Mistaken ‘O’ is a Crazy Gorgeous Boss - Chapter 60

The door was opened for a moment before being swiftly closed again by the invading Omega.

The gift bag held loosely in her fingertips slipped to the floor. Qu Zhen stood frozen, allowing the Omega to hold her tightly. The arm wrapped around her waist tightened with increasing force, as if trying to imprint the warmth of this embrace deep into her soul.

After returning the embrace with equal intensity, Qu Zhen asked worriedly, “Sister, are you feeling unwell?”

“Hmm.” Shen Zhikou’s voice was soft. “Good Zhenzhen, let me hold you for a while.”

“Okay.”

Shen Zhikou rested her head against Qu Zhen’s neck and shoulder, then slowly lowered it further, listening to the heartbeat in the Alpha’s chest. She closed her eyes and listened for a long while before parting her lips to make her next request.

“Zhenzhen, carry me to the sofa.”

After her secondary differentiation, Qu Zhen had grown a bit taller and could easily carry Shen Zhikou to the sofa. Though it felt more like she was sitting on the sofa with Shen Zhikou nestled between her legs.

Neither of them let go of the other. Just as Qu Zhen lowered her head to ask about the person in her arms, Shen Zhikou covered her eyes first and then kissed her.

Her vision narrowed and darkened.

Yet this kiss was more lingering and possessive than any before. Qu Zhen’s tongue was entwined, her cheeks flushed with warmth, and her breath no longer felt like her own.

The passage of time was marked by the thinning air in her chest and the growing dizziness in her head.

All the techniques Qu Zhen had learned were once again forgotten. Her long, delicate eyelashes brushed repeatedly against Shen Zhikou’s palm, like a butterfly caught in a woven web. Just as her consciousness grew increasingly hazy, Shen Zhikou pulled away, releasing her from the restraint.

Qu Zhen’s breathing was extremely unsteady. “Sister.”

Shen Zhikou’s eyes were deep and intense, the thin lenses barely able to conceal the surging affection within. She leaned in slightly, pecked the corner of her Alpha’s lips, and then issued her next instruction.

“Help me take off my glasses.” She kissed her again, even giving a light nip to the Alpha’s fair chin, leaving no mark but conveying a silent expression. She whispered, “Wife.”

“O-okay.”

Perched on the bridge of her delicate nose was a pair of silver-rimmed glasses. Qu Zhen gently helped the person in her arms remove them, placed the glasses on the table, and then intertwined her fingers with the Omega’s, initiating an intimate kiss.

She knew her Omega was experiencing an episode of hormonal agitation syndrome. She also knew she had to take the initiative to embrace, kiss, and soothe her.

After planting soft kisses on the Omega’s cheeks, she was about to kiss her rosy lips when the person in her arms beat her to it once again.

This time, Shen Zhikou did not cover her eyes. Instead, she gazed intently at Qu Zhen’s expression with her captivating, peach-blossom eyes. Seeing the blush spread across Qu Zhen’s cheeks, she turned aside to nibble on the Alpha’s earlobe and whispered very softly.

“I want my wife… to touch me.”

The hyacinth fragrance wafting in the air paused for a moment. Qu Zhen’s hand was guided by the Omega to her waist and abdomen, pressing against her smooth, jade-like skin through the fabric of her shirt.

It was undeniable, her sister, her wife, her beloved, truly resembled a little cat, a soft, coquettish little cat. And she truly adored her little cat, bowing to her whims and willing to offer her the very best of everything.

The little cat in her arms nuzzled incessantly against her neck and shoulders, even lifting a hand to press near the gland at the nape of her neck, fingertips lightly brushing the edge of the scent-blocking patch, until the buttons were undone one by one.

It was still the method of unfastening from the bottom up that she loved so much.

The sounds escaping the Omega were perhaps even softer and warmer than a kitten’s. Her eyes grew increasingly hazy under the Alpha’s movements. Her fingers ceased their mischief at the back of her neck, instead gripping the Alpha’s shoulders with a bit more force as she turned her head to kiss the Alpha’s lips.

