Gold-Medal Lawyer Alpha and Her Doctor Jiang - Chapter 1: Provocation

Chapter 1: Provocation

Heavy snow fell steadily for a day, and Jiang City wore a silver-white cloak. Snowplows rumbled through the red tail lights of rush hour traffic, clearing the roads. A black Volvo XC60 broke from the flow, turned left, and headed toward Demon Bar.

Approaching 6 p.m., luxury cars already packed the front of Jiang City’s liveliest entertainment spot. Cen Qingyi, guided by a waiter, parked in a spot on the right.

Perhaps because tomorrow was the weekend, Demon Bar buzzed with extra energy tonight. Cen Qingyi entered, searching for a private seat. She circled twice before finding a cozy window spot on the second floor.

Cen Qingyi didn’t notice that as she walked, many omegas glanced her way repeatedly. Her top-tier alpha physique emitted a faint musk scent, like thousands of blooming flowers, intoxicating and alluring.

She had visited plenty of places for work and socializing, but this was Cen Qingyi’s first time at Demon Bar. As a lawyer, her networking revolved around the legal system. Her firm groomed her as a key talent, so high-profile entertainment venues felt risky for her reputation.

Now, Cen Qingyi wasn’t careless about her name, but a call from the hospital two days ago had completely upended her life.

The hospital urged her to admit herself soon, warning that delaying treatment would only harm her.

Cen Qingyi’s thoughts spiraled. For two days, she barely slept, her eyes stinging when she received a morning message.

Zhen: Good morning, the first snow you love. I can spend an hour with you tonight.

An hour of company felt like a lofty charity.

Cen Qingyi scrolled her phone. The morning’s unread news headline read: Man in Jiang City’s Xingtai District Fell to His Death Late at Night.

Cen Qingyi’s finger swiped the news aside, and she set her phone down with a sigh. Death happened every day.

All day, besides attending a court hearing in the afternoon, Cen Qingyi’s mind habitually planned her next steps.

Her health failing, she couldn’t take new cases.

The cases she had, she needed to prioritize and hand over to the director.

Her assistants, Qin Chuan and An Ge, she considered if she could help them get promoted early within her means.

…

After arranging all her work, Cen Qingyi finally thought of herself. What did she want to do?

Cen Qingyi sat by the window, her back to the bustling crowd. Colorful lights reflected on the glass, tracing beautiful lines. She saw her expressionless face in the reflection.

The young people partying at the bar were bold, eager to approach anyone they fancied. Someone came to chat and offered her a drink. Cen Qingyi pushed the glass away without expression, saying, “No, thank you.”

**

People kept approaching her. Through the window, she saw some with delicate features, others with heavy makeup, and some with blatant stares. Cen Qingyi grew irritated.

“Hey? Qingyi.” A familiar voice came from behind. Cen Qingyi pretended not to hear, but the person walked up and lightly tapped her shoulder.

Cen Qingyi adjusted her expression, stood, and bowed slightly to the person behind her, saying respectfully, “President Lin.”

Lin Yuanzhi, the head of Yunsheng Group, had hired Cen Qingyi for her first job after graduation, serving as a legal advisor for the company ever since.

Lin Yuanzhi paused at the title “President Lin,” then recovered, saying, “What a surprise. I thought I mistook someone else.”

Lin Yuanzhi studied the young woman with slightly flushed cheeks, the familiar musk scent lingering at her nose. She reached for Cen Qingyi’s wrist, asking warmly, “Why are you here?”

Normally, Cen Qingyi would answer directly, saying she came to drink. But today, the response twisted in her mind, and she said, “I’m surprised to see President Lin here too.”

Lin Yuanzhi smiled, glancing at friends waiting nearby, and explained softly, “I have investments here, so I came to check.”

Oh… Cen Qingyi fell silent, unsure what to say.

“Since you’re alone, I’ll keep you company.” Lin Yuanzhi turned to greet her friends, but Cen Qingyi pulled her hand back, refusing softly, “No need.”

“What did you say?” Lin Yuanzhi looked at Cen Qingyi with surprise and curiosity, her gaze calm, showing no clear emotion as usual.

The moment froze. Lin Yuanzhi broke the tension, laughing, “This seems like the first time you’ve said no to me.” Not just seemed—it was the first time, which surprised her.

Cen Qingyi turned her head slightly, her expressionless profile showing as she spoke in her usual soft tone, “President Lin, please go attend to your matters.”

