CHAPTER 49

The matter regarding Li Jia signing with the entertainment company has been settled.

However, there was another pressing matter at hand—

That was Li Jia's entrance exam for school.

Ye Chengxing had never been particularly nervous about exams in the past, but she was afraid that Li Jia might be anxious about this upcoming test. So, apart from offering some simple encouragement and praise, she didn't say much else.

After all, sometimes saying too much would only make a person more nervous.

With this in mind, Ye Chengxing began to act more naturally.

As if the entrance exam was not happening in two days.

So, on the following night, Ye Chengxing and Li Jia bid each other goodnight as usual and returned to their respective rooms.

Ye Chengxing organized the customer list she had prepared in advance, took a shower in the bathroom, and then prepared to turn off the lights and go to sleep.

Since her sudden death experience, she had started to prioritize her daily routine for a healthier lifestyle.

However, just as she was about to turn off the lights, she heard two gentle knocks on her door. At the same time, she heard the Omega's hesitant voice, "Sister, are you asleep?"

Normally, Li Jia wouldn't come knocking on her door.

Ye Chengxing's first reaction was that something had happened.

She quickly walked over and opened the door, speaking gently, "I'm not asleep yet. What's wrong?"

Li Jia had already put on a pretense, perfectly portraying a nervous and slightly worried expression. However, she didn't expect Ye Chengxing to open the door wearing only a bath towel. The pheromones emanating from Ye Chengxing's Alpha body were incredibly clear, causing her breath to hitch.

"Is something wrong?" Ye Chengxing asked with concern.

"Yes," Li Jia lowered her gaze, "I can't sleep because I'm too nervous about the exam tomorrow."

As she said this, she glanced up at Ye Chengxing, then guiltily bit her lip. "I came over without thinking it through. Now that I realize it's late, it seems like I've disturbed you..."

Ye Chengxing quickly reached out and grabbed Li Jia's hand as she was about to walk away.

"How can this be considered a disturbance? If you have something, come to me as soon as possible. It shows that you trust me, and I couldn't be happier."

Being held by her wrist, Li Jia obediently stopped and turned back, looking at Ye Chengxing with slightly reddened eyes. She hugged her with a moved expression, but it was just a quick hug before she immediately let go and took a step back, her eyes curved with a smile. "But Sister should go to sleep now. I'm fine, actually. Just hearing your words earlier has made me feel much better."

Hearing this, Ye Chengxing couldn't help but feel a pang of heartache.

She looked at Li Jia and sighed, "Xiao Li, stop pretending."

Before the Omega could say anything, Ye Chengxing spoke again, "I've already seen through you."

Upon hearing this, Li Jia blinked slowly.

...Did she find out?

But before she could say a word, Ye Chengxing held her hand once again.

Ye Chengxing met her gaze with a serious tone, "Xiaoli, I told you that you can rely on me, so you don't have to be so mature. And just now, you said those words, but deep down, you must still be very nervous. You just wanted me to let it go and handle it on your own, right?"

Li Jia had already prepared her explanations, but she didn't expect that Ye Chengxing's so-called "seeing through" was this.

Realizing that Ye Chengxing, who could see through her eight hundred meters away, was becoming increasingly worries more heartbroken. She advised, "How about we chat for a while? It might make you feel better if you talk about it."

Facing Ye Chengxing's worried gaze, Li Jia smiled calmly but still with a cautious expression. "...Is it okay?"

Ye Chengxing nodded affirmatively, "Of course it is."

The Omega instantly curved her lips happily.

"That's great," Li Jia embraced Ye Chengxing, showing a genuinely caring attitude. "Let's go inside the room and talk. Sister is only wearing a bath towel, it wouldn't be good if you catch a cold later."

Upon hearing Li Jia's words, Ye Chengxing felt moved and worried at the same time.

Xiaoli was truly too kind-hearted. Could there be people taking advantage of her beauty and good nature outside?

Thinking of this, Ye Chengxing became even more concerned. She silently decided that she would remind Li Jia not to be too kind-hearted in the future.

......