Their lips and tongues were as warm as the spring tide.

The concentration of pheromones in the room rose to a dangerously high threshold before gradually subsiding, fading gently along with the scent of lily of the valley. Shen Zhikou’s rationality returned amid the Alpha’s kisses. She touched the Alpha’s right hand, which was wrapped around her waist, as if giving a silent signal.

Qu Zhen quickly understood. With reddened ears, she asked, “Sister, are you feeling better now?”

“Mm,” Shen Zhikou replied. “Did I scare you earlier?”

In every previous episode of her condition, she had managed to restrain and endure, burying herself in the icy cold of a frigid spring. But now, with their 99% compatibility and after repeated temporary markings, facing Qu Zhen seemed to lower her tolerance. In her dazed state, even she couldn’t guarantee her actions wouldn’t stray from the norm.

“No,” Qu Zhen kissed her cheek and gazed at her tenderly. “The little cat is so adorable.”

Perhaps it was a kind of contagious affection, but Shen Zhikou’s ears also took on a faint blush. She felt the term had nothing to do with her, yet she couldn’t bring herself to say no to the puppy-eyed gaze shining so brightly. So, she took Qu Zhen’s hand and gestured for her to fasten the undone buttons on her blouse and the inner clasps of her undergarments.

Qu Zhen seemed to have a natural talent for this.

It wasn’t until after dinner that Shen Zhikou remembered the gift left in the entryway. Carrying the paper bag, she walked over to Qu Zhen, who had just emerged from the kitchen, and simply stood there, wide-eyed and silent.

Qu Zhen asked, “Is this something you brought back from your friend’s place?”

“Mm. Open it and see.”

A sudden premonition stirred in Qu Zhen, filling her with excitement.

She looked joyfully at Shen Zhikou and kissed her right cheek. “The magical little cat is just too adorable.”

The magical little cat always seemed to know what she wanted to do, what she desired, what she wished to achieve. And every time, the magical little cat would make her wishes come true.

As she unwrapped the gift and saw the exquisite wristwatch inside, just as she was about to praise the magical little cat again, the little cat covered her lips preemptively.

“First, tell me, do you like it?”

Qu Zhen nodded vigorously.

“Do you like the watch,” Shen Zhikou teased her deliberately, “or… do you like me?”

Qu Zhen kissed her palm, and the answer was self-evident.

Earlier, she had casually mentioned to Shen Zhikou that with so many department meetings, she sometimes didn’t bring her phone, and having a watch would be more convenient. She had browsed online herself, but the styles she liked were a bit beyond her budget, so she had tucked the thought away in her heart.

After all, it wasn’t a necessity, just remembering to bring her phone was enough, and there was a wall clock in the meeting room. Yet, even her offhand remark had been firmly lodged in Shen Zhikou’s memory.

She held Shen Zhikou’s hand, her voice brimming with affection. “I love you, sister, and thank you.”

Inside the gift box was a rose-gold starry night wristwatch. On its silver dial, aside from the hour markers, one could make out the English letters of Qu Zhen’s name intricately engraved upon closer inspection. The built-in starry sky pattern was dotted with stars, shifting and changing with the passage of time.

Qu Zhen gazed intently at Shen Zhikou, then extended her hand toward her, like a little puppy sticking out its paw to beg for attention.

“Sister, help me put it on.”

Just as she expected, Shen Zhikou took the wristwatch out of the box, lowered her head, and fastened it around Qu Zhen’s wrist.

Her soft, feathery hair brushed against Qu Zhen’s elbow, and Qu Zhen could no longer suppress the curve of her lips. Her almond-shaped eyes crinkled into crescents, and the small dimple on her right cheek deepened.

As the books said, appropriate, gentle pleas could indeed play a role in advancing a relationship, she thought.

