After A Secret Marriage Agreement With A Rival Omega - Chapter 17

Chapter 17

◎Sheng Ruxi’s bedtime routine: a little peck.◎

The pheromones burst out almost instantly, invading Sheng Ruxi’s space and enveloping her.

Is Jian Jixing crazy to release such strong pheromones?

Sheng Ruxi recognized Jian Jixing and was about to speak, but Jian Jixing’s arms wrapped around her, and her hand covered Sheng Ruxi’s lips.

The hands were long and slender, with distinct joints, and could easily cup Sheng Ruxi’s face completely.

Jian Jixing’s teasing tone even carried a hint of jealousy, as if she had been waiting for her lover for a long time and was now displeased.

There were many good directors in the industry, but few who could act as well as Jian Jixing. If she weren’t a real actress, Sheng Ruxi might have actually believed her.

The moment she parted her lips, Jian Jixing knew Sheng Ruxi was about to bite her and released her hand.

But when Sheng Ruxi tried to get away, Jian Jixing wouldn’t let her. She held onto Sheng Ruxi’s waist, and the warm breath on her ear made Sheng Ruxi snap at her, “Let me go! All you know how to do is use your pheromones to suppress me.”

Jian Jixing laughed nonchalantly. “How can you be like this? You open your mouth and you want to bite me. I don’t want to go back to my wife with a bunch of teeth marks on my hand.”

Right, right, right. You’re acting again, aren’t you? Sheng Ruxi directly stepped on the top of Jian Jixing’s foot and snorted. “Then you’re in a great mood. You go to a new place and you get a new lover.”

She was subtly mocking her for saying she had met a female demon on the prairie.

What female demon? If Sheng Ruxi had gone there herself, she would know that anyone who stayed there for too long would turn into Wang Renqing.

But for now, it was fun to tease her.

Sheng Ruxi hadn’t seen Jian Jixing in a long time, and her body had many other Alpha scents on it. These were likely from work. Sheng Ruxi had rushed back and hadn’t showered, so the scent was still there.

“What are you talking about? I just wanted to give you a surprise. For the great movie queen to keep her word and come back from a life of extravagance and debauchery…” Jian Jixing rested her chin on Sheng Ruxi’s shoulder. “You really exceeded my expectations.”

They were just sitting on the sofa, but her words and actions made it feel like they were having a secret affair.

Why can’t she just speak properly? She’s always saying things to provoke me.

It’s too much.

What kind of surprise is this? It’s a fright.

The moment Sheng Ruxi saw Jian Jixing, she remembered her outrageous behavior from last time.

Sheng Ruxi was so flustered by Jian Jixing that she tried to slap her face. Jian Jixing finally let her go and stood up.

The lights came on.

Jian Jixing turned and held up the empty glass in her hand. “If I hadn’t come back late, would I have gotten to spend that beautiful night with you?”

She has the nerve to say that!

She had been listening to Sheng Ruxi’s complaints the whole time, sitting on the sofa without making a sound. She must have been laughing to herself.

She’s so fake. Not a single word she says is true.

“You’re a hypocrite,” Sheng Ruxi said, looking at her coldly. “You want to have a beautiful night with me? Why don’t you go have one with your wife?”

What is she talking about? Her wife, lover, and even the female demon are all Sheng Ruxi. Is that so hard to understand?

Jian Jixing rolled up her sleeves twice. They felt a little tight, so she undid two buttons and said nonchalantly, “You’re angry at me. Even the slippers, the glass, and the sofa at home were upset because they chased the wind of freedom. If I don’t spend the night with you, won’t you declare yourself a widow again tomorrow?”

Sheng Ruxi: “…”

How can Jian Jixing be so sharp-tongued? She kept bringing up the “widow” thing from so long ago.

She’s so petty.

Sheng Ruxi, fuming, stormed upstairs with her ears still flushed from being teased and slammed her bedroom door shut.

Jian Jixing helplessly rubbed her forehead and sighed after a while.

Fine.

With Sheng Ruxi back, the house was much livelier, filled with a lot of banging noises.

She put Sheng Ruxi’s high heels back on the shoe rack in the entryway, then took the poor slippers and placed them outside Sheng Ruxi’s door. She knocked twice to let Sheng Ruxi know her things were outside, then went to her own room.

It was a good thing the house was carpeted. Otherwise, with the little princess’s habit of going barefoot, she’d probably complain that the wooden floors hurt her feet.

