After the Strategy Failed, the Heroine Turned into a Crematorium - Chapter 42.2

Halfway there, Bian You stopped. Tilting her head back, she gazed at the sparse, barely visible stars and suddenly asked, “Am I not good enough? Or do I just not deserve anything?”

“Huh?” Assistant Zhou was momentarily baffled. She wanted to respond, but after seeing the look on Bian You’s face, she quietly closed her mouth.

She didn’t seem to need an answer, and it was even possible that her question hadn’t been directed at her in the first place.

She must really be drunk.

“Assistant Zhou, how could you let her drink so much?” A soft voice, laced with the fresh scent of sweet oranges, drifted over as a pair of warm hands steadied Bian You’s left arm.

Assistant Zhou narrowed her eyes at Yin Li, who had suddenly appeared, and at her accusatory tone. Anyone who didn’t know better might think she had some special relationship with Bian You.

And besides, what a coincidence that she just happened to be here.

Seeing Yin Li’s hands on Bian You, Assistant Zhou quickly stepped forward to support Bian You from the other side, forcing a polite smile. “Miss Yin, I’ll take it from here. No need to trouble you.” She didn’t answer Yin Li’s question.

“It’s no trouble. Miss Bian seems like she’s about to lose her balance,” Yin Li said gently.

Bian You suddenly jerked her head up as if snapping back to sobriety, glaring at Yin Li with a stern expression. “You’re the one about to lose balance! I’m perfectly steady!”

Assistant Zhou immediately lowered her head, afraid her barely suppressed laughter would be too obvious.

“And why are you here? Following me?” Bian You voiced the very question Assistant Zhou had wanted to ask though the latter part of it carried clear displeasure.

Yet Yin Li seemed entirely unaffected by Bian You’s attitude. The way she looked at her was like gazing at a sulking lover, full of indulgent helplessness.

“A friend of mine was dining here and happened to see you. I thought you might be drinking, so I came to check on you, just to be safe.”

Bian You frowned. Her mind was already so muddled she could barely think straight. Something about this felt off, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it.

Assistant Zhou:

What a coincidence.

But as a competent assistant, she couldn’t just stand by. Tightening her grip on Bian You, she said firmly, “Miss Yin, I’ll take Miss Bian home now. There’s no need to trouble you.”

Yin Li didn’t let go, her delicate face breaking into an amiable smile. “Assistant Zhou, you must be tired after working all day. I’ll take Miss Bian back.”

As if! If she dared hand Bian You over to her today, she’d be packing her bags tomorrow because she’d be out of a job!

“No need. This is part of my responsibilities.” Assistant Zhou marveled at her own growth she could still manage a polite smile in this situation.

Bian You felt like there were mosquitoes buzzing incessantly on either side of her, and the sweet orange scent enveloping her only made her dizzier. Her body was growing uncomfortably warm.

“Shut up,” Bian You suddenly snapped coldly.

Assistant Zhou and Yin Li froze, neither daring to speak another word. They glanced up at Bian You her expression icy, tinged with impatience, yet her unfocused gaze made it hard to tell if she was truly lucid.

Bian You pulled her arms free and staggered toward her car, steps unsteady. Assistant Zhou, ever sharp-eyed, hurried ahead to open the door, keeping her mouth firmly shut to avoid making any noise that might irritate Bian You further.

This time, Yin Li didn’t follow. She simply stood where she was, watching Bian You’s retreating figure, her lips still curved in that inscrutable, faint smile.

Assistant Zhou, sitting in the driver’s seat, suddenly regretted not informing Qi Zhie. If Qi Zhie had come along, the scene that would unfold later would have been truly spectacular.

Driving the car to the entrance of Qi Zhie’s apartment building, Assistant Zhou stepped out and whispered to Bian You, ” Bian President, can you still walk?”

Halfway through the drive, Bian You had already begun dozing off, her head bobbing slightly. Assistant Zhou was terrified she might suddenly slump over.

Bian You lifted her head and shook it groggily, stumbling out of the car. Assistant Zhou kept a close eye on her, only relaxing slightly once they were inside the elevator. Under the bright elevator lights, she could clearly see Bian You’s flushed face.

She seemed to be getting drunker.

“Careful!”

Assistant Zhou quickly steadied Bian You as her legs gave way, nearly sending her toppling over. Her heart raced, thank goodness she hadn’t fallen. How would she have explained that otherwise?

When they reached Qi Zhie’s floor, she half-carried Bian You to the door, her fingers trembling slightly as she pressed the doorbell.

For some reason, she was always a little afraid of facing Qi Zhie. There was an undeniable air of intimidation about her.

The door opened. Qi Zhie looked at the two of them outside, her expression barely shifting even as she took in Bian You’s drunken state, entirely propped up by Assistant Zhou.

“President Qi, President Bian had a bit too much to drink,” Assistant Zhou hurriedly explained.

“Mn. Hand her over to me. You can go back now.” Qi Zhie took Bian You into her arms. The moment she got close, Bian You seemed to sense something, immediately clinging to Qi Zhie like a limpet, nuzzling against her and mumbling incoherently.

Assistant Zhou’s face flushed at the sight, and she hastily excused herself.