The starry night wristwatch began to tick after Shen Zhikou adjusted it. Finally, she pinched Qu Zhen’s cheek, her tone laced with a hint of teasing.

“Did you study a guide on how to act cute today?”

Qu Zhen simply smiled and leaned in to kiss her again. Perhaps the atmosphere was too sweet, or the watch gleamed even more brilliantly under the shifting light, but she couldn’t help asking, “Sister, how much did this watch cost?”

Shen Zhikou replied, “A colleague helped buy it while on a business trip. It wasn’t expensive. Since you’ve handed all your cards over to me, even if it were pricey, it would be justified.”

Qu Zhen, easily coaxed into a daze, needed no deception. She would never know that this custom-made watch cost a seven-figure sum, nor would she uncover its other secrets. She was like a lamb in a wolf’s den, mistaking the well-disguised lone wolf for one of her own, instinctively overlooking its sharp fangs and claws.

Young, naive, and innocent.

She perfectly met a hunter’s criteria for prey.

Bringing up the topic, Qu Zhen straightened up with a serious expression. “It’s only right for you to handle the finances. Spend however you like.”

She would restrain her own spending, but she would never restrict Shen Zhikou. In fact, she often felt guilty for not giving her beloved the very best of everything.

“Sister, I’ve made up my mind to apply for the mobile assistant position at the Archaeological Research Center.” Her eyes sparkled as she talked about her interests. “There are two mobile assistant openings, and both are recruiting law majors. The mobile role allows me to work at the Archaeological Research Center or join excavation teams for surveys and digs. The schedule and tasks are flexible. If you need me during your special periods, I can arrange my work in advance and stay by your side.”

“The job posting mentions that candidates with long-term fieldwork or archaeological excavation experience are preferred. I think I have a bit of an edge. During university, my professor had me follow industry experts to multiple simulated observation sites and four long-term archaeological digs. Plus, my knowledge base is decent, so I really want to give it a shot.”

Shen Zhikou patted her head. “Zhenzhen is so amazing.”

“Actually, most of the credit goes to my professor. Without her, I wouldn’t have had access to other experts, let alone joined them in archaeological fieldwork.” She admitted candidly, “I really should thank her.”

“If it weren’t for your persistent efforts, she wouldn’t have chosen you, nor would she have given you so many resources.”

Shen Zhikou said without reservation, “So, we should really praise Zhenzhen.”

Their eyes met, and Qu Zhen kissed Shen Zhikou’s lips, a brief, gentle touch, like a dragonfly skimming the water. Just as Shen Zhikou had praised her, Qu Zhen did not hesitate to reciprocate with equal affection.

“We should praise Sister too,” she said. “Because it was Sister’s connections and her encouragement, patience, and constant reassurance that gave me the courage to venture into a field I’ve long dreamed of.”

Her cheeks flushed pink, like a girl experiencing her first love, yet she made no effort to hide her feelings. “I really, really like Sister,” she confessed.

For the first time, she felt her heart stir so clearly, wholly and completely devoted to someone. She thought Shen Zhikou was like a kitten, a little fox, a red panda, like all things cute and wonderful. This feeling was something she couldn’t quite grasp.

It was unfamiliar, yet she didn’t resist it at all. Because whenever she saw Shen Zhikou, her heart felt full, filled with a soft, tender emotion. She even felt regret and frustration out of affection and cherishment.

Why hadn’t they met earlier?

If they had met sooner, she would have fallen for Shen Zhikou much earlier. They would have had more time to love each other, and Shen Zhikou could have been spared from illness sooner. The thought weighed on her with regret.

“I really like Zhenzhen too.”

Kisses were irresistible, and their sweetness only grew. Qu Zhen felt that Shen Zhikou’s kisses were even sweeter than the strawberry marshmallows she had tasted, so sweet she was almost dizzy.

…

The external recruitment for the Haicheng Archaeological Research Center was scheduled for the following weekend, which conveniently gave Qu Zhen time to resign from her current job and prepare.

