After the Divorce, My Ex-Wife Suddenly Became an Alpha - Chapter 25
Chapter 25: No Waste
The garden was filled with the gentle rustling of flowers and trees, carrying with them a sweet, fragrant breeze. Petals twirled through the air, drifting into the pond, where they were nudged and stirred by the curious koi fish, sending out ripple after ripple across the water’s surface.
Gu Jinxi was suddenly at a loss for words.
She lowered her head, pretending to smooth out the hem of her skirt that had been tousled by the wind, mumbling softly in explanation, “…I wouldn’t really call it protecting you. After all, you’re… you’re still my important partner. I couldn’t just stand by and let Grandpa scold you alone…”
The more she explained, the more it seemed like she was trying to cover something up.
She didn’t want to admit that, just for a moment, when she saw Chi Yuejing quietly bowing her head under the old man’s scolding, a strange urge to protect her had welled up in her chest—a desire not to see her feeling wronged.
It was as if, when Chi Yuejing was upset, her own heart felt heavy in response.
Chi Yuejing quietly looked at her, a soft gleam flickering in her eyes. After a moment, she finally said, “Mm, thank you.”
A smile surfaced in her eyes—faint and clear as a spring—and under its warmth, it was as if a gentle sunlight had settled into Gu Jinxi’s chest, quietly and warmly. She lowered her gaze, trying to suppress the erratic beating of her heart and push it back deep down.
Not wanting to dwell on the topic any longer, she turned and continued walking deeper into the garden, hastily changing the subject. “Let’s not waste time talking about this anymore. Are we watering the flowers or not?… That’s strange, where’s the watering can supposed to be?”
Chi Yuejing had been following closely behind, and seeing her wander closer to the bushes, she raised her voice in warning: “Careful—”
“Ahhhh!”
Her warning came a moment too late. Gu Jinxi let out a startled shriek, stumbling backward and falling toward the flowerbed.
Right then, a sprinkler suddenly shot up from the center of the garden bed, sending out arcs of sparkling water. Under the sunlight, the streams refracted into brilliant prisms, fanning out like a goddess scattering petals, raining delicate droplets in every direction.
Through the mist of water, Gu Jinxi felt a soft force catch her from behind, steadying her just as she was about to tumble into the flowers.
Soaking wet, she ended up crashing directly into the other’s arms.
Raindrops landed on her face and body, like a sudden downpour, tapping rapidly against her nerves. She caught a familiar scent of white iris, more vivid and stirring than all the surrounding floral fragrance, rushing into her senses with clarity and warmth.
Drawn in by the scent, she instinctively wrapped her arms around the other’s neck, snuggling closer into her embrace.
Raindrops tapped rhythmically on the leaves around them, and at her ear, she heard another steady beat—it was Chi Yuejing’s heartbeat, strong and reassuring, right beside her.
Chi Yuejing held her a little higher, estimating that she should be steady on her feet now, and gently asked, “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine…” The scent was too intoxicating, and Gu Jinxi shifted slightly, reluctant to pull away. “My legs are just a little weak.”
She wanted to stay like this and breathe in more. As she tilted her head slightly upward, her gaze inadvertently landed on Chi Yuejing’s long neckline, where a faint blush was spreading down from her nape, disappearing beneath the collar.
“Your pheromones are leaking,” she said, and without thinking, sniffed again. Then, as if trying to comfort herself, she added, “Well, might as well not waste it—can I have another sniff?”
Chi Yuejing’s arms around her paused ever so slightly.
Gu Jinxi was clinging too close. With each breath she took—like a little kitten panting—Chi Yuejing could feel her breath on her neck, the soft tip of her nose grazing against her skin, sending ripples of heat along her nerves. The other girl seemed completely unaware, even letting out a small, content sigh.
That sigh carried a faint electric charge, sneaking into her ears and stirring a tingle deep within her.
Orange blossoms, soft and delicate, reached out tentatively to embrace the bright heart of the white iris. The fragrance between them blended, rich and heady.
Gu Jinxi was still immersed in the pull of instinct, when she suddenly sensed movement beside her. A second later, the sound of footsteps came from the direction of the flowerbed.
She quickly looked up, just as she straightened herself, and saw Uncle Chi walking toward them with a toolbox. Clearly, he hadn’t expected to stumble upon such a scene, and his face wore a smile that was hard to read.
“One of the sprinklers here is broken. I was just worried you two might accidentally trigger it.”
The kind old butler carefully chose his words, but the smile at the corners of his mouth only grew brighter. “Did I come too early?”
“……”
Even after they’d finished watering the flowers and returned to the main house, Gu Jinxi still felt the heat lingering on her face.
Being caught in such a situation by an elder had shattered the composed and calm image she usually maintained. Worse yet, Uncle Chi had even gone out of his way to bring the watering can to the old master, tactfully calling it “just delivering some tea.”
Fortunately, she didn’t stay embarrassed for too long—Doctor Lan Nuo soon arrived with a medical kit.
The treatment pod had already been delivered to the Chi family’s medical room. Over the next 24 hours, Chi Yuejing would undergo surgery inside the pod. After everything was ready, Chi Yuejing didn’t leave immediately. Instead, she asked Gu Jinxi, “Will you be okay on your own?”
Gu Jinxi nodded. She knew Chi Yuejing was worried she might feel lonely, but right now, there was nothing more important than her healing. She smiled and said, “I’m not a kid anymore, you don’t need to worry.”
