Mistaken ‘O’ is a Crazy Gorgeous Boss - Chapter 43

Stories of lovers who cannot stay together always evoke regret, especially when it involves separation by life and death.

The private room fell into a brief silence, as sorrow, like a rising tide, engulfed everyone. They all felt deeply saddened for Yun Yun and Lan Yu.

After a moment of calming down, Yang Shumeng, the most unrestrained among the four, slammed the table angrily.

“That old Shen patriarch is such a huge idiot, I #@%&&@$!”

After venting, she picked up her glass of juice and downed it in one go: “Alright, I feel better now. It’s been a while since I cursed someone out like that.”

Zhou Yun sighed.

“Jade hidden, pearl concealed, even their names are so well-matched. It’s truly a pity.” Qu Zhen paused, “And that despicable old Shen patriarch, after stepping down, is she still in Haicheng?”

Jiang Cheng recounted calmly, “Four years ago, when 24-year-old Shen Yunxi took full control, the first thing she did was send the old Shen patriarch to the hospital.”

Zhou Yun: “The hospital?”

“Yes, she released the diagnosis results, the old Shen patriarch suffers from severe bipolar disorder and mental disorders, among other conditions.”

“Damn, she really is a lunatic,” Yang Shumeng couldn’t help but say, “She’s been crazy for a long time, hasn’t she? The things she did to Yun Yun are nothing like what a normal person would do. That wasn’t affection or love, it was pure possessiveness.”

“I think so too. After Yun Yun passed away, although she never remarried, her affairs outside never stopped.” Jiang Cheng paused briefly, “But my aunt said that all the people she sought out had some resemblance to Yun Yun.”

“Ugh!” Yang Shumeng slammed the table again, “She’s so disgusting and despicable. Even after Yun Yun is gone, she won’t let her rest.”

Zhou Yun’s expression darkened: “After studying law for four years, I’ve heard plenty of dirty stories about the wealthy, but I’ve never encountered anyone as foul as her. Yun Yun really had it rough.”

The phone on the side of the table lit up. Jiang Cheng glanced at the message and said softly, “Yes. Back then, I didn’t understand why Shen Yunxi did that, because I thought she should hate the old Shen patriarch. But now I think she did the right thing, after all, no one would believe the words of a madwoman.”

“So where is this crazy woman now?” Yang Shumeng asked.

Jiang Cheng refilled their glasses with juice and then shook her head: “I don’t know. After the diagnosis came out, no one knew where the old Shen patriarch ended up. Her old allies and loyal subordinates were all cleaned out by Shen Yunxi. She’s no longer the alpha who once held absolute power.”

“There have been many rumors in the circles. Some say Shen Yunxi sent her to ‘Shisha Sanatorium,’ others say she sent her abroad. No one knows for sure, but one thing’s certain, she definitely didn’t let her off easy.”

“My idol is just too amazing! She’s like the decisive female lead in a novel! She did the right thing, I support her with both hands and feet. That lunatic’s current fate is nothing but her own doing, reaping what she sowed.”

“Right,” Zhou Yun nodded, “It’d be better if she were buried.”

Qu Zhen analyzed logically, “Burying her would be a crime. It’s better to let her live a life worse than death.”

“Zhenzhen, I never thought you’d say something like that. Marriage really changes a person, our Xiao Zhen used to never talk like that, no matter how angry she got,” Yang Shumeng teased.

Seated by the window on the far right, Qu Zhen glanced sideways at the rainy scene outside. “Because she went too far.”

That was what she said, but only she knew the real reason for her answer was Shen Zhikou.

After hearing Shen Yunxi’s story, she couldn’t help but think of Shen Zhikou’s past experiences, the unfortunate childhood of being locked in a basement, the lingering effects of her family even as she grew up: her fear of the dark, debt collectors showing up at her door, and the insecure way she slept.

Her heart ached for her, and it was only natural that it did.

She couldn’t bear to imagine whether Shen Zhikou back then had also tread as carefully as Shen Yunxi, appearing just as pitiful and disheveled.

As this thought crossed her mind, Qu Zhen realized Shen Zhikou had been away from the table for quite some time. She glanced at her phone but saw no new messages. Just as she stood up to look for her, she spotted Shen Zhikou’s figure at the edge of the light.

The hazy glow enveloped her, the beauty under the lamp as pale and delicate as porcelain, her expression cool and calm as she watched them, having stood there for who knew how long.

Qu Zhen walked over and took her hand. “Sister, why didn’t you come over and sit down when you came in?”

“I just came in and was about to.”

