Forced to Romance the Omega Psychiatrist - Chapter 32

The Rolls-Royce came to a stop downstairs. The driver would take care of parking the car, so Bai Shuixi didn’t bother with such trivial matters. She gently supported Xia You and accompanied her upstairs.

After changing into slippers in the entryway, Bai Shuixi set her coat aside and retrieved a work tablet from the study. With a few taps on the screen, she handed it to Xia You. “This contains all the information about Bai Ye.”

Xia You was still feeling a bit awkward. Her gaze briefly brushed past Bai Shuixi before she accepted the tablet. “Why are you showing me Bai Ye’s information?”

Bai Shuixi chuckled, crossing her arms as she stood beside Xia You. Leaning in close to her ear, her tone feigned grievance despite the sly amusement in her eyes. “I was afraid you didn’t really understand that junior of yours. Did you think she was just some simple, cheerful girl? Take a good look at this file first before you decide.”

“Speak properly,” Xia You muttered, flushing slightly as she glanced up at Bai Shuixi before reluctantly opening the file.

Bai Shuixi smiled faintly and turned to the bar, pouring herself a cup of hot cocoa before placing a warm glass of lemon water beside Xia You.

The file had been compiled by Bai Shuixi’s team well in advance. The first page detailed Bai Ye’s personal history, including her birthplace and the schools she had attended. The rest consisted of thorough background checks scanned original documents and photographs. Even if Bai Ye hadn’t come to pester them today, Bai Shuixi had already uncovered everything about her.

“…You actually investigated this much?” Xia You was stunned when she saw the size of the folder, unable to believe it.

“What, surprised?” Bai Shuixi smirked, settling into the single armchair in the sofa set. “The first time I saw Bai Ye, I thought she looked familiar. After looking into it, I confirmed she wasn’t as simple as she seemed. And yet, you still refused to believe me.”

Xia You opened her mouth but didn’t correct her on the term “sister.” Instead, she hesitated as she noticed the blank space under “parents” in Bai Ye’s high school records. “Does she have some unresolved issues she can’t talk about?”

Bai Shuixi glanced at the scanned document Xia You was looking at and smiled knowingly before leaning back into the sofa. “She might have some struggles, but they’re probably not what you’re imagining.”

“What do you mean?” Xia You blinked in confusion.

“Keep reading,” Bai Shuixi replied instead of answering directly, taking a sip of her hot cocoa.

Frowning slightly, Xia You turned her attention back to the tablet, her slender fingers swiping across the screen.

After scrolling past a few forms, a photograph abruptly appeared.

The scene was set in a commercial plaza of some city. The person at the center of the photo was someone Xia You knew well, but her demeanor and expression were completely unfamiliar.

In Xia You’s memory, Bai Ye was a simple, unassuming girl bright, cheerful, and sensible. Though occasionally clingy, it was never a real issue. But the young woman in this photo was the polar opposite of that impression.

Half of her youthful face was hidden behind sunglasses, her expression cold and sharp as she stood by the roadside, phone in hand. Her other hand gripped a car door.

Even though Xia You had little interest in cars, she recognized the iconic prancing horse emblem.

Xia You was startled and couldn’t help but examine the sports car’s details more closely, confirming she hadn’t mistaken it.

Didn’t Bai Ye say she was struggling financially?

Then what’s with this car?

Bai Shuixi guessed her thoughts from her expression and smiled, “This isn’t fully paid off yet.”

Xia You abruptly looked up at Bai Shuixi.

Holding her cup, Bai Shuixi gave a faint smile, her calm demeanor radiating complete confidence: “There’s more to come. Why don’t you verify further?”

With a complicated glance at Bai Shuixi, Xia You pursed her lips and hesitantly swiped through the photos.

As the images changed, an entirely unfamiliar Bai Ye appeared before her cold, dark expressions, frequenting back alleys, even participating in brawls. The terrifying ferocity in her eyes when threatening other women by their hair made Xia You’s hands tremble, nearly dropping Bai Shuixi’s tablet.

She might not be particularly afraid of people who resort to violence, but Bai Ye’s stark contrast to what she knew was utterly unexpected.

Noticing her reaction, Bai Shuixi casually smiled and leaned forward to push the lemon water toward Xia You:

“Bai Ye has changed schools frequently over the past decade. The family information section is always blank, with the emergency contact listed as someone named ‘Lin Huaizhong,’ registered as her grandfather, right?”

