Alpha, Straight To The Crematorium - Chapter 6
6: Meeting
Li Yuan was utterly captivated by Si Rong’s face, feeling dizzy with enchantment. Now, seeing Si Rong smile at her like this, she was already imagining where their future marital home would be.
Stammering, her ears flushed an embarrassing red. “Um… you’re just really beautiful.”
Si Rong quietly noted her reaction, suddenly finding this Omega quite amusing.
So, she smiled and said, “Thank you, you’re beautiful too.”
Li Yuan, a bit shy, rubbed the tip of her nose, then tried to cover it up by taking a sip of her caramel milk tea.
The sweetness of the milk tea seemed to flow straight into her heart.
Si Rong habitually glanced at her watch. Li Yuan noticed the gesture and seemed to snap out of her daze. She liked Si Rong and wanted to pursue something further, but she wasn’t sure if Si Rong felt the same.
Hesitating, Li Yuan looked at Si Rong, her round almond eyes fixed on the woman across from her. Those eyes shimmered like they held water, sparkling with starlight but tinged with a faint, almost imperceptible plea.
“Does Miss Si have other things to attend to?”
Si Rong’s glance at her watch was purely habitual—she was used to managing her time meticulously.
She hadn’t expected Li Yuan to misunderstand, so she explained, “Sorry, it’s a work habit. I don’t have anything else today. If Miss Li is free, would you like to catch a movie with me?”
“Is it that new release, City of Suspense?” Li Yuan’s excitement was palpable, her almond eyes lighting up instantly.
The movie had only been out for a few days, and she’d been wanting to see it with her friend Ah Qin. Now, with Si Rong accompanying her, they could even bond a little.
Si Rong paused for a moment at her words, then smiled and nodded. “Yes, want to go together?”
“Sure, sure! But it’s almost dinnertime. Should we grab something to eat first?” Li Yuan rubbed her stomach. “I’m a bit hungry.”
“Sounds good. Anything in particular you’d like to eat?” Si Rong smiled gently, exuding a refined, jade-like warmth.
If Qiu Annan saw this scene, she’d probably call it absurd. Not that Si Rong’s gentleness was entirely fake—she always maintained this flawless demeanor in public or with business partners to keep her vulnerabilities hidden in the cutthroat world of business.
Li Yuan picked up her phone and searched for nearby restaurants. She found a private kitchen with good reviews and leaned forward, turning the phone to show Si Rong.
Tilting her head slightly, she said, “This place looks pretty good. What do you think?”
Li Yuan’s breath was soft and gentle, and the musky scent of her perfume wafted toward Si Rong with each exhale.
Si Rong had noticed the musky fragrance on Li Yuan when she arrived. Now, smelling it up close, she felt an inexplicable sense of comfort.
It was the feeling of possessiveness being satisfied.
Her own pheromones carried a musky scent, and though Li Yuan’s perfume had other notes mixed in, the prominent musk gave Si Rong the subtle illusion that Li Yuan was hers.
Si Rong leaned back slightly against the sofa, taking the phone from Li Yuan’s hand. She glanced at it politely before handing it back with a nod. “I’ve been to this place before. It’s nice.”
Li Yuan, who rarely had close interactions with others, didn’t notice anything unusual about Si Rong. She happily took back her phone and made a reservation at the restaurant.
“Let’s head over now. It’s not too crowded yet, so we won’t get stuck in traffic.” Si Rong said, checking the time. It was still a while before the lunch rush, so driving wouldn’t be an issue.
Li Yuan nodded, slinging her small bag over her shoulder and standing up to leave with Si Rong.
To her surprise, Si Rong picked up the quick sketch Li Yuan had drawn absentmindedly, folded it neatly, and slipped it into her bag with a calm expression.
Li Yuan’s face flushed red, and she stood frozen, speechless. Si Rong, acting as if nothing had happened, grabbed her bag and smiled lightly at Li Yuan. “Let’s go. I drove here.”
“Oh… okay.”
They reached the parking lot, and Li Yuan spotted a sleek black Mercedes G-Class from afar, parked steadily, exuding the same composed and commanding aura as Si Rong.
Having never seen Si Rong’s car, Li Yuan pointed at it and asked, “Is that yours?”
Si Rong had just pulled out her car keys and followed Li Yuan’s gesture. She was impressed that Li Yuan had guessed correctly. Nodding, she asked curiously, “How’d you know?”
Li Yuan’s eyes curved into a smile, revealing a glimpse of her pearly teeth. “I’m good at reading people. I just felt like, out of all the cars here, that one matches your vibe the most.”
What a naive little thing, Si Rong thought.
Everything Si Rong had shown so far was carefully curated—the personality, the car that “matched her vibe” in Li Yuan’s eyes. But she didn’t deny Li Yuan’s words. After all, the facade she presented was still a part of her, and Li Yuan wasn’t entirely wrong.
It was just a small moment. The two chatted happily along the way, though most of the conversation was driven by Li Yuan, with Si Rong occasionally responding while focusing on driving.
