After Being Bitten By Top-Tier O, Flop A Went Viral - Chapter 40

40: Give You a Massage

For a moment, everyone fell silent. Qin Que lowered her head to look at her shoes. Yan Qing glanced at the cake, raised her hand to cover her mouth, and judging by the trembling of her shoulders, she was clearly holding back laughter with great effort. Nie Sijun’s gaze swept between the two of them, her lips twitching slightly before she quickly turned her head away.

Jin Shuo reached out to cover Yan Yuzhen’s mouth, but she was too late. Yan Yuzhen continued to praise, “Ah, this red line is a rope, right? Wait, but this dog… isn’t that Sister Qin?”

She finally realized something was off but had already blurted out the rest, “So that means Sister Yan is walking Sister Qin?”

“Classmate Yan, please stop talking. The livestream’s moderation is quite strict,” Mi Sike said, rubbing her temples to prevent Yan Yuzhen from further elaboration.

If she kept going, the livestream might not survive.

The second livestream room was filled with laughter.

Comment 1: Xiao Yan, you’re a genius. How did I not think of that?

Comment 2: The more you say it, the more it makes sense. Now I can’t look at that cake the same way.

Comment 3: It’s not just you—even Qin Que can’t look at it. Her head is practically under the podium.

Comment 4: The official seal of approval—today is another sweeping victory for the dog-personification faction.

Comment 5: But foxes are canines too. What’s this, mutual dog-personification?

Comment 6: No, no. Some canines are just cute personas, while others are reflections of the soul. For example, is there a single person in this livestream who dares to call Yan Qing a “good dog”?

Comment 7: What a bold hypothesis. I wouldn’t dare.

Comment 8: I can only fantasize about her saying that to me. Sorry, my legs are a bit weak.

Comment 9: Being a master is an attitude. Even if Yan Qing really had fox ears, it wouldn’t stop her from walking a dog.

Comment 10: And she really does have a little dog.

Comment 11: Who could it be? So curious~

Comment 12: The one with her head lowest and face reddest.

This was absolutely terrible.

Qin Que, who had never paid attention to public opinions about herself, couldn’t understand how Yan Yuzhen had twisted things in that direction.

But her brain seemed to have been triggered by those four words. The somewhat comical stick-figure drawing on the cake rapidly took on a three-dimensional form in her mind, completely disregarding her embarrassment.

For a brief moment, she could almost see Yan Qing, with a pair of white fox ears, smiling mischievously as she tugged on a leash.

The other end of the leash was attached to her neck.

She could even imagine the sensation of the woman’s smooth hands brushing against the leather collar.

She had never realized her imagination could be so vivid.

This realization made her want to bolt out of the classroom and rinse her abnormally active brain under a faucet.

“Alright, alright, what’s this about walking a dog?” Just as Qin Que was about to crawl under the podium, Yan Qing was the one who broke the increasingly awkward silence. The woman’s face was still flushed from stifling laughter as she pulled Qin Que behind her and pointed at the cake with a serious expression. “That’s a red thread.”

She tapped Yan Yuzhen’s forehead. “Besides, since when do foxes walk dogs? Even in fairy tales, there’s no such pairing.”

Everyone else silently stared at her.

Then why were you laughing so hard earlier?

Not to mention, the way you’re holding Qin Que’s hand right now is practically a live-action version of that drawing.

Either way, the matter was finally put to rest.

Qin Que barely managed to clear those wild imaginings from her mind, rubbing her burning cheeks.

It was just a joke. Don’t overthink it.

Having reassured herself, she lowered her hands—only to meet Yan Qing’s smiling face.

Aside from the ears, it was almost identical to her imagination.

Qin Que stiffly turned her head away as a faint breath of air carried the woman’s whispered words to her ears.

Words so quiet even the cameras couldn’t pick them up.

But Qin Que heard them clearly.

“Your face is so red. What were you thinking about?”

As she spoke, Yan Qing tightened her grip on Qin Que’s hand, as if deliberately applying pressure.

Qin Que swallowed hard.

Had Yan Qing guessed? Or was this just another one of her usual teasing remarks?

Qin Que didn’t know and didn’t dare to ask.

But to preserve her dignity as a human being, perhaps she should muster the courage to pull her hand free.

She glanced at their intertwined fingers, then at Yan Qing, who had already moved on to chatting with the others—seemingly having forgotten to let go.

In the end, she didn’t pull away.

Perhaps, in front of Yan Qing, she didn’t care much about dignity.

Just as she didn’t actually mind that sudden fantasy all that much.

The outcome of the three groups’ competition had been decided the moment the desserts were presented. Though Qin Que and Yan Qing’s cake had caused quite a stir with its design, it still looked like a creative dessert that anyone would want to try.

Meanwhile, Yan Yuzhen and Jin Shuo’s fifth batch of bear-shaped cookies, while far more edible than their charred predecessors, still resembled props borrowed from a horror movie with their cracked and misshapen faces. Mi Sike picked one up and cautiously tapped it against the edge of a plate, producing a dull metallic clang.

“You could use this as a weapon.”

