After Cat A Saved the Wrong Female Lead - Chapter 25

Chapter 25: An Easily Coaxed Little Alpha

Tang Li carried her to the bed, tucked her in, and then left, thoughtfully closing the door behind her. She hadn’t dried her hair yet, so she leisurely went back to the bathroom, turned on the hairdryer, applied hair oil, dried her hair, and then returned to her own room.

Not long after arriving in this world, she had developed the habit of scrolling on her phone for a while before bed.

Honestly, there wasn’t much exciting about the phone; it was more of a way to pass the time and de-stress. Time did indeed fly by without her noticing. Leaning against a cushion, Tang Li saw a text message notification on her phone that wasn’t an advertisement.

Nowadays, people rarely communicate via text messages, mostly using chat apps, so texts were ninety percent advertisements or delivery notifications. This message was particularly abrupt, and several had been sent consecutively.

[?] [Did your wife check up on you? So strict about watching a live stream.] [I wasn’t streaming anything inappropriate.] [Get in here quickly.]

Tang Li was utterly confused.

Who was this person?

A streamer the original owner had tipped? Why did their tone seem so familiar?

Even if one tipped a streamer, a streamer shouldn’t have such an attitude towards someone who’s showering them with money. Tang Li scratched her head, deliberated for a while, then redownloaded the app. She found that the other party had sent her the same link again.

She clicked on it, discovering it wasn’t a payment QR code, but a very simply designed, crude webpage. The webpage only had a chat function and fixed friend slots. It was probably developed privately by some programmer and not meant for the public market.

Hey, you finally got your hands on her?

The other side showed “online” with a green dot and quickly sent a message. Looking at their tone, Tang Li felt a bit uncomfortable, but more so, an uncanny sensation arose within her.

This person definitely wasn’t a streamer she didn’t know; how could they know about her affairs?

She’s so boring, isn’t she? Even though she’s an Omega, she seems cold and aloof, just a workaholic. Besides her face and figure, she doesn’t have any Omega advantages, probably no fun at all, right?] [Tell me about it.

The other side’s tone was full of disrespect for Qin Shiyang, making Tang Li’s expression turn a little ugly.

Tang Li: Watch your mouth. Show some respect for my wife.

Other side: …

The other side was silent for a while, perhaps taken aback by her words, and only spoke a few minutes later.

Alright, we’ll transfer the money to you in the middle of the month. We’ll do what needs to be done. In exchange, you also need to show us your sincerity.

After saying that, the green dot on the other side turned gray, meaning they had gone offline.

Tang Li scrolled through the chat history, finding nothing. It was empty, which made the conversation seem very strange. It left Tang Li completely bewildered. She went back to the app’s private chat window and saw that the records there were still present, going back a year, and each time, the other party had sent a link.

Then, “she” would click on that small website from the link and chat with the other party?

It seemed that the other party wasn’t just casually making excessive jokes, but wanted her to do something to “show sincerity”?

But she had no idea what had happened before and after.

This chat website might be problematic.

Tang Li wanted to click into it again but found that the link had automatically self-destructed, raising even more suspicions in her mind, and she vaguely had a guess.

It couldn’t be that the things her character did in the original plot were instigated by someone who bought her off, otherwise, why would they transfer money to her account?

A deposit of 7 million yuan startled Tang Li.

Tang Li was currently just an ordinary intern, earning a few thousand yuan a month. But her two mothers were wealthy and gave her a substantial amount of pocket money, though it certainly didn’t reach the level of millions at a time.

If even millions weren’t enough, then it would have to be a big celebrity or a family that ranked among the top in Huadu’s industries. And judging by that person’s tone, it seemed like they had transferred money to this identity more than once. If each time was this much, the total amount would be incredibly frightening.

Tang Li’s first reaction was to return the money. She didn’t have that much to pay back, nor could she accomplish what that person was asking.

But on second thought, if she gave up, wouldn’t she cut off this clue? She didn’t think this person’s mysterious actions would be an insignificant matter. They had even said she finally “got her hands on” someone, which surely had something to do with her wife.

The female lead in a “flower market” novel (likely a derogatory term for a certain genre or social circle) was in a high-risk position, enduring various humiliations. Who could stand that?

