After the Divorce, My Ex-Wife Suddenly Became an Alpha - Chapter 34

Chapter 34: Excessive Intimacy

The white porcelain spoon tapped lightly against the edge of the bowl with a soft clink.

Gu Jin Xiao suddenly found herself at a loss for words.

When had it started, this subtle shift in her relationship with Chi Yue Jing? At what point had she stopped keeping her distance? Not only did she accept the other woman’s protection, but she had also grown used to eating her cooking, enjoying her care, and even… relying on her during her estrus period.

But Chi Yue Jing had never refused her.

Her heart thudded uncontrollably in her chest.

It must be out of a sense of responsibility, right? After all, they weren’t divorced yet, and Chi Yue Jing had always been someone who took her commitments seriously. That must be why she had rushed back from so far away when Gu needed help, and now had even followed her across the galaxy to this unfamiliar N92 star system. All of it—for her.

This thought felt like a layer of sugar coating her heart, and she couldn’t help but smile.

But then, another thought struck her: this sense of responsibility… it had an expiration date. Once everything was over, they would go through with their divorce as planned, and by then, she and Chi Yue Jing would become strangers.

As soon as this idea surfaced, the fish ball soup that had just been so delicious suddenly tasted bitter. Her heart tightened painfully.

Gu Jin Xiao inhaled sharply, feeling a surge of disbelief at her own growing desire.

When had she become so selfish? She was the one who had initiated the divorce in the first place. Chi Yue Jing had her own life to live. Once this was over, she’d leave again—whether to the military or elsewhere, she would shine wherever she went. And maybe… she’d find someone new to give all her tenderness to.

That would be the normal path forward.

And yet, just imagining her smiling at someone else like that, treating someone else’s words with such care, made Gu Jin Xiao’s heart ache. A deep, dull pain she couldn’t quite explain.

Was it just her estrus period affecting her? Maybe the comfort from Chi Yue Jing’s pheromones was stirring up some kind of instinctual possessiveness in her Alpha side. That would explain why even the thought of those things made her feel so upset—and so selfishly unwilling to let go.

Her self-control really was starting to falter.

With that, Gu Jin Xiao made up her mind. She looked seriously at Chi Yue Jing and said, “About what happened this afternoon…”

She was going to say, “It wasn’t appropriate,” but paused and changed it to: “Do you think maybe… it wasn’t quite appropriate?”

Chi Yue Jing looked at her, her expression perfectly innocent and confused.

Gu Jin Xiao pressed her lips together and spoke more directly: “…We’re not really a couple, and comforting someone during estrus is a pretty intimate thing. So I think… we should be more mindful about situations like this afternoon.”

“I don’t quite understand what you mean,” Chi Yue Jing said with a soft smile, her gaze earnest, peach blossom eyes wide and curious. The way she looked at her made Gu Jin Xiao’s heart beat even faster. She turned her head and coughed lightly. “I just mean that maybe our current dynamic…”

It was starting to feel a little too much like a real couple.

But that sentence stuck in her throat. She was afraid if she said it out loud, Chi Yue Jing would think she was overthinking things, and it would only make their future interactions more awkward. Stammering for a while, she finally said, “In short, I think we should be more cautious about these things.”

“As partners in a close collaboration,” she added, trying to keep it professional, “we can help each other out, and continue playing our roles in front of others. But in certain areas… we should avoid getting too intimate. That would… be better for both of us.”

She blurted it all out in one breath, her face burning so hot she thought it might catch fire. She didn’t dare look at Chi Yue Jing, afraid she’d either think she was making a fuss or misinterpret her as being accusatory.

But to her surprise, Chi Yue Jing laughed.

“Too intimate?” she repeated. Gu Jin Xiao saw out of the corner of her eye that Chi Yue Jing had stood up, blocking some of the light as she stepped closer. Her voice was soft but clear as it reached Gu Jin Xiao’s ears, brushing against her heartbeat like silk. “I’m not quite sure—what exactly counts as ‘too intimate’?”

As she spoke, she casually lifted her hand and pinched Gu Jin Xiao’s ear, which by now was red as a cherry.

“Do you mean hugging? Pheromone exchange? Or…”

That tiny touch was like a spark on dry grass—Gu Jin Xiao nearly jumped out of her seat. But Chi Yue Jing was standing right in front of her, leaving no room to retreat. Her peach blossom eyes were deep and intense, staring at her like they could swallow her whole.

“I…”

Gu Jin Xiao was overwhelmed with embarrassment, caught completely off guard. She nervously swallowed and stammered, “I don’t know exactly… I mean, I’ve never really… had that kind of experience.”

The last few words trailed off into a barely audible mumble.

Her face flushed even redder, and the pink hue spread all the way down her neck. Chi Yuejing wondered if the blush extended beneath her collar as well. The thought distracted her momentarily, and some of her earlier irritation faded.

