After Mistakenly Marking My Ex’s Older Sister, the Disabled Alpha Stood Up - Chapter 12

Morning light streamed through the carved lattice windows, casting dappled shadows across the wooden floor of the study.

Yan Qingruo slowly stirred awake, stretching lazily. Her slender waist arched like a willow branch, her long lashes fluttering as she squinted against the light. But… when had a blanket been draped over her?

The familiar study from last night came into view—the tall, antique shelves lined with the books Jin Yunxi loved most.

As she shifted slightly, a rich cedar scent rose from the blanket, filling her nose and instantly sharpening her senses. A suit jacket slipped from the blanket, only to be caught quickly between her fingers.

Ah Yun’s suit? Had she fallen asleep wrapped in it?

Yan Qingruo’s lips curved into a faint, enchanting smile. So, Ah Yun had come to check on her last night, worried she’d get cold?

Her mood instantly lifted. Tilting her face up, her fair skin glowed translucent in the morning light. She raised her slender fingers and delicately picked up the expensive jacket.

Then she buried her face into it, breathing in deeply. The crisp cedar fragrance enveloped her, as if she was nestled directly into Jin Yunxi’s embrace.

Like a kitten rubbing against its owner, her satisfied little gesture carried with it an alluring trace of intimacy.

The moment passed, and Yan Qingruo suddenly realized what she was doing. Her face flushed with embarrassment—how shameless, how obsessive! She bit lightly at her lip, the rosy hue only deepening her delicate charm.

Her peach-blossom eyes flicked about, searching the room. Thankfully, the study was empty. Ah Yun wasn’t here.

Still… Ah Yun was her wife. Smelling her wife’s clothes shouldn’t be such a big deal, right? Yan Qingruo hastily gave herself an excuse.

The moved bed and the blanket made it clear—Jin Yunxi had indeed come last night, concerned about her.

A trace of regret flickered in her eyes. She had dozed off reading medical texts, missing the chance to share a bed with Ah Yun.

Forget it. According to the couple’s diary she had been reading, it wasn’t as though they’d never slept together before. Yet, she couldn’t believe she was sulking just because of one missed night.

Her hand brushed the small medical dressing on the back of her neck. Ever since waking in the hospital, she found herself increasingly reliant on Jin Yunxi.

She was only a beta, yet her dependence resembled the symptoms of an omega marked by an alpha.

Why? She wasn’t an omega. And yet Ah Yun had chosen to marry her, not her younger sister, Yan Qingmei.

Ah Yun must like her very much. Would she miss her if she woke and found her gone?

One thing was certain—after just one night apart, Yan Qingruo herself could hardly wait to see her again.

【In the mornings, Yan Qingruo would sometimes pad barefoot into the kitchen and pout: “I want Ah Yun to feed me breakfast.” Then she would sit obediently as Jin Yunxi cut her steak into neat bites and fed her with gentle care.】

The note from the diary suddenly flashed across her mind.

Would Ah Yun feed her breakfast today as well?

She pictured Jin Yunxi smiling at her, lips parting gently: “Wife, be good. Sit on my lap—I’ll feed you~”

Yan Qingruo’s cheeks blazed crimson. She flapped her hands at her face, desperate to banish such shameful fantasies.

But then again… could Secretary-General Jin truly cook?

Just as she wondered, an enticing aroma drifted in from the kitchen. Her peach-blossom eyes widened.

Through the morning light, Jin Yunxi’s tall, slender figure came into view. A fitted shirt outlined her elegant curves, every motion radiating innate nobility and composure.

Yan Qingruo crept up quietly behind her.

Jin Yunxi’s morning had begun with an unusually frantic bath and hurried laundry—throwing the bedsheets into the washing machine herself instead of letting Ivy handle them. The loud hum of the machine and the long shower had left Ivy baffled.

What on earth had happened last night?

Perhaps out of guilt—or distraction—Jin Yunxi had insisted on making breakfast herself. She hadn’t cooked for anyone in years, though she had learned a little while studying abroad. But her illness meant she couldn’t stand too long. The thought made her lips tighten bitterly.

No one knew how her joints stiffened after standing, how she sometimes needed a cane, or to rest before walking again. Compared to her days in a wheelchair, it wasn’t much better.

Her body remained young, but her illness had ground her spirit into weariness. Yan Qingruo’s stubborn effort to stay awake last night, searching for medical answers, had moved her deeply—but it also felt futile, painfully so.

Ivy had been startled when she heard Jin Yunxi insist, “I’m making this for Qingruo.”

Futile or not, she had to show gratitude. It was both her duty as the eldest daughter of the Jin family, and a gesture of thanks to the wife who—at least in name—stood beside her.

Ivy only laughed softly behind her hand. Something about the two of them felt different now—less staged, more real.

And so the once untouchable Secretary-General Jin found herself at the cutting board, a fresh steak before her. She lifted the knife with the same seriousness she reserved for government files. Her cuts were uneven, the rhythm clumsy, but her gaze never left the meat.

She even began preparing a salad—washing, slicing cucumbers and tomatoes with stiff, awkward precision.

Just then, a soft fragrance wafted against her shoulder.

“Ah Yun, you’re so sweet~”

A supple body slipped around her waist, pressing warmly against her back.

