Mistaken ‘O’ is a Crazy Gorgeous Boss - Chapter 20

At least at this moment, Qu Zhen could clearly perceive that Shen Zhikou was… teasing her.

Her “little dog” was meant literally, but Shen Zhikou’s “good little dog” seemed to carry an underlying meaning. Hesitantly, she glanced at Shen Zhikou, then at the blanket in her hand, tentatively reaching out a paw to place the soft blanket back in the guest bedroom.

A smile flickered in Shen Zhikou’s eyes. “The weather on Star Island is quite nice this week. It’s fine if you don’t bring a heavy coat.”

“Alright, I’ll go pack my luggage then.”

“Mm.”

Qu Zhen scurried away faster than a rabbit. As she returned to the guest room to get her suitcase and pack her clothes, her cheeks flushed with a rosy hue.

Midway through packing, she set down the lightweight windbreaker she was holding, pulled out her phone, and opened WeChat. The group chat with her dormmates, which she had just cleared, had already accumulated over twenty new messages, including several “@all members” notifications.

[Yang Shumeng: OMG, check out this financial gossip @All Members]

[Zhou Yun: ? You’re so bored.]

[Yang Shumeng: No, no, this is about that Shen family head with the strong female lead storyline that Jiang Cheng mentioned last time.]

Qu Zhen didn’t click on the shared link. She wasn’t particularly interested in such matters and was about to exit the group chat when a new message from Jiang Cheng popped up at the bottom.

[Jiang Cheng, Blackened by Grad School Prep: This is definitely fake. My friend said Shen Yunxi once suffered a severe injury that affected her face. No one in their circles has ever seen her true appearance, so how could she be so easily photographed by the media? Besides, she’s quite principled. With the Shen family’s messy internal dynamics, she’s the only one who’s never been involved in any romantic scandals.]

[Zhou Yun: What a mysterious and formidable person.]

[Yang Shumeng: Good, I almost thought the strong female lead had been body-snatched.]

[Jiang Cheng, Blackened by Grad School Prep: Exactly. These media outlets are so unethical, spreading rumors without verification.]

After reading all the messages, even Qu Zhen, who had little interest in wealthy family gossip, silently sent a thumbs-up emoji.

Exiting the group chat, she clicked on Z’s profile picture and repeatedly typed and deleted messages in the chat box without sending a single one.

Qu Zhen pursed her lips and finally decided to seek help on the most popular community forum, as this was a problem even the book The Laws of Love and the Treasures of Marriage couldn’t solve.

After downloading the “Society” app, she skipped registration and chose to post as a guest.

[rabbit: After getting married, why does my wife always tease me? QAQ]

The relationship forum was quite active at this hour, and comments flooded in like a tidal wave as soon as the post went live.

[1L: What kind of question is this? I just got scolded by my boss and can’t stand people flaunting their love lives.]

[2L: No doubt about it, this means she really likes you.]

[9L: What kind of teasing are we talking about? This needs to be analyzed case by case. If she’s teasing you into robbing a bank, that’s a different story.]

Qu Zhen wasn’t sure what kind of teasing this fell under either. She could only vaguely sense that it seemed within controllable limits and was likely the kind of teasing that wouldn’t harm the healthy development of their marriage.

With utmost seriousness, she began detailing their marital situation, hoping to receive some helpful responses.

[rabbit: We got married because of an accident, with basically no emotional foundation. But my wife is really wonderful. I’m posting because we were discussing something earlier. I had asked her if she likes puppies, and she didn’t answer at the time. But during our discussion, she suddenly told me she likes obedient, well-behaved puppies O///O]

[23L: Say no more, go fight it out in bed (rose.jpg)]

[24L: I’m shipping it. I love the dynamic of the dominant woman and the loyal guy.]

[25L: This kind of teasing after marriage is definitely because she has strong feelings for you. She’s hinting at you, don’t hesitate, just go for it.]

[26L: Love hearing this, tell us more.]

[39L: Friend, instead of asking us here, I think you should just ask her directly! After all, you’re married, there’s no relationship closer than that.]

[40L: It’s obvious the OP has little dating experience. The reasoning is simple… she likes you.]

