After Entering A Marriage of Convenience With My Omega Rival - Chapter 10

Chapter 10: “My Lips are Quite Soft When I Kiss.”

The rain poured heavily as their gazes locked.

Tuanzi felt as though she could see invisible sparks flying in the air. Sheng Ruxi’s shock lasted only a second; she quickly regained her composure and took a half-step back, standing firmly under the shelter of the eaves. She faced Jian Jixing, who was inside the car, but refused to move an inch forward.

Tuanzi held her breath, feeling a heavy pressure weigh down on her. The air was nearly frozen.

Jian Jixing stopped speaking, simply staring at Sheng Ruxi through the curtain of rain. Her gaze grew sharp, cold, and hard, her lips pressed into a thin line. How much longer can this princess hold onto her stubbornness? The tips of her high heels were already soaked. If she stood out there for another ten minutes, she’d definitely fall ill tomorrow. The climate here wasn’t like the plains; those who didn’t live here couldn’t adapt easily, let alone this delicate “Little Green Bean.”

“Your car won’t be here for at least another half hour. If you want to stay here and freeze, suit yourself.”

Xia Lan moved to get out and offer an umbrella, but Jian Jixing stopped her with a look. Tuanzi, holding a gift box, tried to speak but was also silenced by a sharp glance from Sheng Ruxi.

Just when Tuanzi thought the two would remain in a deadlock forever, Sheng Ruxi bit her lip and looked down. When she opened her eyes again, they looked as if raindrops had fallen into them—shimmering and wet.

“Why are you being so mean?” Sheng Ruxi whispered, her hands rubbing her slender arms. There was a puddle right in front of her shoes, and against the sound of the rain, her face looked increasingly pale.

When she looked up, her furrowed brow no longer signaled anger, but a wounded, aggrieved complaint she was trying hard to suppress. The faint exhaustion in her eyes was heart-wrenching. The public’s praise for her wasn’t for nothing; she could portray a thousand emotions and make people believe in them unconditionally.

Jian Jixing’s fingertips touched the umbrella handle again, stroking it slowly. Whenever Sheng Ruxi spoke properly, she was a treasure one wanted to cherish. Even knowing this “treasure” was a master actress, at this moment, Jian Jixing was willing to wait for her to finish the scene.

Sheng Ruxi blinked, her thick lashes fluttering like a graceful stroke of eyeliner. “Anyway, you came here just to humiliate me. You opened your mouth just to snap at me. Can you really blame me? I don’t need you to pick me up, and I wasn’t waiting for you.”

Jian Jixing remained silent. Would it kill Sheng Ruxi to just admit she didn’t have an umbrella? But she wouldn’t. Jian Jixing couldn’t count how many times they had played this game. Even when she was in a good mood, she’d get so angry she’d forget everything. Her self-proclaimed calm and steady nature always crumbled easily in front of Sheng Ruxi.

A cold gust blew past. Jian Jixing saw goosebumps on Sheng Ruxi’s arms. Her body was delicate; the damp air could easily make her catch a cold. Jian Jixing’s other hand quietly moved to the door handle.

Then she heard Sheng Ruxi say: “Not a single explanation, yet you want me to walk into the rain. Jian Jixing, what is your heart made of?” Sheng Ruxi looked down. “Everyone says Director Jian respects actresses the most. Why is it that you only disrespect me?”

Jian Jixing seemed to see a spark of light fall to the ground, scattering into tiny ripples. In the dim night light, it was hard to tell if it was a tear or a raindrop.

The car door finally opened. The umbrella that had been prepared long ago was unfurled, and Jian Jixing stepped into the rain.

It was only two steps away. But Sheng Ruxi refused to move. When her stubborn gaze met hers, Jian Jixing knew she couldn’t win. She surrendered.

“Delicate brat,” Jian Jixing said. The frost on her face hadn’t fully melted, but her tone had softened. “Are you willing to go now?”

Sheng Ruxi finally looked up, her lips curling slightly. “I’m freezing, and my shoes are very expensive. I don’t want them getting wet.”

Jian Jixing had just seen her playing in the puddles a moment ago, but she didn’t call her out. “Whatever games you’re playing, say it in the car.”

Sheng Ruxi nudged Jian Jixing’s toe with the tip of her sharp heel, her beautiful eyes glistening. “What games could I possibly have? I’m just a ‘delicate brat’.”

The umbrella tilted; Jian Jixing’s shoulder was already getting soaked. She stared at Sheng Ruxi for a moment, then suddenly shoved the umbrella into Sheng Ruxi’s hand. She slid her arm behind Sheng Ruxi’s knees and easily swept her up into her arms.

“Jian Jixing!” Sheng Ruxi gasped.

