VBNWDW - Chapter 29
Chapter 29
The piano music fell from a crescendo to a low, humming end as the rich aroma of wine gradually enveloped the living room. The fireplace still glowed brightly.
Seated in the main chair, Xi Zhoulu silently watched Luo Yueqing leave the group, her eyes following until the last sliver of her dress disappeared around the corner.
Then, Shen Xianyun followed her.
Xi Zhoulu's lips tightened, the tense line of her jaw growing sharper.
Not bad, was she?
She seriously considered the Omega's appearance, something she had never paid much attention to before, and came to an affirmative conclusion.
Compared to her own features, which were so exquisite they appeared cold, Shen Xianyun's were more perfectly balanced. With almond eyes and an oval face, she possessed a gentle, classical beauty. She sounded exactly like the type of person an Alpha would like.
The electric fireplace was bright and soft, but it couldn't lessen the chill in Xi Zhoulu's eyes. Her expression was gloomy and repressed, and her pale blue-gray eyes had darkened, no longer resembling sparkling, precious gems.
She couldn't even chase after them to interrupt their encounter in the restroom.
What would Luo Yueqing say to her?
Would she lean lazily against the sink, a careless smile playing on her lips, and say something complimentary? Or introduce herself, then smoothly ask for her contact information?
Without Luo Yueqing's hand to hold, she subconsciously gripped the cane beside her again. Her fingertips pressed against the silver filigree, leaving a complex, chaotic impression and a flood of dense pain.
"Zhoulu?"
Xi Zhoulu snapped back to her senses and turned to the person beside her. Her expression unchanged, she simply asked, "What is it?"
Qin Yuan hesitated, but finally said, "Your little brother has been getting restless lately."
Xi Zhoulu's attention was pulled back. For some reason, she suddenly let out a small, mocking laugh. "He is being a bit noisy."
"Then are you planning to…"
"Let them make a fuss for a bit. After so many years, they've finally seen a glimmer of hope. They won't give up easily."
Xi Zhoulu answered casually, as if the trouble wasn't directed at her. She leaned toward the table, picked up a wine bottle, and poured its contents into the glass bearing Luo Yueqing's lipstick print.
The carefully prepared wine was perfectly chilled, and a white mist condensed on the glass, preserving the lipstick and creating a perfect imprint of Luo Yueqing's lips.
Xi Zhoulu stared at it fixedly. The gently swirling, amber-colored liquid served as the perfect backdrop, making the mark even more distinct, like a broken rose petal that had fallen upon the rim.
And so, Xi Zhoulu deliberately pressed her own lips to the print, crushing the petal as she drank. Perhaps she was drunk, for even the cold liquid felt warm.
"Since you're aware of it, we won't interfere. If you need any help from us, just ask," Qin Yuan said after some thought.
The people in their small circle had never really liked Xi Zhoukang. He was, after all, the stepmother's child, and that woman's reputation in their circles was poor. He had absolutely no eye for investment and believed whatever anyone told him. If the Xi family wasn't so vast and wealthy, it wouldn't have been enough to cover his blunders.
Besides, the families of everyone present had business dealings with each other; if one suffered, they all suffered. If Xi Zhoukang took over and had another one of his brainless moments, suddenly canceling the contracts Xi Zhoulu had signed with them, they would inevitably face losses.
Therefore, compared to Xi Zhoukang, they were more willing to see Xi Zhoulu, with whom they had grown up, secure the inheritance, and they were willing to help as much as they could.
Xi Zhoulu nodded slightly to show she understood, adding, "He won't be hopping around for much longer."
She paused, then said, "Qingxi, lend me a few of your people."
Having just used the other woman to escape punishment, Xu Qingxi naturally wouldn't refuse. She was just surprised that Xi Zhoulu, who already had so many bodyguards, wanted to add more.
Xu Qingxi thought for a moment before saying, "Those people you have with you now would be the best of the best even if I threw them into my squad. If they're not enough, then no one else can help you much."
Her tone shifted. "How about this? There's a small team on the other side that just got into a bit of trouble. I'll ask them for you first. If they agree, with a little maneuvering, I should be able to get them for you."
Her face twisted as if she were cutting off her own flesh. "But you'll have to pay a hefty price, and you can't treat them poorly in the future. They're promising talents that group spent a fortune cultivating."
Xi Zhoulu raised an eyebrow slightly. "Don't worry."
Money was the one thing she didn't lack. If they were truly capable, she wouldn't be the least bit stingy.
Xi Zhoulu added, "If you can get them, don't have them come find me right away. Just give me a way to contact them, and I'll make the arrangements."
"Alright," Xu Qingxi agreed immediately.
On the other side, the sound of rushing water filled the air. Luo Yueqing stood at the sink, letting the stream run through her fingers.
Shen Xianyun, who had been waiting, walked up and stood beside her. She didn't speak right away, instead unhurriedly turning on the faucet and washing her own clean hands.
Water droplets splattered onto the mirror, but the reflections within remained unaffected.
One woman was stunning and bewitching, with a fine figure and the corners of her eyes faintly red, blooming like a gorgeous rose. The other was elegant and gentle in a simple white dress, like a water lily floating on the surface. The two, seemingly complete opposites, were framed in the same mirror.
Shen Xianyun's gaze wavered for a moment. Then, gritting her teeth, she said, "You don't deserve Zhoulu."
Luo Yueqing felt a bit dizzy. A moment ago, she thought she was sober, but now, away from the others and splashed with cold water, she realized something was off.
So, she didn't answer immediately. After a pause, she retorted, "And?"
Shen Xianyun hadn't expected such a response. Not only did the woman show no sign of weakness, but she even seemed somewhat defiant.
