After Marrying the Cold Omega in Secret - Chapter 23.2

She told herself it was just to make her happy.

As long as the sponsor was in a good mood, her allowance would be secure.

Chu Jin smiled slightly. Thinking about the upcoming payment made her mood lighter. She wondered if the extra “dating fund” Chi Ye promised would also arrive soon.

At that moment, Chu Jin received a message.

Sister, even the moonlight cannot compare to your beauty.

The affectionate tone and familiar words could only come from Qiao Man.

Chu Jin didn’t think much of it and opened the trending section of the show’s platform. Fans were already speculating about her and Qiao Man, saying Qiao Man was a bold and straightforward lover. They even gave the two a couple nickname, “Qiao Chu.”

Chu Jin couldn’t help but admire the fans’ creativity.

But with a new couple name trending, some fans of the original “Jinchi” pairing started expressing disappointment. Some accused Chu Jin of changing her mind the moment someone new appeared, calling her fickle and disloyal.

Many “Jinchi” fans began to turn against her, feeling sorry for Chi Ye and accusing Chu Jin of playing with her feelings. They started calling her heartless and disloyal.

The direction of public opinion in the entertainment world really could shift overnight.

Chu Jin never expected to be labeled like this. How could she possibly be worthy of cheating on someone as famous as President Chi?

She logged into her alternate account to argue with a few of the more extreme fans and defend herself with reason.

Under a thread about the possible breakup of the “Jinchi” couple, she left a short comment:

“You’re all assuming Jinchi is over, but maybe they’re doing just fine. You wouldn’t know if they’re sleeping in the same bed tonight.”

Very quickly, someone replied.

“Are you sleeping under their bed to know that? Stop dreaming in broad daylight. Chu better stop bothering Chi.”

Chu Jin rolled her eyes. Under the bed? She was on the bed.

She wanted to reply again, but her hand froze mid-motion. Suddenly, she seemed to understand something.

Ever since Qiao Man appeared, her reputation had shifted drastically. It was hard not to suspect that this was orchestrated by Qiao Man’s agency.

It seemed she couldn’t afford to stay passive anymore. In a show like this, letting her guard down could easily turn her into someone else’s scapegoat.

Just as that thought formed in her mind, the bathroom door opened.

Chi Ye had finished showering. She was holding the rest of the red wine and the wine glass in one hand.

Seeing her come out, Chu Jin put her phone away.

She was about to lift the blanket and get off the bed.

“President Chi, the bed is warmed.”

At that moment, Chi Ye seemed to trip over something on the floor. Her body lurched forward, and the wine in her glass spilled entirely onto the bed.

Onto Chu Jin’s bed.

Chu Jin froze.

Even though the motion looked natural, she couldn’t help but feel like Chi Ye had done it on purpose.

The floor was flat. What could she have possibly tripped on?

Chi Ye stood upright again and said calmly, “My hand hurts. I couldn’t hold it steady.”

Her tone showed no hint of apology.

Then she set the glass down, turned around, and lifted the soaked edge of the blanket with her fingers. She examined it with a frown.

“It’s too wet,” she said as she looked at Chu Jin without a hint of emotion. “Looks like you can’t sleep here anymore.”

“It’s so late, the crew is probably asleep. And there’s no spare bedding here.”

Chu Jin understood.

Their little game of teasing each other wasn’t over yet.

Chi Ye’s meaning was clear. She wanted Chu Jin to sleep in her bed.

Chu Jin could now see through Chi Ye’s little schemes instantly.

“Oh…” Chu Jin played along, pretending to be at a loss. “Then what should I do?”

“Can I sleep in your bed, President Chi?” Chu Jin blinked.

Chi Ye kept a calm expression, trying to stay composed.

“Just for tonight,” she replied coldly.

“Thank you, President Chi.” Chu Jin smiled sweetly. But she didn’t forget the real task. She lifted the blanket and stood up. “Let me change your bandage.”

Because she was wearing a dress, the hem naturally rode up when she sat down. And when she lifted the blanket, the fabric clung to her thighs, revealing smooth, pale skin.

Chi Ye couldn’t help but notice. She thought to herself that Chu Jin really was fortunate. Her face and figure were flawless, like a work of art with no flaws to be found.

No matter how simple the clothing, it always carried a unique charm on her.

Neither of them spoke during the bandage change.

Chi Ye kept her eyes on her injured finger. The cut had already begun to heal and would fully recover in a few days.

“In a couple of days, you can use the ointment Zhi Xue gave you,” Chu Jin said softly as she wrapped the gauze.

Chi Ye didn’t respond directly. “He Xian brought me some medicine today.”

“If you weren’t going to use what she gave you, why accept it?” Chu Jin finished taping the gauze, then stood up and raised her brow. “President Chi, you really know your way around relationships.”

Before Chi Ye could reply, Chu Jin returned to the bed.

“Which side do you sleep on?”

“Either is fine.”

Hearing that, Chu Jin lay down on the same side as earlier.

Chi Ye changed into her pajamas and turned off the lights before getting into bed as well.

They lay on the same bed, but with about thirty centimeters of space between them.

