The Second Fall - Chapter 49

Chapter 49: Taking the Bait

Rong Yushu finished playing a recording on her phone. After three light taps, she personally opened the room door. Out of the corner of her eye, she glanced toward the bathroom.

The single room was excellent for this. The space was small, and the bathroom was right by the door. Her position perfectly blocked the bathroom door while allowing her to monitor its status in real-time.

The silly fish had taken the bait. Lan Cixing actually opened the bathroom door. She thought she was being careful, restraining the creak of the door frame, but the effort behind the movement was audible. The opening was tiny—perhaps just enough for a single eye to peek through.

Rong Yushu caught the signal regardless.

“What kind is it? Does it taste good?” Rong Yushu leaned against the wall, casually deploying thirty percent of her acting skills. Her voice was seductive, and her figure blocked Lan Cixing’s line of sight, making it impossible for the younger girl to see if Feng Shi was actually standing at the door.

Then, Feng Shi’s voice was heard again.

“Imported from Country F. I just had a taste; it’s the flavor you like.” The familiarity in the tone made Lan Cixing feel a pang of bitterness. Her chest tightened with jealousy, and her breath grew hot. She pressed against the back of the door, quietly tugging at her own hair.

Rong Yushu lowered her gaze. There was no one in front of her, so there was no need to fake an expression. She focused on the reflection in her peripheral vision, wanting to bypass her own shoulder to see Lan Cixing’s eyes. She tapped her phone a few times, exiting the AI voice interface, and connected to a monitoring lens aimed behind her.

She saw Lan Cixing looking like a timid, hesitant puppy. Lan Cixing really only opened a tiny crack. She didn’t lean out, but a sliver of apricot-pink skin was visible—she must have taken off several layers of clothing, which was why she couldn’t step out. But her face was full of shame; only one eye was visible, staring unblinkingly in Rong Yushu’s direction. To an outsider, she looked like a pitiful puppy left behind by its master, waiting faithfully on the spot.

Watching the live feed from the lens, Rong Yushu continued her performance.

“Biscuits? Like the ones we had last time?” She was waiting. Waiting for Lan Cixing to lose her restraint.

Lan Cixing was more impatient than she had imagined. She couldn’t stand that one sentence. Her gaze was pitiful and drenched in jealousy, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. The gap in the bathroom door widened, and she poked her head out.

“Yeah. Aren’t you coming? I’ve prepared everything for you,” Feng Shi’s voice appeared again.

Lan Cixing bit her lip hard, quietly. She reached out a hand. She was crouched very low to avoid being seen. That hand appeared abruptly, drooping pitifully. She lightly touched Rong Yushu’s back. Just once. After the touch, she immediately recoiled into the bathroom.

But the door remained open. It was a silent, stealthy invitation.

Rong Yushu finally let out a fleeting smile. “Sorry, my bed partner wants me to stay with her, so I won’t be going.” Then, she shut the main door.

Before Lan Cixing could shut the bathroom door out of shame from that blunt “bed partner” remark, Rong Yushu used one hand to brace the gap. She forcefully broke through Lan Cixing’s self-protection. Rong Yushu practically squeezed into the bathroom, her fox-eyes narrowing as she scanned Lan Cixing.

Lan Cixing’s head was burning. It was only under that gaze that she realized her current state. To avoid thinking about being with Rong Yushu, she had stripped as soon as she entered the bathroom. Rong Yushu had seen everything again.

“Little bed partner, did you miss me?” Seeing the girl turn beet-red, Rong Yushu retracted her gaze and leaned down slightly, a rare instance of her looking up at Lan Cixing.

Lan Cixing already had her head down; now her eyes collided with Rong Yushu’s, her heart skipping a beat at the flash of emerald light. She backed away until she hit the wall where the towels hung, grabbing one like a lifeline and draping it over herself to hide.

But she didn’t even have the towel wrapped properly before the person in front of her became just like her.

“You poked me so hard. If you miss me, be honest. It’s the third time you’ve wanted me but didn’t dare to speak up.” Rong Yushu discarded her things on the floor, leaving herself no retreat. She hooked an arm around Lan Cixing’s waist and pulled her into her embrace. Seeing Lan Cixing shudder and go soft against her, she then pushed her back slightly.

