memories she once feared most had been almost entirely erased. She hugged her bear, leaning toward Xiao Yun’s side.
Xiao Yun lay down slowly, the fabric rustling. The Beta was taller and larger than her; sleeping on the outside, Xiao Yun felt like a secure barrier, giving her a profound sense of safety. She wondered when they might share a single blanket to make that sense of safety even stronger. A strange thought flashed through her mind, and Xiao Yun turned to meet her eyes.
“Regarding Auntie’s matter, it’s a secret between the two of us.”
“Mhm, I won’t tell anyone.”
“Go to sleep. We have to meet Lawyer Xiao tomorrow.”
“Mhm, I remember.”
As the New Year approached, the weather turned extremely cold.
The meeting place was a villa-style café. Snow drifted past the window, falling slowly. Inside, a person held a cigarette; as the smoke rose, the snowflakes and smoke passed each other through the glass. Heat and cold exchanged places, covering the window in a thin layer of condensation. From the inside, the outside was blurred, and vice versa.
A black car pulled up. Jiang Chengcheng poked her head out: “They’re here.”
Xiao Yu paused with her cigarette, then gently put it out.
Xiao Yun parked the car, pulled on her deep black leather gloves, and opened the door. Today she wore a charcoal knee-length trench coat, short combat boots, and black jeans, looking serious and composed. Jiang Cha stepped out from the other side. To combat the freezing snow, she wore white cotton gloves. She was dressed in a short green coat, a white lamb’s wool scarf, and a short black skirt. She still wore thigh-high boots, leaving a section of her leg exposed, the tops of the boots pressing into her skin to leave a red mark.
Xiao Yun withdrew her gaze from the red mark and held the umbrella to shield Jiang Cha from the snow. A few flakes landed on Jiang Cha’s curled dark hair; she gently brushed them away, then turned and naturally rested her hand on Xiao Yun’s wrist.
Since Xiao Yun had said the “cute” style didn’t suit her, she had returned to her daily style—one that, like the red marks on her thighs, revealed a restrained sexiness. Even in the cold, she maintained her glamour.
Jiang Cha seemed to be in a good mood, chatting about the lawyer as they walked. She was very concerned about the lawyer’s caliber, as it determined the important matter of if and when her beloved ex-wife would be released.
Xiao Yun wasn’t entirely sure either; the trajectory of events had become blurred. In the original book, she forgot if Li Rang stayed in prison for six months or a year. Through her sheepskin gloves, Xiao Yun gently pressed Jiang Cha’s palm, comforting her: “Don’t worry. The lawyer is top-tier overseas. Though she’s young, she’s never lost a case. Just explain your requests clearly to her, and it’ll be fine.”
Jiang Cha’s eyelashes fluttered. “I don’t really have many requests. I just hope she can come out early, so I can…”
Can what? Jiang Cha didn’t finish. Xiao Yun knew—so she could throw herself into Li Rang’s arms, live together, have babies, and lead a happy life. As a “guardian knight,” Xiao Yun felt it was her duty to return the proud princess to her proper castle.
“It will happen. Let’s go in.”
Xiao Yun walked ahead and pushed the door open with a crisp creak. The view opened up to a Western-style café decorated in deep gray—sophisticated and elegant. The lawyer certainly knew how to pick a place.
The lawyer happened to have her back turned, wearing a black suit and standing perfectly straight. The slightly wavy hair peeking out from under a cowboy hat made Xiao Yun’s pupils contract—this silhouette looked familiar.
Jiang Chengcheng stood up with a smile to greet her: “Xiao Er, this is Lawyer Xiao—Xiao Yu.” Then she turned to the figure in black: “Lawyer Xiao, this is the client for this case, the second miss of the Xiao family, Xiao Yun.”
Of course, the moment she heard the name “Xiao Yu,” Xiao Yun stopped listening to anything else. She was shocked. Her mouth hung half-open until Xiao Yu turned around, politely removed her hat, and nodded respectfully to her and Jiang Cha: “Second Sister, Second Sister-in-law. What a coincidence.”