Without further ado, Tang Li immediately began searching online for reliable and discreet private investigation agencies. The original owner’s friends were mostly unreliable, and if she contacted the housekeeper, she worried it would involve Bai Xuan and cause an even bigger fuss that would be hard to resolve. It took her two days to finally settle on one.

The money came from an overseas account, linked to an irrelevant IP address, so tracing it was useless. As for the website, they couldn’t decrypt it for now; it came with a self-destruct program that erased previous data upon exit, showing how clever the other party was, leaving her no handle to grasp in such details.

It was really difficult.

Tang Li had a headache.

These past two days at work, Tang Li was noticeably a bit listless. However, Phantom released a call for submissions for scent designs, requiring them to simulate pheromone scents. Entering the holographic game provided an immersive experience. There were many Betas in this world who wanted to experience Alpha and Omega pheromones. Privately purchasing pheromone extraction liquid was illegal in real life, but the virtual world had no such restrictions.

Moreover, the game was divided into “16+” and “18+” levels, both requiring real-name ID verification. Entering the “18+” game world allowed players to smell pheromones. Of course, after authenticating a partner relationship within the game, players could also experience temporary marking, which was one of the game’s selling points.

Tang Li was naturally very sensitive to scents. After experimenting with some ingredients, she made several combinations, simulating both Alpha and Omega pheromones. She was almost done and planned to submit them once finished.

She overheard someone in the office discussing this, and one Alpha boastfully claimed she was submitting a simulation of her own pheromones, looking very confident, which was somewhat exasperating.

The male Beta in the new employee group couldn’t sit still again. He said he was going to get some tea, but he actually wandered out for over ten minutes and returned with news that a major client had arrived at the company. Seeing Tang Li, he couldn’t help but ask her:

“Hey Tang Li, are you also participating in the submission call? What does your pheromone smell like? It’s not going to be public, is it, haha!”

“…Boring.”

Tang Li couldn’t be bothered with him. He’d probably be laid off once his two-month internship was over.

Tonight, Tang Li originally intended to stay and work overtime, but half-way through, she received a call from the Bai family’s housekeeper, saying that Bai Xuan had been in a car accident and was at the hospital. Tang Li’s design draft was saving slowly, and hearing the call, her heart momentarily stopped. She told a colleague next to her:

“Sister Qiongyi, please help me shut down my computer. My family has an emergency!”

Feng Qiongyi could be considered half of Tang Li’s teacher. She and another intern had been mentored by this senior since joining Phantom. The woman was usually easygoing, and Tang Li and the others called her “Sister,” a very amiable personality. Seeing Tang Li’s hurried demeanor, she immediately nodded.

Tang Li rushed out of the company like a dart, her figure swallowed by the thick night.

The lights were still on in the Phantom building’s conference room. On the conference table, a tense atmosphere was brewing.

Tang Li still remembered that in the original plot, her character’s family background was briefly mentioned: Yu Zhou went abroad and found a second spring, rarely returning, and Bai Xuan fell ill and passed away, leaving “her” as an orphan.

“She” wasn’t the female lead; she was more like a tool character, so the plot was very sparing in details. But even though she hadn’t been here for long, Tang Li could feel that Yu Zhou and Bai Xuan genuinely loved her.

Perhaps their ways of loving their daughter were different, but both were very responsible and reasonable people, hardly seeming like they could have given birth to a child with the original owner’s personality.

She didn’t ask a driver to pick her up, directly hailed a cab, and rushed to the city center hospital. On the way, she called back Butler Zhang, whose phone showed he was also on a call. Tang Li then called Yu Zhou.

“Hello, what’s wrong, Xiao Li? I’m filming.”

Yu Zhou answered on the second try, but there was a noisy background. She spoke to Tang Li while covering the microphone. Tang Li took a deep breath and told her about Bai Xuan. Yu Zhou seemed relatively calm:

“Alright, which hospital is she in? I’ll have Assistant Li go there first.”

Tang Li reported the location, watching the neon lights flicker on the congested city roads, suddenly feeling a strong sense of exhaustion. People came and went here, noisy, laughing, or hurrying, but the joy and sorrow had nothing to do with others. In that moment, she felt isolated.