After skimming through the comments, Qu Zhen felt she wasn’t quite on the same wavelength as the netizens. She and Shen Zhikou had only known each other for two weeks, how could Shen Zhikou already like her that much?

Moreover, Shen Zhikou, who was six years older than her, was so wonderful and outstanding. The people around her must be equally exceptional. In comparison, Qu Zhen felt her own competitiveness was really low.

So, how could it be about liking her? At most, it was just the influence of pheromones during the temporary marking period.

The more Qu Zhen thought about it, the more she felt her reasoning was correct. Seeing more and more netizens bumping the thread, she expressed her gratitude in the comments and then deleted the post.

In the era of big data, similar posts on forums were countless, and deleting it abruptly didn’t cause any ripples.

Setting her phone aside to charge, Qu Zhen focused wholeheartedly on packing her luggage, making sure not to leave anything out. After finishing that part, she went to the kitchen to prepare lunch before knocking on the master bedroom door.

She still wasn’t very used to it. Even though she had essentially moved into the master bedroom, she still politely knocked before entering.

Soon, the ivory-white door opened from the inside, revealing a face as exquisite as a distant mountain lotus.

No matter how many times she saw it, whenever their eyes met suddenly, Qu Zhen was always stunned by Shen Zhikou’s beauty. She didn’t really follow celebrities, but she knew that in the entertainment industry, when describing someone excessively beautiful, they often used the phrase “Nuwa’s show-off piece.”

She felt Shen Zhikou was exactly like that.

Although she knew that S-class Omegas and Alphas tended to have more outstanding appearances, she often felt that Shen Zhikou seemed to be from a different dimension. Every line and curve of Shen Zhikou’s features was so perfect, like a snow mountain goddess who had stepped out of a manga.

Just one glance back was enough to make someone feel ashamed of their own inadequacies.

So, she couldn’t even imagine Shen Zhikou liking her as much as the netizens claimed.

“What’s wrong?” The young Alpha in front of her was clearly dazed. Shen Zhikou waved a hand in front of her. “What are you thinking about?”

Snapping out of her daze, Qu Zhen embarrassedly averted her gaze. “Sorry, I was spacing out.”

“No need to apologize,” Shen Zhikou said naturally. “Let’s go eat. After that, we should get going.”

“Mm-hmm.”

Qu Zhen followed closely behind Shen Zhikou, her gaze drifting from the swan-like neck down inch by inch, shoulders as if carved, slender and delicate, a waist so fine it seemed it could be held in one hand, and the ankles revealed beneath the black skirt still bore marks from being restrained the previous night.

She forced herself to look away, not even daring to sit opposite Shen Zhikou to meet her gaze. Instead, she chose to sit on the right side and serve her rice.

The meal proceeded in silence, with neither of them initiating conversation.

It wasn’t until they were nearly finished that Shen Zhikou spoke up: “Remember to wear your wedding ring when traveling. You can do as you please at other times.”

On her ring finger gleamed the custom-made diamond ring, elegant and luxurious, strikingly conspicuous, clearly signaling that she was married.

In the early morning when she received the gift, Qu Zhen had asked how much the ring and necklace cost. Shen Zhikou had replied that they were custom-made by an acquaintance and relatively inexpensive, without specifying the exact price.

Qu Zhen knew nothing about luxury goods. She only recognized the letters inside the ring, her own and Shen Zhikou’s names but had no idea about the logo at the end.

Hearing Shen Zhikou mention this, she nodded in agreement. “Alright, I’ll put it on in a moment.”

“Mm.”

Qu Zhen finished her last sip of soup. “Sister, let me drive later. I got my driver’s license in my third year of college. It’s a three-hour drive from Haicheng to Star Island. You… worked hard last night. Let me handle it.”

Shen Zhikou rarely refused her requests. “Alright, you drive for two hours, then I’ll take over.”

“Okay!”

After finishing lunch and tidying up the living room, Qu Zhen went into the room to put on her wedding ring. Then, the two closed the front door and took the elevator downstairs.

…

Star Island was located due north of Haicheng, in the complete opposite direction of Mingqiu County.

The rather ordinary black car moved steadily along the road. Just half an hour after setting off, Qu Zhen received a video call from Qin Huan.

