After the Scumbag Alpha Accidentally Marked the Blackened Villain - Chapter 23.2

But the sound of water still thundered on, drowning out her voice. Lin Bie’s brows furrowed in panic. She glanced down at what she was wearing—and nearly passed out.

Her original clothes had been filthy, so after showering she had casually thrown on Leng Jinxi’s bathrobe. Neither of them thought much of it earlier. But now, if the crew saw her like this, no explanation could save her.

In her mind, she could already see the trending headlines:

• “Leng Jinxi’s Secret Rendezvous with Mystery Woman in Lounge!”

• “Leng Jinxi’s Hidden Lover Discovered!”

• “Leng Jinxi Dating Crew Member?”

The more she imagined, the more anxious she became. She rushed to the windows and yanked the curtains shut, ensuring not even a mosquito could peek inside. Once secured, she rushed back to knock on the bathroom door again.

Just as her knuckles hit the wood, the door suddenly opened.

A wave of steam billowed out, washing over her face. Leng Jinxi stood in the mist, lips crimson, teeth bright white, her long curled hair pinned up to reveal an elegant jawline and swan-like neck. A single bath towel clung to her body, hugging her graceful curves. The rising steam gave her skin a soft, flushed glow.

She looked at Lin Bie, her body still scented with sweet body wash and a hint of camellia, the fragrance blending with the steam and enveloping Lin Bie completely.

Even without makeup, her beauty was breathtaking—flawless, gentle yet cool. It was the kind of face that made hearts stir without permission.

Lin Bie froze, awestruck, her arm still mid-knock. For a moment, she even forgot to breathe.

Annoyed by the interruption, Leng Jinxi’s brows creased slightly as she stared at her, long lashes still glistening with droplets.

“…What is it?” she asked coolly.

Lin Bie snapped back to her senses, gasping in fresh air—and what tumbled out of her mouth wasn’t the emergency warning, but a bewildered question: “Why aren’t you wearing your pajamas?”

Leng Jinxi gave her a sharp glance, clearly speechless. “Because you took them.”

There had only been one bathrobe in the lounge, since Leng Jinxi was the sole occupant. She’d only realized it was missing after her shower—and there was no way she’d put on her sweaty old clothes.

What else was she supposed to do? Go out naked?

Lin Bie gasped. “Oh—sorry!” She instinctively reached to undo the belt of the bathrobe to return it, but just then a knock came from outside.

“Ms. Leng? It’s Youxi, the host who greeted you yesterday. I heard from staff you returned—do you have a moment?”

The air inside the lounge instantly froze.

Leng Jinxi’s expression darkened. She raised her head, locking eyes with Lin Bie—who had that unmistakable I was just about to tell you look.

“What now?” Lin Bie whispered. “Is there a back door?”

She was about to bolt for an escape when—yank—Leng Jinxi grabbed her by the collar and shoved her backward. Stumbling, Lin Bie was shoved directly into the wardrobe.

“I’m here—just give me a moment to change,” Leng Jinxi called out calmly to the host, glancing down into the closet where Lin Bie had landed awkwardly among the coats.

She pressed a finger to her lips, brows arched in a clear, silent warning: “Stay. Quiet.”

Lin Bie winced, her back slammed against the hard surface. She nearly let out a groan, but upon seeing Leng Jinxi’s expression, quickly swallowed it back.

Leng Jinxi couldn’t help but smile at her reaction. She plucked a few garments from the wardrobe, and when Lin Bie looked up at her with wide, blinking eyes like a startled puppy, she reached down and gently tapped her nose.

“Be good. Stay still.”

Something about her voice—sweet, indulgent, and tender—wrapped around Lin Bie’s heart. She nodded silently, head tipped back in the shadows as the wardrobe closed and the world went dark.

In the cramped, silent space, all she could hear was her own breathing, and the soft rustling of clothes as Leng Jinxi changed just beyond the door.

The dimness and tight space reminded her of that small partitioned storage room… of rising body heat, pheromones filling the air, and being trapped with Leng Jinxi. Her breath hitched as her mind was flooded with memories.

She swore she could smell camellia blossoms again.

Suddenly, her hand brushed something warm and fuzzy.

Her entire body went stiff, the sensation crawling up her spine. Just as she was about to scream, she heard a soft, aggrieved “meow.” She slapped a hand over her mouth.

Turning toward the sound, she found—glowing green eyes blinking at her from beneath a pile of coats.

A cat.

She and the cat stared at each other for several silent seconds. Finally, the cat gave another “meow.” Lin Bie’s senses snapped back.

“Xiao Guai?” she whispered, barely breathing.

Recognizing its name, the cat stretched out a paw, rolled over, and exposed its fluffy belly. Lin Bie scooped it up quickly, covering its mouth with one hand.

“Shh!” she hissed.

They crouched in the wardrobe, one woman and one cat, hidden conspirators.

Don’t make a sound. Your mommy is doing an interview. She stared at the cat, mentally warning it. Though the light was too dim for eye contact, she trusted the cat understood.

So Leng Jinxi even brought the cat along… Poor thing. Lin Bie gently stroked Xiao Guai’s belly, lost in thought.

Meanwhile, Leng Jinxi had finished changing. She stood in front of the mirror, applying foundation to cover the faint bite marks on her shoulder. Only when she confirmed there were no red marks left did she take a deep breath, glance at the now-quiet wardrobe, and open the lounge door.

Outside, nearly a dozen people had gathered. At the front was Youxi, holding a mic. She blinked in surprise at Leng Jinxi’s appearance—still without makeup, hair tied up in a damp knot, smelling faintly of shampoo.

Even like this, her beauty was beyond compare.

The crowd was stunned. Even the livestream chat froze for a second—before exploding:

【OMG is Leng Jinxi bare-faced?? She looks even better without makeup. Like a kitten!】

【I’m crying. I didn’t know someone could be this beautiful.】

【I want to be her pet. I’m barking rn.】

Fortunately, Youxi was a professional. She recovered quickly, heart still pounding from that beauty overload. Noticing the spike in viewer count, she managed to smile.

“You must’ve been waiting long,” Leng Jinxi said politely, her voice soft with apology.

“No, not at all!” Youxi waved her hand vigorously. “Ms. Leng, could you say hello to everyone watching?”

Leng Jinxi looked into the livestream camera and offered a gentle smile. “Hello, everyone. I’m Leng Jinxi. I just woke up and took a quick shower—sorry to have kept you waiting.”

As she explained to nearly a million viewers, her gaze flicked subtly toward the wardrobe—still silent. Only then did her tension ease.

“Shall we go outside for the interview?” she asked, still smiling gracefully.

“No need to go to the trouble,” Youxi said quickly. “Would it be alright if we conduct it right here in your lounge?”

Leng Jinxi’s smile faltered slightly. She glanced reflexively inside the room.

“Is it inconvenient?” Youxi asked, puzzled.

“No,” Leng Jinxi said with a shake of her head, her smile quickly returning. “Please, come in.”

If she refused now, gossip blogs would spin endless stories. It was better to let them in. And even if they did discover something… well, maybe it was time to officially announce the engagement.

She stepped back, allowing the crew inside—casting a quick glance toward the wardrobe out of frame.

But sometimes, fate plays tricks.

Just as the thought left her mind, a soft thud echoed from the wardrobe.

The sound wasn’t loud—but it was just enough for everyone to hear.

Leng Jinxi’s heart stopped.

“…What was that?” Youxi asked, frowning. The camera panned toward the sound.

“Ms. Leng, did you hear that? Something just went thud—from inside your room.”