After the Sickly Child Differentiates into A - Chapter 58

The scent of snow, the strong bitterness of alcohol, and a faint, chilly fragrance these aromas mingled together, causing Lin Li’s heartbeat to race out of control, fine beads of sweat forming at her temples.

She didn’t know how to respond, so she simply turned her head away and pressed her lips together in silence.

“Hmm?” Wen Jingzhi raised an eyebrow, lifting her right hand to pinch the girl’s chin, turning that delicate, refined face toward her. Her tone carried a hint of accusation. “You chose Wen Xihe over me?”

But hadn’t her sister also not chosen her?

She’d barely paid her any attention lately, going out with Sister Shen Yuan almost every day!

They weren’t even married yet, and she already didn’t want her anymore!

Lin Li’s eyes reddened as she stubbornly stared at Wen Jingzhi, still refusing to answer.

The bitter, alcohol-laced breath brushed against her face. Lin Li bit her lip, resisting the urge to turn away.

Wen Jingzhi’s brow furrowed slightly as she weathered a wave of headache, her tone softening. “Xiao You, tell me the reason.”

The woman’s slightly intoxicated, lazy tone lacked its usual chill, softening so much that it made the girl’s eyes redden again, a surge of grievance welling up inside her.

“Sister has her own life; it’s not just about me. It’s just a trip back to our hometown does it really matter who I choose?” The girl’s words burst forth, tinged with defiance and hurt. After speaking, she cursed under her breath, her eyes still red, and raised her voice. “Anyway, Sister is going to be with Shen Yuan from now on, and you won’t care about me anymore. I don’t need you to accompany me either!”

Wen Jingzhi blinked, then suddenly buried her face in the girl’s slender neck, letting out a muffled laugh.

“What are you laughing at? You even brought her to our home!” This is our home!

“I never said I wouldn’t care about you.” The index finger that had been pinching the girl’s chin slid gently, stroking her cheek as if in a caress. Wen Jingzhi lifted her head, her gaze soft. “I only called her over to give her something.”

“I didn’t invite her to stay for dinner.”

Her slightly drunken eyes drifted, landing on the girl’s tightly pressed lips before shifting away.

“You’re the one who’s more excessive.” Wen Jingzhi lightly pinched the girl’s cheek. “You chose Qiao Xian.”

“I…” I just didn’t want Sister to see me like that.

But these words even drunk, she shouldn’t say them.

Wen Jingzhi took a deep breath, straightened up, and released her hold, turning the girl to face her. Leaning against the windowsill, she looked down at her. “I’ll go with you to our hometown.”

“Wait a little longer. Once I’ve sorted out some matters, I’ll accompany you to see Grandma.”

Lin Li’s fingers, hanging at her sides, twisted tightly. After a long moment, she mumbled in agreement, “Okay.”

“Good girl.”

Wen Jingzhi straightened up, carried the girl to the bedside, and tucked her into the blankets. A sharp throb at her temples made her close her eyes briefly to steady herself. Just as she was about to get up and leave, a pair of soft arms suddenly wrapped around her neck.

“Sister, don’t drink so much next time.”

Lin Li applied a slight pressure with her arms, and the other woman actually yielded to her force, bending down until she lay beside her. Warm fingertips pressed against her temples, gently massaging.

Wen Jingzhi closed her eyes, letting out a soft sigh in her heart. She pulled the blanket over them, hooked an arm around the girl, and drew her into an embrace, resting her forehead against the girl’s slender shoulder.

“Sister?”

“My head hurts.”

“Keep going.”

“You really shouldn’t drink so much anymore.” Lin Li sighed with a maturity beyond her years, continuing to massage her “drunkard” sister’s temples.

Wen Jingzhi curved her lips into a faint smile and lazily responded, “Mmm.”

In the early morning, Wen Jingzhi awoke to the unpleasant smell of alcohol. The first thing that met her eyes was the gentle, sleeping face of a young girl. A warm sensation lingered at her temple, and as she blinked, she reached out to remove the girl’s hand pressed against her forehead. Her lips tightened, and a flush of warmth crept up her ears.

Disgraceful behavior after drinking.

Closing her eyes with a silent sigh, she didn’t rush to leave, afraid of disturbing Lin Li.

Her gaze fell softly on the girl’s face.

Perhaps getting drunk wasn’t entirely a bad thing.

