After Marrying the Cold Omega in Secret - Chapter 23.1

When Chu Jin heard Chi Ye speak, she hesitated for a moment but eventually pushed the door open.

The bathroom was dimly lit with a warm golden light. Chi Ye was soaking in the bathtub, her body surrounded by soft steam. Her damp hair rested gently on her shoulders, and the curves of her neck and collarbone were clearly outlined. Droplets of water slid from her neck down to the small mole near her collarbone, making her look incredibly alluring.

Her cheeks were slightly flushed, and her eyes were misty. The usual coldness in her expression had melted away, replaced by something more intimate and seductive.

Chu Jin quickly looked away, not daring to stare too long.

Her voice was a little dry as she asked, “Do you need help?”

Chi Ye slowly sat up a little, and a long shadow stretched across the surface of the water as the foam shifted. She raised her right hand from the bath, bubbles and droplets clinging to her skin. The water traced down her slender fingers and dripped onto the floor.

She reached for the wine glass on the small table by the bathtub.

Her fingers wrapped lazily around the stem, and she tilted the glass slightly toward Chu Jin, then lifted her eyes.

“Would you like a drink?”

Chu Jin’s gaze followed her hand. Chi Ye’s fingers were long and elegant, her nails trimmed smoothly and neatly. Perhaps because of the heat from the bath, her fingertips looked more flushed than usual.

When Chu Jin didn’t immediately respond, Chi Ye started to withdraw the glass.

“If you don’t want it, that’s fine.”

Snapping out of her thoughts, Chu Jin quickly reached out and took the wine glass.

“Of course I do.”

The stem of the glass was still wet and fragrant from the bath steam.

Chu Jin picked up the bottle of red wine from the table. Without a decanter, she poured it directly into the glass.

Then she handed one to Chi Ye.

The two of them touched glasses casually.

Chu Jin took a gentle sip.

This wine was probably one of Chi Ye’s private collection. It had a dry acidity, but the flavor was complex and smooth, far better than anything she had tasted before.

There was a small seat next to the table. Chu Jin sat down and placed her glass on the table.

The room suddenly fell silent. Feeling a little awkward, she took the initiative to start a conversation.

“Where did you go this afternoon? You were gone for a long time.”

At the sound of her question, the irritation in Chi Ye’s chest flared again.

She had seen Chu Jin talking and laughing with Qiao Man all day, and it had left her in a foul mood. Although she kept it hidden, Yan Sisi had noticed and even offered her a suggestion.

She had told her to disappear for a while and see whether Chu Jin would notice and come looking for her. That way, Chu Jin would realize who she truly cared about.

On impulse, Chi Ye decided to follow her advice. She slipped out while Chu Jin was distracted and went for a walk along the Linhe River. While walking, she opened the livestream on her phone and watched the footage from the camera crew to see whether Chu Jin was worried.

After half an hour, Chu Jin finally got up from the couch, walked around aimlessly, then went to the fridge and helped herself to a slice of cake.

A while later, she finally went upstairs, seemingly to look for something.

Chi Ye watched as Chu Jin searched the bedroom, then even opened the wardrobe.

She could not understand what was going through her head.

Did she really think Chi Ye was playing hide-and-seek and hiding in the closet?

After searching and finding nothing, Chu Jin returned to the couch and collapsed again.

At that point, Chi Ye gave up on the test entirely. The only result it gave her was disappointment.

She had planned to return home as if nothing had happened. But then she remembered how Chu Jin had behaved while drunk the night before. That atmosphere had pleased her.

So she sent a message to her assistant, asking her to deliver a bottle of wine she had been saving.

After getting the wine, she headed back, thinking about how to create the perfect moment for them to have a drink alone together.

But the moment she stepped into the courtyard, she saw Chu Jin clinking glasses with Qiao Man. The two of them looked like they were getting along quite well.

That was when the fire in her chest finally ignited. She went straight upstairs, and Chu Jin didn’t come up until half an hour later.

Thinking about this, Chi Ye set her wine glass down on the table a little harder than necessary. The sound rang sharply in the quiet space.

“Weren’t you busy? Surprised I wasn’t around?”

