After My Death, I Became a Heartless Madman - Chapter 60.1

Once was certainly not enough.

The slightly cool lips gently enveloped Song Shizhou’s, the tongue brushing against the roof of her mouth sending tingles of pleasure. For a moment, both let out a soft, satisfied gasp. Those pale green eyes held a hint of amusement, as if to say, I’m not the only one drowning in desire.

On this warm spring night, the faint scent of cold fragrance lingered in her nostrils, their mingled pheromones melting into a soft, watery presence. Song Shizhou reached for a tube of lube by the bedside, only to realize it was unnecessary.

Those mischievous hands continued to tease flames across her body, even provocatively grazing her scent gland. The temperature in the room rose swiftly. A tie slipped down, its dark patterned fabric dotted with raised designs. Song Shizhou seized those unruly hands and firmly bound them to the headboard.

Hands restrained, movements restricted, utterly at her mercy…

Bai Ruowei’s eyes trembled violently.

A slick, wet heat.

The once-calm sea surface suddenly rocked by violent turbulence. The woman beneath her kissed her lips, then trailed to her ear, the lingering moisture entwining with Song Shizhou’s breath. In the darkness, that slender neck arched back desperately, like a fish gasping for life.

She whispered, Shizhou, Shizhou, Love me more, hurt me more, and let me love you more too…

Song Shizhou’s biological clock was always punctual. Even though she had “fought” with someone until dawn, she still woke early the next day.

When she awoke, the other person was already gone.

The dampened sheets had been changed last night. By the end, Bai Ruowei lay exhausted in her arms. Alphas were an aggressive gender, formidable when resisting but before an enigma, her struggles only added to the thrill.

Miss Bai’s side of the bed still carried a faint trace of osmanthus fragrance. Though an Alpha’s pheromone, Song Shizhou felt no aversion. The crisp scent wrapped around her senses, like the whispered I love yous that had lingered in her ear all night.

Word after word, clinging to her, unwilling to let go.

Today was unusually fine weather. She opened the window, and the morning sunlight poured in, golden rays slanting across the beige wooden floor. The small apartment was on the seventh floor fresh air, but not too high.

A clattering sound came from the kitchen, as if someone was cooking. Song Shizhou stood at the doorway and found Miss Bai preparing ingredients.

She had risen early. Last night’s bowl of spring onion noodles had been a success, emboldening Miss Bai to expand her culinary ventures into breakfast.

Song Shizhou leaned against the kitchen’s glass partition.

“If you’re frying eggs, it’s better to use more salt. Sweet eggs aren’t very common.”

Bai Ruowei’s hand, holding the seasoning, paused. “I know. I wasn’t going to add sugar.”

Song Shizhou grinned brightly. “But you’re holding sugar.”

Bai Ruowei: “…”

The golden eggs were already sprinkled with sugar crystals. Since it was too late, she offered comfort. “How about mixing in some flour and turning it into a pancake?”

Miss Bai found this suggestion excellent. “I just bought cornstarch last night.”

Song Shizhou nodded. “Sweet corn pancakes are quite tasty. But I suppose it’s unnecessary now.”

She smiled and took the spatula, rescuing the beleaguered egg from the pan.

“Because the egg is already burnt.”

Bai Ruowei: “…”

Teasing. Blatant teasing. Miss Bai angrily pushed her out of the kitchen.

By the time Song Shizhou finished washing up, breakfast was ready. Bai Ruowei placed two plates on the table, each holding a perfectly intact fried egg. It seemed the failed one had been discarded.

One egg was drizzled with two rings of ketchup, vaguely resembling a misshapen heart. The other, stubbornly sweetened as if defying logic, was even topped with an extra swirl of mayonnaise.

Song Shizhou felt a headache coming on.

Miss Bai truly was a persistent person.

The persistent one decided honesty was the best policy.

“One of these eggs is sweet, the other is savory. Which do you want?”

Sweetened eggs probably weren’t meant for human consumption. Song Shizhou came up with a compromise.

“How about we eat downstairs instead? There’s a new steamed bun shop that just opened, should be pretty good.”

Bai Ruowei raised an eyebrow and handed her the slightly more normal-looking fried egg.

Perhaps because it was paired with milk, the condensed milk-sweetened egg didn’t taste quite as bizarre.

After breakfast, Bai Ruowei took a call from Mia. Standing nearby, Song Shizhou could vaguely hear Mia’s urgent voice on the other end, as if something important had happened.