As she was driving, Shen Zhikou, sitting beside her, answered the call. When Qin Huan saw it was Shen Zhikou, her smile was unstoppable. Initially, Qu Zhen had worried that Shen Zhikou’s reserved nature might make her uncomfortable with handling questions from elders.

But after listening to their ensuing conversation, Qu Zhen realized she had overthought it.

Shen Zhikou remained patient and polite throughout, even more gentle than usual. The ice in her beautiful eyes seemed to melt into spring warmth. By the end of the video call, she had even made plans with Qin Huan to meet the following week.

“Sister.”

“Hmm?”

“Snacks, water, and a blanket are all on your side. If you feel tired, just rest. I can drive for three hours without any problem.”

Shen Zhikou’s tone was as if she were speaking to a child. “So capable.”

Qu Zhen suddenly recalled how, during her drunken state the previous night, Shen Zhikou had spoken to her in the same way, her eyes soft as water, holding her by the waist, trapped between her legs, allowing her to take whatever she wanted.

She had tried hard to forget the events of the previous night, but the more she tried, the more they lingered. Moreover, she was still within the influence period of the temporary mark. Whenever she caught even a faint whiff of Shen Zhikou’s lily of the valley scent, those two intimate memories would uncontrollably surface in her mind.

“J-Just average,” Qu Zhen replied. “Sister, you’re the capable one.”

“There are children playing with fireworks ahead.”

They had taken a suburban shortcut where firework regulations were not as strict as in the city. Two children, who looked like they were still in elementary school, were walking while playing with old-fashioned sparklers.

“Sister, last year I watched a fireworks display at Shengyue Beach. It was incredibly beautiful.”

It happened to be her birthday that day. Shengyue Beach was on her way back to campus after her part-time job. When she finished work at 10 p.m. and headed back, the beach was nearly deserted. She hadn’t planned to linger and was about to quicken her pace when the sky…

The night sky was illuminated by the colorful fireworks in the wind, countless fiery trees and silver blossoms bloomed, merging with the cold moonlight to create a vibrant scene in the mortal world.

She stood there in a daze, only snapping out of it after watching the last embers fade away, wanting to capture this moment.

The next day at work, she overheard her colleagues discussing it and learned that someone had spent a fortune to set off those fireworks for someone else, romantic and dazzling.

“Is that so?” Shen Zhikou asked calmly. “Did you like it?”

Qu Zhen, unaware of anything unusual, nodded happily. “Yes, I did. When I was little, I used to pester my family to set off fireworks during the New Year. Once, I even caught a cold from playing outside for too long.”

“I like them too. Let’s set some off together this year.”

“Of course,” Qu Zhen smiled. “We’ll set them off together.”

“Mhm.”

Melodious music flowed through the cramped car interior. Qu Zhen kept her eyes fixed ahead, never glancing to the side, so she didn’t notice the person beside her watching her all along.

Just like countless times before, one of them was in the light, the other in the shadows. Perhaps they were never far apart, but they had never truly met.

…

At 5:30 p.m., the car arrived punctually at Star Island.

Shen Zhikou had dozed off for twenty minutes during the journey. When it was time to complete the vehicle entry procedures, Qu Zhen got out of the car with her.

Many tourists were also waiting to complete the formalities. Even though Shen Zhikou had put on a mask before stepping out, Qu Zhen could still feel numerous gazes seemingly casually glancing her way.

Qu Zhen moved to shield Shen Zhikou, blocking most of those looks.

The tall alpha stood protectively by the Omega’s side. Many noticed the wedding rings on their fingers and quickly averted their eyes. However, a few tactless individuals continued to stare at Shen Zhikou as she filled out the application form.

This made Qu Zhen frown slightly. She met the gaze of a burlier alpha than herself without a hint of fear.

Qu Zhen couldn’t quite explain what she was feeling at that moment. Perhaps the effects of the temporary mark were too strong, but those lingering stares disgusted her. Surprised by her own possessiveness toward the Omega beside her, she felt a wave of astonishment.

Her method gradually worked. After meeting her gaze, those alphas looked away and didn’t glance back.

Qu Zhen breathed a sigh of relief but didn’t move an inch, standing guard over Shen Zhikou like a knight.

