After Marking a Paranoid CEO [Transmigration] - Chapter 39

“Hmm?”

Mu Huayue’s outstretched hand froze in mid-air. She raised an eyebrow in surprise, truly unable to understand children. Despite the agonizing pain of the Scorching Bloom Period, Xia Youxi had remembered to retrieve medicine from her room’s first-aid kit and gently clean the scratch marks on Mu Huayue’s hand.

Perhaps the old-fashioned muzzle was too bulky. When Xia Youxi looked up, her movements were jerky, like a wind-up toy. Yet her large, innocent eyes, paired with her youthful face, stared so intently at Mu Huayue that the older woman felt a pang of guilt.

Mu Huayue extended her hand again.

Xia Youxi tugged at the corner of her mouth in a small smile, took Mu Huayue’s hand, and gently cleaned the wound. Amused, Mu Huayue tilted her head to watch, feeling as if her hand were a fragile, precious object being handled with extraordinary tenderness by the silly girl.

“All done, Sister. Can I have your other hand too?”

Mu Huayue offered her other hand. The silly girl repeated the process, and Mu Huayue glanced at her left hand, now adorned with a pink bandage despite the barely noticeable scratch.

Childish.

Soon, the other hand was also bandaged. Mu Huayue deliberately withdrew both hands and placed them on the keyboard to resume her work.

The person beside her remained quiet, without the expected pleading or whining. Slightly disappointed, Mu Huayue asked, “Is there anything else?”

Xia Youxi did have something on her mind. During the Scorching Bloom Period, her mind wasn’t quite clear. Being close to Mu Huayue alleviated much of the burning sensation from her glands. Though she felt relatively okay now, a persistent thought tugged at her. When Mu Huayue asked, she shifted two steps closer and tentatively rested her head on Mu Huayue’s shoulder. “I won’t bother you, Sister. Is this okay?”

The sweet fragrance enveloped them, soothing the stinging pain at the back of Mu Huayue’s neck. Finding the closeness comfortable, Mu Huayue silently permitted it.

Unfortunately, the naive girl didn’t grasp the implications. She even asked, “If you’re worried I’ll peek at the screen, I can cover my eyes.”

So obedient, Mu Huayue thought.

Mu Huayue hummed in acknowledgment. Seeing the silly girl about to get up for an eye mask, she casually tugged her arm. Whether intentional or not, the simple pull caused Xia Youxi to lose her balance and tumble into Mu Huayue’s lap. The most absurd part was that, despite her hands being bound, the girl managed to precisely slip her arms behind Mu Huayue’s back.

Even more absurdly, when Mu Huayue glanced down, the girl seemed startled and buried her face in Mu Huayue’s shoulder.

And the most absurd thing of all? Mu Huayue didn’t seem to mind. In fact, she found the girl’s scent pleasant, her softness endearing, and her presence oddly comforting.

The Dispersal Bloom Period was truly terrifying.

Mu Huayue gently nudged the “Little Cling-on,” but Xia Youxi, still clinging to her, didn’t budge. Instead, she nuzzled her head against Mu Huayue, mimicking the way her own Yousey would snuggle against her with its fluffy little head.

Mu Huayue’s heart softened. She lifted her hand to pat Xia Youxi’s head lightly before returning to her work. The human-shaped kitten in her arms remained restless. Every time Mu Huayue glanced at the screen, half of her cheek would block the view. With a sigh, Mu Huayue reached out and gently pressed Xia Youxi’s face down, scolding softly, “Stay still. If you keep moving, I’ll put you down.”

“Okay,” Xia Youxi replied in a soft, muffled voice, sounding like a kitten’s mew.

Mu Huayue’s irritation melted away. She glanced around the room, a faint smile tugging at the corner of her lips, before immersing herself back in her work.

Early in the morning, Xia Youxi had clung to Mu Huayue. By noon, when Wen An arrived with lunch, the silly girl showed no embarrassment at the outsider’s presence, simply burying her face in Mu Huayue’s shoulder.

