After Marking a Paranoid CEO [Transmigration] - Chapter 40

Mu Huayue froze, tentatively asking, “Xia Weixi?”

The mischievous little kitten couldn’t possibly admit it. Xia Youxi nestled closer, nuzzling her shoulder. “I love you, Sister,” she murmured.

The Alpha Inhibitor was still working, but it couldn’t suppress the intoxicatingly cool fragrance. Xia Youxi, under the influence of her Scorching Bloom Period, pressed close to Mu Huayue and confessed her true feelings.

The room was dimly lit, the morning sun not yet risen. Through the window, the light cast a hazy glow. Trapped in Xia Youxi’s embrace, Mu Huayue stared at the sleeping girl before her, feeling her warm breath against her ear, her heart fluttering.

She said she loves me again.

The corners of Mu Huayue’s lips curled upward involuntarily, banishing the lingering unease from earlier. Gazing at the dreaming girl before her, her eyes softened with tenderness.

Even if Floral Heat Syndrome has no cure, at least I have this silly girl who loves me. Just being near her can ease my pain, even bring me joy.

How ironic, considering I initially wanted to take her life.

Shifting slightly, Mu Huayue adjusted her position, snuggling deeper into Xia Youxi’s arms, and drifted into a peaceful sleep.

The night was short, lasting only three hours before sunlight streamed through the window. Xia Youxi squinted, careful not to disturb Mu Huayue’s rest. She shifted upward, propping her cheek on her hand and using her back to shield Huayue from the sun.

Her elbow gradually ached, and Xia Youxi trembled slightly as she gazed at Mu Huayue’s face, still seeing deep affection in her features.

After a while, the person she was protecting fluttered her eyelashes, revealing a pair of profound eyes. In those eyes, Xia Youxi saw surprise, a hint of resistance, and a flicker of secret delight.

Mu Huayue raised a hand and gently poked Xia Youxi, asking, “Isn’t this sleeping position tiring?”

Xia Youxi withdrew her hand and lay flat. “Very tiring.”

Mu Huayue was about to tease her when the harsh sunlight struck her face. She suddenly snapped back to reality and nudged the dazed girl again. “Alright, the experiment’s over. You can go to rehearsal now.”

Xia Youxi sprang up. “Thank you, Sister!”

She hopped off the bed and rushed to wash up, but hesitated at the door, peeking back at Mu Huayue. “If I go, will it affect your health, Sister?”

Mu Huayue leaned against her bed, her expression cold. “If you’re fine, what could possibly be wrong with me?”

Xia Youxi pressed against the doorframe, cleared her throat softly, and turned to leave.

On the bed, Mu Huayue clutched the corner of her blanket and hummed softly, “So, the talent show really is more important after all.”

She envied Xia Youxi. Since becoming an Alpha, Xia Youxi could endure the notoriously unbearable Scorching Bloom Period simply by staying close to her or even just using Alpha Inhibitors to alleviate the pain.

But what about her?

With her pheromones in chaos and Floral Heat Syndrome, Omega Inhibitors were useless. From her very first lesson in elementary school, she had been taught to endure pain.

Last night, after seeing Xia Youxi endure her Scorching Bloom Period with inhibitors, Mu Huayue had mistakenly believed she could mimic this by spending more time with an Alpha with high compatibility. Yet again, she had overestimated herself. She endured until midnight, her body trembling, her mind reeling, and the floral and fruity scent permeating even the rooms down the hall, tempting her to push open the door and enter.

Now that Xia Youxi was gone, she had to rely on the lingering scent for relief. How utterly absurd!

Who exactly was in charge here?

Mu Huayue lay on the bed, seething with frustration, when a small head suddenly popped through the doorway. Xia Youxi, holding a plate, asked cautiously, “Sister, I found bread and eggs in the fridge and took the liberty of preparing them. I hope it suits your taste?”

“You… did this?” Mu Huayue blinked in surprise. Seeing the girl’s innocent smile, complete with a dimple, she chuckled softly. “Just put it in the dining room. I’ll eat it later.”

“Okay.”

Xia Youxi carried the plate out. Mu Huayue got out of bed, tidied herself up, and went to the dining room. As she’d expected, the girl was waiting there. When Mu Huayue entered, Xia Youxi obediently stood up to pull out her chair.

Mu Huayue sat down, but Xia Youxi remained standing. “Sit,” she instructed.

Instead, Xia Youxi leaned closer, picking up Mu Huayue’s fork and knife to cut the fried egg for her. Mu Huayue watched with amusement, but before she could react, a piece of egg was being held out to her. Xia Youxi smiled sincerely. “Sister, ah—”

This was too childish.

Mu Huayue frowned slightly and gently pushed the fork away. Xia Youxi quickly supported the egg with her other hand, fearing it would fall. She then extended the fork back to Mu Huayue, her large eyes pleading. “Sister fed me yesterday. I’m grateful for your kindness and want to repay you. Won’t you give me this chance?”

Mu Huayue glanced at her, but Xia Youxi’s expression was so pitiful, as if she had suffered a great injustice, that Mu Huayue couldn’t bear it. She parted her lips slightly, took a small bite, and swallowed before saying, “Alright, you should go now.”

Xia Youxi shook her head. “Sister helped me through my Scorching Bloom Period yesterday. I can’t let you face your Dispersal Bloom Period alone. Today, I’ll do whatever you ask.”

Though Xia Youxi’s words sounded grand and Mu Huayue found them pleasing, she couldn’t help but yearn to be closer to her.

“Then eat properly now,” Mu Huayue said, “and go to the piano room afterward. I’ll have Wen An arrange an online lesson for you.”

Xia Youxi hadn’t expected Mu Huayue to care so much about her career. It would be a lie to say she wasn’t moved.

