After a Disabled Alpha Marked a Yandere Female Lead - Chapter 24
Chapter 24: VIP
Jiang Yun holds the invitation card, her eyes scanning it with disinterest. After a moment, she pushes it toward Zhu Qingluo. Zhu Qingluo takes it, seeing a few names she doesn’t recognize. These are people in Jiang Yun’s social circle.
“It’s just a place to relax. No serious business will be discussed, just a chance for everyone to get to know each other.”
Jiang Yun props her chin on her hand, watching Zhu Qingluo hold the card by the corner with her long, fair fingers.
Zhu Qingluo nods thoughtfully. “The day after tomorrow…”
“Do you have other plans?”
Zhu Qingluo is momentarily stunned. She shakes her head. She sees no reason to bother Jiang Yun with her family matters.
Jiang Yun watches her for a while, then chuckles. “If you really don’t want to go, you can stay home.”
This feels like a tempting offer. Zhu Qingluo is surprised by how accommodating Jiang Yun is being. She realizes she doesn’t have to attend the party for the sake of the Jiang family and deal with Xie Ke and other strangers. As Jiang Yun said, it’s just a social gathering, and if Jiang Yun doesn’t want her there, no one else will question it.
Under the warm yellow light, Jiang Yun’s eyes sparkle. She turns her head slightly, and the ruby necklace around her neck seems to dim in comparison. It’s as if she can read Zhu Qingluo’s mind.
A moment later, Jiang Yun takes the invitation and walks past her. A faint scent of her perfume lingers in the air.
Zhu Qingluo pulls out a business card from her pocket. She looks at the magnificent building on the card—the planned venue for her future solo jewelry exhibition. She had only been “notified” about this three minutes ago. The idea was Jiang Yun’s, who had already arranged the venue, marketing, tickets, and even an industry-leading agent. Zhu Qingluo simply has to sit back and reap the benefits.
Jiang Yun’s kindness goes far beyond this. This should be a cause for great excitement, but because of so many similar small acts, Zhu Qingluo feels a sense of quietness. Jiang Yun’s sudden change in attitude is far beyond her expectations. She has no choice but to accept this “generous” gift.
Zhu Qingluo puts the card away and returns to her room. After winning the Tianming competition, she has received several private inquiries from buyers and has secured a few orders.
She goes to her desk, but her design paper is gone. Liu Zi notices and walks to a cabinet, stands on her tiptoes, and takes down a stack of new paper.
“The butler went shopping yesterday. I remember there was some left, but it might be a little different from the previous ones.”
Zhu Qingluo looks at it. “It’s a slight difference, but still usable.” She is particular about her tools because she believes they affect the final quality of her work.
Liu Zi lays the paper out and smooths the edges.
Zhu Qingluo looks at her. “Were you forced to take the nutrient injection?”
Liu Zi looks surprised. “No, I did it voluntarily.”
Zhu Qingluo is puzzled. She knows the nutrient agent is flawed, and Liu Zi must have known too, but she still cooperated. Not everyone in the Jiang family would do something like that without question.
“Do you know the consequences of taking it?”
Liu Zi seems to struggle with the question. “I… I heard the doctor say that my body is healthier than others, but I might not be able to find an Omega in the future.”
Zhu Qingluo falls silent. The doctor’s words were likely different, probably that the nutrient agent would have a side effect on her pheromone storage, depending on her physical condition. It’s a significant “price” for Liu Zi to pay.
“Now that you know, do you regret it?”
Liu Zi shakes her head firmly. “Miss Jiang has been kind to me. She’s a good person who has been anonymously donating to welfare institutions and has helped many children, including me.”
Zhu Qingluo is surprised to learn about Liu Zi’s difficult past and her decision to join the Jiang family. She had always thought people in the Jiang household were simply paid employees. She didn’t expect Jiang Yun to be seen as a “great” person in their eyes.
The room becomes quiet. Under the bright light, Zhu Qingluo focuses on her work, drawing a design on the paper next to a velvet tray of gemstone samples.
When she’s focused, she forgets about her surroundings. Normally, she doesn’t like to be disturbed. After a while, she glances over and sees Liu Zi still standing by the table, staring at her drawing.
Zhu Qingluo stops drawing. Noticing Liu Zi’s interest, she asks, “Have you studied this before?”
She had noticed that Liu Zi was not an amateur.
Liu Zi hesitates, seemingly with some reservations. Zhu Qingluo doesn’t press her.
Just as she turns back to her paper, she hears Liu Zi’s voice. “Can I… can I watch?”
Zhu Qingluo’s expression softens. “Of course.”
Encouraged, Liu Zi’s eyes light up, and she comes closer. Since Zhu Qingluo has no one to talk to about her work, she starts explaining some theoretical knowledge to Liu Zi as she draws.
…
That afternoon, the weather is clear and sunny. Zhu Qingluo is talking to Liu Zi about her studio, her stone suppliers, and the progress of her orders.
“Yes, some jewelry designs are very special and require complex craftsmanship. The raw materials can only be kept in the studio.”
Liu Zi is relaxed and talks freely. “Really? If…” She stops abruptly and her smile vanishes.
Zhu Qingluo notices her change and senses something. She turns and sees Jiang Yun behind her. She’s so quiet that Zhu Qingluo hadn’t heard her approach.
Jiang Yun seems to have just come downstairs. She walks leisurely and meets Zhu Qingluo’s eyes. She then walks toward them. She looks at ease. As she passes Liu Zi, she gives her a brief look.
Liu Zi lowers her head and holds her breath. The atmosphere becomes tense.
