After the Scummy Alpha Marked the Crazy Beautiful Heroine - Chapter 51.2

When Ying Ning arrived, Pei Jiuyao finally felt like she was returning to something close to normal life.

At least she now had a real “living person” beside her, rather than the war machines like An standing guard at the door, or the household auntie who came by only to cook.

Pei Jiuyao had never been particularly talkative, but she clung to Ying Ning and poured out everything she hadn’t been able to say for the past week.

Like a trash bin that had finally been emptied after seven days of piling up.

She even had Ying Ning stay for dinner.

Ying Ning didn’t consider herself very close to this “straight-shooting big sister who’s pure and sweet” Chi Yang had mentioned.

But watching Pei Jiuyao chatter non-stop—like a machine gun firing the moment she stepped through the door—she couldn’t help but worry Chi Yang really might drive her mad.

As Chi Yang’s attending physician, Ying Ning had always been aware of her unusual possessiveness. But she hadn’t expected Chi Yang to actually lock someone up.

And recalling her earlier words about “tying her up with ropes”…

Ying Ning couldn’t hold back from saying more than she should.

“Since her temper’s been bad lately, just try to be more patient with her. Staying here isn’t so terrible. It’s not like she’ll keep you locked up forever.”

Pei Jiuyao lay sprawled across the table and sighed softly. “I know she’ll let me go once the Chi family’s matters are settled, but I just can’t shake this feeling…”

“You don’t like being confined?” Ying Ning asked.

“It’s not that exactly,” Pei Jiuyao said. “I just feel uneasy. I don’t like this place.”

“At least look on the bright side—you’re not literally tied up.”

Pei Jiuyao lifted her head and gave Ying Ning a long, meaningful look before blurting out in shock: “Dr. Ying, does Sister Wen really play that wild in private?”

Ying Ning choked on her drink, coughing hard. “I was talking about you!”

Pei Jiuyao gave her a knowing look. “If you’ve never experienced it yourself, why are you so sure Chi Yang would tie me up?”

Flustered, Ying Ning picked up her cup and sipped to hide her embarrassment. “Speaking of Wen… Sister Wen, she seems really busy lately. But I can’t figure out what she’s so busy with, especially since she isn’t managing any artists anymore.”

Pei Jiuyao chuckled. “Then go ask her yourself.”

Ying Ning lowered her gaze and fell silent again.

Pei Jiuyao sighed faintly.

Honestly, with her temperament, there was no way she could ever win over Wen Li.

“I’ll find a chance to ask for you.”

Only then did Ying Ning’s expression finally relax.

That night, Pei Jiuyao even tried to get her to stay over, but Ying Ning firmly refused on grounds of “self-respect.” Heaven knew all Pei Jiuyao had wanted was someone to talk to—but her refusal made it sound as though she was some sort of debauched mess.

Well… emotional trash cans weren’t exactly clean, she supposed.

As usual, after washing up, she began her nightly ritual—picking a room.

Sleeping in a different room each night had become her only form of amusement in the villa. Thankfully, the place was big enough that she could rotate through a week without repeating.

After An prepared a guest room, Pei Jiuyao slipped inside, leaving the curtains open. Through the wide floor-to-ceiling windows, she counted the stars.

Tonight, she fell asleep quickly. She wasn’t sure when she drifted off, only that she suddenly felt the mattress dip behind her, and something soft pressed against her back.

At first, she thought she was dreaming. But then that hand began to grope and knead its way across her body, until it finally came to rest cold against her neck.

So cold that Pei Jiuyao shivered involuntarily.

________________________________________

Chi Yang had caught the last evening flight back. By the time she arrived at the villa, night had already fallen.

When An went inside, she leaned against the doorframe with a cigarette between her lips. She’d known in advance that Chi Yang would be back tonight, so she had dismissed the others to rest.

After entering the house, Chi Yang changed her clothes. An was about to turn on the lights when Chi Yang stopped her.

“Is she asleep?” Chi Yang asked.

An nodded, and Chi Yang headed to the downstairs bathroom to wash up.

Though technically under Chi Qing’s command, An was also very familiar with Chi Yang. In her eyes, Chi Yang had always been someone who put her own interests first.

The Chi family members all looked different on the surface, but to An, at their core, they were the same kind of people.

Chi Yang might be a bit more merciful than the rest, but only slightly. No one in the Chi family would ever allow their own interests to be touched—not even for a sibling.

Back then, the rift between Chi Yang and Chi Qing had been bitter enough for everyone to see.

And yet now, for the sake of an outsider, Chi Yang had bought a villa in her name, arranged full-time protection, and even had people guarding her around the clock.

Could it be… she really liked her?

An shook her head, baffled. The concept of “liking someone” felt far too distant for her.

But could a multi–billion–yuan villa really be given away so casually? They weren’t even married.

Maybe it wasn’t that she didn’t understand the world of the rich—maybe she just didn’t understand the world of people in love.

When Chi Yang came back out, An was still standing guard. Chi Yang frowned as she passed her. “Cut back on the smoking.”

An cracked a small window to vent the smell. Chi Yang dried her hair and asked, “What did she do today?”

“She woke up and stared blankly at the sofa. Later she sat blankly on a bench outside. Then she watered those two nearly-dead camellias in the greenhouse. After that, when the doctor came, she dragged her into a seven, eight-hour chat.