Thinking of that, Jian Jixing couldn’t help but lower her head and laugh, then held back the corners of her mouth. She finalized the gift for her sister, then put down her phone and went to the bathroom.

When she came out, her phone was being bombarded with Sheng Ruxi’s emojis.

One was a white-background emoji with two lines of text: [Delete your wife, I want to be your wife.jpg]

Jian Jixing glanced at the top right corner. 9:40 p.m. What, has Sheng Ruxi’s pre-bedtime routine started again?

Jian Jixing replied with a concise: [?]

To show her attitude.

Little Green Bean: [Accidental touch.]

[Then un-send it. I’ll pretend I didn’t see it,] Jian Jixing said generously and added considerately, [Don’t be sad if your fingers aren’t nimble. You won’t need to use them much anyway.]

The other side fell silent.

Jian Jixing’s mood not only improved but became wonderful. But then, a new message came.

Another emoji.

A giant yellow bean face with puckered red lips, kissing the camera.

…

This is too much.

Jian Jixing replied: [Don’t tell ghost stories before bed.]

This time, Sheng Ruxi changed the emoji again. It was a cute, blushing cat with a happy face, covered in a screen of kisses.

[…? What do you mean?]

Little Green Bean: [Sorry, my fingers aren’t nimble. Accidental touch.]

Jian Jixing was starting to see Sheng Ruxi’s vengeful side.

She wanted to put her phone down, but it rang again. Another emoji, the same kissing cat, sent three times in a row.

Jian Jixing replied with a blank expression: [If you send it again, I’ll screenshot it and post it online for your fans to see!]

Little Green Bean was immune to threats: [Peck.jpg]

Jian Jixing: [If you send it again, I’m sending a screenshot to Chu Wu!]

Another kissing emoji.

Okay, okay. So this is your end goal.

Jian Jixing’s patience ran out. She got out of bed, went to Sheng Ruxi’s door, and knocked.

Sheng Ruxi opened the door with a smug look on her face. Jian Jixing didn’t say a word. She just ruffled Sheng Ruxi’s soft hair wildly.

“Ah!!” Sheng Ruxi’s smugness vanished. She had just gotten a keratin treatment on her hair. Not a single strand was allowed to be messed up like this.

“If you’re so insistent on me giving you a peck, it’s not impossible,” Jian Jixing said after she finished ruffling her hair. She cupped Sheng Ruxi’s face. Her expression was calm, and her eyes were looking for a place to kiss.

The cat in the emoji seemed to be kissing the top of the head…

Sheng Ruxi’s hand was on the doorknob. She immediately tried to close the door. “Are you crazy? It was an accidental touch.”

“You’ve asked me for six kisses. Is it not okay for me to give them to you now?”

Sheng Ruxi, with her messy hair, looked at her in disbelief. “Are you an old person? Those are emojis! Emojis!”

Jian Jixing snorted. “You’re such a hypocrite. Can you just act like a pervert online and not take responsibility? No one has ever flirted with me like this before.”

This is unbelievable.

Sheng Ruxi almost couldn’t control her expression. She just wanted to give Jian Jixing a way out because she was silent.

Why would she take it this far?

Jian Jixing casually glanced down and saw that Sheng Ruxi had already put on her shoes. The corners of her lips curled up. As Sheng Ruxi closed the door again, Jian Jixing said, “Good night.”

What a lively night.

Although Sheng Ruxi had told her a ghost story before bed, Jian Jixing slept very well that night.

She naturally woke up earlier than Sheng Ruxi. When Xia Lan came to deliver the gift, she also brought a large bouquet of fresh flowers with dewdrops still on the petals.

“What, is it trendy to send flowers with jewelry now? This is for Huai Xi. We don’t need to send flowers yet.”

Xia Lan said earnestly, “The flowers are for Miss Sheng, Director Jian. Perhaps you should improve your romantic side.”

“Just for show,” Jian Jixing said, glancing at the room upstairs but not stopping Xia Lan from putting the flowers on the dining table.

Although it was a family gathering, Yan Yaojin knew Sheng Ruxi had her own lifestyle habits and didn’t call to rush her. Instead, she told Jian Jixing to just go with Sheng Ruxi’s flow, as long as they arrived before dinner.

After 12 p.m., Princess Sheng finally deigned to wake up. She came downstairs, looking perfect, every strand of hair in place.