After entering the room, Ye Chengxing changed into her pajamas and applied a blocking patch. She had opened the door in a hurry earlier and didn't have time to change into her pajamas.

Ye Chengxing hadn't been particularly nervous about exams, but she had seen the anxious reactions of her peers during the same period.

Insomnia, increased heart rate, mental anxiety, suppression...

These were common occurrences, but if not properly addressed, they could escalate.

Ye Chengxing sat down by the bedside with Li Jia and went to fetch a cup of warm milk.

The bedroom was lit with warm light, and Li Jia took the cup of warm milk from Ye Chengxing.

Although she didn't have much anxiety to begin with, she felt a sense of peace in her heart, especially with the feeling of being surrounded by Ye Chengxing's pheromones. She liked it a lot.

It felt as if they were sharing the same bed.

After handing the milk to Li Jia, Ye Chengxing sat down next to Omega.

Her voice was gentle, "It's normal to feel anxious and have trouble sleeping before an upcoming exam. Can you tell me specifically what makes you feel nervous? Is it feeling unprepared or worried about the results?"

Li Jia leaned closer to her and lowered her eyelashes slightly. She spoke in a sweet voice, "It's just an indescribable uneasiness, especially when I'm alone... But now that Sister is by my side, it's much better."

Ye Chengxing thought about it and realized that it was true. It would probably be much better to have someone accompany you than being alone.

Most importantly, Li Jia didn't seem as nervous as she was at the beginning.

So it should be helpful.

Ye Chengxing hesitated for a moment before speaking, "Then Xiaoli, after you finish drinking the milk, sleep here. I will stay by your side all the time."

The Omega's eyes widened slightly at her words.

After Ye Chengxing finished speaking, she thought for a moment and felt that it might not be appropriate. However, before she had a chance to speak again, Li Jia said, "Can Sister hold me while sleeping?"

The girl in front of her seemed even more guilty after saying this, and her eyes were slightly red. "I'm sorry, this request seems a bit presumptuous. I also know that Sister doesn't like it, but I feel really safe in Sister's arms..."

Saying that, she rubbed her eyes and took a deep breath, then continued, "I know I'm asking for too much. Not only did I disturb Sister's sleep by knocking on the door, but now I'm making this request. It's okay if Sister directly refuses me."

Ye Chengxing looked at Li Jia.

The Omega's eyes were red, looking pitiful like a bunny.

She thought about what she had said to Li Jia before about maintaining distance, and realized that it might have made Li Jia feel sad and uncertain if she was disliked.

With these thoughts in mind, Ye Chengxing's eyes became a little absent-minded, and she blinked, "Then how about this? I'll leave after you fall asleep, okay?"

The little bunny with red eyes nodded, biting her lip.

Seeing this, Ye Chengxing couldn't help but patted Li Jia's hair gently. "Drink the milk, and then I'll help you fall asleep."

The milk was still pleasantly warm, the perfect temperature to drink without getting burned.

The bedroom was darkened.

Comforting someone to sleep was something she had done before, so she was more skilled at it this time.

Ye Chengxing gently held Omega in her arms and softly patted her back.

Outside the window, the moonlight was bright, serene, and tranquil.

They stayed like this for who knows how long, and Ye Chengxing started to feel a bit drowsy herself.

She looked at Li Jia uncertainly.

Hmm, she's probably already asleep, right?

When she goes down, she should be careful and move quietly so as not to wake her up.

Having thought this through, Ye Chengxing prepared to get up quietly.

Great, her hand was out, and she didn't wake her up. Now she just needed to turn around and go down...

Ye Chengxing quietly turned her body.

However, at that moment, her waist was suddenly grabbed.

"...!"

Ye Chengxing's eyes widened slightly.

She bit her lip, but before she could say anything, the Omega held her waist and pulled her back onto the bed.

Ye Chengxing never expected that getting off the bed would be such a difficult task.

"Li Jia," she called out softly, feeling helpless as she turned her head, thinking Li Jia was awake.

The Omega behind her, embracing her, seemed to be trapped in a nightmare. Her long eyelashes were wet with tears, trembling uneasily, and her voice was particularly fragile. "Don't go... Don't leave..."