Xia You glanced down at the tablet, swiping lightly with her fingers, her soft voice tinged with confusion: “Yes, what about it?”

Bai Shuixi swirled her half-finished hot cocoa and said, “Actually, ‘Lin Huaizhong’ isn’t related to Bai Ye at all. He’s the old butler of the Bai family in Xiang City, having served the former chairman for decades. He’s their most reliable person for handling miscellaneous matters.”

“Miscellaneous matters?” Xia You keenly picked up on the nuance.

“Mm, miscellaneous matters,” Bai Shuixi tilted her chin slightly, effortlessly shifting topics as she reminded Xia You, “Your lemon water aren’t you going to drink it? It’s quite chilly now. After standing outside for so long, you should have something warm to avoid catching a cold.”

“Oh!” Xia You blinked, slowly pulling her attention away from Bai Ye’s affairs to pick up the glass.

Feeling the warmth of the lemon water, she belatedly recalled Bai Shuixi’s words, an inexplicable sweetness blooming in her chest as the tips of her ears turned faintly pink.

Seeing Xia You hold the cup, Bai Shuixi leaned back into the sofa and continued calmly, “Lin Huaizhong was assigned to handle Bai Ye as one of those miscellaneous matters. He’s not her relative, the reason for listing him as such is because Bai Ye’s true identity is the illegitimate daughter of the Bai family in Xiang City. Her mother is Bai Liuyue, the current chairwoman of Baizhang Group.”

Xia You looked bewildered: “So the Bai family is…”

“A catering giant in Xiang City,” Bai Shuixi smiled at Xia You’s puzzled expression. “Their holdings include ‘Weirui Manting,’ the high-end Chinese hotel chain found nationwide.”

At this, Xia You finally had some recognition: “Ah, that ridiculously expensive hotel without any star ratings.”

“Yes,” Bai Shuixi smiled slightly, agreeing, “That’s the ‘ridiculously expensive’ hotel. Although Bai Liuyue’s methods might be questionable, she’s indeed formidable in business. Under her leadership, the market value of Bai Zhang Group multiplied several times.”

Xia You glanced at Bai Shuixi’s smiling expression and suddenly felt a little embarrassed.

Bai Shuixi was a genuine ultra-rich heiress, never bothering to check prices when shopping. For her, not booking an entire store while shopping was already an act of blending in with ordinary people. To her, the distinction between hotels was likely just ‘expensive with good service’ versus ‘expensive with poor service.’

But… it was kind of cute when Bai Shuixi said things like that occasionally.

Xia You took a small sip of the lemon water in her glass. “If she’s her biological daughter, why did they have the butler pose as Bai Ye’s grandfather?”

“Because the Bai family never intended to acknowledge Bai Ye’s identity,” Bai Shuixi lowered her gaze to the table, speaking thoughtfully. “Bai Ye’s blood relation to Bai Liuyue is undeniable, but Bai Liuyue and her wife seemed wary of her. All these years, they never once mentioned bringing Bai Ye back into the family. They only gave her their surname but refused to recognize her as one of them. To conceal Bai Ye’s existence and prevent her from being associated with the Bai family, Bai Liuyue deliberately had Lin Huaizhong act as Bai Ye’s grandfather in public, handling all matters related to her.”

“Ah!” Xia You held her cup, unsure how to react. “So the predicament you mentioned.”

“Is exactly what you see, the Bai family refuses to acknowledge her, offering only limited support,” Bai Shuixi glanced at Bai Ye’s photo on the tablet. “Rather than saying her struggle is being alone without family, it’s more accurate to say her inner demon is her inability to return to the Bai family.”

Though Bai Ye did eventually force the Bai family to recognize her.

…By systematically framing several of her older siblings.

Bai Shuixi silently added this in her mind.

Originally, Bai Ye was supposed to appear after being acknowledged by Bai Liuyue, officially returning to the Bai family as a candidate for the next heir. By then, Xia You would have been pushed to the brink of a breakdown by the original owner, and Bai Ye’s newfound power would have arrived just in time to help.

But now, Bai Ye had clearly appeared prematurely, still an illegitimate daughter with ambition but no means, unrecognized by her family.

And Xia You had no need for help at all.

How abrupt.

Xia You, however, wasn’t thinking about that. What angered her was something else:

“So she’s been lying to me all along? Not a single word of truth?”

Unwilling to believe it, Xia You flipped through the files on the tablet again, as if searching for traces of the bright, sincere Bai Ye she once knew in the details.