Even though she knew Bian You was the more submissive one in their relationship, she hadn’t expected her to be this clingy in private, the second she saw Qi Zhie, she latched onto her.

Qi Zhie lowered her gaze to the person draped over her, her nose filled with the scent of pheromones that didn’t belong to either of them.

She guided Bian You inside but didn’t take her straight to the bedroom, instead settling her on the living room sofa. Then, she went to the kitchen and poured a glass of warm water. Handing it to Bian You, she asked in a calm voice, “Why did you suddenly drink so much?”

In front of Qi Zhie, Bian You was docile. When handed the glass, she cupped it carefully with both hands and took small sips. At Qi Zhie’s question, she looked up, her eyes still hazy with intoxication.

” I don’t feel good,” she muttered childishly.

Qi Zhie’s long lashes fluttered slightly, but she said nothing more. Instead, she stood and went to the bathroom, returning with a warm towel to gently wipe Bian You’s face and neck.

When she reached the gland at the nape of Bian You’s neck, Qi Zhie’s movements slowed. Eventually, she peeled back the scent-blocking patch and pressed her fingertips against the exposed skin.

Damp. Moist. The slightly sticky fluid clung to her fingers, glistening transparently under the light, carrying an indescribable, almost sensual quality.

Staring at the liquid on her fingertips, Qi Zhie lowered her eyes slightly, her long lashes casting faint shadows over her expression, making it impossible to discern her true thoughts.

The sweet, citrusy scent of pheromones still lingered in the air.

Thick. Heavy.

When Bian You woke up the next day, her head was still foggy. She opened her eyes, taking in the familiar yet unfamiliar surroundings, and froze for a moment.

“!”

Bian You suddenly snapped awake, bolting upright in bed. After scanning the room, she confirmed it was the same one she had slept in before not Qi Zhie’s bedroom.

How had she ended up sleeping here?

Frowning, Bian You sifted through her memories of the previous night before finally dredging up the relevant fragment. Her expression darkened as it came back to her.

Qi Zhie had brought her here.

Glancing down at herself, she saw she was still wearing yesterday’s clothes, now reeking of alcohol. After a night of fermentation, the smell was far from pleasant, and there seemed to be a faint hint of sweet orange lingering as well.

That sweet orange scent was all too familiar, it was Yin Li’s pheromones, the same ones that had wafted out when she had suddenly gone into heat.

Her face paled. Without bothering to tidy herself up, she hurried out of bed and strode toward the door. The house was eerily quiet, and just as Bian You began to think Qi Zhie wasn’t home, she finally found her in the piano room.

Qi Zhie wasn’t playing the piano at the moment. Instead, she was seated on the carpet by the floor-to-ceiling window, assembling a block model.

Hearing the door open, she turned her head to look.

Golden sunlight streamed through the window, filling the room with a bright, pristine glow. Qi Zhie was half-turned toward the light, and the glare made it impossible for Bian You to discern her expression.

Hesitating for a moment, Bian You slowly walked over and crouched beside Qi Zhie, eyeing the half-finished model, a piano.

“I drank too much last night. When I left the hotel, I ran into Yin Li. She came over to help me and wanted to bring me home,” Bian You said, her voice hoarse from the hangover and just waking up.

Qi Zhie calmly placed another block onto the model. “No need to explain. I believe you.”

Bian You opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but the words stuck in her throat.

She wanted to ask, if Qi Zhie believed her, why had she sent her to sleep alone in the guest room? But she was afraid. Afraid that the answer she’d get would be one she didn’t want to hear.

“Go take a shower and freshen up. The housekeeper came today, and there’s breakfast waiting for you in the kitchen,” Qi Zhie said.

Bian You fell silent for a moment before finally responding with a quiet, “Okay.”

The matter was left at that, neither of them bringing it up again. But their time together seemed to dwindle further, one was always away on business, then the other, leaving little room for conversation.

When they finally had a rare break and decided to stay home, their quiet moment was abruptly shattered. By the time the police stood before her, Bian You was still dazed.

“Miss Bian, you are suspected of engaging in illegal competition using network technology. Please come with us for questioning.”

“Additionally, you have been accused of coercing an omega into non-consensual relations. You’ll need to accompany us.”

She heard every word they said, but strung together, they made no sense.

The first part was one thing, but what was that last bit about? Forcing an omega?

Who?

Bian You immediately looked up at Qi Zhie.

If there was any instance of coercion, it was only once when the original host had drugged Qi Zhie shortly after she had transmigrated.

Had Qi Zhie reported her?

Her throat dry, Bian You fixed her gaze on Qi Zhie and asked, “Was it you?”

Before Qi Zhie could speak, the officer frowned and said, “What do you mean ‘it’s her, it’s not her’? Don’t you know who you forced?”

From the tone of the question, it clearly wasn’t Qi Zhie. Bian You felt slightly relieved, a faint smile playing at her lips. Before being taken away by the police, she looked at Qi Zhie earnestly and said, “Believe me, I didn’t do it.”

Yet Qi Zhie only pressed her lips together and watched her in silence.

Bian You’s smile faded bit by bit, her heart sinking to the depths.

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