Picked a room afterward and went to sleep.”

“What did they talk about?” Chi Yang asked.

“Nothing but: how pitiful it is being locked up here, how boring it is, begging you to put her in your pocket and take her outside—things like that.”

Chi Yang nodded, climbed the stairs, and quietly pushed open the door. She slipped onto the bed with careful movements and poked at Pei Jiuyao’s back.

The girl was fast asleep. She hadn’t even pulled the curtains. Moonlight streamed through the gaps in the leaves outside, falling across her face—making her look like the moon itself.

Chi Yang pinched her cheek lightly. The air was filled with her soft, steady breathing.

Seeing how soundly she slept, Chi Yang didn’t bother to wake her.

She felt a faint pang of disappointment, but still nestled close, wrapped her arms around Jiuyao’s waist, curled herself into a ball, then slid her hand upward—slipping under her sleepwear, finally tucking it into the warmth of her neck.

Pei Jiuyao suddenly startled awake, her voice hoarse. “Xiao Li?”

Damn. She’d woken her.

Jiuyao turned over, rubbed her eyes, and blinked. “It really is you. I thought you weren’t coming back until tomorrow.”

“I was afraid you’d be too bored alone.” Chi Yang gently patted her head.

Still groggy, Jiuyao nuzzled her cheek, then brushed a feather-light kiss against the corner of her lips.

“It really was boring,” she grumbled.

Chi Yang massaged her shoulders, coaxing softly. “Just hold on a little longer, alright? Once everything at home is settled, I’ll let you out right away.”

Jiuyao gave a small, sulky hum, curling into her arms and clinging to her waist. “But I don’t want to stay here.”

“Then where do you want to go?” Chi Yang asked, twirling a strand of her hair.

“I don’t know. It just feels creepy here.” Jiuyao burrowed against her chest, mumbling. “Why don’t you let me go home?”

Chi Yang sighed helplessly. “This is your home.”

Jiuyao frowned. “But it’s in the middle of nowhere, so far from the city.”

Chi Yang tilted her head down, pinched her chin, and lifted it. “But haven’t I come back to stay with you?”

“So you won’t be leaving again?” Jiuyao asked.

Chi Yang hesitated. “There are still things I need to deal with. But I promise I’ll come back every day to be with you.”

Seeing her still quiet, Chi Yang coaxed again: “You don’t want Mo Tian to use you against me, do you? It’ll be over soon. Trust me. And didn’t you say you liked me? You can’t even stand living in my place?”

“I just thought… I could stay with you together…” Jiuyao murmured, lowering her gaze. “Fine. But you have to come back to me.”

“Of course.” Chi Yang gently stroked her brows and eyes, as if handling fragile porcelain—or some rare treasure. Her gaze carried an uncommon tenderness that drew Jiuyao in, inch by inch.

Jiuyao’s breath caught. “When your pheromone disorder is cured… will you leave me?”

“Aren’t we already together?” Chi Yang lifted the hand with Jiuyao’s ring. On her own finger, a plain band had appeared at some unknown time—identical to Jiuyao’s.

When their hands touched, Jiuyao felt a faint pull of magnetic force binding them together.

It was only symbolic, yet when the two rings aligned, her heart jolted with an indescribable shiver.

As though she had willingly stepped into the cage this woman had built for her.

She was still dazed when Chi Yang suddenly clasped her fingers back. Jiuyao raised her eyes slightly and saw bright specks glimmering in Chi Yang’s gaze—clear and enticing.

“I want to kiss you,” Chi Yang whispered, stunned by her own words.

Jiuyao’s voice rasped. “Where?”

“Everywhere.”

Chi Yang lowered her head, cupping her face. Her long lashes brushed against Jiuyao’s skin.

It tickled—not only her cheek but also her chest, where her heart thudded wildly, no matter how many times it was teased.

Jiuyao wrapped her arms around Chi Yang’s slender waist, resting obediently against her neck.

“Then come to me yourself,” she said.

Chi Yang chuckled, her round fingertips slowly tracing over Jiuyao’s body.

“Daring to bully your patron now, huh?”

Her brows curved with laughter, hiding a galaxy within.

Her skin was shockingly pale in the dark, her face small, lips soft and tender. Desire burned in her expression, and a single drop of water clung to her rounded nose tip, her ears flushed red.

If she was to be hidden here, then let it be so, Jiuyao thought.

Even if dread lingered, even if the villa always gave her an inexplicable sense of unease—

At least Chi Yang promised she would come back.

Wasn’t that enough?

When Chi Yang’s sweet lips pressed down and she fed her the tip of her tongue, Jiuyao thought: beauty’s trap really was terrifying.

Tasting that intoxicating strawberry sweetness—sharp with alcohol—she felt drunk, her heart running wild, all sense of direction lost.

She had agreed to let Chi Yang kiss her, yet in the end it was Jiuyao who grew bold, touching her everywhere, until Chi Yang’s eyes brimmed red, tears trembling at the corners as she clung pitifully to Jiuyao’s neck, hooked around her waist, and whispered softly:

“Now you won’t leave me, right?”

“If you come back, I won’t leave.” Jiuyao burrowed into her arms, face full of contentment, and drifted back to sleep.