After My Death, I Became a Heartless Madman - Chapter 61

Miss Bai rarely spoke so directly.

Though she was passionate and desirous, she always preferred to use ambiguous hints when seeking intimacy. But now, she uttered those two words so bluntly that Song Shizhou’s face couldn’t help but grow warm.

The atmosphere of the night was pleasant. A gentle breeze drifted in through the casement window, carrying the unique warmth of a spring evening. Bai Ruowei’s pale green eyes momentarily appeared slightly narrowed, lending her a somewhat bewitching air.

A pair of restless hands were pressed down by Song Shizhou, causing the proud and delicate brows of the person before her to droop listlessly. Song Shizhou couldn’t help but find it amusing.

“We haven’t finished talking yet. How did you steer the conversation elsewhere?”

She snatched the magnolia hairpin from Bai Ruowei’s grasp and placed it on the table. Thankfully, the pin was made of sturdy material otherwise, with Miss Bai’s strength, it would have surely snapped in two from that earlier impact.

Song Shizhou pinched her cheek.

“So, the reason you’ve been acting strange all the way back is because you thought I was going on a business trip to the Third District and might leave you?”

Bai Ruowei didn’t answer.

After a long pause, she finally nodded, as though unwilling to admit it.

“Then why didn’t you say it out loud? Just bottling it up and sulking alone?”

Bai Ruowei nestled in her embrace, her soft lips brushing against Song Shizhou’s ear. Her voice was quiet, her gaze leisurely tracing over Song Shizhou’s figure.

“I was afraid if I meddled too much, you’d get annoyed.”

“After all, I used to control you a lot.”

She had told Song Shizhou that this period was a trial, if either of them felt unhappy, they could leave at any time. Besides, love shouldn’t be something that caused the other pain.

Yet the agony of thinking Song Shizhou might leave had been nearly unbearable.

Song Shizhou sighed helplessly and stroked her hair. “Bai Ruowei, I think you’ve changed a little.”

“Become a bit more real.”

More like a living, breathing person.

Before, Miss Bai had always been unyielding, always proud, as though nothing in this world was worth her lingering attention. She treated everything with detachment except for one thing, one person, who drove her to madness.

She had once stubbornly demanded that Song Shizhou love her forever, never wavering. She had thought she would be the one sinking into the quagmire of love. Never did she imagine that Bai Ruowei, who had always remained so composed, might fall even deeper, far deeper than her.

The woman clasped one of Song Shizhou’s fingers, slowly caressing it.

“You think I’ve changed. And I have. But isn’t love the very thing that changes people?”

Her gaze was earnest, yet tinged with bitterness.

“Maybe you think I wouldn’t have cared about something so trivial before. Maybe you think I’ve become insecure. But when someone truly falls for another, how can they not care? How can they not feel uneasy?”

“I haven’t changed. I’ve just fallen for someone.”

Or rather, fallen in love with someone.

Could Bai Ruowei really fall for someone?

In her line of sight, those pale green eyes suddenly sharpened with focus. Miss Bai’s eye color was faint, like the tender green of early spring. Perhaps because her gaze had always been so indifferent, that distant spring had long been delayed. But now, it seemed on the verge of revival vibrant and alive.

For a moment, Song Shizhou was dazed.

The consequence of overindulgence was that neither of them could get up easily the next morning.

When they woke, the sky was already bright, but the harsh sunlight was blocked by the blackout curtains, so neither noticed.

Bai Ruowei lay in her arms, the sharp, slender curve of her jaw contrasting with the softness of her body.

Wrapped together under the blankets, Song Shizhou was surprised to find that Miss Bai was still clutching a lock of her black hair as if it were something too precious to let go of.

Song Shizhou’s expression darkened slightly before she pressed another kiss to her lips.

The gesture roused Miss Bai slightly.

Her neck was dotted with a trail of little love bites, the ambiguous hues mismatched with her refined features. Memories of the night before slowly returned Bai Ruowei had been especially impassioned, trembling against Song Shizhou’s chest by the end yet stubbornly refusing to loosen their intertwined fingers.

Beneath her, the other woman was completely bare, and lifting the covers revealed a breathtaking sight. Song Shizhou wiped away the traces between her thighs, and Bai Ruowei let her, trusting, before letting out a soft moan as if finally waking.

“Song Shizhou!”

She rubbed her eyes.

“Are we going back to Snow Pavilion today?”

Song Shizhou suddenly realized.

“So yesterday, when you said I should go see Xiao Bao, it was also because you didn’t want me to leave.”

That’s why she had used Xiao Bao to keep her there.

