The Eldest Lady always wants to have a double O Relationship with her old enemy - Chapter 44

New Year’s Eve.

It was snowing heavily in Rong City. The entire world was blanketed in white, while warm-colored lights circled the courtyard, making the early evening exceptionally romantic.

“Xixi, haven’t Zhaozhao and the others arrived yet?”

Shen Jianxi, dressed in a thick cotton coat, sat directly in the snow in the courtyard, fully focused on the snowman before her. Her hands were red from the cold, but the smile on her face remained undiminished.

“They said they’re on their way just now,” Shen Jianxi replied with a radiant smile.

The day after watching the concert, Shen Xiaoyin had sent a private helicopter to pick the two of them up. Given what had happened, even if there were people nearby to protect them, it was never the same as having them right there. It was impossible not to worry.

Shen Jianxi had no objections; after all, she already knew almost everything she needed to know. From now on, she just wanted her mother to assign more people to protect her and Zhaozhao at all times.

Originally dismissive of bodyguards, Shen Jianxi had now become enthusiastically obsessed with them.

They ended up assigning about ten people to protect them, five visible, five hidden. Ten seemed sufficient, though it still felt excessive for everyday life; it was almost as if they were going to battle just by stepping outside.

Shen Jianxi placed a carrot onto the snowman’s nose when she heard a car stop at the door. She looked up and immediately saw Tang Yanzhao walking toward her in a black trench coat.

Tilting her head, Shen Jianxi smiled sweetly at her, her round eyes squinting into a crescent.

Tang Yanzhao’s lips curved into a smile as well. She greeted Shen Xiaoyin, and Tang Xuan did the same.

Shen Xiaoyin waved at Tang Xuan, saying, “Come in, just let these two kids play.”

Tang Xuan followed her inside.

Tang Yanzhao squatted on one knee and looked at Shen Jianxi’s hands, frowning. “Aren’t they cold?”

Shen Jianxi held out her hands toward her. “Then warm them for me.”

Tang Yanzhao clasped her hands and noticed her fingers were stiff from the cold. She frowned. “What if you get frostbite?”

Shen Jianxi shrugged carelessly. “But you’re here, aren’t you?”

“Huh?” Tang Yanzhao exhaled warm air onto her hands and looked at her curiously.

“My hands are injured; don’t you still have yours? You can help me make tea, pour water, and…” Shen Jianxi smiled meaningfully, “…wash up.”

Tang Yanzhao paused while rubbing her fingers, her deep eyes fixed on Shen Jianxi’s hands, a blush creeping across her own cheeks.

Yet, she didn’t verbally deny anything.

Suddenly, Shen Jianxi pulled her hands back and coughed lightly against her lips.

Tang Yanzhao’s momentary embarrassment vanished instantly. She stepped closer, holding Shen Jianxi’s wrist. “Let’s go inside.”

Shen Jianxi shook her head. “It’s fine, the snowman isn’t finished yet. Go inside and tell Aunt Zhou about the two black beans, okay?”

Tang Yanzhao had never been able to persuade her otherwise. The only thing she could do was help her finish the snowman quickly and then return inside to warm up.

The cold weather made coughing the perfect disguise.

Tang Yanzhao’s feelings were becoming increasingly transparent; Shen Jianxi was just a moment away from seeing her flushed, passionate love.

Two minutes later, Tang Yanzhao returned with two black beans in her hand, placing them in Shen Jianxi’s palm.

Shen Jianxi brushed her fingertips against hers, sending a tingling sensation, and carefully placed them as the snowman’s eyes. Looking at her creation, her eyes shone with satisfaction in her own handiwork.

Tang Yanzhao suddenly leaned closer, wrapping her hands around Shen Jianxi’s face. Covering her cold ears with something warm and soft, Shen Jianxi lifted her gaze, her bright little cat-like eyes wide with innocence and no defenses. The warm yellow light illuminated her, turning her fair skin even rosier, her nose slightly flushed, making her expression unbearably endearing.

Tang Yanzhao’s breath brushed against her, and the faint scent lingered. When Shen Jianxi murmured her name, a subtle fragrance seemed stronger.

Shen Jianxi’s mind sparked, and she lightly pressed her tongue to her lips, the soft pink lips contrasting with the redness of her tongue, adding an unspoken sense of intimacy.

Tang Yanzhao’s throat rolled slightly.

In that instant, Tang Yanzhao finally confirmed what Hua Yan had told her: desire and impulse—they existed.

She truly liked Shen Jianxi.

No matter how many excuses she tried to make, her racing heart confirmed her undeniable love.

Tang Yanzhao liked Shen Jianxi.

“I…”

Before she could finish, Shen Jianxi suddenly pulled away, quickly standing and leaning against a nearby wall, coughing violently.

