My Virtual Wife Stepped Out of My Phone to Find Me - Chapter 27

Qi Ying plucked the kitten Guazi off her climbing ascent up her trouser leg. The little cat had clearly grown several sizes larger, thriving on good food and sleep, naturally shooting up in stature. This same kitten who used to hiss at Qi Ying now clung to her affectionately, having already frayed the hem of her pants with its claws.

Unable to resist, Qi Ying gave the little rump a pat, eliciting a startled “meow” from the feline.

Cradling the kitten, Qi Ying stepped inside.

Her eyes immediately fell upon Xing Xiaochu still “asleep” on the sofa. Puzzled, she approached and bent down to examine the girl. “Why are you sleeping here?”

Xiaochu’s breathing was labored, her face flushed an alarming red.

Alarm bells rang in Qi Ying’s mind as she knelt to feel the girl’s forehead—burning with fever.

“Xiaochu?” Qi Ying urgently stroked the girl’s cheeks. “You’re running a fever. Have you been sleeping here all night?”

Xiaochu gave a faint nod without opening her eyes.

Qi Ying noted how the normally porcelain skin now burned crimson, the forehead damp with sweat yet extremities chillingly cold. Setting the cat aside, she scooped up the feverish girl and carried her to the bedroom.

“Mmm… sister…”

No sooner had Qi Ying laid her down than Xiaochu clutched desperately at her shoulders, burying her scorching face against Qi Ying’s neck as hot breath whispered: “Don’t ignore me…”

“I’m not ignoring you,” Qi Ying sat on the bedside, allowing the embrace while pulling a blanket over the shivering form. Gently patting the slender back, she soothed, “I was getting the thermometer. We must have fever medicine at home. Let me boil some water—you need medication now.”

“No medicine.” Xiaochu’s eyes reddened further, trembling lashes brushing against Qi Ying as she nuzzled deeper into the embrace.

It had been so long since anyone held her like this.

“Sister,” came the hoarse, cotton-soft voice, “Did I… do something wrong? Is that why you’ve been avoiding me lately? Please tell me… I don’t want you to hate me…”

Qi Ying felt warm dampness spread across her shoulder—Xiaochu was crying.

The girl wept silently, tears falling in quiet droplets of utter dejection. At a loss, Qi Ying could only tighten her embrace.

Perhaps due to the fever, the usual intensity of Xiaochu’s osmanthus scent had muted. No longer setting Qi Ying’s nerves aflame, it carried only a melancholy drizzle now—strangely, even the omega’s pheromones seemed damp with tears.

“Hush now,” Qi Ying comforted, “I could never hate you. I’ve just been unusually busy lately—that’s all.”

Xiaochu shook her head, damp lashes fluttering as she clung tighter between quiet sobs. “You don’t like me… You only take care of me because of my mother…”

With rhythmic pats, Qi Ying murmured, “Don’t think such things. I genuinely like you and want to care for you—not just because of your mother.”

Besides, Qi Ying didn’t even know what Xiaochu’s mother was called or looked like—it was just an initial setting issue. She never expected the child to remember it for so long when she herself had almost forgotten.

Xiaochu still didn’t quite believe it, but Qi Ying could sense her emotions calming down slightly.

Then Qi Ying remembered how mothers would soothe crying children by kissing their cheeks and ears, so she naturally did the same.

First, she brushed her lips against Xiaochu’s ear, then kissed her cheek. Xiaochu didn’t react at first, only feeling a ticklish sensation in her ear. But when Qi Ying kissed her cheek, her eyes widened in shock as she stared at Qi Ying.

Her damp eyes were misty, black lashes still wet with tears. Xiaochu’s pupils trembled slightly, unable to comprehend why Qi Ying had just kissed her.

Did… did she…

Did she want another osmanthus-scented Omega?

Xiaochu’s face flushed again, her nose tingling as fresh tears welled up. She didn’t want to become the third Omega after peach and rose.

“Wah… Sister…” Xiaochu pushed Qi Ying away, determined to distance herself from this scummy Alpha. But Qi Ying, mistaking it for shyness, obediently released her waist and gently placed her on the bed, smiling warmly. “Rest for a bit. I’ll go get the thermometer.”

As Qi Ying stood to leave, Xiaochu gave her a frightened glance before curling up against the headboard, clutching a pillow anxiously.

Soon, Qi Ying returned with the thermometer and fever medicine.

37.5°C—not serious enough for the hospital. Qi Ying opened a bottle of oral fever reducer and watched as Xiaochu drank it, only to scrunch up her little face in disgust at the bitterness. Qi Ying chuckled and handed her a glass of water.

After Xiaochu gulped it down, Qi Ying spoke sternly, “No more sleeping on the couch, understand?”

Holding the cup, Xiaochu peeked at Qi Ying before quickly looking away and nodding obediently.

What was going on?

One moment she was secretly kissing her, the next she was acting all parental.

What did Sister want?

Xiaochu’s heart was in turmoil. She couldn’t figure Qi Ying out at all—this Alpha’s thoughts were completely beyond her. Could it be… this was how she had charmed the peach and rose-scented Omegas?

Xiaochu grew uneasy.

After collecting the cup and medicine, Qi Ying adjusted the air conditioning to a warmer temperature. Seeing the drowsiness from the medicine setting in, she said, “The vet appointment can’t be rescheduled, so I’ll take Guazi for his shots alone. You stay here and rest.”

