Divorcee O Finds Me Irresistible - Chapter 22

After this conversation, their relationship deepened. If one had to define their cohabitation, “meal buddies” would be a fitting description.

“How are you getting back? Taking a taxi?” Xu Qing asked.

Fu Shuang glanced at the racing-style motorcycle parked by the curb and nodded toward it. “Isn’t that your bike? Why take a taxi when you have a motorcycle?”

“I only brought one helmet, and it probably smells like me,” Xu Qing tilted her head, studying Fu Shuang. “Aren’t you afraid of riding motorcycles?”

“Hmm, your scent is quite bothersome…” Fu Shuang replied casually, avoiding the question of fear.

Xu Qing chuckled, touching her neck. “I probably can’t smell it myself, but these pheromones… they’re pretty annoying, right?”

“It’s alright.” Fu Shuang leaned forward, hopped off the curb, and walked over to Xu Qing’s motorcycle. She ran her hand over the handlebars and fuel tank—the gesture resembled caressing a person’s chest (motorcycle fuel tanks are typically designed to be rounded and full, so if you anthropomorphize the bike, that area corresponds to the human chest).

Fu Shuang didn’t realize that this motorcycle might be Xu Qing’s only passion in China. Apart from Fu Shuang, Xu Qing had never given anyone a ride.

When she saw Fu Shuang touching her bike, Xu Qing felt a strange warmth in her chest. She wanted to warn her, “Be careful not to burn yourself on the engine” or “The bike isn’t parked very stably,” but in the end, she said nothing. Instead, she walked behind Fu Shuang and placed her hand over Fu Shuang’s as she gripped the throttle, her palm covering the back of Fu Shuang’s hand. The gesture looked like she was hugging Fu Shuang from behind.

Fu Shuang’s slender body tensed. She glanced at Xu Qing’s half-embrace in the rearview mirror.

She’s so beautiful, Fu Shuang thought, so serious yet with a hint of wildness.

Xu Qing started the engine and revved the throttle. The sudden roar startled Fu Shuang, causing her to instinctively recoil and press herself firmly against Xu Qing’s chest, like a frightened little animal seeking shelter. But this shelter felt strangely stiff.

Fu Shuang looked up, her gaze first landing on Xu Qing’s sharply defined jawline, then meeting her smiling eyes. The expression was so captivating that Fu Shuang involuntarily held her breath.

“Don’t be scared,” Xu Qing said with a reassuring smile. “It’s not in gear, so the bike won’t move. With me here, I won’t let it get out of control.”

Fu Shuang was completely mesmerized by Xu Qing’s words, her mind reeling. After a long moment, she finally wriggled out of Xu Qing’s embrace, realizing that it was her own right hand controlling the throttle. Xu Qing’s hand had merely provided a little assistance.

Gathering her courage, Fu Shuang tentatively twisted the throttle herself. With a roar, the engine sprang to life. Overwhelmed with surprise and joy, she didn’t know what to do with her excitement. She turned to look at Xu Qing, who was already watching her. At such close proximity, Fu Shuang felt she could almost kiss her.

“I didn’t realize you actually enjoyed this,” Xu Qing said. “If you get a chance, go get your license. I’ll lend you my bike.”

Fu Shuang blinked. “Really… really? Is it easy to get a license?”

“It’s simple. Just practice a bit and you’ll pass,” Xu Qing replied, releasing Fu Shuang’s hand and picking up the helmet lying nearby. “But getting your license doesn’t mean you can ride right away. It’s best to practice on your own first. City riding is too dangerous. If you get the chance, try riding the mountain roads—the scenery is beautiful and there’s hardly any traffic. On a clear day, it’s absolutely exhilarating.”

Fu Shuang said enviously, “If I were an Alpha or Beta, I’d ride around everywhere like you do.”

Xu Qing sensed a hint of unspoken sorrow in Fu Shuang’s words, but she didn’t know how to comfort her. In truth, even Xu Qing didn’t have the chance to travel around every week. She spent her weekends at the Xu family home with her parents, and before getting this job, she had been cooped up indoors studying for exams, only occasionally venturing out for a ride. This was precisely why Xu Qing loved motorcycles—they were more convenient than cars, allowing her to ride alone without a care, immersing her thoughts in the ever-changing scenery.

“Hop on?” Xu Qing asked eagerly, helmet in hand. “I’ll take you for a ride.”

Fu Shuang raised an eyebrow and smiled. “Why not?”

Xu Qing helped her onto the bike. Fortunately, Fu Shuang’s skirt was long enough to cover her knees, so sitting astride the bike wouldn’t risk any exposure.