The only light in the room came from the small scented candle at the foot of the bed. Its flame flickered gently, filling the room with a faint, soothing fragrance. The atmosphere had become oddly intimate.

When they had merely shared a room, Chu Jin already felt a bit uncomfortable. Now, lying in the same bed, she found it even harder to relax. She closed her eyes for a long time, but sleep wouldn’t come.

Finally, she gave up and opened her eyes.

She quietly glanced at Chi Ye, who was lying to her right.

Though the candlelight was dim, she could clearly see Chi Ye’s profile. Her eyes were closed, lashes long and thick, gently fluttering with each breath like the wings of a butterfly.

Though her eyes were shut, her breathing wasn’t the deep, steady rhythm of someone asleep.

After a moment of hesitation, Chu Jin whispered, “President Chi, are you asleep?”

Her voice was soft, barely louder than a breath, as if she didn’t want to disturb the silence.

Chi Ye’s eyelids moved slightly, but she didn’t open her eyes.

“No.”

“I want to ask you something.”

Chu Jin paused, thought for a moment, then spoke gently.

“President Chi, how many relationships have you been in?”

It was something she had always been curious about.

Chi Ye always gave off a cold, aloof vibe, like someone who would scare away any girl that came close. She didn’t seem like someone who knew how to love. But sometimes, Chu Jin thought maybe Chi Ye was secretly very experienced. After all, appearances could be deceiving, and someone as wealthy as Chi Ye likely had her fair share of romances in private.

Chi Ye stayed quiet for a long time.

Chu Jin began to wonder if the number was too high for her to remember. Another moment passed and she still hadn’t responded.

“President Chi, are you asleep?” Chu Jin asked again, her voice low and tentative.

Chi Ye hesitated for a long time. At first, she didn’t want to answer. But seeing how curious Chu Jin was, she finally spoke.

“I’ve never dated anyone.”

Chu Jin’s first reaction was disbelief.

But then she realized there was no reason for Chi Ye to lie. Dating wasn’t something to be ashamed of. Why would she go out of her way to hide it or even lie about it?

So it had to be true.

Chu Jin suddenly felt a quiet sense of admiration.

“Then Yan Sisi must be your first love,” she said. Then she realized her wording wasn’t quite right and added, “Even though you weren’t in a relationship, it still counts.”

Talking about gossip like this instantly brought Chu Jin back to life. She leaned in with more curiosity.

“How long have you liked her?”

Chi Ye didn’t give a specific answer and just said vaguely, “For many years.”

She really was devoted.

A fellow pure-hearted romantic.

“Then why didn’t you two get together three years ago?”

If they had feelings for each other, why didn’t they make it official back then? Why wait all this time, letting misunderstandings fester and complicate everything?

This question had been bothering Chu Jin for a long time.

After a while, Chi Ye finally responded.

This time, her voice sounded a little heavier, as if she was remembering something painful from the past.

“Because of a misunderstanding.”

When she heard the word “misunderstanding,” Chu Jin’s gaze deepened, but she quickly pulled her thoughts back.

“That’s a shame,” she said softly, letting out a sigh.

However, Chi Ye seemed completely unbothered. Her tone had lightened.

“It’s not a shame,” she said.

As she spoke, she opened her eyes and looked at Chu Jin. “Now that I have your help, we’ll be back together soon.”

Using jealousy to force the other to admit their feelings? That really did sound childish.

But remembering she was just the tool caught in the middle, Chu Jin couldn’t help but let out a bitter smile.

She didn’t want to think about it any further and changed the subject, turning her eyes to Chi Ye.

“You’re an alpha. If you’ve never been in a relationship, how have you handled your physical needs?”

No matter how cold or detached someone might appear, when their susceptibility phase hit, desire could make even the strongest lose control. It was hard to endure.

This was a rather private topic, but the atmosphere tonight had already reached a point where nothing felt off-limits. As a fellow alpha, Chu Jin figured it wasn’t unreasonable to bring it up.

“Suppressants, of course,” Chi Ye answered immediately. Thankfully, the dim candlelight helped hide the faint blush that crept up her ears. Then she asked in return, “Don’t you use them too?”

For some reason, Chu Jin felt the need to explain herself, perhaps worried she would be misunderstood.

“Of course I do,” she said quickly.

After a brief pause, she added, “But sometimes even the suppressants don’t work that well. I still tend to lose control…”

Maybe her alpha traits were too strong. Every time her susceptibility period arrived, it would hit hard and fast. Even after using suppressants, that heat would linger deep inside. Each time, it was only through sheer willpower that she managed to get through it.

“I manage. It’s not too bad,” she added lightly.

Chi Ye’s voice was quiet, but her thoughts had already drifted back to the word “lose control.” Her heart felt a strange flutter at the idea.

“My susceptibility period is coming soon,” Chu Jin calculated in her mind. It was likely within the next day or two. She gave Chi Ye a smile. “Luckily, we’re both alphas. I won’t be a bother to you when it happens.”

As soon as she said it, she sensed something was wrong. A faint heat had begun stirring in her lower abdomen, like something was quietly brewing. One glance at Chi Ye earlier had somehow sparked a strange urge in her.

