Reborn as the Heartless Alpha - Chapter 31

Song Yi’s deep pupils suddenly dilated. At this moment, the long-suppressed restlessness in her heart gradually dissipated, and even the insomnia that had been troubling her earlier now seemed endearing.

She blinked. Under the moonlight, Zhou Zhou was still there, standing outside the wrought-iron gate with its intricate patterns, gazing longingly toward the fountain. Song Yi understood Zhou Zhou had come to see the fountain. But Zhou Zhou didn’t have the key or fingerprint access, nor was her facial recognition registered.

Song Yi immediately turned and dashed out of the spacious room, sprinting downstairs.

Zhou Zhou had been standing outside the gate for over ten minutes, unable to enter or catch a glimpse of the fountain. Slowly, her heart sank.

I probably won’t get to see it today. I’ll have to wait for another time.

Her hands slipped from the iron gate as she prepared to turn and leave.

Suddenly, the front door of the villa swung open from the inside. In the bright light, Song Yi stepped out.

“Zhou Zhou!” Song Yi called.

Zhou Zhou froze mid-step and whipped her head around. “Miss Song.”

Song Yi hurried over in quick strides, unlocked the gate, and pulled Zhou Zhou inside.

Zhou Zhou, lost in thought, stumbled from the sudden tug and nearly lost her balance. Song Yi reacted swiftly, reaching out to steady her, pulling Zhou Zhou into her arms.

The summer night was silent. In this villa district, even the chirping of insects was rare. The clearest sound now was the beating of their hearts.

Thump-thump, thump-thump!

Song Yi assumed it was just her own rushed arrival, her breathing not yet steady, that made her heart race. But Zhou Zhou’s ears burned red. Once she regained her footing, she quickly stepped out of Miss Song’s embrace.

“Miss Song, I…” Zhou Zhou lowered her head, grateful for the dim evening light. Surely, Miss Song wouldn’t notice the embarrassment on her face.

Song Yi didn’t overthink it. Assuming Zhou Zhou wanted to explain sneaking over to see the fountain at night, she smiled warmly and simply led Zhou Zhou to a room on the villa’s first floor.

Inside were electronic devices Zhou Zhou had never encountered before. She was bewildered, unsure why Miss Song had brought her here.

Noticing her confusion, Song Yi explained with a smile, “I’m registering your information. After this, you’ll be able to freely enter and exit all the villas here.”

“Ah?” Zhou Zhou was stunned.

Song Yi guided her to an electronic panel, captured her image, and completed the facial recognition, all in less than a minute.

Zhou Zhou stared at her own startled face on the screen.

“Want to retake it?” Song Yi asked gently. She knew most girls cared about photos that would be kept long-term, wanting to look their best.

Song Yi deleted the first attempt and started over, patiently waiting for Zhou Zhou to adjust her expression. Finally, she captured a shot when Zhou Zhou’s smile was relaxed.

“Perfect. This one’s beautiful.”

Leaving the room, Zhou Zhou still felt dazed.

Just like that, Miss Song had registered her biometrics. Now she could come and go freely in the villa just like Miss You.

No, no. How could I compare to Miss You? Miss You was Miss Song’s former lover, and they even seem to be reconciling. I’m just the villa’s housekeeper. Miss Song did this just to make my work easier, right?

Lost in thought, Zhou Zhou tightened her grip on the two grass-woven butterflies in her palm.

Meanwhile, Song Yi’s mind was on an entirely different wavelength. Enthusiastically, she took Zhou Zhou’s wrist and led her toward the fountain in the courtyard.

Zhou Zhou had come to see the fountain, so Song Yi took her to see the fountain without giving it another thought.

As Zhou Zhou was led forward by Miss Song’s grip on her wrist, her heart ached with bitterness.

“You’ll soon see for yourself what the fountain looks like at night,” Song Yi said cheerfully, her voice brimming with excitement.

Zhou Zhou steadied her emotions, not wanting Miss Song to notice the gloomy thoughts swirling inside her.

As they drew closer to the fountain, Zhou Zhou noticed Miss Song slowing her pace, and her nerves tightened. The path beneath their feet was paved with stones spaced about ten centimeters apart, and the sound of their footsteps was unexpectedly reminiscent of piano keys, an experience entirely different from the daytime.

Suddenly, Miss Song stopped, pulling Zhou Zhou to a halt beside her. The dormant fountain abruptly lit up in shades of blue and purple, and from the central stone platform, water shot up in the shape of a blooming flower, shimmering with flowing fluorescence under the night sky. Beyond the sound of rushing water, intermittent drip-drop echoes could be heard.