If she were still a cat, she wouldn’t have so many complex thoughts. Every day, besides foraging, she would just find a place to sleep, sheltered from wind and rain, with nothing on her mind.

With one kilometer left, traffic was too jammed. It seemed there had been a car collision ahead, and the two drivers were arguing, red-faced and calling the police. Tang Li paid the fare in advance and simply ran towards the hospital, panting all the way into the building. She saw Butler Zhang, and also several cousins who were chattering away, and one was constantly chatting with someone nearby.

The woman was blocked at the door by her, unable to move forward or back, so she had to good-naturedly look up and reply.

“Second Cousin.”

Tang Li first asked the nurses outside and learned that Bai Xuan was still undergoing examination in the operating room, but her life wasn’t in danger. Slightly relieved, she then called out to her coldly. The second young lady of the Bai family was an Alpha. She seemed to be asking about the woman’s condition, but her true intentions were elsewhere, her gaze wandering.

Any other time would be fine, but flirting at her mother’s hospital room door? What kind of nerve was that?

The second young lady turned her head, seeing Tang Li looking completely unapproachable. But in her daily life, she completely looked down on this useless person and wouldn’t even bother with her, so she turned back, intending to speak to the woman. Unexpectedly, the person immediately recognized Tang Li and tried to seize the opportunity to break free and move towards her, but was lightly grabbed by the wrist by the second young lady.

Yu Qingshuang pressed her lips together in displeasure, trying to pull away. Tang Li walked over and tapped the second young lady’s wrist. That seemingly light tap made the second young lady gasp in pain.

She then pinched the back of the other’s neck.

For an Alpha, a same-s3x pinch on the back of the neck symbolized provocation and harassment, but Tang Li performed the action without any hint of flirtation. The hospital lights illuminated the girl’s face, outlining her deep features, her brows and eyes wild and sharp.

Competitions between Alphas didn’t need to be like ancient gladiatorial arenas, with every fight involving pheromone comparisons. Just that one action earlier, the second young lady’s momentum lost a significant chunk. She took a step back, reluctantly glancing at Yu Qingshuang, as if assessing her prey.

Yet, she said:

“Little sister, my aunt had an accident. I rushed over as soon as I heard the news to look after her. Don’t cause trouble.”

“Relying on you to take care of her is like relying on the old hen in the manor to climb a tree.”

Tang Li coldly glanced at her, showing no respect at all, making the second young lady’s face turn even uglier. Another aunt and a cousin pretended not to notice their argument, and seeing Tang Li completely suppress the second young lady, they were somewhat surprised.

The operating room lights went out, and Bai Xuan was wheeled out. Tang Li had no time to argue with them and quickly looked at the doctor. The doctor took off his mask:

“She was brought in promptly, no major issues. Her ribs are a bit injured; she’ll need a few days of hospitalization for recovery.”

Tang Li finally sighed in relief. That aunt finally moved, patting her shoulder, and then pointing at Yu Qingshuang:

“Xiao Li, you must thank this girl properly. She was the one who found your mother injured and called the police, and also brought her to the hospital.”

At that time, Yu Qingshuang was filming an advertisement and happened to pass by after finishing. Seeing Bai Xuan’s accident, she immediately called the police and caught the fleeing driver. Tang Li hadn’t realized her connection with Yu Qingshuang was quite profound. She quickly thanked her sincerely. Yu Qingshuang’s makeup hadn’t been removed, and her demeanor clearly indicated she wasn’t an ordinary person. The water in her eyes was gentle and clear like a lake, foundation concealed the blush on her face, but her fair earlobes had a faint flush.

Tang Li was more concerned about Bai Xuan and followed her to the ward. Seeing her connected to an IV, she rushed over as soon as Bai Xuan opened her eyes.

“Mom!”

She had only spent a short time with Bai Xuan and had initially thought she wouldn’t feel much. But after experiencing such emotional ups and downs, her eyes were now a little sore. Tang Li barely managed to hold back her tears.

She couldn’t cry in front of those people. She had seen their weasel-like faces when her mother was injured. Tang Li quickly composed herself, touching Bai Xuan’s slightly cool hand, and naturally took charge of the situation for her.

