The Eldest Lady always wants to have a double O Relationship with her old enemy - Chapter 52

After that night, Shen Jianxi only sent Tang Yanzhao a single message—

“Zhao Zhao, what is your relationship with Hua Yan?”

Tang Yanzhao directly replied with four words:

“As you saw.”

Those simple words crushed Shen Jianxi’s last shred of hope. From then on, she never disturbed Tang Yanzhao again, and Tang Yanzhao didn’t take the initiative to message her either.

Even though she kept telling herself to stay calm, the sight of that scene and the eventual confirmation made it impossible for Shen Jianxi to deceive herself any longer. The only thing she could do was run away.

She also needed time to digest everything, otherwise the moment she faced Tang Yanzhao and this topic came up, she would definitely lose control.

She didn’t want to appear pathetic, like some clingy ex.

Even though she was far from reconciled.

So, let it go for now. Whether true or false, she needed time to process it.

Unfortunately, in just a few days it would be Shen Jianxi’s birthday, and Tang Yanzhao was bound to attend. Even if Shen Jianxi didn’t invite her, Shen Xiaoyin certainly would—after all, it was Jianxi’s coming-of-age ceremony.

They even held a small banquet.

That day, Tang Yanzhao arrived with Hua Yan, the two of them side by side, both wearing matching corsages on their wrists.

When they arrived, Shen Xiaoyin led Shen Jianxi toward the temporary stage. A white spotlight followed the mother and daughter, naturally drawing everyone’s attention.

“Thank you all for taking the time to attend my daughter Shen Jianxi’s coming-of-age ceremony…”

Shen Xiaoyin spoke into the microphone. At her side, Jianxi wore a long water-blue gown, her shoulders wrapped in a white wool shawl. Her black hair cascaded down, two thin braids pulled forward to frame her face. Under the lights, she seemed ethereal, almost otherworldly.

Tang Yanzhao watched quietly from the crowd. Her pale face betrayed no expression, but her black-onyx eyes tightened unconsciously. Standing next to her, Hua Yan could easily sense her uncontrolled distraction.

Of course, Jianxi was still some distance away. Their eyes met for barely five seconds before Jianxi looked away, refusing to continue the gaze.

Tang Yanzhao’s control over her emotions had always been stronger than Jianxi’s. Once Jianxi averted her eyes, Yanzhao had nothing to worry about—and her gaze grew increasingly unrestrained.

She watched Shen Xiaoyin step down from the stage. At the center stood a luxurious white piano. Jianxi turned gracefully, walking toward it with steady steps. As she moved, the cashmere shawl slid off her shoulders, trailing behind her.

Yanzhao’s brows furrowed involuntarily as the thin straps of Jianxi’s gown were revealed. When she noticed that Jianxi was barefoot, her frown deepened until her brows nearly pinched together.

Jianxi’s expression, however, remained calm, as though she wasn’t the one freezing red in the cold.

She sat down at the piano without once sparing Yanzhao a glance.

Her slender fingers rested on the black-and-white keys. Her delicate collarbone rose and fell with each breath. The moment her fingers fell, music filled the hall. Her hands moved faster and faster, fluttering like butterflies poised to take flight. Stray strands of hair glittered with sequins, sparkling under the lights like snowflakes in the air.

Tang Yanzhao recognized the piece—“Ballade No.1 in G minor.”

From the gentle opening to the final crescendo, Jianxi performed beautifully. In the cold of winter, dressed in only a thin gown, with snow swirling outside, she seemed sacred and untouchable, like a goddess on a mountain peak. Yet in the piano’s cry was unmistakable sorrow—anger and unwillingness spilling out from her heart.

A dull ache spread in Tang Yanzhao’s chest.

Beside her, Hua Yan sighed and whispered, “Why put yourself through this?”

Yanzhao heard her, but gave no reply.

She simply turned and left.

The ever-calm Tang Yanzhao had to admit—once again, Shen Jianxi had made her lose control.

Love really was a double-edged sword—it could tear a heart apart until it bled.

Hua Yan only curled her lips faintly, letting her go.

After the final note faded, Jianxi quietly retreated backstage. Hua Yan followed secretly, catching up with her in the shadowy corner behind the stage.

“Yan-jie.”

Jianxi’s tone was faint as she pressed her lips together. “You said you had something to discuss today. What is it?”

Hua Yan pulled two small glass bottles from her bag and handed them to her. “Smell these.”

Though puzzled, Jianxi did as told. The moment she uncorked one, the familiar scent rushed into her senses—the deep, bone-etched aroma of green pomelo rum.

Her eyes widened in disbelief as she looked at Hua Yan. Hua Yan only arched a brow. Jianxi, stunned, sniffed again.

