The Paranoid Female CEO’s Contracted Beauty (Omegaverse) - Chapter 44

For the next two weeks, Xu Qingyan was constantly busy. Company matters left her with no time or energy for anything else. In the beginning, she was still able to return to the hotel to sleep with Li Ge in her arms. But as days passed, she didn’t even have time to leave the office, let alone visit the hotel.

Still, she kept her usual habits. She would message the omega at mealtimes, asking if she had eaten. At night, she would send a good night message, reminding her not to stay up too late.

It was probably those small habits, along with having slept next to Xu Qingyan for several nights, that made Li Ge slowly get used to the feeling of falling asleep in someone’s arms. More specifically, she had gotten used to being wrapped in Xu Qingyan’s pheromones. That comforting scent made her feel safe. So when Xu Qingyan messaged saying she could not come over for the next few nights, Li Ge could not hide her disappointment.

Every time she returned to the empty hotel room and saw the wide, untouched bed, an overwhelming loneliness washed over her. She would cling to the faint traces of Xu Qingyan’s pheromones on the pillow just to fall asleep.

It was true what they said. Habits were dangerous things.

Once you grew used to something, you began to rely on it. Before long, you became attached and didn’t want to let go.

After her shower, Li Ge lay on the bed and curled around the pillow Xu Qingyan had used. It still carried a soft rose fragrance. It was a gentle scent, not at all overpowering. She had always assumed that an S-class alpha’s pheromones would be intense, even a little aggressive, but Xu Qingyan’s weren’t like that at all.

Her pheromones were soothing. Every time she comforted her, it felt like being gently caressed, making her feel completely at ease.

Li Ge buried her face into the pillow again. She realized she missed Xu Qingyan a little. Reaching for her phone from the nightstand, she opened their chat.

The last message was a good night text from Xu Qingyan.

These past few days, Xu Qingyan had been sending her messages every day, mostly asking if she had eaten or gone to bed, and always saying good night. But Li Ge hadn’t replied to a single one.

Looking at the screen now, she suddenly felt a little guilty.

She typed the words “Good night” into the message box, but after hesitating for a long time, she still didn’t press send. In the end, she hugged the pillow and slowly drifted off to sleep.

At that moment, Xu Qingyan was still in the office, working. But her eyes kept flicking toward her phone. Almost every minute, she would check the screen. Each time it lit up, she would turn her head quickly, only to be disappointed when there was no reply.

Li Ge still hadn’t answered.

Xu Qingyan thought about calling, but she worried that the omega might already be asleep. She didn’t want to disturb her rest, so she gave up on the idea.

“What’s with the long face?” Tang Ling pushed open the office door and flopped onto the couch. As soon as she looked up and saw Xu Qingyan’s gloomy expression, she knew something was wrong.

If it were just a business issue, Xu Qingyan might frown for a moment, then power through it like she always did. Most of the time, she kept a calm and unreadable face, even when dealing with underhanded tactics from competitors.

But this was different. Her brows were drawn together, and there was a subtle sadness in her eyes. It wasn’t obvious, but someone who knew her well could tell something was bothering her.

Xu Qingyan set her phone down and glanced at her documents while asking, “It’s late. What are you doing here?”

Tang Ling replied confidently, “Do I need an invitation? Can’t I just drop by?”

Xu Qingyan didn’t actually mind Tang Ling showing up. But based on what she knew about her, this woman never came without a reason. There was no way she had come just to check in.

“So what’s your reason for coming?”

“Can’t I just come to see you?”

“Do you actually believe that yourself?”

“I do. Of course I do. How could I not believe my own words? Qingyan, you’ve changed. Now you even question my loyalty. You’re clearly someone who chooses love over friendship.”

Xu Qingyan said nothing and simply stared at her, waiting for her to drop the act.

Tang Ling shifted her gaze awkwardly, clearly feeling guilty.

“Don’t look at me like that. I really just wanted to check on you. Otherwise, when would I ever see you? You’re so busy with the company, you probably wouldn’t bother to visit me even once a year.”

Xu Qingyan couldn’t be bothered to call her out and lowered her head to continue working through her files.

The office fell silent. The sound of pages turning and the occasional mouse click echoed in the large space. It felt like no one else was there.

Tang Ling turned her head and kept watching her. She was amazed by how quickly Xu Qingyan had pushed aside her earlier emotions. It was only a moment ago that she looked troubled, and now it was like nothing had ever happened.

But Tang Ling knew her well. There were very few things that could make Xu Qingyan frown like that. In fact, she could think of only one thing that would cause this much concern: that little omega.

“Qingyan, you still haven’t answered my question.”

Xu Qingyan pretended not to remember.

“What question? Did you ask me something just now? I don’t remember.”

Tang Ling let out a deep sigh.

“Alright then. I must have been talking to some supernatural presence earlier.”

“As long as you understand.”

“So you do remember.”

But what could she do? Best friends like her could only keep pampering her no matter what.

Tang Ling grinned.

“What happened? The little girl isn’t talking to you anymore? No way. Are you seriously being controlled at home? Is she ignoring you because you’re never around? Look at you. It hasn’t even been that long, and you already left her alone at home. Honestly, you had it coming.”

