Mistaken ‘O’ is a Crazy Gorgeous Boss - Chapter 74

The hollow lily-of-the-valley carving shattered as it fell, its sound echoing throughout the entire area, but Qu Zhen could only hear Shen Zhikou’s voice.

She heard her softly and tenderly call her name, heard her say “I love you” word by word, the overwhelming affection was enough to completely engulf her. Without the floral carving as decoration, the wall lamp grew even brighter, like the soft glow of a bright moon, illuminating each other in their eyes.

Qu Zhen kissed the corner of Shen Zhikou’s lips, then held her even tighter.

“I missed you.”

“I wanted to see you, hold you, kiss you. Every day.”

The heartache in Qu Zhen’s eyes was too intense, overflowing to the point of spilling over: “I like you, I really like you, I only like you.”

Meeting Shen Zhikou’s glistening, tear-filled eyes, she cupped her face and kissed her forehead, the tip of her nose, her cheeks, the corners of her lips, each kiss imbued with absolute tenderness.

The moment their lips met, the missing fragment of Qu Zhen’s soul gradually began to mend. She carefully deepened the kiss, a tear sliding down from the corner of her eye.

“Silly kitten, why didn’t you tell me anything?”

Shen Zhikou was dizzy from her kisses. Clutching the hem of Qu Zhen’s clothes, she allowed her to breach her defenses, surrendering completely. The scent of hyacinths in the air grew increasingly rich, and Shen Zhikou’s cheeks flushed crimson under the intensity of their lingering kiss. As her senses gradually returned, she began to respond to the lover holding her tightly, her long lashes fluttering like the wings of a butterfly.

After the long kiss ended,

Qu Zhen picked up the woman in her arms and walked toward the left side of the room. She placed Shen Zhikou on the sofa and was about to fetch her some water and find her socks when a restless Shen Zhikou grabbed her wrist.

“Zhenzhen… don’t go.”

Having briefly lost her once and having been shut out by Qu Zhen, Shen Zhikou truly seemed afraid. Her breathing hadn’t yet steadied as she tightly gripped Qu Zhen’s hand, refusing to let go. Her exposed feet looked like fine jade.

Qu Zhen held her hand in return, soothing her: “I wasn’t planning to leave. I just wanted to get you a glass of water.” Her hand slid downward, clasping Shen Zhikou’s jade-like feet. “It was snowing heavily when I arrived. Your ankles are too cold, let me find you some socks to wear.”

“A kitten who doesn’t wear shoes must wear socks.”

When they were at Xinyu Garden, Shen Zhikou would conscientiously wear the fleece socks Qu Zhen bought for her every day because she knew Qu Zhen was deeply concerned about her health. But this time, with Qu Zhen not by her side and her in the midst of her nesting period, she had neglected such details.

“Okay.”

Shen Zhikou released her, but her gaze never strayed. Wherever Qu Zhen went, her eyes followed closely. When Qu Zhen returned with everything in hand, Shen Zhikou immediately shifted over to press close against her, like a cat raising its tail while competing for food.

Since falling ill, this was the first nesting period she had spent with Qu Zhen by her side.

She knew that during her nesting phase, she would think of herself as a cat, or even, whimsically, as the Cat Queen of Meow Planet. She was aware of this because, upon waking once, she discovered she had drawn cat whiskers on her face and written the character for “queen” on her forehead.

On a pure white sheet of paper, she had even stamped several pink cat paw prints. What’s more, on another occasion, she even found a meow love letter written by the Cat Queen to a little dog.

It’s a pictorial love letter. Probably her meowing all the way, and upon spotting an adorable little dog on Meow Planet, she immediately pounces from the flower bushes toward the puppy with a rose in her mouth.

She doesn’t dislike this and roughly understands why she “turned into” a cat, but she has no memory of the nesting period, so she isn’t sure… if Qu Zhen might find it strange or even be frightened by this entirely different side of her.

So, when Qu Zhen handed her a glass of warm water and she drank it all in one go, she asked softly, “Zhenzhen, did I scare you when I wasn’t in my right mind?”

