After the Strategy Failed, the Heroine Turned into a Crematorium - Chapter 41

While handing over her responsibilities to Lu Si, Bian You could clearly see that Lu Si’s capabilities were no worse than her own. With Lu Si around, Qi Zhie’s company wouldn’t face any major issues.

For a moment, Bian You felt reassured, yet a faint sense of melancholy crept in.

It seemed Qi Zhie didn’t need her as much anymore.

During this time, she had accompanied Qi Zhie to the hospital for follow-up check-ups. The signs of Qi Zhie’s hormonal imbalance had significantly lessened, and her condition was now relatively stable. It appeared everything was moving in a positive direction.

Yet, Bian You instinctively sensed an undercurrent of unease, as though something was about to happen.

After stepping away from Qi Zhie’s company, Bian You settled into a routine of clocking in and out each day. Everything remained calm, as if that initial feeling of foreboding had been nothing but an illusion.

Recently, however, there was one thing that brought Bian You joy. The government was preparing to establish a massive integrated administrative system, a project of immense importance. After extensive evaluation and selection, the task of development and construction was ultimately awarded to Bian Corporation in collaboration with Zhiyun Networks.

Zhiyun Networks was Qi Zhie’s company. The fact that it could secure such a large-scale project spoke volumes about its growth potential.

Yet, none of this success seemed to inflate Qi Zhie’s ego. She remained as composed as ever, though no one could see the turbulence beneath her calm exterior.

This project was crucial for both Bian Corporation and Zhiyun Networks, leaving no room for error. The two companies formed a dedicated research and development team. This was precisely what made Bian You happy not only did they spend time together privately, but their professional lives also intersected, allowing their worlds to gradually intertwine.

Before the clock even struck 6 p.m., Bian You had already packed up her things. Right at 6:00 sharp, she stepped into the elevator, her fingers twitching excitedly at her sides as if playing an invisible piano.

Today, Qi Zhie was also getting off work early. Bian You planned to pick her up and then go grocery shopping together, buying ingredients to cook dinner at home.

“Miss Bian.”

The moment she stepped out of the elevator, a soft feminine voice reached her ears. Bian You’s cheerful mood instantly plummeted, her expression darkening.

She turned to see a woman in a delicate pink-and-white dress, poised gracefully with a handbag held in front of her. Her gentle, lovely face was adorned with a warm smile, no one could deny her beauty.

Yet, Bian You couldn’t muster any joy at the sight of her.

“Miss Yin, what are you doing here?” Bian You struggled to keep the exasperation from seeping too obviously into her tone.

The woman before her, Yin Li, was someone Bian You had helped by chance not long ago. At the time, Yin Li had suddenly gone into heat in a public place. Since being with Qi Zhie, Bian You had made a habit of carrying omega-specific suppressants. She had administered one to Yin Li, preventing a serious incident.

But the aftermath had left Bian You deeply troubled.

Who would’ve thought that, even in the midst of such chaos, Yin Li would take a liking to her? After being discharged from the hospital, Yin Li had latched onto her, refusing to back down no matter how many times Bian You emphasized that she already had an omega.

“I texted you but you didn’t reply, so I got worried and came over uninvited.” Yin Li was truly beautiful. As a high-ranking omega, she had always been the object of others’ pursuit. This was the first time she had actively pursued someone who remained unmoved.

Bian You tightened her grip on the car keys and sighed helplessly, “Miss Yin, I’ve already made myself very clear. I really like my girlfriend, and our relationship is very strong. So, I hope you’ll stop doing things that cause trouble.”

“I’m on my way to pick up my girlfriend from work now, so I won’t keep you company.”

Her footsteps quickened as she walked out. It was just after work hours, and the underground parking lot was still empty and quiet, with no one around except for the cars.

Yin Li’s voice from behind grew increasingly clear.

“You like her so much, but are you sure she likes you just as much? Are you really that close?”

Her tone was soft and gentle, devoid of any emotional outburst, as if she were merely stating a calm observation.

Bian You’s steps halted. She turned back to look at Yin Li, who still wore a faint, smiling expression, and frowned.

Pursing her lips, she chose not to respond further, though her expression as she left was far from pleasant.