Bai Xuan was a lady of leisure at home, but she was spoiled by the old matriarch, which indirectly led to Tang Li also being subtly excluded by them, yet still having to maintain appearances. Tang Li let them see Bai Xuan briefly, then sent the unnecessary people out to avoid disturbing Bai Xuan’s rest.

“Sister Qingshuang, thank you for your hard work.”

Finally, she thanked Yu Qingshuang again, simultaneously considering what kind of proper thank-you gift to give her. Yu Qingshuang’s long eyelashes lowered, and she shyly shook her head:

“I’m only two years older than you, you can just call me Qingshuang.”

They had met before and got along well during their interactions. Tang Li sincerely considered Yu Qingshuang a friend. However, it wasn’t the time for casual chatter and reminiscing. Yu Qingshuang indeed had her own matters to attend to, so she bid Tang Li farewell for now.

Tang Li saw her to the door and walked her all the way to her car. Her assistant picked her up. As soon as she got into the car, Yu Qingshuang couldn’t help but smile slightly, as beautiful and fresh as April blossoms.

“What’s going on?”

The assistant was around the same age as her, also very young, and had a very gossipy personality. Yu Qingshuang, on the other hand, was an artist with a very good temper who put on no airs at all. The two got along almost like good friends. Yu Qingshuang had only debuted recently, and many artists now portray themselves as single. The company had also stated no dating was allowed for three years, so although she had a good impression of Tang Li, she didn’t dare tell her assistant directly.

“Nothing. Later, show me your schedule for upcoming announcements.”

She felt Tang Li might invite her to dinner and needed to clear her schedule. Yu Qingshuang thought about it, happily put on her eye mask, and caught up on sleep in the car.

….

Phantom Building.

The meeting officially ended at ten in the evening. The suppliers had raised their prices very high, and the meeting could be said to have ended unpleasantly. Qin Shiyang felt that things hadn’t been going smoothly lately, and her expression was slightly cold, but she still politely saw off the guests. Only when she returned to her office did she take out her phone, contemplating whether to go home or continue working for a while.

But her head was throbbing, a slight stinging sensation, probably a side effect of overthinking. Tang Li had left her a message two hours ago. Qin Shiyang clicked on the voice message, and the girl’s clear voice entered her ears:

“Wife, are you working overtime? My mom was in a car accident and is hospitalized. I probably can’t go back tonight. I’ll stay with her at the First City Hospital and am about to go through the admission procedures.”

“Thankfully, the worst is a slight rib fracture. She’ll have to lie down for a few days, no major damage. Remember to be careful when you go out. It’s raining outside, drive slowly.”

Hearing the words “car accident” was like opening a valve of memory, bringing back some very unpleasant recollections from that time. Qin Shiyang took a deep breath, listening to Tang Li’s words, her voice also tight.

Tang Li had also sent her a photo: a folding bed, large enough for one person, had already been set up in a private ward. Public hospitals didn’t allow extra beds randomly, and family members accompanying patients could only use these small folding beds, which were actually very uncomfortable; turning over at night would ache her bones.

In close family relationships, people generally called Alphas “Mommy” and Omegas “Mama” to differentiate them. The “Mom” Tang Li referred to was definitely Bai Xuan.

Actually, she had never heard of Tang Li before; it was only after a detailed investigation that she found this person seemed to be the same name and surname as the one she had investigated.

The “Tang Li” in the records could not be considered filial, she was a slacker. Aside from the old matriarch who loved Bai Xuan and extended that affection to her child, “Tang Li” was universally disliked, disliked studying, lacked ambition, and was very rebellious, deliberately going against elders, with a terrible temper.

Her only advantage was probably that she was still relatively “clean.” The head of the Bai family was an Omega, and their Alpha upbringing was unusually strict, absolutely forbidding Alphas from casually marking Omegas outside. There had even been cases where Alphas who indulged in a lavish lifestyle had their inheritance rights directly revoked.

Qin Shiyang rubbed her aching temples. Tonight’s negotiation was already unpleasant, and this accident made her mind wander even more. To avoid overthinking, she simply tore open a sleep aromatherapy patch and applied it before finally falling into a deep sleep much later.