The heavy emotions stirred by the tragic experiences of Yun Yun and her daughter quickly dissipated with Shen Zhikou’s arrival. Qu Zhen gave a sweet smile and led her back to their seats.

“Your hands are a little cold, Sister. Do you want to put on your jacket?”

“It’s fine.”

As soon as they sat down, Qu Zhen took off her knitted cardigan and draped it over Shen Zhikou’s lap, then held her hand under the table, making sure it was covered by the fabric.

“Warm them up.”

Shen Zhikou glanced at her, her gaze inscrutable as she watched the young alpha scoop up some freshly boiled shrimp for her before meticulously peeling the shells.

The other three watched their interaction with beaming smiles, clearly delighted by the scene.

Yang Shumeng picked up the interrupted conversation. “Sis Cheng, I read online that Shen Yunxi has a glandular disease. Is it because Aunt Yun has an artificial gland?”

“Most likely,” Jiang Cheng replied, picking up her chopsticks. “It’s such a twist of fate, Shen Yunxi fell ill just after taking control of the entire Shen family. The news only broke last year, and her condition isn’t just any ordinary glandular disease.”

Zhou Yun added a piece of curry chicken to Jiang Cheng’s bowl. “What is it, then?”

“I heard… it’s Hormonal Agitation Syndrome.”

Qu Zhen blinked in surprise, clearly not expecting that answer.

Yang Shumeng looked horrified. “How could that be? That disease is really tough to deal with. Oh no, does that mean this is the fourth year my idol has been suffering from it?”

“Yes. Hormonal Agitation Syndrome follows a four-year cycle. The fourth year is always the most dangerous. If she makes it through safely, she’ll likely live to see the next cycle. If not… she might not survive.”

“My idol has had such a hard life. Just when things were starting to get better, she ends up with such a severe illness. Ugh, why does she have to suffer so much despite being so strong and beautiful? It’s all that crazy woman’s fault, she really deserves to die!!!”

Zhou Yun frowned. “That’s… truly tragic. What is fate even doing?”

Qu Zhen instinctively looked at Shen Zhikou. Their eyes met, and though Qu Zhen couldn’t decipher the complex emotions swirling in her gaze, she felt immensely grateful to have met Shen Zhikou.

Grateful that in this year, the sixth year of Shen Zhikou’s illness, they had met and married. Grateful that their compatibility was as high as 99%. Grateful that she could help effectively heal her.

Her sorrow and heartache were no less intense. She deeply ached for Shen Zhikou, who had endured all these years alone, and regretted not undergoing her secondary differentiation sooner, not meeting her earlier.

“Sister,” she said.

“Hmm?”

Qu Zhen lowered her voice, firm and resolute. “I won’t let anything happen to you. I’ll always protect you.”

The scene of their parting that day remained vivid in her mind.

That day, Qu Zhen was watering the blooming flowers in the greenhouse, while she and Qin Huan sat on the woven rattan chairs outside.

Raindrops brushed past the carved lattice windows as Qin Huan gently told her, “Koukou, before Zhenzhen turned eighteen, she was much livelier than she is now. That year, when I had my accident and her grandmother passed away unexpectedly, she secretly changed her college application choices without telling us. She became quieter and quieter, sometimes even more reserved than Qu Han.”

“Zhenzhen must have told you about the situation back then. It was our fault for not taking better care of her, for letting the glass greenhouse in her heart shatter.”

Love often makes one feel a sense of indebtedness. As her mother, they knew all too well what had caused Qu Zhen’s transformation.

One relentless hardship after another, endless warnings and harassment from the perpetrators, the family’s worsening financial situation, all of it was enough to bring about a drastic change in a child who had grown up surrounded by warmth and affection.

“She’s not good at expressing herself, she’s reserved, and she has many other little flaws. But none of that changes the fact that she is a good child.” Qin Huan held her hand. “Koukou, I’m telling you this not to ask you to take extra care of her or to be more tolerant of her.”

“I just want you to know exactly what kind of person you are marrying.”

At the time, she listened quietly, suppressing the words of rebuttal in her heart. Now, hearing Qu Zhen say she would protect her, she was suddenly reminded of how Qu Zhen had been at sixteen.

Back then, the youthful girl had also spoken with the same earnest seriousness: “Sister Xiao Yu, don’t be afraid. The bad people won’t find this place. And even if they do, it’s okay, because I’ll protect you.”

After saying this, the sixteen-year-old Qu Zhen nodded seriously and repeated, “Mm, yes! As long as Sister Xiao Yu is here, I will always protect Sister Xiao Yu!”

Time passed, and the young girl of those days shed her youthful innocence, gradually maturing and growing more taciturn with the years.

