Distance Formula - Chapter 33

Chapter 33

Bai Biqing and Su Yanshi wandered a while longer. The Beta held a small portion of local specialty snacks, following unhurriedly behind Su Yanshi. The night breeze was much cooler now; the two of them paced the road one after the other, moonlight filtering through sparse branches to fall in scattered dots.

Su Yanshi spread her arms, quietly feeling the breeze blow past. Tonight, she seemed to have broken free, skipping around for several laps. She walked backward, looking exceptionally at ease: “I haven’t been this relaxed in so long. It feels wonderful.”

The Beta had her hands in her pockets, smiling along with Su Yanshi: “I have a gift to give you when we get back.”

Su Yanshi’s pace slowed, her eyes visibly lighting up: “Suddenly, I’m full of anticipation.”

She pondered for a few more seconds: “Teacher Bai, I don’t even know how to return the favor?”

Bai Biqing gave an “Mhm,” her brows furrowing as if in deep thought: “Then… give me a little raise.”

Su Yanshi burst into a laugh. She stopped her steps, thought for a moment but remained silent, then turned her body forward and swayed along.

The Beta followed closely behind her, within her shadow, also catching a ground full of moonlight.

The walk wasn’t long, or perhaps Bai Biqing just felt time was moving too fast. It wasn’t until they stood at the hotel entrance that they felt a sense of snapping back to reality.

Su Yanshi’s tone held a hint of disappointment: “The day passed just like that. So fast.”

Bai Biqing gave an “Mhm” and looked at her sideways: “Time is long. Don’t be disappointed.”

“I just feel… I don’t know when the next time we’ll go out together will be.”

Bai Biqing raised an eyebrow: “Are you already starting to think about the next time?”

Su Yanshi nodded candidly: “That’s right.”

With that, the two looked at each other and smiled. Bai Biqing patted her shoulder: “Let’s go. See what I’m going to give you.”

Su Yanshi: “Okay!”

She had specifically wrapped the painting before coming. Bai Biqing led Su Yanshi into her room; this hotel was higher-end than the previous one, and the lighting upon entering was very comfortable.

“Is the lighting always this soft at night?” Su Yanshi asked.

Bai Biqing took out the painting. She shook her head and said nonchalantly, “No, it’s adjustable. Yanshi, if you had bothered to check this hotel, you’d know its surname is Bai.”

Su Yanshi snapped her head up and gasped: “Wicked rich people.”

Her words were directed at Bai Biqing, but her eyes remained fixed on the object in her hand. The Alpha’s heartbeat suddenly quickened—it was a painting.

“Teacher Bai,” Su Yanshi called softly.

Bai Biqing gave an “Mhm,” a trace of a smile appearing in her eyes: “Are you moved to tears?”

Su Yanshi laughed: “Not quite yet.”

“Then take it back to look at it. Leave some suspense.” Bai Biqing placed it in Su Yanshi’s hands, maneuvering her fingers to grip it tight. “Apply some medicine in a bit. You’re filming the second part tomorrow, right? Nervous?”

When Bai Biqing spoke to her, she always seemed to maintain restraint. Her eyes watched her tenderly, her voice falling over Su Yanshi again and again.

Su Yanshi’s eyes trembled slightly. Her tongue licked her parched lips as she shook her head: “Not nervous.”

“That’s good.” Bai Biqing raised her arm as if wanting to do something, but she paused for a moment and then dropped it back down. “If there’s a problem, find me. I’ll do my best to help you solve it.”

Su Yanshi noticed the movement and was about to speak when she was interrupted by the sound of the doorbell.

Bai Biqing signaled for her to wait. She opened the door, only to stare in shock at a grim-faced Su Shang.

Her heart tightened; she quickly confirmed that she hadn’t received any messages about Su Shang coming over.

The Omega forced a smile: “Surprise.”

Bai Biqing’s smile vanished. The next second, Su Shang threw a punch that sent her staggering back two steps. She wiped the bright red blood from the corner of her mouth, keeping her head down and remaining silent for a moment.

Su Shang pushed her way in, her chest heaving heavily, her eyes filled with unconcealable anger. Her lips trembled as she managed a strained smile toward the tense Su Yanshi: “Yanshi, could you please head back first? We have some personal business to handle.”

Su Yanshi looked worriedly at Bai Biqing, who was leaning against the wall. She opened her mouth but didn’t say a word; her gaze darted around, knowing clearly she had no standing to manage their affairs. She only muttered: “Okay.”

The Beta saw Su Yanshi leave from the corner of her eye. Su Shang immediately slammed the door, threw her backpack aside, and strode forward to grab Bai Biqing’s collar. Before she could speak, tears began to flow silently.

“Bai Biqing.” Her voice was nearly breaking. “Are you out of your mind?”

Bai Biqing gently wiped away the tears. Su Shang knew about the injections. She didn’t speak.

“Why? What’s the reason? If it’s for Su Yanshi, I’d spend whatever it takes to keep her as yours. If you’re not willing, we can treat the illness slowly. Even if it can’t be cured, it’s fine. We’re here with you. But why use this method? You know exactly how severe the side effects of that agent are!”

Su Shang punched Bai Biqing in the abdomen again. She let go of her hands, shaking with rage: “If you don’t want to live, I can send you on your way in a heartbeat!”

Bai Biqing clutched her stomach and coughed a few times. She looked up at her with effort. Su Shang did boxing with her; they had been trained since childhood. She didn’t doubt these words at all—she even felt Su Shang might actually do it.