Once she saw Chi Yuejing off to the medical room, she returned to her own room, took out a book she’d brought, and began to read. A full day and night wasn’t hard to pass—besides, on the whole capital star, no one would dare trespass on this estate anyway.
The rest of the afternoon was peaceful. Perhaps fearing she’d feel constrained, dinner was brought directly to her room. The wooden tray carried a flavorful double-boiled chicken soup with fish maw, crisp lotus root freshly harvested and stir-fried, tender broad bean purée mixed with diced ham, and a small bowl of crème caramel as dessert, just the way she liked it.
Gu Jinxi tapped her spoon against the caramel layer of the pudding. A faint osmanthus fragrance wafted up. Her gaze sharpened slightly as she picked up the small bowl for a closer look—and just as she thought, it had a familiar label on it.
Outside, an artificial moon rose into the sky, casting a gentle silver glow over the garden. A soft breeze carried floral notes through the air. With no other plans, she slipped on a pair of flat shoes and went out for a walk.
At night, the garden blooms felt even more serene than during the day. Night-blooming tuberoses and evening primroses swayed softly. Sweet osmanthus scent drifted from the treetops. Gu Jinxi followed the stone path all the way to the lake, and her steps slowly came to a halt.
The old master had heard her approaching long before she arrived. He stood at the edge of the koi pond with his hands behind his back, and when her hesitant footsteps finally moved closer, he lifted his eyes slightly and said, “Weren’t you afraid of me?”
Judging by the earlier sounds, the girl had clearly been trying to sneak away, but for some reason changed her mind.
Gu Jinxi was indeed a little afraid of him, but she still smiled and replied, “I was, but I still wanted to come thank you. Thank you for helping Chi Yuejing… and for preparing that dessert from Qingshan for dinner.”
Old Master Chi’s mustache twitched slightly. “That was Chunlai’s doing. I wouldn’t know what you girls like to eat.”
Chunlai was Uncle Chi’s name. Gu Jinxi pressed her lips together and casually picked up a bag of fish food from a nearby Taihu stone, scattering it into the water. She lowered her gaze and watched the koi gather. “Regardless, thank you.”
She had thought the old master was a strict, unkind elder. But after spending the day together, she realized that while he might appear stern, he was someone who paid attention in his own quiet way.
The two of them stood by the pond, watching the koi for a while. Just when Gu Jinxi thought the conversation was over, the old master suddenly spoke again.
“Has Yuejing ever told you about her parents?”
He looked as if he was ready to talk. Gu Jinxi straightened up slightly and replied, “Only that they were both soldiers… and that they died young in service. They were heroes.”
“To the Federation, they were indeed heroes,” the old man said calmly, eyes on the fish swimming in the pond. “But to their family… maybe it’s more accurate to call it a loss.”
From his words, Gu Jinxi learned a version of Chi Yuejing she had never known.
The Chi family had served in the military for generations. Chi Yuejing’s parents were both Alphas, both part of the Expeditionary Fleet, stationed year-round on the frontlines against the insectoids. Because the border stars spanned hundreds of systems, to conserve energy, small detachments often patrolled and fought in turns.
This kind of deployment was harsh and dangerous. During one such patrol, Chi Yuejing’s father’s team encountered a swarm of insectoids above a border planet. To protect the civilians, they fought alone against overwhelming odds. The nearest reinforcements were at least 24 hours away.
The main fleet scrambled nearby teams to assist. Chi Yuejing’s mother was among the responders. The two young officers fought side by side, but when their fuel finally ran out, Chi’s father rammed his mecha into the insectoid transport ship, buying them precious time. Not long after, his partner also perished in the same battle.
“At the time, Xiao Yue had just turned five,” the old man said softly. “She didn’t understand what death meant. She just kept asking me when her mom and dad would be back. I told her… once she could name all the flowers in the garden, they’d come home.”
“There are over three thousand flowers in that garden, gathered from every planet I’ve ever visited. She could only learn two or three a day, which meant it would take at least three years. So she counted, day by day. But the war kept going. And when I finally came home again, Chunlai told me something.”
“He said Xiao Yue had already memorized all the flowers long ago. But she still kept counting, slowly, day by day. She said that as long as she could bear the sadness alone, she wouldn’t trouble anyone else. That’s the kind of girl my granddaughter is.”
The wind had picked up without them noticing, rustling the treetops and scattering flower petals across the ground. The old master put down the fish food and lightly dusted off his sleeves.
In this moment, he no longer looked as sharp and vigorous as he had during the day. Time seemed to settle faintly across his form as he added, “She really likes you. She defied my orders and came back from a distant star for you. Even while injured, she forced herself to stay strong. I hope you won’t let her down.”
After a pause, he softened his tone. “This isn’t a command. Just… consider it a request from an old man who was never a very good elder.”
Gu Jinxi didn’t dare take such respectful words lightly. She straightened up and solemnly replied, “Please don’t say that… She’s always been the one looking after me. So I’ll cherish her feelings properly. You have my word.”
The old master nodded, seemingly satisfied, and pulled something from his pocket to hand to her.
“This is her mother’s keepsake. I think she’d be glad for you to have it.”
It was a small blue velvet jewelry box. Gu Jinxi carefully opened it to find a jade ring nestled inside, its deep green surface like a quiet lake, glowing with a gentle, subdued sheen.