“Make sure you wear the helmet,” Xu Qing added awkwardly. “I washed it last time, so the scent should be fainter. I wouldn’t dare ride without it.”

“Such a strong sense of safety? So even if I’m dizzy from your scent, I still have to wear the helmet, Older Sister?”

Fu Shuang undid her topknot, letting her hair fall loose. She buried her head in the helmet and gave Xu Qing a thumbs-up through the visor.

Xu Qing smiled at her, swung her long leg over the footrest, and glanced back to remind her, “Hold on tight.”

Fu Shuang threw herself against Xu Qing’s back, wrapping her arms around her waist. She whispered in Xu Qing’s ear, “Older Sister, is this okay?”

Xu Qing gasped, glancing in the rearview mirror to see a crimson flush spreading across her neck.

Twenty minutes later, they arrived at the apartment building. Xu Qing parked the scooter and helped Fu Shuang dismount. Neither spoke until they were inside the elevator.

Suddenly, someone’s stomach rumbled. Fu Shuang, looking guilty, widened her eyes at Xu Qing, who said without looking at her, “I’m starving.”

Fu Shuang pressed her lips together, stifling a giggle, afraid her stomach might betray her again.

In the kitchen, they worked together, Fu Shuang washing vegetables while Xu Qing chopped them. Once Fu Shuang finished washing, she hovered near Xu Qing, playfully grabbing half-chopped radish chunks and crunching on them. She eagerly urged Xu Qing to try some too.

“It’s so sweet, like fruit! You have to taste it!” Fu Shuang held a small piece to Xu Qing’s lips.

Xu Qing, focused on slicing the radish into thin strips, didn’t notice Fu Shuang’s clumsy offering until her icy fingers brushed against her lips. Distracted, she nearly sliced her hand with the knife before swallowing the radish chunk whole.

“Is it good?” Fu Shuang asked, eagerly awaiting her reaction.

“Mmm,” Xu Qing replied, her nerves so frayed she forgot to chew and swallowed the radish whole, barely registering the taste.

After finally preparing the ingredients, Xu Qing tried to light the gas stove. The igniter clicked repeatedly, but no flame appeared.

“Did we forget to pay the gas bill?” Fu Shuang asked from her perch on a high stool at the kitchen counter, scrolling through her phone and snacking on leftovers from the previous day.

Xu Qing checked the gas valve and meter repeatedly. “That can’t be right. The water heater works fine. Why won’t the stove light?”

“No hot water either,” Fu Shuang said, relishing the drama as she slurped her overnight milk tea and swung her legs. “I think the gas company sent a notice about a scheduled maintenance shutdown.”

“Nani?!” Xu Qing exclaimed.

Fu Shuang held up her phone to show her. “The notice says the gas will be shut off for maintenance in the East District on the evening of the 22nd. Are we in the East District?”

Xu Qing stared blankly.

Fu Shuang burst into laughter.

“Let’s just order takeout,” Fu Shuang said, rolling up her sleeves. “I’ve been making good money lately. I can treat you again.”

Xu Qing’s vision went dark. “Remind me again who was saying how great it is to cook at home and how we should do it more often?”

Fu Shuang never kept her promises. She rested her chin on the bar, grinning, and said in a soft voice, “But the gas is out, Older Sister. I can’t let you go hungry.”

Xu Qing surveyed the chaotic mess on the bar—empty snack wrappers torn open by Fu Shuang. She couldn’t help but laugh. “Really? But you’re almost full, aren’t you?”

Fu Shuang patted her round belly and nodded.

“Even if we can’t cook, how will we shower without hot water?” Xu Qing set down the spatula, sounding deeply concerned. “I don’t mind, but what about you?”

Fu Shuang nodded, flicking her long, chestnut-brown hair forward. A few strands stuck to her face, smudging her makeup. She shook her head vigorously, looking adorably flustered.

After the subway incident, both Fu Shuang and Xu Qing felt grimy, as if they were covered in strange odors.

“Let’s wait a bit. The notice said the repairs would be finished this morning, so the gas should be back on soon,” Xu Qing said, washing her hands and popping a piece of Napoleon cake into her mouth. “What a chaotic day.”

“Yeah,” Fu Shuang agreed, starting to feel sleepy after her meal. She forced herself to stay awake long enough to say, “I’m going to brush my teeth and go to bed. You should rest early too, Older Sister.”

Xu Qing continued eating Fu Shuang’s leftover snacks, her mind gradually drifting into a blank state.

When Madam Min first proposed buying this suburban apartment, Xu Qing had objected vehemently.

