Guide To Lying Flat And Getting Rich As A Kept Alpha - Chapter 52

52

When Luo Hetu returned home, Cheng Youqing was already back.

Because she got off work early for once, Luo Hetu happily went to the study to find her wife. She pulled out the photos the stylist had given her from her left pocket to show her and took out a bag of food from her right pocket.

“Fried skewers,” she said, pulling out a takeout box from her sleeve. “Red bean rice cake. Xiao Liu said it’s delicious. Try it.”

An alpha returning home from a hunt is the coolest.

But in most cases, this kind of behavior might also mean they’ve done something outside that they feel guilty about toward their wife.

Cheng Youqing looked at the table full of items, then at the alpha’s sparkling puppy-dog eyes. She leaned back in her chair. “Come here.”

The alpha leaned in.

Cheng Youqing grabbed her collar, pulling her close, and sniffed near her neck.

“There’s the scent of another omega,” she said.

Luo Hetu instantly tensed. “I went to Qianbao today to handle some business and ran into an old friend. We chatted for a bit.”

She wasn’t lying at all.

“Hm, who’s this old friend?”

“You don’t know her.”

“Hah.”

Luo Hetu immediately came clean. “Xu Ruyan, Sun Yinuo’s classmate. She helped me out back when Qianbao had some trouble. Her dad’s the precinct chief. As a thank-you, I don’t charge her when she comes to Qianbao.”

Cheng Youqing said, “Her dad got promoted. He’s now the deputy chief of the city bureau.”

Luo Hetu let out an “oh.”

“Her mother owns several high-end hotels in Jiang City, so she’s now part of the same social circle as Chen Yuanyuan and the others.”

Oh.

Cheng Youqing looked at her. “I heard she likes you.”

Luo Hetu broke into a sweat. “Does she? I didn’t know.”

Cheng Youqing said nothing, just stared at her.

Luo Hetu pouted and moved closer to hug her. “Alright, I had a vague idea, but I don’t like her. She helped me out, and she’s a good person. I just want her to live well and find someone nice to date. Today was just a chance encounter, and we only talked briefly. I even told Xiao Ba I’d help her find a match. I swear I’m not lying to you.”

She nuzzled her head against Cheng Youqing. The omega’s scent was already faint, but Cheng Youqing still pushed her head away.

“Go take a shower. I can’t stand the smell of another omega on you.”

Luo Hetu pouted.

She’d already admitted her mistake, so why was Cheng Youqing still upset? She didn’t touch the food she brought back, nor did she look at the photos.

Luo Hetu rubbed her head against her again. “Are you mad at me?”

“Yes.”

“Are you jealous?”

Cheng Youqing answered quickly, “No. I just don’t want my alpha carrying someone else’s scent.”

She grabbed the back of her neck. “If you don’t go shower, don’t even think about coming to the bedroom tonight.”

Luo Hetu, of course, went to shower, but she felt uneasy. What was this about? If Cheng Youqing was jealous, Luo Hetu would be thrilled, but she didn’t admit it. Was it more about possessiveness than jealousy, or was she just annoyed that someone else was eyeing her “property”?

But Cheng Youqing didn’t even like her.

Luo Hetu realized that liking someone was an unpredictable, tumultuous thing. She’d initially been fine with being a tool, doing her own thing and not investing too much emotion or harboring unrealistic hopes about Cheng Youqing. Yet, in these small moments, her attitude made Luo Hetu feel wronged, though she didn’t even know why she felt that way.

After cleaning up, she came out to find Cheng Youqing still in the study, looking at documents.

She went to her side and saw that the food on the table was untouched, though the photos had been opened and looked through.

Feeling a surge of frustration, she said, “You’re mad at me today, so I’ll sleep alone tonight.”

There was no real logic to her words.

Cheng Youqing, still reading her documents, said, “Wait a moment.”

Wait for what?

Luo Hetu, sulking, said, “I’m tired. I’m going to bed now.”

Cheng Youqing set the documents down and looked at her. “Come here.”