Bai Ruowei’s head drooped, falling back asleep in her arms.

But the sliver of her barely open eyes betrayed her feigned sleep, embarrassed at having her little scheme exposed.

Thank goodness they still had a dog together otherwise, she wouldn’t even have an excuse to win her back.

Today was a day off, and the two finally had some rare downtime. After breakfast, Song Shizhou drove to Snow Pavilion.

Strangely, she felt a bit nervous along the way it had been a while since she’d seen Xiao Bao, and she wasn’t sure what the little troublemaker had grown into.

A beagle past its prime could be a terrifying existence.

She had just managed to tame one, and the thought of possibly having to tame another gave her a headache.

As soon as they entered Snow Pavilion’s gates, Alan and Claude, two large dogs, rushed over to greet them. The mixed-breed wolves were heavy, and Bai Ruowei held a handful of dog treats, coaxing them back into their leashes.

Gu Zhiyu was the manor’s housekeeper, and Xiao Bao was under her care. The moment Song Shizhou pushed open the door to Ink Residence, a little cannonball of fur shot out from inside Xiao Bao had indeed grown much bigger.

Though it hadn’t turned into a terrifying, droopy-eared howling donkey, it had predictably ballooned into a chubby little tank.

Perhaps from missing its owner, Xiao Bao barked excitedly nonstop.

The dog’s sharp teeth scraped against Song Shizhou’s hand, drool dripping onto her skin. She tried to push it away, but the little tank wouldn’t budge.

The living room of Ink Residence was spacious, and Xiao Bao, still as clumsy as ever, slid around on the floor, its oversized ears flopping wildly. Its appearance hadn’t changed much just its body had grown a lot. Song Shizhou opened a can of food, hoping to bond, but Xiao Bao’s ears kept flapping, making a mess as it ate sloppily.

Song Shizhou tied Xiao Bao’s two big ears up with rubber bands, making them stand upright on its head like a rabbit’s.

With its ears bound, Xiao Bao suddenly couldn’t walk properly and ended up face-planting into its food bowl, barking furiously at Song Shizhou in protest.

Unable to hold back, Song Shizhou burst into laughter.

Bai Ruowei stood by the bar counter, a faint smile unconsciously tugging at the corners of her lips.

Gu Zhiyu poured her a glass of soda water, and Bai Ruowei murmured a quiet “thank you.”

“Miss Bai, so you and Miss Song have reconciled?”

“Yes.”

Once the trial period was over, they would be fully back together.

Gu Zhiyu’s expression suddenly turned somewhat uneasy.

“Miss Bai, are you really sure about this?”

Bai Ruowei’s gaze slowly settled on her.

“Sure about what?”

“Miss Song, she’s an Enigma.”

Bai Ruowei paused.

She had expected these words to come from Mia, never imagining it would be Gu Zhiyu who voiced them now.

“She might turn you into an Omega. I don’t think that’s the outcome you’d want.”

As if hearing something amusing, Bai Ruowei’s lips curled into a faint smile.

“Do you think I reached this position because I’m an Alpha?”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“I just thought being an Alpha might make things easier for others to accept.”

“Who are these ‘others’?”

Bai Ruowei’s gaze sharpened on her.

“Gu Zhiyu, it seems you have some misconceptions.”

“An Enigma’s mark doesn’t turn me into an Omega in front of everyone. Only in the presence of the Enigma who marked me will I present as an Omega.”

Enigmas were exceedingly rare, and Alphas marked by them were even rarer. Medical research on E-A dynamics was still in its infancy, so Gu Zhiyu’s misunderstanding was understandable.

But Bai Ruowei harbored no such misconceptions because she had once been truly marked by an Enigma. She knew exactly what would happen afterward.

Gu Zhiyu hesitated.

“Mr. Bai is gravely ill, and the Surveillance Institute is in turmoil. Miss Bai, I don’t mean to overstep, but I believe this is for us, a…”

She lowered her voice.

“Golden opportunity.”

“I know.”

Bai Ruowei replied.

She knew about Mr. Bai’s illness. She knew about the unrest in the Surveillance Institute.

Because she was the one behind it all.

She also knew what Gu Zhiyu was trying to say.

That in the face of the Institute’s affairs, she shouldn’t indulge in trivial matters like love.

Bai Ruowei smiled, but Gu Zhiyu inexplicably felt a chill run down her spine.

But having been reborn, Bai Ruowei intended to have both career and love.

Gu Zhiyu had deliberated over these words for a long time. She trusted Bai Ruowei to balance love and duty. After a pause, she shifted the topic.

