After Marking a Paranoid CEO [Transmigration] - Chapter 37

Xia Youxi lay with her head resting on soft legs, too stunned to react. A hand slid down the back of her head, tracing her neck before burrowing into her hair and pressing against her nape.

Her neck jerked involuntarily as Xia Youxi shifted, only to be pinned down by the hand’s increased pressure.

“Don’t move,” a voice drifted down from above, light and lacking any real force, yet she obeyed, clinging obediently to the spot without stirring.

The hand pressed against her neck grew restless, stroking and caressing, tangling strands of hair that tickled her skin. More than ticklish, it felt burning hot.

Her heart pounded wildly. Xia Youxi closed her eyes, desperately trying to block out the thoughts swirling in her mind.

The searing heat momentarily distracted her, her mouth unconsciously parting. Her teeth pressed against the fabric of the skirt, and she fought the urge to bite down, clamping her lips shut.

One of her hands was pinned to the sofa by Mu Huayue’s grip, while her free hand clenched the flesh of her thigh, twisting it viciously.

The pain jolted her awake. She suddenly remembered the diagrams she had seen in the car. Right now, she desperately needed a muzzle.

Otherwise, she couldn’t be sure how much longer she could hold out.

God, I want to so badly…

I want to stand up straight, pounce on her, pin her neck down, lower my head, and bite.

Hot sweat beaded on her forehead, whether from the pain or the restraint, she couldn’t tell.

Xia Youxi bit down on her lower lip, silent.

Slowly, the hand behind her neck shifted, circling down to lift her chin and tilt her face upward.

Mu Huayue, who had endured her own torment, trembled slightly. The girl before her had teary eyes, a ring of teeth marks stained with bl00d around her lips, and faint creases pressed into her cheek from the crumpled skirt. Her small face flushed faintly, likely from the discomfort.

Poor little kitten.

Mu Huayue raised a hand, gently brushing aside the stray hairs on Xia Youxi’s forehead and wiping away the sweat.

Xia Youxi looked up at her, trying to relax, but when their eyes met, she couldn’t help but bite down on her lip again.

A hand gripped her chin, forcing her to stop. She glared at Mu Huayue, demanding, “Let go!”

Xia Youxi shook her head, inadvertently flicking away the tears welling in her eyes. The droplets slid down her cheeks and landed on Mu Huayue’s hand. Her usually cold and sharp features twisted into a complex expression of concern as she reached out to touch the back of Xia Youxi’s neck, only to recoil at the scalding heat.

Something’s wrong. Just like that first time.

Could it be the Scorching Bloom Period?

Mu Huayue was merely a disguised Alpha, her knowledge of the Scorching Bloom Period gleaned from textbooks. Alphas typically experience shorter Scorching Bloom Periods than Omegas, usually only once a year. The duration and severity vary; some need only stay home for a few days to recover, while others require the presence of an Omega, even resorting to extreme measures.

Currently in her Dispersal Bloom Period and having just recovered from Floral Heat Syndrome, Mu Huayue realized that if Xia Youxi was indeed in her Scorching Bloom Period, she herself was the one in danger.

Yet those tear-filled eyes seemed to possess a strange power. When Mu Huayue met her gaze, fear vanished, replaced by overwhelming concern.

“Xia Weixi,” Mu Huayue murmured, gently patting Xia Youxi’s cheek.

Xia Youxi looked up at Mu Huayue, her gaze growing increasingly hazy. A halo of light blurred her vision, like a nearsighted person looking at a lamp without their glasses. Mu Huayue, sitting upright on the sofa, was bathed in a rosy glow, resembling the Goddess from the novels Xia Youxi had been reading. She couldn’t help but murmur, “Sister.”

Her voice was barely audible. Mu Huayue leaned closer and asked, “What did you say?”

A strange thought flashed through Xia Youxi’s mind. She shook her head violently and stumbled backward two steps. “No, don’t come closer. Go, Sister, leave.”

