After the Strategy Failed, the Heroine Turned into a Crematorium - Chapter 25

Bian You suddenly reached out, and Qi Zhi’e turned her head to look at her, unsure what this gesture meant.

Hadn’t she already grown so weary that she couldn’t even pretend anymore?

“Earlier… I’m sorry,” Bian You murmured, lowering her eyes.

Qi Zhi’e remained silent.

Receiving no response, Bian You’s expression flickered with a hint of embarrassment and guilt. She had indeed neglected Qi Zhi’e before, unable to overcome the hurdle in her heart.

Gently squeezing Qi Zhi’e’s fingertips, Bian You softened her tone and said, “Zhi’e, forgive me this once, okay?”

Her voice was quiet just loud enough for Qi Zhi’e to hear without disturbing others. Her warm breath brushed against Qi Zhi’e’s ear, sending a tingling itch that slowly spread.

Qi Zhi’e kept her expression neutral, but an unusual sensation quietly unfurled inside her. Her body showed no resistance to Bian You’s closeness.

“Zhi!” Bian You was about to say more when Qi Zhi’e abruptly cut her off, pushing her back. “We’ll talk later.”

Though pushed away, Bian You keenly detected the softening in her tone. Her eyes brightened slightly as she pressed her lips together and whispered, “Okay~”

Qi Zhi’e: “…”

Today’s engagement banquet had been excruciatingly dull for them, devolving into nothing more than a business networking event. Bian You, who had only wanted to quietly spend time with Qi Zhi’e, found herself exhausted by the forced interactions.

She only wanted to reconnect with Qi Zhi’e, not forge ties with anyone else!

After the event ended, Bian You was the first to drive Qi Zhi’e home. As they stopped in front of her building, Bian You turned to her, hands fidgeting nervously on her knees. “Can I… come up with you?”

Earlier, Qi Zhi’e had said they’d talk later. Now that they were back, surely she could follow her upstairs?

Qi Zhi’e glanced at her restless hands and gave a quiet “Mm.”

Hearing her agreement, Bian You immediately got out to open the car door for her, eyes shining as she watched her.

Qi Zhi’e closed her eyes briefly before stepping out, and the two walked toward the apartment building together.

“I bought the place downstairs. I’ve been busy with renovations hope it hasn’t disturbed you?” Bian You spoke while stealing glances at her.

Though she had specifically instructed the renovation team to work only when Qi Zhi’e wasn’t home, she still worried about any accidental noise disturbing her.

“No, I’m never home during the day,” Qi Zhi’e replied flatly.

Relieved, Bian You followed her inside and sincerely apologized again.

“Zhi’e, I’m sorry.”

Qi Zhi’e retrieved two bottles of water. Bian You, with her drooping eyes, looked like a guilty puppy pitiful to the extreme.

Setting the water on the coffee table, Qi Zhi’e sat down and said calmly, “Care to explain why?”

Bian You’s hand froze mid-reach for the water. Even though she had mentally prepared herself, the reminder that Qi Zhi’e still held no feelings for her sent a sharp pang through her chest.

“I… was just upset that you still don’t like me.” Her voice trailed off as she lowered her head, frustration creeping in.

She had thought her efforts would at least soften Qi Zhi’e’s stance, but Qi Zhi’e remained utterly unmoved.

Hearing Bian You’s words, Qi Zhi’e froze for a moment, narrowing her eyes slightly as she looked at Bian You, unable to comprehend how the latter had deduced that she disliked her.

The atmosphere instantly turned stiflingly silent. Neither spoke another word, allowing the tension to thicken between them. In the end, it was Bian You who couldn’t bear it any longer, standing up abruptly as if fleeing. “It’s getting late, I should head back now,” she said.

Watching her hurried departure, Qi Zhi’e simply responded with a quiet “Alright.”

Bian You’s steps faltered for a brief moment. Her back still turned to Qi Zhi’e, her face twisted into a smile more bitter than tears, the corners of her eyes faintly reddening.

She had thought Qi Zhi’e would at least say something, but to her surprise, the woman showed no intention of offering any explanation whatsoever.

She truly didn’t care what Bian You might think.

Back in her car, the dull ache in her chest showed no signs of easing. Bian You pressed a hand over her eyes, the stinging sensation making her want to cry, yet her pride refused to let her succumb to such weakness.

As for Qi Zhi’e, after Bian You left, she calmly retreated to her study to work, not even sparing a single thought to consider whether her indifference might have hurt Bian You.

As Qi Zhi’e grew increasingly detached from the Qi Corporation, Qi Youqun’s influence expanded, making Qi Zhi’e’s position within the company more precarious by the day.

The less she fought for power, the more Qi Youqun sought to strip her of even the right to remain passive.

Ji Jiu was furious about this, but Qi Zhi’e remained unfazed. The more Qi Youqun guarded against her, the lighter her workload became most tasks now trivial and barely demanding any of her time.

This allowed her to devote more energy to her own company’s affairs.

On Wednesday afternoon, the scorching sun hung high in the sky, its harsh glare exposing every speck of dust floating in the air, casting a hazy, oppressive gloom.

Bian You had undergone a complete transformation by now. Her shoulder-length hair was tied into a low ponytail, her delicate yet striking features lending her a unique charm. She wore a short-sleeved casual shirt with black-and-white geometric patterns paired with loose black dress pants, exuding an effortless ease while maintaining an understated precision.

