After Cat A Saved the Wrong Female Lead - Chapter 24

Chapter 24: Is It Something Only During Rut?

Tang Li’s face was gently cupped.

The Omega had slender, beautiful fingers that stroked her cheeks, a delicate, soft touch caressing her face back and forth. Perhaps it was the stimulating effect of the pheromones, but now, any small movement caused the Alpha’s precariously held rationality to slowly descend.

The lights were dimmed, and the beauty’s thick eyelashes cast shadows beneath her eyes, making her features even more defined and beautiful. Their breaths mingled, the strong fragrance of ylang-ylang and tea also spraying onto each other’s cheeks and ears. Pressed against the Omega’s undisguised softness, Tang Li felt her body temperature gradually rising, her breath becoming hot, yet she couldn’t force herself to move away.

An Alpha and an Omega maintaining such a stalemate was extremely dangerous; one careless spark could ignite a restricted scene.

But then again, with a beauty in her arms, Tang Li, as a perfectly normal and young Alpha in all aspects, couldn’t be entirely indifferent to a beautiful Omega. Moreover, they had the prior bond of two temporary markings, and now held the status of legal wives. Regardless of the reason, it was enough to give the ambiguity a proper excuse to continue.

After the previous markings, Tang Li naturally craved the Omega’s pheromones, and even more, having developed a taste for them. The only reason she remained still was purely because she didn’t want to be labeled as “XX’s female lead” (referring to the original plot’s female lead).

Tang Li was enduring a great struggle, and then Qin Shiyang even blew air into her ear. The warm breath on her earlobe was more tantalizing than direct words or touches.

Tang Li felt like she was about to burst into flames!

“Are you hot?”

The person on top of her suddenly asked, and Tang Li finally felt a little annoyed, as if she was asking the obvious. But the woman’s boneless hands slid from her face, her voice alluring and seductive. Even at this point, she was equally hard to resist, yet Qin Shiyang could still force herself to calm down.

She held the little Alpha firmly in her grip.

Taking the initiative.

After receiving an affirmative answer, Tang Li heard her say:

“I want to mark you.”

In the ABO world, “marking” isn’t an exclusive privilege of Alphas over Omegas. Omegas can also perform reverse gland bites on Alphas. However, even though Omegas can’t leave a permanent mark on Alphas, most, out of some sense of self-respect, are unwilling to relinquish the privilege of biting the gland.

Qin Shiyang’s clear eyes stared intently at her. They were extremely close, the Omega’s pink tongue almost touching her lips and teeth, threatening another passionate kiss. Tang Li’s heart pounded a few times, but she also realized that half of the Omega’s restless discomfort was her own fault. If she hadn’t been so eager to release her pheromones directly, but had used a gentler approach, it might not have come to this.

So Tang Li agreed and was flipped over by the prepared Qin Shiyang, who bit her gland. Omegas don’t have sharp canines like Alphas and wouldn’t puncture the gland, but to draw more of the pheromones’ sweet taste, she had to increase the pressure and suck on that small, rosy cherry.

The skin on the Alpha’s nape was thin like a plump peach, appearing particularly delicious under the dim light. The rich scent of ylang-ylang in her mouth was like drinking hot sugar water in the dead of winter, its sweetness thrilling her chest.

The Alpha’s pheromones directly entering her mouth were overly stimulating for the Omega, especially since the Omega was too inexperienced and lacked such prior encounters—counting previous times, she had only been temporarily marked twice, and the pheromone concentration was far less than the amount now flooding into her mouth.

Tears welled up in the beauty’s eyes, moist and hazy, yet she knew how to use her appearance and natural attributes to make those tears seem like weapons. She tilted her neck, revealing a graceful, smooth curve, and was then taken over by the no-longer-restraining Alpha. Those fair neck bore scattered red marks, a few sparse blossoms, like flowers blooming in snow.

Someone who had tasted control and had long been in a position of power, Qin Shiyang showed a rare assertiveness towards Tang Li, wanting her to continue offering her gland. But her voice ended in a tremble, more like a soft whimper than a command.