The girl curled up, her hands clasped tightly together, her head bowed low, hiding her pale face in the shadows. Even Mu Huayue, with her steely heart, couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy. She stood up, but before she could move, Xia Youxi let out a low, desperate cry: “Don’t come any closer! I told you to leave!”

How dare she speak to me like that?

Mu Huayue’s eyes turned cold. She snorted softly, picked up her phone from the sofa, and pushed the door open, striding out.

The door slammed shut. Xia Youxi slowly lifted her head, her hair disheveled, two streaks of tears sliding down her cheeks. She collapsed to the floor, hugging herself tightly, and buried her face in her arms.

She actually left.

In the quiet stillness, the passage of time blurred. Xia Youxi felt like something was missing from these long, drawn-out moments. She felt feverish, her head heavy and muddled. Her fever reducer wasn’t medicine, but Mu Huayue.

She wanted to lean against Mu Huayue, gently nuzzle her, inhale the cool, elegant scent drifting from the nape of her neck, and then—

Stop!

Don’t think about it!

Xia Youxi clutched her head, fiercely scolding herself.

Her body trembled, craving the soothing presence of an Omega. She straightened her legs, stood up, took a step toward the door, then abruptly turned back. She hurried two steps, threw herself onto the bed.

Pressing her face into the champagne-gold silk pillow, she gripped the silky sheets, slowly clenching her hands. She tossed and turned on the bed like a restless, curious little animal.

Suddenly, the door creaked open.

Xia Youxi froze, a blush creeping across her face. But as the woody fragrance wafted in, she couldn’t help but sit up. “Sister,” she called out, “I want to…”

“Don’t even think about it,” Mu Huayue snapped coldly, her gaze sharp and wary. “Turn around. Don’t move.”

Xia Youxi lay back down, feeling wronged.

“Hands behind your back.”

Xia Youxi reluctantly complied.

“Close your eyes.”

Xia Youxi closed her eyes. A chill ran down her neck, and her hands, bound behind her back, slowly slid downward as she lost consciousness.

Mu Huayue gently patted Xia Youxi’s cheek. Confirming that she was truly unconscious, Mu Huayue let out a relieved sigh and carefully turned Xia Youxi over.

Brushing aside the tangled black hair, Mu Huayue revealed a delicate, youthful face. The corners of Xia Youxi’s mouth turned down, and tears lingered in the corners of her closed eyes, giving her an air of quiet resentment.

Mu Huayue raised a hand to gently wipe away the tears, her expression softening. She picked up her phone and redialed the previous number. “I’ve knocked her unconscious. Will she be safe now?”

“It’s hard to say. I’ll need to examine her tomorrow. Huayue, I advise you to chain her up first. That way, she won’t be bullied by any Alphas.”

Only Dr. Meng Chang, with her deep-seated animosity toward Alphas, could utter such cruel words.

Sensing something was amiss, Mu Huayue had immediately contacted Meng Chang. As she dialed, she worried that Meng Chang might inform her mother, who would have Xia Youxi bound and taken to the basement of their mountain villa.

Fortunately, with a subtle hint, Meng Chang understood and promised not to reveal the situation, instead advising Mu Huayue on how to handle it.

Mu Huayue remained noncommittal about Meng Chang’s new approach. “Mm. Hang up.”

After ending the call, she reached out to touch the back of Xia Youxi’s neck again. It was still feverish; even unconsciousness couldn’t halt the Scorching Bloom Period.

Yet as she stroked Xia Youxi’s neck, the sweet, intoxicating scent filled the air, compelling her to inhale deeply.

So comforting.

The pain in her body seemed to ease, replaced by a sense of relaxation and expansion.

She casually pulled her phone from the bedside table onto the bed, then retrieved the soft rope Wen An had bought earlier from the drawer. Tying Xia Youxi’s hands together, she nestled the girl’s fluffy head against her chest and lay down, cradling her close.

The next day, Xia Youxi was jolted awake by a splash of cold water.

