Not a Scummy Alpha, But a Sweet Puppy (Transmigration Into A Novel) - Chapter 23.2

Jiang Zhenmian, both embarrassed and annoyed, snapped, “Why are you laughing at me?”

“I’m not! I believe you. You’ll definitely be a super amazing girlfriend. In every way,” Gu Zhibai added, suppressing a smile. Though the corners of her lips didn’t curve upward, the twinkle in her eyes betrayed her amusement.

Jiang Zhenmian, now thoroughly flustered, pounced on Gu Zhibai, pinning her to the sofa. “You’re totally laughing at me! You haven’t stopped!” she protested weakly. “Is being a lifelong single that funny?”

She huffed twice, gazing down at Gu Zhibai’s eyes. “Well, it’s too late for you to regret it now.”

Gu Zhibai’s hair lay scattered across the pale beige sofa, the stark contrast between the dark strands and the light fabric making Jiang Zhenmian’s eyes swim.

Gu Zhibai’s eyes were like flowing honey, amber depths concealing a glint of light that made them sparkle brilliantly. A faint blush tinted her cheeks, so subtle it only made Jiang Zhenmian want to lean closer and examine them more closely.

Gu Zhibai was still smiling. Most people these days preferred partners with plenty of romantic experience, but she didn’t really care. She just found Jiang Zhenmian’s reaction so amusing that she couldn’t resist teasing her.

After a while, she pulled her hand away, trying to push Jiang Zhenmian off her, but she lacked the strength.

“I want to kiss you,” Jiang Zhenmian said.

Gu Zhibai focused her wandering gaze and looked up at the woman above her.

“May I?”

The embarrassment and annoyance vanished from Jiang Zhenmian’s face like morning mist, leaving only her earnest, undisguised longing.

The desire overflowed from her eyes, causing Gu Zhibai’s steady heartbeat to falter for a moment. Her hand, which should have pushed Jiang Zhenmian away, shifted slightly and rested on the other woman’s shoulder.

It was a signal.

A signal of consent, of encouragement.

Jiang Zhenmian leaned down, bracing herself with one hand beside Gu Zhibai’s head and gently placing the other on her shoulder. Before their lips could meet, Gu Zhibai closed her eyes, her long lashes fluttering like startled butterflies.

Her lips were soft and slightly cool, like jelly. Jiang Zhenmian held them for a moment before gently licking them open, entwining her tongue with the warm, moist one inside. They danced together, chased each other, as she sought some kind of help.

The other woman flinched at first, perhaps tempted, perhaps overwhelmed by the persistence. Then she began to respond with equal fervor, guiding the clumsy intruder, teaching her how to do this right.

Their lips pressed together, inseparable, like two magnetic poles colliding or two halves of a jade pendant finding their match.

Fingers that had rested on her neck slowly traced up to her face. Jiang Zhenmian learned quickly, her movements growing more urgent. Soft, muffled moans were swallowed, and indescribable sensations spread through her.

A faint, sweet scent of fresh oranges drifted from Gu Zhibai’s body.

The fragrance wasn’t strong, barely there, yet when it reached Jiang Zhenmian’s nose, her thoughts began to blur, leaving only unspeakable pleasure lingering in her mind.

A subconscious unease flickered through her mind, but it was quickly suppressed by an overwhelming sense of joy and something indescribable. The sensation was intoxicating, like falling from a great height, the weightless thrill stimulating her senses until nothing remained but the pursuit of pure, hedonistic pleasure.

Jiang Zhenmian narrowed her eyes, completely consumed by this indescribable feeling. She felt as if she had downed an entire bottle of brandy, her rationality fading as primal instincts took over, driven solely by the pursuit of pleasure.

Then they kissed, like snowflakes kissing ice, rain kissing grass, sunlight kissing leaves, flowers kissing butterflies, Jiang Zhenmian kissing Gu Zhibai.

Jiang Zhenmian pulled back slightly, gently wiping away the unspoken with the pad of her finger before devouring it with something equally unspoken.

This simple gesture already flushed Gu Zhibai’s cheeks crimson, but Jiang Zhenmian pressed on, whispering against her earlobe, “So sweet.”
She nuzzled Gu Zhibai’s ear with her nose, tracing its curve with a trail of kisses, leaving a damp, glistening mark in her wake.

Gu Zhibai’s limbs went weak, her chest heaving with rapid breaths. The tangled emotions and desires between them were laid bare by the pheromones that permeated the air, their unspoken feelings made unmistakably clear.

Someone who had never been exposed to pheromones would inevitably lose control upon suddenly smelling them, becoming a puppet manipulated by desire, a prisoner driven solely by instinct.

Gu Zhibai only needed to observe Jiang Zhenmian’s nuzzling and clinging to know that she had completely lost her reason. If she didn’t stop her now and let her continue indulging her impulses, things would undoubtedly escalate.

