Reborn as the Heartless Alpha - Chapter 13

Song Yi rolled out of bed and rushed downstairs without even slipping on her slippers.

She came to a halt in the living room on the first floor when she spotted the slender figure in the kitchen.

Zhou Zhou was making breakfast, wearing a golden sunflower apron tied in a bow at the back. Hearing the noise, she turned her head and saw Song Yi with disheveled hair and bare feet, tilting her head in confusion.

“Good morning,” Song Yi greeted awkwardly, her toes curling against the cool floor.

“Good morning,” Zhou Zhou smiled at her. “Breakfast is almost ready. Miss Song, you can go upstairs to freshen up before eating.”

“Okay.”

Song Yi glanced down at herself, then quickly turned and hurried upstairs.

Only when she was sure Zhou Zhou could no longer see her did she let out a sigh of relief, closing her eyes in regret.

So embarrassing.

So embarrassing.

Never in her life had she felt this embarrassed.

Song Yi rubbed her forehead helplessly. She had just dashed around like a madwoman. The moment she opened her bedroom door, she could smell the aroma of food, yet she had let her brain shut down and charged ahead recklessly.

Though Zhou Zhou hadn’t left, Song Yi didn’t dare to take her time. She quickly got herself ready and headed back downstairs, her self-reflection still unfinished, just in time to see Zhou Zhou carrying out two plates of something steaming with broth.

Just from the smell, she could tell it was far better than anything she could cook.

Her appetite piqued, Song Yi stared at the steaming food on the table and asked, “It smells amazing. What is it?”

“Wontons,” Zhou Zhou replied, a little shy. “This is the only thing I know how to make. I hope it suits your taste, Miss Song.”

“Wontons?” Song Yi looked up at Zhou Zhou in surprise. She had checked the fridge the night before and didn’t recall seeing any wonton wrappers.

“Did you make the wrappers yourself?”

Zhou Zhou hesitated, then nodded. She spent most of her time at school, eating in the cafeteria, so she rarely had the chance to cook.

But back in the orphanage as a child, one of the common activities during holidays was making dough and wrapping wontons together. She had done it so often that she became quite skilled. Waking up this morning, she thought she had nothing to repay Miss Song with at the very least, she could make her breakfast.

“Did it take you long?” Song Yi asked softly, her gaze gentle. Though she rarely cooked herself, common sense told her that making dough from scratch was no easy task.

“Not too bad,” Zhou Zhou blinked, her eyes clear and bright like stars in the night sky. “I woke up early and couldn’t fall back asleep, so I got up.”

Song Yi nodded, an inexplicable ache rising in her heart.

She took a few steps forward, took Zhou Zhou’s hand, and led her into the kitchen. Zhou Zhou reacted a beat too late, unsure what Miss Song intended to do, her heart pounding nervously.

Her palms even seemed to sweat. Just as she was about to pull her hand away, Miss Song let go first, then leaned in closer. Zhou Zhou’s eyes widened in panic as she took a step back, only to bump against the kitchen counter.

“Don’t be afraid,” Song Yi chuckled lightly, pulling Zhou Zhou slightly closer but maintaining the last bit of distance between them.

Utterly confused, Zhou Zhou simply lowered her head.

Song Yi reached both hands around Zhou Zhou’s back, as if about to pull her into an embrace.

Zhou Zhou stared at the hands passing around her waist, frozen in place. But the touch she feared never came.

A few seconds later, Song Yi untied the apron from Zhou Zhou and hung it back in its place. “You forgot this.”

Zhou Zhou blushed as she watched her retreating figure, then lowered her head when the other woman glanced back.

“Wash your hands and eat,” Song Yi reminded, completely unaware that her earlier gesture had been misinterpreted by Zhou Zhou.

Zhou Zhou followed her, washed her hands, and a dry towel was immediately handed to her.

She stared blankly for a moment before reaching out to take it. “Thank you, Miss Song.”

It wasn’t until she sat down at the dining table, the same small tea table from last night that Zhou Zhou finally snapped out of her daze.

Miss Song was such a considerate person.

Was Miss Song this considerate to everyone?

Zhou Zhou couldn’t figure it out. She had only just met Miss Song, how could she presume to speculate about her character?

She shook her head slightly to herself.