The magnificent symphony of the night had begun. Zhou Zhou stared, transfixed. She had seen fountains in plazas before, but none as breathtaking as this. Had she not met Miss Song, she might never have witnessed such a sight in her lifetime.

Zhou Zhou regarded Miss Song as a benefactor in her life, filled with gratitude. Yet she despised herself for harboring inappropriate feelings toward her. Miss Song had been kind to her, just as Miss You had yet here she was, indulging in thoughts she shouldn’t…

Her right hand, hanging at her side, clenched tightly. The two butterfly hairpins in her palm pressed into her skin, their sharp wings cutting deep. A piercing pain shot through her.

No matter how beautiful the scenery before her, it felt stolen never truly hers.

Blood seeped from her palm, dripping into the soil, merging with the earth. Zhou Zhou prepared to bid Miss Song farewell and leave.

Unaware of Zhou Zhou’s inner turmoil, Song Yi thought this moment this very scene was perfect for making a wish. She had seen in videos that tossing a coin into a fountain completed a simple wishing ritual. She wondered if Zhou Zhou had ever tried it.

So she tilted her head and asked, “Zhou Zhou, do you want to make a wish?”

“A wish?” Zhou Zhou’s eyes concealed sorrow, but she masked it as best she could when looking at Miss Song.

“Yes, a wish.” Song Yi released Zhou Zhou’s wrist and instinctively reached into her pocket, surprised to find a handful of coins.

Was this some hidden perk of transmigrating into a novel?

System? She tentatively called out in her mind, but no legendary system answered.

She didn’t dwell on it. As long as they could make wishes, it was fine.

“Zhou Zhou, give me your hand,” Song Yi said excitedly.

Zhou Zhou didn’t comply, tightening her grip on the hand clutching the butterflies. After a long pause, she finally raised her uninjured hand. “Miss Song, just one coin will be enough.”

Song Yi blinked, then laughed. “One isn’t enough at least take three.” With that, she placed three coins into Zhou Zhou’s palm.

Even though a single coin was only worth one yuan, for the Zhou Zhou of the past, this would have been a luxury.

“Why aren’t you making a wish?” Song Yi asked with concern.

Zhou Zhou stared at the three silver coins in her palm and whispered, “Will it really come true?”

“It will.” Song Yi thought of the original novel’s ending Zhou Zhou’s wishes had indeed all been fulfilled, though not without suffering along the way.

“I promise,” Song Yi said firmly.

Now that she had transmigrated into this world, she wouldn’t just ensure Zhou Zhou’s wishes came true in the end, she would also shield her from harm.

Zhou Zhou’s heart pounded like a drumbeat, clinging to the faint hope that Miss Song’s words might be true.

She really closed her eyes and made her wishes earnestly.

[After the college entrance exam results come out and I fill out my applications, I hope to be admitted to a good university smoothly.]

Zhou Zhou opened her eyes and tossed the first coin into the beautiful fountain’s center.

[After graduation, I hope to have a good job and a stable life.]

The second coin.

[To find someone who loves me as I love them, to stay together until old age.]

The third coin also fell into the fountain, splashing up tiny droplets.

When Zhou Zhou opened her eyes, she felt an inexplicable disappointment, as if her wishes had already slipped through her fingers the moment they were made.

The person she liked now was worlds apart from her there was no hope, and she shouldn’t even entertain such foolish thoughts.

Song Yi noticed the low mood beside her and turned her head to ask, “Done?”

“Yeah.”

“Not happy?”

“No.” Zhou Zhou forced a smile. “Thank you, Miss Song. I had a wonderful time tonight.”

Song Yi studied Zhou Zhou suspiciously for a moment before shifting her gaze. She also closed her eyes and made a wish toward the fountain.

She only made one.

[I hope all of Zhou Zhou’s wishes come true.]

Before Zhou Zhou’s fiancée appeared, she would do everything in her power to fulfill Zhou Zhou’s desires.

She raised her hand, and all the coins scattered into the air before raining down into the fountain, each one making a soft plop as it hit the water.

Zhou Zhou stared in shock. Did Miss Song just make so many wishes at once?

Among all those wishes, was there even one that had the slightest connection to her?

The thought startled her.

Flustered, she blurted, “Miss Song, I should go.”

Her farewell was abrupt, but she couldn’t help it. She turned to leave, but Song Yi grabbed her arm, concern in her voice. “Is something wrong?”

“Nothing.”

Song Yi didn’t believe her. Her gaze dropped to Zhou Zhou’s right hand she had noticed earlier that Zhou Zhou had been clutching it tightly, as if holding something important. Zhou Zhou hadn’t volunteered the information, so she hadn’t asked.

But now, she knew she wouldn’t sleep tonight if she didn’t find out.