Her lips were hot, and the Alpha’s breath was hot too. During their passionate kisses, Qin Shiyang repeatedly caressed Tang Li’s head, quickly searching for the unusual features that had appeared on the girl during the last temporary marking.

But she only felt thick strands of hair. Her slender hand parted the hair and brushed across, naughtily massaging Tang Li’s gland, which had just been sucked by the Omega. Tang Li only felt an unbearable itch, so she instinctively grabbed the Omega’s mischievous hands, clamping her wrists to prevent her from moving freely.

With the experience of the previous two times, Tang Li found the small gland with ease this time. The Alpha no longer suppressed her nature, injecting her pheromones freely into the gland. The scent of tea enveloped the entire room in a spring embrace, like fresh, tender tea leaves amidst clouds and mist, the most verdant green on the branch, stirring the heart.

Soon, the ylang-ylang scent blurred the overly cool spring tea aroma, balancing them perfectly. If an outsider were to smell it, it would be like being in a dream amidst the misty rain of Jiangnan.

But in contrast to the scent, the room was a mess. Too many things were piled on the carpet, haphazardly knocked over or thrown onto the floor, and the two occupants had no time to pay attention.

After an unknown amount of time, Qin Shiyang’s voice was a little hoarse, and she only uttered one muffled word:

“Pain…”

Tang Li quickly released her hand and expertly fumbled in the dark to hand her water.

The Omega’s eyes shot a look.

As an energetic and highly adaptable young Alpha, Tang Li naturally had no major issues with her “skills,” and she had even improved this time compared to the last.

In every aspect.

But perhaps it was the marriage agreement that exposed the little Alpha’s true nature, or perhaps the influence of pheromones was too strong, but Tang Li later easily clasped the woman’s wrists against the headboard, forming an indescribable…

The Omega’s gland had just been bitten open, and it had collided with the headboard a few times. Even with soft pillows and bath towels cushioning her back, the delicate gland was still throbbing faintly, protesting strongly.

Qin Shiyang only recovered after drinking some water. She assessed the young girl in front of her under the dimmest light. Tang Li’s golden hair spread out like waves, and there were faint marks on her neck, shoulders, and even her back. However, the tail and ears that had wrapped around her before were gone, making Qin Shiyang briefly wonder if she had imagined them at the time.

Tang Li had a delicate jawline, bright eyes, and pearly teeth. Her shimmering eyes and charming appearance truly resembled a cat, especially now, lounging casually by her side, in a relaxed posture, as if slowly savoring her recovery and rest, making it easy to draw close associations.

Fortunately, the nails on her hands had been removed, and her natural nail shape had been filed into a square-round shape, minimizing aggression, which spared the Omega from suffering.

Although some minor flaws were inevitable, overall, this experience was more satisfying for Qin Shiyang than the frantic last time.

Qin Shiyang only took two sips of water before handing the cup to Tang Li, encouraging her to drink some to moisten her throat. When Tang Li was resting with her eyes closed, she hadn’t actually completely closed them. Now, while drinking water, she noticed that the woman’s gaze had shifted from observing her to touching her, with her head as the target.

Was there something on her head?

No, no way, that thing only appears during rut, right?!

Tang Li instantly tensed up, but she could naturally feel whether it was there or not. She realized her ears were still perfectly normal, and her tailbone also showed no changes, which made her sigh in relief.

She didn’t want to be treated as an anomaly and sent to some research institute to sacrifice herself for science. A “person” growing cat ears on their head and a cat tail from their tailbone seemed utterly bizarre and couldn’t be explained by normal scientific logic.

Even if she trusted Qin Shiyang, Tang Li didn’t want to be regarded as a monster.

Although her last excuse was clumsy, the other party seemed to believe it. Tang Li thought to herself that she must have believed it.

Her jaw was suddenly gently hooked and scratched by the woman’s hand. Tang Li subconsciously almost moaned and quickly recoiled, shrinking her shoulders. Qin Shiyang leaned closer, not pursuing further. Instead, after calming down, she said openly:

“You’re amazing, A’Li. This time it was my fault. I shouldn’t have agreed to let you pick me up.”