The family already owned eight properties, including several luxury apartments in the city center. This location was so remote that it offered nothing beyond a subway line. Why add another property to the portfolio?

Madam Min, driven by the belief that real estate values would appreciate, had purchased this spacious 200-square-meter flat. She spent 600,000 to 700,000 yuan on renovations, only for the apartment to remain vacant until Xu Qing returned from abroad. It couldn’t even be rented out, and its value had since plummeted by half!

Reality had dealt Madam Min a harsh blow. By the time Xu Qing moved in, Madam Min could only console herself that the property had at least retained its basic value.

Xu Qing had always disagreed with Madam Min’s views. It wasn’t until Fu Shuang and Koala moved in that the apartment finally began to feel like a home.

Fortunately, Madam Min had purchased a four-bedroom unit, providing ample space for Xu Qing to sit in the dining room and ignore Fu Shuang in the corner bedroom.

After quickly tidying up the kitchen, Xu Qing pulled out her phone and typed “Omega heat cycle symptoms” into the search engine.

The search results displayed graphic images: individuals resorting to self-harm to cope with the unbearable pain of the heat cycle, others seeking casual encounters in bars, and some even injecting drugs. The entire community seemed steeped in a morbid atmosphere of mental and physical abuse, the shocking images paradoxically fueling the primal desires of other groups.

Xu Qing closed her browser and casually deleted her browsing history.

The survival environment of the Omega community was completely unknown territory to her. Fu Shuang’s words, “If I were an Alpha or Beta…” stirred something within her, and a thought she had never entertained before gradually surfaced.

Can I change this?

If only I could do something.

Even a woman of Madam Min’s social standing, burdened by her Omega identity, found her domain restricted to the narrow confines of the family. She adhered solely to her own survival strategies—something Xu Qing found utterly absurd.

But Madam Min hadn’t always been this way. In her youth, she had graduated from a prestigious university and entered government service with high aspirations. Fluent in multiple languages and well-versed in theoretical knowledge, she had once written papers analyzing social structures and advocating for group equity. Yet in the end, she became trapped in the domestic vortex, complicit in the patriarchal system.

The stinging slaps Madam Min had delivered burned deeply into Xu Qing’s face, severing her ties with her family.

In her heart, Xu Qing framed a new question:

When I fall in love with an Omega, how can I truly make her happy?

After this conversation, their relationship deepened. If one had to define their cohabitation, “meal buddies” would be a fitting description.

“How are you getting back? Taking a taxi?” Xu Qing asked.

Fu Shuang glanced at the racing-style motorcycle parked by the curb and nodded toward it. “Isn’t that your bike? Why take a taxi when you have a motorcycle?”

“I only brought one helmet, and it probably smells like me,” Xu Qing tilted her head, studying Fu Shuang. “Aren’t you afraid of riding motorcycles?”

“Hmm, your scent is quite bothersome…” Fu Shuang replied casually, avoiding the question of fear.

Xu Qing chuckled, touching her neck. “I probably can’t smell it myself, but these pheromones… they’re pretty annoying, right?”

“It’s alright.” Fu Shuang leaned forward, hopped off the curb, and walked over to Xu Qing’s motorcycle. She ran her hand over the handlebars and fuel tank—the gesture resembled caressing a person’s chest (motorcycle fuel tanks are typically designed to be rounded and full, so if you anthropomorphize the bike, that area corresponds to the human chest).

Fu Shuang didn’t realize that this motorcycle might be Xu Qing’s only passion in China. Apart from Fu Shuang, Xu Qing had never given anyone a ride.

When she saw Fu Shuang touching her bike, Xu Qing felt a strange warmth in her chest. She wanted to warn her, “Be careful not to burn yourself on the engine” or “The bike isn’t parked very stably,” but in the end, she said nothing. Instead, she walked behind Fu Shuang and placed her hand over Fu Shuang’s as she gripped the throttle, her palm covering the back of Fu Shuang’s hand. The gesture looked like she was hugging Fu Shuang from behind.

Fu Shuang’s slender body tensed. She glanced at Xu Qing’s half-embrace in the rearview mirror.

She’s so beautiful, Fu Shuang thought, so serious yet with a hint of wildness.

Xu Qing started the engine and revved the throttle. The sudden roar startled Fu Shuang, causing her to instinctively recoil and press herself firmly against Xu Qing’s chest, like a frightened little animal seeking shelter. But this shelter felt strangely stiff.

Fu Shuang looked up, her gaze first landing on Xu Qing’s sharply defined jawline, then meeting her smiling eyes. The expression was so captivating that Fu Shuang involuntarily held her breath.

