CHAPTER 43

On the day of Li Jia's discharge from the hospital, Ye Chengxing prepared a small cake as promised and also prepared fresh flowers.

"Congratulations on your discharge."

She handed the flowers to Li Jia, a bright and vibrant bouquet that was almost too big to hold, let alone carrying the cake. Ye Chengxing held the cake in one hand and held Li Jia's hand with the other as they walked towards the parking area.

As Li Jia's gaze paused, she looked at the cake in Ye Chengxing's hand.

The cake was exquisitely made, and the packaging showed the care put into it.

In fact... there was no need to go through so much trouble. It would have been the same if she had made it at home. Wouldn't it have been easier and more convenient to do it that way?

Li Jia had thought this way before and asked Ye Chengxing about it, but Ye Chengxing believed it was necessary and important to her.

Li Jia withdrew her gaze, feeling a bit dazed.

In fact, it was easy to feel the difference between these two approaches. It was a straightforward feeling of being valued and cared for.

In a moment, it seemed as if she had returned to the time when she first met Ye Chengxing. She had held her like this when they went to the hospital, and later, she held her hand and brought her home.

Perhaps there had been some changes and emotions that occurred when she held her hand and brought her home.

When they reached the parking area, Ye Chengxing opened the car door and let Li Jia get in first. After fastening the Omega's seatbelt, she walked to the other side and sat in the driver's seat.

From leaving the ward to getting into the car, Ye Chengxing never let go of Li Jia's hand. They held each other firmly, after all, they were still in the hospital, and amidst the hustle and bustle, the unfamiliar Alpha pheromones became even more chaotic.

This was one of the points the doctor had specifically mentioned. Even though Li Jia had passed the heat period, due to the stimulation she had received this time, she might be very sensitive to the pheromones of other Alphas in the following time. It was easy for the rejection reaction to occur again. To prevent such a situation, it would be best for Ye Chengxing to stay by Li Jia's side, and physical contact would be even better. Having a highly compatible Alpha by her side would help isolate the discomfort caused by the pheromones of other Alphas.

So, throughout the journey, Ye Chengxing never let go of Li Jia's hand.

After going through this incident, Ye Chengxing reflected on herself and realized she needed to be more careful in their daily life.

Especially as she thought more and more, she realized that Li Jia's reaction this time was too severe. The doctor didn't know, but she knew that Li Jia had previously been unknowingly taking those drugs for such a long time. Maybe this time it was the outbreak caused by the previous drugs.

After all, those things caused immense harm to the body, so she needed to carefully study how to nourish Li Jia's body through diet. However, she couldn't blindly provide nutrition, as the body wouldn't be able to handle it, and it could have adverse effects.

Although Li Jia was considered recovered, Ye Chengxing didn't make a large cake, and she deliberately adjusted the sweetness to a low level. She also made ingredient substitutions to reduce the calorie content.

In theory, making a cake to this extent would easily result in a taste that was hard to describe, losing the original deliciousness and texture. The cake Li Jia tasted now was a version that Ye Chengxing had made after several attempts. It could maintain the deliciousness and texture of the cake while ensuring absolute healthiness.

After taking a bite, Li Jia's eyes lit up, "Such a delicious cake."

After taking a bite, she looked at the cake on the plate in her hand and suddenly said, "But making a cake like this must be a lot of trouble, right?" It could have been done casually, or even not done at all, but she still made it meticulously and carefully packaged it before presenting it to her...

Upon hearing Li Jia's compliment about the cake, Ye Chengxing's lips curved into a smile. The Alpha propped up her chin and spoke cheerfully, "It's not troublesome at all. As long as you like it, that's all that matters. It was originally prepared for you, and it will be the same in the future. If you want to eat it, just let me know, and I'll make it for you anytime."

Li Jia tightened her grip on the dessert fork in her hand and softly hummed in agreement.

She was always like this, showing her unconditional affection. The more they interacted, the clearer Li Jia became about this, making her, someone who had thought she didn't deserve to be treated well or wasn't worthy of such treatment, feel like a precious treasure.

In her mind, she couldn't help but recall the words Ye Chengxing had said with a smile in the hospital room before: "I only have this one precious gem." Li Jia's breath hitched for a moment, and she discreetly disguised her reaction, naturally cutting a piece of cake with the fork and extending it to Ye Chengxing's lips. "Sister, have some too."

The smile on Ye Chengxing's lips grew even wider upon hearing Li Jia's words. She instinctively parted her lips, but in that instant, she suddenly sensed the lingering Omega pheromones on the fork. She immediately realized that Li Jia had just used the same fork.

In the past, she would have simply eaten the cake with no second thoughts. Back then, she not only didn't understand the dynamics of an Alpha-Omega relationship, but she also didn't... understand Li Jia. But now, it didn't seem appropriate to eat the cake with the same fork that the other had used.

"You go ahead and eat it. I'm not really hungry at the moment." Ye Chengxing had no choice but to say so after the cake was already at her lips. She was afraid that Li Jia would think it was her own problem, so she specifically emphasized that she had no appetite. After saying this, she added in a warm tone, "Thank you, Xiaoli."

Ye Chengxing's hesitation just now was quite brief, probably only one or two seconds, but even such a short hesitation was noticed by Li Jia.

No appetite?

That didn't seem right.

Ye Chengxing had finished speaking, but Li Jia still held the dessert fork with the cake and hadn't pulled it back.

Li Jia seemed frozen, as if she hadn't reacted yet.

"Why? Sister, you seemed like you wanted to eat it earlier..." Li Jia asked straightforwardly, as if she couldn't understand.

Ye Chengxing pondered for a moment and felt that it did seem sudden.

But it was fine for Li Jia to ask like this, she had been thinking about when would be a good time to bring it up.

However, seeing that Li Jia was still holding the dessert fork, Ye Chengxing took it in a somewhat helpless manner before she even spoke. If Li Jia continued to hold it like that, her hand would probably get tired, but instead of eating the cake, Ye Chengxing placed it back into Li Jia's plate.

Facing her actions, Li Jia's gaze slightly narrowed, her eyes gliding from the fork that was returned to her. She raised her eyes and smiled, saying, "Why, sister, are you becoming distant from me? Is this a way of keeping me at a distance?"

"There's no such distance, and it's not about keeping you at a distance," Ye Chengxing shook her head in response, while thinking about how to explain. She continued, "Even though I am your sister, I am also an Alpha..."

Moreover, after the temporary marking they had formed during the previous treatment, her sensitivity to Li Jia's pheromones had become even more heightened.

So, she decided to say what she thought.

According to the content she had studied in the manual she had crammed a few days ago, the correct Alpha-Omega relationship should maintain some distance and not be as intimate as hers and Li Jia's.

"So, unless it's necessary for treatment, we should... keep a little distance. I will also pay more attention to this in the future." Ye Chengxing said, looking at Li Jia, who lowered her eyes and fell silent. Thinking that Li Jia had misunderstood her, she emphasized once again, "Of course, it doesn't mean that we are becoming distant or unfamiliar."

However, as her words fell, she didn't receive a response from Li Jia.

Just as Ye Chengxing began to doubt if she had said something wrong, Li Jia lifted her eyes.

A hint of red appeared at the corners of Li Jia's Omega eyes, making her look somewhat aggrieved. She said, "I understand..."

After saying this, she glanced at Ye Chengxing and quickly averted her gaze. However, in that quick exchange, it was enough for Ye Chengxing to catch a glimpse of the slight moistness and watery gleam in Li Jia's eyes.

"But if Sister won't even eat the cake I cut, does that mean I can't be spoiled to Sister anymore?"

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