Her voice was low, leaning partially in Tang Li’s arms, sniffing the Alpha’s comforting body scent. Her tone was like warm spring water, clear and pleasant.

“No, no…”

Tang Li didn’t take the Omega’s affectionate praise to heart; instead, she thought of the two people wearing staff uniforms, a feeling of disgust rising within her.

She had noted the marks on their employee uniforms. Country B was a small place; she could definitely find them.

The sky was almost dawning. The two slept for a while. When they woke up, Tang Li rolled up the bath towel, ready to pay for it directly. Pei Xuan had arranged other work for her today, so she had to go a little earlier to familiarize herself with it, meaning she had to leave earlier than Qin Shiyang.

After washing up, Tang Li saw that the person on the bed was also awake, still looking a little hazy, but she waved at her. Tang Li leaned closer, and the Omega’s lips suddenly pressed against hers.

A kiss that touched and then left.

Tang Li’s heart involuntarily accelerated a few beats, but the pleasant sensation ended before it could fully spread. Seeing the little one’s slightly dazed look, Qin Shiyang was amused by her state. She rubbed her thumb over Tang Li’s lips, wiping away the excess.

“It’s blueberry flavored today.”

The woman, who had tasted it, said with a slightly hoarse voice. Tang Li suddenly felt her marking teeth itch again and quickly left the room to get some fresh air downstairs and bring back some hotel breakfast.

After finishing work in the morning, Tang Li didn’t eat lunch. After asking around, she finally found the company.

The scale of factories in Country B was generally not very large. After finding it, Tang Li used her work ID to meet their superior. After all, she was from another country and had business dealings, so the other party wouldn’t be too negligent. However, when Tang Li mentioned what happened last night, the superior seemed to listen attentively, but his expression suggested he was accustomed to such incidents.

“Oh, madam, while I’m concerned about your safety, you don’t have evidence.” The superior was a dark-skinned man, not tall, who spoke evasively while looking at Tang Li. “It’s lunchtime now, and it’s impossible to call someone in for questioning just based on your猜测 (cāicè, speculation). This isn’t a police station, and there are no cameras.”

Tang Li dared to confront them directly because she had taken photos of the factory’s logo on their uniforms yesterday, and she had a blurry video. She was very sensitive to scents and was confident she could identify the two men if they stood in front of her.

The man was a team leader with limited authority. Passing workers saw a beautiful woman standing at the entrance and couldn’t help but stop and cast curious glances. Tang Li was already a little annoyed when she suddenly caught sight of a familiar person in her peripheral vision—it was one of the men who had harassed her last night.

Tang Li immediately pointed him out and forcefully took him to the local police station. However, her evidence was deemed insufficient, mainly because there were no surveillance cameras to prove what had happened.

The man was lightly admonished and then released. Before leaving, he grinningly mumbled some local slang that Tang Li didn’t understand but guessed wasn’t kind words.

Looking at the triumphant man, Tang Li also smiled at him.

The factory had a night shift. That evening, while Qin Shiyang stayed late to work overtime, Tang Li, who had already finished work, ate dinner and went for a stroll. She happened to stake out the factory wall and caught sight of the two men.

The two men were speaking in the language of Country B, laughing and chatting, still holding unwashed lunchboxes. Suddenly, one of them cried out as his head throbbed. In the thick darkness of the night, the dim streetlights made it impossible to see what had attacked them. Tang Li swiftly threw two carefully selected, thick bricks she held in her hands, still feeling unsatisfied, and threw two more down.

All of them accurately struck the men’s heads.

Both men’s heads were bloody. One screamed in pain and fled, while the other collapsed to the ground, unconscious, with bl00d streaming from the back of his head and face, severely injured. The agile girl quickly landed, checked that he was still breathing, and then, satisfied, kicked some dirt onto his face and left.

After returning, Tang Li took a shower, feeling incredibly lighthearted.

The factory had a blind spot for surveillance, so they definitely wouldn’t catch her. As for the men’s medical bills, they had nothing to do with her.

It was their own fault for being foul-mouthed and meddlesome.