She looked at the brunch Jian Jixing had left on the table and was puzzled.

It was quite exquisite and clearly not homemade.

A large bouquet of bright Juliet roses was on the table. A faint fragrance accompanied her entire meal. Sheng Ruxi looked at the flowers again and paused.

She mumbled, “That’s quite romantic.”

Just with the addition of a bouquet of flowers, this huge villa that neither of them was willing to come back to suddenly had a different kind of vibrancy.

The food tasted good too. Sheng Ruxi looked up at Jian Jixing, who was not far away.

“Where did you get this? You didn’t poison me, did you?”

“You’re a small person judging a righteous person,” Jian Jixing said, not bothering to argue with Sheng Ruxi.

Sheng Ruxi obediently ate her breakfast. The food was surprisingly not bad. The porridge was soft and delicious. She was usually a picky eater, but she was probably hungry and finished the entire portion.

The amount of food was just right, as if the person who bought it knew exactly how much she could eat.

Jian Jixing was driving herself home today.

Seeing Jian Jixing get into the driver’s seat, Sheng Ruxi snorted to herself and reached for the back car door.

Does she have no manners? Her car door was always opened by others.

Thinking this, she gave up on the idea of sitting in the passenger seat and walked to the back seat. Just as she was about to get in, there was a faint click, and the door was locked.

“…”

Hehe.

I spoke too soon. Not only did she have no manners, but she was also extremely petty!

Seeing Sheng Ruxi’s furious expression as she walked to the passenger seat, Jian Jixing smiled happily. “Sheng Ruxi, I’m not your driver. You want to sit in the back?”

Sheng Ruxi held back her anger. “Jian Jixing. Don’t go too far.”

“Put your seatbelt on,” Jian Jixing reminded her. “There are very few people in this world who can bully you.”

She only got to be bullied by Sheng Ruxi every day.

Who was the person who ruffled her hair last night? Who was the one who scared her on the sofa with the lights off? Sheng Ruxi retorted, “You take so long to get ready to drive. Get out and let me do it.”

Wasn’t it because she was waiting for this elegant princess to put on her seatbelt and adjust her seat? The car was new. It was Sheng Ruxi’s first time in the passenger seat. This little princess was born delicate. If anything wasn’t to her usual liking, she would probably start complaining soon.

This was a perfect example of her kindness being taken for granted.

Jian Jixing casually rested her wrist on the steering wheel. “No. I don’t have any plans for a murder-suicide yet.”

Sheng Ruxi: “…”

It’s pointless to argue with her!

After a forty-minute drive, Jian Jixing’s car slowly pulled into the Yan residence’s parking lot.

It was a bit far from the city. It used to be a small garden of the Yan family. Yan Yaojin had it renovated seven years ago and moved in with her daughters to live there long-term.

“Small garden” was only in comparison to the Yan family’s largest estate. In reality, it took a while for Jian Jixing’s car to drive from the gate to the parking lot.

The garden had a strong Chinese style, grand and elegant. Jian Jixing’s family had been wealthy for generations, with deep roots. Her ancestors were well-known scholars and teachers of emperors. They were a genuine family of scholars.

Sheng Ruxi’s family’s wealth was on par with Jian Jixing’s, but in terms of heritage, few people in the capital could compete.

Sheng Ruxi had come here very few times, but each time, she could feel the difference between this place and the outside world.

It was subtle, but that subtlety was a chasm that ordinary people could never cross.

Not to mention that both of Jian Jixing’s mothers came from prominent families. But even Jian Jixing’s Alpha mother’s siblings and children were not like Jian Jixing.

It was strange that in such a distinguished family, Jian Jixing was the only one who was rebellious, sharp-tongued, and spoke with words that seemed laced with poison.

The car drove directly to the parking lot behind the mountain. Just as they were about to enter the house, Jian Jixing received another call. She glanced at it, gestured for Sheng Ruxi to wait, and got out of the car to answer.

Sheng Ruxi sat in the car, secretly grumbling about Jian Jixing.

Who is it? Does she have to hide it from me? Is it that female demon from the prairie who gave her freedom?

Like I don’t have anyone. She just needed to give a signal, and countless Alphas would be fighting to call her.

It was weird, but it was what it was.

Anyway, no matter who it was, Jian Jixing had to open the car door for her after she hung up. If she did, Sheng Ruxi was willing to play the part of a newlywed wife with a good relationship with Jian Jixing at the family dinner tonight.