When Qin Huan and Qu Han learned during a WeChat video call that their daughter was applying for an external position, their first question was about Shen Zhikou’s reaction. Upon hearing that Shen Zhikou fully supported Qu Zhen’s decision, Qin Huan’s worries eased.

You have to prioritize Koukou’s feelings and thoughts. If she supports you, then it’s all good,” Qin Huan said gently. “Of course, we support you too. Back then, I advised you not to change your aspirations and to follow your own path.”

At that moment, Qu Zhen was sitting at her desk in the secondary bedroom, buried in books, diligently preparing for the following week’s exams and assessments. Even while on the call, her eyes never left the pages as she multitasked, updating her mother on recent events.

“It’s good that they were caught. Bad people always reap what they sow,” Qin Huan said cheerfully, studying her daughter. How are things progressing with Koukou lately?”

Qu Zhen glanced at her mother. “Pretty good.”

“What does ‘pretty good’ mean? You’re becoming more and more like Qu Han, both of you talk in such vague terms.”

Qu Zhen’s lips curled into a smile. “It means we understand each other’s hearts and have started dating.”

Originally, they had planned to confess their feelings before December, but after openly acknowledging their emotions, everything naturally progressed to the next stage. Reflecting on it, Qu Zhen felt a bit surprised.

Had it really only been a little over a month?

In just over a month, she had already fallen for Shen Zhikou, and without realizing it, this affection had deepened to a point where it was becoming hard to control.

Unlike her surprise, Qin Huan was quite delighted and couldn’t help but exclaim, “Zhenzhen, your mother and I both had free love relationships, but you and Koukou are like those old scent-matching arranged marriages, getting married first and developing feelings later. You… young people really come up with all sorts of tricks.”

“Oh, by the way, Xiao Tang from the shop left yesterday evening.”

Qu Zhen blinked. “Left?”

“Yes.” Qin Huan on the other end of the video unscrewed her thermos and began explaining leisurely, “She resigned in a hurry. She had only been working for just over a month and had just moved to Mingqiu County. I don’t know what made her leave so abruptly.”

“Maybe something came up at home.”

“Not sure. She was very diligent and responsible in her work, so I paid her for two months.” She paused briefly. “It was only when she resigned that I found out she’s been pregnant all along.”

This surprised Qu Zhen. “Pregnant? And her partner still let her come out to work?”

“Exactly, it’s a real shame. She didn’t say much, but I suspect her partner is…” Qin Huan softened her words for her daughter, “…an irresponsible scumbag alpha! Ah, before she left, I couldn’t bear to see her like that, so I gave her an extra month’s pay and some supplements. After all, it’s partly my fault for not noticing earlier. As her boss, I share some responsibility.”

Such fleeting encounters are bound to be short-lived, and that’s only natural.

Qu Zhen offered a few words of comfort, and after a brief chat, Qin Huan ended the video call so as not to disturb Qu Zhen’s studies.

By the following Monday, when Qu Zhen went to the company to submit her resignation, she noticed that the entire Shengcan Venture Capital seemed a bit different. Besides the changes in the external environment, the biggest difference from before was the company’s overall atmosphere.

Compared to the previous slight laxity, every department now appeared exceptionally solemn and serious.

Making her way to the legal department, Qu Zhen glanced at her workstation and saw that the two vacant intern positions had already been filled. Facing unfamiliar faces and curious looks, she offered a polite smile, then sat down and turned on her computer.

According to company procedure, she needed to submit her resignation three days in advance. Even if she handed it to her new supervisor today, she would still have to stay for three more days.

However, her new supervisor was more amiable than she had expected. Upon receiving her resignation, he didn’t say much and even praised her for her previous work. Qu Zhen, who wasn’t adept at social niceties, simply smiled at her supervisor’s compliments.

She diligently handled the handover of her duties from Monday until noon on Wednesday, finally wrapping up her last tasks. With the prospect of a new life ahead, Qu Zhen shut down her computer and cheerfully stood up from her desk to head to the cafeteria.