She woke up early the next day, around five, feeling a persistent headache and restless sleep. The housekeeper wasn’t on duty yet, but breakfast shops were open. Qin Shiyang called her driver, bought a hearty breakfast, and then messaged Tang Li.

Tang Li usually liked to sleep in at home. Qin Shiyang guessed she wasn’t awake yet, so she told her to leave the breakfast at the inpatient department’s storage, where it could be reheated later. Unexpectedly, Tang Li immediately sent her the ward number, asking her to come over.

Bai Xuan hadn’t slept very soundly last night, and Tang Li also suffered on the folding bed. She noticed Bai Xuan was enduring the pain without crying out and couldn’t help but get up twice to check on her.

By the time she finished, it was already daylight.

The ward had its own restroom and shower. Tang Li had just finished tidying up and came out to see the woman standing outside the glass window. She was wearing a mask, revealing only her bright eyes. Her casual attire was simple and clean, enough to adorn this small space with beauty.

There was a family lounge right at the end of the adjacent corridor. Around six o’clock, it was completely empty. Apart from the occasional sounds from the service desk, the hospital was quiet, enveloped by a faint mist outside the building, shifting with the wind.

Qin Shiyang brought her a few small steamed buns, along with douhua (tofu pudding) and fennel oil sticks. The white douhua was soaked in broth, sprinkled with finely chopped green onions and dried shrimp, with a bit of preserved vegetables for a fresh and delicious taste. The fennel oil sticks could be dipped in the douhua, soaking up the broth for an exquisite texture.

Tang Li had spent yesterday evening signing documents, handling procedures, and even personally went back to Bai Xuan’s home to get things. She was already tired from all the rushing around, and her stomach was rumbling that morning. Qin Shiyang’s breakfast arrived, perfectly to her taste, and she ate with great satisfaction, her eyes narrowing, looking even more like a little cat begging for food.

She didn’t eat rudely or overly elegantly; she simply ate with clear relish, making others feel hungry. Spooning a mouthful of hot douhua soup, Tang Li’s chatterbox opened, and she complained to Qin Shiyang about those annoying cousins from yesterday.

“And that aunt too,” Tang Li couldn’t tell which one they were, but it didn’t hinder her meaning. “My mom just had a car accident, and those people rushed over to gawk. Can’t they tell the difference between gawking and genuinely caring about me? Every single one of them wished my mom would stay in bed for a few more days!”

In the original plot, it was written that Bai Xuan passed away before even turning fifty. Hearing the news of the car accident this time had scared Tang Li quite a bit. It wasn’t entirely because those people would seize the opportunity to act; she was actually more afraid of Bai Xuan’s passing itself.

This was the first person who had given her “maternal love.” In her, Tang Li could feel the warmth of their connected bloodline. To say she was extremely filial or deeply emotional would be an exaggeration, but at least one thing was clear.

She wanted Bai Xuan to be well.

And those people were all very annoying.

“It’s a good thing you’re here with me.”

After finishing the last bite of the small oil stick, Tang Li moved her stool closer to Qin Shiyang, directly expressing intimacy through the closer distance.

In this world, she probably only had Qin Shiyang, Bai Xuan, and Yu Zhou whom she could trust one hundred percent. Yu Zhou wasn’t here, Bai Xuan was injured, and if it weren’t for Qin Shiyang, she probably wouldn’t have anyone to confide in, not knowing who to talk to if something was on her mind.

Qin Shiyang smiled:

“Just because I’m your Omega?”

Tang Li looked at her somewhat seriously:

“Xiao Yu, even if you weren’t my Omega, or weren’t an Omega, you are so kind, work diligently and live earnestly, meticulous and persistent in everything you do. You have a good temper and listen to feedback, your emotions are stable, your quality is high, and you’re so beautiful. There must be many, many people who like you.”

“But you have to discern carefully; some people just want to vent their animalistic desires on you in various ways,” Tang Li thought to herself. She didn’t say this to Qin Shiyang, fearing she would scare her and find her inexplicable.

In short, before the female lead met her fated person, she wouldn’t let those bad people get close.

Tang Li made up her mind.

But at that time, would she still be able to part with such ease as she did now?