“So, when do you and Miss Song plan to hold the wedding?”

The change of subject was abrupt.

Bai Ruowei froze.

She hadn’t even considered it yet.

Then, a faint sense of disbelief washed over her.

She had actually reached the point where she could plan a wedding with Song Shizhou again.

Just the mention of the word “wedding” filled Bai Ruowei’s heart with a quiet sorrow.

Because all the memories of weddings in her mind seemed far from perfect.

“If you decide to reconcile with Miss Song, preparations for the wedding should begin in advance.”

“Your exclusive designer in the Inner City is quite accomplished in wedding dresses. If it’s for your wedding, she would likely reserve her schedule for you.”

Bai Ruowei paused, her eyes suddenly tinged with sorrow.

Of course, she knew the wedding dress designer would have availability.

In her past life, it was precisely because she was discussing wedding dress details with this designer that she missed Song Shizhou’s final phone call.

Xiao Bao’s chaotic barking echoed in Bai Ruowei’s ears. Song Shizhou was still playing with Xiao Bao, a seemingly joyful scene, yet for some reason, Bai Ruowei felt a pang of sadness.

Even now, she still struggled to come to terms with the fact that Song Shizhou had once died.

Dinner was prepared by Lin Sao, whose culinary skills remained as impeccable as ever. After dinner, Bai Ruowei had to go to the Surveillance Institute to handle some work matters, while Song Shizhou stayed alone at Ink Residence.

After her bath, Song Shizhou lay down on the familiar large bed in Ink Residence. The last time she had slept in this bed was many months ago, yet the furnishings remained unchanged even the cloud-shaped nightlight she had broken still sat intact on the bedside table, as if waiting for her return.

Perhaps because too many arguments had taken place in Ink Residence, Song Shizhou’s heart suddenly felt heavy.

After all, people are sentimental creatures.

Within these walls, they had quarreled too often. These unpleasant memories weighed on her heart, leaving her unsure how to face Bai Ruowei now.

Maybe Bai Ruowei had anticipated this too, fearing the atmosphere between them would grow too awkward, which was why she had left.

The nightlight cast a soft glow on the bedside. The bedroom was spacious, and because the villa was located in a remote area, the room grew exceptionally quiet as night fell.

The only sounds were the distant calls of unknown birds soothing, almost hypnotic. Wrapped in the blanket, Song Shizhou drifted into a deep sleep.

She didn’t know how much time had passed when someone slowly sat down beside her bed.

Miss Bai seemed to have just returned from a banquet, her body carrying a faint trace of alcohol. She wore a black mermaid dress, its neckline conservatively designed to match her noble status. Yet as she leaned forward slightly, a glimpse of pale skin came into Song Shizhou’s view.

A cool, intoxicating fragrance the scent of osmanthus, lingered in the air.

Song Shizhou’s heart skipped a beat.

Back when they lived in Ink Residence, Bai Ruowei had often watched her sleep in silence like this. But unlike now, their relationship had been strained then no embraces, no kisses, no words exchanged.

Tonight felt heavy. Song Shizhou suddenly didn’t feel like speaking.

Perhaps there are always things in a person’s heart.

Song Shizhou’s hand rested by the bed, and a slightly cold hand grasped hers.

It must have been truly cold outside even someone like Miss Bai, who usually ran warm, had chilly fingertips.

Song Shizhou’s voice was husky with sleep.

“Miss Bai, what kept you so busy?”

The woman replied softly,

“I wasn’t busy with much, just met a few people and handled some matters.”

Song Shizhou turned over,

“What did you talk about with Gu Zhiyu this afternoon? Why did it take so long?”

Bai Ruowei smiled,

“She asked me why you haven’t marked me as your Omega yet.”

Miss Bai wrapped her arms around her waist, making her look at her only at her,

“Song Shizhou, shouldn’t we put in some effort.”

Her pale pink lips brushed against Shi Zhou’s cheek, inexplicably making her want to kiss them. Miss Bai, wrapped in desire and affection, was utterly captivating. The way she lowered her eyes and offered her soft lips made Song Shizhou’s heart tremble.

Yet, Song Shizhou wanted to hear her continue.

So, she pressed a finger to her lips and asked in return,

“Effort for what?”

The other woman paused,

“Effort to make me your Omega, and effort to replace our painful memories with happy ones.”

Miss Bai had never denied the conflicts between them.

Whether sorrow or joy, whether happiness or bliss, they were all experiences she and Song Shizhou had shared. As long as it involved Song Shizhou, she would never shy away, she would willingly savor it all.

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