Sure enough, Mr. Bai’s condition had taken a turn for the better today, and Bai Ruowei needed to go immediately.

She nodded, her pale green eyes darkening slightly, lost in thought.

“I understand.”

The Surveillance Institute’s power structure was intricate. The first thing Mr. Bai would do upon recovering was investigate the poisoning attempt Bai Ruowei had to be there.

Hanging up, her elegant face carried a faint chill. She was breathtaking even in silence. Still wearing last night’s black cotton pajamas, her demeanor while on the call was a far cry from the person who had pinched her nose and choked down the sweetened egg.

Her neck bore several large love bites, her collarbone seemingly bitten raw, her nape flushed with lingering heat, and her smooth chest marked with swollen red streaks.

It seemed last night’s trials and punishments had been thorough.

She walked over and casually settled into Song Shizhou’s lap.

A crisp osmanthus fragrance instantly enveloped them not the faint traces left on the sheets, but the real, tangible pheromones radiating from her.

Bai Ruowei stared at her for a long moment before suddenly pecking her lips.

Song Shizhou froze, caught off guard by the sudden affection.

The woman rested her chin on her shoulder.

“I don’t want to go…”

“Song Shizhou, can I take you with me to the Surveillance Institute?”

Song Shizhou kissed her back.

Their lips lingered, the room filling with the soft, wet sounds of their embrace before they finally pulled apart.

“What are you thinking?”

“Chairman Chen and Mr. Bai have always been at odds. If Mr. Bai is summoning you, how could you bring me along?”

“We should be avoiding suspicion, not inviting it.”

Bai Ruowei’s gaze lowered.

True.

They really should be avoiding suspicion.

Chairwoman Chen wouldn’t interfere with their relationship, but Mr. Bai’s stance was trickier.

Not that it mattered.

He was going to die anyway.

A thoughtful expression suddenly bloomed into a smile on that person’s face, yet Song Shizhou felt there was something cold about it. She pinched the back of her neck,

“I still have many orders to complete this afternoon. Go quickly and come back soon, I’ll be waiting for you at the studio.”

Her tone was unexpectedly coaxing.

This was how Song Shizhou had always spoken to her in the past, soft and gentle. But back then, Miss Bai hadn’t cherished it, going so long without hearing such tenderness. Now that the other was finally using that gentle tone with her again, Bai Ruowei couldn’t help but freeze momentarily.

Perhaps one only learns their lesson after losing something once.

She clutched at Song Shizhou’s collar and nodded,

“Alright.”

She smiled,

“I’ll listen to you.”

She would listen to her.

The atmosphere in the room gradually settled into quiet. The position of embracing while sitting on the sofa felt too awkward, so Song Shizhou supported Bai Ruowei’s waist, letting her lean into her embrace.

The constant shifting made Bai Ruowei’s expression grow heavy. Her gaze landed on those lips.

She wanted to kiss her again.

For Miss Bai, love always seemed to materialize into tangible desire, erupting at the last second before the soul succumbed.

Lips that had parted less than five minutes ago met again. These past few days, their lips had practically never separated, their intimacy so intense it was blush-inducing.

Only mates in heat would normally be this clingy.

The mouthwash brand Song Shizhou frequently used had stopped production long ago. The manufacturer, already on the verge of bankruptcy due to poor management, was revived by Miss Bai’s generous investment.

There was a reason she bought that mouthwash factory.

Because its signature flavor was night-blooming cereus.

The familiar fragrance made her crave more the longer they kissed. The sound of wetness mingled between their overlapping lips as Bai Ruowei’s vision grew hazy.

Song Shizhou restrained her restless hands, equally affected,

“Alright, no more kissing.”

Miss Bai had kissed with such passion that she left a fresh wound on Song Shizhou’s lips.

The cut was new, tiny beads of blood welling up, hot and vivid.

Bai Ruowei wanted to lick it but felt uncharacteristically guilty,

“How did you get hurt again…”

Song Shizhou raised an eyebrow, “You tell me.”

Truthfully, Bai Ruowei’s mouth wasn’t faring much better.

Those beautifully shaped lips were layered with fresh and old wounds, a patchwork of red against her refined features, creating a striking contrast.

Like ripe cherries, tempting one to kiss deeper, to taste if they were as sweet and juicy as expected.

Yet the owner of such lips remained oblivious. Unconcerned, she licked her lower lip and focused intently on Song Shizhou.

