Forced to Romance the Omega Psychiatrist - Chapter 16

So even deviations in the mission process could trigger punishment.

Bai Shuixi sat alone on the sofa, coldly contemplating the entire situation.

After guiltily supplying additional information, the system quickly slipped away, leaving the VIP lounge in silence once more.

The idea that any misstep during the mission would lead to consequences was something Bai Shuixi had never considered.

She had assumed only mission failure would lead to her predetermined death. She never imagined that even a minor mistake could result in punishment.

So, did she really have to follow the system’s suggestion and threaten Xia You in that way?

Bai Shuixi pictured the scene. The memory of Xia You disheveled, her eyes soft as spring water, her body flushed with a seductive, rosy hue, resurfaced in her mind.

Hmm, not bad?

A flicker of interest stirred in her, but while she wanted to see Xia You flustered and overwhelmed, she had no desire to endure the girl’s hatred.

Which meant she still needed to figure out how to handle this.

Truthfully, Bai Shuixi wasn’t particularly afraid of pain. During the years when her emotions were dulled, many physical ailments had gone unnoticed due to her own indifference. Because of this, her previous household had even kept two medical staff on standby, ready to conduct checkups at the slightest sign of trouble, lest she neglect her health out of sheer apathy.

But that was all in the distant past. Now, Bai Shuixi no longer needed constant supervision.

She had more than enough capacity to do as she pleased. As long as, Her fingers tapped lightly on the armrest of the sofa. As long as that Omega cooperated.

While Bai Shuixi was lost in thought in the lounge, the Omega she had mentally dissected over and over again was standing in the corridor not far from the VIP room, facing off against her ‘rival’ in a rather tense atmosphere.

“Ah, so you know me.” Zhou Wanwan smiled, her delicate, radiant face appearing gentle. Yet Xia You detected a hint of critical scrutiny in those bewitchingly beautiful eyes.

With just that subtle shift in expression, Zhou Wanwan’s entire smile took on a deeper, more meaningful edge.

So her personality wasn’t as mild as her appearance suggested?

Xia You immediately grew wary, keeping her distance as she replied, “I do. I’ve seen the dramas you’ve acted in.”

If possible, Xia You had no intention of engaging with Zhou Wanwan here.

This matter was between her and Li Wei, Zhou Wanwan was an outsider in her eyes, regardless of whatever role she might have played.

“You,  Xia You? You actually watch my work?”

Zhou Wanwan seemed surprised, then let out a soft, mocking laugh, her lively, pretty eyes brimming with sarcasm as she regarded Xia You with something close to pity. “Then tell me, how beautiful did I look in those shows? Just how beautiful?”

Xia You didn’t understand why Zhou Wanwan was asking this, but a sudden unease settled over her. Things weren’t as straightforward as she’d assumed.

“You know who I am?”

“Why don’t you answer my question first?”

Zhou Wanwan’s tone was lukewarm, arms crossed as she studied Xia You with amusement.

Judging by Zhou Wanwan’s demeanor, Xia You felt she wouldn’t get through today without answering. After a moment’s hesitation, Xia You answered somewhat awkwardly yet truthfully: “Very beautiful, quite outstanding among actors of your generation.”

Zhou Wanwan clearly enjoyed hearing this, her lips curling smugly as her attitude softened noticeably.

Xia You couldn’t understand her behavior and was about to take her leave when Zhou Wanwan suddenly seemed to remember something. After giving Xia You a thorough once-over, she swiftly closed the distance between them, her slender arm blocking Xia You’s path as she braced it against the wall.

For the first time since they’d met, those cold yet alluring eyes of Zhou Wanwan’s held a trace of warmth though it was more of an appraising, meaningful look. “You think someone with my looks is attractive?”

“Uh…”

Uncertain of her intentions, Xia You took two steps back to create some space.

This Omega Zhou Wanwan seemed to radiate abnormality from head to toe, completely indifferent to others’ opinions, willful and rebellious to the core.,  downright crazy.

Wasn’t she a famous actress? How could her personality be so flamboyant?

Yet Zhou Wanwan felt this wasn’t nearly enough. Xia You’s retreating steps didn’t wound her in the slightest, if anything, they spurred her on. Crossing her arms, she circled halfway around Xia You in the deserted corridor, observing her with a frivolous air as she remarked:

“So who do you think is more attractive, you or me? I’ve heard you have a wonderful personality, very reasonable and kind. Does that mean you’ll be nice to me too?”

This was utterly baffling.

Xia You finally frowned. “Who told you all this? Li Wei?”