“Zhou Zhou, what’s in your right hand? Can I see?”

Zhou Zhou shook her head violently. Song Yi sighed, unwilling to force her. “Fine. I’ll take you back. Don’t say no, I won’t feel at ease otherwise.”

Zhou Zhou couldn’t bring herself to refuse, but her confusion only deepened. She was just the housekeeper at Miss Song’s villa, an employee. Why was Miss Song being so kind to her?

Did Miss Song treat everyone this way? She couldn’t figure it out, and she didn’t dare entertain the thought that Miss Song might also have feelings for her.

Song Yi’s expression was grave as she prepared to escort Zhou Zhou back to You Xuechu’s villa. She didn’t walk beside Zhou Zhou but instead lingered slightly behind, keeping her in sight.

Zhou Zhou’s right hand remained tightly clenched. Song Yi desperately wanted to know what secret it held, but if Zhou Zhou refused to say, there was nothing she could do. She wasn’t the original scumbag Alpha, she would never force Zhou Zhou to do anything against her will.

Then, suddenly, she saw red liquid trickling from Zhou Zhou’s palm. Her heart lurched.

All reason fled. She grabbed Zhou Zhou’s arm, stopping her from walking further. “You’re hurt.”

Zhou Zhou hadn’t expected Miss Song to notice. Before she could explain, Miss Song pulled her firmly back into the villa.

Song Yi made Zhou Zhou sit on the soft, warm brown sofa and fetched the first aid kit.

“Open your hand, let me take a look,” Song Yi said sternly.

Zhou Zhou didn’t move, clenching her hand even tighter.

“Zhou Zhou!” Song Yi’s eyes were filled with urgency, a hint of anger creeping in whether at herself for taking so long to notice or at Zhou Zhou for not telling her, she wasn’t sure.

Zhou Zhou still couldn’t bring herself to comply. Song Yi reached out directly, her expression impatient but her touch gentle as she carefully unfolded Zhou Zhou’s hand. The sight was unbearable nestled in her bloodied palm were two green butterflies, now stained crimson. The vibrant green was so striking that the red seemed almost incidental.

Song Yi carefully placed the two butterflies on the table, lining them with a napkin. Then, with meticulous care, she used tweezers and cotton to clean the blood from Zhou Zhou’s palm before applying medicine.

“Does it hurt?” Song Yi asked, brows furrowed.

Zhou Zhou shook her head. “Thank you, Miss Song.”

Without a word, Song Yi bandaged Zhou Zhou’s wound with gauze. Modern medicine was advanced such superficial injuries would heal quickly, and the scars would fade soon enough. But all Song Yi could think was how much pain Zhou Zhou must have been in, her face paling when the medicine was applied.

Once the wound was treated, Song Yi turned her attention to the two grass-woven butterflies on the table. These little things were what had caused Zhou Zhou’s injury. Her thumb brushed over the small cut on her own index finger, her heart stirring faintly.

“Are these butterflies for me?” Song Yi asked, gazing at them.

The blood from the butterflies had seeped into the white napkin, turning them into troublesome little creatures that left her at a loss.

Zhou Zhou pressed her lips together, too afraid to admit it.

Even without confirmation, Song Yi was almost certain. If Zhou Zhou had only come to see the fountain, there’d be no reason to bring the butterflies, she must have intended to give them to her. Perhaps she’d hesitated after getting blood on them, thinking it inauspicious.

Song Yi looked at Zhou Zhou, realizing she might have been too harsh earlier. Her expression softened, and she said gently, “I really like them.”

Zhou Zhou’s head snapped up, meeting Song Yi’s smile. Miss Song actually said she liked them!

But the moment their eyes met, Song Yi’s expression turned serious again.

“But don’t ever do this again. It’s dangerous.”

“Okay,” Zhou Zhou whispered in agreement, her heart pounding. Even if Miss Song only liked the butterflies she’d made, even if she’d said it just to comfort her, she was still overjoyed.

But the joy didn’t last long. Zhou Zhou stared at her right hand, now neatly bandaged by Miss Song, and worried. How would she explain this when she returned to Miss You?

Song Yi took a few napkins and carefully wiped the butterflies clean before setting them back on the table.

Above them hung an ornate crystal chandelier, its warm yellow light making the two butterflies gleam. Though slightly crumpled, they still looked lifelike, as if they might flutter away at any moment.

Song Yi thought about how, once Zhou Zhou truly grew stronger, she too would fly away back to her birth parents, back to her fiancée.

A pang of something unnameable twisted in her chest. She reached out and lightly touched one of the butterflies on the table.

“Zhou Zhou, stay here tonight, okay?”

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