Reborn as the Heartless Alpha - Chapter 7

Zhou Zhou’s gaze was too clear and pure, causing Song Yi to momentarily freeze in place.

Having navigated the business world for several years, Song Yi had encountered countless two-faced individuals. She could easily discern whether someone was feigning innocence or truly possessed a transparent heart when looking at her.

Zhou Zhou’s eyes, gazing up at her, were strikingly clear black and white without a trace of impurity, shimmering with a bright, luminous light. Song Yi was certain Zhou Zhou was the latter.

“Miss Song?” Zhou Zhou, feeling slightly self-conscious under Song Yi’s scrutiny, lowered her head slightly, no longer looking up. She resembled a rare, timid deer in a nature reserve, startled by the sudden intrusion of a stranger.

Song Yi withdrew her gaze, wondering if she should find another place to apply her medicine.

Then, Dr. Ding’s reminder flashed through her mind, and she decisively dismissed the thought. For the next few days, it was best for her to stay close to Zhou Zhou.

So she didn’t leave. Instead, she crouched by the bedside, rolled up a section of her pant leg, and retrieved a small tube of ointment from her suit pocket, preparing to tend to her wounds right there.

The ointment was a small tube, and when opened, revealed a dark green paste with a surprisingly pungent, spicy scent. Instinctively, she took a few steps back, not wanting to affect Zhou Zhou’s appetite.

The bedside light was partially blocked, making it difficult for Song Yi to clearly see the wounds around her ankle. She squinted, straining to get a better look. With her back turned to Zhou Zhou, she didn’t realize that Zhou Zhou had set aside her food the moment she reminded her about the medicine, quietly watching her.

“Miss Song, wouldn’t it be easier if you sat on the bed to apply it?”

Zhou Zhou’s voice came from behind, causing Song Yi to pause. She loved listening to Zhou Zhou speak her voice, as if steeped in the clear springs of a deep mountain, carried a faint, refreshing sweetness. It was an absolute pleasure to hear.

“Alright.”

Song Yi wasn’t one to fuss. Since Zhou Zhou didn’t seem bothered by her sitting on the bed, she stood up and took a seat at the foot of the bed maintaining the farthest possible distance even while sharing the same space.

Once seated, she didn’t immediately resume applying the ointment. Instead, she turned to glance in Zhou Zhou’s direction, only to find Zhou Zhou already looking at her. She smiled at her.

Just a second ago, Zhou Zhou had been thinking how considerate it was for Miss Song to sit at the foot of the bed such a tactful alpha. But now, her heart fluttered at that smile.

Miss Song is so gentle.

Song Yi soon averted her gaze from Zhou Zhou, noticing the barely touched food on the bedside table. Her brows furrowed slightly. “Why aren’t you eating? Does it not suit your taste?”

“No.” Zhou Zhou immediately picked up the bowl of congee again. “It’s delicious, just a little too hot.”

Song Yi believed her. Zhou Zhou looked so delicate, how could she possibly handle scalding food?

Forgetting for a moment that she hadn’t finished applying the ointment, Song Yi stood and moved closer, sitting on the side of the bed nearer to Zhou Zhou. She pointed to the food on the table. “These have been sitting for a while they shouldn’t be as hot as the congee. Try them.”

The distance between them suddenly shrank by more than half. Song Yi could clearly see Zhou Zhou’s fair skin flushing a deep red, the color spreading to her neck and ears.

This restaurant’s congee must be really hot, Song Yi thought.

Zhou Zhou set down the seafood congee and instead picked up a cup of warm milk, cradling it in her hands as she took small sips. She could feel the heat rising in her cheeks, knowing her face was growing even redder.

In truth, the congee had been the perfect temperature. The “too hot” part had been a lie to Miss Song.

“Have some staple food too.” Song Yi watched anxiously, her gaze fixed on Zhou Zhou. At this moment, she could almost understand the urgency her parents had felt when urging her to eat on time while they were still alive. “You’re too thin, you need to eat more.”

Under her urging, Zhou Zhou picked up a round brown sugar steamed bun shaped like a three-petal flower and took small bites, avoiding eye contact.

Watching Zhou Zhou eat filled Song Yi with an inexplicable sense of satisfaction.

The warm milk left a milky-white ring around Zhou Zhou’s lips. Song Yi wanted to remind her but held back. Only after Zhou Zhou finished both the milk and the bun did Song Yi use her clean hand, the one not smeared with ointment to grab a tissue from the side table and hand it over, silently observing as Zhou Zhou wiped her lips clean.

Perhaps the gesture of offering the tissue was too abrupt, because Zhou Zhou stopped eating. Song Yi smiled and said, “Don’t mind me, keep eating. There’s still so much left.”