Jiang Yun places her hand on the table and slowly sits down across from Zhu Qingluo. She looks at the teacup in front of her, her brows slightly furrowed. “Did you forget your manners?” she asks.
The seemingly gentle question carries a powerful sense of pressure. Liu Zi’s face changes, and she quickly apologizes. “I’m sorry, Miss.” She hurries to get the empty teapot and make more tea. This is her job, but Zhu Qingluo’s leniency had made her relax.
Zhu Qingluo doesn’t say anything. “Miss Jiang, did you come to find me?” she asks.
The table is silent for a while. Jiang Yun looks at the design drawings on the table, as if she didn’t hear her.
Zhu Qingluo wonders if Jiang Yun came all this way just for a cup of tea. But then she notices the cold aura around Jiang Yun and figures she’s in a bad mood. Zhu Qingluo decides not to provoke her.
“You’re organizing a jewelry exhibition and dealing with your own orders. Are you overworking yourself?” Jiang Yun asks.
Zhu Qingluo has not told Jiang Yun about her clients’ orders for privacy reasons. She clasps her hands in her lap, thinking. “I’m okay. I have help now.”
“Who?”
“Liu Zi. Your taste is quite good,” Zhu Qingluo replies, adding a compliment.
But Jiang Yun is not amused. Her expression darkens. She’s sitting by the window in the bright sunlight. Her eyes are half-closed, a hint of malice in them. She suddenly breaks into a captivating smile. “So, you should thank me.”
Zhu Qingluo pauses. It’s true, but she can’t shake the feeling that she shouldn’t agree with her right now. She feels conflicted.
Just then, Liu Zi returns with a full teapot. She keeps her head down and quickly pours tea for them. Jiang Yun doesn’t even glance at her, acting as if she’s not there.
The butler appears and finds something to talk to Liu Zi about, sending her away. The butler is holding a basket, picking through things, and sighs. “Miss, this batch of seedlings failed. It’s a shame. Should I dispose of them?”
Jiang Yun nods slightly, looking indifferent.
“Wait,” Zhu Qingluo says suddenly. “Can I see them?”
The butler looks at Jiang Yun, who gives no sign of refusal. The butler walks to Zhu Qingluo’s side.
Zhu Qingluo looks inside the basket. The flowers are strangely shaped. One stalk has two blossoms, like conjoined twins, while others have thorny roots. These are failed experiments and are usually thrown away. She’s curious. She glances at Jiang Yun, wondering if this is what’s bothering her.
“Do you have any ideas?” Jiang Yun asks.
Zhu Qingluo looks at her. “Miss Jiang, you overestimate me.” She knows nothing about gardening.
“I think they’re still beautiful.”
Beautiful? Jiang Yun looks down, not agreeing at all.
Zhu Qingluo takes a vase from the side. The flowers from yesterday have been replaced. She carefully chooses a flower from the basket—a white one with small yellow spots on its petals—and two others to complement it. She prunes the thorns from their roots and arranges them in the vase. At first glance, they seem unremarkable, but with a closer look, they have an unconventional beauty.
Jiang Yun watches for a long time. The flower petals sway gently in the sun.
“I think they look good here, don’t you?” Zhu Qingluo says, placing the vase in the center of the table with a smile.
Jiang Yun’s gaze goes past the white petals to Zhu Qingluo’s face. In the bright light, her expression and voice soften. “They’re fine,” she says quietly.
The atmosphere becomes light.
Just as Zhu Qingluo is about to change the subject, Jiang Yun says with some dissatisfaction, “Something is still missing.”
“What?” Zhu Qingluo asks, leaning forward to listen. Jiang Yun is strict about her aesthetics.
Jiang Yun studies Zhu Qingluo. Then, on a whim, she says, “I don’t just judge my seedlings by their appearance. I also judge them by their… durability.”
Zhu Qingluo looks confused. She expects Jiang Yun to explain, but she doesn’t.
Jiang Yun slowly takes a white flower from the vase. Holding the stem, she brings the petals to Zhu Qingluo’s face.
Zhu Qingluo’s eyes drop, and she doesn’t move. The thin, soft petals barely touch her forehead, making her body stiffen. She tries to move back, but the pressure on her forehead increases.
“Don’t move.”
Jiang Yun smiles and continues to brush the petals over her eyebrow, then her nose. Finally, the petals gently caress her chin and stop at her lips. The scent of grass and earth fills her nostrils.
Zhu Qingluo understands what Jiang Yun means by “durability.” The tickle on her lips lingers, and she feels as if a feather is stroking her heart. This doesn’t feel like teasing. It feels like…
Zhu Qingluo can’t help but look at Jiang Yun. She’s smiling radiantly, her eyes full of a teasing glint.
—She’s trying to seduce her.
The thought makes her feel dizzy.
As she’s lost in thought, Jiang Yun seems to get impatient. “Eat it,” she commands.
Zhu Qingluo’s thoughts disappear. She looks at the white flower and opens her lips, but Jiang Yun pulls the flower away.
“Why are you looking at the flower?”
Zhu Qingluo’s eyes move to Jiang Yun’s lips—vibrant and alluring. She pauses and says, disapprovingly, “It’s not a toy.”
Jiang Yun just laughs, completely amused.
Zhu Qingluo takes the flower from her hand and puts it back in the vase. A gust of wind blows, and the sun gives the vase a golden hue.
The three flowers are awkwardly arranged. The white one is leaning to the side, its petals drooping, having lost its original charm and scent. It looks out of place and ugly between them.