With her acting skills, even with a jerk like Jian Jixing, it wouldn’t be a problem.

Outside the car, Jian Jixing held the phone and said, “Mom.”

“Mm,” the voice on the other end, Jian Xianchuan, seemed to realize she sounded a little cold when she responded to her daughter. She coughed a few times and softened her voice. “You’re at your mom’s house.”

Jian Jixing looked at the decorations around the house from a distance. “I just got here. Are you not coming? Huai Xi would love to see you.”

“No, I have a few meetings to finish here.” Jian Xianchuan thought for a moment before saying, “Did you get your sister’s birthday gift? I heard from your mother that Xixi likes jewelry lately. She’s at the age where she loves to look pretty.”

“I prepared two.”

Jian Xianchuan knew Jian Jixing always handled things well. Aside from her rebellious phase, she rarely caused the family to worry anymore.

After talking about Yan Huai Xi’s birthday, Jian Jixing and her mother were silent for a couple of seconds, unsure of what to say. Jian Xianchuan was naturally a cold and quiet person. It would be difficult for her to show more concern, and Jian Jixing didn’t force it.

Before hanging up, Jian Xianchuan seemed to remember something. “You’re a married woman now. Focus on your family more. Pay more and more attention to Xiao Sheng. When are you coming back to stay for a few days? The two little ones miss you every day… And say hello to your mother for me.”

Jian Jixing just replied indifferently and hung up. She stood outside for a few more seconds. When she heard Sheng Ruxi rolling down the car window, she turned around.

“Why did you take so long to make a call? Are you still reminiscing?” Sheng Ruxi clearly expressed her displeasure. “Did the call from the free pasture make your heart fly away to freedom?”

The hint of sadness Jian Jixing had just felt was immediately replaced by gritting her teeth at Sheng Ruxi.

She’s Jian Xianchuan’s daughter, after all. How can she get angry so easily at her wife? Jian Jixing composed herself and smiled. “Get out of the car.”

“?” Sheng Ruxi’s eyes widened. After waiting for two seconds and not getting the reaction she wanted from Jian Jixing, she gave up and said directly, “Jian Jixing, open the door for me.”

“Am I your driver?”

“No,” Sheng Ruxi also smiled. “You’re my servant. Open the door, or I’ll tell Mom later.”

Jian Jixing couldn’t stand Sheng Ruxi, who, at over twenty years old, still acted like a child. But she opened the door with a blank face. Even after complying, Sheng Ruxi wasn’t satisfied. She sat in the spacious passenger seat, crossed her slender legs, and slightly raised her arm, waiting for Jian Jixing to help her out.

I’ll just endure it.

As Jian Jixing reached out her arm, she asked, “You’re treating me like a slave, aren’t you?”

“Don’t talk about yourself like that,” Sheng Ruxi said, lifting her chin. She put her hand on Jian Jixing’s arm and stood up. “I have many people around me, but I don’t let any other Alpha help me, and I don’t even let Wuwu help me. I only let you. This shows how much I value you.”

Her ability to argue was truly astonishing. Jian Jixing squeezed out a few words: “So you’re only treating me like a slave.”

She took the gifts she had prepared from the trunk, which were filled to the brim. As she walked toward the house with Sheng Ruxi, Sheng Ruxi couldn’t help but ask again.

“You had to get out of the car to make a call.”

Jian Jixing said, “It was my mother calling to ask if I had prepared a gift for Huai Xi.”

Sheng Ruxi was a little choked up and then complained, “Why didn’t you say so earlier? I could have said hello to Mom too.”

“You didn’t ask,” Jian Jixing said, glancing at her. “No one requires you to say hello to your slave’s mother.”

“Can you stop talking nonsense?” Sheng Ruxi was startled. She reached out and covered Jian Jixing’s mouth, then patted it lightly twice. She didn’t realize how intimate the gesture was. The sweet scent of her perfume on her wrist faintly wafted into Jian Jixing’s nose.

In the entire capital, only Jian Jixing, as a daughter, would dare to say something like this about Jian Xianchuan. No one else would.

Sheng Ruxi was very respectful in front of the elders. Although Jian Jixing’s two mothers had separated years ago, both elders were very respectable in public and never lacked support for Jian Jixing. Even after having their own children later, their relationship remained good.