No, this couldn’t be happening. Alphas weren’t supposed to feel that way about other alphas.

Chu Jin tried to steady herself, forcing her mind to clear. But her body had already started responding instinctively. That heat, that restlessness, was growing. All it needed was a single spark.

Meanwhile, Chi Ye, who was actually an omega, felt her heart begin to race. Her palm grew damp with sweat.

Amid her nervousness, the emotions she had always kept buried began to surface. Maybe this was what she had always wanted.

All that restraint she had practiced until now was beginning to crumble. And if it meant losing control to Chu Jin, she was more than willing.

Chi Ye shifted the conversation with practiced ease.

“What about you and Yan Sisi?”

“Huh?”

Chu Jin didn’t follow at first.

“You were with her for three years. Did you have feelings for her?”

Chu Jin didn’t understand why Chi Ye had suddenly brought this up. They hadn’t done anything during those years, and now here they were lying in the same bed, discussing something so oddly personal. It felt strange.

But since Chi Ye had answered all her questions earlier, she felt she owed her a response.

“There were no feelings,” Chu Jin said calmly. “We didn’t do anything in those three years.”

Chi Ye suddenly turned to face her.

“Did you ever hold hands?”

Looking into Chi Ye’s eyes, Chu Jin felt a moment of daze. Maybe it was the darkness or something else, but those eyes seemed especially deep and unreadable. It felt like they held a secret she couldn’t name or a hidden danger she couldn’t define.

Chu Jin’s breath caught for a second. “Once.”

It had happened when they were out for dinner. They had been crossing the street when a car sped toward them. Chu Jin hadn’t noticed the danger, and her position was unsafe. Yan Sisi instinctively reached out and pulled her back.

As soon as they were out of harm’s way, she let go.

In theory, that moment should have sparked something between them. But neither of them felt anything. In fact, it had been a little awkward.

Right after she said this, Chu Jin felt the blanket shift slightly. Though she had expected it, her heart still jumped, like it had been suspended in midair.

Then, she felt cool fingertips brush gently against the warmth of her palm.

“How did she pull you?” Chi Ye asked softly.

As she spoke, her fingers brushed lightly against Chu Jin’s palm. Chu Jin had been trying to suppress her own desire this whole time, but this simple touch broke her control. She grabbed Chi Ye’s hand.

“Like this,” she whispered, her voice already hoarse.

“Is this how she liked being pulled?”

Chi Ye shifted slightly, then added, “I need to know her preferences.”

So she was using her as a reference now? Chu Jin gave a quiet, unreadable smile. Neither of them wanted to expose the thin veil of pretense. They were content to fall together into this beautiful illusion.

Then Chu Jin shifted her grip. Their fingers intertwined, locking tightly, palm to palm, fitting perfectly together. The cool skin of Chi Ye’s hand had now grown warm.

Chu Jin held on tightly.

“She probably preferred it this way.”

Chi Ye nodded thoughtfully, as if turning something over in her mind.

“Did you two ever kiss?”

The word carried a heat that Chu Jin could feel pulsing under her skin. Her glands were already warm, and the tension building in her body made it hard to speak clearly.

She tried to stay calm. In the end, she gave a short and steady reply.

“No.”

Chi Ye sounded almost disappointed.

“Then you can’t teach me.”

At that moment, a sudden wave of desire took hold of Chu Jin. It hit fast and hard, completely overwhelming her ability to stay composed. Before Chi Ye could react, Chu Jin had already moved. With swift, instinctive motion, she leaned in and pinned Chi Ye beneath her.

“I can try.”

Her voice was husky and unclear, heavy with emotion.

One hand braced her weight, while the other reached up and gently ran through Chi Ye’s hair.

She tucked a loose strand behind Chi Ye’s ear, letting her fingertip lightly graze the soft curve of her earlobe on purpose.

Chi Ye’s ears were extremely sensitive. Just that small touch made her body shiver gently. The cold and distant expression she usually wore seemed to melt away. Under Chu Jin’s teasing, all that remained was restrained longing.

This time, the susceptibility period had come stronger than ever. As Chu Jin leaned in close, she caught a faint scent coming from Chi Ye. She had no time to think about it. The moment the scent hit her, it clouded her mind completely.

She was no longer thinking. All she wanted was to touch, to take, to feel more.

She never imagined she would feel such intense desire for another alpha.

Looking down at Chi Ye, whose gaze was now dazed and unfocused, Chu Jin felt something deep inside her stir. The need to dominate, to possess, rose fiercely. Still, she tried to control herself. Instead of giving in fully, she leaned closer to Chi Ye’s ear and let her breath fall softly against it.

“I haven’t even started teaching you, and you’re already reacting like this.”

The warmth of her breath brushed over Chi Ye’s skin, sending waves of tingling sensation through her entire body. Chi Ye parted her lips slightly and let out a quiet breath, laced with barely restrained tension.

Chu Jin sat up just a little, her eyes falling to Chi Ye’s slightly open mouth. She could see the edge of her tongue behind her teeth, glistening faintly in the low light.

Every bit of self-control was slipping away.

In the end, she could no longer hold back.

She lowered her head and kissed her.

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