“Mhm,” Zhou Wanwan smiled, her delicate finger poking Xia You’s shoulder. “Who else would tell me, if not Weiwei’s dear little sister? I heard you two used to be very close. Pity she doesn’t have time for you now.”

Being nearly the same height, Xia You could look directly into those beautiful, enigmatic eyes when she didn’t avert her gaze. The sharp finger pressing into her shoulder caused a dull ache, but Xia You couldn’t be bothered with that now.

“Is that how she introduced me to you?”

“Of course, what else would it be?” Zhou Wanwan tilted her head with an innocent expression, though her tone was loaded with implication. “She also said you’re a psychologist who might be able to help me someday, and that I should get along with you.”

Her coy expression and feigned naivety only intensified Xia You’s growing discomfort, the sting becoming more pronounced.

So when Li Wei thought of her now, it was only in terms of how she could help Zhou Wanwan?

Then what was she to Li Wei?

What exactly was she?

“Since you’re also someone very close to Weiwei, you’ll be nice to me, won’t you?” As if her previous remark hadn’t been provocative enough, Zhou Wanwan added this with a light laugh.

Xia You looked at Zhou Wanwan with complicated emotions, finding the entire situation utterly absurd.

What kind of intimate relationship could accommodate three people?

What made Zhou Wanwan think that as someone ‘very close’ to Li Wei, Xia You would treat her well?

During their silence, Zhou Wanwan studied Xia You intently.

It wasn’t just looking her gaze roamed freely over Xia You’s face, brimming with the natural malice she felt toward this seemingly ‘spotless’ Omega. Zhou Wanwan desperately wanted to see Xia You’s heartbreak.

At this moment, Xia You’s gentle and beautiful face wore an expression like someone caught in the rain with nowhere to go, though no tears fell, she looked utterly miserable and heartbreaking.

Zhou Wanwan, who had been in high spirits just moments ago, suddenly felt her enthusiasm wane for some reason. Just then, she spotted staff members hurrying over in the distance, giving work instructions as they walked.

With a hint of weariness and disdain, Zhou Wanwan glanced at them. Before they could get too close, she leaned toward Xia You and whispered, “I’ll keep Li Wei in check from now on. You won’t need to worry about her anymore.”

Xia You’s eyes widened abruptly as she turned to face Zhou Wanwan, about to demand what she meant by that, when the approaching staff members reached them.

Zhou Wanwan seized the initiative. In front of the staff, she flashed Xia You a radiant smile and said, “Well, that’s all for today. It was lovely meeting you.”

Xia You froze. “No, I—”

“Oh! You must be Ms. Xia!” The busy staff members completely missed the subtle tension between the two women. Only when they noticed Xia You’s striking features did they pause briefly. One staff member happened to glance at Xia You’s name tag and immediately looked relieved, stepping forward eagerly:

“Assistant He just informed us about you. We’re so sorry to keep you waiting! It’s great we ran into you, let us take you to the venue now?”

The group formed an invisible barrier between Xia You and Zhou Wanwan, separating them into different worlds.

“No, wait a moment!”

Seeing Zhou Wanwan’s mocking smile just steps away, Xia You felt a stubborn urge to push past the staff and finish their conversation. “I still have something to.”

“Oh dear! Looks like the behind-the-scenes filming for the artists is about to start,” Zhou Wanwan loudly interrupted, smiling at the confused staff. “I’ll take my leave then wouldn’t want to disrupt your work.”

The staff looked puzzled, unsure why she was telling them this, but they waved politely to the currently popular Zhou Wanwan. “Alright then, see you later, Wanwan!”

Zhou Wanwan gave a delicate wave of her slender, pale hand and strode off without looking back. Xia You couldn’t even find a chance to stop her.

After bidding farewell, the exhausted staff turned back to Xia You, about to urge her along, but one look at her ashen expression made them hesitate. Instead, they tentatively asked, “Ms. Xia,  do you know Zhou Wanwan?”

Only then did Xia You fully snap out of her daze, finally unclenching fingers she hadn’t realized were tightly curled.

The staff: “……?”

She couldn’t afford to lose composure further.

Xia You took a deep breath, steadied herself, and forced her usual quiet gentleness back into place. “Not really. We just met today.”

“Ohhh,” one oblivious staff member chuckled awkwardly, casually remarking, “You two seemed to hit it off though.”

Hit it off?

Xia You paused mid-step and glanced back toward where Zhou Wanwan had disappeared.

Zhou Wanwan, who had claimed she was going to film behind-the-scenes footage, stood in the hallway with her arms crossed, clearly waiting for Xia You. When Xia You glanced back, Zhou flashed her a cocky smile and gave a casual wave.

She was doing this on purpose!