She looked pained and unsettled, like a drifting duckweed, trying to grasp anything she could in her unease.

The tiny flame of resentment that had just ignited in Ye Chengxing's heart was instantly extinguished.

...How could she not feel sorry for her?

Besides, it wouldn't hurt to let Li Jia hold her like this. She wouldn't lose anything by being embraced.

Because Li Jia held her tightly, restricting her movements, Ye Chengxing could only comfort her by gently patting her arm. "Don't be afraid, I'm here."

She didn't know if the sleeping girl could hear her words of comfort, but she didn't cry or murmur restlessly anymore.

Seeing this, Ye Chengxing felt relieved and slowly closed her eyes.

Just as she closed her eyes, the Omega who had just been having a nightmare opened her eyes, her gaze remarkably clear.

After watching her for a while, Li Jia closed her eyes again, holding her even closer.

It was not easy to have this opportunity, so why would she let it slip away so easily.

.......

The next day, the entrance exam arrived as scheduled.

Ye Chengxing had planned to drive Li Jia herself, but she didn't sleep well last night, so for the sake of safety, she decided to have a smart driver instead.

After breakfast, Li Jia and she sat in the back together.

Unlike her, the Omega looked very well-rested, full of energy and vitality.

Upon seeing her, Li Jia smiled shyly and said, "Although I don't know when Sister left last night, thanks to Sister, I slept so well."

Looking into her eyes, Ye Chengxing suddenly pictured Omega's teary and restless appearance from last night, even in her sleep.

...Forget it, since Li Jia doesn't know about it, there's no need to mention it.

Ye Chengxing nodded and smiled, "It's fine, as long as you rested well."

Today's entrance exam wasn't just for Li Jia, there were several others who were arranged to take the exam together. There was no quota limit, as long as their scores were qualified, they could all enter the school.

There was only one exam, but it lasted a very long time.

The food to be sold was prepared, and after sending Li Jia, Ye Chengxing felt that the selling process, which usually went by quickly, seemed unusually lengthy today.

Finally, when the last portion of food was sold, Ye Chengxing quickly closed the stall, tidied everything, and got into the car to wait outside the school for Li Jia to finish the exam.

Although she knew it would be a while before Li Jia finished the exam, she couldn't help but feel anxious and arrived much earlier than necessary.

Lost in her thoughts, Ye Chengxing saw Li Jia's figure in the distance outside the car window.

She didn't have time to wonder why Li Jia came out early. She opened the car door and got out, walking quickly to her side.

Seeing her, Li Jia seemed a bit surprised. "Did Sister come to pick me up so early?"

Ye Chengxing nodded and then saw Li Jia's eyes light up with joy. "...It feels so nice to be cared for. I thought I wouldn't see Sister when I came out."

"What kind of talk is that?" Ye Chengxing's heart softened, and she ruffled Li Jia's hair, guiding her to sit in the car.

After they got in the car, Ye Chengxing remembered the question she hadn't asked. "By the way, why did you come out so early, Xiaoli?"

Li Jia looked at her, her tone very obedient. "Because the questions were much easier than expected, and after taking the exam, we could leave."

Hearing her words, Ye Chengxing responded and smiled brightly. "Wow, our Xiaoli is really amazing."

After saying that, Ye Chengxing paused for a moment and suddenly realized something.

...If they could leave after the results were out, did it mean that the results were already out?

Meeting Ye Chengxing's gaze, Li Jia seemed to know what she was thinking and smiled. "Yes, Sister, I passed my entrance exam."

.......

After passing the entrance exam, Li Jia could go to school, but it happened to be a school holiday, so she could only go to school after the holiday.

Ye Chengxing planned to take Li Jia out to have fun and relax for two days during the holiday. After all, she had prepared for the entrance exam for a long time, and once she entered school, the workload would increase. Not to mention that Li Jia had also signed with a new entertainment company, so juggling both would be exhausting.

And indeed, that was the case.

The two-day holiday passed in the blink of an eye.

