Queen O's Timid Fugitive A - Chapter 45

45

At the break of dawn, the chirping of birds awakened all things.

The rain that had fallen all night finally ceased, and accumulated water flowed like a spring, rushing down the hills toward the foot of the mountain. The lingering chill of the mist clung to the mold-spotted walls, inside which stood a rickety wooden bed with a missing leg and a large, bulging shape beneath the covers.

The thin blanket was barely large enough to cover hands and feet when lying flat, let alone when propped up. Peering through the gaps, one could see a young girl with dark hair and dark eyes curled up inside, her flushed earlobes and cheeks not only showing no signs of fading but spreading further down her neck.

The events of last night replayed uncontrollably in her mind. Her misty eyes wavered, unable to clearly see the cherry blossom tree outside. A distressed whimper escaped her lips…

Jiang Ciqing abruptly turned over, causing the loosely structured wooden bed to emit a piercing creak, visibly shaking under the motion.

How could she have done something so embarrassing?

Recalling how she had cried and whimpered in front of her Omega, she turned over again, lying flat on her back. With a forceful tug, she threw off the blanket. Her chest heaved with heavy breaths, her messy hair covering her eyes, revealing only the sharp, distinct outline of her face—unlike the soft features typical of a girl, it was clear and striking.

She knew exactly what was going on. After being marked, an Alpha and Omega were not supposed to be apart. They should be like conjoined twins bound by chains, constantly clinging to each other, relying on each other’s pheromones.

Yet, Jiang Ciqing had defied this, leaving her Omega for three years after being marked. She endured her heat cycles through sheer willpower, letting her body’s instincts torment her. Having briefly tasted some sweetness before, she then endured months of suppression.

Treating her body so recklessly, it was no wonder her glands were damaged. Though not to an extreme degree, it still caused her heat and susceptibility periods to become chaotic and disordered.

Jiang Ciqing had thought she’d already weathered this month’s heat, which was why she wasn’t afraid to see Xu Fusheng. But last night, when the other deliberately released their pheromones, her susceptibility period reared its head. The grievances and pain on her lips were magnified a hundredfold, turning the Alpha into a pitiful dog, tears falling in a torrent.

Understanding the reason was one thing; facing the reality was another.

Jiang Ciqing bent her long legs, her toes curling, leaving chaotic marks on the gray bedsheet.

So embarrassing. How could there be an Alpha as humiliating as her, pinned down by an Omega in a hot spring pool…

Even if she was a marked Alpha, it didn’t mean…

She turned over again.

The wooden bed shook once more, dislodging dust from the crevices accumulated over years.

Before she could dwell further, a knock came from outside. The familiar scent of agave slipped into the room before the person even approached.

Jiang Ciqing froze, a trace of struggle flashing across her face.

For once, she didn’t want to face them.

The person outside didn’t wait for her response and pushed the door open. Amid the creaking of the door came the sound of another turn. The Alpha yanked the blanket over herself, hiding once more, her back to the door like a turtle shrinking into its shell, too ashamed to face anyone.

The footsteps approached unhurriedly. Jiang Ciqing’s spine stiffened, like a mouse caught by a cat, feigning sleep in a desperate bid for luck, though she forgot to mask her rapid breathing.

“A’Ci?” The voice was soft, carrying a gentleness she could scarcely imagine. The silver hair cascaded over their shoulders, and they wore the same apricot-white qipao. Perhaps due to the late-night antics, their eyes held a hint of weariness, adding an unexpected touch of languor.

Jiang Ciqing buried herself under the blanket, the overwhelming shame preventing her from facing them normally.

The person behind her waited for a moment before sitting on the edge of the bed, facing away from Jiang Ciqing. The already unstable bed let out another sharp creak. The Alpha trembled, her curled fingers clutching the bedsheet tightly.

Bright sunlight filtered through the lattice window, casting fragmented light spots on the bluestone floor. The cherry blossom tree in the small courtyard spread its branches, its petals, washed by the rain, even more captivating.

Xu Fusheng didn’t turn around, speaking softly, “The Qi family’s servants braved the rain to come, but the path down the mountain is treacherous. The stone steps are covered in moss, and with last night’s puddles, a single slip could be disastrous for anyone.”

Jiang Ciqing tugged the blanket down slightly, revealing her flushed earlobes.

Yesterday, they had waited for the rain to dry somewhat before climbing the mountain, so it hadn’t felt too difficult. But now, with Qi Shang needing a stretcher, extra caution was required.

“They’ve gone back to rest and will leave in the afternoon. You can stay in bed a bit longer.”

Jiang Ciqing hadn’t gotten up that morning. When the Third Princess sent someone to urge her, she used the excuse of catching a cold last night and feeling unwell. No one doubted her, as her frail health was well-known. The Third Princess, frustrated, sent food to her, annoyed that what was meant to be an opportunity to win people over had been marred by one person’s injury and another’s illness.

The person under the blanket gave a muffled acknowledgment. Sneaking a turn, she peeked at Xu Fusheng’s back, confirming they weren’t turning around before quietly exhaling in relief.

She was like a turtle ready to retreat into its shell at any moment, hyper-vigilant of the other’s movements.

Her hunter, however, was patient. Having been sated last night, they were content to wait slowly for the little beast to poke its head out.