Taking a deep breath to regain some strength, Gu Zhibai gently lifted Jiang Zhenmian’s head from her chest and coaxed, “Let me sit up, okay?”

Jiang Zhenmian wore a thoughtful expression, considering the request for a moment before shaking her head. “No.”

Gu Zhibai frowned, feigning discomfort. “You’re pressing down on me. It’s really uncomfortable.”

Jiang Zhenmian studied her face intently, trying to discern her true feelings. Gu Zhibai remained calm, her lips pressed tightly together, as if genuinely annoyed.

Finally, relying on what little rationality remained, Jiang Zhenmian concluded that Gu Zhibai was telling the truth.

She reluctantly climbed off, her displeasure at the interruption evident on her face. She sat down nearby, but refrained from further advances, instead sulking quietly.

Gu Zhibai found Jiang Zhenmian both pitiful and endearing. She couldn’t resist reaching out to pat her head, only to have her hand seized and her fingertips kissed repeatedly.

Jiang Zhenmian’s attention was focused on Gu Zhibai’s hand, which was preferable to her focusing on Gu Zhibai herself. Gu Zhibai sighed in relief and decided to let Jiang Zhenmian play with her hand, using her free hand to straighten her rumpled collar.

As her mind calmed, the pheromone scent gradually dissipated. Under normal circumstances, Jiang Zhenmian would regain consciousness within half an hour. This process could be accelerated by external stimuli, such as applying an ice pack.

When pheromones went out of control, they often revealed one’s true nature. In Jiang Zhenmian’s case, she became quiet and stubborn, like a tightly sealed gourd.

This was a stark contrast to her usual cheerful and outgoing demeanor, yet Gu Zhibai found it strangely endearing.

Jiang Zhenmian kissed Gu Zhibai’s hand repeatedly, as if quenching a thirst. She paused briefly but refused to release her grip, keeping the hand firmly in her own. Then she stared intently at Gu Zhibai, her gaze fixed on her glistening lips. “I want to kiss you,” she murmured.

“No,” Gu Zhibai said.

Jiang Zhenmian’s face fell into that sulky expression again, as if Gu Zhibai had committed some grave offense. Unable to punish her, she could only stew in silent frustration. Perhaps unable to contain it any longer, she muttered, “Why not?”

“Because you bit my lip until it’s swollen and a little sore,” Gu Zhibai said, suppressing a smile.

Jiang Zhenmian leaned closer to examine the glistening lips, now redder than usual with lingering teeth marks. Even these faint marks hinted at the intensity of their earlier kiss.

“Fine,” she said, sitting back with a pout. She lowered her head and began fidgeting with Gu Zhibai’s fingers, twisting them this way and that, leaning forward one moment, shifting to the side the next. It was as if the sofa had sprouted thorns, making her restless and unable to sit still.

“But…” Jiang Zhenmian finally couldn’t hold back any longer, her voice muffled as she blurted out, “I still want to kiss you.”

She’s so adorable, Gu Zhibai thought, nearly bursting out laughing. She pretended to consider it, pausing for a moment before saying, “Then you can kiss my cheek.”

Jiang Zhenmian’s eyes lit up instantly, as if she’d been injected with adrenaline.

“But no licking or biting,” Gu Zhibai added.

Jiang Zhenmian felt a pang of disappointment, but her muddled mind quickly reasoned that even a kiss was better than nothing. Her spirits lifted again, and she eagerly snuggled closer to Gu Zhibai, planting a firm kiss on her cheek with a loud smack.

There was nothing particularly romantic about it; Gu Zhibai felt like she’d just been kissed by a young child.
But Jiang Zhenmian wasn’t content to stay put. As she continued kissing, her arms wrapped around Gu Zhibai, her lips tracing a path from cheek to nose, then from nose to eyelid. She murmured softly against Gu Zhibai’s earlobe, “I like you…”

The damp, breathy whisper tickled Gu Zhibai’s eardrum, making her reflexively recoil. But Jiang Zhenmian’s arms tightened around her, pulling her back into the embrace.

And so they remained, pressed together on the small sofa, kissing and entwined, clinging to each other. Soft laughter occasionally punctuated the air, creating a lazy, cozy warmth.

Until Jiang Zhenmian regained full consciousness. Reason pushed aside her chaotic instincts, and she began to review the memories of what had just transpired.

Oh, damn it!

Jiang Zhenmian was half-leaning against the sofa back, her body pressing against Gu Zhibai, squeezing her into the space between the backrest and armrest. One hand threaded through Gu Zhibai’s fingers, her palm pressed against the side of Gu Zhibai’s neck, while the other rested on her waist. Jiang Zhenmian’s face was buried in the crook of Gu Zhibai’s neck, her lips still carrying the lingering warmth of their kiss.