There was no doubt that she and Jian Jixing were archenemies, but that didn’t stop Sheng Ruxi from having a good impression of Jian Jixing’s mothers.

Jian Jixing’s sister, Yan Huai Xi, wasn’t Jian Xianchuan’s biological daughter, but she still called to express her concern on Yan Huai Xi’s birthday. It was a gesture of respect for her ex-wife.

The traditional Chinese-style garden home was decorated from the inside out for the little princess’s birthday. There were dolls, ribbons, and balloons everywhere. Every corner was tailored to Yan Huai Xi’s liking, filled with Western-style decorations.

At a glance, it looked like they had arrived at a Disney fairy tale park.

Although it didn’t quite match the style of the house, it was childlike and innocent, which was also interesting.

As they entered the house, Yan Huai Xi, wearing a princess dress, excitedly kicked off her shoes and ran over, throwing herself into Jian Jixing’s arms.

“Sister! Sister!”

The first “sister” was for Jian Jixing, and the second was for Sheng Ruxi.

Before entering, Jian Jixing had given the gift to Sheng Ruxi to give.

She held the gifts for the family in her hands, and Yan Yaojin smiled and took them when she came in.

Yan Huai Xi opened her gifts on the spot, and her eyes lit up. “Ah! Sister, how did you know I like this necklace? I want to wear it! My friend was just talking last night about how Liang Xiangyi’s new work was bought. It turns out it was you, Sister…”

Yan Huai Xi’s excitement was palpable. She immediately took off her necklace and put on the new one.

Yan Yaojin smiled and said, “Look how happy she is.”

Yue Ai, wearing a qipao, stood next to her and came over to greet them. She nodded and smiled at Jian Jixing. “You shouldn’t have.”

“It’s nothing. The gift is from Xixi’s heart. She chose it,” Jian Jixing said, greeting Yue Ai politely. After Yan Huai Xi finished taking photos excitedly, they all went to the dining room for dinner.

In reality, all the gifts were handled by Jian Jixing alone. Hearing Jian Jixing give her the credit, Sheng Ruxi blushed a little.

Seeing Yan Yaojin approach, Sheng Ruxi leaned a little closer to Jian Jixing, pretending to be intimate. She curiously glanced at Yue Ai and then quietly looked away.

Yue Ai was Yan Huai Xi’s Alpha mother and Yan Yaojin’s unacknowledged lover. They had been together for many years but had never married. Rumor had it that it was because Jian Jixing didn’t like Yue Ai becoming her stepmother.

Now that she saw them, their relationship didn’t seem as bad as the rumors suggested.

At the dining table, Jian Jixing even pulled out a chair for Sheng Ruxi, allowing her to sit down.

Something’s not right.

Sheng Ruxi turned her head to observe Jian Jixing. After a while, she realized Jian Jixing wasn’t acting. Jian Jixing took the plate in front of Sheng Ruxi and carefully wiped it with a napkin from a servant.

Does she need to be this careful?

Jian Jixing’s occasional潔癖 (germaphobia) was so obvious even at her own house. Why is she so high-maintenance?

Yan Huai Xi excitedly ran around, looking for a suitable place to hang the artwork. Jian Jixing, with the steady demeanor of an older sister, set the cutlery for every family member.

Although she found Jian Jixing a bit troublesome, when Jian Jixing handed her the clean cutlery, Sheng Ruxi still said, “Thank you.”

I don’t understand, but I’ll respect it for now.

Jian Jixing chuckled softly, teasing her. “How can a princess be so down-to-earth? You’re even being polite to your slave.”

Will she ever stop? Does Jian Jixing have any sense of humor?

Sheng Ruxi no longer looked at Jian Jixing and just ate her food. This was her first time having dinner with Yue Ai and Yan Yaojin. She thought Jian Jixing would be as talkative as she was with her, but Jian Jixing had changed completely. She only answered when Yan Yaojin specifically asked her something.

Most of the time, Jian Jixing was just a listener, listening to Yue Ai and Yan Yaojin chat about daily life.

The most lively person at the table was Yan Huai Xi. The ten-year-old girl was full of energy. She wasn’t very interested in food and finished her meal quickly. She flew upstairs like a little whirlwind and then ran down with a few sheets of paper in her hand.

“Sisters and Mom, look at my test paper!” Yan Huai Xi rarely saw Jian Jixing and was excited. She normally wouldn’t show off her test scores, but today she really wanted to. “I got a 98! Aren’t I awesome!”