Now it was Jiang Chengcheng’s turn to be shocked. Her eyes widened as she slowly lowered her coffee cup: “You two know each other?”
Ha, know each other? We’re practically family, Xiao Yun thought.
Ten minutes later, Jiang Chengcheng described this awkward mix-up as “fate,” remarking that the Xiao family was full of talent—and this way, the money Xiao Yun spent would stay in the family pocket anyway.
The four of them sat down. Xiao Yun didn’t know what they were thinking. Her Swiss iced coffee arrived, along with a hot cocoa for Jiang Cha. She took a sip of the coffee to soothe her internal heat. Jiang Cha took a sip of the hot cocoa, her eyes lingering hungrily on the iced coffee.
“I want to drink that too.”
“No.”
Xiao Yun stopped her. Jiang Cha’s feet had felt like blocks of ice last night; she wasn’t allowed to have cold drinks.
The small gestures and looks between the couple fell into Xiao Yu’s eyes. Her lips curled slightly as she praised their relationship: “Second Sister and Sister-in-law seem to have a very good relationship.”
She found it strange. She knew of her second sister’s reputation; why had she changed so much? Jiang Chengcheng said it was because of meeting Jiang Cha, but she didn’t believe it. Someone could fake it for a day or two, but to fake it this long was truly rare. She still needed to investigate further.
She took a sip of her coffee and looked up at Jiang Cha. “Sister-in-law, I have a few private questions regarding this case. Can we speak alone?”
As Li Rang’s ex-wife, for Jiang Cha to be with Xiao Yun so soon while Xiao Yun was also trying to save Li Rang—it would be strange if there wasn’t a connection. Xiao Yu sipped her coffee, looking at Xiao Yun. Xiao Yun took the hint, stood up, and dragged Jiang Chengcheng away to “tour the villa.”
Once they left, the area fell silent. Xiao Yu’s gaze landed on her beautiful sister-in-law’s face, recalling what Li Rang had said in prison. Her beautiful wife was suffering “inhumane humiliation,” and Li Rang wanted to get out as soon as possible to rescue her.
Xiao Yu didn’t see any sign of Jiang Cha being tortured; on the contrary, her complexion was rosy and she looked radiant. It was clear her new marriage was a happy one.
“Sister-in-law,” Xiao Yu interlaced her fingers and rested her chin on them. “Regarding your ex-wife’s smuggling case, how much do you know?”
Jiang Cha shook her head. “I didn’t know anything. On the day of the wedding, I was in a daze. I only found out she committed a crime later from others.”
Xiao Yu nodded and asked a few more superficial questions. In truth, she had nothing left to ask about the case. Her only concern was: Is my second sister really good to Jiang Cha?
So, she asked: “How does my second sister treat you?”
Jiang Cha’s reaction was peaceful—a peace carrying the joy of a newlywed. “Very well.”
A lawyer sees many people; in a conversation, every move, every breath, and every look conveys information beneath the words.
“But, does asking this have anything to do with the case?” Jiang Cha asked, looking at her in surprise.
“No connection. Just asking casually.”
The conversation ended in less than an hour. Lawyer Xiao was truly efficient, quickly clarifying the situation.
It turned out the drugs Li Rang smuggled were contraband, but they weren’t illegal abroad, and if used for medical purposes, they could be considered legal domestically as well. This made Li Rang’s actions ambiguous. She was conducting research that benefited medicine; as long as the public perceived her as having no great malice, she wouldn’t be sentenced for long. The judge would also consider public reaction when sentencing.
So that’s it, Xiao Yun thought. No wonder she didn’t serve long in the original book. Li Rang likely exploited this loophole, took the risk, and anticipated the outcome. Tsk tsk tsk. Using “medical research” as a cover for a private deal—it was a clever, legal-sounding excuse.
Xiao Yun sighed; there were quite a few tricks involved here. However, she was curious about what Xiao Yu had asked Jiang Cha. They had been in that private space for ten minutes, and Jiang Cha’s face was flushed when they came out. Logically, Xiao Yu’s target was Auntie, so she shouldn’t have any designs on Jiang Cha.