“Or maybe you don’t miss me. In that case, I’ll just have to stay here and watch you.” When Rong Yushu’s actions were decisive, she seemed truly merciless. Her flirtatious eyes were too good at deceiving people; those familiar with her often interpreted her affection as coldness. Especially Lan Cixing—only Rong Yushu’s “coldness” made her feel safe. When she was too affectionate, Lan Cixing felt only panic, her heartbeat unable to slow down.

Lan Cixing’s breathing was incredibly ragged. She turned her head, actually considering the option of being “watched.” But the door was transparent; what was the difference between Rong Yushu being here or out there? With burning ears and a feverish mind, Lan Cixing took a step forward.

Aside from the slight sway of her body, the step was almost invisible. She reached out again, with extreme caution, and hooked her pinky finger around Rong Yushu’s. Fearing she might poke too hard and hurt her again, her movements were gentler than ever.

“I… I want…” Lan Cixing’s hair fell over her eyes, obscuring Rong Yushu’s face.

Rong Yushu ignored her, pretending not to hear. Lan Cixing only caught a glimpse of her mocking eyes and felt forced to raise the stakes.

“I want… to be with you.” She quietly lifted her head, her eyes sparkling with tears.

Rong Yushu chuckled and pulled her close, opening the glass door.

“I just…” Lan Cixing wanted to explain.

The temperature was set high. She felt stifled by the steam. Rong Yushu held her tightly, forming a circle around her. Rong Yushu was her cage, but Lan Cixing was the one who had spun the cocoon. Perhaps it was because Rong Yushu’s movements were so gentle that Lan Cixing didn’t want her to misunderstand. After all, she had finally realized that Rong Yushu had been waiting for her to invite her own imprisonment.

“I didn’t want to be seen as a pervert.” Lan Cixing’s head was being stroked, and her breathing gradually relaxed. Rong Yushu’s “special training” was effective. A few days ago, Lan Cixing would never have explained herself voluntarily; it took Rong Yushu’s repeated “conditioning” to get her here.

“If I had initiated the invitation, it felt so… rogue-ish.” Lan Cixing sank into Rong Yushu’s soft warmth, her hands finally rising to return the embrace. She wanted to kiss Rong Yushu, and she craved more of her touch. But in this moment, she only gave her words.

Lan Cixing had always been chivalrous, restrained, and gentle. She was truly different from most Alphas who were arrogant because of their talents. She was special. Rong Yushu knew this best of all.

“So… I have to be the one to take the lead, hm?” Rong Yushu laughed softly, applying lather to Lan Cixing. She covered her in foam. Then she watched as Lan Cixing obediently tilted her head back, blinking her puppy-eyes at her.

“After all, I am just a weak, pitiful, and harmless Omega.” Rong Yushu tapped Lan Cixing’s nose with her fingertip. A dollop of white foam remained on the bridge of Lan Cixing’s nose, obscuring her vision. It made it impossible for her to see Rong Yushu’s current expression. Was it a joke, or was she annoyed?

“I didn’t mean that.” Lan Cixing shook her head and blinked, trying to make the foam slide down. She explained hurriedly. Regardless of anything else, in terms of marking, the Omega always suffered more. How painful was the bite, and then the injection of pheromones? Yet Lan Cixing didn’t want to explain that part. Rong Yushu surely wasn’t speaking out of anger because of that.

“I know you are incredible and powerful. I just… didn’t want you to misunderstand me.” Every action Lan Cixing took stemmed from this one sentence. “If I invited you proactively and you ended up hating me, what would I do?” Lan Cixing knew some Omegas disliked proactive Alphas, especially the forceful kind. Rong Yushu was a very forceful person with an eccentric temperament who always had the final say. She shouldn’t allow a subordinate to resist, let alone a dog.

“You still haven’t understood the lesson I taught you yesterday.”

Lan Cixing’s ear was suddenly pinched. The reddened tip was stained with foam, turning a tender pink. She shuddered, bullied by Rong Yushu again.