Tang Li was extremely pleased. She opened her laptop, feeling her wrist still a little sore. She shook it vigorously and opened the software to record formulas. Today’s tests were done, and the testing team’s work would be mostly complete in about two days, but Country B’s spices were indeed richer than she had imagined.

Tang Li remembered what CEO Qin had said during the online meeting today: anyone with ideas for spice materials could actively submit them. If adopted, they would receive a bonus and also be credited, which would help with future promotions.

She had some ideas now, but hadn’t studied specific design, so she could only jot down a rough outline for now. The equipment here was also lacking, so Tang Li planned to find Pei Xuan tomorrow to see if she could borrow a laboratory.

Pei Xuan was currently with Qin Shiyang, who was working overtime.

More precisely, it should be CEO Qin.

“Is Wu Linyan crazy? She’s simply too much, so brazen, making such exorbitant demands, as if we can’t live without her!”

After two days of busy work, they had quickly selected the materials they had long favored and were negotiating with several frequently cooperating companies. Tonight, Qin Shiyang received a reply email and had a video conference with a supplier. After learning Qin Shiyang’s requirements, the other party’s attitude was arrogant, as if Qin Shiyang’s company was begging them.

Normally, in the business world, one would need some emotional intelligence in give-and-take, as they might need favors from others in future collaborations. Qin Shiyang had also been in power for many years as an Omega, so the other party couldn’t be so blind as to be sexist.

This meant they either had information that could leverage them, or they had another trump card. In any case, it wasn’t good news.

Having reached Qin Shiyang’s position, with a team under her, she could completely sell off a portion of her shares and live off the dividends if she wanted to relax. The reason she still personally handled business and strived for perfection was not only because this current project was Phantom’s ambitious masterpiece but also for another reason.

The Omega was unwilling to be confined to the background, with her senses blocked. Phantom was the culmination of her and Qin Shuyi’s hard work. By no means would Qin Shiyang allow someone to snatch the fruits of their labor midway.

But the watchful eyes within the Qin family alone were likely numerous, not to mention other competitors in the business world. The previous case of Bai Wanle was an example: the Bai family and Qin family were partners, but if there was an opportunity, they would naturally be willing to take a large bite out of them.

Even in the early days, due to Qin Shiyang’s Omega identity, many wanted to marry her and fantasized about getting their hands on Phantom through such a union.

“CEO Qin?”

Pei Xuan suddenly noticed Qin Shiyang spacing out and waved a hand in front of her. Qin Shiyang snapped back to attention.

“It’s fine, let her be.”

There wasn’t just one perfume design company in their country, and now more companies were collaborating with holographic technology, unlike the meager few in the first two years when holography first emerged. Suppliers who wanted to seize the opportunity to inflate prices also needed to have the capability.

“Oh, by the way, Aunt Zhao asked you to go back home after you return to the country. She left me a message earlier, fearing she’d disturb you.”

Seeing Qin Shiyang’s unconcerned look, Pei Xuan felt reassured and shifted to a lighter topic. At the mention of that name, Qin Shiyang’s usually cold and distant eyebrows finally relaxed slightly, warmth melting over them.

She still felt some discomfort, especially a dull ache and swelling in her gland, yet paradoxically, she also felt a satiated comfort. These two distinctly different feelings mixed together, making Qin Shiyang unusually distracted during work hours.

She soaked her hands in clear water and had returned to her usual state when she came back, continuing to work overtime without a break.

When returning to the country, Tang Li also bought some specialty products from Country B, planning to give them to Yu Zhou and Bai Xuan. Her two mothers would send her messages and chat every few days. The original owner’s character was initially set as a rebellious child who didn’t like to bother with family, but Tang Li had a much better temper and also felt that her two mothers genuinely loved her.

She experienced intense maternal love from two people for the first time.

She had initially worried if carrying too many hand luggage items would be inconvenient, but this time, everyone had been upgraded to business class, which meant more hand luggage allowance. Tang Li happily brought her things onto the plane.

Upon landing, she received a message from Bai Xuan, asking if she wanted to have dinner together tonight and to bring her “daughter-in-law.”