Her expression turned cold. She spun around to face Luo Yueqing and snapped, "You're not worthy of her at all! You'll only drag her down."
"Oh," Luo Yueqing said, then reminded her, "Turn off the water. Don't be wasteful."
Shen Xianyun was stunned for a second and subconsciously obeyed, turning off the faucet. Then her face turned purple with anger.
Luo Yueqing also stopped, and the sound of water ceased. She pulled out a paper towel, turned, and leaned against the sink, carefully drying the moisture from her hands.
"Luo Yueqing, don't change the subject!"
"You have no idea how complicated the Xi family is, or what a terrible situation Zhoulu is in."
"And you do?" Luo Yueqing asked lazily, her drawn-out tone carrying a careless ease.
"I, of course I…"
"Then can you help?" Luo Yueqing cut her off.
Shen Xianyun's expression stiffened, and her voice became hesitant. "The Shen family's and the Xi family's main businesses are very different."
"So you can't, then?"
Having crumpled one paper towel, Luo Yueqing pulled out another, meticulously drying from the base of her fingers to the tips, as if performing a very serious task.
She asked again, "What about those people out there?"
Shen Xianyun opened her mouth but had to admit that compared to the Xi family, they were all too insignificant. She could only force herself to say, "You-you don't understand what a behemoth the Xi family is now. Even if we wanted to, there's nothing we could do."
Luo Yueqing's tone didn't change as she retorted, "Then what's the difference between you and me?"
She suddenly smiled, turning her head to look at the other woman. "I'm not worthy, so you are?"
Shen Xianyun opened her mouth, but couldn't find any words.
"At least I'm an S-Class Alpha. At least I can let her…" Luo Yueqing paused abruptly, her smile turning seductive as she asked an odd question. "Miss Shen, can you endure it? Are you afraid of pain?"
"What are you going to do?" Shen Xianyun instinctively took a step back, her expression full of vigilance. She mistook the other woman's intentions and warned, "If I scream, the people outside will rush in."
Luo Yueqing raised an eyebrow and commented, "You rich people are all so guarded."
Just like Xi Zhoulu, always worried about being kidnapped. Perhaps this was a rich person's problem?
Luo Yueqing had no choice but to explain. "I was just asking if you can handle being bitten."
"Huh?" Shen Xianyun was completely bewildered. No matter how smart she was, she couldn't understand why the other woman would ask such a thing.
"Did you know that Xi Zhoulu bites like a dog?" Luo Yueqing said with a straight face.
"Huh?"
Luo Yueqing pulled down her white shirt to expose one shoulder. The tooth marks from when Xi Zhoulu had bitten down hard in a fit of anger were still visible on her collarbone, standing out starkly against her fair skin.
And that wasn't the only spot. There were others, though the marks were fainter, but a blurry outline could still be seen.
Shen Xianyun gasped.
Luo Yueqing hesitated. "You know, when a person is constantly in a repressive environment, they tend to… tend to become… a little troubled."
Her eyelids lowered, the corners of her eyes red from the wine, giving her a strangely fragile look. She added, "I-I can't help it either. If she wants to bite, then let her bite. It's better than her using other…"
She didn't finish the sentence, but pulled her shirt back up.
A torrent of images flashed through Shen Xianyun's mind: whips, dripping wax, forced kneeling…
She shook her head violently. "Luo-Luo Yueqing, don't talk nonsense! I won't believe you. Zhoulu isn't that kind of person. She couldn't be!"
Luo Yueqing sighed. "It's not like I could have bitten myself, right?"
Shen Xianyun: "…"
How could she have bitten herself? But it couldn't have been anyone else, either. Hadn't Xi Zhoulu taken marriage leave to travel with her?
Shen Xianyun's expression grew complicated. She wanted to speak but didn't know what to say. After opening and closing her mouth a few times, she managed to choke out, "It must be because you like it, and you forced Zhoulu to do it."
"Yes, I forced her to do it," Luo Yueqing repeated, but the meaning was completely different.
Shen Xianyun didn't dare listen anymore, afraid Luo Yueqing would say something else she shouldn't hear. She immediately started to walk out, but Luo Yueqing was faster.
She said, "I'm a little drunk. Can you ask Xi Zhoulu to come carry me?"
"She… doesn't really like other people touching me. If you help me out, she'll be unhappy."
Shen Xianyun walked even faster.
The moment the other woman left, Luo Yueqing couldn't help but laugh. She found the girl amusing—her face had turned ashen, yet she had no choice but to believe it. She would probably be in a daze for a long time after this.
After she finished laughing, she leaned lazily against the sink. She wasn't so drunk that she couldn't walk, but alcohol tended to bring out all sorts of bad habits, like her recent mischievous streak, or the laziness that made her not want to walk.
Her mind, numbed by alcohol, felt groggy. Luo Yueqing waited a moment before she saw Xi Zhoulu wheel herself to the doorway, watching her quietly.
"Shen Xianyun sent you over?"
Xi Zhoulu nodded, then suddenly asked, "What did she say to you?"
The smile hadn't faded from the corners of Luo Yueqing's eyes. "I just teased her a bit."
Not noticing Xi Zhoulu's grim expression, Luo Yueqing walked over and, as usual, sat sideways on her lap, leaning into her embrace and murmuring, "She has a pretty good temper. I was afraid she wouldn't call you for me. I was planning to just walk back myself after a bit."
As her words fell, Xi Zhoulu gripped the armrest beside her tightly. The veins on the back of her hand bulged, as if her bones were about to pierce through the thin skin.
Comments
Post a Comment