Due to signing with a new entertainment company and having to attend school, Li Jia suddenly became very busy.

Although she was a student, under so many arrangements, she didn't always have time to attend classes at school. Now she chose to go to school because she expressed a desire to spend more time there this month. However, no matter how busy she was, Li Jia always made sure to come back and have meals with Ye Chengxing.

It broke Ye Chengxing's heart. Half jokingly, she said, "It seems like my cooking is really good, but if you're busy, you don't have to rush back."

Li Jia shook her head earnestly at the remark. "No, I want to."

At this point, she looked at Ye Chengxing and continued, "Sister is also busy, but you always come home for meals, right?"

"..."

Ye Chengxing coughed.

Well, they had an unspoken understanding. In reality, it didn't matter where they ate, but rushing back to see each other during meal times was just to spend some time together.

Noticing that Ye Chengxing's ears turned slightly pink, Li Jia chuckled softly. "Sister, you're so cute."

Ye Chengxing: "...Focus on eating."

As she spoke, she subtly raised her hand to touch her slightly warm cheeks.

After eating lunch, Ye Chengxing drove and sent Li Jia to school. When she returned home, she looked at the empty villa with a sense of melancholy.

Now that Li Jia had gone to school, she didn't really spend much time at home anymore.

With Li Jia not around, or more accurately, without Li Jia's presence, something seemed to be missing.

Recently, Ye Chengxing had increased the portions of the food she sold, but since there was only one person, as the quantity increased, she had to maintain the quality as well, which basically meant she was stuck in the kitchen.

As a result, she began to consider hiring someone.

She had her contact information online, but the contacts she received didn't offer any suitable choices.

Ye Chengxing didn't cook based on recipes alone, she cooked many dishes from memory. She had even formed muscle memory for some dishes, so she hadn't systematically organized her recipes.

Although she had opened a restaurant now, she offered a wide variety of dishes.

Ye Chengxing tore off a piece of sticky note paper and started doodling on it.

If she could open a food court or a food street, it would solve this problem and provide more flexibility.

When selling food, she could use intelligent robots instead of human labor. By setting up the service procedures, it would be safer than having human salespeople, especially considering that a food street would attract many people. Moreover, intelligent robots wouldn't feel tired and had many advantages.

However, the only drawback of artificial robots was also the most fatal one—they lacked the ability to cook. If she wanted to open a food street, the demand for food would undoubtedly be huge, and she would need to constantly replenish the supply of food. If it were just her alone, the idea of opening a food street was like a fairy tale. The problem was, where could she find so many people?

Ye Chengxing thought for a while but couldn't come up with a solution. The more she thought, the more she realized that she was lacking in many preparations, and it overwhelmed her.

She had to temporarily set aside these thoughts and prepare the food for the afternoon.

The quantity she was selling now was already close to her limit, but as the quantity increased, the number of customers coming to the shop also increased. Not to mention the pre-booked customers, the demand exceeded the supply.

Today, Ye Chengxing had sold out again shortly after arriving at the shop.

Looking at the darkening sky outside the shop, Ye Chengxing sighed softly.

It seemed impossible to sell a little longer.

She tidied up the shop, closed the door, and took a cautious detour as usual.

However, today, when she reached a small alley where there shouldn't have been anyone, Ye Chengxing suddenly heard faint voices and crying, and she even caught a whiff of a faint scent of blood.

"It's all my fault. Otherwise, Xi Yue wouldn't be like this."

"If you want to blame someone, blame those damn m*rderers, those so-called culinary experts! I think they did it on purpose, targeting Xi Yue because she has talent in culinary arts. They intentionally provoked her and beat her up, a bunch of hypocrites! Even if I have to borrow money at a high interest rate, I will make sure Xi Yue goes to the hospital to get her hand treated. Waaah..."

Ye Chengxing wasn't interested in listening to other people's conversations, especially when excessive curiosity could lead to trouble.

However, the voices were too close, and she caught two sentences.

Wait, something related to culinary experts?

Ye Chengxing paused her steps.

Just at that moment, a stern question came from the alley, "Who's out there?"

