“I disagree.”
Tang Jianxi’s refusal was direct.
To have Yun Chuji become a spy embedded in a top-tier alpha organization was simply too fanciful. Yun Chuji was not the kind of person who could infiltrate an enemy camp without batting an eye. She was so young; how could she possibly outwit a group of alphas as cunning as old foxes? Besides, for them to have operated so brazenly for so many years, the forces behind them were surely not limited to those known publicly. Sending Yun Chuji over would be nothing more than sending a lamb into a tiger’s den. Even if they didn’t treat her too harshly on account of her S-rank alpha status, Tang Jianxi didn’t believe the consequences—no matter how mild—would be something a sheltered young lady like Yun Chuji could bear.
Yun Chuji had guessed she wouldn’t agree. Miss Tang possessed a kindness that was completely at odds with her appearance and the demeanor she tried to project. She was so soft-hearted that even Yun Chuji found her to be too soft. After all, if some scoundrel had taken her innocence, Yun Chuji would have, by any means necessary, ensured they perished together.
And yet, Tang Jianxi had let her off so easily, simply because she wasn’t the original owner of this body, even though a permanent marking was such a critical matter to her.
Yun Chuji had felt so much tolerance from Tang Jianxi. To say something outrageous, it was a tolerance that even her own closest kin from her past life had never given her.
Miss Tang had always trusted her. Even though she constantly claimed to be afraid of her, she would always let her guard down and expose her vulnerabilities, and never with any ulterior motive or as a test.
Yun Chuji sighed heavily. A part of the naivety in her eyes seemed to fall away like an autumn leaf. She thought to herself that it was surprisingly easy to step out of that small shell of hers, as long as Miss Tang was standing behind her.
Besides, it wasn’t just that anymore.
There were so many innocent, pitiful omegas standing behind her as well. If she truly turned a blind eye and retreated into her shell, pretending she was still the sheltered young lady of the Yun family who knew nothing of the world, then why had she read so many books?
One learns the way of a gentleman not to betray it.
Yun Chuji forced a relaxed smile. “Miss Tang, you can’t stop me from doing this. Even I can’t stop myself.”
“When the original Yun Chuji tried to forcibly mark you, it was at Glory’s instigation. I imagine that, in their eyes, my identity is that of a spy they sent to your side.”
“Tang Jianxi, I’ve been involved in this from the very beginning. Letting me gather intelligence is the best option. I’m an S-rank alpha now, so the information I can obtain will surely be more useful. If I can save even a few people, it’s worth any risk. Miss Tang, there are many other Winonas in this world. They weren’t lucky enough to meet us, but we can’t pretend they don’t exist, can we?”
Tang Jianxi crossed her arms, leaned forward, and stared intently at Yun Chuji. Her fox-like eyes blazed with visible anger and a less distinct helplessness. “Are you trying to reason with me now?”
“You’ve read a few books, and now your wings have grown strong enough to lecture me?”
Yun Chuji corrected her, “Dozens of books.”
Tang Jianxi reached out and pinched her cheek. “Still talking back?”
“Do you think that’s some place you can just waltz into?”
“These alphas have stopped treating people like human beings, yet you want to charge in so recklessly. Do you have any idea that by the time you’re in trouble, it’ll be too late for me to save you?”
“You were lucky enough to get a new life. Are you just going to waste it like this? You haven’t even truly seen this world yet. Do you know how beautiful the seas of Canglan Star are? Do you know how delicious the lamb chops on Golden Phoenix Star are? Do you know that spring in Z-District in March is the best season for travel?”
“Ah… nah… no…” Yun Chuji’s vocal cords were being squeezed, and she could only manage a strange, muffled reply.
Tang Jianxi yanked her hand back in frustration. “You don’t know a damn thing!”
Yun Chuji’s eyes went wide.
Tang Jianxi couldn’t stand that look. What was it? Had she never heard someone curse before?
She reached out and tightly covered those overly clear eyes, snapping in mortification, “Forget what I just said!”
Right, she couldn’t be a bad influence on the kid.
“Miss Tang, I know what you mean.” Yun Chuji gently took the hand covering her eyes and, as if holding a piece of precious jade, placed it back on Tang Jianxi’s lap. Then she said slowly, “But I am the right person for this, aren’t I?”
“My identity and background won’t arouse suspicion. No one knows my true identity except you.”
“And, most importantly, I want to go.”
“I want to help them.”
Yun Chuji believed that no one with a compassionate heart could witness such scenes and remain indifferent. Otherwise, what would be the difference between humans and beasts?
Tang Jianxi’s fingers clenched the fabric of her pajama pants. It was an unfamiliar texture; she usually preferred silk robes. Of course, in the days she had been living with Yun Chuji, she would only change into them after being soothed by her pheromones—after all, she had to take a shower.