If not for her calm expression, Chu Jin might have thought that the question was filled with jealousy. But the way she set the glass down definitely carried some frustration.

But this was President Chi. Could she even get jealous?

It was probably just a simple question.

Even though she had already figured that out, Chu Jin still felt the need to explain.

“There’s nothing going on between me and Qiao Man…”

“You don’t have to explain,” Chi Ye interrupted. Her expression was unreadable as she picked up her wine glass again, her fingers tapping lightly against it.

Her tone turned cold and distant.

“We’re just in a contract. We might be married in name, but there’s no real relationship between us. No feelings either. So you’re free to do whatever you want. I won’t stop you.”

“You have your own feelings. I have mine. If you’re interested in Qiao Man, I won’t interfere. If necessary, I can even help you.”

Chu Jin looked at her without speaking.

Though they hadn’t known each other long, Chu Jin had grown up learning how to read people. By now, she had a pretty good sense of Chi Ye’s personality.

And she was sure of one thing.

If Chi Ye truly didn’t care, she wouldn’t be saying all of this.

So the truth was, she did care.

Chu Jin did not point it out. Instead, she blinked her beautiful eyes and asked innocently, “How exactly would you help me, President Chi?”

Chi Ye paused.

She hadn’t expected Chu Jin to throw that back at her. That last comment about helping had just slipped out in the heat of the moment.

How could she possibly help her own wife chase someone else? That would be ridiculous.

Still, Chi Ye kept her composure and replied stubbornly.

“Whether it’s money or other resources, I’ll do what I can…”

Before she could finish, Chu Jin cut in without hesitation.

“Money. Money will do.”

Chi Ye looked up at her.

It took her a second to realize she had once again walked into Chu Jin’s little trap.

“President Chi, you’re so generous. I’ll drink to that.” Chu Jin raised her glass and finished the wine in one go. Then she added with a charming smile, “Meeting you must be the luck of three lifetimes. I hope I get to meet you again in the next one.”

In just two lines, she had Chi Ye completely cornered. All Chi Ye could do was accept it.

She made a mental note to tell her assistant tomorrow to transfer an extra two million to Chu Jin next month.

“If I help you, you need to keep fulfilling your end of the contract,” Chi Ye said, clearly feeling a little annoyed.

“No problem. Just tell me what you need,” Chu Jin replied happily. She was in such a good mood, she felt like she could agree to anything Chi Ye asked.

“Warm my bed.”

What?

Chu Jin’s smile froze.

It was already summer. Why was she still being asked to warm the bed?

But after all, she had taken someone else’s money. With no choice, Chu Jin forced herself to swallow her pride and nodded.
“Yes, President Chi.”

But she hadn’t even showered yet. How was she supposed to warm the bed like this?

Chu Jin glanced at the shower area nearby. It was designed with a separate wet and dry layout, tucked in the corner of the bedroom. Unfortunately, all four walls were made of clear glass.

“You should shower first,” Chi Ye said calmly.

Shower? How?

Not only was the glass fully transparent, but it also happened to be facing Chi Ye directly. From where she was soaking in the bathtub, Chi Ye had a full view inside the stall.

Just thinking about the scene sent a chill down Chu Jin’s spine.

“President Chi, isn’t this a bit inappropriate?”

Chu Jin looked uneasy and tried to appeal to Chi Ye’s reason. They were both alphas. Wasn’t it a little strange to expose themselves to each other like this?

But Chi Ye simply swirled her wine glass and replied with indifference.
“What’s inappropriate about it? It’s not like I’m asking you to shower with me.”

The contract did state that Chu Jin had to obey Chi Ye completely and meet her every demand.
Still, suddenly being asked to offer up her body like this was something she couldn’t accept so easily.

But then she remembered that Chi Ye had warned her before. For every task she refused, she would be fined a million yuan. Only five days remained before her next allowance. She couldn’t afford to lose that much money over something like this.

Clenching her jaw, Chu Jin reluctantly made her way to the shower stall.

She looked back at Chi Ye, hoping the woman would show a shred of mercy.

Instead, Chi Ye raised her wine glass at her, as if toasting her in anticipation.

That smirk on her lips made Chu Jin realize the truth. This was all intentional.