“No.”

The Free Cat Queen is super cute. Qu Zhen thought to herself.

Thinking so, she also said it with certainty. After praising Shen Zhikou for being adorable, she wiped away the tear stains at the corners of her own eyes, then pulled out a tissue to gently wipe Shen Zhikou’s face, and finally bent down to put socks on her.

After doing all this, she looked at Shen Zhikou tenderly and asked, “Can I hold the kitten?”

The kitten pounced right into her arms.

Qu Zhen stroked her long hair and said gently, “The honest kitten has told me everything.”

Shen Zhikou froze for a moment.

“The kitten is very honest. She told me she is He Yu, the kind-hearted sister, netizen Z, the archaeology teacher, Shen Yunxi, the chairman of Shengcan Group, and also Shen Zhikou, who married me.”

Shen Zhikou’s heart clenched. The girl’s departure had made her afraid to face these things, so much so that she didn’t even have the courage to ask her girl why she had appeared at Green Desert Manor. Was there even a slight chance she might forgive her?

She didn’t dare ask.

She felt that as long as she didn’t voice the question, this intimate embrace could last a little longer.

But Qu Zhen brought up the biggest lie between them on her own, forcing Shen Zhikou to confront it. She tightened her grip on Qu Zhen’s hand, interlacing their fingers, but this time Qu Zhen didn’t pull away one finger at a time as she had earlier, leaving her behind. Instead, she let Shen Zhikou hold her hand and even stroked the pad of her thumb as if teasing a kitten.

“I’m sorry, Zhenzhen,” Shen Zhikou didn’t try to defend herself. “All of these are indeed me.”

“He Yu is the me you saved; the kind-hearted sister is the me who wanted to watch over you from afar and see you safely to school; netizen Z is the me who, after learning you played games, couldn’t get close due to my illness but desperately wanted to play with you; the archaeology teacher is the me who didn’t want your wish to go unfulfilled and hoped you’d get what you wanted; Shen Yunxi is the me who went to great lengths to protect you, and also… the me you dislike the most. And Shen Zhikou is the real me who truly likes you, loves you, and wants to grow old with you.”

“You witnessed Su Qi’s infidelity because I had that alpha continue the relationship with Su Qi. But she really… cheated first, and… more than once. I thought you two weren’t suited and stubbornly wanted you to break up with her.”

“All the hotels in Haicheng are closely connected to the Yan family. On the day you underwent your second gender differentiation at the hotel, I received a message from Yan Shuang telling me you were there. I had just returned from a medical checkup abroad and happened to be passing by, so I decided to go see you, just like all the previous times I secretly watched over you.” Shen Zhikou paused. “Perhaps because our compatibility is very high, the moment I approached you in the hallway, I sensed something was wrong. In the isolation room, I lied. There was no colleague, and it wasn’t you who pulled me in. From start to finish, it was all my own choice. I was the one who smashed your inhibitor.”

“I’m sorry for making you anxious and afraid.” She turned her face and pressed it against Qu Zhen’s chest, listening to her heartbeat as if confirming her presence. “Just think of me as… a selfish, despicable, cunning, and ugly villain. You can punish me however you want. I’m sorry.”

Qu Zhen’s gaze flickered slightly, her fingers pausing in their movement.

She had guessed that the incident at the hotel wasn’t a coincidence, but she hadn’t expected Su Qi’s matter to also be related to Shen Zhikou.

“Aside from these, is there anything else?”

“Zhou Yun.” Shen Zhikou closed her eyes, then reopened them. “Zhou Yun signed a contract with me. I helped treat her mother’s illness and provided her with job opportunities and extra money. In return, she needed to take extra care of you, help maintain good relations with your roommates, and regularly update me about your situation to ensure you were happy and doing well.”

Afraid her little one would misunderstand, Shen Zhikou added, “It wasn’t surveillance. I can provide you with the records of her reports. She only mentioned things like whether you were eating on time, how you were feeling recently, if you were healthy, how often you went to the library each week, whether your volunteer activities outside went smoothly, and… whether anyone had given you love letters. It really didn’t involve anything private. Please believe me.”