She asked Jiang Cha about it, and Jiang Cha didn’t hide it. “Your sister asked me how our relationship is and how you treat me.”
The two walked a little ahead, Jiang Cha keeping her voice low so those behind wouldn’t hear. Xiao Yun was suspicious; why would she ask that? She turned to look at Xiao Yu in the back, then back at Jiang Cha. “And how did you answer?”
Jiang Cha: “I said you treat me quite well.”
Xiao Yun breathed a sigh of relief. If Jiang Cha had said otherwise, would Xiao Yu have tried to “steal” her away? “Thank you for defending me like that.” Xiao Yun gave Jiang Cha an appreciative look.
The other woman lowered her head and whispered, “That’s what I actually believe.”
Xiao Yun didn’t hear clearly. “What?”
Before Jiang Cha could answer, there was the sound of hurried footsteps. Someone tapped her on the back. Xiao Yu stood beside her, her large eyes staring at her. “Second Sister, a word in private.”
At the stairs of the villa, Xiao Yu had a cigarette in her mouth. she pulled another one and a lighter from her collar, offering it to Xiao Yun. Xiao Yun waved it away. “I quit.”
Xiao Yu arched her brow, her hand pausing. She searched Xiao Yun’s face as if interrogating a suspect. Xiao Yun felt uncomfortable under that gaze, but she couldn’t lose her “big sister” authority, so she stared back.
A hint of a smile flashed in those calm eyes. Xiao Yu withdrew the cigarette, lit up, and lazily exhaled a smoke ring toward the window. “Interesting. The second sister who once taught me to smoke… says she’s quit?”
Those words made Xiao Yun’s skin crawl—because she hadn’t taught Xiao Yu; she had used violence to force the cigarette into her mouth and made her smoke. Xiao Yu’s methods of tormenting people were coming one step at a time.
“Look, regarding the things I did to you in the past, I’m deeply sorry—”
“Xiao Yun,” Xiao Yu suddenly interrupted, using her full name. “You don’t need to apologize to me. The one who should apologize is ‘Second Sister,’ not you.”
A gust of wind blew, and snowflakes fell onto the collar of her coat. The moment they touched warm skin, they melted into cold water. Xiao Yun shivered, her pupils dilating slightly. What does Xiao Yu mean? Does she know I’m not her?
No, Xiao Yu might just be testing her or provoking her. How could anyone in this world know about “transmigrating into a book”? She steeled herself to maintain her persona, looking at her with a confused expression: “What do you mean?”
Xiao Yu acted profound: “It doesn’t matter who you are. Your actions have already told me. I just came to confirm with you. It’s better that you aren’t her.”
If Xiao Yun wasn’t “Second Sister,” she could pursue what she wanted without reservation.
Xiao Yun was speechless. Looking at the “profound” Xiao Yu—acting all mature, weren’t she? She was a nineteen-year-old student acting like a thirty-year-old in front of her. In the original book, she was clearly a lively, sharp-tongued youth. Why was she as stiff as their father now?
Without a word, Xiao Yun reached out and plucked the cigarette from Xiao Yu’s mouth. “Stop smoking. I’ve been coughing all day.”
Xiao Yu’s eyes widened: “Second Sister, I only took one puff!”
Xiao Yun didn’t say another word, dragging her by the hand toward the car. “I’m telling you, I was your second sister before and I still am. If you don’t behave, I’ll tell Auntie about you secretly kissing her. How do you think she’ll look at you then?”
Xiao Yu shook her hand off. “Don’t be so touchy-feely. I am a great lawyer, after all.”
Xiao Yun turned around. “Then stop putting on an act with me. Stop smoking and posing. If you want to pursue Auntie, show some sincerity. Don’t do sneaky things behind her back.”
Xiao Yu followed behind with her head down. “How did Second Sister win over Sister-in-law?”
Xiao Yun answered as she walked. Hearing the question, she turned back immediately: “Your sister-in-law adores me and pampers me in every way. There was no need to ‘pursue’ her. I just snapped my fingers and she came running.”
She turned back around. In the snow, Jiang Cha had gotten out of the car and was standing by the passenger door, her almond eyes wide, staring straight at her: “Ahem… I bought hand warmers for you both.”