“What are you thinking about?” Song Yi had already eaten several plump, meat-filled dumplings and was puzzled to see Zhou Zhou hadn’t touched hers yet.

Zhou Zhou looked up and, without thinking, blurted out, “I should leave.”

“Thank you for your kindness, Miss Song.”

Once the words were out, she felt an overwhelming sense of relief, as if a weight had been lifted. Zhou Zhou stared unblinkingly at Song Yi, waiting for her response.

Song Yi lowered her head, gently stirring the small dumplings in her bowl with a spoon.

“They’re quite good.”

“There are more in the fridge, unboiled. If you’d like to eat them later, you can just boil some water, it’s very convenient.”

Zhou Zhou immediately clamped her mouth shut after speaking.

Miss Song lived in a house like this, owned multiple properties, and could move residences on a whim, she was undoubtedly very, very wealthy. What couldn’t she eat?

Her compliment about the dumplings was probably just politeness. How could Zhou Zhou take it seriously and say something like that?

Song Yi finished the remaining dumplings in her bowl in silence before finally saying, “Thank you. Now I have breakfast sorted for tomorrow.”

Zhou Zhou looked up at her in confusion.

“Dr. Ding said the first fever cycle requires a few more days of observation,” Song Yi said carefully. She hadn’t expected Zhou Zhou to want to leave after just one night. “If you don’t want to share a room with me, you can stay in the guest room next door.”

“It’s not that.” Zhou Zhou opened her mouth but didn’t know how to explain.

Song Yi waited quietly for her response. Zhou Zhou finally said weakly, “I’m very sure my body is fine now. I don’t want to trouble you any further, Miss Song.”

Seeing that Zhou Zhou truly wanted to leave, Song Yi didn’t press further.

“Alright.” Song Yi stood up to clear the dishes. Zhou Zhou hadn’t even touched her bowl of dumplings yet and was still hesitating when Song Yi returned, sitting back down across from her.

“If you’re leaving, at least eat first. Don’t rush, I’ll take you.”

“Miss Song!”

“Eat first.”

Zhou Zhou lowered her head and ate the dumplings, her mind preoccupied, making the food taste bland.

Once she finally finished the bowl, she carried the dishes to the kitchen herself. Just as she was about to wash them, Song Yi stopped her. “No need.”

“Oh, then I’ll be going, Miss Song.”

Song Yi grabbed her arm. “Wait one minute. I’ll drive you. This place is remote, you won’t find a taxi.”

Zhou Zhou looked at the warm hand holding her arm and nodded faintly. She had no money for a taxi, nor did she know the way.

Song Yi went upstairs and returned a moment later carrying a box. Zhou Zhou recognized it as the one Dr. Ding had brought yesterday.

“Zhou Zhou, although you seem fine now, you might not realize that your control over your pheromones isn’t strong enough. Put on the scent-blocking patches, don’t let any ill-intentioned alphas catch your scent.”

Was Miss Song actually worried about her?

Zhou Zhou softly replied, “Okay,” as she took the box.

Song Yi chose a low-key black Mercedes from the garage and drove herself. She already knew where Zhou Zhou was headed, but to avoid giving herself away, she still asked Zhou Zhou for the address and set the navigation accordingly.

Nancheng No. 2 High School, a prestigious institution within an otherwise ordinary school district. It enrolled many top students from modest backgrounds who excelled academically, frequently producing top scorers in both liberal arts and sciences in the national college entrance exams. Last year, the number of students admitted to top-tier universities from this school even surpassed that of the elite private high schools, though many students from the latter went abroad directly.

Throughout the drive, Song Yi focused on the road and didn’t initiate conversation. She could feel Zhou Zhou’s occasional glances from the passenger seat.

Too timid to look openly seemed she was still a little afraid of her.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t be in such a hurry to leave.

“Just stop here,” Zhou Zhou urged anxiously before they even reached the school gates.

Song Yi complied, pressing the brakes.

“Thank you, Miss Song.” Zhou Zhou got out and stood on the sidewalk, clutching the metal box of scent-blocking patches tightly. Her gaze lingered on Song Yi, betraying a hint of reluctance.

Song Yi beckoned her again. Thinking there was something more to say, Zhou Zhou hesitated before leaning back into the car. Song Yi then slipped a sky-blue phone into her arms.

“My number is saved in it. Call me if you need anything.”

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