One Year After Her Sister-In-Law Was Widowed - Chapter 20

Contrary to expectations, Xiao Shuangyu didn’t get to spend much time with Ji Zhuozhou.

By the time she finished washing up, Ji Zhuozhou had already changed into her pajamas. The silk nightgown was light and airy, tracing her beautiful lines with even greater clarity.

It was a bit too sexy.

Xiao Shuangyu lowered her head, her gaze unsure of where to land.

Completely oblivious, Ji Zhuozhou led her to the guest bedroom and bid her goodnight.

Xiao Shuangyu stood frozen by the door, unmoving. Her dark eyes, with their prominent lower whites, lifted slightly to stare intently at Ji Zhuozhou, her viscous gaze filled with bewilderment.

Is that it? We’re just going to sleep separately. Wasn’t I called here for companionship? Do we have to sleep now? Can’t we sleep together?

I want to sleep together. I want to stay by Ji Zhuozhou’s side. I want to sleep next to Ji Zhuozhou. I want to be near Ji Zhuozhou.

The thoughts in her heart grew increasingly bold. Xiao Shuangyu said nothing, simply staring quietly and fixedly at Ji Zhuozhou.

Meeting her gaze, Ji Zhuozhou’s raven-feather lashes narrowed slightly. “Be good. We both need to sleep.”

Xiao Shuangyu’s heart suddenly began to thud.

She nodded quickly. In her inorganic-looking pupils, only a void of darkness remained, stripped of any other emotion.

They returned to their respective rooms.

Lying in bed, Xiao Shuangyu closed her eyes; the scent of rain and mist was vivid at the tip of her nose. Her heart continued to pound, refusing to calm down just because Ji Zhuozhou was no longer in sight.

How can Ji Zhuozhou’s voice sound so good?

The soft timbre of her voice brushed against her ears repeatedly in her memory; no matter how much she thought about it, it wasn’t enough.

I want to record it. I should have recorded it. I should have recorded it to play with my ear at any time. Playing on a loop amidst cycles of delusion.

Should I get up? Go see Ji Zhuozhou. Stand outside her door, listen to see if she’s asleep, and catch a closer scent of her aura.

No, I can’t think about this anymore. I need to sleep. I must be good. Only by being good is it right. That’s right, I need to fall asleep quickly. I need to wake up early. Seeing Ji Zhuozhou.

She faced the direction of Ji Zhuozhou’s room, unconsciously curling her body into a fetal position, forcing herself to sleep.

The night was quiet.

But Xiao Shuangyu’s dreams were boisterous.

They were a chaotic jumble of the noisy performances of the Rainy-Day Band, the chatter and laughter of Xiao Mingyi and the mothers, the vicious rumors in the pantries and hallways, and Ji Zhuozhou’s warm, soft voice.

A silk hem covered her face—soft yet slightly suffocating.

But it smelled wonderful.

A rich, sweet scent of rain and mist, like orchids and tea.

Xiao Shuangyu opened her eyes.

Something’s wrong.

That was the scent of an Omega’s pheromones.

She bolted upright, scrambled off the bed, walked to the other side, and knocked urgently on the door.

She couldn’t be certain of Ji Zhuozhou’s current state. She pressed her ear close, trying to hear any movement. If there was none, she would open the door directly.

Fortunately, a sound soon came from behind the door. The sound approached from afar, and the scent of orchid and tea mixed within the rain and mist grew even clearer.

Click.

Ji Zhuozhou opened the door.

The Omega was still in her silk gown, her ink-black hair loosely gathered over one shoulder. Her deep, forest-colored eyes looked toward her, her voice soft and light. “Lianlian, you’re awake?”

The daylight was bright, but those eyes weren’t as clear as usual.

Within the sweet fragrance of freesias, there was a faint mix of mellow, distant white tea—the scent of Ji Zhuozhou’s pheromones.

It wasn’t strong; there was very little of it, but the grade was very high.

It was far above her own D-grade. Was it B-grade? A-grade? Or the even higher S-grade?

She couldn’t tell.

The gland at the back of her neck felt strangely swollen, a burdened sensation of being suppressed. Xiao Shuangyu gave a response and lowered her head again. “The pheromones reached me. Are… are you okay?”

Ji Zhuozhou reached up to touch the back of her neck. She had already used a suppressant and applied an inhibitor patch—though she had done so the moment she heard the knocking.

Her voice was very faint, seemingly weak. “Mhm. My heat period has arrived.”