Tang Yanzhao was startled and hurried to her side.

Shen Jianxi swallowed hard, the metallic taste of blood filling her mouth. A small patch of blood stained her palm, vivid like a sudden bloom of red spider lilies.

“Xixi.” Tang Yanzhao’s voice was concerned from behind her.

Shen Jianxi quickly wiped her lips, hiding her left hand behind her, and turned to look at her normally. “What’s wrong?”

“What happened to you?”

“Huh? Nothing.” Her voice was hoarse from coughing.

Tang Yanzhao frowned, three lines of worry forming between her brows.

Shen Jianxi playfully linked arms with her. “I probably just caught a chill outside. A warm room will fix it. Come on, let’s go.”

No one noticed the single drop of blood that fell into the snow, soon covered by more falling flakes, leaving no trace.

Back in the room, Shen Jianxi used the excuse of changing into dry clothes and communicated with Xiao Shi in her conscious space. “What’s going on?”

“The data shows that Tang Yanzhao has confirmed her feelings for you,” Xiao Shi reported.

“That’s not surprising. I meant the blood—you saw it, right?” Shen Jianxi leaned on the edge of the sink, her gaze sharp in the mirror. “You said as long as you were around, I wouldn’t die. So how is this happening?”

“That’s true. But…” Xiao Shi hesitated.

Shen Jianxi frowned. “But what? Don’t be coy. Just tell me.”

“If I’m around, you won’t die. But if you die, my mission is accomplished.”

“What?!” Shen Jianxi’s stomach sank.

“Yes. We are bound, but as Tang Yanzhao’s feelings deepen, the punishment intensifies. By now, it’s at the highest level. Coughing up blood shows your body can barely handle it, your life being drained. If you continue, your body will not withstand it, and you will ultimately perish. My mission—ensuring your survival during my service—is complete.”

Shen Jianxi finally understood what “you won’t die with me around” really meant.

If she died, the system would return—it had been exploiting a loophole in its words.

She clenched the edge of the cold sink until her fingers turned red, gritting her teeth in suppressed anger. “So basically, my time is running out.”

“…Yes.”

Her head spun slightly. Taking a deep breath, she asked, “How much time do I have?”

“Unknown. Specifically, it depends on Tang Yanzhao’s feelings for you.”

Shen Jianxi splashed cold water on her face, the icy liquid damping her emotions. “No solutions?”

“You know the answer.”

Shen Jianxi laughed bitterly. “Xiao Shi, as a system, are you always this cold?”

“This is your optimal solution.”

“The optimal solution you see is for me to abandon the purpose of my rebirth. Violating the prerequisite is already the wrong path. Xiao Shi, this solution is zero points.”

“Without considering this answer, it’s a dead end.”

Staring in the mirror, Shen Jianxi’s red lips glistened with water. A drop trickled down her jaw, neck, and collarbone, soaking her clothing.

“Alright. I understand.”

Xiao Shi always stood by her. “So consider this: stay away from her, and both of you can live in this world unscathed.”

Shen Jianxi let out a low laugh. “Unscathed? Do you really think we can live unharmed just by avoiding each other?”

“The data supports it, the result…”

“Xiao Shi, I wish you could feel human emotions.”

Knowing her death was imminent was unpleasant. Her mood was low, yet her consciousness clear. Even two glasses of fruit wine barely made her cheeks flush, though her mind remained rational.

Perhaps heavy heart matters made it harder to get drunk.

Shen Jianxi lay on the tatami, staring at the starry ceiling, her mood melancholy, mist forming at the corners of her eyes.

Tang Yanzhao stood at the edge of the bed. “Xixi, do you have something on your mind?”

Since returning inside, Shen Jianxi had remained subdued, even dull enough for Tang Yanzhao to notice.

Shen Jianxi forced a smile and patted the space beside her. “Come, lie down.”

After a pause, Tang Yanzhao obeyed and lay down beside her.

Shen Jianxi naturally leaned on her shoulder, the comforting scent of green grapefruit rum lingering. Her restless internal turmoil gradually calmed.

She softly asked, “Zhaozhao, if one day we separate, you have to live well, carrying my share, okay?”

The words sounded like a farewell. Tang Yanzhao held her hand. “What’s wrong with you?”

Shen Jianxi lifted her head, pressed a kiss onto her chin, staying still.

If time stopped at that second, would that count as being together forever?

Yet violent coughing pulled them back to reality. Shen Jianxi despised her uncooperative body. The only thing she could do was steal a moment of warmth before leaving.

Tang Yanzhao felt the heartbeat beneath her palm, the answer to everything seemingly there.

Yet whether the answer was truly final, she needed to verify.

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