Xiao Yun didn’t know if Jiang Cha had heard. She spent a few awkward seconds burying her head before getting into the driver’s seat. Xiao Yu sat in the back, dejected.
As they started driving, Jiang Chengcheng’s orange Ferrari roared past. She poked her head out: “Xiao Er, see you in court!”
“Mhm.” Xiao Yun found the dialogue amusing. “Fine. Find a seat in the corner then.” She still intended to go to the hearing. Since Jiang Cha was going, she would take her to see her beloved.
Returning to the present, she noticed Xiao Yu had already started chatting with Jiang Cha. “Sister-in-law, my sister was just telling me your love story. She said you adore her and pamper her, and that you came running the moment she snapped her fingers. Is that true?”
Xiao Yun pricked up her ears. Great. Jiang Cha had clearly heard her earlier, and now her sister was adding oil to the fire. Her dignity was completely gone. It was cold out, but she was so cold she could barely turn the steering wheel. She glanced at the rearview mirror, wanting to deny it before Jiang Cha could, but surprisingly, Jiang Cha turned to Xiao Yu with a smile: “Your sister told the truth.”
The truth? Xiao Yun was nearly petrified. Jiang Cha really knew how to save face for others; she was a thoughtful, sensible, and wonderful Omega. With this EQ, IQ, looks, and personality—if she met such a girl in real life, she’d definitely marry her.
On the day of the trial, Xiao Yu wore a black suit, a white shirt, and a deep blue bowtie—sharp and crisp. Xiao Yun and Jiang Cha both wore deep black trench coats to avoid standing out. The difference was Xiao Yun wore black wide-legged trousers, while Jiang Cha wore an ankle-length pleated skirt.
Xiao Yun’s mood was hard to describe. Today would be a major turning point for her fate. If Xiao Yu was reliable and got Li Rang’s sentence down to eight months, it would be a happy ending for everyone. After eight months, she and Jiang Cha could terminate their agreement on friendly terms, and Jiang Cha could return to her Alpha. Xiao Yu would also have a successful first case in the country.
It was a win-win. Although victory wasn’t yet won, Xiao Yun felt it was within her grasp. As the three headed out, Xia He came to see them off. Xiao Yun stood to the side with Jiang Cha, watching the “gossip” unfold between Xiao Yu and Xia He.
Xia He stood before Xiao Yu, her eyes like a little rabbit’s. She clenched her fists and gave a little cheer: “Xiao Yu, this is your first case back home. Good luck!”
Xiao Yu’s eyes sparkled with a light that Xiao Yun found… hard to describe. “Auntie.” Xiao Yu didn’t forget to take Xia He’s hand, holding it gently. “I will do my absolute best.”
Xia He let go of her hand, stood on her tiptoes, and reached out to pat the top of Xiao Yu’s head. Seeing she couldn’t reach, Xiao Yu immediately bent down to offer her head.
“If you win, I’ll give you a gift.” Xia He withdrew her hand. “I forgot, you’re not a child anymore. I shouldn’t be patting your head.”
Xiao Yu, having missed the touch, stood up with a smile. “Then I definitely have to get that gift.”
Xiao Yun, watching the scene, stole a glance at Jiang Cha. Jiang Cha seemed to be enjoying the gossip as well, her eyes fixed on the two of them. Xiao Yun coughed and reached out to hook Jiang Cha’s finger, signaling her to restrain her gaze. Only then did Jiang Cha look back and squeeze her hand.
The Procuratorate was indeed a sacred place. Before even entering, Xiao Yun felt the cold, solemn air of justice from the buildings. With the winter snow, she felt a chill in her heart. Inside, the heating was low and it was very quiet. People spoke in hushed tones, showing respect for the People’s Procuratorate.
Xiao Yu had to appear with the defendant, so they parted ways at a certain point. Xiao Yu told them which way to enter the courtroom. Xiao Yun led her little wife, walking side-by-side. They were still holding hands, and the air was filled with rose molecules. She was a bit worried—should they still be holding hands?