Xu Qingyan found her annoying attitude extremely irritating and wanted nothing more than to call security and throw her out.

“You’re right. I deserve it. But some people don’t even have a girlfriend. How do you have the nerve to criticize someone who does? You’re not young anymore. If I were in your place, I’d be so embarrassed I’d dig a hole and disappear.”

Tang Ling nearly choked on that response. They had promised to stay single together. And now, just six months later, Xu Qingyan was already off the market, and with such an adorable omega too. She was exactly Tang Ling’s type.

Completely unfair.

“So what?” Tang Ling shot back. “Sure, she’s with you now, but are you two married? Do you have a marriage certificate? A lifelong bond? No. You don’t have any of that. You’re just sleeping together for now. How can you be so sure she’s going to stay with you forever? Honestly, Qingyan, you’re too full of yourself. That’s not confidence anymore. That’s full-on delusion.”

Her words stabbed deep into Xu Qingyan’s heart like knives.

She was right. Her relationship with Li Ge was just one of contract and companionship. At most, they had slept together twice.

They weren’t married, hadn’t registered anything, and there was no lifelong bond. Right now, she could control Li Ge with the contract. But what about the future?

What if Li Ge met someone she truly loved? What if she found an alpha she wanted to spend her life with? There was nothing stopping her from leaving.

And when that time came, even with the agreement in place, Li Ge would still walk away without hesitation.

Xu Qingyan would have no choice but to watch her fall in love with someone else, get married, register their bond, and eventually start a family.

Just imagining that was unbearable.

Li Ge had to be hers. She could only belong to her.

If anyone ever tried to take her away, she would do whatever it took to bring her back.

Even if it meant locking her away in her private villa, where only she could see her every day and no one else could touch her.

Tang Ling noticed the change in Xu Qingyan’s eyes. The longer she looked, the more disturbed she felt. She quickly tried to ease the tension.

“Qingyan, don’t overthink it. I was just joking with you. If you don’t like hearing things like that, then I won’t say them anymore.”

But Xu Qingyan’s expression didn’t soften. In fact, the more she thought about it, the more extreme her thoughts became.

“So what you mean is, she’s going to leave me one day, right?”

Tang Ling didn’t know exactly what had happened between them. But judging by Xu Qingyan’s current state, it was obvious her possessiveness over the omega had reached a frightening level. She couldn’t tolerate anyone saying anything even slightly negative about her.

Even though she knew Xu Qingyan wasn’t blaming her, the way she looked right now was still enough to make her uneasy.

Tang Ling let out a quiet sigh.

“Qingyan, I don’t know all the details between you and her. But I can see you care about her deeply. Still, I have to say this, even if you don’t want to hear it. Relationships only work when both people are willing. You loving her is only one side of the story. What matters is whether she loves you back. If she doesn’t, then maybe you can keep her physically close, but can you really hold on to her heart?”

She paused for a moment, then added softly, “You know what they say. A melon that’s forced off the vine never tastes sweet. You…”

Before she could finish, Xu Qingyan interrupted her.

“If you never pick the melon, how do you know whether it’s sweet or not?”

Tang Ling blinked, caught off guard. That line actually made a strange kind of sense.

She didn’t know how to respond.

The two of them stared at each other for a while until Xu Qingyan finally looked away. She didn’t want to hear that kind of thing from anyone. Absolutely no one.

“It’s fine if she doesn’t love me. I love her. It doesn’t matter if I can’t win her heart. As long as her body is mine, that’s enough.”

Her voice was steady and serious.

That kind of attitude made Tang Ling frown. It was the mindset of someone willing to force love, and that was not like the Xu Qingyan she knew. In all the years they had been friends, she had never seen her show real interest in anyone. She had never been close to an omega. She had never once mentioned being in love.

By all logic, something like this should not have happened.

But the way Xu Qingyan spoke now made it clear. She had been in love with that omega for a long time. So long that just seeing her could drive her mad.

“Qingyan, you…”

“If you’re about to try and talk me out of it, don’t bother. I don’t want to hear it.”

Tang Ling knew better than to push her. Once Xu Qingyan made up her mind, nothing and no one could change it. There was no point in arguing. So instead, she took a different approach.

“Look at you. You have everything. Beauty, wealth, power. You’re an S-class alpha. Why can’t you just do things properly? Try dating her like a normal person. Honestly, from what I’ve seen, that little girl doesn’t even hate you that much. Just be patient and chase after her the right way. Wouldn’t it feel better if she fell in love with you and stayed willingly?”

“Why do you need to force it? What if one day you regret it and it’s already too late?”

Xu Qingyan stayed quiet. Her lips pressed together and her eyes lowered as if lost in thought.

Of course she wanted to be with Li Ge like a normal couple. Sweet. Mutual. Loving. Just like everyone else.

But the omega always tried to run from her. She avoided getting close. That kind of resistance made Xu Qingyan feel unsure. And that uncertainty made her afraid.

If things continued like this, would the omega ever truly belong to her?

And if the answer was no, then she would lock her away. That way, for the rest of her life, Li Ge could only be hers.

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