Why Did the Top Alpha Suddenly Stop Acting Out? - Chapter 66.1

“Want to bite me back?”

Ye Shuyi paused mid-chew, her gaze lingering briefly on the hand before her before quickly looking away. She wasn’t actually angry just a little embarrassed and… afraid she might lose control.

She swallowed the food in her mouth and said slowly, “I’m not angry. Hurry up and eat before it gets cold.”

“Really not angry?” Yi Qian still tilted her head, watching her.

Ye Shuyi took a deep breath, met her gaze directly, and curled her lips into a stiff, unconvincing smile. “In your mind, am I someone who gets angry so easily?”

Yi Qian shook her head without hesitation, her tone utterly sincere. “Shuyi, I know you’re outstanding and capable of handling everything. But when it comes to our relationship, you don’t need to hide any emotions. Whether you’re happy or upset, I want you to express them freely. I don’t want you to feel even the slightest bit of resentment. Do you… understand?”

Ye Shuyi stared at her blankly for a moment before averting her eyes. She picked up a piece of well-marbled meat and fed it to Yi Qian. “Got it. Now eat.”

Yi Qian smiled and ruffled her hair. Just as she picked up her chopsticks, her phone buzzed with a “ding” almost simultaneously, Ye Shuyi’s phone chimed as well.

The two exchanged a knowing glance before picking up their phones to check the message. After reading it, their eyes met again.

The message on both their screens, sent by the production team, was identical:
[Congratulations! Both of you have chosen the same location for your final recording. Your destination is Anping Village, Anyang County, Qincheng. All expenses for this trip will be covered by the production team. (Friendly reminder: The tasks for this recording will be tailored to each location’s unique features. Specific details will be announced tomorrow at noon.)]

“You…”

Their voices overlapped, then both fell silent.

“You go first.”

Again, they spoke in unison.

Yi Qian chuckled softly and said, “This tacit understanding of ours.”.. You first. Why did you want to go back?”

Ye Shuyi smiled at her, set down her chopsticks, and rested her chin on interlaced fingers, her gaze drifting to the window as if peering into a faded past.

“I haven’t been back since Grandma passed away. I thought this would be a good chance to visit. And also.” She paused, turning to look at Yi Qian beside her, a faint smile curving her lips. “I wanted to take you there to the place where my happiest memories are kept.”

Yi Qian held her gaze, her eyes brimming with tenderness. She parted her lips but didn’t speak immediately. Instead, she took Ye Shuyi’s hand in hers before saying softly, “Then why do you think I wanted to go there?”

Ye Shuyi frowned slightly, her expression seeming to ask, Should I know?

Yi Qian nodded slightly, affirming the unspoken question. Unbothered by her momentary lapse, she reached out to stroke Ye Shuyi’s hair, her lips curling gently. “Think about it?”

Ye Shuyi’s brow furrowed deeper as she fell into thought.

Yi Qian watched her patiently, her gaze unwavering and warm.

Before long, Ye Shuyi’s pupils slightly dilated as she looked at the person beside her with a hint of disbelief.

Yi Qian curled the corners of her lips slightly: “Are you wondering why… even after all these years, I still want to go there?”

Ye Shuyi gave a small nod.

Yi Qian took her hand and pressed it against her own cheek, tilting her head slightly as she gazed at her with upturned eyes, her tone light and cheerful: “Haven’t I told you before? I want to know everything about you.”

“And from what the production team said, this time it should be a two-person trip with the artist and their manager. Might as well consider it a publicly funded date, why not take the opportunity?”

The location they had chosen together Anping Village in Anyang County, Qincheng was a place they had talked about visiting together back in their university days.

One evening near graduation, under a clear night sky, Ye Shuyi sat on the sofa with a book in hand, barely settling in before Yi Qian walked over, ducked under her arm, and lay down on her lap.

Ye Shuyi curved her lips slightly, allowing her to stay there but not engaging with her, instead continuing to flip through her book with unwavering focus, turning the pages one after another.

Meanwhile, Yi Qian simply stared straight at her, not initiating conversation either.

It was as if the two were silently competing to see who would break first and acknowledge the other.

The living room was as quiet as a ripple less lake, with only the occasional sound of Ye Shuyi turning a page hardly enough to disturb the stillness.

Just as she turned the page for the third time, a hand suddenly reached down from above and pressed against the book. Ye Shuyi pried it away, attempting to flip the page again, but the hand quickly returned to block it. After several rounds of this, Ye Shuyi finally relented, smiling helplessly as she looked down at the person on her lap: “Just say what you want to say?”