The room filled with a sweet, fragrant scent. As a Beta, Wen An could only distinguish Alpha and Omega based on pheromone signatures. Her eyes, hidden behind black-rimmed glasses, glazed over until CEO Mu gently reminded her to regain her usual expressionless demeanor. Wen An bowed slightly and retreated.

As the door closed behind her, Wen An thought, CEO Mu really knows how to play the game. My “Tempting Immortal” has lost.

Mu Huayue, unaware of her assistant’s thoughts, turned her gaze to Xia Youxi’s face, her eyes lingering on the iron gag. She gently patted Xia Youxi’s cheek. “Hungry? I’ll take it off in a bit. You can eat yourself.”

Despite her magnanimity, the Little Cling-on remained unimpressed, instead wrapping her arms around Mu Huayue and whining, “Can’t Sister feed me?”

“Hmm?” Mu Huayue glanced at her coldly. “No.”

Xia Youxi draped her arm over Mu Huayue’s shoulder and made a flower-like gesture with her fingers, feigning innocence. “But I can’t eat like this.”

“Can’t you just take it off?”

Mu Huayue wondered if she’d picked up an idiot.

Xia Youxi, however, insisted she was merely being considerate. “I want to follow Sister’s example.”

Mu Huayue chuckled, casually squeezing Xia Youxi’s cheek. “Then you can starve.”

“Okay.”

The silly girl agreed without a moment’s hesitation. CEO Mu was speechless. She wanted to kick Xia Youxi out, but their linked hands formed an unbreakable knot. As Mu Huayue stood up, Xia Youxi’s hand slid down, wrapping around her waist, and she pressed her cheek against Mu Huayue’s back.

“You really don’t want to be apart?”

“Mm-hmm,” Xia Youxi murmured, nuzzling her fluffy head against Mu Huayue’s side. For some inexplicable reason, Mu Huayue didn’t push her away. She even went to get their meals like a couple and sat close to Xia Youxi on the sofa.

Mu Huayue straightened her head, avoiding eye contact with the girl beside her, and began unwrapping her meal. The aroma of the dishes wafted through the air. Xia Youxi’s head popped up, but Mu Huayue ignored her, calmly taking a bite and swallowing.

She chewed slowly and deliberately, yet the gaze beside her grew increasingly intense. Finally, Mu Huayue asked, “Do you want to eat now?”

The little girl shook her head.

Mu Huayue continued to savor her meal at her own pace.

After eating about seventy percent of her meal, she set down her chopsticks and glanced at the silly cat beside her. Xia Youxi was still clinging to her waist, her eyes fixed on the dishes Mu Huayue had been eating.

Grumble.

Xia Youxi’s stomach growled. She pursed her lips, turning her head away in embarrassment. Mu Huayue chuckled and patted her hand. “Let go.”

Xia Youxi shook her head again. Mu Huayue sighed, softening her tone as if coaxing a child. “I’ll get the key and feed you in a bit.”

“Okay,” Xia Youxi murmured, nuzzling her again before obediently unwrapping her arms from around Mu Huayue’s waist. She watched as Mu Huayue stood up, then rose to her feet as well.

“Stay put.”

“Mmm,” Xia Youxi murmured, settling back into her seat. Before long, Mu Huayue returned with a bowl.

“Look down,” Mu Huayue instructed.

Xia Youxi obeyed. Mu Huayue gently undid the lock at the back of her head and carefully removed the thin straps looped around her ears. The muzzle felt heavy, its weight making Xia Youxi’s hands ache. Mu Huayue glanced at Xia Youxi’s ears, noticing the reddened lobes and the faint pressure marks. She tossed the muzzle aside and declared, “You don’t need to wear this anymore.”

Xia Youxi blinked at her. Mu Huayue poked her dimple and asked with a smile, “Little glutton, which one do you want to eat?”

Xia Youxi didn’t want to answer. What she truly craved was Mu Huayue herself.

She replied ambiguously, “Either is fine, as long as Sister feeds me.”

Mu Huayue appreciated Xia Youxi’s unwavering devotion. She hummed in acknowledgment, picked up a spoon, and began feeding her.