…

This was the first time Qin Shiyang had heard someone list so many of her virtues, and so sincerely, with no hint of flattery. She had to admit, a little wave of pleasure rippled in her heart.

Perhaps being praised was simply a very heartwarming experience. Later, she left early, only glancing at Bai Xuan through the ward window before heading to the company. Pei Xuan also arrived early and relayed the suppliers’ intentions; their attitude remained arrogant. Qin Shiyang didn’t get angry, calmly saying:

“They must have found another source. They’re so arrogant, thinking we’ll beg them.”

Suppliers and buyers were inherently cooperative, categorized as long-term or short-term, and not always closely aligned. When it came to profit sharing, they certainly weren’t close friends.

But Phantom and two of their partners had been collaborating for three to four years, one of which was personally nurtured by Qin Shiyang from its humble beginnings, with her personally inspecting goods and placing orders. While she didn’t demand servility, they should at least show gratitude and reciprocity. Now, they were getting ahead of themselves.

Suddenly, several suppliers changed their tune. Their aim was nothing more than to collectively extort a sum from her or delay the new project’s completion and market launch. Firstly, the Qin family also had connections, and Phantom still had some shares held by the family group. If Qin Shiyang didn’t perform well, they would have the right to criticize.

Now, those people were eyeing her position, just waiting for an opportunity to replace her.

Qin Shiyang’s mood last night truly wasn’t good. After coming to work today and hearing some people’s manipulative words, anger had already started to bubble up from her heart. Then, she suddenly remembered the little one’s evaluation of her as “emotionally stable,” and her anger subsided slightly.

Facing such situations, the more anxious one became, the more those people would take advantage. Qin Shiyang had experience and quickly calmed down.

In the hospital, Bai Xuan woke up and saw her daughter, who had folded the bed and was sitting on the small sofa. Her heart immediately ached. She had drifted back to sleep hazily and woke up past ten. Yu Zhou’s assistant had arrived last night and helped Tang Li run around. They came again today but were sent away by Tang Li.

Bai Xuan had the nurse examine her body. While on an IV drip, Tang Li asked her what she wanted to eat, but she shook her head, saying she had no appetite.

“By the way, did… that person come?”

Tang Li understood who she was referring to and truthfully replied:

“Mommy didn’t come, but her assistant did. They helped me with the procedures last night. She seems to be in Xihai.”

Xihai was quite far from Huadu, over three hours by plane. Yu Zhou was filming, and it wasn’t a major incident. The assistant must have informed her of the injuries last night, so it was normal for her not to be able to return. Tang Li felt it was nothing.

But Bai Xuan scoffed.

Seeing her in a bad mood, Tang Li changed the subject, asking what had happened at the time. Bai Xuan’s car accident occurred at an intersection. A driver was on the phone while driving, didn’t notice pedestrians, and crashed into her. Yu Qingshuang discovered it, helped her call the police, and the hit-and-run driver was sent to the police station.

Now that Bai Xuan was awake, the police would surely come, and she would still need to give a statement. Seeing she was still somewhat unhappy, Tang Li added:

“My wife came this morning and brought me breakfast.”

At the mention of Tang Li’s wife, Bai Xuan finally became very interested and asked her:

“What does your daughter-in-law look like? I wanted to give you a wedding gift, but I didn’t think of it at the time. When she has free time, I’ll personally deliver it to her.”

Tang Li suddenly remembered she didn’t actually have any photos of Qin Shiyang on her phone. Also, she had said she wanted to keep it private and didn’t want to meet family members. She couldn’t just disregard her wishes right after getting married, so she frantically tried to think of a way to cover it up.

“Oh, my birthday is coming up soon, and I’ll be discharged then. We’ll have a grand celebration, and my daughter-in-law can come to the Bai family to play!”

Bai Xuan, talking to her daughter, happily regained her appetite and called her to the bedside to look at the lunch menu, muttering:

“Mom doesn’t really care what kind of partner you find, whether she’s poor or rich, our Bai family can afford it anyway. The most important thing, besides having good character, is that she treats you well, isn’t too busy with work, unlike that Yu family member…”

Yu Zhou stood at the doorway, hearing her ex-wife’s undisguised critical evaluation of herself. Her heart felt like it was filled with a cotton ball soaked in lemon water, both sour and sticky.