Yan Yuzhen pouted. “What kind of cute weapon is that? Try it—it’s delicious! Watch, I’ll eat one to prove it!”

She raised a cookie to her mouth, only for Jin Shuo to snatch it away.

“What? You think ours isn’t edible either?” Yan Yuzhen turned, her expression wounded, as if betrayed by someone close to her, her lips trembling.

“No.” Jin Shuo answered without hesitation. She glanced at the girl’s face, gritted her teeth, and took a bite of the cookie.

Unsurprisingly, it was too hard to chew.

Jin Shuo paused for a few seconds, then opened her mouth to take another bite.

This time, it was Yan Yuzhen who snatched the cookie away.

The girl, who had just been throwing a tantrum, now had red-rimmed eyes. She tossed the cookie into the trash and gently touched Jin Shuo’s face, muttering, “Why are you so silly? I was just joking.”

Jin Shuo silently grasped her hand.

“Wow.”

Qin Que heard Yan Qing’s quiet exclamation. The woman watched the two younger girls with the amused gaze of someone observing young love.

Qin Que didn’t have the luxury to do the same.

Their hands were still intertwined, the warmth causing a slight dampness in Yan Qing’s palm.

Nie Sijun’s group had made a simple chiffon cake without any decorations. Given Nie Sijun’s cooking skills, they should have been able to produce something better, but Dai Yuchen had been more of a hindrance than a help.

Despite the marked improvement in the man’s attitude after yesterday’s incident—he was finally speaking like a human being and even attempting to help—it didn’t change the fact that he was utterly useless when it came to manual labor.

The divorce agreement signed the night before had granted Nie Sijun the freedom she desired, but it required her to at least maintain appearances with Dai Yuchen for the remainder of the show.

Nie Sijun, who had expected a drawn-out battle, was satisfied with this outcome and chose to endure the additional clauses.

Yan Qing had already helped her so much—she couldn’t possibly go running to her over such a trivial matter.

With less than a month left in filming, she thought enduring Dai Yuchen’s presence wouldn’t be too difficult after all these years.

But when the man knocked over a bowl for the third time, even her patience wore thin.

“Just stand there and watch. Don’t help.”

She reminded herself of the agreement’s terms, forcing herself not to lash out and risk complicating things.

Dai Yuchen, no longer acting high and mighty, obediently stepped aside and watched her with a somewhat aggrieved expression.

If this had happened a week ago, Nie Sijun might have felt guilty.

But now, she only felt annoyance.

Like someone who had regained their sight after years of blindness, finally seeing what kind of person they had chosen.

“The results are in. First place goes to Group Two, second to Group Three, and third to Group One,” Mi Sike announced the undisputed outcome. “Now, everyone can sample each other’s creations.”

“I want to try Sister Yan’s!” Yan Yuzhen, now fully recovered, abandoned her own inedible creations without hesitation and lunged for the cake.

Qin Que felt a coolness on the back of her hand as Yan Qing released her grip and swiftly moved to the long table, intercepting Yan Yuzhen and lifting the cake out of reach.

“Sister Yan?” Yan Yuzhen blinked in confusion.

Qin Que noticed a fleeting moment of hesitation on Yan Qing’s face before the woman smiled again. “Let me cut a piece for you, okay?”

Yan Yuzhen, less observant, immediately brightened. “Okay~”

Yan Qing cut her a large slice from the edge, which the girl happily took to share with Jin Shuo.

Next, Yan Qing cut a piece for Nie Sijun in exchange for half of their chiffon cake.

By the time Qin Que approached, the four-inch cake had been halved, but the central portion—the two little figures holding the red thread—remained untouched.

The unevenly cut cake made the figures seem almost heroic.

A sudden realization struck her.

Was Yan Qing reluctant to eat the two of them?

Sure enough, the woman hesitated with the knife over the figures several times before finally setting it down with a sigh.

“It’s a shame cakes can’t be preserved.”

Qin Que couldn’t help but laugh. She had noticed that Yan Qing could sometimes be so sharp and perceptive it was intimidating, yet at other times, she was childishly endearing.

The woman’s wisdom and innocence coexisted seamlessly within her—a sharp blade paired with an incredibly tender heart.

What could she do for someone like Yan Qing?

“It’s okay. We can eat it now and make another one later,” Qin Que said, stepping closer and picking up the knife Yan Qing had set down.

At the word “eat,” Yan Qing’s hand twitched, as if she wanted to pull the cake away, but she restrained herself.

“Really?” Yan Qing eyed her skeptically, her expression almost petulant.

“Really.” Qin Que’s answer was a bit guilty. Honestly, she couldn’t imagine what their interactions would be like after the show ended—unless she ended up as an extra in one of Yan Qing’s films.

But faced with Yan Qing’s hopeful gaze, she couldn’t bring herself to say anything else.

“Then you cut it. I want your piece.” Satisfied, Yan Qing nodded and pushed the cake toward her.

The two shared the remaining portion, with Qin Que naturally getting the slice with the fox-eared Yan Qing. Looking at the stick figure, she couldn’t help but think of the real Yan Qing, finally understanding the woman’s reluctance.