Zhou Zhou wasn’t very hungry anymore but didn’t want to waste food either, hesitating for a few seconds.

“If you’re full, you can stop for now,” Song Yi added, unsure of Zhou Zhou’s usual appetite.

Zhou Zhou looked up at her. “Let me help you apply the ointment, Miss Song. It seems inconvenient for you to do it yourself.”

Song Yi paused. It was indeed a bit awkward, but not impossible. Normally, she would have refused, but meeting Zhou Zhou’s hopeful eyes, she realized Zhou Zhou needed to do something anything to feel less like a burden here.

“Alright,” Song Yi said, her lips curving slightly. “Thank you, Zhou Zhou.”

She lowered her head to pass the ointment tube but suddenly realized it wasn’t in her hand.

“It’s in your pocket,” Zhou Zhou murmured. “I saw you put it there earlier.”

“Oh, right.” Song Yi retrieved the tube and handed it over, but didn’t immediately let go when Zhou Zhou reached for it.

Zhou Zhou blinked, puzzled.

“Next time, don’t use ‘Miss’ or ‘you’ so formally,” Song Yi said before releasing the tube.

Zhou Zhou gripped it tightly and nodded.

“I’ll handle my feet myself. Just help me with my wrist,” Song Yi said, rolling up her sleeve and extending her arm without hesitation.

She watched as Zhou Zhou, silent and utterly focused, unscrewed the cap, scooped a dab of dark green ointment with her finger, and gently spread it over Song Yi’s wrist.

A wasabi-like pungency filled the air between them. Zhou Zhou turned her head aside, covering her nose as she sneezed, then ducked her head even lower in embarrassment. After carefully wiping her hands with a tissue, she resumed applying the ointment.

Though emotionally reserved, Song Yi couldn’t help but find Zhou Zhou endearingly sweet.

“All done, Miss Song,” Zhou Zhou said, her voice noticeably softer now.

Song Yi withdrew her hand, flexing her wrist in the air a few times before saying, “Thanks.”

Zhou Zhou looked up, her nose tinged red likely from the ointment’s fumes. Song Yi tucked her treated hand behind her back.

“Dr. Ding suggested we stay together for the next few days. Zhou Zhou would you be willing?”

Zhou Zhou froze, speechless for a long moment.

Miss Song had already saved her was she really offering to help even more?

Interpreting the silence as reluctance, Song Yi thought, Of course. After seeing that horrifying room on the second floor, it’d be strange if she wanted to stay.

She coughed lightly, a bit embarrassed. “Actually, I was planning to move to a different house. What happened before won’t happen again, so you don’t need to worry. I won’t hurt you.”

After spending this time together, Zhou Zhou had no doubts about Song Yi’s words.

“Of course I believe you, Miss Song. But won’t I be too much of a bother to you, to you?”

“Not at all.” Song Yi noticed that Zhou Zhou had dropped the formal address and was now speaking to her more casually.

“It’s lonely living alone in such a big house,” she said with a smile, offering a casual excuse.

“If you’re willing, we can move to another house right now,” Song Yi suggested.

She was genuinely afraid that staying in this house any longer might lead to more unexpected frights.

Zhou Zhou nodded. For her, being with Miss Song was all that mattered, the location didn’t matter.

Song Yi let out a sigh of relief. Earlier, while waiting for Dr. Ding and the takeout to arrive, she had confirmed with the Song family’s head butler via her phone. Most of the villas in this area were Song family properties, each with its own dedicated butler. If she ever wanted a change of environment, she could move in immediately.

In her original world, Song Yi had been wealthy, but not to this extravagant extent owning most of a villa district. She had to admit, the feeling of being rich was truly great.

This time, she was more cautious. She first ruled out the villas that had already been decorated according to the original scumbag Alpha’s preferences, leaving three untouched villas completely clean and untainted.

Looking at the floor plans and panoramic videos sent by the head butler, she thought they were all quite nice. She wasn’t the type to fuss over such details in daily life as long as it wasn’t the original scumbag Alpha’s perverse style, she could accept anything.

So, she left the choice to Zhou Zhou.

“Zhou Zhou, take a look at these three villas. Which one do you like?”

“Me? I get to choose?” Zhou Zhou widened her eyes in surprise, her heart fluttering nervously.

“Yeah, I have decision fatigue. Just pick one you like.” Song Yi didn’t actually suffer from decision fatigue, she could have easily chosen one at random. She said this only to make Zhou Zhou feel more at ease and happy with their new home.

She handed her phone to Zhou Zhou, her fingers slowly sliding over the floor plans as she accompanied her through the panoramic videos of each villa.

Finally, she raised an eyebrow and asked with a smile, “Found one you like?”

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