Jiang Ciqing didn’t speak, just watched. Even the backlit silhouette was captivating. Unlike her own thin, almost bony frame, Xu Fusheng’s figure had a perfectly balanced beauty. Their shoulders and neck formed graceful, flowing lines, their exposed arms were toned yet soft, and their slender waist seemed fragile enough to snap with a gentle pinch.

Jiang Ciqing loved seeing her in a qipao—not because other clothes weren’t beautiful, but because only a qipao could fully accentuate her figure.

The wind rustled through the treetops, and monks in the temple chanted incomprehensible scriptures. The faint scent of sandalwood drifted intermittently.

The rustle of fabric sounded as Jiang Ciqing inched closer, her forehead pressing against the other’s spine. Her thick lashes trembled slightly, like a small animal curling up behind them.

The hunter tilted their head slightly but quickly looked away, watching the light spots dance like playful butterflies in the breeze.

“A’Ci,” she spoke softly, her voice no longer carrying its usual teasing lilt. It was like a fine wine buried in the cracks of time, its seal broken to reveal a rich, mellow fragrance.

“Hm?” The Alpha responded, her voice low and hoarse from last night’s strain. Unconsciously, she nuzzled closer, her fluffy head brushing against the fabric, sending a tingling sensation down her spine.

The Omega stiffened, unsure if the action was intentional mischief.

“Xu Fusheng,” she drawled, her red, swollen eyes softening the usual sharpness, truly resembling a puppy’s round gaze.

“Hm?” Xu Fusheng replied, and the two continued like this—calling and answering, answering and calling, as if playing an endless game.

Her hand, resting at her side, shifted slightly back, her curled fingers like a fishhook. The fish hesitated, feigning restraint, before cautiously reaching out to hook her pinky.

Outside, someone passing by accidentally stepped on a loose stone slab, splashing water and muttering curses.

Xu Fusheng turned her hand, pressing palm to palm, their fingers interlocking tightly.

Jiang Ciqing trembled but didn’t pull away.

“Is there something you want to tell me?” The hunter finally turned, silver hair falling, eyes lowered, their red pupils veiled in a misty gentleness, both tender and alluring.

“And you?” Jiang Ciqing countered.

“Shall I come find you tomorrow night?”

Though she had checked the room thoroughly upon entering, she still felt uneasy.

“Okay,” Jiang Ciqing agreed. Her susceptibility period hadn’t fully passed, and like a clingy puppy, she only wanted to stick to her Omega.

“Sleep a bit more?”

Jiang Ciqing gripped her tighter, asking softly, “What about you?”

“Shall I stay with you?”

“Good,” Jiang Ciqing answered quickly.

Xu Fusheng was a woman of action. She let go, bent to remove her shoes, and Jiang Ciqing clung to her waist, burying herself in the curve of her side. The familiar scent of wine was like a gentle caress, easily dispelling her earlier embarrassment and hesitation.

The shoes lined up neatly under the bed, and the wooden bed groaned under the strain. The thin blanket was lifted and quickly pulled back over them.

The person in her arms was still bony, but thankfully not too cold, passable as a stiff, warm heater. Xu Fusheng wrapped her arms around her, and Jiang Ciqing obediently nestled into her shoulder, unconsciously nuzzling closer.

At some point, a light rain began to fall again. Spring in Nanliang was always like this—one rain after another. The sky might look clear and cloudless, promising a long-awaited sunny day, only for the rain to start again the moment you turned away.

They probably wouldn’t leave today…

Jiang Ciqing mustered a shred of rationality before sinking back into the rich, intoxicating softness of the wine-like scent.

Her toes tapped lightly against the other’s foot, the cool touch prompting the Alpha to lift her foot slightly, pressing fully against the other’s sole. With no room to move, the Omega could only rub gently against her instep, slow and unhurried, yet stirring a tingling sensation.

Jiang Ciqing hugged her tightly, finally showing a hint of an Alpha’s demeanor—fierce and possessive, as if she wanted to meld the Omega into her very bones.

“Jiang Ciqing,” she spoke, her voice deliberately softened to preserve the quiet moment.

“Hm?” Jiang Ciqing looked up, her clear, dewy eyes reflecting only one person.

“Are you sleepy?” The teasing tone was like a breeze rippling over a puddle, stirring wave after wave.

“A little,” Jiang Ciqing replied hoarsely. At some point, she had undone the qipao’s buttons—perhaps with practiced skill, as her speed was astonishing, reaching the innermost layer in mere moments.

Xu Fusheng let out a soft laugh, amused by the discrepancy between her words and actions.

The Alpha, thin-skinned and fair, flushed anew, the redness spreading to her eyes and earlobes like early-ripened cherries. Swallowing her embarrassment, she said, “Sister, coax me a little.”

“Hm?”

“Like last night,” she added, then emphasized, “I’m the Alpha.”

Another soft laugh, this time at her rare honesty.

Xu Fusheng naturally obliged, her light, fleeting kisses trailing from forehead to nose, inching downward.

The thin blanket was tugged lower, the apricot-white qipao falling in disarray, revealing smooth, porcelain shoulders. The scattered light spots on them were soon overtaken by emerging red marks.

Outside, someone cursed the unpredictable weather—clear when it shouldn’t be, pouring when it should be calm. The distant ancient bell tolled, its deep, muffled sound echoing through the mountain forest. The rickety wooden bed suffered further, creaking incessantly.

The rain grew heavier, but the young bamboo, having grown stronger, no longer bent under the downpour, standing tall in the cracks of the stones.