As soon as she moved, Tang Qian from the opposite desk followed her. It wasn’t until they were descending the stairs that Tang Qian revealed her intention.

“Let’s have a meal together?”

Qu Zhen nodded.

After selecting their lunches and finding a seat in the cafeteria, Qu Zhen ate quietly without initiating conversation with Tang Qian, who sat across from her. Over the past three days, Tang Qian had seemed her usual self: bubbly, cheerful, and generous, but whenever she faced Qu Zhen, her smiling lips would gradually tighten.

“What happened before was my fault,” Tang Qian admitted proactively. “I shouldn’t have presumptuously said those things about you, and I shouldn’t have let Xu Qingqing… as the victim, swallow her grievances. I apologize to you and hope you can forgive me.”

The knife and fork used to cut the steak were placed on the table, emitting a faint sound.

Qu Zhen met her gaze calmly. “You said you want to apologize to us? Have you spoken to Xu Qingqing about it?”

“Her resignation situation is different from yours. Due to what happened earlier, she was able to leave that same day. It was all too rushed that day, and before I could say anything, she had already packed her things and left the building. Since you’re close to her, I was hoping you could help me apologize to her.”

Tang Qian asked uncertainly, “Is that okay?”

After a moment of silence, Qu Zhen’s phone vibrated. She glanced at it, confirmed it wasn’t a message from Shen Zhikou, and put it away.

She could roughly guess Tang Qian’s thoughts, she had seen many similar situations during her internship at the court.

Some people, who weren’t legally considered accomplices but whose actions had implicitly aided or avoided the situation, would later seek forgiveness from the victims to escape their own feelings of guilt and self-blame. ^_^

According to Xu Qingqing’s account that night, Tang Qian was the first to return to the office and the first to hear her cries for help. Yet, Tang Qian hadn’t helped her; instead, she chose to act as if nothing had happened.

To be honest, Qu Zhen could somewhat understand the hesitation behind such inaction. Not everyone is willing to pay the price or bear the consequences for justice, fairness, equality, or the truth. Most people have their own lives, considerations, and compromises to weigh.

She had no right to criticize, nor any reason to.

But she wasn’t the victim, and she had even less right to speak forgiveness on behalf of the victim.

Outside the company building, ginkgo leaves fluttered in the distance, and the flow of traffic came and went incessantly. Autumn light poured in through the window, falling on Qu Zhen’s shoulders. She looked out the window, her expression somewhat cold, and spoke word by word.

“During our time working together before this, everyone in the internship group exchanged contact information.”

“You have Xu Qingqing’s phone number, WeChat, and email. If you sincerely want to express your apology, you could have chosen any of these methods to apologize to her directly, instead of asking me to convey it for you.” Her gaze suddenly sharpened, the aura of an S-rank alpha radiating without anger. “And regardless of whether she accepts it or not, you have an undeniable responsibility to apologize to her.”

“What you said earlier was wrong in principle, but not entirely unreasonable in context. So, I accept your apology. As for forgiveness, since we won’t be colleagues anymore, that answer doesn’t matter to you.”

Perhaps struck where it hurt, Tang Qian let out a hollow laugh as Qu Zhen picked up her tray to leave.

“Putting on a show in front of me before you go?”

Even though she couldn’t gain any advantage, Tang Qian, in her shame and anger, still wanted to tear a piece of flesh from Qu Zhen. She raised her head, scrutinizing Qu Zhen’s expression.

“That’s right, I don’t have the courage you and Xu Qingqing have. But my apology to you was sincere. And you? Which of your words can be trusted? You say you accept my apology, but deep down, that’s not what you really think, is it? Even the ring on your finger is fake. I’m not sure about the watch, but someone wearing counterfeit goods, how many genuine items or truthful words could they possibly have?”

The diamond ring on her finger sparkled brilliantly, and Qu Zhen’s steps suddenly froze.