“We’re already bed partners. If you have thoughts, shouldn’t you voice them?” Rong Yushu pinched Lan Cixing’s ear with all her might and tugged at her arm. “I’m not some unreasonable person.” She even gave Lan Cixing a side-eye. She was genuinely a bit displeased. What kind of image did she have in Lan Cixing’s mind? Did she seem like someone who got angry easily?

Lan Cixing buried her head weakly into Rong Yushu’s chest. Rong Yushu was angry right now, after all. It was just the kind of anger that wouldn’t decrease her “affection points.” What Lan Cixing feared more was losing points in Rong Yushu’s heart.

“Besides, it’s not like I’ll agree just because you say it. Even if you want to be a rogue, do you think I’d just allow it?” It was always because Rong Yushu gave silent consent that Lan Cixing had the chance to act.

Lan Cixing muffled her head, breathing in the white tea scent from Rong Yushu’s body, thinking that this logic was sound. If Rong Yushu didn’t like it, her speaking up would be useless; she’d just be kicked out.

“Then you aren’t allowed to hate me for it,” the girl spoke clingily. Her voice was soft, but the sentence was domineering.

Rong Yushu found it funny, and her grip tightened. When had she ever hated Lan Cixing? She really didn’t know how this person could be so timid. Clearly, in the past, Lan Cixing was the boldest one. Relying on their ambiguous relationship, Lan Cixing was the one who always pushed for more. The dog had become cowardly. Rong Yushu rested her fingertips on Lan Cixing’s waist, deciding to make Lan Cixing take the initiative.

“Then you aren’t allowed to refuse me.” They were trading one for one; it was fair, right? Rong Yushu gave Lan Cixing a promise and the power of initiative. She also gave her an order.

Lan Cixing pursed her lips into a smile, took the foam handed to her, and leaned down to kiss Rong Yushu as a test. Seeing Rong Yushu cooperate, Lan Cixing circled her neck and pressed against her ear. Her whisper was like an incantation.

“Then, what does my Mommy want right now?”

A dog was still a dog. Occasionally mischievous, occasionally cowardly. Give her a little space, and she would boldly forget her own name. Rong Yushu didn’t dare show her satisfied gaze, fearing this rose-colored puppy would misunderstand. But Lan Cixing was truly getting better and better. She even knew how to ask proactively and tease her emotions.

“Of course, it’s…”

Rong Yushu’s soft moan turned into a whisper. Lan Cixing happily held her tight and deepened the kiss. Rong Yushu wanted her.

After leaving the bathroom, it was still Rong Yushu carrying Lan Cixing. Lan Cixing was clearly neither lazy nor soft. In front of Rong Yushu, she always feigned weakness. Even though she was the one who exerted herself just now and Rong Yushu was the one who endured it, she still wanted Rong Yushu to carry her.

With a sore waist, Rong Yushu actually carried her out, tossed her unceremoniously onto a chair, and used a towel to rub her hair. Lan Cixing’s face was still pink, looking plump and tender from the wash. It was as if she had returned to being eighteen. She looked up and watched Rong Yushu through the mirror, her heart full of joy.

Meeting her eyes, Rong Yushu instinctively returned an equally warm smile. Upon realizing what she had done, she decisively retracted it and gave the overconfident cub a light slap. Lan Cixing swayed and lowered her head to make it easier for Rong Yushu to blow-dry her hair.

“Should I cut it back…?” Previously, she could accept Rong Yushu drying her hair because she was young, her hair only reached her ears, and Rong Yushu was like a mother. The security team had requirements for hairstyles; Lan Cixing couldn’t grow it long, so washing and drying were fast. Now her hair reached her waist and was curly. It was quite a hassle to dry.

“You want to change your hairstyle?” Rong Yushu didn’t catch the underlying meaning. She curled Lan Cixing’s hair and felt it was a bit of a pity. It had finally grown long.

“You get tired,” Lan Cixing said. She also thought it was a pity. She cherished her curly hair; most of her meager pocket money went into it. Perming, dyeing, and treatments all took time and money.