Tang Li glanced at the “wife” next to her, thoughtfully.

Having just returned from Country B, she probably wouldn’t be working so hard, even working overtime late at night, right?

It wasn’t that Tang Li thought too much; her wife, ever since she met her, had been incredibly busy every day, clearly a very ambitious person, to a degree that astounded Tang Li.

Tang Li believed that if it weren’t for some strange regulations in certain companies, Qin Shiyang would definitely be an emotionless work machine, the type who “has no women in her heart, and her sword is naturally divine.”

Such a person, seemingly devoted to her career, would often be a blockhead, yet the woman was graceful and enchanting in bed, making her hard to resist.

The gland that had been sucked by the Omega that day was still a little sensitive, seeming to retain the itching sensation of pheromones being drawn out. As Tang Li was lost in wild thoughts, Qin Shiyang noticed her gaze and tilted her head.

“What’s wrong?”

Tang Li repeated Bai Xuan’s exact words.

They had signed a marriage agreement initially, so logically, meeting elders wasn’t entirely necessary. After all, it was only a two-year marriage, and meeting family members would be a bit awkward.

However, Tang Li hadn’t kept it from her family. Now that the elder had asked, she had to inquire about Qin Shiyang’s opinion first. Qin Shiyang listened, and a hint of tension brewed in her dark eyes. She seemed a little conflicted, showing a troubled expression. Seeing this, Tang Li immediately understood and quickly said:

“It’s okay, it’s okay, you’re busy. Just rest well when you get back. I’ll tell my mom later.”

Being rejected was expected, so Tang Li quickly and naturally switched topics, lowering her voice slightly:

“I heard CEO Qin was very fierce before, but I didn’t see it this time. I think CEO Qin is very nice, though, even upgrading us to business class!”

Upgrading flights costs a lot of money. There were about twenty people in their group, which amounted to a significant sum. No one would have a bad impression of a generous boss, and Tang Li’s impression of the CEO instantly soared.

A tingling sensation suddenly spread in her palm; it was Qin Shiyang subtly hooking her hand. They walked side by side like this. The person next to her leaned closer, speaking softly and gently, but what she said was:

“But, I heard that some time ago, someone from the Qin family went crazy again.”

It was “again.”

News of a certain Qin family member being forced to jump off a building had spread like wildfire, earning CEO Qin a reputation for being cold and heartless. Although an Omega, she showed no trace of the softness usually associated with this attribute.

In today’s world, it was indeed much harder for an Omega to make a name for herself than for an Alpha, and those who reached high positions generally had no association with kindness.

But even scheming against one’s own family members was beyond ordinary shrewdness and tactics.

To avoid being accused of gossiping about her superior, Tang Li squeezed her wrist, gesturing to Qin Shiyang to stop talking. However, her fear of her boss deepened.

On the day Tang Li returned to the Bai family, Qin Shiyang also went to her own home to see her Aunt Zhao.

Zhao Yimei was her great aunt’s Omega wife. Her great aunt had been in poor health in her early years and had passed away from an illness a few years ago. All household affairs were handled by this “outsider” Omega.

Her great aunt was her biological aunt. Zhao Yimei had married her ten years ago and had watched Qin Shuyi and Qin Shiyang grow up. After Qin Shiyang’s Alpha mother left irresponsibly, she also took good care of the two sisters. She was one of the very few elders with whom Qin Shiyang felt familial affection and dependence.

The woman was now over forty, still graceful and charming. Although not from a wealthy or noble background, she exuded the dignified and elegant demeanor of a lady. When she saw Qin Shiyang, her eyes filled with intense joy.

Her wife had passed away early, and they had no children, so Zhao Yimei treated Qin Shuyi and Qin Shiyang as her own. Every time Qin Shiyang returned, she would have her room tidied early, hoping for her to stay the night.

“Aunt Zhao.”

Qin Shiyang brought her gifts every time she returned. Others would also put on a show of courtesy, but it was just servants delivering things for appearances. Zhao Yimei’s gift was delivered by Qin Shiyang herself. The woman greeted her warmly, and they chatted idly. Zhao Yimei immediately unwrapped the gift she had given her. As they chatted, she leaned close and suddenly caught a whiff of Qin Shiyang’s scent.

