After Cat A Saved the Wrong Female Lead - Chapter 20

Chapter 20: It Seemed Like She Simply Couldn’t Say No

Xiao Yu wanted her to comfort her…

Wasn’t that just raising the bar for someone who’s been single forever?

Tang Li wasn’t particularly good at comforting people. In the past, if someone made such a request, she’d ruthlessly reply with a “wrong number.” She preferred to be the one who got pampered. But when she pictured the woman’s face, faintly showing grievance, the words slipped from her lips without hesitation:

“Sister Shiyu, you’re the best, the most beautiful, the number one beauty in Huadu—unmatched among both Alphas and Omegas. Women fall for you, men know they’re not worthy…”

Qin Shiyang: “?”

Where on earth did this girl learn such cheesy lines?

Still, when Tang Li spoke sweetly, it flowed from her like spring water—natural, never cloying. Qin Shiyang pretended to scoff at the words, but in truth, they hit home. Her tension from earlier began to melt away.

“With how highly you regard me, you still mistook me for someone else?”

Even with her mood easing, Qin Shiyang hadn’t forgotten what happened earlier and kept it in mind. To be fair, Tang Li had genuinely been in a daze at the time—otherwise, she wouldn’t have handed out her door code so carelessly, even though she’d changed it afterward.

“That was my cousin. She insisted on coming to see me today. I was totally out of it and didn’t even notice who I was video-calling.”

Tang Li quickly explained herself, afraid Qin Shiyang might misunderstand. Suppressants really were a godsend—once her dizzy spell passed, she gave herself an injection and took a short nap. When she woke up, she felt much better and was thinking clearly again.

However, her company had been urging her repeatedly to return. Her supervisor’s tone had turned rather nasty, implying that an Alpha over twenty shouldn’t be this incapable of self-control during their susceptibility period. Typically, Betas showed signs of differentiation around 16 and completed it before 18. Over time, most adapted to their “special period.”

But just like menstrual cramps—some suffer, some don’t—it all came down to physical constitution. What’s more, Tang Li had barely begun adjusting to her new environment before it hit her like a wave.

She was starting to realize the company’s “friendly” atmosphere was only skin deep. Tang Li had already begun contemplating quitting. She really liked the birthday gift Qin Shiyang had given her—and found herself genuinely intrigued by Huanji’s full-immersion VR system. Even though her major didn’t match, she was seriously considering applying for a job as an evaluator there.

With a new goal and direction, Tang Li had stopped caring much about the company’s pressure.

After a long pause, she heard footsteps stop on Qin Shiyang’s end, as if she had gotten into a car and was quietly speaking with someone. Then the Omega’s lazy voice drifted through the earpiece again, soft and melodic, clearly accepting her earlier explanation:

“You’re still awake, aren’t you? If I said I wanted to come see you now, would that be okay?”

Tang Li had slept a few hours and was wide awake now—of course she didn’t mind. She immediately agreed. After hanging up, she opened the windows for some fresh air, sprayed herself with pheromone blocker to prevent any awkwardness later, and waited.

Qin Shiyang’s pheromone—misty spring tea—was indeed incredibly alluring, but Tang Li wasn’t some pheromone-starved Alpha who couldn’t think straight every time she saw an Omega. What she hadn’t realized was that she actually liked sticking close to Qin Shiyang now. Just hearing she was coming over made her heart feel like a happy little fish blowing bubbles.

Ding-dong—

Thirty minutes later, the doorbell rang. Even though she had the passcode, Qin Shiyang still chose to knock politely.

It wasn’t work hours, so she wore a bamboo-green knit cardigan over a white long-sleeve top, paired with wide-leg trousers—cool-toned but elegant. The colors didn’t exaggerate her aloofness; instead, they softened her into something more like the gentle older sister next door.

Her long, slightly curled hair draped lazily over her shoulders, subtly covering the faint traces of intimacy still lingering on her nape.

Tang Li glanced at her, and for some reason, her mind strayed into dangerous territory. She quickly pushed those thoughts down and asked whether she wanted water or something else. After hearing “water,” she brought a warm glass—filled to 70%, the perfect temperature for drinking.

Catching the faint scent of pheromone blockers in the air, Qin Shiyang immediately understood. She sipped the warm water, then softly asked how Tang Li was feeling.

Truthfully, her supervisor hadn’t been entirely wrong. Alphas did go through an adaptation period—after using a suppressant or releasing pheromones, even if their state dipped, they should still be able to function with some rest. But the girl before her looked more like a newly differentiated, inexperienced Alpha—still easily affected by her own scent.

The difference was, Tang Li had incredible self-control—not physically, but mentally. In other words, it was a battle between instinct and reason, and reason almost always won.

After everything that had happened, Qin Shiyang was almost certain now: their pheromones were extremely compatible. Still, she didn’t want the girl to feel like she was her only option. She didn’t want Tang Li to grow cocky and make unnecessary trouble down the road.

Plenty of Omegas were interested in Tang Li—including the annoyingly persistent Yu Qingshuang, who particularly got on Qin Shiyang’s nerves. To be fair, at Tang Li’s age, hormones were all over the place—falling for someone was completely normal. Qin Shiyang just didn’t want to act too late and lose her chance.

As for acting cute and playing the pitiful card in front of the younger girl—Qin Shiyang had already mastered the skill. So naturally, without hesitation, the Omega slipped into a gentle, vulnerable expression, the kind that stirred hearts effortlessly.

“I met with an Alpha today.”

At that moment, Tang Li was adding locust flower honey to her own water. Upon hearing those words, clink—her silver spoon hit the glass. A strange, sour unease crept up her chest—but she quickly buried and dismissed it.

But wait—she said she “met an Alpha,” not just “met someone.”

Was the real suitor already showing up so soon? Then why did she look… like that?

While Tang Li’s mind was spinning in confusion, she heard Qin Shiyang continue:

“My family’s very traditional. Omegas my age are usually sent on arranged dates. And my company has policies too—unmarried Omegas can have trouble with promotions or certain titles, so…”

“That thing I mentioned before—have you thought about it, Little Tang Li?”

As she spoke, Qin Shiyang leaned forward slightly, one arm resting on the table, her posture nearly embracing the girl but still keeping a respectful distance. Neither of them had released any pheromones—Tang Li had even used a blocker—yet the air around them was thick with invisible tension, quiet and warm in the stillness of night.

Doubt circled in Tang Li’s mind. The Omega’s voice was in her ears—lazy, unhurried, low and smooth. Her ears burned hotter with each word, especially when that soft, trailing final note rolled off her tongue.

It felt like—

She simply couldn’t say no.