Noticing Xia You’s expression, Bai Shuixi set down her mug.

The heavy base made a soft ‘clink’ against the coffee table as Bai Shuixi pulled out a thin sheet of paper and handed it to Xia You. “She’s probably deceived you about more than just that. Why don’t you take a look at this?”

Xia You froze for a moment before accepting it. “What is this?”

“The lease agreement,” Bai Shuixi said nonchalantly, “was signed just yesterday. Bai Ye rented an apartment in another unit of this complex. Which means she’s now a resident here and has no reason to wait outside.”

Xia You stared at the two sheets of paper, stunned for a moment, then looked up at Bai Shuixi. “How did you get this lease contract?”

“Oh, this property was originally developed by my family. I just had a word with the property management this afternoon,” Bai Shuixi replied casually.

Xia You was silent for a while, glancing between Bai Shuixi and the lease in her hands. “Your family’s?”

“Well, my family, the Bai Group,” Bai Shuixi corrected herself mid-sentence, “was quite invested in real estate before shifting focus. We still hold a few plots of land.”

“So she had a place to go all along. And yet she—!” Xia You’s chest heaved as her gaze fell on the tenant’s signature clear as day, it read ‘Bai Ye.’

Back when they were both in the student council, Xia You had handled numerous documents with Bai Ye. She recognized her handwriting.

There was no mistaking it, this was Bai Ye’s own signature.

She had an apartment but pretended to be locked out, standing pitifully outside. She came from a wealthy family with luxury cars but lied about being broke, insisting on sharing meals and even knocking on Xia You’s door late at night.

Xia You closed her eyes, recalling one incident after another, feeling deeply deceived.

“She might be trying to pursue you,” Bai Shuixi added calmly, twisting the knife. “Now that she’s rented a place here, she’ll probably show up often.”

“What should I do?” Xia You blurted out without hesitation.

“Hmm?” Bai Shuixi was taken aback. “You don’t like her?”

“I don’t feel that way about her, and I don’t like being lied to,” Xia You said, lowering her eyes, her expression still serious. “Using affection as an excuse for deception is just hypocritical.”

Deception…

Bai Shuixi suddenly recalled the undisclosed incident at the banquet.

She had thought Shen Yan Xin might slip up, and Xia You would inevitably get angry which was why she’d warned Xia You beforehand to wait for her explanation if anything happened.

Unexpectedly, Shen Yan Xin hadn’t spilled the beans, and Xia You seemed to have forgotten about it. Afterward, Bai Shuixi had no intention of bringing it up again, knowing full well it would lead to an argument.

Feeling a twinge of guilt, Bai Shuixi averted her gaze and coughed lightly. “If you really don’t want to deal with Bai Ye, there is a way.”

“What way?” Xia You frowned, turning to her.

“Let her know you’re in a relationship,” Bai Shuixi said with a shrug. “No matter how much she wants you, seeing you being affectionate with someone else will make her back off eventually. Besides, wouldn’t she have to consider your partner? Oh, and speaking of which your pretend partner should ideally be someone unafraid of a wealthy, privileged heir.”

Xia You: “……”

Xia You silently assessed her social circle and realized there was only one suitable candidate left.

Bai Shuixi smiled leisurely at her.

Xia You: “……”

Xia You: “Then, would you be willing to pretend to be my partner?”

Bai Shuixi was taken aback by her question, then burst into laughter, her usually indifferent eyes crinkling at the corners: “Sister, you’re with me every day. Shouldn’t you know whether I’m free or not?”

Xia You felt embarrassed by her teasing and snapped in frustration: “So are you agreeing or not?!”

“Of course I agree,” Bai Shuixi answered without hesitation, wiping tears from the corners of her eyes, “but I have conditions.”

Xia You froze, dumbfounded, and asked: “What conditions?”

“I want physical affection,” Bai Shuixi’s expression suddenly turned serious, her dark pupils reflecting Xia You’s image as she crooked a slender finger toward her.

“After all, I’m the CEO of a top-tier film production company with billions in family assets waiting to be inherited. If I’m spending my time acting with you, I deserve some compensation, don’t I?”

Xia You’s face instantly burned crimson, as if the temperature in Bai Shuixi’s living room had skyrocketed, steaming her alive.

But instead of refusing in flustered anger and storming out as Bai Shuixi expected, she clenched her skirt and forced herself to ask calmly: “What kind of affection do you want?”