Oh, damn it!

She remembered everything that had just happened, and the embarrassment wasn’t due to anything else, just this: I acted like a complete fool!

She should have showcased her “superior” kissing skills, taken a brief taste, and then pulled back with gentlemanly composure, demonstrating her self-control.

Two people who had just confirmed their relationship shouldn’t rush into intimacy. Slow and steady was the way to go.

But what had she just acted like? A frustrated drunkard? A child clinging to an adult for candy? In short, nothing like a rational adult with above-average intelligence.

Still, the position felt so perfect that Jiang Zhenmian didn’t want to move for a moment.

She buried her face back into Gu Zhibai’s neck, her voice muffled. “What just happened to me?”

“It was my pheromones affecting you,” Gu Zhibai said, patting Jiang Zhenmian soothingly on the back of her head. Her voice was gentle. “It’s nothing serious. It won’t happen again.”

“It’s okay,” Gu Zhibai said with a smile. “It was actually quite cute.”
“Cute is just something people say when they can’t think of anything else to compliment someone with,” Jiang Zhenmian muttered softly.

“What nonsense,” Gu Zhibai said. “Alright, you’ve been sitting here for so long, your legs must be numb.”

Jiang Zhenmian hummed in protest but didn’t move.

“You want a kiss from your sister before you get up?”

Gu Zhibai tried to move her arm but was immediately pinned down. “How can I kiss you if you don’t get up?” she said helplessly. “If you don’t move, I’ll just be kissing the air, you know?”

Jiang Zhenmian reluctantly sat up, her gaze fixed on Gu Zhibai, her eyes shining with anticipation as she waited for the promised kiss.

Gu Zhibai didn’t back down. She gently cupped Jiang Zhenmian’s cheek with her soft, pale hand and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

“You’re such a clingy one,” she teased, half-joking.

She stretched languidly, and even this simple movement seemed impossibly graceful to Jiang Zhenmian.

“It’s almost ten o’clock,” Gu Zhibai said, glancing at the wall clock. “Are you really not going to eat anything?”

Jiang Zhenmian suddenly realized her stomach was indeed uncomfortably empty, the hunger pangs becoming acutely noticeable. She clutched her stomach as if she’d been punched. “I’m starving! I need to eat!”

“No need to order takeout,” Jiang Zhenmian said. “I’ll just make a quick bowl of noodles. It’ll be ready in no time.”

This was the perfect opportunity to redeem herself! It had arrived!

She rubbed her hands together, her fighting spirit ablaze, determined to show Gu Zhibai her culinary skills. Everyone online said that a partner who could cook was a major plus. Between her past life and this one, she had to be considered a seasoned home-style chef, right?

Gu Zhibai naturally agreed. To be honest, the only kitchen appliance she was truly familiar with was the refrigerator.

The double-door refrigerator was stocked with fresh ingredients. The housekeeper checked the vegetables and fruits daily, replenishing them as needed.

Making noodles wouldn’t be too complicated. Jiang Zhenmian decided on tomato shrimp wonton noodles—simple, quick, and delicious.

“My cooking skills are pretty good, Sister. Would you like to try some too?” Jiang Zhenmian asked, turning around while waiting for the water to boil.

Gu Zhibai shook her head. “It’s too late. I don’t usually eat late-night snacks.”

Jiang Zhenmian’s disappointment was palpable. Gu Zhibai paused, then added, “But I could have a little. I want to see if your cooking is as good as you say.”

“Then I’ll make it according to my own appetite and share some with you, Sister. It’s true we shouldn’t eat too much at night. It’s bad for digestion.”

Jiang Zhenmian turned back to the stove, her mood brightening visibly. She even started chopping the tomatoes a bit faster.

These tomatoes were clearly much better than the ones she’d seen at the supermarket. Large, with deep red skins, they smelled intensely tomatoey. Once peeled and stir-fried, their rich aroma filled the kitchen, making it seem like no tomato sauce was needed to enhance the flavor.

The tomatoes these days were so bland, lacking any real tomato taste. They were worse than cucumbers, never softening or releasing their juices, as if they were made of plastic.

After frying the tomatoes until they released their juices, Jiang Zhenmian added half a pot of water, brought it to a boil, and then tossed in the noodles and shrimp balls. No other seasonings were needed; a pinch of salt was enough.

Once cooked, she sprinkled a handful of vibrant green scallions over the noodles. The dish was complete.

Jiang Zhenmian divided the noodles into two bowls, one with a larger portion and the other with a smaller one.

Seeing that she was finished, Gu Zhibai approached and helped carry one of the bowls. She wanted to assist further, but having never cooked before, she could only stand by the kitchen doorway and watch as Jiang Zhenmian repeatedly insisted, “No, no, it’s fine.”