“President Lin can’t stay, but Madam Lin can.” Lin Yuanzhi wouldn’t back down. She held shares in Demon Bar and knew its nature. She had noticed the prying or covetous looks around.

Lin Yuanzhi wasn’t sure how Cen Qingyi felt, but she sensed unease. “Treat me as a regular friend. We’ve said before, in private, I’m just Madam Lin.” Yet today, Cen Qingyi called her President Lin from the start. Lin Yuanzhi sensed the young woman’s blank expression hid an off mood.

Cen Qingyi kept her head turned, her brows furrowing deeper. Lin Yuanzhi’s gentle voice continued, “I don’t feel at ease leaving you here alone.”

Was it so hard to drink quietly?

**

Five steps away, three people stood at the marble bar counter. The one on the left had wine-red wavy hair and a dark cowboy hat. The one on the right had chestnut wavy hair and a matching hat in a lighter shade.

The woman in the middle had fair, glowing skin. Her black gown hugged her graceful figure. In the winter chill, her dress couldn’t hide her captivating charm, drawing alphas to linger near the bar.

Three omegas together were already eye-catching, especially with their striking looks.

A bold person approached to chat but was turned away by the two with hats before getting close.

Unlike most who sipped elegantly, the woman in the middle held a black bottle, tilting her head to drink, revealing a refined jawline. Her gaze stayed fixed on Cen Qingyi.

Cen Qingyi didn’t know when the woman started watching her. She only noticed when she turned her head.

Lin Yuanzhi’s voice continued, but Cen Qingyi didn’t catch the words because the woman, the focus of everyone’s attention, walked toward her.

The two with hats huddled, whispering and glancing at Cen Qingyi.

“Qingyi.” Lin Yuanzhi stepped closer. Cen Qingyi snapped back, about to speak, when a black bottle was suddenly offered.

Up close, Cen Qingyi caught a faint fragrance, one she’d smelled in the top-tier pheromone sample room at the hospital’s rating agency.

Nine-mile fragrance, a floral scent that carried for miles, rich and enveloping, lingering at her nose.

Cen Qingyi reached for the bottle, but the woman didn’t let go, instead pulling it slightly toward herself.

Cen Qingyi understood her intent and bowed to Lin Yuanzhi, saying, “President Lin, I’m staying with a friend a bit longer. You should head back early and stay safe.”

Lin Yuanzhi watched as a bottle of liquor lured Cen Qingyi away. She gazed at the slender figure in the black gown, which held not just a youthful body but an undeniable allure.

She glanced at the surrounding alphas, their wolf-like eyes tracking the black-clad figure.

In the past, when Lin Yuanzhi asked out of concern, Cen Qingyi answered, but her eyes showed resistance. Fair enough, Lin Yuanzhi reassured herself. Cen Qingyi wasn’t that naive girl anymore. She deserved her own circle.

Still, worry lingered. Lin Yuanzhi called out, “Be safe, and let me know when you’re home.”

Cen Qingyi bowed politely. As Lin Yuanzhi left, the bottle in Cen Qingyi’s hand clinked lightly, making a crisp sound.

“Thanks just now.” Cen Qingyi shook the bottle, saying, “Tonight’s on me.”

Under the lights, Jiang Zhiyi lazily watched her. As Cen Qingyi drank, Jiang Zhiyi leaned close suddenly, startling her. Cen Qingyi leaned back.

Jiang Zhiyi turned to the two who’d been watching the scene, saying, “I guessed right.” The musk-scented pheromone came from this person.

The chestnut and wine-red wavy-haired women glanced at Cen Qingyi reluctantly, saying, “We’re covering tonight. You two have fun.” With that, they left.

Cen Qingyi felt a bit dazed. Jiang Zhiyi offered the bottle. Cen Qingyi clinked it with hers, a ding marking their formal greeting.

**

Demon Bar hosted two top-tiers tonight—a top alpha and a top omega. Their pairing crushed everyone’s hopes.

Onlookers sighed, unable to join, circling their table, stealing glances.

The two sat side by the window. Whenever Cen Qingyi turned at the window, she noticed bold stares.

“Why do you keep looking at me?” Cen Qingyi finally asked after holding back.

“Can’t I look?”

“…”

“Because you’re cute.”

Cen Qingyi had heard such blunt praise before. A street cornered by a scout asking if she’d be an actress, a tough time when someone offered her a card, and even in school, someone trailed her to confess. Lin Yuanzhi told her, “Being good-looking means accepting people’s flaws. It’s not a flaw. It’s a natural advantage.”