Yan Yaojin said in surprise, “Oh my, you’ve improved so much this time! You went up by 10 points! Do you want a reward?”

“You’re going to reward her again? Even if she didn’t improve, you’d still give her everything you promised,” Yue Ai said with a laugh.

Sheng Ruxi watched with great interest, agreeing wholeheartedly with Yue Ai’s words. She had loved family gatherings since she was a child and was used to being the center of attention. Everyone doted on her. Even if she brought back a zero, as long as she told them, her family would think she was amazing.

It was a family gathering. When the younger generation was willing to show off their achievements, it was a sign of trust in the elders. It was enough to just praise them.

Yan Huai Xi hugged Yan Yaojin’s arm and said coquettishly, “Mom, give me a kiss. You only kissed me once when I woke up today.”

Yan Yaojin laughed. “You’re so big now, and you’re still so clingy?”

Sheng Ruxi’s eyes caught Jian Jixing wiping her own knife and fork again. She had just cut a piece of steak for her a moment ago. Why was she so disgusted? She poked Jian Jixing’s leg under the table in displeasure.

She warned her with her eyes: Stop being so difficult. If you keep this up, I won’t be nice to you when it’s your turn to speak.

This was a traditional segment where the younger generation reported their achievements. When the little one was done, it was naturally the older one’s turn. The older one had just won a top award in directing, which was a huge honor. She must be planning to show off to her elders.

Jian Jixing curved her lips and put down the hot towel. She didn’t know what was going through Sheng Ruxi’s mind, but she was so excited.

Yan Yaojin gave her the reward, and Yan Huai Xi laughed, then went to hug Yue Ai and act spoiled. She ran around in front of the elders. The atmosphere was great. At one point, her fluffy skirt accidentally knocked over a plate. Yan Yaojin quickly pulled her closer, afraid she would get hurt.

The servant brought a new set and placed it at Yan Huai Xi’s seat. Yan Huai Xi sat down, looked at it, and took it to Jian Jixing. She blinked and said, “Sister, I want your towel to wipe my plate.”

Yue Ai scolded her. “It’s already clean. You knocked it over yourself. Don’t always trouble your sister.”

Jian Jixing nodded and took the plate from Yan Huai Xi. “Go sit down. Aunt Lin, please bring a new towel.”

Yan Huai Xi listened to Jian Jixing and immediately went back to her seat, her eyes bright and expectant.

When Jian Jixing handed the wiped cutlery back to Yan Huai Xi, Sheng Ruxi was ready to wait, but Jian Jixing only cut a piece of tender white cod and put it in Sheng Ruxi’s bowl, drawing her attention away.

Soon after, Yue Ai finished eating and put down her chopsticks, but she didn’t leave the table. She stayed to chat with the people who hadn’t finished. They talked about Yan Huai Xi’s good friends at school, her improved grades, and even which dishes at the school cafeteria were good and which were bad. Yan Huai Xi shared everything.

Jian Jixing occasionally nodded to show she was listening.

Sheng Ruxi was also listening, but she found it a bit boring. She even wondered why Jian Jixing was so patient with her family. Shouldn’t I be considered half her family? Why is she so mean to me?

Yan Huai Xi took out some more photos, which were of Jian Jixing and Sheng Ruxi. She held them together and asked Sheng Ruxi, “Sister-in-law, can you and my sister sign this for me? My classmates all love you so much. I want to give these to them.”

Who could refuse the little birthday girl? Sheng Ruxi was about to take them, but Jian Jixing’s hand was faster. She only took her own photos and said in a serious tone, “Huai Xi, I can sign a few for you, but your sister-in-law can’t.”

Sheng Ruxi paused and instantly understood.

The Jian family was very private about their family matters. They had also protected Yan Huai Xi’s information very well. Since her relationship with Jian Jixing wasn’t public, a large number of signed photos appearing in Yan Huai Xi’s hands could cause unnecessary trouble.

Yan Huai Xi was stunned for a moment. She pouted at first, then tried to hold it back, but her emotions changed quickly. As a child, her unhappy pheromones immediately surged out.

Yan Huai Xi was also an Alpha. Her pheromones might make Sheng Ruxi uncomfortable, but if her Alpha could suppress Yan Huai Xi’s, it would be fine.