“Don’t be scared,” Xu Qing said with a reassuring smile. “It’s not in gear, so the bike won’t move. With me here, I won’t let it get out of control.”

Fu Shuang was completely mesmerized by Xu Qing’s words, her mind reeling. After a long moment, she finally wriggled out of Xu Qing’s embrace, realizing that it was her own right hand controlling the throttle. Xu Qing’s hand had merely provided a little assistance.

Gathering her courage, Fu Shuang tentatively twisted the throttle herself. With a roar, the engine sprang to life. Overwhelmed with surprise and joy, she didn’t know what to do with her excitement. She turned to look at Xu Qing, who was already watching her. At such close proximity, Fu Shuang felt she could almost kiss her.

“I didn’t realize you actually enjoyed this,” Xu Qing said. “If you get a chance, go get your license. I’ll lend you my bike.”

Fu Shuang blinked. “Really… really? Is it easy to get a license?”

“It’s simple. Just practice a bit and you’ll pass,” Xu Qing replied, releasing Fu Shuang’s hand and picking up the helmet lying nearby. “But getting your license doesn’t mean you can ride right away. It’s best to practice on your own first. City riding is too dangerous. If you get the chance, try riding the mountain roads—the scenery is beautiful and there’s hardly any traffic. On a clear day, it’s absolutely exhilarating.”

Fu Shuang said enviously, “If I were an Alpha or Beta, I’d ride around everywhere like you do.”

Xu Qing sensed a hint of unspoken sorrow in Fu Shuang’s words, but she didn’t know how to comfort her. In truth, even Xu Qing didn’t have the chance to travel around every week. She spent her weekends at the Xu family home with her parents, and before getting this job, she had been cooped up indoors studying for exams, only occasionally venturing out for a ride. This was precisely why Xu Qing loved motorcycles—they were more convenient than cars, allowing her to ride alone without a care, immersing her thoughts in the ever-changing scenery.

“Hop on?” Xu Qing asked eagerly, helmet in hand. “I’ll take you for a ride.”

Fu Shuang raised an eyebrow and smiled. “Why not?”

Xu Qing helped her onto the bike. Fortunately, Fu Shuang’s skirt was long enough to cover her knees, so sitting astride the bike wouldn’t risk any exposure.

“Make sure you wear the helmet,” Xu Qing added awkwardly. “I washed it last time, so the scent should be fainter. I wouldn’t dare ride without it.”

“Such a strong sense of safety? So even if I’m dizzy from your scent, I still have to wear the helmet, Older Sister?”

Fu Shuang undid her topknot, letting her hair fall loose. She buried her head in the helmet and gave Xu Qing a thumbs-up through the visor.

Xu Qing smiled at her, swung her long leg over the footrest, and glanced back to remind her, “Hold on tight.”

Fu Shuang threw herself against Xu Qing’s back, wrapping her arms around her waist. She whispered in Xu Qing’s ear, “Older Sister, is this okay?”

Xu Qing gasped, glancing in the rearview mirror to see a crimson flush spreading across her neck.

Twenty minutes later, they arrived at the apartment building. Xu Qing parked the scooter and helped Fu Shuang dismount. Neither spoke until they were inside the elevator.

Suddenly, someone’s stomach rumbled. Fu Shuang, looking guilty, widened her eyes at Xu Qing, who said without looking at her, “I’m starving.”

Fu Shuang pressed her lips together, stifling a giggle, afraid her stomach might betray her again.

In the kitchen, they worked together, Fu Shuang washing vegetables while Xu Qing chopped them. Once Fu Shuang finished washing, she hovered near Xu Qing, playfully grabbing half-chopped radish chunks and crunching on them. She eagerly urged Xu Qing to try some too.

“It’s so sweet, like fruit! You have to taste it!” Fu Shuang held a small piece to Xu Qing’s lips.

Xu Qing, focused on slicing the radish into thin strips, didn’t notice Fu Shuang’s clumsy offering until her icy fingers brushed against her lips. Distracted, she nearly sliced her hand with the knife before swallowing the radish chunk whole.

“Is it good?” Fu Shuang asked, eagerly awaiting her reaction.

“Mmm,” Xu Qing replied, her nerves so frayed she forgot to chew and swallowed the radish whole, barely registering the taste.

After finally preparing the ingredients, Xu Qing tried to light the gas stove. The igniter clicked repeatedly, but no flame appeared.

“Did we forget to pay the gas bill?” Fu Shuang asked from her perch on a high stool at the kitchen counter, scrolling through her phone and snacking on leftovers from the previous day.