“Thank you, Sister!” she said again.

That morning, Xia Youxi practiced vocals in the piano room while Mu Huayue worked in the study. They didn’t disturb each other, but Xia Youxi couldn’t help thinking about Sister Mu.

During a break, Xia Youxi hung up the call and quietly approached the study. Just as she neared the door, she heard a thud, as if something had fallen to the floor.

Anxious, Xia Youxi disregarded formalities and pushed the door open. “Sister!”

Inside the room, a stack of documents lay scattered on the floor. Mu Huayue was slumped on the ground, one hand pressed against the floor while the other covered her face. Hearing the voice, she slowly raised her head. Xia Youxi noticed that her usually proud eyes were red-rimmed, a single tear trembling on her lower eyelid, threatening to fall. Sister Mu is actually crying from the pain?

Her heart twisted like a tightened screw. Xia Youxi rushed over, knelt down, and pulled Mu Huayue into her arms, gently stroking her back. “It’s okay,” she murmured. “I’m here. I’ll stay with you.”

Mu Huayue trembled slightly in her embrace, but didn’t speak. Xia Youxi continued to soothe her, yet a seed of doubt began to sprout in her mind. She remembered that during Sister Mu’s previous Floral Heat Syndrome attacks during her Dispersal Bloom Period, they had always occurred at night, and her presence alone had been enough to alleviate the symptoms. But now, after knowing each other for several months, why was Sister Mu’s Dispersal Bloom Period so agonizing?

A mere few hours apart had triggered this attack. Did that mean Sister Mu had been enduring these episodes alone all along, silently bearing the pain?

Xia Youxi didn’t dare dwell on the implications, simply tightening her grip on Mu Huayue’s arm.

Pheromones were the best remedy for Floral Heat Syndrome. Mu Huayue inhaled deeply, regaining her composure. Her first act wasn’t gratitude, but shoving Xia Youxi away and snapping, “Get out.”

“Sister?” Xia Youxi stood frozen, her arms still in the shape of an embrace, but her arms were empty, and only the cold wind remained before her.

She watched Mu Huayue rise to her feet, resuming her usual aloof demeanor. Xia Youxi remained kneeling on the floor, her hands still raised, looking both comical and pitiful. She lowered her arms, stood up, brushed off the dust, forced a smile, and said, “Alright, I’ll wait outside. Call me if you need anything.”

Mu Huayue didn’t respond. As Xia Youxi stood by the door, she heard a click—the lock sliding into place.

Mu Huayue had shut her out.

Xia Youxi sank to the floor, frustratedly tapping her leg. She leaned her head against the door, defeated.

She pulled out her phone, glanced at it, and went to her study room. But unwilling to move, she impulsively texted her teacher to request a day off.

Music blared from the room—aggressive drums and soaring vocals. It was foreign pop-rock, not Mu Huayue’s usual taste.

Xia Youxi guessed it was to drown out other sounds.

Why won’t Sister Mu let me stay with her?

I’m perfectly capable of helping.

Is it that damned pride?

Xia Youxi punched herself again.

Damn it, I was too hasty and forgot about that.

Mu Huayue valued her reputation more than life itself. Xia Youxi had just witnessed her losing control, humiliating her completely. She feared Mu Huayue wouldn’t speak to her for days.

Xia Youxi lowered her head, forcing herself to recall the plot and search for a solution.

There was one, but it was incredibly rude.

She needed to mark Mu Huayue again, just like when they first met.

But back then, her technique had been poor, and Mu Huayue had interrupted her, resulting in a shallow, temporary mark. Now that the mark had faded, Mu Huayue’s body had reverted to its previous state, making the Dispersal Bloom Period unbearable.

For a fleeting moment, Xia Youxi considered acting rashly, forcibly completing the marking. But she knew she couldn’t.

Morality forbade it, her principles forbade it, and she forbade it. To do so would be deeply disrespectful to Mu Huayue.

It would be like treating a person like an animal.

But what else could she do?

Xia Youxi had no other ideas. She could only wait, calling softly through the door, “Sister.”

There was no response. She pulled out her phone and typed: I’m sorry, Sister. My Scorching Bloom Period has started.

After typing, she added a crying cat emoji, then continued: Please, Sister, can you come out? I’m in so much pain.

Still no reply. Xia Youxi sent another emoji—a cat rolling around in distress—before switching to voice chat. Channeling her near-award-winning acting skills, she sobbed into the microphone, “Sister, I can’t take it anymore… sniffle Please come out and help me.”

Loud, chaotic noises erupted from inside the room, but Mu Huayue remained silent. Xia Youxi slumped against the door, feeling utterly helpless. She couldn’t resist giving it two light taps.

Then, a miracle occurred. The door creaked open, and Xia Youxi stumbled out, leaning against Mu Huayue’s calf. She leaned back, revealing her carefully cultivated, tear-filled eyes, and gently tugged at Mu Huayue’s trouser leg. “Sister, please,” she pleaded.

Mu Huayue glanced down at her. From Xia Youxi’s upward gaze, the earlier disheveled, weakened, and broken appearance had vanished. All she could see now was Mu Huayue’s sharp, haughty, and cold demeanor.

A hand reached out, and Xia Youxi flinched, squeezing her eyes shut. But instead of harm, Mu Huayue merely placed an eye mask over her face.

In the pitch-black darkness, Xia Youxi lost her bearings. She felt herself being pulled to her feet and stumbled after Mu Huayue as they moved outside. A shove sent her sprawling onto a soft bed. Then, a hand pinched her cheeks, squeezing her mouth into a goldfish-like shape. When the pressure released, a fingertip gently traced the tips of her slightly pointed teeth.

She heard Mu Huayue’s voice: “Is this what you used to mark me that day?”