But once she calmed, she quickly noticed something wrong. “This isn’t Zhao Zhao’s pheromone.”

“Mm-hmm~”

Jianxi’s chilled heart flared to life again. “So that night… you planned it! Why?”

“Jianxi, she knows your secret—about the punishment. Her feelings are bound to you.” Hua Yan kept it brief.

Jianxi’s hand trembled as she gripped the bottle. “She! When did she find out?”

Hua Yan gave a light laugh. “A year ago.”

“Why didn’t she tell me?”

“You know her. She’s a closed book. And especially with something like this—if she told you, would you have agreed to stay away from her?”

Without hesitation, Jianxi answered, “No.”

“Exactly. So all she could do was clumsily deceive you in her own way.”

Jianxi took a deep breath, her throat working. “Then why tell me now?”

Hua Yan sighed. “Maybe you’ll think I’m selfish. But Yanzhao is my sister. I’ve never refused her requests, even this time, acting with her. But since she decided to pull away from you, she hasn’t been well. I never believed she could truly let you go. So I wanted her feelings to be answered. The consequences for you—I don’t know. But I do know this: Yanzhao’s first, and maybe last, love deserves fulfillment.”

She laid her heart bare, every thought for Tang Yanzhao’s sake. She knew Yanzhao couldn’t let Jianxi go, and in the end, only she would suffer. So Hua Yan selfishly revealed everything to Jianxi, leaving the final choice in her hands.

Jianxi’s eyes curved with a smile. “Yan-jie, thank you for telling me. Honestly, even if you hadn’t, I wouldn’t have let Tang Yanzhao off tonight. I used to feel guilty about breaking you two apart. But now, not anymore.”

Hua Yan gave a small laugh. “Guilty? We’re half-sisters. Impossible.”

Jianxi nodded. “Then that’s my only justification for stepping in.”

“What do you plan to do?” Hua Yan asked.

Jianxi smirked and pointed toward a side building. “Yan-jie, can you lure her there for me later?”

Following her finger, Hua Yan saw the western annex, rarely visited—a perfect place for secrecy.

“Alright, leave it to me.”

“Thank you, Yan-jie.”

“Don’t thank me. I’m only doing it for Yanzhao.”

Jianxi lifted her gown and walked off. Hua Yan watched her for half a minute, then pulled out her phone to call Yanzhao. She waited until nearly hung up before the call connected.

“What is it?” Yanzhao’s voice was always curt, but Hua Yan still caught the loneliness in her tone.

Hua Yan instantly switched to urgency. “Zhao Zhao, I saw someone follow Jianxi into the annex. She’d had some wine—she could barely walk straight. I’m tied down here with business partners and can’t get away. Please go quickly, make sure nothing happens!”

Before Hua Yan even finished, Yanzhao had already rushed toward the annex, shoving through the crowd. The dim lights there left the place eerily quiet, the faint music drifting from afar.

Yanzhao had no time to think. When it came to Shen Jianxi, her rationality always deserted her.

The moment she entered, the door slammed shut behind her. The dense aroma of white sandalwood pheromones wrapped around her like chains.

At once, Yanzhao understood—but it was too late. The pheromone concentration only grew stronger, flooding her senses, making her heartbeat pound painfully at her temple.

It wasn’t that she disliked Jianxi’s scent—on the contrary, she craved it. But they were both omegas, naturally incompatible. Her neck glands felt like they were being pricked with countless needles.

The silence of the room was broken only by drifting pheromones—and a faint, low murmur nearby.

Yanzhao followed the sound and found Jianxi curled up on the sofa, whispering through hazy consciousness: “Zhao Zhao… Yanzhao… Tang Yanzhao…”

She knew Jianxi’s heat wasn’t due for another week. To be safe, she’d carried inhibitors with her ever since two years ago—after her own estrus had left Jianxi scarred, a faint mark still on her leg.

Pulling an inhibitor from her bag, Yanzhao whispered, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here.”

She raised it to Jianxi’s neck—

But Jianxi, even in her daze, remembered her goal. Especially with her beloved before her, her desire only magnified. She slapped the inhibitor away, shattering it on the floor.

Blood stained her lips as she clung to Yanzhao’s neck, ripping off the suppression patch behind her nape. “No inhibitor. I want you.”

Her intent was clear. She bit Yanzhao’s neck—not hard, just trembling, brushing gently.

Yanzhao’s pulse raced, the ringing in her head growing deafening. The sting in her glands deepened into tearing pain, sinking into her bones.

Though it was winter, sweat drenched her. With trembling hands, she pushed Jianxi away, her voice hoarse with denial: “We can’t.”

As another omega, she was useless to Jianxi—worse, she would only bring her misfortune.