Opening her eyes, she saw two figures: Meng Chang, the instigator, watching with amusement, and Mu Huayue, glaring coldly at Meng Chang, her expression dark with displeasure.

Xia Youxi was strapped to a chair—not the cold metal one from their first encounter, but a dining chair with soft cushions. Her hands were bound to the chair, leaving her unable to move. She could only look helplessly at Mu Huayue and whisper, “Sister.”

“She seems quite lucid,” Meng Chang interjected before Mu Huayue could speak. “Maybe she’ll be fine during the day?”

Xia Youxi inwardly scoffed, but her doe-like eyes remained fixed on Mu Huayue. She caught the expression in CEO Mu’s eyes—a slight furrow of her brow, a hint of pity beneath her probing gaze. “Sister,” Xia Youxi pleaded again, “why are you restraining me?”

Meng Chang cut in again, “Still playing the victim. Huayue, I need to draw some bl00d for research.”

Mu Huayue asked, “She seems perfectly normal. Can she go to rehearsals?”

Meng Chang looked astonished. “You’d let someone in their Scorching Bloom Period out? Aren’t you afraid something will happen?”

Mu Huayue frowned. “She has a competition.”

“Which is more important—her competition or your own safety?” Meng Chang sneered coldly, then plunged the needle into Xia Youxi’s arm. The pain brought tears to Xia Youxi’s eyes. “Ugh, Sister…”

“Be gentle,” Mu Huayue said, leaning closer and staring intently.

The sarcasm in Meng Chang’s eyes deepened. “Truly worthy of being an Alpha.”

She pushed the needle in harder.

“Ah!” Xia Youxi deliberately cried out.

Mu Huayue panicked and immediately ordered, “Meng Chang, that’s enough bl00d. You can leave now.”

Meng Chang tapped the test tube slowly, then, taking advantage of their distraction, abruptly yanked the needle out.

Xia Youxi cried out in pain. Mu Huayue leaned forward, instinctively pulling her into her arms and gently stroking her hair. “It’s over now,” she murmured.

Meng Chang glared at the pair, scoffing. “The Young Miss is so gentle with an Alpha, yet treats me with such disdain. Summoned at a whim, dismissed just as easily. Fine. It’s not like I’m an Alpha, after all.”

“Meng Chang!” Mu Huayue started to protest, then stopped herself. “That’s not what I meant.”

“It wouldn’t matter even if it were. I’m just your family’s physician, dependent on your favor for my livelihood.”

Meng Chang stood by the window, the light reflecting off her glasses, obscuring her eyes. Xia Youxi couldn’t discern her expression, only heard a soft chuckle. “Don’t worry,” Meng Chang said. “I won’t tell Aunt Song about this. After all, such a rare research subject is quite intriguing.”

Before leaving, Meng Chang tossed a syringe to Xia Youxi. “This is a potent Alpha Scorching Bloom Period suppressant. It should work on her too. But CEO Mu, since you’re in your Dispersal Bloom Period, I still recommend keeping her close and using her to your advantage.”

“You may leave now,” Mu Huayue said coolly, dismissing her.

Meng Chang slung her medical kit over her shoulder and headed for the door. Just as she reached it, she remembered something and turned back to add, “Oh, right, there’s one more method. Remember that crayfish-flavored Alpha? I’ve concluded from experimenting on her that an Alpha’s Scorching Bloom Period can be influenced by electric shocks.”

“Perhaps it’s worth a try. Goodbye.” Meng Chang smiled, her frameless glasses hiding the narrowed eyes that concealed her true intentions as she left.

The person Xia Youxi hated was gone, but the crisis she had left behind remained.

Xia Youxi looked up at Mu Huayue, who glanced at the medical kit Meng Chang had tossed onto her lap. Mu Huayue then pulled out her phone and tapped the screen.

A sudden chill ran through Xia Youxi. She called out awkwardly, “Sister.”

Sister Mu wouldn’t be swayed by Meng Chang and shock me again, would she?