But as the less powerful party in their agreement, she had no choice but to comply.

At least she had a figure worth showing. Her curves were prominent and graceful, enough to make most people stare in admiration.

Chu Jin stepped into the shower stall with her back facing Chi Ye. She raised her hands to remove her dress.

Suddenly, there was a soft beep.

The transparent glass instantly turned frosty white, completely blocking the view from outside.

It was smart glass.

She hadn’t even noticed it the last few times she had showered.

Chu Jin clenched her back teeth.

She had been tricked again.

Even though the glass was now frosted, a faint shadow of her figure was still visible.

Chi Ye tried to suppress the thoughts that crept into her mind. She quickly took another sip of wine, trying to distract herself.

But the sound of water flowing and the soft silhouette behind the misted glass constantly teased her nerves. Her mind involuntarily pictured the scene inside. Perhaps it was because her heat cycle was approaching and her pheromones had been unstable. Every sensation felt magnified, and desire crept in before she could stop it.

The tension and tingling made her restless and uncomfortable.

Chu Jin didn’t feel any better. She rushed through her shower and quickly wrapped herself in a towel before stepping out.

Water still clung to her skin. Droplets slid down from her shoulders, along her smooth neck, then over her collarbones, finally disappearing between the soft curves of her chest.

Her figure was stunning. Even with a thick towel around her, it couldn’t hide her natural curves. Chi Ye’s eyes paused on her for a moment. She quickly looked away, trying to control her breathing, and took another sip of wine so Chu Jin wouldn’t notice.

But Chu Jin did notice.

And remembering how Chi Ye had just toyed with her, a new idea came to mind.

Instead of drying her hair right away, she slowly walked over to Chi Ye.

Chu Jin’s body was naturally seductive. Even with a towel wrapped around her, her movements were alluring and graceful.

She stopped in front of the bathtub, bent slightly, one hand resting on the edge while the other stirred the water gently.

Holding that pose, she looked down at Chi Ye with soft eyes and said in a gentle, charming voice,
“President Chi, the water feels a bit cold.”

As she bent over, the towel slid down just a little more, almost revealing too much. The fabric moved with her breath, rising and falling slightly.

Chi Ye tried to stay calm, but her eyes kept catching glimpses of temptation.

Their eyes met for a second. Chi Ye’s voice sounded dry and strained.
“Dry your hair first, then come warm the bed.”

“Do you need any help, President Chi? Your finger is still injured.” Chu Jin’s voice carried a sultry elegance, like an enchanting concubine from ancient times.

As she spoke, she reached out to touch Chi Ye’s left hand.

“No need.”

Chi Ye quickly pulled her hand back, clearly flustered.

She avoided Chu Jin’s gaze and refused to look at her again.

That was a clear admission of defeat.

Chu Jin felt a small surge of victory in her heart. She had finally gained the upper hand.

Knowing when to stop, she didn’t push further. She dried her hair as asked and left the bathroom quietly.

Chi Ye was too proud to ask again. She would have to wait until she finished bathing before Chu Jin would disinfect and treat her injury.

Meanwhile, Chu Jin took out the supplies she would need from the first-aid kit in advance.

It was already nine o’clock. The livestream had ended, so she no longer had to worry about being seen by the audience.

She browsed through the clothes on the rack and, driven by her desire to win this little psychological battle, chose her favorite red satin nightdress.

It had a deep V neckline that dipped down to the shadows of her chest. The hem stopped above her knees, revealing her long, fair legs. The bright red color made her skin look even more flawless and added a touch of mature sensuality.

Since Chi Ye wanted to play this game, she would take it all the way. She would make Chi Ye give up on these kinds of unreasonable requests in the future.

That was Chu Jin’s goal.

Before slipping into Chi Ye’s bed, she sprayed on her favorite perfume and lit a scented candle. The atmosphere in the room instantly became warm and filled with subtle tension.

Romantic and seductive.

Chi Ye was still showering and would take a while. Chu Jin picked up her phone. The show’s production team had sent a reminder, telling her to send her crush text.

Chu Jin hesitated. She had been planning to skip it like always. But then she remembered how she had annoyed Chi Ye earlier.

So she typed a simple message and selected Chi Ye as the recipient.

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