The kitten in her arms grew anxious, and Qu Zhen, sensing her worry, kissed the top of her head.

“I believe you.”

Shen Zhikou, now trusted, froze for a moment. Perhaps due to the physiological effects of her nest-building period, her emotions fluctuated more noticeably than usual.

Since their separation, she had never imagined that her little one would still be willing… to trust her so easily, especially since she had told so many lies that even she sometimes felt lost in the stalemate between them.

“What else?” Qu Zhen continued to ask.

Shen Zhikou lifted her head and met her gaze as she added, “Zhenzhen, actually, even if Zhou Yun hadn’t agreed, I would have helped treat her mother’s illness.”

Suddenly, Qu Zhen recalled Jiang Cheng’s mention of Yun Yun’s past, knowing that Shen Zhikou’s Omega mother had passed away due to illness.

“Aside from accepting the compensation for her mother’s treatment, she didn’t take anything else.”

“Mm.” Qu Zhen understood. “I don’t blame her. The conditions the kitten offered were just too tempting.”

The kitten remained silent.

Qu Zhen tapped her nose gently. “Does the kitten have any other secrets she’s hiding from me?”

“Yes.”

“Tell me.”

The soothed kitten felt entirely comfortable, the burning sensation throughout her body fading away. The alpha’s pheromones and embrace enveloped her like warm spring water. The unique nest-building period made her drowsy, and she struggled against the sleepiness, briefly suppressing it.

“I… wanted to undergo gland removal surgery before.”

This surgery was highly specific, and Qu Zhen, having reviewed the medical literature, knew all too well that patients with Hormonal Agitation Syndrome rarely survived beyond two years post-operation. Her expression grew somber as she gently pinched the kitten’s ear and asked, “Why?”

“Earlier at the hotel, I told you this was the sixth year of my illness, but I altered the timeline because I didn’t want you to worry. In reality, this is only the fourth year. Hormonal Agitation Syndrome follows a four-year cycle, and the doctors said I only have a twenty percent chance of making it through this year. Perhaps by next autumn, I’ll-”

Qu Zhen silenced her with a kiss.

When their lips parted, she spoke firmly, “Sister, as long as I’m here, none of the situations you fear will come to pass.”

Shen Zhikou blinked, struggling to stay awake as she gazed at Qu Zhen. Her fingertips brushed Qu Zhen’s cheek, and the corners of her lips lifted slightly. “Rather than waiting, I’d rather have the gland removed. That way, I won’t have to endure the pain anymore. Two years would be enough. I’ll appear by your side in any form, keeping a distance that’s neither too close nor too far. After two years, you won’t… grieve too deeply for me.” Her voice grew faint, as if she were on the verge of sleep. “Zhenzhen, I think I’m about to fall asleep. Could you… stay with me for a while?”

As soon as she finished speaking, Shen Zhikou closed her eyes, her breathing becoming calm and steady.

Even in her sleep, she seemed troubled and fearful, her brows furrowed as if trapped in a distressing nightmare.

Qu Zhen held her close, smoothing her delicate eyebrows with her thumb. As a tear traced the corner of Shen Zhikou’s eye, Qu Zhen kissed her lips again.

Her kitten was always waiting.

Waiting for their meetings, waiting for their reunions, waiting for Qu Zhen to notice her. In the endless, pain-filled days, she waited resolutely for the final autumn rain.

After uncovering the lies and parting ways, Qu Zhen had felt doubt, anger, shock, and sorrow, but she had never once considered ending their relationship. Once she calmed down, she began to ponder whether she could accept the hidden truths behind the deception, a world entirely unfamiliar to her, and how she could steer their relationship back to a healthy beginning.

But now, with deeper understanding, all her doubts had dissolved. The shadows that had loomed over their hearts had cleared like clouds parting after rain.

She would find her kitten in the storm, embrace her in the snow, accompany her through vibrant springs, and pluck the moon’s reflection from the water on summer nights filled with cicada songs. Together, they would traverse season after season.

