My Jealous and Beautiful Villainous Wife (ABO) - Chapter 9

In the elegant private room, the dim yellow light cast a romantic glow on the crystal flowers adorning the table.

The light refracted through the transparent crystal, creating a rainbow-hued halo.

Long Xiao’s eyes, which had softened slightly, stiffened as Si An slid the contract across the table.

His hand froze mid-motion, holding the crystal flower. He silently set it back down and first accepted the paper contract Si An offered.

Long Xiao lowered his gaze and scanned the document at lightning speed, absorbing its contents in less than a minute. He quickly grasped Si An’s intentions.

Meanwhile, Si An’s gaze had drifted to the crystal rose beside Long Xiao’s right hand.

The Alpha is more… ‘romantic’ than I expected? he thought, yet also excessively blunt.

His pheromone was rose wine, which could also be interpreted as wine-scented roses. In just one day, Long Xiao had already presented him with two rose-themed gifts.

The warm yellow light illuminated the Omega’s carefully styled pale gold hair, but the intimate atmosphere was chilled by his icy blue eyes.

Sitting there like a poisonous rose—stunningly beautiful yet aloof—he calmly met Long Xiao’s gaze and said,

President Long, you don’t fall within my criteria for a partner.

Si An’s words nearly froze Long Xiao’s heart into icy shards.

Long Xiao had only agreed to the dinner appointment today because he wanted to clarify things with the Alpha as soon as possible.

Long Xiao didn’t respond to Si An’s words. Instead, he lifted his gaze from the contract in his hand and looked at Si An, asking, Didn’t you like the gift I gave you this morning?

His golden eyes seemed to darken slightly, giving the impression of hurt.

Si An smiled faintly, his voice clear and merciless. No. I didn’t like it.

President Long, was the ‘gift’ you mentioned personally selected by you, or did you instruct your assistant to purchase it?

Long Xiao couldn’t tear his gaze away from Si An’s smile. Si An’s beauty was cold and alluring, making him want to lick him again.

Yet Long Xiao couldn’t help feeling a pang of injustice at the Omega’s baseless accusation.

He reached out and picked up the crystal rose on the table. Instantly, the skin on his fingertips transformed into scales.

Silver-white claws, sharp and menacing, emerged as the brilliant crystal rose melted in his hand. Long Xiao lowered his gaze, intently watching the molten transparent substance in his palm, his voice low.

Every gift I’ve given you was personally crafted by me.

If you don’t like roses, then tell me what you do like.

Si An watched Long Xiao’s movements across the table, his usually calm expression finally showing a flicker of surprise.

His eyes widened slightly. The Alpha had previously mentioned his ability to control his body temperature, but witnessing this fact manifest before him in such a tangible way still came as a shock.

Long Xiao casually played with the crystal in his hand, his fingertips tracing delicate lines for a few moments until a simple yet elegant sketch of a beautiful woman materialized before them.

Si An’s fingertips turned pale, his eyelashes fluttering briefly as he spoke, Make a vase. For the roses you gave me this morning.

The slightly husky voice fell softly into the air, and a hint of amusement flickered in Long Xiao’s eyes.

Alright.

Within barely a minute, a stunning crystal vase had materialized before Si An.

Long Xiao looked up, pushing the freshly crafted vase toward Si An. Meeting his gaze, he said, Tell me what you like, and I’ll find it for you.

The two percent profit I took this morning was my own decision. Don’t be angry.

Long Xiao’s voice was deep and magnetic, low and even. It was almost impossible to dislike him just from hearing him speak.

Si An met Long Xiao’s gaze, the warm yellow lamplight softening the Alpha’s sharply defined features.

Long Xiao’s stern brows relaxed, his deep, narrow eyes softened, and those golden irises seemed to focus solely on Si An.

In that moment, Si An realized that Long Xiao was a powerful yet emotionally stable Alpha, even… gentle.

Si An averted his gaze, breaking eye contact. He reached out to accept Long Xiao’s gift, storing the long-necked vase Long Xiao had personally crafted into his space ring.

Seeing Si An accept his gift, Long Xiao smiled, the corners of his lips lifting slightly for just a moment, transforming his entire face.

His golden eyes radiated warmth, his handsome features exuding both reliability and noble composure, making it difficult not to feel drawn to him.

Si An glanced at Long Xiao, his gaze lingering briefly on the Alpha’s smile before quickly looking away.

Tonight, Si An wore a white leather trench coat over a beige sweater, his long, wavy blonde hair cascading loosely around his shoulders.

Long Xiao found Si An’s current appearance far more approachable than when they had met earlier that morning.

Long Xiao stared intently at Si An, casually setting aside the contract in his hand, showing no immediate intention of signing it. Instead, he asked,

Mr. Si, why am I not within your criteria for a partner?

What aspect of me fails to meet your standards?

Long Xiao’s voice was earnest, his eyes carrying a hint of inquiry.

This morning, when he had seen Si An, he had addressed him as President Si. Yet, the moment he began expressing his feelings, he switched back to calling him Mr. Si.

Si An keenly noticed Long Xiao’s shift in address.

He pressed his lips together, the pale, bloodless lips tightening into a straight line.

I don’t like your scales.

The moment the words left his mouth, the entire private room fell silent for a second.

Long Xiao remained quietly waiting, showing no urgency to refute or argue.

Faced with Long Xiao’s unwavering gaze, Si An paused, then added another explanation

I don’t want to be able to touch only hard scales, even during the Nesting Period.

Mr. Long, even if you can regulate your body temperature, warm scales are still just scales.

Long Xiao fell silent, meeting Si An’s gaze across the table.

Everything he had always prided himself on seemed utterly worthless in the eyes of the Omega he loved.

Whether it was his pheromones or his true form, Si An seemed to find little appeal in either.

Long Xiao’s expression remained unchanged, but his eyes darkened slightly—a subtle shift only a close observer would notice.

But Si An wasn’t finished.

His expression remained cool, no different from when they had discussed business earlier that morning.

As the Omega spoke, his gaze paused before lifting to meet Long Xiao’s now-shadowed eyes.

Moreover, Mr. Long, if you truly wish to pursue me, Si An continued, then you must keep your eyes on me—and only me.

With those words, Si An fixed Long Xiao with a direct, unwavering stare, conveying an unmistakable air of finality.