She had rushed here right after getting off the plane. The fruit basket was ordered on the way, filled with fruits Bai Xuan liked. She stood there, hesitant, unsure whether to push the door open and enter.

Bai Xuan had grown up pampered. After marriage, she only had one daughter, Tang Li. Yu Zhou had a detached personality. The two got along well and had sweet moments. From her pregnancy to recovery after childbirth, which lasted a year and a half, Yu Zhou didn’t take any long-term overseas assignments. Later, Yu Zhou had to compensate for her career losses, spending much time on film sets.

As a director, she had no choice and couldn’t abandon her work just because of marriage. The two gradually drifted apart. The fuse was their daughter’s fifth birthday. Yu Zhou had promised to return early that day, but the production schedule was delayed, and she was still on set. When her wife called, filled with anger, she felt helpless. Since there was an important shot being filmed, she hung up on Bai Xuan.

Bai Xuan couldn’t take it anymore and proposed divorce. Yu Zhou disliked getting entangled with people but felt guilty afterward. She spent more time trying to be with her daughter, but her daughter grew distant, and her ex-wife had no intention of engaging with her.

Sometimes, she felt like an outsider, finding it amusing herself.

She quietly placed the items at the door, and Yu Zhou turned and left without a sound.

Tang Li finished ordering lunch with Bai Xuan, telling her to lie down and rest well first. She planned to go to the company in the afternoon to finalize yesterday’s design. When she returned, she saw a beautiful woman with flowing long hair, wearing tall boots, looking heroic and stylish, being escorted in by Pei Xuan at the entrance.

Pei Xuan was the secretary to the top executive; people of ordinary status wouldn’t warrant her personal greeting. Tang Li happened to take the same elevator as them. The woman saw Tang Li slightly behind them and specifically held the elevator for her.

CEO Qin’s office was on the seventh floor. Tang Li saw them both go directly to the seventh floor, while she went to the ninth floor. As soon as she entered the large office, she thanked Sister Feng. Sister Feng smiled, and after a brief exchange of pleasantries, they immediately got back to work.

Shen Zhihe was also in Qin Shiyang’s office. Seeing Wei Ling enter, she winked at her. Wei Ling politely nodded and quickly got to the point with Qin Shiyang.

Wei Ling was an internationally certified A-grade perfumer. She had also studied abroad a few years ago and had just returned. She had her own studio and had been in contact with holographic technology in recent years. She was Shen Zhihe’s old friend and had been introduced by her.

Discussing a collaboration with a friend’s friend on the spot, and being new back in the country needing to establish herself, it was naturally easier for both parties to achieve a win-win. Wei Ling had high emotional intelligence and conversed very well with Qin Shiyang, so much so that they only dispersed after having a casual dinner together that evening. Shen Zhihe listened to the entire conversation and, after Pei Xuan saw Wei Ling off, couldn’t help but scrutinize Qin Shiyang:

“Did you win 50 billion yuan? Or did Qin Laosan die?”

Qin Shiyang didn’t understand what she meant and looked up. Shen Zhihe also looked curious:

“I saw your lips curling up several times this afternoon. What made you so happy? It can’t just be because I introduced CEO Wei to you, can it?”

Qin Shiyang: “Did I?”

Qin Laosan was the Qin family member she disliked the most, treacherous and venomous like a king cobra, best at backstabbing. If she died, Qin Shiyang would indeed probably celebrate with fireworks.

But lately, she hadn’t been in a good mood, and there was nothing particularly pleasant happening. At most, she occasionally found it amusing to recall the little one’s sparkling eyes when she looked at her this morning.

That fellow was clearly bought by delicious food.

Was there really such an easily coaxed person in the world?

However, she would certainly not admit that she was distracted thinking about the little Alpha. Even though she was less serious in front of friends, Qin Shiyang shook her head with a slight solemnity, forcing the conversation past the topic.

Tang Li would definitely be very busy these few days. Bai Xuan only had one daughter. During her hospitalization, even if she didn’t stay overnight, she would have to visit regularly. Qin Shiyang instructed Pei Xuan to be lenient with her leave requests, but then the little one sent her a message:

Late night snack?