She smiled again. “It’s okay. I’ve already used the suppressant and the patch. Lianlian, your nose is so sensitive.”

Xiao Shuangyu shook her head, the tips of her ears already flushing red.

Ji Zhuozhou looked at her. “Am I… affecting you?”

Xiao Shuangyu shook her head again, instinctively and rapidly.

However, her breathing had clearly become heavier, carrying a subtle trace of desire and longing that had been deeply stirred.

Ji Zhuozhou didn’t call her out. They washed up together, ate breakfast together, and sat on the sofa together. Soon, Ji Zhuozhou stood up, preparing to return to her room to rest.

Then she turned back, looking at the stiff Xiao Shuangyu who sat dazed on the sofa, and spoke softly. “Lianlian, will you accompany me?”

Those ears were already pitiably red. Upon hearing this, Xiao Shuangyu turned her head abruptly. Her dark pupils trembled, brimming with a thin mist of extreme endurance.

Xiao Shuangyu’s voice was hoarse, as if she were forcing the words out. “I will.”

She stood up and walked toward Ji Zhuozhou, nearly stumbling.

The suppressant took effect quickly. The pheromones that had become difficult to control due to the heat soon subsided, and the small amount leaking out was firmly trapped by the inhibitor patch, preventing them from entering the air.

The pheromones in the room had almost completely dissipated, leaving only a hint of elegant orchid fragrance that was indistinguishable within the rich scent of rain and mist.

But while pheromones can be controlled and dissipated, the desires triggered by the heat do not vanish so easily.

Xiao Shuangyu’s frantic gaze darted around. She saw the used suppressant on the nightstand, the opened inhibitor patch packaging, and on the other side, a picture frame turned away so its contents couldn’t be seen.

It looked as though Ji Zhuozhou had looked at it and then placed it back haphazardly.

Before she had even noticed, Ji Zhuozhou must have already realized her heat was starting. Perhaps… it was at that time that she placed the frame that way.

I’m so jealous.

Even though she was in the very next room, in the first moment of her heart, Ji Zhuozhou still thought of Xiao Mingyi first.

It wasn’t her.

I want to monopolize Ji Zhuozhou. I want Ji Zhuozhou. I want her.

The flames of jealousy raged, scorching the already uncontrollable lust and longing. Xiao Shuangyu’s gaze grew darker; her entire being felt like a mass of chaotic shadows.

The shadows were disorderly and sticky. Her vision, her breath, her heartbeat, every part of her clung tightly to the person in front of her, to Ji Zhuozhou.

In the center of her thick vision, Ji Zhuozhou sat sideways on the bed. Her deep green eyes looked at her, and she patted the space beside her. “Come.”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Xiao Shuangyu crawled up. She stared into Ji Zhuozhou’s eyes, trying to keep the other woman’s gaze locked onto her own.

At that moment, Ji Zhuozhou leaned forward and gently pulled her in by the neck.

Xiao Shuangyu’s entire body went stiff. Before her heart could even react, she felt warm, soft fingertips touching the back of her neck, placing an inhibitor patch over the gland.

The slight friction triggered a wave of tremors. Xiao Shuangyu couldn’t suppress a low moan.

The moan reached Ji Zhuozhou’s ears clearly. Ji Zhuozhou narrowed her eyes slightly and cupped Xiao Shuangyu’s face. “Stay with me through my heart, okay?”

Her voice was cool, yet the tail end was soft, sounding like an incantation.

Xiao Shuangyu had always been unable to resist her. She nodded, leaning bit by bit, and stiffly kissed the moist, vivid lips.

So soft. So comfortable.

Even the lips seemed to be infused with the sweet scent of orchids—a wonderful sensation entirely different from before.

She gently nipped at Ji Zhuozhou’s lower lip, taking advantage of the moment Ji Zhuozhou unconsciously partied her teeth to slide her tongue in, sucking deeply.

Ji Zhuozhou didn’t stop her. She even reciprocated the tongue, monitoring Xiao Shuangyu’s breath amidst the gasps.

However, compared to before, the “dummy” was no longer a complete dummy.

Feeling Ji Zhuozhou’s breathing grow more ragged, Xiao Shuangyu grew bold. She kissed the side of Ji Zhuozhou’s neck, then her collarbone.

She lingered and kissed between the thin silk shoulder straps, gently pressing Ji Zhuozhou into the soft bedsheets.

Moving downward, she buried herself into the slight indentation of the gown beneath that slender waist.

And took a deep, deep breath of her scent.