It was undeniable that she was wary of Yun Chuji. This wariness was born from her memories and experiences. The impression left by that disgusting alpha from her past had instilled in her a long-standing aversion to the entire alpha population. After joining Spartacus, this aversion had only deepened, becoming a subconscious reaction. Sometimes, Tang Jianxi herself wondered why she hadn’t followed in Tang Jianshen’s footsteps and developed a preference for omega-omega relationships.
So, this was what it had all been leading to.
She wasn’t detached enough to be asexual. In fact, she could be tempted; it was just that the conditions for her temptation were exceedingly strict. It had to be a little lamb hidden under a wolf’s skin. She loved seeking out the soft, milky scent of a lamb amidst the foul, predatory scent of a wolf. One look into its dewy eyes was enough to tempt her.
And now, that feeling of sinking, of falling, was back. Tang Jianxi thought she was truly hopeless, thinking about love at a time like this. As if triggered by some strange compensatory mechanism, the feeling came on fast and fierce. Tang Jianxi felt she couldn’t move. If she moved even an inch, her next action might be to kiss Yun Chuji.
It was just that those eyes were too clear, that attitude too sincere, and the scent of orchids too fragrant. It truly made one want to have a taste.
However, Yun Chuji grew restless under Tang Jianxi’s gaze. It was a look that took her back to just over an hour ago—the same look, as if it wanted to strip her bare.
It was humiliating.
Yun Chuji’s lips moved. She wanted to ask Tang Jianxi to stop looking at her like that. Weren’t they discussing serious business?
But the moment she moved, Tang Jianxi covered her mouth.
Thankfully, it was with her hand.
Tang Jianxi’s expression was still stern, even more so than when she had been scolding her for being too naive, despite the fact that her index finger was now flirtatiously tracing Yun Chuji’s lips.
She spoke with a serious tone, though her words were anything but. “Don’t move, or I’ll kiss you.”
—Wait, Miss Tang, if you want to change the subject, you don’t have to use such an extreme method!
Clearly, Yun Chuji had yet to grasp the truth. Tang Jianxi’s appearance was simply too deceptive; even when she was the one making the move, it felt like a desecration against her.
A deeper factor was Yun Chuji’s ingrained worldview from a young age that men marry women, which prevented her from even considering that possibility—
We are both women. If not for the pheromones, how could we have done something so akin to what a husband and wife do?
Pheromones. It was all because of the pheromones. And there were pheromones now, too.
Yun Chuji’s lips trembled slightly. The scent of iceberg made her a little dizzy. It was an extremely faint scent, yet as it entered her bloodstream with each breath, it sent waves of ice and fire through her. As a child, Yun Chuji had once snuck a handful of snow when her governess wasn’t looking. She knew the feeling of being frozen was followed by a burning heat, but was that truly the explanation for how she had always felt around Tang Jianxi’s pheromones?
It seemed to be more than that.
This couldn’t continue. Yun Chuji suspected Tang Jianxi might be in heat, but she was afraid that if she opened her mouth, she would bite Miss Tang’s finger, so she couldn’t even ask.
Watching her obedient appearance, Tang Jianxi had the strange illusion that she was savoring her. It was as if the hand touching her lips was not just a hand, but a bright, sharp dinner knife, and Yun Chuji was the tender lamb chop about to be carved.
A top-quality, juicy, fragrant little lamb chop.
“Are you sure you want to go?”
Yun Chuji nodded, her lips brushing against Tang Jianxi’s slender index finger, leaving behind a trace of moisture.
“You can go. But you must report your actions to me. You are not to make any decisions on your own.”
Yun Chuji nodded again.
Tang Jianxi lowered her finger. They were extremely close now, almost breathing the same air, enveloped tightly by their pheromones. Yun Chuji found it a bit overwhelming and retreated slightly. Tang Jianxi did not pursue her.
She wasn’t a real lamb chop, after all.
She was a living person, and there was not a single trace of dazed desire in her eyes.
Forget it. Don’t corrupt the kid.
Tang Jianxi told herself this for the second time.
She stood up, a height that allowed her to look down at Yun Chuji. “I probably won’t be able to do without your pheromones tonight. I assume your family has a place for me to stay?”
Yun Chuji felt an inexplicable sense of guilt. “Of course. You can stay in my room.”
She remembered Tang Jianxi asking the same question last time. Back then, she had been angry at her mockery and had been unwilling to share a room with her.
But times had changed. Yun Chuji never would have imagined that she would now be so dependent on Tang Jianxi.
Miss Tang was like an anchor, securing her to this world.
Tang Jianxi gave her a look that was half a smile, mentioning neither the previous incident nor what had just transpired.
It wasn’t until she was back in the room that she raised a hand to cover her face.
It was just too embarrassing.
She, Tang Jianxi, had actually become the one who was hooked.
This whole affair was developing far faster than she had imagined. Tang Jianxi could no longer make any accurate predictions about it.
But then, she lowered her hand. In the darkness, her eyes shone with an astonishing light.
After she dealt with this disgusting Glory organization, she was definitely going to deal with this delicious little lamb chop!
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