It wasn’t until 9 a.m. that the girl’s thick, curly lashes fluttered, and her eyelids lifted. Her drowsy eyes caught sight of the exquisitely beautiful face so close to hers. After a moment of surprise, fragments of memories flashed through her mind, and she couldn’t help but laugh. “Good morning, drunkard sister.”

Her intoxicated sister was kind of cute.

A blush crept beneath the hair covering her ears. Wen Jingzhi pressed her lips together. “Morning.” She immediately turned and got out of bed, feeling a burning gaze on her back. With steady steps, she walked to the door and pressed the handle. “Time to get up.”

Lin Li narrowed her eyes playfully. “Okay!”

There was a teasing tone in her voice.

Slightly annoyed, Wen Jingzhi glanced sideways at her. “No more sulking?”

The smile on the girl’s face froze. She lifted her eyelids and gave her sister a resentful look, pouting. “I wasn’t sulking.”

Wen Jingzhi let out a soft hum and opened the door to leave.

Back in her own bedroom, Wen Jingzhi leaned against the door, covered her face, and let out a sigh.

Next time, I can’t drink so much.

Wen Jingzhi and Lin Li returned to their usual dynamic. The excessive intimacy Wen Jingzhi had shown while drunk never reappeared.

Wen Jingzhi remained busy, often going out. Occasionally, she would spot the girl shopping with Qiao Xian on the streets, but she would only watch from a distance, her expression calm.

It seemed she no longer minded.

Lin Li and Qiao Xian maintained a polite distance, without any intimate gestures like holding hands, behaving more like friends. Sometimes, Lin Li would also go out with Sun Xiaoxiao and Zhou Cheng. Su Ke still hadn’t given up, seizing every opportunity to approach Lin Li. The latter had spoken with her once, explaining that since she had now differentiated into an Alpha though Su Ke didn’t know it wasn’t right to waste her time and energy.

Su Ke was a little sad about being friend-zoned but quickly bounced back. Even if she couldn’t pursue Lin Li romantically, being friends with her was still wonderful.

So lately, Lin Li’s outings had grown considerably, expanding from a trio to a group of five.

Sun Xiaoxiao and Zhou Cheng didn’t mind the more, the merrier.

Winter break passed, and two months into the new semester, Wen Jingzhi went on a business trip.

The review results for the film she had recently shot were out, and pre-release promotions had begun. She planned to submit this film for international awards, she had already secured all five major domestic awards.

So, she first had to attend several events abroad before scheduling domestic appearances.

During this period, she had stayed home, turning down many engagements. Once she started attending events, her schedule piled up, leaving her constantly on the move.

By the time she had mostly wrapped up her work, it was early July, and the young one was on summer break.

But she still had to attend the film festival red carpet in Country F before returning home. This event was usually held in late May, but due to unexpected circumstances, it had been postponed to early July this year.

With a week left before the festival, Wen Jingzhi completed her last commitment and flew to Country F. That evening, she had dinner with Shen Yuan, who was there on business.

Over the past few months, Shen Yuan had helped her uncover a lot of information, so it was only right for her to treat him to a meal.

With her work mostly wrapped up, she took a short break and spent two days sightseeing with Shen Yuan, picking out a few gifts for the girl back home.

There were three days left until the film festival. It was evening in Country F and morning back home. Lin Li proactively called her sister to check in. Wen Jingzhi didn’t mention inviting her to visit, the awards ceremony from a few years ago still left her with lingering unease.

Before hanging up, Wen Jingzhi casually asked, “Have you been feeling unwell lately?”

Lin Li’s second estrus cycle still hadn’t arrived.

After a few seconds of silence on the other end, the girl’s soft laughter came through. “No, don’t worry, sis.”

“Alright.” Wen Jingzhi said nothing more and ended the call.

The next day, Wen Jingzhi had arranged to meet with their former professor from their study abroad days, along with Shen Yuan, in the morning. But Shen Yuan never showed up they weren’t staying at the same hotel.

Wen Jingzhi called Shen Yuan once, but no one answered, so she didn’t try again, assuming work might have kept her busy.

It wasn’t until after 1 p.m. that she suddenly received a message from Shen Yuan, asking her to come over to discuss something and providing a room number.

Wen Jingzhi frowned and tried calling Shen Yuan again still no answer.

Over the years, the other had never made such an inappropriate request. Wen Jingzhi initially intended to refuse, but then she remembered what she had asked Shen Yuan to look into and abruptly stood up and left.