Xu Qing checked the gas valve and meter repeatedly. “That can’t be right. The water heater works fine. Why won’t the stove light?”

“No hot water either,” Fu Shuang said, relishing the drama as she slurped her overnight milk tea and swung her legs. “I think the gas company sent a notice about a scheduled maintenance shutdown.”

“Nani?!” Xu Qing exclaimed.

Fu Shuang held up her phone to show her. “The notice says the gas will be shut off for maintenance in the East District on the evening of the 22nd. Are we in the East District?”

Xu Qing stared blankly.

Fu Shuang burst into laughter.

“Let’s just order takeout,” Fu Shuang said, rolling up her sleeves. “I’ve been making good money lately. I can treat you again.”

Xu Qing’s vision went dark. “Remind me again who was saying how great it is to cook at home and how we should do it more often?”

Fu Shuang never kept her promises. She rested her chin on the bar, grinning, and said in a soft voice, “But the gas is out, Older Sister. I can’t let you go hungry.”

Xu Qing surveyed the chaotic mess on the bar—empty snack wrappers torn open by Fu Shuang. She couldn’t help but laugh. “Really? But you’re almost full, aren’t you?”

Fu Shuang patted her round belly and nodded.

“Even if we can’t cook, how will we shower without hot water?” Xu Qing set down the spatula, sounding deeply concerned. “I don’t mind, but what about you?”

Fu Shuang nodded, flicking her long, chestnut-brown hair forward. A few strands stuck to her face, smudging her makeup. She shook her head vigorously, looking adorably flustered.

After the subway incident, both Fu Shuang and Xu Qing felt grimy, as if they were covered in strange odors.

“Let’s wait a bit. The notice said the repairs would be finished this morning, so the gas should be back on soon,” Xu Qing said, washing her hands and popping a piece of Napoleon cake into her mouth. “What a chaotic day.”

“Yeah,” Fu Shuang agreed, starting to feel sleepy after her meal. She forced herself to stay awake long enough to say, “I’m going to brush my teeth and go to bed. You should rest early too, Older Sister.”

Xu Qing continued eating Fu Shuang’s leftover snacks, her mind gradually drifting into a blank state.

When Madam Min first proposed buying this suburban apartment, Xu Qing had objected vehemently.

The family already owned eight properties, including several luxury apartments in the city center. This location was so remote that it offered nothing beyond a subway line. Why add another property to the portfolio?

Madam Min, driven by the belief that real estate values would appreciate, had purchased this spacious 200-square-meter flat. She spent 600,000 to 700,000 yuan on renovations, only for the apartment to remain vacant until Xu Qing returned from abroad. It couldn’t even be rented out, and its value had since plummeted by half!

Reality had dealt Madam Min a harsh blow. By the time Xu Qing moved in, Madam Min could only console herself that the property had at least retained its basic value.

Xu Qing had always disagreed with Madam Min’s views. It wasn’t until Fu Shuang and Koala moved in that the apartment finally began to feel like a home.

Fortunately, Madam Min had purchased a four-bedroom unit, providing ample space for Xu Qing to sit in the dining room and ignore Fu Shuang in the corner bedroom.

After quickly tidying up the kitchen, Xu Qing pulled out her phone and typed “Omega heat cycle symptoms” into the search engine.

The search results displayed graphic images: individuals resorting to self-harm to cope with the unbearable pain of the heat cycle, others seeking casual encounters in bars, and some even injecting drugs. The entire community seemed steeped in a morbid atmosphere of mental and physical abuse, the shocking images paradoxically fueling the primal desires of other groups.

Xu Qing closed her browser and casually deleted her browsing history.

The survival environment of the Omega community was completely unknown territory to her. Fu Shuang’s words, “If I were an Alpha or Beta…” stirred something within her, and a thought she had never entertained before gradually surfaced.

Can I change this?

If only I could do something.

Even a woman of Madam Min’s social standing, burdened by her Omega identity, found her domain restricted to the narrow confines of the family. She adhered solely to her own survival strategies—something Xu Qing found utterly absurd.

But Madam Min hadn’t always been this way. In her youth, she had graduated from a prestigious university and entered government service with high aspirations. Fluent in multiple languages and well-versed in theoretical knowledge, she had once written papers analyzing social structures and advocating for group equity. Yet in the end, she became trapped in the domestic vortex, complicit in the patriarchal system.

The stinging slaps Madam Min had delivered burned deeply into Xu Qing’s face, severing her ties with her family.

In her heart, Xu Qing framed a new question:

When I fall in love with an Omega, how can I truly make her happy?