“Heh.” Rong Yushu realized the meaning and twisted a lock of Lan Cixing’s hair. “Now you know I get tired? Why didn’t you think of that just now…?” Just now, she had been tossed around with great effort. Lan Cixing ignored her crying and ignored her biting. That was just Lan Cixing’s style. Rong Yushu was used to it and quite liked it. She was just embarrassed to say so.

“I was wrong,” Lan Cixing apologized quickly. Her eyes showed no hint of remorse; she’d dare to do it again next time.

“…My nails haven’t been trimmed either.” After two days on the desert island, Lan Cixing had nowhere to trim them. She glanced at her hands; they were slightly wrinkled from the soak, and the nails were growing out. “Will it hurt? Sister, it’s all my fault.” She truly felt she was wrong this time and decided to be better prepared when they got back. She’d buy some finger cots.

“Hurt?” Rong Yushu acted as if she’d heard a joke. She leaned down to put the hairdryer away and leaned into Lan Cixing’s ear. She bit her hard. Lan Cixing closed her eyes and endured, not making a sound.

“You really aren’t afraid of pain, and you don’t know how to cherish me.” Rong Yushu bit hard and pinched her. Her dog was thick-skinned and truly had a high pain tolerance; she could be bullied at will.

“How could I…” Lan Cixing wanted to argue, but Rong Yushu picked up the hairdryer and continued, ignoring her. Lan Cixing’s ear was bitten red—only that half was shockingly red, while the rest returned to its normal pale skin tone. It was as if Rong Yushu’s teeth were a paintbrush; by biting her open, she had painted her with color.

Rong Yushu really couldn’t be bothered to talk to her. How did Lan Cixing not know how to cherish her? Every time she pressed down with such force, as if she were trying to pierce through her…

A moment later, Lan Cixing heard the faint knocking for the third time and finally turned her head. “Someone’s knocking,” she reminded Rong Yushu.

“…You want to open it?” Rong Yushu had no intention of answering. Her look toward Lan Cixing changed. Wasn’t Lan Cixing quite prone to jealousy? Why so proactive?

“Hmm? Isn’t it someone from the crew?” Lan Cixing didn’t finish her sentence. The room was too small; Rong Yushu had already reached the door and opened it.

This time, it really was Feng Shi.

Lan Cixing shut up. She finally understood why Rong Yushu had that look on her face. Lan Cixing felt a bit of regret. She wanted to find a mask and follow, not wanting Feng Shi and Rong Yushu to be alone. She also didn’t quite understand. Feng Shi had just been here and was driven away by Rong Yushu’s “bed partner” remark; why was she back now?

“Yushu, I’d like to borrow a hairdryer.” Lan Cixing couldn’t see Feng Shi’s appearance. If she could, her alarm bells would be ringing even louder. Feng Shi’s hair was wet, and her neck was covered in droplets from her bath. She still had the pink flush of someone fresh from the shower. It was the most basic of seduction tactics.

Rong Yushu found it dull. Her gaze was distant, her eyelids drooping as if she couldn’t be bothered to lift them. “Your luxury penthouse doesn’t have a hairdryer, so you came to borrow mine?” Her tone was blunt, lacking the leisure she had when “talking” to Feng Shi earlier. She shifted her body slightly.

Lan Cixing saw Feng Shi’s state and was so shocked her heart nearly jumped out. She didn’t have time for a mask and couldn’t delay. She tried her best to use the most high-pitched, feminine voice of her life. It had to be loud, otherwise Feng Shi wouldn’t hear.

“Mommy. My hair is all tangled, can you come help me…?” It was deliberate and theatrical.

Feng Shi’s eyelid twitched. She tilted her head, trying to see the person in the room. Her view was completely blocked by Rong Yushu; she could only hear the words intended to show off to her. The water from her hair dripped onto the floor. No one cared about her.

“That’s how it is. I’m still using mine, go ask someone else.” Rong Yushu couldn’t be bothered with her further and slammed the door. She left Feng Shi with a gust of wind that blew the water on the floor. Feng Shi stood at the door for a long time before clenching her fists and leaving.

As for Rong Yushu, she was already sitting on Lan Cixing’s lap, teasing her with her fox-eyes while drying her hair. “You need Mommy that much? You can’t even be without me for two minutes.”