Just as she was wondering whether to pull her hand away, Jiang Cha suddenly stopped. She was looking at a middle-aged couple approaching them. The man wore a sharp suit and had a stern expression; the woman was elegant, adorned in gold and emeralds, carrying a crocodile-skin bag. They looked to be in their late forties or early fifties.
Their gaze landed on Jiang Cha, filled with sharp disdain. Jiang Cha lowered her head to greet them: “Hello, Uncle Li. Hello, Auntie Jiang.”
Needless to say, those were Li Rang’s parents. Tsk tsk, Xiao Yun felt her timing was terrible. She was holding hands with Jiang Cha; what would the parents think? Jiang Cha had just divorced their daughter and immediately climbed the ladder of power to the Xiao family’s second miss, even bringing her to the hearing. It looked like a blatant provocation. She really wanted to let go and tell them it wasn’t what it looked like.
Father Li gave a low “mhm,” but Mother Li pursed her lips and said, “I wondered who it was. So it’s Heavenly Queen Jiang. How does such a busy person find the time to come and laugh at my daughter’s misfortune?” She didn’t forget to glare at Xiao Yun. “Hmph.”
“Auntie Jiang, you misunderstand. I didn’t come to laugh at her. I—”
“I don’t care what you have to say.” Mother Li’s voice rose slightly. Her eyes darted around. “You aren’t welcome here.”
Xiao Yun took a breath of cold air. This oppressive pressure—how would Jiang Cha handle her in-laws later? Never mind that Jiang Cha had married her to save Li Rang; her singular devotion was clear as day.
As Mother Li moved past Jiang Cha, she tried to “accidentally” strike her with the metal lock on her crocodile bag. Xiao Yun was quick, pulling Jiang Cha toward her. Jiang Cha’s petite body spun half a circle and landed securely in her arms. Xiao Yun held her thin waist tight, her nose resting against the Omega’s forehead. In her nervousness, the Omega’s pheromones were particularly strong.
“Are you okay?” The Omega shook her head softly.
“Oh my, in broad daylight, what are you doing hugging and touching? Can’t you wait until you get home?”
Xiao Yun helped Jiang Cha stand steady, took two steps forward to shield her, then blew a puff of air at her fingertip. “Auntie, this is the Procuratorate. Please keep quiet.”
Mother Li’s pupils contracted. “What right do you have to speak to me—”
“Based on the fact that you just insulted my wife and tried to injure her with your expensive metal lock. Auntie, there are security cameras here. Aren’t you afraid of being charged?” Xiao Yun kept her voice low, confronting her head-on.
Mother Li was furious. “What did you say? You’re slandering me!” Her voice grew louder, echoing in the hallway and drawing looks from passersby.
Xiao Yun spread her hands. “Auntie, I asked you to be quiet. Why are you shouting? And you said just now that my wife isn’t fit to be here? Is this your house?”
“This place belongs to the people. What right do you have to tell others they can’t come? Besides, Jiang Cha is my wife now; she has nothing to do with you. She calls you ‘Uncle’ and ‘Auntie’ out of respect for her elders. You really think too much of yourselves. To be blunt, if she didn’t greet you today, you’d be nothing more than strangers.”
Xiao Yun didn’t hold back, feeling a surge of satisfaction from her rant. Mother Li was red with rage, unable to find words. “You! You Xiao Er, I’ve truly seen it now. How arrogant you are!”
Father Li suddenly spoke: “Have you not embarrassed us enough? Let’s go.”
After they left, the air felt cleared. Xiao Yun glanced sideways to see Jiang Cha staring at her with eyes full of almost-worship.
“Thank you, Yunyun.” The Omega’s cheeks were flushed as she whispered the words.
“Ahem… well, when dealing with a mother-in-law, you can’t lose the first battle. If you lose once, you’ll always be at a disadvantage,” Xiao Yun lectured her. “But you won’t be living with her anyway. As long as your Alpha treats you well, you don’t need to care about her at all.”
Jiang Cha was in a daze, not really hearing the explanation. She only remembered Xiao Yun speaking up for her, standing up for her, and protecting her. She said, “Of course I won’t be living with her.”
She would be living with her.
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