...Well, she had been discovered.

Curiosity really did lead to unnecessary trouble.

Since she had been discovered, there was no need to run away.

Her bodyguard was nearby, and everything could be resolved instantly with their help. Besides, she hadn't used her disguised spray yet.

With these thoughts in mind, Ye Chengxing walked to the entrance of the alley and looked inside.

To her surprise, there were quite a few people in the alley.

Standing right in front, a young Alpha woman with a vigilant expression looked in her direction. She couldn't be much older, probably nineteen or twenty years old. Her right arm and shoulder were seriously injured, with blood dripping down from the nearly torn wound.

Beside her stood two girls who seemed younger than her. One of them pretended to look fierce but was actually trembling, while the other had tear streaks on her face. Ye Chengxing noticed that she also had many bleeding wounds on her body. Behind these individuals, there was another person whose hands were behind their back, protecting someone.

Ye Chengxing blinked and realized that the person being protected at the back was a little girl who had just reached the height of an adult's thigh. She anxiously held onto the clothes of the girl standing in front of her.

Ye Chengxing met their gaze. "I'm sorry for eavesdropping unintentionally, but I don't have any malicious intent. I happened to pass by and overheard a bit of your conversation... So, are you apprentices under the culinary experts?"

"We're not. What do you want? If you're just passing by, you should leave now." the girl standing in front said in a cold voice.

Seeing the different yet similar reactions from the people in front of her, Ye Chengxing thought to herself, so that's it.

As she thought about it, the name Xi Yue also sounded somewhat familiar...

Wait a moment, the late-stage plot's culinary head chief is this name, but that chief has mechanical arms installed on their right hand.

Her gaze landed on Xi Yue's injured right hand.

Ye Chengxing's eyes paused.

They've made eye contact.

Seeing that she didn't speak, Xi Yue and the others' expressions became noticeably more nervous.

"Don't be so tense. Let's introduce ourselves to each other, shall we?" Ye Chengxing said as she opened the StarNet.

While she pulled up the personal homepage of her StarNet page and turned it towards Xi Yue and the others, Ye Chengxing used the disguised spray and curved her lips at them, saying, "My name is Ye Chengxing, and I'm the owner of the Risheng food shop."

.......

"Xi Yue, what do you think that woman intends to make us do?"

In the living room, everyone sat together.

Xi Yue was resting with her eyes closed. After hearing Fu Tao's words, she opened her eyes, her expression somewhat complex.

Her wounds had been treated, and the Alpha woman named Ye Chengxing had found them a place to stay and provided them disguised spray.

However, the woman's request was that they had to stay and help her with something.

In this world, there was never anything good that came for free.

The name Risheng food shop wasn't unfamiliar, it was quite famous, known by almost everyone. They had heard the culinary experts mention it countless times during this period. They had tried various methods to bring down this food shop, but the owner was too mysterious, completely untraceable.

The sight of those ugly faces made her nauseous every time she thought about it.

No matter how glamorous these culinary experts appeared on the surface, their true nature was the same. This time, the help offered by Ye Chengxing was probably to make them do some shady things.

After all, for those people, the existence of apprentices was to do things they couldn't conveniently do themselves.

Xi Yue sneered, about to speak when she saw Ye Chengxing walking out of the kitchen.

Since entering this world, Ye Chengxing had been cooking based on her memories. She hadn't organized her recipes yet, but she had just finished sorting them out orderly.

Xi Yue and the people around her had some plot development in the middle and later stages, and their personalities were distinct. They belonged to the positive characters who grew throughout the story.

Ye Chengxing had been worried about how to find suitable people, but unexpectedly, she stumbled upon Xi Yue and the others. In the original novel's early stages, these people didn't appear. They were only mentioned briefly when the characters reminisced about the past.

So, upon discovering these individuals, Ye Chengxing immediately found an empty house to bring them in. After treating their wounds, she also provided them with disguised spray.

Doing these things doesn't necessary mean she's trying to win them over, it's just that they happened to meet, and if she can help, she will help. For her, these tasks are not difficult and can be done immediately. But for Xi Yue and the others, it's already equivalent to saving their lives.