As if I’d just come over because you told me to.

Fine, I’ll come over.

“What?”

Cheng Youqing grabbed the belt of her bathrobe and pulled her closer.

Once she was close, Cheng Youqing sniffed. There was only her own pheromone scent now. She let out a soft “hm,” then reached into a drawer with her other hand and pulled out a box, handing it to her.

“Open it yourself.”

A gift?

Luo Hetu opened it. Inside was something carefully packaged. When she took it out, she saw it was a dark-colored leather strap with a metal tag attached.

The tag was engraved with the initials of Luo Hetu’s name.

It was a collar.

Luo Hetu ran her fingers over the small leather strap, then looked at Cheng Youqing.

“You said last night that you wanted me to mark you. You didn’t forget, did you?”

How could she forget?

Luo Hetu’s heart raced. It took all her willpower not to put the collar on her neck right then and there.

She wanted to be a bit more reserved, so she just looked at Cheng Youqing.

Seeing her hesitation, Cheng Youqing thought she might be too naive to understand, so she explained, “I asked around, found a manufacturer, and had it made urgently. See if you like it. If you don’t, we can make another one.”

“Urgently?”

Luo Hetu swallowed hard. “How urgent?”

Cheng Youqing met her gaze.

Luo Hetu held back, toying with the collar while returning her stare.

Cheng Youqing didn’t have “restraint” in her vocabulary. Her emotions were a bit complicated today. Her alpha had been entangled with an omega who’d liked her before. Of course, she was pleased that Luo Hetu had stood up to a group of rude second-generation rich kids in the KTV lounge. Still, she felt Luo Hetu should at least show some remorse, coax her a bit, and promise to cut ties with that omega girl.

But Luo Hetu didn’t. She didn’t even seem thrilled about the collar, despite being the one who’d begged to be marked the night before.

Cheng Youqing snatched the collar back from her hands. “If you don’t want it, fine. Go sleep by yourself.”

She’d spent the whole day neglecting work to rush this collar, leaving her company tasks for the evening.

Who would’ve thought Luo Hetu wouldn’t appreciate it? Her talk about wanting to be marked was probably just a heat-of-the-moment joke fueled by pheromones. Alphas were inherently untrustworthy—any omega would do for them.

Luo Hetu didn’t understand why Cheng Youqing suddenly got upset. Her demeanor turned icy, with no room for reconciliation.

Stunned and at a loss for words, Luo Hetu felt the atmosphere had been perfect just moments ago. A couple of sweet words could’ve led them to the bedroom.

Confused, she returned to her bedroom. The study door was soon locked from the inside. Standing outside, Luo Hetu shivered, realizing Cheng Youqing was genuinely angry this time.

She should be the one upset—Cheng Youqing hadn’t touched any of the food she brought back!

Luo Hetu stormed back to her room, locked the door, and flopped onto the bed, fuming.

So what if they were both angry? She could be mad too.

The night passed without a word. The next morning, Zhou Chenghuan called Cheng Youqing with a teasing tone.

“Hope I’m not calling at a bad time. Didn’t interrupt your morning fun, did I? Chen Lie told me about the collar. Nice touch—pretty kinky. At this rate, I could recommend all of Chen Lie’s little toys to you. Need any supplements? Don’t wear yourself out.”

Cheng Youqing let out a hoarse “hm.”

“Sounds intense.” Zhou Chenghuan teased.

“Yeah, intense. I spent the night yelling at three department heads over the phone.” Cheng Youqing said.

Zhou Chenghuan: …

“You two fought?”

Cheng Youqing coughed twice. “Hanging up.”

Zhou Chenghuan laughed and immediately called Chen Lie, hearing a similarly hoarse voice.

“You yelling at people over the phone last night too?”

Chen Lie’s voice was soft and coy. “You’re a single dog. I’ve got an alpha. Picked up a cunning little princess last night—gorgeous and useful. Call back in an hour, don’t ruin the mood, sweetie.”

Then she hung up.