Two seemingly contradictory temperaments blended seamlessly in her. Carrying a laptop bag, she entered a café where she was scheduled to meet Qi Zhi’e today of course, under the fabricated identity she had created.

She arrived early, ordering two coffees according to Qi Zhi’e’s preferences while setting up her laptop in preparation for the meeting.

Before long, Qi Zhi’e appeared at the entrance. This time, she wore fitted dress pants and a blue shirt with the cuffs rolled up twice, revealing her fair wrists.

The moment Bian You spotted her, she immediately stood up. As Qi Zhi’e drew closer, her heartbeat quickened uncontrollably.

Truthfully, both had been busy lately, and it had been days since they last saw each other.

“President Qi,” Bian You greeted first.

“Engineer Bian,” Qi Zhi’e nodded slightly, taking a seat across from her.

The fabricated identity Bian You created was named Bian Ling, who was now the person in charge of cybersecurity at Qi Zhi’e’s company. This meeting likely stemmed from Bian You anticipating what Qi Zhi’e intended to do.

Sure enough, after minimal pleasantries, Qi Zhi’e got straight to the point: “Regarding our cybersecurity, how confident are you that no one can breach it?”

Qi Zhi’e was well aware that her plans would encroach on many vested interests. Thus, their preventive measures needed to be comprehensive, leaving no room for intrusion or sabotage.

Even a single breach would erode users’ trust in them.

When it came to serious matters, Bian You’s expression grew more solemn. She said firmly, “I can’t claim a hundred percent, but at present, I believe no one can break through my defenses.”

“Anyone attempting to infiltrate our system will be detected immediately.”

She understood the importance of this matter to Qi Zhi’e, so she would spare no effort in fortifying Qi Zhi’e’s defenses like an impenetrable fortress.

Seeing Qi Zhi’e still deep in thought, Bian You smiled and said, “If you’re still not fully assured, you can have others attempt to hack in and test it.”

Qi Zhi’e looked up, taking in the radiant confidence on the other’s face, and for a moment, she felt a strange sense of déjà vu, as if she were seeing traces of Bian You in her.

There were times when Bian You shone just as brightly in her own field of expertise.

Her gaze unconsciously drifted to the other’s neck, where several scent-blocking patches were tightly applied. Recalling their past meetings, she realized this person always kept her scent glands meticulously covered.

Why would a normal person go to such lengths? Was there something she didn’t want others to discover?

Once this thought surfaced, Qi Zhi’e’s gaze toward Bian You took on a deeper meaning. Her fingers lightly tapped against the coffee saucer as she remained silent, lost in contemplation.

However, Qi Zhi’e’s silence only made Bian You increasingly uneasy, unsure of what she might be thinking.

And… why had she been staring at her neck for so long?

Had she noticed something?

A chill ran down Bian You’s spine, her expression growing even more rigid. Surely not? She had applied three scent-blocking patches her nose couldn’t possibly be that sensitive, could it?

“I trust you,” Qi Zhi’e finally said with a smile.

Relieved to hear her speak at last, Bian You exhaled slightly and returned a light smile. “Then let me explain my approach.”

As she spoke, she turned her laptop toward Qi Zhi’e, leaning halfway across the table to elaborate.

Qi Zhi’e shifted slightly inward and said calmly, “Come sit over here. It’ll be easier to explain.”

Bian You froze, glancing up at Qi Zhi’e. Seeing no discernible change in her expression, she hesitated briefly before standing and moving to sit beside her. This way, explaining things became much smoother.

Listening as the other person broke down complex technical jargon into simple terms, Qi Zhi’e couldn’t help but think of Bian You again.

Bian You had recently been passionately working on some AI intelligence project, reportedly spearheaded by her. Did that mean she was also skilled in the field of computing?

As time passed, Qi Zhi’e faintly caught a whiff of the same scent she had detected at the concert subtle, faint, utterly unassuming, and nearly imperceptible.

Like water, carrying a gentle aura.

Qi Zhi’e’s gaze gradually sharpened, her eyes slowly settling on the person beside her. Only then did she notice the faint blush spreading across the other’s face, her eyes shimmering with a mix of shyness and embarrassment.

A string in Qi Zhi’e’s mind snapped abruptly. She seized Bian You’s wrist, her voice icy as she demanded, “Who are you?”

Recalling all the past anomalies, Qi Zhi’e suddenly realized she didn’t truly know Bian Ling. She had once investigated Bian Ling’s background, yet Bian Ling had always given her an unsettling sense of unreality. Deep down, Qi Zhi’e had always been wary of her.

“Huh?”

Caught off guard by the sudden hostility, Bian You froze for a moment. Staring at Qi Zhi’e’s cold expression, she couldn’t help but stammer, “W-what did I do?”

Had Qi Zhi’e noticed her stealing glances? But even if she had, why would she ask who she was?

Qi Zhi’e’s eyes narrowed, her gaze boring into the woman before her. As Bian You grew visibly more nervous, the faint trace of pheromones in the air thickened slightly.

Her eyes dropped to Bian You’s scent gland, and her brow furrowed involuntarily. As the pheromone concentration rose, she detected a familiar note woven within,

A light, sweet fragrance of lily of the valley.

Her expression hardened. In one swift motion, she tore off the adhesive scent-blocking patch. When the lily of the valley pheromones unfurled into the air, Qi Zhi’e felt as though her entire world had shattered.

“Bian You.”

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