She was very familiar with Qin Shiyang. Within that faint spring tea fragrance, she detected a very light floral scent.

Qin Shiyang usually lived a simple life, and apart from her sister Qin Shuyi, there were very few Alphas around her. Qin Shuyi’s gland was damaged in a car accident years ago, making her unable to mark Omegas or release pheromones, so it was impossible for her to carry such a scent.

And the fact that she could smell it meant it had reached the level of a temporary marking.

“Yangyang,” Zhao Yimei said calmly, as if asking about a very ordinary small matter, “Do you have a girlfriend now?”

“Something like that,” Qin Shiyang replied vaguely.

Actually, it was a wife.

However, although her scent was concealed and she wore an inhibitor patch, close individuals with very sensitive noses could definitely smell it. Although Qin Shiyang hadn’t planned on bringing Tang Li home, she also hadn’t intended to hide it from the beginning. If they knew, they knew; it was just a matter of telling them.

Zhao Yimei wasn’t one to gossip. After confirming with Qin Shiyang, she didn’t ask further about her romantic status but inquired about her sister.

“How is Shuyi doing now? I’d like to go see her in a couple of days.”

As soon as Zhao Yimei finished speaking, she saw Qin Shiyang’s expression remain as usual, a smile lingering on her lips, but she showed no intention of agreeing to the visit.

After Qin Shuyi’s car accident, her attitude towards everyone except Qin Shiyang became extremely hostile. She fell into a deep abyss of pain, unable to extricate herself. Doctors said she had severe self-destructive tendencies and stress reactions.

She couldn’t bear to see cars, not even toy cars or models, and harbored strong malice and suspicion towards others. As the most promising heir of the Qin family at the time, Qin Shuyi had received an excellent education from childhood, winning a scholarship in a national capital university competition at age 17. Her life was a blazing success, and she was hailed as a genius prodigy of Huadu’s prominent families.

It was once said that “genius” often walks a fine line with “madness.” Qin Shuyi lost not only the abilities of a normal Alpha overnight but also her legs and everything she had painstakingly built. The once-influential CEO Qin was reduced to an injured patient in a sanatorium. In the first two years after the accident, she couldn’t even move in a wheelchair; she couldn’t overcome the psychological hurdle.

Years of hard work and sacrifice vanishing overnight was an unbearable blow to anyone. At the time, some media even speculated whether the Qin family’s genius young lady would retaliate against society. The higher-ups, whether they had long planned it or believed the speculation, almost completely divided and devoured Qin Shuyi’s accumulated efforts during her recovery period.

It was Qin Shiyu, her former name (given by her irresponsible Alpha mother who later left), who bit back piece by piece. After her mother’s irresponsible departure, Qin Shiyang’s name was changed back by her Omega mother.

The sanatorium where Qin Shuyi resided had received substantial personal investment from Qin Shiyang, essentially building a strong safe zone for her. There were also Qin Shiyang’s own people in the sanatorium, from caregivers to attending physicians, all of whom had undergone extremely strict, multi-layered screening. Without Qin Shiyang’s permission, no one could meet Qin Shuyi.

Zhao Yimei had watched the sisters grow up from childhood, and their bond was extraordinary. Seeing Qin Shiyang’s silent refusal, her expression grew somewhat regretful and worried.

“If you’re not going, then take some of the rose mung bean shortbread I made back for your girlfriend to taste.”

This time, Qin Shiyang didn’t refuse, thanking her softly. Zhao Yimei always wanted her to stay the night and have breakfast together the next day. Qin Shiyang had already told Tang Li before she came. Now, opening her phone, she intended to see if the little one had said anything else to her but saw a message from Shen Zhihe instead.

Are you home? Can you watch the cat for one more day for me?

A moment later, another message.

My mom isn’t feeling well, I’m taking her for a day of observation at the hospital. It’s strange, does your new place have a cat-attracting aura or something? It’s the first time I’ve seen her so clingy; she started meowing as soon as she reached your door.