Cen Qingyi took on tough cases to prove she didn’t rely on looks.

A gold-star lawyer, not just in name. She took pride in it until the hospital call came, shattering the dream.

Perhaps it was the wine, but the nine-mile fragrance grew stronger, easing Cen Qingyi’s tense nerves. She felt hot and thirsty.

Glancing at the woman beside her, still staring, Cen Qingyi sighed, half无奈, half amused, “Am I that cute?”

Jiangyi studied her sharp features, shook the bottle, and said lightly, “A feast for the eyes.” She downed another.

Was her her drinking snack?

As the woman drank more, Cen Qingyi’s inner heat roared to a peak. Drinking further risked losing control. She finished her last sip, saying, “It’s late.”

“Hmm.”

“Where are your friends?”

Jiangyi propped her chin, tilting her head to look at her. Her gaze grew hazy, her features softer, more charming, her voice gentle, “They left, I guess.”

“How could they trust you alone?”

“You’re not a person?”

“…” The chat didn’t seem drunk, but, “Of course you I am.”

Cen Qingyi frowned, A a top-tier alpha omega in a bar, drunk was too risky. One wrong move could put her in danger.

“I’ll take you home.” Cen Qingyi was decent, but also an alpha, one rarely using suppressants, relying on instinct.

“You?” Jiangyi seemed to hear something unbelievable, asking with a half-smileed, “You’ll take me?”

“Hmm.” Cen Qingyi stood, stood, the alcohol hitting her. She steadied herself. She steadied, “As thanks for helping me earlier, I’ll take you home.”

“I don’t want to go home.” She stood too, swaying heavily. Cen Qingyi instinctively steadied her support.

A soft, fragrant body leaned into her arms, the nine-mile scent overwhelming. Cen Qingyi’s mind buzzed, heat surging.

Cen Qingyi took a deep breath, curbing her instincts, and said, “Wherever you go, I’ll take you.”

The woman leaned in her arms, turned, their skin brushing sparking. Cen Qingyi looked down. Her red lips moved, “You I haven’t decided where to go yet.”

“What then?” Cen Qingyi asked, at a loss with the woman in her arms.

**

Cen Qingyi’s phone rang then. She rejected the call. An unread WeChat message read: “Where were you?” “I’m at your building.”

As she hesitated to reply, you hesitated, the woman in your arms slid down, her body soft. You instinctively caught her, ultimately lifting her up.

Jiangyi squinted at you, saying, “I’ve decided.”

“Hmm?”

“Your place.”

“…” You frowned, reminding her, “I’m an alpha, you’re an omega. We met tonight, and we’ve both drank a lot.”

“So what?”

“After drinking can mess things up…” You almost blurted it out. Whether it was a wicked thought, your body actually began to crave.

“You can’t handle it?” Jiangyi chuckled lightly now.

Your brows knitted tighter, asking, “What?”

Jiangyi’s fingers traced your outline, lightly tapping your lips. With a hazy, drunken smile and a hint of mockery, she said, “You can’t handle it.”

Your face darkened, saying, “You can’t handle it one more time.”

Jiangyi gazed calmly at you, her warm palm brushing your cheek. The woman repeated, deadly serious.

You abruptly set her face down. She stumbled back, leaning against the counter wall, her hand still clutching your open collar, half-smiling as she watched you.

You propped your hand on the counter wall, leaning close, restraining yourself, “I have boundaries too.”

She laughed softly, “You too.”

Her fingers grazed from your collar to your waistband, making your breathing uneven.

Her other hand rested on the back of your neck, where a gland lay. Her fingers circled it.

You could control breathing, but your honest body reacted beyond reason, and liquor weakened your restraint.

Her fingers seemed magical, teasing you. Your body froze, unable to move.

Jiangyi’s warm breath hit your ear, along with a teasing whisper, “What?”

You realized then, hazily, that this woman was deliberately provoking you.

A dying woman, what did you fear from provocation? You grabbed her wrist, pinned it above her head against the wall, and pressed your body against hers, warning, “Crossing someone’s line comes with a price.”

“And then?”

“This is the final reminder.” You meant to say warning, but she’d helped you tonight, so you softened it.

“Hah.” She still laughed, tilting her chin defiantly, staring at you boldly and arrogantly, “If you can’t handle it, let me go.”

You were livid. She’d pushed you too far. You scooped her up by the waist, carried her out, threw her into the car, and got in.

She sprawled in the backseat, asking slowly, “What?”