Arriving at the entrance of Zhiyun Network Company, Bian You didn’t go inside. Instead, she sent Qi Zhie a message and waited in the car.

As she waited, Yin Li’s words kept replaying in her mind.

She wanted to ignore them, but the words echoed relentlessly, making it impossible to dismiss.

How could Yin Li say something like that with such confidence?

Lost in her thoughts, she didn’t even notice when Qi Zhie arrived. It wasn’t until Qi Zhie knocked on her car window that she snapped back to reality.

Turning to look at Qi Zhie outside the window, Bian You noticed how different she was now compared to her former cold and distant self. These days, whenever Qi Zhie faced her, her expression would unconsciously soften into a gentle smile. When her gaze focused on Bian You, it always felt as though she was being cherished deeply and sincerely.

Bian You didn’t get out of the car. Instead, she unlocked the doors to let Qi Zhie in directly.

“What were you thinking about just now?” Qi Zhie asked after getting in.

Bian You pressed her lips together. “Nothing, just feeling a bit frustrated.”

“What’s wrong?”

Bian You recounted Yin Li’s visit, omitting the part where Yin Li questioned the strength of their relationship.

After finishing, Bian You slumped slightly, her tone plaintive. “Qiqi, I really haven’t done anything to give her the wrong idea. Why does she keep clinging to me like this?”

“Isn’t she pretty?” Qi Zhie asked casually.

Usually, such encounters would be seen by alphas as a testament to their charm, and many would even feel a sense of pride about it. But Bian You wasn’t like that. She would proactively share these incidents, not wanting to hide anything that might lead to misunderstandings in their relationship.

“Huh?” Bian You was stunned by Qi Zhie’s question. Shouldn’t her focus be on someone trying to come between them? Why was she asking about whether the omega was pretty or not?

Bian You held back for a moment, but seeing that Qi Zhie still hadn’t caught on, she finally muttered, “She’s pretty!”

Truth be told, it wasn’t as if omegas were ever unattractive, at least, Bian You had never met one who wasn’t.

Hearing this slightly petulant voice, Qi Zhie’s lips curved slightly as she pinched the other’s cheek and said, “If you think I’m good-looking, then take a few more looks.”

Bian You grew even angrier, her heart increasingly unsettled. She couldn’t help but feel that Qi Zhie was far too indifferent toward her. Didn’t she worry that Bian You might develop improper thoughts or do something to betray her?

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. Bian You pulled Qi Zhie’s hand away from her cheek, wanting to lash out but then feeling her anger was somewhat unreasonable. What if Qi Zhie was just teasing her?

Her hands tightened around the steering wheel, but she couldn’t shake the frustration gnawing at her.

No matter what she did, it seemed Qi Zhie’s feelings for her never deepened. She hadn’t even seen the slightest hint of possessiveness from Qi Zhie toward her.

Weren’t alphas and omegas supposed to have strong possessive instincts?

Would other omegas so casually allow other omegas to approach their alpha like this?

If they did, Bian You could only believe it was because they didn’t truly love that alpha otherwise, how could they remain indifferent when others got close?

But,

Bian You’s nose stung with unshed tears. The system clearly showed that Qi Zhie had feelings for her!

Yet perhaps that also meant those feelings weren’t deep enough.

The suffocating frustration in her chest had nowhere to go, and the fact that the very person responsible remained completely unbothered only made it harder to bear.

Couldn’t she just care a little more?

The reason Bian You had proactively brought up those people wasn’t just to dispel her partner’s suspicions—it was also because she wanted to use these situations to make Qi Zhie pay more attention to her, to care a little more.

A hand gently rested on her thigh, the faint scent of lily of the valley drifting through the car. Qi Zhie’s soft voice carried unmistakable amusement.

“What’s wrong? Why do you suddenly seem upset?”

Bian You turned to look at her and saw Qi Zhie gazing back with a radiant smile, her eyes sparkling like stars.

Yet she still had the nerve to ask what was wrong as if she didn’t know!

Bian You was beyond frustrated. Qi Zhie was so clever, she couldn’t possibly be unaware of what was bothering her. That could only mean she was feigning ignorance on purpose!

Was she deliberately teasing her, or did she truly not care?