From Tang Li’s perspective, Qin Shiyang was also someone who often worked overtime. The little one wasn’t very curious and never came to find her during work hours, allowing CEO Qin to easily maintain her secret identity.

Qin Shiyang checked the time.

She didn’t have the habit of reporting her whereabouts at all times, and the two often couldn’t eat dinner together. She would only ask if she had time. Tang Li was carefree and didn’t mind, which made the experience very good.

Before marriage, Qin Shiyang could be said to only need a humanoid Alpha comforter to alleviate the discomfort of her heat cycle. If the other party was clingy and disrupted her normal life, there would be no need to keep them around.

She now felt Tang Li was just right. She replied “Okay,” and Tang Li immediately asked:

What time?

Nine thirty? See you at home?

Tang Li sent her a link:

Do you want hot pot? Hot pot can’t be eaten at home, it’s best ordered fresh and cooked on the spot!

This was a shop specializing in hot pot, open until 12 AM, offering hot pot sour noodle soup, hot pot wontons, and hot pot vermicelli. Qin Shiyang wasn’t picky. After confirming, she continued working at her desk. At the set alarm time, they met at the entrance.

Tang Li had also been working overtime tonight and finally finished her submission, sending it just in time, feeling happy.

The hot pot shop was on a pedestrian street, so they couldn’t drive. They got out and walked. The night market in Huadu was very lively, lasting until 2 AM. The two beauties, each with their own distinct charm, were already eye-catching standing on the street. The surrounding barriers further aroused curiosity, blocking them in.

“Yu Qingshuang, Yu Qingshuang, look at me!”

“What are you doing? She’s filming—ah, wife! Wife waved at me!”

“Her offline visuals are so striking, no wonder she can handle the camera so well. She’s completely on par with those A-list Omegas.”

The photography team was shooting night scenes and didn’t take up much space, so they didn’t clear the area. There were also fewer people on this food street, with less than a hundred gathered around, so it wasn’t chaotic. However, hearing that name, Qin Shiyang’s beautiful eyebrows instantly frosted over. Tang Li happened to turn her face and seemed to see an intense, unmelting… hatred on her face?

The next moment, her hand was grabbed by the Omega. They were closer now, and she could smell the faint scent of spring tea beneath the inhibitor patch, vaguely tantalizing her sensitive sense of smell.

Tang Li wanted to see if it was the Yu Qingshuang she knew, but her jaw was seized by the woman and turned, half-forced to meet her gaze, her sight firmly locked by those bright eyes.

“Do you like her?”

“Do you hate her?”

Both blurted out almost simultaneously. Tang Li felt a little amused and couldn’t help but hook the Omega’s pinky finger, her voice pressed very low, brushing against Qin Shiyang’s ear:

“You’re not her anti-fan, are you, wife?”

“Are you her fan?”

Qin Shiyang countered.

A hint of danger brewed in the woman’s eyes. Tang Li, innocent, shook her head and simply told Qin Shiyang about her acquaintance with Yu Qingshuang.

Of course, Qin Shiyang already knew about this, and even had some rather unpleasant suspicions, not directed at Tang Li. However, after hearing the little Alpha repeatedly emphasize that she was absolutely not Yu Qingshuang’s fan and that they were just friends, her mood improved slightly.

Only slightly.

She disliked Yu Qingshuang, and Yu Qingshuang’s attitude towards her wouldn’t be much better. Just now, upon seeing the woman, Qin Shiyang almost couldn’t control the surging thoughts in her heart, but ultimately, after an internal struggle, she suppressed them.

It was better not to bring the ruthlessness she had acquired from years in the business world in front of the little one.

This shop was one that Yu Qingshuang and that film empress had casually mentioned during a previous gathering, which Tang Li overheard. She wondered if Yu Qingshuang would want to try it again after finishing her filming. Although hot pot noodles were best fresh, Tang Li was still afraid of running into her directly; her wife didn’t seem to like her very much.

So she packed one portion to go and walked a few steps to another shop to sit down and order something else.

On the other side, Yu Qingshuang quietly watched the two leave, only snapping back to attention when the camera started again, but her heart felt like a clock suddenly thrown out of sync.

Tang Li… how did she know Qin Shiyang?