But she didn’t resent Su Shang’s violence in the slightest. She had been impulsive.

The heartache in the Omega’s eyes had never been hidden.

Bai Biqing slowly stood up, hanging her head gloomily: “I was thinking… would Su Yanshi only want to be with me because of the pheromones? If we really fell in love, how much of it would be sincere toward me? I suddenly got scared, so I found that vial and injected it. But later I found—”

The Beta closed her eyes, her head leaning back against the wall: “I’m the one lying to myself. She doesn’t care about that at all. I’m a liar, but my deception has failed miserably.”

Su Shang froze. She picked up the backpack from the floor and threw it directly at Bai Biqing. She stood there in a daze and asked: “Do you like her?”

Bai Biqing’s movement to pick up the bag paused. Her fingertips tightened. She lifted her eyelids, the emotions in her eyes laid bare.

Some things are secrets that cannot be spoken aloud.

How could an Omega not understand? How could Su Shang not understand Bai Biqing?

Suddenly, her tears wouldn’t stop. She abruptly remembered the teenage Bai Biqing.

Back then, the Beta was high-spirited and much more mature than her peers. Bai Biqing used to tell Su Shang often that she would help her parents and brother manage the company in the future; every time she mentioned it, her face beamed with hope for the future.

The Beta’s business acumen was far stronger than her brother’s; the family had high expectations for her. But after the onset of the illness, everything changed.

Piercing pain left bloody scars on the gland that shouldn’t have belonged to Bai Biqing. Every time the pain flared, she had to be strapped to a hospital bed for injections.

At that time, Bai Biqing was thin beyond recognition. When Su Shang went to see her, her tears would break. The Omega would likely never forget Bai Biqing kneeling on the floor begging the doctor to let her die, nor the dead, ashen look in her eyes after the sedatives calmed her down.

Back then, Bai Biqing was like a dog; she had no dignity because of her illness, rolling on the floor in pain, hurting herself just to try and mask the agony.

Later, the corresponding agent appeared. After Bai Biqing used it, her condition improved significantly. She no longer had to endure the pain or lose her temper because of others’ pheromones, but her gaze grew colder and colder.

Every day, she would just sit by the bed without speaking, refusing all communication with the outside world. No cure could be found; the doctor’s answers were always uncertain. The side effects of the agent were massive: vomiting, dizziness, anorexia. Though Bai Biqing was no longer tortured by her gland, her body still wouldn’t recover.

Until she discovered she was addicted to the agent; if she didn’t inject it daily, she would face even more torture.

That was the true side effect.

After finding out, Bai Biqing’s attitude reversed. She was no longer willing to take the injections. When forced, she would use glass shards to threaten suicide. She used her own methods to quit the addiction bit by bit. During that time, she was covered in injuries—pinched by her own hands, bruised from hitting glass, poked by needles.

The Beta’s temperament became unstable. After being discharged, she stopped managing the company and made painting her only daily task. She would sit for a whole day. When finished, she would ask, “Is it beautiful?” No matter what the reply was, she would expressionlessly use scissors to cut it to pieces and then burn it with a lighter.

She lived like this for a long time.

Later, Bai Biqing became promiscuous. She would switch to a new partner immediately after one month. The Beta played the role of the perfect lover flawlessly; it was impossible to find a fault. Her gaze was lingering, she gave gifts, said sweet words, and fulfilled all of her partner’s fantasies. Even when breaking up, the other party felt nothing but regret.

But Su Shang knew, and she grew more and more afraid. Bai Biqing no longer cared about her own body; she lived every day with utter indifference.

Bai Biqing’s romances were perfect, just like her paintings—overly perfect, and thus, worthless.

When did it change?

Su Shang thought back. She couldn’t remember what day it was, only that Bai Biqing had suddenly pointed to a person on the screen and asked: “Who is this?”

She had glanced at it and answered casually: “Her name is Su Yanshi, I think. Her acting is pretty good.”

At the time, Bai Biqing only softly repeated the name once and said nothing more.

Su Shang should have realized sooner. This person had developed feelings; she was serious. The first time standing up for someone, the first time being nervous for someone, the first time investing a massive amount of time for someone. So many “firsts,” all for Su Yanshi.

The Omega suddenly realized that Su Yanshi was Bai Biqing’s medicine—not the pheromones, but the person herself.

She murmured: “So, have you two made progress?”

Bai Biqing kept her head down and didn’t speak. Su Shang understood immediately: nothing had happened. She closed her eyes, pondered for a moment as if making a momentous decision, and took out her phone to find a chat window.

Su Yanshi remained uneasy, clutching the scroll in her hand while waiting for the aftermath. After a long time, Su Shang walked out. The tear tracks on her face were gone. Before the Alpha could ask, Su Shang spoke first: “Can I borrow Bai Biqing for a day tomorrow? Her parents found an Alpha for her, who happens to be in Deep Sea City. They want her to go on a blind date.”

The expression on the Alpha’s face slowly froze. She processed the news slowly. Her wrist went limp, and the painting in her hand suddenly unrolled and dropped. she barely caught the edge. Su Yanshi felt a sharp ache in her heart. She stared blankly at the painting—her lips moved, but she asked nothing.

Suddenly feeling powerless, she lowered her eyes and gave an “Mhm.”

Just like the painting in her hand—it was beautiful, but unfortunately, she only held the corner.

Support