Soon, the application form was stamped and approved, and they continued driving into the island. Their reserved hotel was still five kilometers away. Shen Zhikou and Qu Zhen switched seats, and Shen Zhikou returned to the driver’s seat.

“Are you hungry?”

Qu Zhen shook her head. “No. What about you, sister?”

“Same here,” Shen Zhikou said, eyes on the road. “Thank you for earlier.”

A blush spread across Qu Zhen’s fair cheeks. She hadn’t expected Shen Zhikou to notice her actions and felt suddenly shy. She wanted to explain but felt it was something she, as an alpha, ought to do, any explanation would only make it more obvious.

Besides, after spending so much time together, her threshold for embarrassment had risen somewhat. So, even though she felt shy, she didn’t stumble over her words and even dared to look at Shen Zhikou.

“No need to thank me,” she said softly. “Sister, it’s what I should do.”

Shen Zhikou was amused by her words. “Mhm. On the way here, I kept thinking about how to define our relationship now.”

“As lovers.”

“That’s true. But we lack an emotional foundation. Compared to couples who come together through love, it always feels like we’re missing something.”

Qu Zhen had actually noticed this issue too. The step they had skipped resulted in constant awkwardness and unfamiliarity in their interactions. This also led her to envision their marriage as one of mutual respect, where duty and obligation far outweighed emotion.

So, she didn’t even understand why Shen Zhikou would “tease” her.

“Then what should we do?” Qu Zhen stared blankly at Shen Zhikou. “Sister, I don’t know what to do.”

The car fell into silence again. After a while, when the navigation showed they were three kilometers from the hotel, Shen Zhikou spoke: “Then, do you want to try dating?”

Qu Zhen widened her eyes: “Dating?”

“Mm, that’s the step we’re missing.” Shen Zhikou said leisurely, “Besides, isn’t it trendy among you young people to have things like marriage before love, sharing a bed but dreaming different dreams, or separate-room marriages?”

Hearing “separate-room marriage,” Qu Zhen guessed the person beside her was also subtly referring to her moving rooms that morning. Her face flushed even redder as she replied honestly, “I don’t know.”

Outside the window, the scenery was beautiful clusters of flowers bloomed brilliantly, and the radiant glow of sunset spilled across the mountains and rivers like a golden ship.

The car window was half-open, and the evening breeze drifted in gently. The composed hunter didn’t reel in the trapped prey but let it move freely until it willingly gave up struggling.

“But… we could give it a try,” Qu Zhen said, suppressing her embarrassment.

She hadn’t expected Shen Zhikou to ask this. Before marriage, she had focused more on learning the secrets and techniques of maintaining a marriage, rarely flipping through the dating guide sections. After agreeing to Shen Zhikou ‘s suggestion, she began regretting not having studied both, as now she would have to cram late into the night again.

“Atty. Xiao Zhen, you need to think it through clearly,” Shen Zhikou explained. “When I say try dating, I don’t mean just going through the motions. I mean dating with sincerity, dating that requires us to give our true hearts to each other.”

Qu Zhen blinked in astonishment. If she understood correctly, this meant she would have to fall for Shen Zhikou, and Shen Zhikou would have to fall for her too.

Just that morning, she had inwardly dismissed the forum netizens’ comments, convinced that Shen Zhikou couldn’t possibly like her. Yet now, barely half a day later, Shen Zhikou was asking if she was willing to give it a try?

She found it incredible.

At the same time, it felt a bit unbelievable.

Did the marriage-before-love novels Yang Shumeng read have plots like this? Qu Zhen wondered in a daze.

While she was still lost in overwhelming surprise, Shen Zhikou asked, word by word, “Now, are you still willing?”

Back when she was dating Su Qi, Qu Zhen had thought she felt a vague fondness for her. But after spending time with Shen Zhikou, she was no longer sure if that feeling had been real.

Maybe… it hadn’t been.

Otherwise, why had she rarely taken the initiative to contact Su Qi during their relationship? Why hadn’t she felt happy receiving messages from her? Why had even holding hands felt forced? And why had she felt almost no emotional fluctuation after their breakup?

Maybe… she had been mistaken.

Her mind in turmoil, Qu Zhen felt as if she had sunk to the bottom of an abyssal ocean. She couldn’t find her way and was on the verge of losing herself when a lily of the valley guided her back to shore.