However, Jian Jixing couldn’t release suppressive pheromones unless Sheng Ruxi was the trigger.

Jian Jixing reacted even faster. The moment Sheng Ruxi caught a whiff of it, Jian Jixing was already behind Yan Huai Xi, reaching out and holding her gland. She immediately pulled her away from the table. “Stop it.”

Yan Huai Xi struggled, kicking something nearby. Jian Jixing didn’t even look at it.

Sheng Ruxi saw Jian Jixing’s face turn pale for a moment and immediately realized Jian Jixing was about to get sick from the pheromones!

Without thinking, she acted on instinct. Just as she grabbed a napkin from the side, Yan Yaojin also stood up. One went to pull Yan Huai Xi, and the other went to Jian Jixing.

“Rongrong! Calm down!”

When Sheng Ruxi touched Jian Jixing’s arm, Yan Yaojin also came over and took Yan Huai Xi from Jian Jixing’s arms.

Sheng Ruxi covered Jian Jixing’s nose with a wet napkin. She pulled it but couldn’t move her. She had no choice but to squeeze into Jian Jixing’s arms. “Don’t get agitated. I’m not affected.”

Jian Jixing’s hand landed on Sheng Ruxi’s lower back, and she seemed to come to her senses. Her slightly cold eyes glanced at Yan Huai Xi, who was protected by Yan Yaojin.

She saw her sister’s anxious expression and knew she had overreacted. She controlled herself for a moment, said sorry, let go of Sheng Ruxi, and walked to the backyard without a word.

At this point, the warm atmosphere of the dinner became a little awkward. Sheng Ruxi wanted to chase after Jian Jixing, but after two steps, she suddenly stopped and returned to Yan Huai Xi.

She had been using suppressants for a long time, so other Alphas’ pheromones had no effect on her. At most, she would feel a little uncomfortable. Yan Huai Xi was still young, and Sheng Ruxi could withstand the slight discomfort. But she had been feeling a little weird since just now.

Now, Sheng Ruxi finally knew why she felt weird.

It was the attention.

Sheng Ruxi was used to being a princess at home. Her older brother and parents had doted on her since she was a child. Whenever she came home, all eyes were on her. She naturally thought that was how a family was.

So when she came here, she felt a strange discomfort. Her role had changed. She was standing with Jian Jixing, experiencing Jian Jixing’s perspective.

Yan Huai Xi was the child who received all the love and attention. Jian Jixing was just watching from the side. Her family didn’t see her carefulness in wiping the cutlery, nor did they praise her for thoughtfully preparing gifts for everyone, including the Aunt Yue Ai she was rumored to “not get along with.”

If Sheng Ruxi had done any of those small things at home, her older brother and parents would have praised her for at least three days. So, Sheng Ruxi couldn’t quite understand it.

The contrast in the scene was very strong. Jian Jixing’s face had even flashed with a hint of impatience. This was a good opportunity for Sheng Ruxi. She had just seen a somewhat vulnerable side of Jian Jixing. She should have taken the chance, just like she used to mock Jian Jixing for being impotent, and used this incident to mock her so she wouldn’t dare to provoke her again.

But when she thought about how Jian Jixing had instinctively defended her just now, Sheng Ruxi couldn’t bring herself to do it. Her eyes fell on the scattered gift boxes on the side. These were the gifts Jian Jixing had brought for the elders, but they hadn’t been opened.

Yan Huai Xi had knocked them over when she was struggling.

Sheng Ruxi was very proud. Most of the time, she didn’t even put on her own shoes. She rarely bent down. But today, she knelt down and stacked the gift boxes one by one. When she stood up again, she looked at Yan Yaojin.

She composed herself and said calmly, “Mom, Jian Jixing just won the Best Director award. Her commercial film was the highest-grossing film this Chinese New Year.”

“Why don’t you praise her?” Sheng Ruxi said calmly, in Yan Yaojin’s stunned expression. “Just because she’s a big girl now?”

So what if she’s a big girl? Isn’t she still a child? Big kids want to be praised too.

Sheng Ruxi guessed Jian Jixing must be hiding somewhere and crying now, right?

She had already given up the leverage she could have used against Jian Jixing. Now, she had to record Jian Jixing’s tearful face so she could use it to blackmail her into continuing to be her servant.

Sheng Ruxi made up her mind. After she finished speaking, she didn’t care about the rest of the atmosphere and went to find Jian Jixing in the backyard.