Ye Chengxing met Xi Yue's cautious gaze.

They had just introduced themselves to each other, speaking the truth, perhaps because there was no point in hiding anymore.

Sitting on Xi Yue's left side was a Beta named Fu Tao with long pink hair. The other two girls were an Alpha named Qi Zhaoyi and an Omega named Wen Zhiyu.

Ye Chengxing's gaze fell on the little girl that Xi Yue held in her arms.

This little girl was Xi Yue's younger sister named Xi Ran.

Noticing Ye Chengxing's gaze on her sister, Xi Yue's expression tightened, like a taut bow.

"Miss Ye, please tell us directly what you need us to do." Xi Yue said, her eyes locked with Ye Chengxing's. Ye Chengxing took out the recipes she had organized and said, "There may be some parts that are not detailed enough, but you can make do for now. If there's anything unclear, feel free to ask me."

The girls hadn't expected that after all the mental preparation and speculation they had done, the tasks Ye Chengxing presented were so different from what they had imagined. Their expressions froze for a moment.

Ye Chengxing placed the recipes on the table in front of them and said, "Actually, there's not much you need to help with at the moment. Just practice these recipes for now and become skilled at them."

After saying that, Ye Chengxing thought for a moment and added in a gentle tone, "But I'm not forcing you to do it. If you don't want to, it's okay. Even if you refuse, you can still stay here to recover, and I won't take back the money and disguised spray I gave you."

"That's about it. Is there anything else that I haven't explained clearly?" Ye Chengxing asked after her explanation, while the people in front of her remained frozen in their expressions.

Ye Chengxing patiently waited for their response. This matter indeed required some thought, as it would affect their future lives.

Xi Yue was the first to speak. She looked at Ye Chengxing, her usually cold face now showing a complex and indescribable expression. "Are you... serious?"

The recipes placed on the table were written on paper, and at first glance, the black text on white paper made everything clear.

It wasn't something used to deceive people, it was a genuine and precious recipe.

Xi Yue pursed her lips and said, "Will this benefit you? Aren't you afraid we'll take the recipes and run?"

The girls sitting beside her also looked at Ye Chengxing with complex expressions.

Ye Chengxing smiled and shook her head. "If I had entrusted this to someone else, that might have been a concern, but not with you."

Her tone was resolute, and the group of people were momentarily stunned.

"As for the benefits for me... I need you to work with me to create these recipes because I can't do it alone. Once you become proficient, your presence will be my greatest advantage."

After Ye Chengxing finished her explanation, she asked again, "So have you considered it? Do you want to..."

Before she finished speaking, all the girls in front of her suddenly stood up in unison, bowing deeply to her with utmost seriousness, almost with tears in their eyes, and enthusiastically accepting with a resounding response, "Thank you, we're willing to do it!"

.......

Ye Chengxing didn't expect the whole process to go so smoothly and quickly. After Xi Yue and the others agreed, each person started learning with great enthusiasm.

She stayed a little longer to help them if they had any questions and could teach them hands-on.

When Ye Chengxing was about to leave, each person saw her off at the door with reluctance.

Fu Tao looked at her with starry eyes and said, "Sister Chengxing, when will you come next time?"

Ye Chengxing had just exchanged contact information with them and smiled in response, "If I have time, I'll come. Feel free to ask me if you have any questions. See you next time."

As she finished speaking, a chorus of "Goodbye, Sister Chengxing" echoed, and even Xi Ran shyly waved her little hand while holding onto her big sister's clothes.

Ye Chengxing waved back to them and bid farewell before getting into her car.

It was already getting dark.

Ye Chengxing checked the time and realized it was almost time for Li Jia to finish her evening self-study.

Li Jia was a day student, and according to the school's rules, the evening self-study only lasted for one period.

Ye Chengxing turned the steering wheel and thought it would be a good opportunity to pick up Li Jia on the way home.

The school wasn't far from this area, so she quickly arrived. By the time she arrived, there were still about ten minutes left until Li Jia finished her self-study.