It was hard to stay upset with this woman, even knowing her intent was to create distance between them. Still, Chi Yue Jing couldn’t bring herself to be harsh. Her heart softened.

She sighed silently and reached out to pat Gu Jin Xiao’s head, but stopped halfway and instead said gently, “Since you can’t say exactly what counts, why don’t we make a simple agreement.”

“If you’re uncomfortable during estrus and feel you need my help, just tell me directly.” She chose her words carefully, making it sound as legitimate as possible. “If you don’t say anything, I’ll assume everything’s fine.”

It was a good solution—one that avoided unnecessary confusion while respecting both parties. Gu Jin Xiao looked up, visibly relieved, her tightly knit brows relaxing into a pair of shining crescent moons.

“Is that okay?” she asked in a small voice.

Chi Yue Jing smiled calmly. “Of course. It’s your body—you know it best. If you can tell me directly, I won’t have to guess what’s going on every time.”

So it was her overthinking things again. Gu Jin Xiao nodded quickly. “Alright, then let’s agree on that from now on.”

She looked noticeably more at ease, and now that her mind had relaxed, she suddenly realized she was hungry. Embarrassed, she asked, “…That fish ball soup?”

Chi Yue Jing chuckled at her adorable expression. “The soup’s probably a little cold now. I’ll heat it up for you.”

She picked up the bowl and headed to the kitchen. With her worries set aside, Gu Jin Xiao felt lighter. She smiled brightly as she grabbed a custard bun from the plate and nibbled on it, humming a happy little tune.

Was she really that happy… just to reestablish boundaries?

She really shouldn’t have softened toward her so easily.

…

Gu Jin Xiao had no idea about Chi Yue Jing’s thoughts. On the contrary, she felt incredibly relaxed after getting everything off her chest. She even ate more than usual at dinner—enough that Chi Yue Jing had to stop her from overeating.

Stretching happily, she offered, “Want me to help you clean up?”

Chi Yuejing hadn’t planned on letting her, but then thought it might help her digest and sleep better. So she nodded. “Then help me add some water to the lotus tank.”

She pointed to a corner, and Gu Jin Xiao followed her gaze. There sat a transparent glass tank, holding a few lotus flowers. The broad, round leaves glistened with droplets, the sight alone enough to soothe the eyes.

Such beautiful plants were rarely seen on the N92 planet. Gu Jin Xiao rushed over, gently touching the lotus leaves. “…Such big buds! They’ll probably bloom tomorrow, right?”

Still by the sink, Chi Yue Jing replied with a smile, “Just about. The only reason you’re getting to see them bloom is because they came with a full tank of water. Once they bloom, we won’t be able to keep them… too much of a waste of water.”

Gu Jin Xiao’s enthusiasm dimmed slightly at the reminder. “Yeah, this much water could support a family of three for a whole day in the civilian zone. Once the mineral resources here are depleted, N92 probably won’t be livable anymore.”

That was the fate of many resource planets—used up and discarded. The galaxy was vast, rich in resources, and no one ever stopped to think: what would happen to the people left behind?

Chi Yue Jing, sensing her sadness, comforted her. “It’s not your burden alone. Actually, a lot of people should be grateful that Shizi Star came here to mine. I heard the pay’s the best in the sector. Workers can save enough in a few years to afford migration to a fourth-tier planet. Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Don’t be so hard on yourself.”

Gu Jin Xiao appreciated her kindness, but this was something she had long pondered. She set down the watering can and said softly, “I understand, but not everyone can work in the mines. I still want to do more for the people here.”

She hesitated a moment, then shared her idea. “I want to set up a fund here, so kids who want to study have a chance to go to schools on neighboring planets… But I’ll need to think carefully about how to do it and who’ll oversee it.”

In other words, she was discussing her plan with her. Chi Yue Jing felt a warm flutter in her chest and looked at her with even more gentleness. After a pause, she said, “That’s a wonderful idea. Teaching someone to fish is better than giving them a fish. I have a friend who runs a charity school on the capital planet. When we get back, we can go visit her.”

Gu Jin Xiao was surprised and delighted. Getting advice from someone experienced would help avoid pitfalls. She hadn’t expected Chi Yue Jing to be so supportive, and smiled gratefully. “Thank you.”

They chatted a little longer, but seeing how late it was, they eventually wrapped things up and went to wash up for bed.

Perhaps it was the relief of finally sharing what had been on her mind, but even after lying in bed for a long time, Gu Jin Xiao couldn’t fall asleep. Her mind raced with thoughts about the fund, her bet with Gu Chengye, and a hundred other worries. She just couldn’t settle down.

She turned to look at the woman beside her. In contrast to her restlessness, Chi Yue Jing seemed to be sleeping soundly. She lay facing away, hair loose and cascading over the pillow, a faint scent lingering in the air.

Gu Jin Xiao rolled over—and suddenly felt even more restless.

With her movement, a familiar warmth began to spread across her back. She froze.

Why did she feel… uncomfortable again?