During the two days of her nesting phase, Shen Zhikou was often disoriented, fully embracing her identity as the free-spirited Cat Queen. This time, however, was different. The Cat Queen recognized her puppy and clung to her tightly, refusing to let her stray even a step away.

When Qu Zhen stepped outside once more to retrieve their delivered meal, the free-spirited Cat Queen discontentedly sharpened her claws. The moment Qu Zhen returned, the Cat Queen pounced on her from the carpet.

“You are my puppy,” the Cat Queen declared imperiously. “You cannot leave me arbitrarily.”

Qu Zhen always responded with utmost gentleness, “Okay.”

“You cannot speak to other two-legged creatures!”

“Okay.”

“You must hold the Cat Queen.”

The slender Cat Queen was nestled in the puppy’s embrace, lazily leaning against her shoulder, her eyes sparkling as she said, “I want more kisses.”

One kiss after another fell, and when their pheromones surged, the puppy’s paw accidentally brushed against the kitten’s bottom.

The kitten instantly bristled: “You’re so mean, you’re provoking the kitten.”

Qu Zhen chuckled softly: “No, I’m not.”

“Yes, you are!”

The puppy bowed in surrender: “Alright, if you say so, then it’s true.”

The Cat Queen, her tail swaying, seemed lost in thought. Her glass-like eyes blinked repeatedly before she nestled back into the puppy’s embrace, her voice soft and tender: “Silly puppy, you don’t need to provoke me. I like you, you know. Everything the Cat Queen has is yours, even the shiniest crown can be yours.”

She twitched her fluffy ears, her cheeks flushed pink with shyness: “Anyway… as long as the puppy always loves the Free Cat Queen, that’s enough.”

“Okay,” Qu Zhen leaned in to kiss her. “I’ll always only love the Free Cat Queen.”

The kitten said seriously, “Lying to the Cat Queen will lead to terrible consequences.”

“Like what?”

The kitten tried her best to sound intimidating: “Like locking the puppy up and making her understand what it means when the Cat Queen gets angry.”

Qu Zhen gazed at her gently: “Alright. I promise I won’t make the Cat Queen angry.”

“Hmm, and you have to promise for a lifetime.”

“Forever and ever.”

The Free Cat Queen returned to her usual cool and composed self as Shen Zhikou on the evening her nesting period ended. With her rationality fully restored, Shen Zhikou stared at Qu Zhen, whose neck bore faint traces of kisses, and couldn’t help but worry, would she leave?

After all, her little girl had only promised not to leave for now, and she hadn’t forgiven her yet.

At 9:30 p.m., Qu Zhen emerged from the basement. After finishing dinner, she followed the housekeeper to the guest bedroom. Before leaving, she hesitated, seemingly wanting to say something, but Shen Zhikou appeared oblivious to her gaze and quickly left to handle an urgent meeting and work matters.

By the time Qu Zhen reached the luxurious guest room, finished washing up, dried her hair, and changed into her pajamas, she faintly heard the sound of a kitten meowing.

Glancing around, Qu Zhen keenly noticed something hidden beneath the bed’s covers. She took a few steps forward to the edge of the bed and suddenly lifted the light blue quilt.

And there, hidden under the quilt, was a kitten.

To be precise, two kittens. Shen Zhikou, wearing a fluffy white cat ear headband and dressed only in a white shirt, lay nestled in the bed. Her long hair cascaded behind her, her soft body sinking into the mattress. The Buddhist prayer beads on her wrist had been replaced by a red string, and a bell anklet adorned her ankle.

In her arms, she held a white Chinchilla cat. Both kittens turned their eyes to Qu Zhen simultaneously, their movements and expressions perfectly synchronized, so adorable that Qu Zhen felt a little dazed.

Then, Shen Zhikou, the queen ruling over the feline planet, raised her hand, the one wearing her wedding ring, toward Qu Zhen. Her eyes shimmered with emotion, and a trace of nervousness tinged her voice.

“If I hold your hand this time, can you promise never to let go of the kitten’s hand again?”