Ye Chengxing parked the car in the designated parking area and sent Li Jia a location message so she could easily find her after class.

While waiting, Ye Chengxing took the opportunity to organize her thoughts.

Based on Xi Yue and the others' current learning speed, it's possible that their food street can open as early as next month. Even though there are only five of them, their efficiency is definitely higher than if Ye Chengxing were doing it alone. After all, in this world, food can be stored in intelligent storage boxes, and they can make a lot in advance. As for hiring more people, they can slowly recruit, and there will definitely be more in the future.

After Ye Chengxing finished organizing her thoughts, she felt much clearer. Coincidentally, her phone made a notification sound. She picked up her phone and opened the message notification. It was from Li Jia, saying, [Sister, I'm done with class and I'm heading out~]

Ye Chengxing replied with [Okay] and sent a cute emoji.

After sending the message, she got out of the car. Instead of going to the school gate, she stayed near the car and smiled and waved her hand when she saw Li Jia's figure.

The Omega, upon seeing her, quickened her pace significantly.

Ye Chengxing walked to Li Jia's side and took her bag, as usual, asking, "Are you tired today?"

Unexpectedly, as soon as the words fell, the Omega's smile suddenly faded.

"I'm fine, I can keep up, not tired at all." Li Jia's gaze remained fixed on Ye Chengxing as she confirmed whether she had misinterpreted something while responding.

Ye Chengxing was oblivious, nodded, walked to the passenger side, opened the door for Li Jia, and closed it after she got in. She then walked to the driver's side, got in the car, and placed the bag in the back seat.

The car interior was like a sealed space, and as soon as they entered, the vague and uncertain presence became more apparent.

Just as Ye Chengxing was about to start the car, she was caught off guard as she felt Li Jia's grip on her wrist.

The Omega's action was somewhat abrupt, and Ye Chengxing blinked, looking at Li Jia. "...Li Jia?"

Li Jia didn't speak, nor did she release her grip on Ye Chengxing's wrist. In fact, she leaned closer to her.

"What's wrong? Is something on your mind?" Ye Chengxing hesitated to speak, but as Li Jia got closer and closer, she raised her other hand, which wasn't being held, in an attempt to fend her off.

However, the next second, her other wrist was also captured by Li Jia's grasp.

The driver's seat was definitely spacious for only one person, but when Li Jia leaned over, it became narrow.

Ye Chengxing tried to move back, but there was a seat behind her, and she had nowhere to hide.

"Li Jia, wait, if something's wrong, just tell me directly, don't do this..."

She made a slight movement, and the pressure on her wrist instantly increased.

Ye Chengxing looked at Li Jia and felt that her current state was strangely peculiar.

There was nothing apparent in her expression, and one could even say it was calm, but Ye Chengxing had an intuitive feeling that something wasn't quite right.

Being pressed against the car seat like this was becoming unbearable for her. She hesitated whether to exert more force to push Li Jia away, but the car interior was so small, and Ye Chengxing was afraid that Li Jia might bump her head during the process.

"Sister."

Just then, she heard Li Jia finally speak.

Li Jia raised her eyes and met her gaze, suddenly smiling.

The moonlight outside the car window cast a cold hue, as if even the corners of her eyes were tainted with it.

The Omega's appearance was extremely beautiful, but there was an inexplicable sense of unfamiliar danger.

"I've been studying diligently at school from the afternoon until now." Li Jia said softly as she leaned closer to Ye Chengxing's ear, her grip on Ye Chengxing's wrist ignored. Everything felt warm and gentle, like a whisper in her ear. "But where did Sister go? Why do you have so many unfamiliar pheromones on you?"

The Omega's breath gently brushed against her ear as she spoke.

Ye Chengxing felt a tingling sensation down her spine.

"These unfamiliar pheromones make me uncomfortable..." The hand that was holding her wrist turned from two hands to one. Li Jia raised her other hand and delicately caressed the Alpha's cheek with her fingertips.

"So, can Sister tell me where she've been?" Her smile became more evident. "Don't lie to me."

BACK | TABLE OF CONTENTS | NEXT