Bai Shuixi raised an eyebrow in surprise, studying Xia You with amusement before testing the waters: “How about kissing and hugging? Would that be acceptable?”

“Kiss!” Xia You was still shocked by Bai Shuixi’s boldness, staring at her speechlessly.

“Fine, fine, we’ll stop at French kissing. That should be okay, right?” Bai Shuixi deliberately teased, putting on an exaggerated look of compromise while making an even more outrageous demand.

She fully expected Xia You to refuse, but after a moment of silence, Xia You actually agreed.

“You’re really okay with this?”

Now it was Bai Shuixi’s turn to be surprised.

“Mhm,” Xia You nodded, lifting her gaze to meet Bai Shuixi’s. Despite still clutching her skirt, her expression was resolute. “It’s just kissing and hugging. I accept.”

Bai Shuixi studied Xia You’s expression and sighed inwardly.

She must really hate Bai Ye… to go this far just to get away from her. Compared to Bai Ye’s obsessive, twisted feelings, this was almost laughable.

With a mental ‘tsk,’ Bai Shuixi smiled playfully and said: “Well, since you agreed, then I’ll—”

Mid-sentence, she noticed Xia You’s hands trembling slightly on her lap and paused before smoothly changing course: ” then you should move your things in. Real couples don’t live separately.”

“Move what?!” Xia You startled. “Didn’t you say we’d stop at at French kissing?”

Her voice dropped to a whisper on the last two words, as if too embarrassed to say them aloud.

“Relax, nothing will happen,” Bai Shuixi shrugged nonchalantly, gesturing behind her. “You can pick either guest room. Consider tonight a free trial, I won’t make you kiss me.”

“Oh!” Xia You lowered her head, her tone oddly disappointed.

“Unless you want to wear my pajamas? Then you wouldn’t need to bring anything. I have everything here.” Bai Shuixi smirked.

Xia You immediately stood and headed for the entryway: “I’ll go get my pajamas!”

Bai Shuixi chuckled but didn’t stop her, instead picking up her phone and opening a long-silent chat with a contact she’d added ages ago.

X: [Online]

The blond guy with a literary-looking profile picture and a refined username, who was anything but decent replied instantly: [What can I do for you, boss?]

X: [You know this person, right? [Image]]

Bai Shuixi casually sent over a photo of Bai Ye, planning to keep him busy for now. This guy might still be useful later after all, he was one of the culprits who had forced Xia You into her heat cycle prematurely.

But Fang Shangzhe’s reply immediately struck her as odd.

Fang Shangzhe: […]
Fang Shangzhe: [Well,  I do know her. What do you need?]

Bai Shuixi hesitated, instinctively growing wary. She decided to take a roundabout approach and replied: [Keep an eye on her. Report any movements to me. If the person she’s pursuing makes any new moves, let me know too. Don’t worry about Bai Corporation.]

Bai Ye had plenty of enemies, the most obvious being her half-siblings. Her desperate attempts to return to the Bai family were no secret to them they were the ones who truly wished she’d fall and never get back up.

Fang Shangzhe: [I can do that but, boss, mind telling me who you are?]

Without missing a beat, Bai Shuixi replied: [None of your concern. Just do your job. Money isn’t an issue.]

With that, she casually transferred 20,000 yuan to Fang Shangzhe, adding two words: ‘Deposit.’

Fang Shangzhe happily accepted the money and cheerfully responded: [Don’t worry, boss! I’m known for being reliable in this business. I’ll handle it for you!]

Bai Shuixi smirked at the message before sending another one, this time attaching a photo from Shen Yanxin’s files, one of Fang Shangzhe’s company registration documents:

[Heard your company’s doing well, but the office is still a bit small. Do this right, and there’ll be rewards at the very least, you and your team can move somewhere more spacious.]

Two-faced people like him knew how to play their cards. Without a warning, he might forget his place.

Sure enough, the chat fell silent for a few seconds longer this time. When Fang Shangzhe replied again, his tone was noticeably more subdued: [Understood, boss. I’ll do my best.]

Bai Shuixi scoffed dismissively, then took screenshots of the registration documents and Fang Shangzhe’s WeChat profile before forwarding them to He Jiu: “Look into this guy and his company. The more details, the better.”

She had initially dismissed him as insignificant, but after their conversation, she couldn’t shake the suspicion that Fang Shangzhe might already be connected to someone else besides Zhou Wanwan.

Like Bai Ye.

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