Burrowed under the blankets, Xiaochu nodded quietly.

Qi Ying’s heart softened at her pitiful state. Sitting by the bed, she reached out to touch Xiaochu’s still-warm cheek and murmured gently, “Anything you’d like to eat? I’ll pick something up on my way back.”

“Dumplings…” Xiaochu nuzzled against Qi Ying’s palm and whispered, “I want their chive-and-egg and shrimp-and-corn dumplings.”

“Alright.” Qi Ying agreed. “I’m heading out now. Get some good rest.”

The pet hospital was right at the neighborhood entrance. Qi Ying carried the kitten curled up in its carrier and went inside. The vet quickly administered a vaccine by holding the kitten’s neck. The usually feisty little troublemaker didn’t even dare meow this time—its pink cushion pad was completely damp from nervous sweating during the shot.

Qi Ying teased it and gave it a cat treat as consolation.

After getting Guazi vaccinated, Qi Ying took the carrier to a nearby dumpling shop, bought some raw dumplings to cook at home, and picked up half a roast duck before leisurely heading back.

By the time she returned, Xing Xiaochu was already asleep. Qi Ying took Guazi out of the carrier, and the little rascal immediately regained its boldness the moment it was back in familiar territory. It circled Qi Ying’s feet, meowing incessantly as if protesting her earlier betrayal at the vet. It even grabbed its cloth fish toy and walked away, refusing to acknowledge her.

Qi Ying walked to the bedside and checked on the sleeping Xing Xiaochu, taking her temperature. Relieved to see it had dropped slightly, she let out a quiet sigh.

Xing Xiaochu lay in bed, her breathing steady, chest rising and falling gently. Though her cheeks still bore a feverish flush, her brows were no longer furrowed, and she seemed much more at ease—at least no longer in obvious discomfort.

Qi Ying watched her for a long moment before exhaling softly.

As night fell, neon lights began glowing outside the floor-to-ceiling windows. Qi Ying gazed at the distant overpass, where streams of cars raced past. The scene felt oddly familiar, though she couldn’t recall where or when she’d seen it before.

Before she could dwell on it, a rustling sound came from the guest bedroom. Turning, Qi Ying stepped inside to find Xing Xiaochu sitting up in bed.

Xing Xiaochu hadn’t expected Qi Ying to appear so suddenly. She stared blankly for a few seconds before finally murmuring, “Jiejie…”

Qi Ying approached, brushing aside the loose strands of hair on Xing Xiaochu’s forehead and pressing the back of her warm hand against it. Xing Xiaochu blinked up at her, eyes slightly narrowed.

“Your fever’s gone down,” Qi Ying remarked, casually pinching Xing Xiaochu’s soft, still-warm cheeks—like kneading a sweet osmanthus-scented sponge cake.

Xing Xiaochu let her do as she pleased, though she murmured sheepishly, “Sorry for troubling you, Jiejie…”

Qi Ying chuckled and sat beside her on the bed. Just as Xing Xiaochu wondered what she was doing, Qi Ying suddenly wrapped her arms around her in a tight embrace. Xing Xiaochu stiffened, flustered and unsure how to react.

“Jiejie, you—” Xing Xiaochu clutched the blanket nervously, voice tinged with panic as she protested in a whisper, “Why are you hugging me all of a sudden?”

Instead of letting go, Qi Ying gently stroked her back, as if soothing a fussy child.

“Didn’t you say I’ve been distant lately?” Qi Ying replied matter-of-factly. “Now that I’m hugging you, why aren’t you happy?”

Xing Xiaochu’s face flushed instantly. “I—I am happy! I just…”

Qi Ying eyed the tips of her reddened ears and smirked, teasing, “Then what is it? Could it be… you dislike me?”

Xing Xiaochu shook her head vehemently. “No!”

“If it’s not dislike, and you’re not unhappy, then why won’t you let me hold you?” Qi Ying tightened her embrace playfully, refusing to budge.

Xing Xiaochu fluttered her eyelashes and glanced up at her softly.

“By the way,” Qi Ying released Xing Xiaochu and stood up, saying, “You slept the whole day today, so I took the chance to make you a dress while you were asleep. Let me show you.”

A dress?

Xing Xiaochu watched curiously as Qi Ying dashed out and returned with something in hand. Standing by the bed, Qi Ying gave a quick shake, and a beautiful, creamy-yellow dress unfurled before Xing Xiaochu.

The dress had a soft, milky hue, with carefully designed hem details. The collar was adorned with a few brown buttons that resembled milk candies, and the neat little lapel looked utterly charming.

Xing Xiaochu stared at the dress in surprise, finding it hard to believe Qi Ying had made it herself rather than bought it.

“I originally planned to take you shopping for clothes today, but you were sick, so I had to make you one instead. Luckily, I found some fabric in the storage room,” Qi Ying said with gentle eyes. “Would you like to try it on after dinner?”

Xing Xiaochu gazed at the soft dress, blinking slowly before asking, “Then… what about the leftover scraps?”

Qi Ying replied, “I made a little cloth fish for Guazi.”

Xing Xiaochu: “…” She clutched the edge of the blanket.

Looking up at Qi Ying, she asked, “Can… I have a little cloth fish too?”