“I’ve been lying here for so long, why won’t you pay attention to me?” Yi Qian crossed her arms, her tone full of grievance. “Is the book that good? Better than me?”

Ye Shuyi pinched her nose, her lips still curved in amusement: “So you’re lying here just to throw a tantrum? Competing with a book for attention?”

“Then tell me, do you love me or the book more?”

After a moment of deliberate thought, Ye Shuyi teased: “The book?”

Yi Qian’s lips instantly drooped, resembling a wronged and dejected puppy. As she sat up, she muttered under her breath: “Fine. I’ll leave then.”

But before she could fully straighten up, an arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her back with just enough force to make her collapse like a marshmallow onto Ye Shuyi’s lap again. The person above her was barely suppressing a smirk, like a fox whose tail had betrayed its disguise.

Yi Qian narrowed her eyes: “Are you messing with me?”

Ye Shuyi schooled her expression, avoiding direct eye contact as she shook her head with feigned seriousness: “No.”

“Then why are you smiling?” Yi Qian’s gaze remained fixed on her. “You know, every time you avoid looking at me, it means I’ve guessed exactly what you’re thinking.”

“So, are you going to tell me or not?” Without hesitation, Yi Qian began tickling her sides.

Unable to resist the physical reaction, Ye Shuyi burst into laughter, grabbing at Yi Qian’s wriggling hands as she pleaded: “Alright, alright, I’ll talk!”

Yi Qian withdrew her hand, crossing her arms in front of her chest with a triumphant air. “Out with it.”

“I was just thinking why someone would be so silly as to compare themselves to a book,” Ye Shuyi said, gazing down at the person nestled in her arms, her eyes brimming with tenderness.

Yi Qian dramatically clutched her chest, feigning heartbreak. “Wuwu, my lover stolen away by a book.”

No sooner had she spoken than she swiftly turned around, wrapping her arms around Ye Shuyi’s waist and nuzzling her head against the other’s abdomen like an overexcited large dog seeking attention from its owner. Lifting her tousled head, she asked, “So, do you love the book or me more?”

Seeing Ye Shuyi hesitate, the “large dog” unceremoniously tugged at her owner’s clothes with her teeth, burrowing her head beneath the fabric to give a playful nip on the stomach.

“Ah!” Ye Shuyi inhaled sharply, torn between laughter and exasperation. “Since when did you start biting people? Really acting like a dog now?”

Yi Qian ignored the question, launching another attack, this time capturing a small patch of skin between her lips, occasionally flicking it with her tongue.

The collision of softness sent uncontrollable shivers through Ye Shuyi, who instinctively leaned back to escape the mischievous mouth. As Yi Qian immediately tried to close the distance again, Ye Shuyi pressed a hand against her forehead, cupping her face with a smile. “Alright, enough teasing.”

Locking eyes with the woman in her arms, she enunciated slowly, “I love books… but I love you the most.”

“Books are just seasoning in life, but you, you’re my entire world.” She punctuated this by pressing a featherlight kiss to Yi Qian’s nose, the corners of her lips curling upward. “Satisfied with that answer?”

When Yi Qian nodded, Ye Shuyi moved to sit up properly only for a hand to suddenly press against the nape of her neck. Puzzled, she looked down at the woman in her lap, who raised an eyebrow, voice husky: “Sweetheart~ With the mood like this, wouldn’t it be a shame if we didn’t… do something?”

Before Ye Shuyi could react, the hand at her neck pulled her down.

What met her was the sweet softness of Yi Qian’s lips.

The position didn’t last long. Yi Qian soon sat up, pressing Ye Shuyi against the back of the sofa while straddling her thighs. The electrifying dance of their tongues sent tingles coursing through every limb.

Ye Shuyi caught Yi Qian’s wandering hands, slowly opening eyes that once clear as a deer’s now glazed over with desire, transforming her into a temptingly ripe rose begging to be plucked.

“What’s wrong?” Yi Qian licked her dry lips, voice gravelly.

Resting their foreheads together, Ye Shuyi nuzzled gently, breath like silk: “Let’s go to the bedroom, hm?”

The warm exhale ghosted over Yi Qian’s face. She leaned down for another kiss before scooping Ye Shuyi up by the thighs, carrying her toward the room.

The night deepened, city lights winking out one by one.

After cleaning up, Yi Qian slipped quietly back into bed. Just as she closed her eyes, rustling sounds came from beside her. Soon, an arm draped over her waist and a head nestled against her shoulder as Ye Shuyi’s slightly hoarse voice asked, “So what did you originally want to tell me tonight?”