Lan Cixing was too embarrassed to say it was to drive away a love rival. “…I just really need Mommy.” She was much bolder than before. She spoke bluntly, looking up into those fox-eyes. That emerald color was always so bright. Lan Cixing loved those eyes most of all. Especially when they looked at her.

Rong Yushu, in turn, didn’t know how to respond to such bluntness. She felt a bit shy and didn’t plan to answer. Fortunately, Lan Cixing wasn’t that bold yet; she didn’t continue to expose her.

They made the bed. It was hard for two people to lie on the single bed. Like in a tent, they had to sleep huddled together. Lan Cixing hesitated. Logic told her to sleep on the floor. Emotionally, however, she wanted to linger by Rong Yushu’s side. Or rather, in her arms. She hadn’t had enough of the hugging yet; Lan Cixing thought that while the “absurdity” of tonight was enough, there hadn’t been any proper kissing yet. Her movements were a bit slow. Her thoughts were obvious.

Rong Yushu raised an eyebrow and sat on the bed. Their eyes met. Lan Cixing was already preparing to lie on the bed. But she was swatted away by Rong Yushu.

“You bullied me so miserably, and you still want to sleep together?” Rong Yushu added a kick, making Lan Cixing take a step back. “Keep dreaming.” Rong Yushu monopolized the bed for herself and turned off the light.

Lan Cixing stood on the spot for a long time before sitting down with a red face, preparing to sleep where she was. She lay on her side on the floor. She had slept in all sorts of environments before; she wasn’t picky. Yet before falling asleep, she was still restless. How strange. Previously, when Rong Yushu wanted to sleep with her, she didn’t dare. Now that Rong Yushu wouldn’t allow it, she had an incredibly strong desire to sleep with her. She didn’t even want to do anything extra. She just wanted a hug and a kiss.

They were… bed partners, after all. Shouldn’t they sleep together?

Lan Cixing hugged herself a bit tighter, her breathing slowly quieting. But she had to listen to Rong Yushu. Truly… her Master. Forget it, she was her dog to begin with.

Lan Cixing fell asleep too quickly to know what happened. Not even half an hour after she fell asleep, Rong Yushu—who had been bullied enough tonight and then begged to take care of her—got up. She exhaled and used all her strength to pick her up. She carried her back to the bed. She truly treated her as a bed partner. They spent the night sleeping in each other’s arms.

The next day, Lan Cixing woke up on the floor. She stretched, preparing to get up and make breakfast for Rong Yushu. Before she could take a step, she was hooked back by Rong Yushu’s foot.

“You’re not even going to say hello? Where are you trying to go?” Rong Yushu was actually awake too, watching the bad dog who was preparing to act alone.

“Making breakfast for you.” Lan Cixing turned back and crouched by the bed, looking obedient and cute. She was even wagging her “tail.” She had absolutely no awareness of being caught by her master.

“The crew will definitely have some. Why are you tiring yourself out?” Rong Yushu beckoned with her finger.

Lan Cixing actually got on the bed. Amidst their shared gaze, she lowered her head and gave Rong Yushu a “morning kiss.”

“…This is your breakfast?” Rong Yushu swore she hadn’t asked for it this time. She truly had only looked at Lan Cixing. Who knew this girl would be so proactive, wagging her tail and kissing her without even asking.

“No.” Lan Cixing lay down and was instinctively embraced by Rong Yushu. “But if Sister wants it to be, it can be.”

Rong Yushu quickly pushed away the dog that was acting a bit strange. The crew hadn’t prepared breakfast. Speechless, Rong Yushu said her goodbyes and took Lan Cixing back on the private jet. This time, the two didn’t argue; they just sat together. Lan Cixing leaned against Rong Yushu with all her might. Rong Yushu used her phone and connected to the Wi-Fi, looking leisurely.

Finally, she caught a message. “My cub. You have a package.”

Lan Cixing looked up.

“The shipping company is… Charismatic Desire Fire Co., Ltd.?” After Rong Yushu finished reading, she looked at her cub, who was frozen on the spot.

In fact, this was a small toy she had bought for Lan Cixing. Like the kind Yan Siyi mentioned, to help soothe the glands.

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