But she didn’t see this as a flaw. On the contrary, she thought her little girl was utterly endearing,

Endearing when shy.

Endearing when blushing.

Endearing when calling her “sister.”

Endearing when earnestly vowing to protect her.

No matter what Qu Zhen did, she found her utterly endearing, and in her heart, the word “endearing” was associated with Qu Zhen alone.

So, when the voices from two different times overlapped, in that very moment, she desperately wanted to kiss Qu Zhen.

The Shen Yunxi of the past was skilled in restraint, pretense, and self-control, unshaken even if Mount Tai collapsed before her. But the Shen Zhikou facing Qu Zhen was different. She repeatedly broke her own rules because of her, and she savored every moment of it.

“Zhenzhen.”

“Hmm?”

“I want to go home.”

Upon hearing this, Qu Zhen, who always put Shen Zhikou first, swiftly removed her disposable gloves, made up an excuse to the other three, and prepared to take Shen Zhikou home.

“Alright then, drive safely. See you next time,” Yang Shumeng waved.

“Thank you, Sister Shen, for treating us this time. Next time, it’s on us!”

Zhou Yun handed the gifts from the three of them to Qu Zhen. “Happy marriage! See you later.”

“Thank you. Be careful on your way back, and remember to send a message in the group chat once you reach the dorm.”

“Okay.”

Qu Zhen held three gift bags in her left hand and held Shen Zhikou, who was already wearing her coat, with her right. They descended the stairs and walked to the empty, deserted underground parking garage. As soon as they got into the car and settled in, Shen Zhikou leaned over and kissed her cheek.

It was a fleeting touch.

Then, delicate kisses landed on her dimple and the corner of her lips.

“Sister.”

“Hmm?”

Qu Zhen blurted out something utterly unromantic: “Are you feeling unwell?”

Shen Zhikou abruptly changed the subject: “You’re starting your internship the day after tomorrow.”

Qu Zhen couldn’t quite follow Shen Zhikou’s train of thought and looked at her blankly.

The cramped car interior gradually filled with the scent of flowers. Shen Zhikou took a tube of lipstick from her bag, lifted Qu Zhen’s chin with her fingertip, and slowly applied it to her soft lips.

A thin layer of red added a touch of allure to Qu Zhen’s delicate features.

“It’s applied lightly, and it looks beautiful.”

Qu Zhen’s ears turned slightly red. “Thank you, sister.”

“Don’t thank me. Reciprocity is what matters.”

Taking the words at face value, Qu Zhen reached for the lipstick in Shen Zhikou’s hand, intending to apply it for her in return. But Shen Zhikou avoided her hand, her captivating eyes fixed intently on her.

As their gazes met, Qu Zhen understood her deeper meaning.

The distance between them vanished. Qu Zhen’s cheeks grew warm, and their lips met gently. The edible lipstick slowly transferred to Shen Zhikou’s lips, like a stroke of oil paint added to an ink wash painting.

The car windows were tightly shut, blocking out the outside world.

Unconsciously, their positions shifted. When they parted, Shen Zhikou was sitting on Qu Zhen’s lap, using her thumb to wipe away the lingering color from the alpha’s lips.

“Does it look good?” she asked.

In Qu Zhen’s eyes, Shen Zhikou was beautiful at all times.

“Mhm.”

“Would you like to see how it looks with a heavier application?”

The effect of light and heavy lipstick application differed greatly.

Qu Zhen hesitated for a second before nodding honestly.

“I’d like to see.”

She had assumed the Omega in her arms would let her apply the lipstick layer by layer, but reality turned out to be entirely different from her expectations.

Shen Zhikou reopened the cap, leisurely examining the foreign script on the metal lid, allowing the lipstick color to saturate her lips.

“Sister, what language is this?”

“Malagasy.” Her pronunciation was impeccable. “Ity no tavoahangin’ny kafe mahafinaritra, this is an edible coffee-flavored lipstick.”

Once applied, the thin, light red had transformed into a rich, rouge-like shade. Shen Zhikou set the lipstick tube aside, placed her hands on Qu Zhen’s shoulders, and let her right hand drift up to the edge of her scent blocker patch. Her breath was as fragrant as orchids.

“Ry malalako, azafady, mihinana ahy tsy misy fisalasalana.”

Qu Zhen’s voice was slightly hoarse. “What does that mean, sister?”

Their posture grew increasingly intimate. Shen Zhikou lifted her head to meet her gaze, her eyes shimmering slightly as the words she uttered stirred up a new storm of ambiguity.

“…My beloved, please devour me without hesitation.”