So, when the car was 500 meters away from their destination, Qu Zhen gave her answer.

“I’m willing.”

…

The Xiya Hotel was the only four-star hotel on Star Island.

Shen Zhikou had booked a small suite. After getting their room key and taking the elevator to the sixth floor, they stepped into a long corridor adorned with landscape paintings. Qu Zhen took Shen Zhikou’s suitcase, effortlessly pulling both suitcases by herself.

The suite was decorated simply yet luxuriously. Qu Zhen placed the suitcases to the right of the entrance and habitually checked the room for hidden cameras.

Back in her sophomore year, her dormmates had taken a trip to a nearby city during the holidays. After a long day of sightseeing, the three of them collapsed onto the soft bed, exhausted, only Qu Zhen had persistently inspected every corner of the room.

As it turned out, caution was always wise. Behind the decorative wall clock on the bedside table, she had discovered a hidden camera.

So, even though she knew this was a reputable four-star hotel, Qu Zhen still didn’t feel comfortable settling in without taking precautions. Only after thoroughly checking every inch of the suite and confirming it was safe did she finally relax.

After unpacking, the two prepared to go out for dinner. In the elevator on their way down, aside from them, there was also a female alpha with her child.

The child, who looked about five years old, was holding a small insulated cup. Qu Zhen noticed the child fiddling with the lid and was just about to remind the alpha mother when the loose lid suddenly fell off with a clatter. As hot water spilled out and was about to scald the child, the child instinctively let go of the cup.

Hot water splashed everywhere, and Shen Zhikou, who happened to be crouching down to pick up the room key, had her hands drenched in the spill.

Qu Zhen’s pupils contracted sharply, her heart skipping a beat. As soon as she processed what had happened, she rushed to check Shen Zhikou’s injuries. The elevator dinged as it reached the first floor, and hotel staff quickly escorted them to the restroom to rinse the burns with cold water as an emergency measure.

The alpha mother and her child followed closely, but Qu Zhen’s attention was entirely focused on Shen Zhikou.

After rinsing and treating the burns at the hospital, the doctor prescribed iodine for disinfection and fusidic acid cream for application. Even though Shen Zhikou kept insisting she was fine and it didn’t hurt, Qu Zhen was still filled with worry and guilt.

The female alpha covered the medical expenses and apologized profusely to both of them, also making her child apologize to Shen Zhikou.

Shen Zhikou shook her head and said it was fine. After softly comforting the tearful, red-faced child who clearly understood they had done something wrong, she and Qu Zhen left the hospital.

“Really, it’s nothing. The water wasn’t that hot, and it feels much better after applying the medicine.”

Qu Zhen replied, “It’s all my fault. I should have reminded her earlier.”

“It’s okay. The doctor said it’ll heal in a week, it’s just a bit inconvenient for now.” Shen Zhikou paused. “I might have to trouble you these next few days.”

“It’s no trouble at all. I’ll do anything for you, sis.”

The incident had dampened their mood for sightseeing. Qu Zhen ordered dinner on her phone, and the two returned to the hotel.

When the takeout arrived, Qu Zhen, still feeling guilty, offered to feed Shen Zhikou.

Shen Zhikou refused. Qu Zhen’s ears drooped, her helpless expression truly resembling a Samoyed gazing pitifully at its owner.

“Eating isn’t something you need to help me with.”

Qu Zhen responded dejectedly, “Okay.”

With both of her hands wrapped in bandages, Shen Zhikou finished her small bowl of rice and set down her chopsticks, looking directly at the puppy-eyed girl staring intently at her.

Her long hair cascaded softly, revealing her elegant, jade-like neck. She asked, “Are you busy right now?”

The dog wagged its tail: “No rush!”

“Could you help me-”

Before she could finish her sentence, Qu Zhen suddenly stood up: “It’s no trouble at all, sis. What would you like me to do?”

This matter made Shen Zhikou feel a bit embarrassed too. She walked over to the tall alpha and said softly, “After the car ride and the hospital visit, I’m not feeling well. I really want to take a bath.”

A voice like the sound of ice cracking and jade clinking fell beside her ear: “Zhenzhen, can you help me?”