The cake was well-made, but at the end of the day, it was just jam and sponge—nothing extraordinary.

Yet Qin Que found it more delicious than any pastry she’d ever tasted.

“Alright, now that everyone’s had their fill, let’s move on to today’s second activity,” Mi Sike announced once they’d finished. “Campus cleaning. Each group will be assigned a specific area. This isn’t a competition—as long as your area is clean by 5 p.m., you’ll each earn 50 campus coins.”

“Huh?” Yan Yuzhen groaned. “We just ate, and now we have to work? I knew you weren’t that nice.”

Qin Que initially had no objections, but upon reaching their assigned location, she couldn’t help but silently echo Yan Yuzhen’s sentiment.

She and Yan Qing were tasked with cleaning the main avenue in front of the academic building. Lined with towering ginkgo trees, the road was carpeted with golden leaves in the autumn, creating a breathtaking scene.

While beautiful to behold, it was a nightmare to clean.

The production team, well aware of this, had provided them with gloves, large brooms, and wheelbarrows—clearly expecting them to spend the entire afternoon on the task.

No wonder the leaves had been left untouched all this time. They’d been saving them for this moment.

Qin Que put on her gloves and stopped Yan Qing, who was about to do the same. “I’ll handle this. You don’t need to help.”

The woman raised an eyebrow, about to argue.

Qin Que decisively rolled up Yan Qing’s sleeve, revealing the bandages beneath. “I’m not saying you can’t do it or that I think you’re incapable. But your wounds could get infected if they sweat. I can manage this alone—there’s no need to risk it.”

Yan Qing paused, then laughed, lightly tapping Qin Que’s forehead. “You even predicted what I was going to say? So clever.”

She glanced at the sea of ginkgo leaves. “But this is too much work for you alone.”

“It’s fine.” Qin Que seized the opportunity to press her case. “At home, I sometimes help workers move appliances all afternoon. This is nothing compared to that. Besides,” she hesitated before adding softly, “I’m happy to help you.”

This might be the only place where she could be of use to Yan Qing. Outside this secluded campus, even if the entire city were covered in leaves, Yan Qing could handle it with a wave of her hand.

“Then I’ll leave it to you.” Yan Qing studied her for a moment, an unreadable emotion flickering in her indigo eyes before fading.

Yan Qing sat on a bench by the road, watching the tall alpha bustle about.

Perhaps to prove she wasn’t overexerting herself, Qin Que worked swiftly, sweeping the scattered leaves into piles, shoveling them into the wheelbarrow, and carting them to a dumpster twenty meters away.

After several trips, beads of sweat had formed on the alpha’s forehead, her fair skin flushed pink.

But her pace didn’t slow much.

The sun was too harsh today.

Yan Qing looked up at the blazing orb in the sky. The autumn sun wasn’t scorching, its rays warm and gentle.

She was just feeling the heat more acutely.

She wanted to tell Qin Que to take a break—if they couldn’t finish, so be it. The 50 campus coins weren’t worth it. But she knew the other woman would likely refuse, and some might even accuse her of being a diva for not helping and then stopping others from working.

It wasn’t even that tiring. During filming, her workload was often heavier than this.

But she still felt… a pang of heartache.

Not out of guilt for not contributing, nor from some principle about alpha-omega equality. Just a simple, inexplicable ache.

Qin Que had stopped her out of genuine concern for her injury—a perfectly reasonable stance. Yet she couldn’t stand to see the other woman sweat even a little.

If only they weren’t on this show.

It was the first time since filming began that Yan Qing had felt this way.

Outside, she could leverage her influence to make things easier. Here, she was just an ordinary person—one whose injury made her a burden.

A burden that made Qin Que work twice as hard.

By the time Qin Que had cleared most of the leaves, the sun was already dipping westward.

They should be able to finish in time.

Glancing at her phone, Qin Que sighed in relief and finally looked toward the bench where Yan Qing had been sitting.

But Yan Qing wasn’t there.

“Huh?”

A jolt of panic shot through her, and the broom clattered to the ground.

“Yan—ah!”

Before she could finish calling the name, something icy pressed against her cheek.

She turned to see Yan Qing standing beside her, holding a chilled bottle of water—the culprit behind the sneak attack.

“Looking for someone?”

“Uh, no.” Qin Que’s tension dissolved into a relieved smile. “Where did you go?”

“To get water from the production team. How could they make people work without even providing water?” Yan Qing grumbled as she deftly removed Qin Que’s gloves, shoved the water into her hands, and tugged her toward the bench.

“It’s only 3 p.m. We can definitely finish the last bit later. Take a break.”

“Okay.”

Qin Que was genuinely tired. Sitting on the shaded bench, the cool water soothing her parched throat, with a breeze rustling past her ears, she let out a contented sigh.

Then she nearly jumped out of her skin when cool fingers suddenly pressed against her shoulder.

“Y-Yan Qing?”

She had already taken off her jacket and was now wearing only a thin T-shirt, making her especially sensitive to touch.

The only reason she didn’t leap up was because the person behind her held her firmly in place.

“Don’t move. Let me give you a massage.”