Though their energies had been diverted elsewhere, Ye Shuyi knew whenever Yi Qian approached her so unexpectedly, there was always…

There was something important she wanted to tell her, but this person had a peculiar habit. While she could openly state her desires about many things, there were certain matters where she became oddly awkward insisting on being directly asked, otherwise she’d keep making little gestures to grab attention. Yet if not questioned, she’d never speak up voluntarily.

“Since you’re so tired now, shall we talk tomorrow?” Yi Qian reached out to twirl a lock of her hair around her fingers.

Ye Shuyi nuzzled against her shoulder and murmured, “It’s fine, go ahead.”

Tomorrow would be busy with numerous tasks, and she feared she might forget to ask later.

In the darkness, the corners of Yi Qian’s lips curled slightly as she stroked the hair of the woman in her arms, tentatively suggesting: “I was thinking… since we’re graduating soon… should we take a graduation trip?”

Hearing her cautious tone, Ye Shuyi’s drooping eyelids slowly opened, her drowsiness fading instantly. She knew Yi Qian was considering her again these days, between thesis deadlines, job hunting, and countless other graduation preparations, she’d been spinning like a top with perpetual motion, neglecting many things.

Raising her head to gaze at the barely visible face in the dark, she asked, “Where do you want to go?”

Yi Qian turned to face her, cupping her cheek earnestly: “I want to visit where you were born.”

Ye Shuyi’s pupils trembled slightly. “Why there? It’s… not particularly interesting.”

Yi Qian embraced her, resting her chin atop her head, voice soft: “Because that’s where you first saw the world. I want to see it too.”

In the days following Ye Shuyi’s agreement, Yi Qian threw herself into planning. Unfortunately, due to various reasons, their scheduled dates kept getting postponed until their eventual breakup rendered the graduation trip forever unrealized.

Yi Qian tightened her grip on the hand in hers, smiling: “So there won’t be any accidents this time, right?”

Ye Shuyi nodded solemnly: “If the show falls through, I’ll take you myself.”

Fortunately, the program proceeded without issues.

Fifteen hours of travel from Star City to Qin City by plane, then by car to Anping Village in Anyang County finally brought them to their destination.

Upon arrival, the production crew wore exhaustion plainly on their faces. Though less visibly affected, weariness showed on Ye Shuyi’s features too.

Only Yi Qian remained vibrantly enthusiastic throughout, radiating nothing but excitement and curiosity like an indefatigable machine. When Ye Shuyi mentioned the house they’d be staying in was her grandmother’s home, while others rested, Yi Qian thoroughly cleaned every corner of the property.

The traditional house was modest: the main building contained a living room, bathroom, and one bedroom. To its right stood the kitchen; the left side, originally a poultry pen, had been converted by the crew into equipment storage. Before the main house stood a pavilion with a wooden table and round stools.

Ye Shuyi remembered that this pavilion and its furniture had already been quite dilapidated when she was very young. The roof of the pavilion had a hole, and one of the round stool’s legs was shaky, barely able to bear her childhood weight.

Perhaps due to the upcoming program filming, the hole in the pavilion had been repaired, and the furniture was all new, but the colors and styles remained unchanged. Thus, these new additions didn’t feel too out of place in the old house.

Watching Yi Qian bustling about, Ye Shuyi stepped forward to help, only to be sternly forbidden from getting close. Yi Qian pushed her into the room, insisting she rest properly.

She hadn’t planned on sleeping. After being away for so long, she thought this place would feel like nothing more than a familiar yet foreign space to her. Normally, she would have struggled to fall asleep in an unfamiliar environment. But unexpectedly, shortly after lying down, she drifted into slumber.

In the haze between dreams and wakefulness, she seemed to hear her grandmother calling her childhood name.

“Shu-shu.”

The voice came as if from another lifetime, warm and affectionate, just as it always had been.

It had been years since she last heard her grandmother call her that, yet she was certain this was unmistakably her grandmother’s voice.

“Grandma? Where are you?”

Ye Shuyi called out, looking around, but all she saw was a vast expanse of white, as if she had entered an isolated, otherworldly space.

She didn’t know how many times she had called out before she finally turned and saw the familiar figure, simple gray cotton clothes, a short brown scarf wrapped around the neck, its ends tucked neatly into the collar.

Plain and proper.

Her grandmother looked exactly as she remembered.

Ye Shuyi’s eyes reddened instantly as she threw herself into the arms of the person who had loved her most.

“Grandma, I’ve missed you so much.”

Tears streamed down uncontrollably.

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