Even after all this time together, Bian You still often felt like she couldn’t fully understand her.

“Alright, don’t overthink it. I trust you,” Qi Zhie said, lightly patting her thigh twice.

Bian You: “…”

While it was good that Qi Zhie trusted her, she also wanted her to care more, to make her feel the weight of her possessiveness, the sense of being exclusively claimed.

For the rest of the time, Bian You remained in low spirits, but Qi Zhie beside her seemed entirely unaffected. When they went grocery shopping together, she even took the initiative to pick out some vegetables.

After spending so much time with Bian You, they had gone grocery shopping together often enough that Qi Zhie had gradually learned how to judge the quality of many ingredients.

Watching her like this, Bian You felt as though her anger had struck cotton, utterly powerless.

Back at home, Qi Zhie was working at the kitchen island outside the kitchen while Bian You busied herself inside. Neither of them had a big appetite, so there wasn’t much to prepare, and Bian You quickly finished making dinner. By then, Qi Zhie also came in to help carry the dishes to the dining table outside.

Bian You ladled a bowl of soup for her and placed it by her hand, then sat down to rest for a moment instead of immediately starting to eat.

“Have you managed to arrange time for our vacation?”

Qi Zhie’s hand, holding the spoon, paused briefly. After a moment, she replied with a hint of guilt, “Bian You, the company really can’t spare me right now. You know how important that government project is for us.”

If it went well, it would become a bridge between them and the government, making future collaborations much smoother.

Bian You lowered her gaze slightly and gave a soft “Mm.”

Two months had already passed since they first talked about going on vacation. Both had been busy, and their schedules never aligned.

Now, the weather was gradually cooling. Originally, they had planned to escape the summer heat by vacationing on a small island abroad, but by now, even the tail end of summer was nearly gone.

Hearing Bian You’s indifferent tone, Qi Zhie suddenly found the soup in her bowl tasteless.

This time, she really wasn’t brushing Bian You off, there were just too many things demanding her attention, leaving her no room to spare.

After a moment, Bian You quietly began eating. Compared to her usual lively chatter, her subdued reaction now was hard to ignore.

In the past, Qi Zhie had found her talkativeness annoying, but now that she had grown quiet, it only made her feel uneasy.

After dinner, the two sat together in the living room watching TV. A bowl of freshly washed fruit sat on the coffee table in front of them, untouched.

On previous evenings like this, Bian You was never one to sit still—most of the time, she would lean against Qi Zhie while watching. But today, she sat properly, keeping a distance of two fists between them.

Qi Zhie’s discomfort grew heavier.

Is she really angry?

Her eyes were fixed on the TV, but she couldn’t absorb anything. Her thoughts were entirely consumed by the person beside her.

And yet even though she knew Bian You was upset, she made no move to comfort her.

She glanced down at the bowl of fruit. Maybe it was better if Bian You realized she wasn’t good for her. If she took the initiative to break up and leave, it would be for the best.

“I’m going to shower first,” Qi Zhie said as she stood up.

“Mm,” Bian You responded, her gaze never leaving the TV.

Qi Zhie’s brows furrowed almost imperceptibly so faintly that even she didn’t notice.

After Qi Zhie left, Bian You reclined lazily on the sofa, her eyes unfocused.

She didn’t believe Qi Zhie hadn’t noticed her mood. Yet, she had chosen to ignore it.

So, was she already growing tired of her? Had her feelings faded?

Bian You curled her lips slightly, feeling both ridiculous and sorrowful.

She had been the last to enter this relationship. Was she now going to be the first to leave?

In the end, it seemed only she had truly valued it.

Even though she had mentally prepared herself, the realization still made her heart ache unbearably.

After showering, Qi Zhie poured herself a glass of water and, seeing Bian You lying on the sofa, asked, “Where are you sleeping tonight?”

Bian You: “???”

She looked up at Qi Zhie, momentarily at a loss for words.

Since they had started sleeping together, they rarely slept in separate rooms. They weren’t even fighting right now, so why would she suddenly ask such a question?

Or perhaps she couldn’t even be bothered to pretend anymore.

Support After the Strategy Failed, the Heroine Turned into a Crematorium