This reminded her of her leisurely moments with Yousey. Her little cat adored cat treats. Whenever she brought one out, Yousey would wag her tail, meow eagerly, and purr contentedly after finishing. Then she’d roll onto her back, exposing her pristine white belly for Mu Huayue to stroke.

It was a pity the silly girl before her wasn’t a cat. She only gazed up at Mu Huayue, obediently opening her mouth when offered a spoonful of food, eating whatever was given without complaint.

After finishing, she would thank Mu Huayue, saying, “Thank you, Sister.”

Then she would anxiously glance at the muzzle. Mu Huayue threw it aside. “I told you, you don’t need to wear that thing. How did you get even dumber during your Scorching Bloom Period?”

Facing CEO Mu’s disdain, Xia Youxi lowered her head, feeling wronged. She dared not admit that CEO Mu’s pheromones held a fatal attraction for her. Whenever she got close, she felt an overwhelming urge to bite the woman’s neck.

She walked over, picked up the muzzle, and painfully put it back on. Handing the key back to Mu Huayue, she said, “Here, Sister.”

Mu Huayue frowned, slapped the key onto the coffee table, grabbed Xia Youxi’s head, and pressed her against her shoulder. “Close your eyes and rest.”

Leaning against Mu Huayue’s shoulder, Xia Youxi found it surprisingly soft despite its slight discomfort. A faint smile curved her lips as she murmured, “I’m not sleepy. I want to keep Sister company while you work.”

“Suit yourself,” Mu Huayue replied, glancing at her before refocusing on her work.

Throughout the day, Xia Youxi’s only excessive behavior was being overly clingy. Mu Huayue observed that this aligned with her expectations, resembling a form of skin hunger that posed little threat to her.

Drawing on her master’s degree in pheromone studies, Mu Huayue prescribed Xia Youxi medication: “This is a standard Alpha Scorching Bloom Period suppressant. Try it and see how you feel. If there are no issues tomorrow, you can resume rehearsals.”

Xia Youxi’s eyes widened in surprise. She eagerly accepted the suppressant and, without hesitation, injected it into her arm right in front of Mu Huayue, showing no concern about its authenticity. She thanked her profusely: “Thank you, Sister! What about tonight?”

Perhaps because they had been so close all day, Mu Huayue’s Floral Heat Syndrome had been soothed. After a moment’s thought, she replied, “You can sleep in the guest room. You don’t need to stay with me.”

A flicker of disappointment crossed Xia Youxi’s face as she nodded and lowered her head, turning to leave. Suddenly, Mu Huayue called out, “Wait.”

Xia Youxi spun around, her movements swift, but her hopes were dashed. Sister Mu wasn’t asking her to stay; she merely gently untied the restraints from Xia Youxi’s wrists. Then, pressing against Xia Youxi’s back, she gave a light push, ushering her out the door.

Standing in the hallway, Xia Youxi felt dazed. As the suppressant took effect, the fog in her mind began to clear, restoring some clarity. She slowly walked to the guest room, rested briefly, and lay down on the bed.

Recalling the day’s events, a blush crept across Xia Youxi’s cheeks as she buried her face in her blanket.

So embarrassing.

I can’t even look at myself.

The day’s awkwardness replayed in her mind every time she closed her eyes, especially the memory of her clinging to Mu Huayue. She tossed and turned all night, finally drifting into a light sleep around four in the morning. Just as she began to rest, the sound of the door opening startled her awake. But then she remembered Mu Huayue’s recent late-night visit to her hotel, and her anxiety eased.

This was Sister Mu’s home, a luxurious mansion with top-notch security. No intruders could possibly get in. The visitor could only be—

Pretending to be asleep, Xia Youxi kept her eyes closed and waited quietly. Soon, she heard movement by the bed, as if someone had sat down on the edge. She sensed a gaze fixed on her in the dim light.

Is she hesitating?

Xia Youxi chuckled inwardly, patiently waiting like a hunter. After a while, a soft sigh reached her ears. Someone lifted her blanket, a hand touched her arm, and then strands of hair brushed her cheek, tickling her and sending a clear signal.

A figure slipped under the covers, pressing close to her. Xia Youxi instinctively wrapped her arms around the person and murmured in a sleepy voice, “Sister.”