Oh my god, CEO Qin, are you hiding a lover?

Shen Zhihe and Qin Shiyang had a very good relationship; she was one of her few close friends. Qin Shiyang hadn’t hidden her move from her, and Shen Zhihe knew the address. She also knew Qin Shiyang’s habits regarding when the housekeeper would manage things, so she shamelessly showed up with her cat.

It just so happened that Tang Li was at home at that time.

Today was Saturday.

Shen Zhihe sent no further messages. Qin Shiyang, as if sensing something, clicked on Tang Li’s profile picture and entered her Moments, where she saw a new video posted half an hour ago.

A Ragdoll cat was squatting in the study, eating cat food, its tail curled up. A slender Alpha hand rested on its back, stroking it back and forth. Normally, cats and dogs are very protective of their food and would at most allow their owners to touch them. Tang Li wasn’t particularly familiar with it, but even through the screen, Qin Shiyang noticed that the Ragdoll’s face clearly expressed “obedience and honesty.”

Qin Shiyang didn’t like Browse Moments, nor did she post or comment. At this moment, she hesitated, pressed the comment button, and typed:

Be careful not to get bitten.

After typing, she deleted “be careful” and felt it was a bit strange. Deleting word by word, Qin Shiyang changed her comment to:

Had its shots?

Tang Li seemed to be glued to Moments, replying quickly:

Not yet. Waiting for Sister to come back and give them to me.

Followed by a pitiful emoji.

Qin Shiyang’s meaning was whether the cat had received its vaccinations, but for Alphas and Omegas, the shots they usually received also included… inhibitors.

Looking at the cute cat avatar in Moments, Qin Shiyang’s heart suddenly skipped a beat. Then she returned to the chat page and saw Tang Li had sent her a few more Live Photos privately.

The mischievous Ragdoll sister was very well-behaved under her hand. Tang Li placed her hand on the cat’s smooth fur without pressing hard. Although Shen Zhihe’s Ragdoll was exquisitely beautiful, with smooth fur and pure blue eyes, Qin Shiyang’s gaze couldn’t help but fall on that slender, jade-like hand.

Why take pictures of hands when taking pictures of cats?

Honestly.

Your friend’s cat is so cute, I’m addicted to playing with it.

“Meow~”

After sending this message, Tang Li released the Ragdoll, which had been obediently sitting on her lap. To be honest, Tang Li didn’t know how long she had been a cat spirit. Cats had no concept of age, but after becoming an adult, she felt nothing for these cats, or dogs for that matter. In fact, she was afraid of dogs.

Two hours later, Tang Li had just finished showering in the bathroom when she heard the electronic lock click open.

Tang Li was wearing a pure white bathrobe, her wet hair casually spread out. Her bangs were also casually brushed back, revealing her brow bone, which added a touch of Alpha wildness. Water droplets slid down her neck to her collarbone and disappeared into the simple cotton bathrobe collar. Below the pure white tone were light sky-blue slippers, the overall colors appearing exceptionally harmonious.

Having seen too many gaudy colors in holographic games, Tang Li recently preferred simple color combinations. Her clothes were also very plain; she liked simple white shirts paired with jeans or denim skirts, which were comfortable for commuting.

Qin Shiyang hadn’t expected to encounter this scene immediately upon her return. Her gaze lingered on Tang Li for a moment before quickly moving away.

“I brought you some handmade desserts.”

These were made by the Qin family’s chef, their highly paid private chef, which couldn’t be bought outside. Qin Shiyang remembered that Tang Li always brought her something whenever she went out, like she was hunting. Today, before she left, she had encountered other Qin family members, which ended a little unpleasantly, but she was slightly late because she had gone to select and pack some desserts for Tang Li.

These desserts were freshly made by the chef that day. Although they weren’t as good as freshly baked, they definitely tasted delicious.

Tang Li weighed just over a hundred pounds, which was a well-proportioned and beautiful physique for her height, not excessively thin. Seeing Qin Shiyang bring her delicious desserts, she immediately happily took them to the kitchen to unwrap and taste.