“Tuanzi, a car will come to take you back,” Jian Jixing ignored Sheng Ruxi’s weak pounding on her chest and placed the woman directly into the car.

Tuanzi nodded repeatedly, knowing better than to disturb them. Xia Lan quickly stepped out to hand Tuanzi an umbrella and retrieved the large gift box from her.

The moment the partition rose, the back seat became a private world. Jian Jixing sat down, and the car door slammed shut.

An uncontrollable surge of pheromones flooded the space. Jian Jixing took off her wet coat, her gaze dark as she looked at Sheng Ruxi. There wasn’t a hint of a smile on her face.

Sheng Ruxi wasn’t afraid. She glared back. “Don’t sit so close. Who gave you permission to carry me?”

“Should I have found you a red carpet instead?”

Sheng Ruxi: “You’d better.”

Jian Jixing let her pheromones flow freely; her gland was burning. Sheng Ruxi grew more annoyed. “Stop using your pheromones to stimulate me. Sit further away.”

They had just finished a temporary marking; wasn’t she afraid of something happening with all this extra pheromone output? This wasn’t the rule. They only got two chances a month, and both had been used up.

“I told you long ago, don’t provoke me,” Jian Jixing said, her eyes slowly tracing the area around Sheng Ruxi’s eyes. “Since you’re about to become a ‘widow’ anyway, can’t I try to have some presence?”

Sheng Ruxi scoffed. “Jian Jixing, what exactly is your mouth for?” Her anger had subsided halfway when she was carried, but now that she realized there was still no explanation, she was fuming again.

Jian Jixing said coldly, “Truth is often hard to swallow.”

The lights in the car were off, and the city lights were fractured into a kaleidoscope by the rain on the windows. Jian Jixing wanted to confirm if that had been rain earlier or… she reached out to touch the corner of Sheng Ruxi’s eye, but Sheng Ruxi turned her face away.

“How can you think so highly of yourself?”

Jian Jixing’s eyes were naturally dark, and the bitterness in her pheromones grew heavier. She withdrew her hand, her voice devoid of emotion. “Sheng Ruxi, anyone who lives with you would be driven to death by anger.”

Sheng Ruxi: “I don’t live with you. No matter how angry I am, it won’t affect you. May Director Jian live a long life.”

The car fell silent. Jian Jixing crumpled a tissue in her palm, her fingers resting on the umbrella handle by the door, saying nothing. The car continued to drive, destination unknown. The raindrops on the roof sounded like low-decibel firecrackers; the rain showed no sign of stopping.

Sheng Ruxi didn’t like bitter pheromones. This time, the bitterness in Jian Jixing’s scent was heavier than ever. It wasn’t pungent, but it seemed to seep into her bones, making her feel cold rather than warm. It was like bitter orange peel soaked by rain, unable to catch fire. A powerful, dominant pressure emanated from Jian Jixing.

Sheng Ruxi wasn’t stupid. In such heavy rain, her own car—which was supposed to arrive thirty minutes early—was stuck. Yet Jian Jixing had appeared. This meant she had likely been waiting there for a long time.

Sheng Ruxi didn’t want to dig into why Jian Jixing was here, nor did she care. She had to admit the intent was good. But they kept bickering and refusing to give in, forgetting everything in the heat of the moment.

After thinking it over, she pouted, hesitating to speak. Her words earlier had been a bit harsh, especially since Jian Jixing had come to find her.

The person wasn’t speaking, but the pheromones were pressing down on her. This bitter scent didn’t feel like a seduction; it was pure pressure. What does Jian Jixing want? Does she never want to speak to me again? A silent Jian Jixing was even worse than a bickering one.

The earlier “pitiful” look had been an act, but now it felt a bit real. Tears welled up in Sheng Ruxi’s eyes, her throat feeling tight. But this time she didn’t let Jian Jixing see; she turned her head to look out the window.

“When you messaged me, I was on the plane. I only received three messages.”

Suddenly, Jian Jixing spoke. “An image, a question about loyalty, and a demand to ‘think carefully.’ I thought you just wanted to eat at that restaurant again.”

“What?” Sheng Ruxi turned to look at the person by the window. Jian Jixing wasn’t looking at her; her profile was as cold and clear as the night rain. Sheng Ruxi noticed then that Jian Jixing was wearing a soft, dark cotton shirt—not her usual outdoor style, but more like something she’d wear at home.

“What are you talking about? I sent so many messages…” Sheng Ruxi’s voice trailed off. “Are you lying? Don’t trick me.”

Jian Jixing finally turned to her. “We can take out our phones and check.”

Sheng Ruxi instinctively pulled out her phone. Feeling Jian Jixing turn toward her, she quickly scooted half a person’s width away, holding her phone up.