Xia You closed her eyes briefly, suppressing her turbulent emotions before turning away to follow the staff members ahead.

There was no way Zhou Wanwan would target her without reason. Tracing it back the root cause was undoubtedly Li Wei. It always came back to Li Wei.

“What did you say?!”

In the artist lounge, all assistants and staff had been dismissed, leaving only Li Wei and Zhou Wanwan inside. Li Wei’s shocked voice leaked through the door crack.

“You saw Xia You? And spoke to her?” Li Wei frowned, her expression full of concern. “Why would you approach her?”

“I already told you she has nothing to do with work matters. Dragging her into this could create unnecessary complications!”

Zhou Wanwan lazily twirled a pendant while lounging on the sofa, only responding indolently: “I didn’t seek her out. We happened to meet in the hallway.”

“How?” Li Wei froze. “She’s a psychologist with zero connections to the entertainment industry. Why would she be at the venue?”

Zhou Wanwan scoffed. Without outsiders watching, her delicate features openly displayed arrogant amusement:

“Your childhood friendship is truly pitiful. She doesn’t know who you really are, and you’re clueless about her current life. Tell me, was there ever really anything between you two?”

“Don’t talk nonsense,” Li Wei’s face darkened. “I’ve explained our relationship to you before.”

“Pfft, as if I’d believe that.” Zhou Wanwan rolled her eyes dramatically, her slender body melting into the sofa cushions just beyond Li Wei’s line of sight. “Save those fairy tales for children, not me.”

Li Wei took a deep breath: “This isn’t the time for your tantrums. I’m asking why Xia You appeared here. Need I remind you how much the company spends annually on your PR? Do you want another scandal?”

Fiddling with the pendant, Zhou Wanwan answered disinterestedly: “She was wearing a staff pass. I overheard someone mention a special assistant named He instructed them to look after Xia You. Which investor’s assistant has the surname He?”

“He?” Li Wei pondered. “That would be Bai Shuixi.”

The same Bai Shuixi who’d slept with Xia You.

Could Bai Shuixi actually have developed feelings for Xia You?

At Bai Shuixi’s name, even the bored Zhou Wanwan showed slight interest. Her dark, glass-bead eyes flickered toward Li Wei before looking away.

Ironically, Xia You’s encounter with Bai Shuixi had been Zhou Wanwan’s unintended doing.

It had started as a whim to tarnish the pristine image of Li Wei’s “perfect” Xia You, Remembering her motives when orchestrating that night, Zhou’s delicate fingers suddenly left nail marks on the pendant.

But… thinking back to that brief encounter just now, Zhou Wanwan’s fingers relaxed slightly. There might actually be some merit to being pure and innocent after all.

Xia You’s simple, sincere gaze, so transparent you could see right through it, resurfaced in Zhou Wanwan’s memory.

It was kind of amusing, and also strangely comforting.

Zhou Wanwan was beginning to understand why Li Wei, despite no longer being in Xia You’s circle, still refused to drift apart from her and often brought her up in conversation.

That Xia You really had a way of making people feel warm and secure. It was as if being around her meant you weren’t fighting alone, no matter what happened, Xia You would always embrace everything with gentle acceptance.

“Stop spacing out. I need to talk to you about something,” Li Wei’s voice cut in nearby as she patted the back of the couch where Zhou Wanwan was curled up, launching into a long-winded analysis of pros and cons without waiting for a response.

Zhou Wanwan, still lost in thought, listened half-heartedly, vaguely catching phrases like ‘Bai Shui Xi,’ ‘values Xia You,’ and ’emotions can be exploited.’ She couldn’t help but sneer inwardly.

Truly the partner she had handpicked in her most desperate hour.

They really were cut from the same cloth.

Just as Zhou Wanwan was about to impatiently interrupt Li Wei, the door to the lounge was knocked on by a staff member.

It was the assistant director sending word for all the artists to prepare for the first rehearsal.

Zhou Wanwan immediately stood up, shooting Li Wei a smug look. “Oh dear, duty calls. Guess I’ll head off to rehearsal now.”

Li Wei sighed helplessly and waved her off, but as she watched Zhou Wanwan’s retreating figure, her gaze grew more contemplative.

Zhou Wanwan was becoming less and less receptive to her advice and yet acting even more recklessly than before. If this continued, disaster was inevitable.

Should she take precautions and find a replacement sooner rather than later?

Before the thought could fully form, Li Wei remembered that drunken night after the networking event, the wild abandon between them, the reckless thrill that still sent shivers down her spine, its afterglow lingering stubbornly.

After a long pause, Li Wei exhaled deeply, propping her forehead up in defeat.

What a complete mess.

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