Something might have happened.

Wen Jingzhi brought along two bodyguards and drove to Shen Yuan’s hotel. As she stepped out of the elevator, a fist came flying toward her. The bodyguards immediately stepped forward. She glanced at the four burly men in black suits and sunglasses in the hallway, deftly dodged the attack, and ran toward Shen Yuan’s room.

The door wasn’t fully closed, left slightly ajar. Wen Jingzhi pushed it open directly. The four men noticed her but made no move to stop her.

As she entered the room, the door behind her automatically closed.

Click.

The sound of the lock engaging. Wen Jingzhi’s pupils contracted, and she turned to pull the door, it wouldn’t open.

A hissing sound suddenly echoed in the dim room, and a thick, overwhelming fragrance instantly engulfed her.

The gland at the back of her neck throbbed uncontrollably, and her pheromones surged out.

Wen Jingzhi raised a hand to press against her gland, her eyes tinged with the flush of desire as she turned and leaned against the door.

It was an inducer, a substance used to forcibly trigger an Omega’s estrus.

A figure slowly approached in the dimness.

Knock, knock.

A knocking sound echoed.

“Is she not here?”

Several young girls stood in the hotel hallway, along with two bodyguards in black suits. The girl knocking at the front was slender, with hair that reached the nape of her neck.

It was Lin Li, who had come to Country F to find her sister.

Sun Xiaoxiao reminded her, “You could call her. Since we’re already here, no matter what, Sister Jingzhi will be pleasantly surprised.”

Right.

Lin Li took out her phone and dialed her sister. A female voice prompted that the other party was out of service range.

“Could she be somewhere with no signal?” Qiao Xian, who had carried out many missions abroad, explained, “Some high-end venues block signals.”

Zhou Cheng couldn’t think of any other solution. “Why don’t you call Sister Jingzhi’s assistant and ask?”

Lin Li felt that something wasn’t right. She called the assistant, and this time, it went through.

“Lin Li?”

“It’s me, Assistant Sister. Is my sister not in her hotel room?”

The assistant was startled. “You’re in Country F!?” She immediately rushed out of her room. “Where are you? Don’t go anywhere!”

Damn, this kid really went ahead without warning!

If anything happened to her, she’d be torn apart by Ms. Wen.

“I’m right outside my sister’s room.”

“Wait for me!” The assistant jogged the whole way, taking the fire escape straight up to the seventh floor. Emerging into the corridor, she was taken aback by the large crowd gathered there. Catching her breath, she hurried over and said, “Why the sudden visit? If you wanted to surprise your sister, you could’ve at least given me a heads-up.”

Lin Li pressed her lips together. “Sorry.”

“No worries, no worries.” The assistant waved a hand dismissively. “What were you asking earlier? Oh, about Teacher Wen, right? She’s not in her room she went to see Teacher Shen. They had something to discuss.”

“She’s at that star-rated hotel just two streets away.”

Lin Li frowned but said nothing.

“Don’t worry, Teacher Wen brought her bodyguard along.”

The assistant then asked about their accommodations and, learning they had booked rooms upstairs, escorted them up, got them settled, and planned to take them out for lunch.

As they stepped out of the hotel, Lin Li suddenly changed her mind. She suggested the others go ahead to eat while she took the bodyguard to find her sister.

Sun Xiaoxiao and Zhou Cheng, familiar with Lin Li’s sister-complex tendencies, didn’t object. Qiao Xian wanted to tag along but was politely turned down.

“You all go ahead and eat, maybe do some sightseeing. I’ll catch up with you after I see my sister.” Lin Li waved them off, hailed a taxi with her bodyguard, and hurried away.

Arriving at the hotel entrance, Lin Li stepped out of the car. For some reason, the unease in her heart grew heavier. She rushed into the lobby, not paying attention to her surroundings, and collided with a soft embrace.

“Watch your step,” came the voice in French.

The woman she’d bumped into wore ten-centimeter stilettos, her bright golden hair flowing, oversized sunglasses hiding half her face, leaving only a pair of fiery red lips visible. With long legs, a slender waist, and a curvaceous figure, she stood poised. Lin Li, not understanding the language, apologized in Chinese and tried to move on, but the woman reached out and lightly hooked her waist. Lin Li’s eyes widened as she quickly stepped back.

The woman chuckled ambiguously, her voice husky and alluring. “Sorry, you’re just too adorable.”

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