After the Strategy Failed, the Heroine Turned into a Crematorium - Chapter 20

Three days later, Bian You woke up and immediately felt a stinging pain on the gland at the back of her neck. She reached up to touch it, then looked at the faint traces of blood on her fingers.

She couldn’t bear to recall just how much her gland had suffered over the past three days. Qi Zhi’e, in the throes of her heat, had been utterly irrational every time she bit down, Bian You had wondered if Qi Zhi’e was trying to kill her.

She turned her head slightly to look at Qi Zhi’e lying beside her. The woman’s usually porcelain-pale complexion now carried a healthy flush, and the pheromone concentration in the air had dropped to a safe level. Bian You sighed in relief, but as she tried to get up, she couldn’t help but grimace in pain.

Her arms ached so badly she wished they weren’t even hers. In the heat of passion, she hadn’t noticed, but now that everything was over, her limbs felt practically useless.

She couldn’t even clearly remember how the two of them had ended up entangled in the first place. All that remained in her mind was the warmth of their skin pressed together, the soft moans weaving an intoxicating scene.

Struggling out of bed, she glanced at Qi Zhi’e’s bare shoulders and felt a faint blush rise to her cheeks. She gently pulled the blanket up to cover her before heading to the bathroom.

While washing up, she checked the time on her phone 10 a.m. already. And because she hadn’t had a moment to deal with anything unrelated to Qi Zhi’e these past few days, the backlog of messages had piled up to a terrifying degree.

Gritting her teeth through the discomfort, she finished freshening up and stepped out of the bathroom. Seeing Qi Zhi’e still fast asleep, she didn’t disturb her, tiptoeing out of the room to call for food delivery.

Over the past few days, aside from the occasional meal Bian You had managed to cook, most of their sustenance had come from takeout left at the door.

The reason? Cooking took too long, and more often than not, before they could finish preparing anything, the next wave of heat would hit.

And now, the reason she wasn’t cooking was simple, she wasn’t sure she could even lift a spatula anymore…

While waiting for the food, Bian You tidied up the living room, stripping the sheets and gathering everything that needed washing. By the time she tossed them into the washing machine, her face was burning too much to look at them for long.

Now that the haze of passion had faded, her sense of shame had resurfaced in full force.

Just as she finished cleaning up, the food arrived. Instead of eating first, Bian You returned to the bedroom and crouched beside the bed, watching Qi Zhi’e sleep. Unconsciously, the corners of her lips curled up.

She lightly poked Qi Zhi’e’s cheek, her voice softening.

“Zhi’e, wake up.”

Perhaps the poking finger was truly annoying, because Qi Zhi’e’s relaxed brows furrowed slightly, as if reluctant to wake.

She blinked her eyes open with effort, only to be met with Bian You’s smiling face her bright, glistening eyes like a sky full of stars, irresistibly captivating.

Seeing her awake, Bian You’s smile deepened, her eyes crinkling. “Time to get up, or your stomach won’t be happy.”

They hadn’t even managed dinner last night, and now it was past ten. Any later, and they might as well skip straight to lunch.

Qi Zhi’e studied Bian You’s cheerful expression for a moment before offering a faint smile of her own, her voice slightly hoarse.

“Alright. You go ahead, I’ll get up now.”

Hearing her response, Bian You’s cheeks flushed red. She replied softly before getting up and walking out.

Because Qi Zhi’e’s body beneath the covers was still completely naked.

After the other person left, the expression on Qi Zhi’e’s face gradually faded into indifference. She rose from the bed and glanced down at her own body.

Her originally smooth, fair skin was now covered in mottled red marks. Just one look revealed how intense their encounter had been.

Entering the bathroom, she examined herself in the mirror. Not only the visible areas, but even places she couldn’t normally see like her neck were covered with traces Bian You had left behind. The area near her scent gland was particularly ravaged.

Qi Zhi’e gently touched her scent gland with her fingers. Now it lay quiet and almost unnoticeable, but during those three days, it had been so rampant it was impossible to ignore.

Yet no matter how shocking the marks appeared here, though Bian You had kissed and licked this spot countless times, she had never once bared her teeth to bite.

Lowering her eyes, Qi Zhi’e curled her lips into a faint smile. But had anyone looked into her eyes, they would have found them completely devoid of warmth still as an ancient well without ripples.

Bian You unpacked the takeout bag. Considering they hadn’t eaten last night and this would be their first meal today, she had ordered very light wonton soup.

Shortly after she set it out, Qi Zhi’e emerged from the bedroom wearing a white spaghetti-strap nightgown, her hair casually pinned up with a claw clip. When Bian You looked up at her, she immediately began coughing violently, her face turning crimson.

This… this nightgown completely exposed her shoulders and neck. Seeing all the red marks covering that area, Bian You’s gaze darted about guiltily.

“You…”

Bian You wanted to ask why she wasn’t wearing more concealing sleepwear, but then remembered this was Qi Zhi’e’s home she could wear whatever she wanted here. Especially since they’d seen each other in far less. Saying such things now would just sound hypocritical.

“What’s wrong?” Qi Zhi’e sat down across from her.

“N-nothing.” Bian You’s ears burned scarlet, yet she didn’t dare meet her eyes.

Observing this reaction, Qi Zhi’e lowered her gaze slightly and picked up a spoon to stir the wontons. Now that she was sober, she had to face a certain question.

What exactly was their relationship?

“Zhi’e… am I… am I yours now?” Bian You’s voice was small and halting, her face growing redder with each word.

Qi Zhi’e: “…”

Why was she acting so bashful?

Qi Zhi’e remained silent. Though she’d anticipated this question, now that Bian You had actually asked, she found herself momentarily at a loss for words.

If she said they should pretend nothing happened that it was just mutual need would Bian You think her promiscuous?

Not that she particularly cared about Bian You’s opinion of her virtue. She was more concerned Bian You might change how she viewed her and lose her obsession.

After all, Bian You still had her uses.

Raising her eyes, she saw Bian You’s ears had turned so red they seemed about to bleed. This shy, innocent demeanor bore no resemblance to her usual arrogant self.

Qi Zhi’e chuckled softly. “Then tell me, do you think you’re mine now?”

Hearing her words, Bian You’s eyes faintly lit up. She stole a cautious glance at Qi Zhi’e, suppressing her embarrassment as she said, “Of course it is.”

Qi Zhi’e chuckled lightly.

“You’re an Alpha, yet you’re more eager than an Omega to have someone take responsibility.”

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