Jin Yunxi froze, the knife stilling in her hand. A soft cheek rested against her shoulder, a lazy voice whispering, “You made breakfast just for me?”

The warm breath at her ear, even the teasing little puff of air—too much. Last night’s dreams overlapped with the present softness, and sweat prickled at her brow.

Her grip tightened on the knife, knuckles pale. Still, she forced her voice to remain cool and steady: “Mn.”

The tone was even, but the tips of her ears betrayed her with a faint blush.

“Are you ready? Let’s eat.” She carefully slipped out of Yan Qingruo’s embrace.

________________________________________

The food was served. Jin Yunxi tasted her own cooking—mediocre at best. Yet Yan Qingruo ate happily, praising every bite.

“You don’t have to force yourself. It’s not very good.” Yunxi’s voice softened despite herself.

But Yan Qingruo only smiled, trailing a finger lightly across her hand. “I’m not forcing anything. You’ve always cooked for me. Even if it’s not perfect this time, it’s not your fault. I know you’ll only get better. And if you don’t like cooking, I can do it for you.”

Her peach-blossom eyes shone with warmth and certainty. “No one can excel at everything. Do what you’re best at. As for the rest, I’ll fill in the gaps. Like the moon—its beauty lies in both its fullness and its flaws.

I’ll make up for whatever feels incomplete.”

Yunxi lowered her gaze, silent for a long moment, before murmuring: “Thank you.”

Her voice was low, her fingers brushing her stiff knee as if grounding herself.

Yan Qingruo bit her lip. Ah Yun still resisted her touch.

So she deliberately leaned closer, sliding her hand over Yunxi’s arm, fingertips stroking lightly.

Yunxi’s muscles tensed. She kept her expression calm, though the coffee cup in her hand trembled faintly.

【Ding! Smart Assistant A is now broadcasting your morning news. To reduce noise pollution, only the first sentence will play in audio—the rest will display on screen. Please check, Master~】

The voice came—

【Breaking! Secretary-General Jin’s latest scandal revealed—rumors about her family life, and her sister-in-law is not who you think…】

Yunxi’s eyes widened as headlines flashed one after another:

【Scandal! The truth about Jin Yunxi and the Yan family’s missing second daughter!】

【Beta Yan Qingruo, the hidden eldest daughter kept in the Yan family’s attic!】

【Runaway bride or transaction? The deal that pushed Jin Yunxi into power!】

Line after line blazed across the air screen. Yunxi’s expression darkened instantly. She hadn’t had time to stop the automatic broadcast. This was bad. If Qingruo saw this—!

She shot up from her seat, rushing to Qingrou’s side, covering her ears with both hands.

Qingruo blinked in confusion, peach eyes wide. Yunxi stammered out the first excuse she could grasp: “I—I burned my hand cooking… let me cool it on your ear.”

As soon as the words left her lips, she regretted them. What a ridiculous excuse.

Sure enough, Qingruo giggled, tugging at her hand. “My hands are even cooler. Touch mine instead~” She tilted her head curiously. “Also, what was that news about your family?”

She started to turn toward the screen—

“Don’t look!”

In a flash of instinct, Yunxi acted before thinking. She seized Qingruo’s wrists, pressing them lightly against her own chest.

Qingruo gasped, eyes wide. Before she could react further, Yunxi leaned in, closing the distance until their breaths mingled.

Her phoenix eyes, usually so cold, now swirled with something else—something perilously close to breaking free. “Qingruo… forget that. Look at me.”

Her heart stuttered. “I—I’m looking…”

“Good.” Yunxi’s voice rasped low, hoarse. She cupped Qingruo’s face. “Qingruo-jie… am I beautiful?”

As she spoke, she leaned in, closing the distance so Yan Qingruo could see her face clearly.

When they drew closer, a strand of Jin Yunxi’s hair brushed softly against Yan Qingruo’s cheek, leaving behind a tingling trace.

Yan Qingruo’s thoughts scattered in a daze. Ah Yun… called her sister? The word sent a shiver through her chest, impossible to suppress. In the diary, Ah Yun had only ever whispered that name in bed—teasing at first, then sincere, then deepening into something more fevered.

Her waist weakened involuntarily, and Jin Yunxi, quick to notice, slid a hand around her, steadying her and pulling her in.

The beautiful face before her loomed larger, lips so close she could make out every delicate curve. Heat rushed to her cheeks, and Yan Qingruo blurted out in flustered reply, “Mhm~ Ah Yun really is the pretty one~”

Ah Yun is going to kiss me! Was she really going to be bold so early in the morning… at the dining table, no less? Embarrassing as it was, the thought made her heart skip—yet, perhaps, it wasn’t impossible at all.

Should I let her undress me, or do it myself? The ridiculous thought popped into her head, her fingers nervously twisting the hem of her dress. Doesn’t matter… it’s Ah Yun. Anything is fine.

The deeper her shameful fantasies grew, the more erratic her breathing became. Her heart thudded wildly, and the blush staining Yan Qingruo’s cheeks crept up to her ears. Her long lashes quivered before she let her eyes flutter shut, lips parted in a faint, expectant lift as she welcomed her without hesitation.