“Try it!” Jiang Zhenmian handed her chopsticks and a spoon.

Gu Zhibai lowered her head and took a sip of the broth.
“How is it?” Jiang Zhenmian asked.

“It’s delicious!” Gu Zhibai nodded in genuine praise.

She wasn’t just being polite. The tomato broth was rich with sweet and tangy notes, the shrimp balls were succulent, and the noodles were perfectly cooked, firm and chewy. The dish rivaled the skills of their housekeeper, who held an advanced chef’s certification and could effortlessly prepare dishes from various cuisines.

Jiang Zhenmian finally felt relieved by the compliment.

After their late-night snack and cleaning up, it was already past eleven. They retreated to their respective rooms. Jiang Zhenmian, still in the guest room, tossed and turned in bed, her mind racing with excitement. The evening’s developments felt like a dream.

The moment she stood up from the sofa, she was already contemplating how to die, even considering framing Gu Zhiyao by dying at his doorstep.

Maximize your gains, she thought.

Thankfully, thankfully, the situation had taken a turn for the better.

The System, silent all night, finally chimed in: “Congratulations, Host, on achieving your goal!”

Jiang Zhenmian replied meaningfully, “Congratulations to you too.”

The System remained completely oblivious to her inner thoughts. Had it known, it would have thrown a fit long ago.

While she basked in satisfaction, reveling in her triumph, Gu Zhiyao, having received the news, was far from pleased.

Upon hearing the rumors of an arranged marriage, he flew into a rage, smashing things around the house with a dark, resentful glare. He couldn’t understand why his father only valued Gu Zhibai. In terms of ability and cunning, he was her equal. His father was truly blind with age!

And his mother was utterly useless, unable to offer any help at all.

Sitting coldly in his chair, he kicked the coffee table with brutal force. But the stone-edged table proved too sturdy, sending a sharp pain through his ankle instead.

Gu Zhiyao’s handsome face twisted in fury and humiliation, wishing he could shatter the table into dust. “Damn it!”
Fortunately, his rage didn’t last long. His Executive Assistant called, relaying Jiang Zhenmian’s explanation.

Gu Zhiyao sneered inwardly, I knew it. How could Gu Zhibai ever give up that face? Back then, she even tried to slit her wrists for Song Qingmiao. She doesn’t even like men.

It’s all the old man’s fault. If only I could get rid of him. His heart is weak. If I could just give him a good scare…

Gu Zhiyao paced the living room, kicking at shards of glass and porcelain scattered across the floor. Amidst the crunching sounds, an idea suddenly struck him.

He immediately ordered his Executive Assistant, “Investigate whether Gu Zhibai has recently offended anyone, or who hates her the most. I want that information within three days.”

“Yes, sir. Understood,” the Executive Assistant replied.

Two birds with one stone. I’ll eliminate them both!

Gu Zhiyao imagined the day he would rule the Gu Corporation unchallenged after his plan succeeded, and he burst into laughter, his mood soaring.

Just then, his phone rang with a distinctive ringtone, a crisp melody he had specially set for Ye Wanwan.

He answered, and Ye Wanwan’s panicked, tearful voice came through the receiver. “Zhiyao, my mother… she suddenly collapsed! What should I do? I’m so scared!”

Gu Zhiyao’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t panic. Call 120 immediately. I’m on my way!”

In the time they had spent together, he had already fallen deeply in love with this woman.

Ye Wanwan, a sweet and adorable young woman, had been through several rounds of “chase and flee” with Gu Zhiyao. At the beginning of this month, they finally established their relationship and became lovers.

Gu Zhiyao wanted Ye Wanwan to move in with him, but she refused. Her reason was that she came from a single-parent family and had relied on her mother her entire life, never having met her father.

With her mother growing older and her health deteriorating, how could she leave her to live alone? What if something happened?

Ye Wanwan’s devotion to her mother deeply moved Gu Zhiyao. He immediately bought another apartment in his residential complex and arranged for Ye Wanwan and her mother to move in. Though they couldn’t live together, their proximity meant they could see each other whenever they wanted.

He had also met Ye’s mother. Though elderly, her youthful elegance was still evident, and she bore an uncanny resemblance to Ye Wanwan, making it clear they were mother and daughter.

Gu Zhiyao resembled his mother more, unlike Gu Zhibai, who took after their father.

Gu Zhiyao threw on his coat and rushed out, ignoring the mess on the floor, heading straight for Ye Wanwan’s place.

They hadn’t hung up. The sound of Ye Wanwan’s frantic sobs, her voice choked with tears, broke Gu Zhiyao’s heart.

Once the ambulance arrived, he immediately contacted his assistant. “Quick, get the best doctors in the province here. We have to save Wanwan’s mother!”

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