Bai Ruowei closed her eyes, bending down to plant a deliberate peck on Song Shizhou’s lips,

“It’s just that your kissing is too good. I couldn’t help myself, so…”

Despite her determination to behave well during the trial period, Miss Bai was still caught and taken to work at the Surveillance Institute. Song Shizhou also packed up briefly and returned to the studio.

Of the last porcelain set themed around the four seasons, she had already completed three. Only the winter-themed piece remained. The green porcelain base awaited her design, a branch of white plum blossoms.

The sunlight filtered through the delicate window lattice, casting a slightly dappled glow on the antique-style celadon vessel.

The porcelain was elegantly shaped, with smooth lines that embodied the countless hours of labor poured into it by the master potter. Its color was exquisite a deep, uncommon shade of blue-green, reminiscent of the ocean’s depths or the reflection of an ancient, secluded forest pond, serene and mysterious.

The surface of the celadon was adorned with a few branches of white plum blossoms. Song Shizhou’s hand was steady, so the strokes of these blossoms were even more refined than those done by machine. Each bloom was unique some tightly budded, others in full, radiant bloom. Pure as snow and gracefully refined, they were like a stroke of winter’s delicate beauty, evoking endless reverie.

She painted with deep concentration. Sugar Water Alley had recently hosted several large-scale traditional cultural events, bringing a surge of business to the shop. Zhao was patiently explaining the porcelain to customers, while a few others were trying their hand at DIY pottery, guided by the new employee.

Fortunately, the job posting Song Shizhou had shared on social media had quickly drawn responses otherwise, with just Zhao alone, she would have been worked to death.

Before long, Zhao had secured two more orders. She poured herself a cup of jasmine tea and one for Song Shizhou as well.

Zhao glanced at the meticulously painted porcelain in her hands.

“Boss, your painting skills keep getting better. If the Flower Nation Exhibition is held as scheduled this year, you’re definitely getting an invitation.”

Song Shizhou smiled.

“You think so?”

Zhao nodded emphatically.

The bite mark left by Miss Bai had been concealed with foundation, but upon closer inspection, faint traces were still visible. Zhao’s expression faltered, her gaze lingering on the hickey.

Zhao, a fresh-faced college graduate, immediately flushed crimson.

She didn’t need to ask to know how it got there.

Zhao was well aware her boss wasn’t single Song Shizhou’s lips often bore strange marks after some time, sometimes like the angry bites of a pet, other times like deliberate claims left by a possessive lover.

But today’s mark seemed particularly… intense.

Zhao’s face burned red as she pointed to her own lips.

“B-Boss…”

“Your foundation, it’s smudged at the corner of your mouth.”

With that, she scurried away like a wisp of smoke.

By evening, Song Shizhou had driven to the West District to meet a client. The area wasn’t far from the Surveillance Institute, and after a moment’s hesitation, she parked in the institute’s underground lot.

Perhaps because something major had indeed happened at the Surveillance Institute recently, a large group of people descended the steps in an imposing procession.

One figure walked at the forefront.

A light rain had just fallen outside. Bai Ruowei held a black umbrella, her meticulously styled silver-white hair cascading gracefully over her chest. She wore a formal, slim-fit black suit with a high-neck cashmere sweater underneath. The marks on her neck had been carefully concealed with concealer, lending her an air of solemnity and cool elegance.

Warm wind brushed against the car window, leaving a blurred sheen of moisture.

The scene was suddenly, overwhelmingly beautiful.

Seated in the driver’s seat, Song Shizhou took in Bai Ruowei’s haughty, composed demeanor yet all that surfaced in her mind were far more indecent images.

The woman’s broken whimpers.

The look of surrender in her pale green eyes.

Bai Ruowei folded up her umbrella. A dark green brooch was pinned to her chest, entangled with her curly white hair, creating a somewhat ambiguous look.

She walked forward step by step. With her sharp eyesight, the moment she spotted the familiar license plate, a faint smile bloomed on her refined face.

That aloof, untouchable aura dissipated instantly, replaced by an unexpected gentleness.

Turning around, she whispered something to Mia, and the subordinates following her quickly dispersed. Bai Ruowei opened the car door and took the passenger seat.

The two of them maintained a tacit silence, neither even glancing at the other. This silence felt oddly eerie in the dim underground parking lot. Only when the sound of footsteps completely faded did Song Shizhou suddenly sense an intense gaze upon her.

“Didn’t we agree to avoid suspicion? Why are you looking for me again?”

The scent of osmanthus drew closer.

“Did you miss me that much?”

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