After Marking a Paranoid CEO [Transmigration] - Chapter 25

That evening, after finishing her training, Xia Youxi, drenched in sweat, returned to her room for a shower. The rushing water in the bathroom drowned out the sound of footsteps outside, and she remained unaware that someone was hesitating at her door.

A tall figure stood outside the white wooden door. Mu Huayue peered at the closed door, her brow furrowing slightly. She recalled how the little fool had rushed to her at noon, only to retreat to her room within half a day. Had she really upset her that much?

But what had she done wrong?

Mu Huayue raised her hand, wanting to push the door open and demand an explanation, but her pride held her back. It’s just a little cat, she thought. Why am I so anxious about her?

The silly girl eats my food, lives in my home, and even my sister depends on me for support. Does she expect me to coddle her too?

I did nothing wrong.

Convincing herself, Mu Huayue turned and returned to her own quarters. Leaning against the bed, she inhaled the sweet pheromones that lingered in the air. Her nape twitched involuntarily. Damn it, she thought, clutching the corner of the blanket. Reluctantly, she typed two words to Xia Youxi:

Come here.

“Come here?”

Xia Youxi, towel-drying her hair, stared at the message. It had been sent ten minutes ago, and no new messages had arrived since. What did that mean?

It meant Sister Mu had fallen ill again! She didn’t have the energy to argue with her.

Her heart pounding with panic, Xia Youxi didn’t bother drying her dripping hair. She hastily wrapped herself in a bathrobe and rushed out.

“Sister Mu!”

Driven by anxiety, Xia Youxi forgot her manners and barged into the room without knocking. As she had feared, Mu Huayue was lying in bed. But instead of appearing weak as Xia Youxi had imagined, Mu Huayue was propped up against pillows, and when she saw Xia Youxi enter, she seemed to deliberately straighten her back. Her eyes showed no signs of pain or weakness; instead, they held a hint of reproach and… was that conflict?

“Sister?”

Mu Huayue frowned at her, her bare feet in slippers, her slender legs exposed beneath the loosely draped bathrobe. Her long hair, still dripping wet, hung over her shoulder, water droplets clinging to her long eyelashes, making the silly girl’s eyes appear both clear and delicate, pitifully vulnerable.

“You came over like this?”

Her tone remained flat, but Xia Youxi didn’t take it to heart, stepping closer. “Are you feeling alright?”

The silly girl still cares about me.

Mu Huayue felt a warmth spread through her chest. Inhaling the faint floral and fruity scent drifting toward her, she hummed softly. “Mm. Stay there. Don’t get the bed wet.”

“Okay,” Xia Youxi said obediently, standing still and gazing intently at Mu Huayue. She noticed Mu Huayue had beautiful eyes, but those eyes kept darting away. Was it her outfit making the pure-hearted Sister Mu shy?

So cute.

“Sister, if you’re busy, I’ll go back…”

Before she could finish saying “change clothes,” the woman in front of her cut her off sharply: “Don’t.”

If you don’t want me to, then I won’t.

After all, Sister Mu’s blushing, haughty expression was quite a sight.

Xia Youxi fell silent, looking at Mu Huayue with a helpless expression.

Mu Huayue pointed to the vanity table. “There’s a hairdryer over there.”

“Thank you, Sister.”

Xia Youxi’s dimples flashed as she slowly walked to the vanity table, set up the hairdryer, and began drying her hair. The vanity table was some distance from the bed, and the hot air sent strands of her long hair flying, carrying her fragrance to Mu Huayue. Mu Huayue’s glands twitched, as if a hook had pulled her to her feet, and she felt an inexplicable urge to smell more.

By the time she realized it, Mu Huayue was already standing behind Xia Youxi, her hand pressed against Xia Youxi’s, guiding the hairdryer.

Xia Youxi glanced in the mirror and saw the person behind her. Her eyes were glazed over, likely overwhelmed by pheromones. She needed to give Mu Huayue an out, so she asked casually, “Sister, will you help me dry my hair? You’re so kind. Thank you for your help.”

In the mirror, Mu Huayue lowered her gaze, her pupils focusing, a hint of coldness creeping into her eyes. One moment she was a beautiful kitten eagerly seeking affection, and the next she had transformed into a venomous serpent, daring anyone to touch her.

Xia Youxi certainly didn’t dare. She tried to offer another escape route, desperate to save herself. “Is my hair dryer too loud, Sister? I’ll turn it down.”

She reached to pull back the dryer, but the hand gripping her wrist tightened, a finger tapping her knuckles. Sensing the danger, Xia Youxi quickly released her grip. Mu Huayue took the dryer, the wind rushing past Xia Youxi’s ear as a strand of her hair was pulled forward and held under the warm air.

In the mirror, Xia Youxi sat frozen. Behind her stood a beautiful woman in a red silk nightgown, her eyes half-lidded as she casually draped strands of Xia Youxi’s hair under the dryer. The air mingled with their pheromones, the sweet and icy scents clashing and merging into an intoxicating fragrance that made the back of Xia Youxi’s neck burn.

She instinctively reached out, but her hand was firmly pushed back down.

Mu Huayue chuckled softly, “Don’t move.”

Xia Youxi withdrew her hand. In the mirror, the hairdryer lifted two inches higher, increasing the distance from her skin, as if Mu Huayue thought she had burned her earlier.

So gentle.

The back of her neck still burned, and she pressed her other hand against it.

The warm air carried hidden droplets from her hair. The beauty in the mirror tilted her head, a faint smile gracing her lips as she set the hairdryer aside and gently patted Xia Youxi’s shoulder. “All done.”

“Thank you, Sister. That felt wonderful.” Xia Youxi turned her head to the side, gazing up at Mu Huayue.