Qin Shiyang recalled encountering Yang An before she left. The woman had previously arranged a meeting with Bai Wanle, but then Bai Wanle’s pregnant ex-partner had caused a huge commotion at her company, becoming the joke of the circle, so it naturally wouldn’t be mentioned again.

However, Yang An’s eldest daughter worked in Phantom’s procurement department, a very subtle department. She had been there before and hadn’t made any major mistakes so far, so Qin Shiyang couldn’t just replace her.

That family was all ambitious. Yang An’s eldest daughter, Yang Xu, had registered her marriage at the beginning of the year and was now confirmed pregnant, planning to get married. Yang An smiled and teased Qin Shiyang in an elder’s tone, hinting that she was getting older and would lose significant value if she missed the Omega’s golden childbearing age in a few more years.

As if an Omega, no matter how high a position she attained, still had to be measured by strange values.

Qin Shiyang was only 26 years old this year, with no age anxiety whatsoever, but listening to Yang An’s emotional manipulation still annoyed her. Yang An was best at delivering subtle verbal jabs. This point didn’t affect Qin Shiyang, but Yang Xu was present and also said a few things with a smile, which Qin Shiyang retorted, making her face turn very unpleasant.

This family seemed convinced that if Qin Shiyang stepped down and returned to family life, they could take over Phantom. That uncontainable sense of certainty made Qin Shiyang suspicious.

Phantom was undertaking its largest project ever. If successful, its future prospects were infinitely bright, and it would likely solidify its position as an industry leader. If it failed, the minimum loss would be an unbearable figure.

This was Qin Shuyi and Qin Shiyang’s ambitious work, refined for five years, aiming for perfection. In fact, a basic prototype existed two years ago, but the toxin in Qin Shiyang’s body often forced her to delay work, spending more time on healing her body.

Fortunately, now she had Tang Li.

Qin Shiyang had also considered that Tang Li might be a “poisoned apple” sent by a rival, but a drowning person on the verge of death can only grasp at a floating straw to reach the shore first, then they will have the strength to fight for survival after being pushed to the brink.

Tang Li unwrapped the outer packaging box and took the dessert to the dining room. The three-layer mousse cake was topped with a layer of translucent grapefruit jelly. With one bite, the flavors varied and blended skillfully. The lime and grapefruit balanced the sweetness, making the taste particularly wonderful. However, it wasn’t a large portion, leaving her wanting more after finishing it.

Her phone on the table buzzed, reminding her that a streamer she followed had gone live. Tang Li clicked on it.

Knowing that the original owner was not a real person but just a book setting, Tang Li hadn’t changed her phone and continued using it. This phone was large and received many messages and notifications daily. To avoid breaking character too much and being noticed by familiar people, she hadn’t uninstalled many things.

On the Manbao live streaming platform, “she” had followed a streamer for several years. The streamer had few online hours and not many fans. Tang Li found that this was even a special follow of hers. After watching for two minutes, the streamer, a virtual one, didn’t show her face, just sang songs and acted cute. It was completely uninteresting, so Tang Li planned to unfollow.

Clicking into the homepage, she saw the streamer simultaneously send her a pop-up message with a link.

Tang Li: ?

She thought of a saying.

Don’t click on suspicious links; prevent telecommunication fraud, starting with me.

She felt this streamer wasn’t an important person, and what she sent was… an advertisement? Tang Li clicked “x,” set the streamer as “not interested,” and then felt this small live streaming platform was also obscure and the pushes were boring, so she directly pressed uninstall.

After getting up and throwing the small cake’s fork and container into the kitchen trash can, Tang Li returned to see Qin Shiyang already asleep on the table, a faint hint of worry clouding her beautiful and delicate face. The light makeup on her face perfectly concealed the exhaustion beneath her eyes, but her expression was not peaceful, as if she was worried about something.

She was sleeping on her side, resting her head on her arm, and would surely wake up with sore muscles. Tang Li hesitated for a moment, then with the lightest possible movements, lifted her up, adjusted her posture, and carried her towards the bedroom.