But Jianxi ignored her refusal, fingers tugging at her collar, tracing her collarbone, breathing hotly against her neck. One arm locked around Yanzhao, while her own glands burned red, beckoning.

Their pheromones clashed in the air.

Yanzhao wanted to resist, but her body betrayed her—heat and chills alternating, limbs weak until she collapsed onto the carpet.

Jianxi’s gaze was blurred as she followed her down, nuzzling her neck, hand circling Yanzhao’s glands.

“Zhao Zhao, I know you like me. I like you too. Tonight, no matter what—you’re mine.”

“Jianxi…” Yanzhao felt wetness spill from her nape, catching the metallic scent.

Was this Jianxi’s blood?

No—they mustn’t. Absolutely not.

But what could she do? She couldn’t push her away. Worse… she wanted her.

It was like falling into a black hole, dragged down by Jianxi—and she willingly sank. Her body moved of its own accord, pulling Jianxi into her arms, nuzzling her neck like a pleading pup.

Amid the chaos, the system Xiao Shi’s alarm shrieked: “Jianxi, the green pomelo rum scent is rapidly changing. Tang Yanzhao is undergoing secondary differentiation.”

At that moment, Yanzhao’s love shattered the laws of biology.

Jianxi’s tilted head, baring her glands, was tacit consent.

Yanzhao’s sharp canines pierced her nape. As blood welled, Jianxi whispered against her ear, “This time, I want you to love me alive.”

Blood trailed down Yanzhao’s back, staining her shoulder blades like fluttering, blood-soaked wings.

Warmth dripped from Jianxi’s nose, but the pain was nothing compared to her craving. Even as agony wracked her body, she only whimpered softly, nails clawing into Yanzhao’s skin.

“Zhao Zhao…”

Time blurred. Sounds faded. Even pain dulled. Jianxi’s eyelids were too heavy, sinking like lead.

“Host.”

Through the haze, she heard Xiao Shi’s familiar voice. She tried to answer, but no sound came.

She vaguely saw Xiao Shi frantically manipulating data in her mind.

Then warmth spread back into her body, leaving her drowsy and powerless.

—

Jianxi lay limp on the sofa. Yanzhao’s body was exhausted, but her mind raced, scenes replaying like film strips.

Switching on the lights, she saw blood everywhere—on their clothes, the sofa, the carpet. Some hers, some Jianxi’s.

She had differentiated again—and marked Jianxi. Even if temporary, the mark would last six months.

What now?

The curse hadn’t been broken. She couldn’t pretend this hadn’t happened. How could she face Jianxi after this?

Frustrated, she clenched her palms until her nails drew blood. Everything was ruined.

Then she noticed tears slip from Jianxi’s eyes, falling onto the carpet, staining beside the blood.

So—you regret it, don’t you?

—

Jianxi’s nape throbbed, but her pheromones were calmed at last. Her heart was half joy, half ache.

Opening her eyes, she saw Yanzhao kneeling before her, head bowed like a penitent.

Weakly, Jianxi reached up to pinch her ear. “Zhao Zhao.”

Her voice was hoarse beyond recognition.

Yanzhao caught her hand, holding it tightly. Her body now instinctively longed for Jianxi.

“Jianxi, we…”

She faltered, unsure what to say.

Then Jianxi choked out, “Xiao Shi… is gone.”

“What do you mean?”

Tears burst forth. “It was my system, the one controlling the punishment…”

She told Yanzhao everything.

“But weren’t you forbidden to tell anyone?”

Jianxi’s voice was thick with sobs. “Xiao Shi said as long as it was there, I wouldn’t die. Its mission was to keep me alive during its service. Last night, because you broke the final restriction—because our hearts connected—by the rules, I should have died. But I didn’t. Xiao Shi saved me.”

Yanzhao, back wet with blood, held her trembling body, tears dripping onto her arm.

Jianxi continued, “So it activated its self-destruct program…”

Xiao Shi had always calculated the best outcome—that Jianxi should stay away from Yanzhao. But last night, it computed another solution: if it self-destructed early, the punishment would end, and Jianxi would live.

And so it sacrificed itself.

Tang Yanzhao bent down and kissed the tears from her cheeks.

No more restrictions. No more shackles. Her love was finally free. She knew nothing about Xiao Shi, but she loved Shen Jianxi. Seeing her cry in agony tore Yanzhao’s heart apart.

“Jianxi, its choice was to keep you safe. That was the best result.” Yanzhao’s tone was steady. She brushed a kiss on her lips, then clasped her hand. “I like you, Jianxi. Let’s be together.”

Jianxi’s tear-red eyes locked on hers. After two seconds, she replied softly:

“Zhao Zhao, I love you.”

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