Playing games, are we?

Jian Jixing laughed this time, returning to her usual nonchalant, lazy demeanor. Sheng Ruxi finally felt the temperature in the car rising. She also felt the change in the Alpha:

“Sit further away. Stop moving toward me.”

To her surprise, Jian Jixing moved another half-person’s width, pressing right up against her again.

“Don’t come over here!” Sheng Ruxi moved to the edge. The back seat of this car was spacious; Jian Jixing had originally placed her in the middle, but now she was leaning against the door. But as she moved, Jian Jixing followed, as if her words were acting as a stimulus.

When she was mean, Jian Jixing turned even meaner; but now that she was snapping, Jian Jixing was being “soft,” sitting close just to go against her.

“How are you so capable, Jian Jixing?” Sheng Ruxi couldn’t stand the person pressing in on her, nor the pheromones that were transmitting more and more heat. “Sit. Away!!”

Sheng Ruxi was about to explode. Jian Jixing looked at the pink flush on the girl’s face and curled her lips. “Why should I sit further away? This is my car.”

This was better. She liked seeing Sheng Ruxi at a loss.

Sheng Ruxi glared. “I’m your wife. Half of this car belongs to me, got it?”

“When you don’t need me, I’m a ‘widow.’ When you do, suddenly I’m your ‘wife’.” Jian Jixing laughed in spite of herself, amazed by Sheng Ruxi’s logic.

Sheng Ruxi felt Jian Jixing’s mischievous side again. She was pressed against the door, with nowhere left to retreat. The door lock was engaged, but Jian Jixing kept coming closer—not to force her out, but to tease her.

Sheng Ruxi suddenly turned her head. “You’re still coming closer?”

“What if I am?” Jian Jixing’s smile deepened. She was already rejoicing in her impending victory. The scent of agarwood in the back seat became more pronounced, like a massive tree falling, hanging just above Sheng Ruxi’s head.

Sheng Ruxi took two deep breaths, her chest rising and falling slowly. Her hand pressed against the car door—hard meeting soft. She could feel her pulse throbbing under her skin. Each beat linked to the nerves in her gland, becoming more obvious. Her body, recently marked, was saturated in this field of pheromones. No amount of willpower could stop her genetic response.

Her mind was too clear, watching her own body fall into a state of surrender. For a moment, she couldn’t tell if she was doing this to win an argument or because she actually wanted it.

Finally, as Jian Jixing leaned in once more, Sheng Ruxi called her name, let go of the door handle, and suddenly lifted her leg, flipping over to sit directly on Jian Jixing’s lap.

This time, she finally saw a look of genuine shock on Jian Jixing’s face.

“You kept pushing me. I have to sit like this,” Sheng Ruxi tilted her head back, narrowing her eyes like a proud little fox. “Satisfied?”

Jian Jixing’s gaze finally moved from Sheng Ruxi’s eyes to her lips. She let out a scoff, her voice dropping to a low, raspy tone: “Sheng Ruxi… you’re very bold.”

Her hands instinctively gripped Sheng Ruxi’s waist. The pheromones were about to ignite. Sheng Ruxi must have noticed the change, because she smiled triumphantly.

“Isn’t this what you wanted, Director Jian?” Sheng Ruxi leaned in. The corners of her upturned eyes were slightly red—it was hard to tell if it was arousal or the aftermath of her tears. Jian Jixing’s breathing grew heavy, her grip tightening. But Sheng Ruxi wasn’t afraid. Instead, she tilted her head with an innocent expression, stopping just half an inch from Jian Jixing’s lips.

Hot, shallow breaths carrying the Omega’s scent washed over the Alpha. Sweet and sour berries surged into the blazing fire of agarwood like moths to a flame. This was the first time Sheng Ruxi had sat on Jian Jixing in such an ambiguous posture, but it was all out of spite.

Sheng Ruxi reached out, but her hand was firmly caught just as she was about to touch Jian Jixing’s gland. Jian Jixing said nothing, her eyes traveling over Sheng Ruxi’s lips, shoulders, body, and skirt. She had thought the dress was thin earlier; now she found it too complicated.

In their long, shared breaths, they were clearly moments away from a kiss, yet they were still locked in a battle of wills.

“Soften your tongue—that phrase applies to you, too.” Sheng Ruxi easily pulled her wrist free and arched an eyebrow with a sly smile. “If you came to pick me up, just say so. If you’re explaining, just explain. Why snap at me?”

“When will your mouth ever be soft?”

Sheng Ruxi had regained her ground and was about to get up and leave when a palm covered her lower back, pressing her down firmly and precisely back to where she was.

“My lips are quite soft when I kiss,” Jian Jixing chuckled. “But you, Miss Sheng, don’t dare to try.”