Li Yuan was like a kid with a new crush, eagerly seeking Si Rong’s attention. By the time she realized how much she’d been talking, they’d nearly reached their destination.
Two strikingly attractive women walking side by side into the restaurant drew attention, even though the place wasn’t crowded. Li Yuan could feel the eyes on them.
She knew the gazes were harmless, but being unused to such attention, she felt a bit uneasy.
Si Rong quickly noticed her discomfort and called over a waiter to switch them to a private room.
“Sorry, Miss Si. I don’t go out much, so I’m not used to people staring. Now you have to accommodate me by moving to a private room.” Li Yuan said, her face tinged with apology.
Si Rong’s slender fingers lifted the teacup in front of her. “No worries. I’ve been feeling sensitive lately, so I’m not too fond of crowded places either.”
Before Li Yuan could respond, Si Rong added, “I’m going to the restroom. Please wait a moment, Miss Li.”
“Sure, take your time.”
Once Si Rong left the private room, Li Yuan slumped into her chair as if all her energy had drained. She clapped her hands over her cheeks.
She’d been babbling nonstop the whole way, and now she’d made Si Rong move to a private room. Would Si Rong think she was a high-maintenance Omega? How could she mess this up?
Li Yuan sighed heavily, then dejectedly pulled out her phone and opened her chat with Jin Qin.
Li Yuan: Ah Qin! I’m doomed! SadSheep.jpg
Jin Qin, probably not busy yet, replied quickly.
Ah Qin: Huh? What’s wrong, babe?
Li Yuan: My love has arrived.
Ah Qin: Uh? Say something I can understand, please?
Li Yuan: Ugh, it’s my blind date!
Ah Qin: So you met her today and fell head over heels?
Reading Jin Qin’s message, Li Yuan’s cheeks flushed again. She hadn’t experienced love, but she’d seen it. She knew her feelings for Si Rong were just a spark of affection, but whether that spark was pure, she couldn’t say.
As an art school graduate, she’d seen plenty of beautiful people—her academy and the film school were full of them. Though she hadn’t made many friends in college, she’d met her share of attractive individuals.
But Si Rong was different. The subtle sense of belonging and security she felt around her was something no one else had ever given her. Li Yuan suspected their compatibility might be high.
Still, this wasn’t the old days. Alphas and Omegas didn’t rely solely on compatibility rates anymore. If she wanted to pursue Si Rong, she’d have to win her over with actions—especially since Si Rong seemed to have a good impression of her so far.
Li Yuan’s mind was a mess. One moment, she worried about Si Rong rejecting her; the next, she was daydreaming about where their marital home should be. None of it was practical.
Meanwhile, Si Rong reached the restroom and finally let out a breath, undoing the top button of her shirt for air.
She wore a creamy silk blouse with a casual apricot blazer. Despite the air-conditioned restaurant, her ears were tinged red.
Si Rong dug through her bag for the inhibitor patch she’d brought just in case, quickly replacing the nearly ineffective one on the back of her neck. Her skin there was still abnormally red, maybe even a bit swollen.
She really needed that vacation. Si Rong pulled out her phone and texted her assistant, Chen, to arrange her leave. Then she called Qiu Annan.
The call connected quickly. “Hey, President Si, how do you have time to call me? Weren’t you on a blind date today?” Qiu Annan’s lazy tone was clearly teasing.
Leaning against the sink, Si Rong idly traced her slightly overgrown nails. “Yeah, President Qiu. I’m about to take a vacation. Should I just take my honeymoon leave too?”
There was a rustling on the other end, then Qiu Annan’s suddenly serious voice. “Ahem, Ah Rong, is there something you need me to do? I’m all in!”
She was joking—Si Rong taking a honeymoon would leave the gaming department leaderless, especially with Enchantment keeping them so busy. No way was she getting involved.
Si Rong didn’t bother with small talk. “Look into Li Yuan’s profile for me. Not her life story—just her preferences.”
“Huh? Li Yuan? You mean the artist Lin Yue? Why do you need her preferences? If you want her for a commission, just offer more money. KN’s got plenty.”
“KN’s not short on cash, and neither is Li Yuan. Also, she’s my blind date.”
Qiu Annan was floored but quick to connect the dots. “Wait, Ah Rong, you’re not planning to seduce her, are you?”
Before Si Rong could respond, Qiu Annan continued, “Come on, it’s not that serious! KN doesn’t need this artist. Stay calm!”
“What are you even thinking?” Si Rong frowned. “Just making a friend. She’s nice, and it’ll keep my mom off my back. Win-win. Why not?”
Qiu Annan opened her mouth but couldn’t pinpoint why it felt off—just that it did.
“Alright, that’s it. Oh, let’s grab drinks at Chen Lin tonight. I’ll text you later. Gotta go.” Si Rong hung up without waiting for a reply.
She’d come to the restroom, and it was about time to head back.
After tidying herself up, Si Rong put on her gentle smile and returned to the private room.