Both her friends were tasting the sweet and bitter sides of love, while Zhou Chenghuan, devoted to her medical career, had no time or energy for romance. When she had free time, she just wanted to collapse.

Heh, what doctor doesn’t go a little crazy?

Cheng Youqing hung up, took a sip of cold water.

Without her alpha by her side, even the water felt cold. Hah.

She coughed twice, watching the morning sunlight stream into the study. She got up, stretched her joints, and went to wash up and eat.

Auntie Wang noticed her dark circles. “Didn’t sleep well last night? Why don’t you rest a bit more?”

“No need. I’ve got a lot to do today.”

Luo Hetu came downstairs, her hair messy from sleep, rubbing her eyes.

Clearly, she’d slept well—heartless as ever.

Cheng Youqing stood up. “I’m heading out.”

“Hey, you barely ate. Have some more soy milk.” Auntie Wang urged.

“No thanks.”

She changed her shoes at the entrance and left without a glance.

Luo Hetu stood there, stunned. The way Cheng Youqing left the moment she saw her, without even sparing a look, made her heart ache.

She hadn’t slept at all last night, tossing and turning, thinking about Cheng Youqing and cursing herself for being so spineless.

Seeing her like this in the morning, Luo Hetu wondered if Cheng Youqing was truly fed up with her, if she really didn’t want to see her anymore.

Luo Hetu sat at the dining table. Auntie Wang rambled, “You don’t look good. Did you two have a fight?”

“Is it that obvious?”

“Sigh, it’s normal for couples to bicker. The more you fight, the stronger your bond gets.”

That only applies if you both like each other. If it’s one-sided, one fight might just end it all.

Luo Hetu couldn’t bear to think about “ending.” Breakfast tasted bland. After a few bites, she rushed upstairs, changed quickly, and called her driver while hurrying downstairs.

Auntie Wang called after her, “Hey, no need to rush. You’re both skipping meals now!”

“It’s fine, I ate a bit. I’m just worried.” Luo Hetu said.

The car pulled up to the Cheng Group building. Luo Hetu went straight up and saw Assistant Xiao Zhang, who visibly relaxed upon seeing her.

“President Cheng is about to leave.”

“Where to?”

“On a business trip to the capital.”

Luo Hetu froze. Cheng Youqing hadn’t mentioned a word about it.

“It was decided this morning. She’s in her office, meeting with department heads one by one. She’s very busy. Wait outside for a bit.”

“Okay.”

Luo Hetu sat outside the chairman’s office, watching the door open and close as people came and went. The entire company was cloaked in a tense atmosphere.

Two department heads came out grumbling, “President Cheng’s in a terrible mood today.” Luo Hetu overheard.

She fidgeted on the sofa, restless.

Finally, when no one else entered after someone left, she stood up, walked to the door, and knocked lightly.

“Come in.”

A cold, emotionless voice.

Luo Hetu opened the door, closed it behind her, and locked it.

Seeing her, Cheng Youqing looked away. “I’m very busy. No time to talk about other things.”

“It’ll be quick.”

Luo Hetu stepped forward quickly and pulled open the collar of her jacket.

The collar was neatly fastened around her neck, the metal tag dangling above her collarbone.

Cheng Youqing’s gaze lingered on the dark collar against the elegant lines of her neck, then lifted to meet Luo Hetu’s earnest, sparkling eyes.

Clearly, she was now her big sister’s little dog.

Cheng Youqing’s eyes flickered.

She hadn’t even said anything—just wearing the collar for her to see—and most of the resentment from the night and morning melted away.

Cheng Youqing never knew she could be so easily appeased.

Luo Hetu said, “I don’t know why you were upset yesterday, but I hope you’re not anymore.”

She leaned down, stretching out her arms. Under her jacket, she wore only a sports bra. The tag on the collar dangled, brushing against Cheng Youqing.

“If you’re upset about something, you can tell me. I can tell you things too. We can argue, but don’t give me the silent treatment or ignore me. And if you’re going on a trip or leaving, take me with you. I’m worried.”