Mu Huayue lowered her gaze, humming softly. “Mm, I used to help Yousey dry off after baths too.”

She was merely fulfilling her duties as a pet owner, not trying to please her.

But Xia Youxi didn’t even consider that interpretation. Clasping her hands together, she said sweetly, “The old Yousey must have been very happy.”

“Mm.” Mu Huayue responded lightly, her dimples momentarily catching someone’s eye before she turned away.

Checking the time, Xia Youxi realized it was almost time. “Sister, should I head back now?”

The person by the bed cast a cold glance. “You want to go back?”

Xia Youxi blinked, unsure what she had done wrong. “Yes, I’ll change and come right back.”

The tense atmosphere eased. Mu Huayue sat on the edge of the bed and gestured toward the corner with her eyes. “There’s one there. Put it on.”

Xia Youxi glanced over. It was a white nightgown, likely the one Sister Mu had worn a few days ago. She picked it up and looked at Mu Huayue. “Sister?”

Should I change here? Even though she didn’t yet fully grasp the ABO gender dynamics, she still felt a little embarrassed.

Unlike most Alphas in this world, Mu Huayue didn’t pressure her. She leaned back against the bed, turning her back. “Go ahead and change.”

Xia Youxi didn’t understand why she was suddenly feeling shy in front of Mu Huayue, even though she had no problem going to public bathhouses in her original world. She averted her eyes as she hastily pulled off her bathrobe and slipped into the white nightgown.

To her surprise, the nightgown fit perfectly, just like it had felt when she touched it at Mu Huayue’s house.

She remembered how slightly tight it had looked on Mu Huayue that day. Could it be…?

“Are you done changing?”

The question interrupted her thoughts. Xia Youxi replied, “Yes, I’m done.”

“Mm, come up.”

Mu Huayue turned around. Xia Youxi nodded, took two steps forward, then retreated. “I’ll go get the tools.”

Mu Huayue watched her silently for a moment before repeating, “Come up.”

Xia Youxi paused, glanced back at Mu Huayue, and finally realized something was off tonight. Obeying, she moved closer. The cool sandalwood scent drifted past, but the suppressed heat surged back, searing her skin. The burning sensation jolted her awake, and she immediately retreated to the sofa to select her tools. She grabbed a sturdy restraint and tied herself to the headboard.

She had intended to keep one hand free to help Mu Huayue with the blanket, but the back of her neck was burning fiercely, intensifying the closer she got. Xia Youxi couldn’t risk it. For Mu Huayue’s sake, she bound herself securely to the bed, unable to even brush the stray strands of hair from her face.

Mu Huayue tilted her head to watch Xia Youxi blow at her hair, the long strands lifting and falling. She chuckled softly. “I told you to come up, yet you insist on doing things your way. You can’t even manage a single strand of hair. You should ask—”

“Sister, help me. It itches,” Xia Youxi interjected before Mu Huayue could finish her teasing. This caught Mu Huayue off guard, the words stuck in her throat. She reached out and gently brushed the hair aside. The bedside lamp remained lit, illuminating Xia Youxi’s delicate and charming face.

The girl lay beside her, her arms forced upward, her large, watery eyes captivating without a word.

Mu Huayue casually switched off the bedside lamp and lay down beside her.

In the darkness, Xia Youxi heard her murmur, “You really don’t seem like an Alpha.”

Don’t I?

Xia Youxi inhaled the faint, cool fragrance nearby, suppressing the madness within her. Her bound hands clenched the restraints so tightly they trembled.

She thought she seemed quite Alpha-like.

Even late at night, when Sister Mu, unable to resist the pheromonal pull, had taken the initiative to embrace her, Xia Youxi had barely managed to restrain herself from lightly touching her nose to the other woman’s. And when Sister Mu’s cheek had pressed against hers, Xia Youxi had unconsciously stolen a kiss.

She still remembered the sensation—soft and tender—that had made her lips curl into a smile.

But that wasn’t the worst part. When she woke up the next morning, she actually felt a pang of regret that Sister Mu wasn’t as affectionate as she had been the night before.

How utterly absurd!

The most absurd thing of all was when Mu Huayue, sitting up beside her, glanced at her with a detached expression and asked, “Your wrists are already bruised red. Do you really want me to let you go? Would you prefer I never need you again?”

Xia Youxi feigned surprise. “Ah? Does Sister not want me anymore?”

Mu Huayue twirled a strand of Xia Youxi’s long hair between her fingers, responding lightly, “Mm. I don’t need you anymore. I won’t bother with you either. Go be a little idol yourself.”

Knowing Mu Huayue was teasing her, Xia Youxi retorted playfully, “Really? That’s wonderful! Congratulations, Sister.”

Mu Huayue released the strand, letting it fall across Xia Youxi’s face. It didn’t hurt, just stung a little. Xia Youxi sensed the displeasure radiating from the woman beside her, but instead of feeling fear, she felt a secret thrill. She feigned pitifulness, saying, “I… I’m not someone who doesn’t understand. Now that Sister is well, she doesn’t need me anymore. I won’t cling to her. But don’t worry, Sister, I’ll definitely repay the money I owe you. I’ll listen to you and be a good idol, work hard to earn money, and most importantly, uphold professional ethics—never date…”

Before she could finish, a hand clamped over her lips. “Shut up.”

“You really want to be an idol that much?”

The woman with the beautiful eyes glared coldly. Hearing Mu Huayue’s question, Xia Youxi nodded earnestly.

A cold snort followed. Mu Huayue’s face suddenly twisted with malice as she asked, “Do you believe I could make you withdraw from the competition right now?”

Xia Youxi knew she’d gone too far. She’d played her hand badly.