Queen O's Timid Fugitive A - Chapter 61

61

As Jiang Ciqing left, the crowd lost interest in continuing and quickly dispersed, each going their separate ways.

Xu Fusheng was naturally among them. Declining the Third Princess’s invitation to travel together, she walked alone into the bustling streets.

A faint trace of green bamboo fragrance lingered in the air, so subtle that if it weren’t for her Omega’s keen familiarity with this scent due to their bond, she would have overlooked it like everyone else.

Recalling the little Alpha’s usual insistence on using two layers of suppression patches, this pheromone leak could not have been accidental.

Xu Fusheng’s lips curved into a slight smile. In the end, she decided to indulge the little Alpha’s wishes—after all, her performance today had been quite satisfactory.

After walking about a hundred steps, she came upon a narrow alley. Compared to the lively streets, this alley felt like stepping into another world, with only a few scattered figures. The most vibrant sound came from the blacksmith shop in the middle, where the clanging of hammer on metal echoed.

Xu Fusheng stepped onto the cobblestone path, leisurely entering the alley. Passing the blacksmith shop, she walked another dozen steps until she reached another corner…

Someone who had been waiting for her, mimicking her past mischief, hid in a blind spot. As Xu Fusheng’s footsteps drew near, that person reached out, grabbing her wrist with a slight tug, capturing the willing Persian cat who had stepped into the trap. She was pulled from the bright sunlight into the dim, damp corner.

Moss bloomed in the crevices of the green bricks, and puddles reflected the sky. Cherry blossoms from someone’s yard peeked over the wall, their branches hanging low. Xu Fusheng found herself pinned in the corner, her wrist held by this brazen rogue.

The Omega showed no trace of panic. Her slightly raised chin and curved lips betrayed that she had seen through the other’s scheme from the start, playing along with their antics.

Jiang Ciqing, slightly taller, resembled a defeated dog with her head lowered, their foreheads touching. She muttered listlessly, “Why aren’t you scared?”

Like a child whose prank had failed, realizing the adult had seen through their act, she felt no sense of accomplishment.

The hand gripping Xu Fusheng’s wrist slid down, calloused fingers slipping between hers, interlocking tightly.

In this secluded corner, the Alpha, who had just thrown fierce punches earlier, now drooped with a dejected expression. She gently swung their joined hands, softly whining, “How come you’re not scared at all?”

What kind of person complains that their victim is too clever to be frightened?

Xu Fusheng could do nothing but laugh helplessly. “Using my own trick to scare me?”

Her tone was as teasing as ever, but it carried an indescribable shift, as if a plastic shell had been filled with a soul, now laced with genuine affection.

Finding her reasoning sound, Jiang Ciqing gave a silly grin. Shamelessly, she refused to move, her nose playfully brushing Xu Fusheng’s cheek, the scent of cherry blossoms mingling with the ocean’s depth.

Seeing her play dumb, Xu Fusheng’s eyes flickered with exasperation. She shot her a look, then glanced at her cheek—where the handkerchief had wiped earlier was now cleaned with water, and even her clothes had been changed.

A white shirt paired with slightly boyish suspenders, the cufflinks adorned with bamboo patterns. The riding outfit earlier might have been a coincidence, but this outfit was deliberate, as shirts paired best with qipaos.

Xu Fusheng saw through the little Alpha’s subtle intentions but didn’t call her out. She merely scanned her up and down, her smile deepening.

The young head of the Jiang family rarely wore modern clothing, but it didn’t feel out of place. Instead, it added a youthful charm. Her half-long black hair fell over her eyes, which reflected Xu Fusheng’s image, devoid of her usual calm restraint. She looked like a reckless young master who had snuck out of her prestigious family to meet her beloved.

Xu Fusheng wasn’t smiling because of her looks, but because she had already guessed her intentions. To get ready in such a short time, Jiang Ciqing must have planned to take her beloved for a springtime stroll.

“Where did you change your clothes?” Xu Fusheng asked with a playful smile, steering the conversation to something trivial instead of voicing her thoughts.

“The blacksmith shop at the alley’s entrance belongs to the Jiang family.” Jiang Ciqing explained softly. Still feeling it wasn’t close enough, she pressed the hand resting on Xu Fusheng’s waist closer, as if she wanted to glue them together.

“Pretty quick on your feet, huh?” Xu Fusheng chuckled, indulging her antics. Her slender waist bent like a flower stem, leaning toward the little Alpha. Her free hand, like a vine, climbed up Jiang Ciqing’s shoulder to hook around her neck.

Jiang Ciqing buried her head in the crook of Xu Fusheng’s neck, enveloped by the heady scent of agave. The intoxicating aroma made her legs weak, and she pressed even closer.

“You were too slow,” she mumbled, her voice muffled as if her lips were pressed against something, making her words indistinct.

What an unreasonable person.

Ignoring whether Xu Fusheng had other matters to attend to, Jiang Ciqing had given a suggestive glance and run off on her own, expecting the Omega to chase her. Now she was complaining about her speed.

Xu Fusheng tilted her head, wondering if she had been spoiling this person too much lately, letting her get away with such nonsense.

The white jade pendant on her wooden hairpin swayed. Jiang Ciqing, unaware of Xu Fusheng’s reflections, thought she was being indulged further. She even tilted her head to make it easier for her to continue.

The Omega’s neck was alluring, each inch of skin like finely crafted porcelain, delicate and translucent, with faint blue veins visible beneath, trembling slightly under lips and teeth.

Cool fingertips rested on the protruding bone at the back of her neck, tracing upward, brushing past slightly prickly hair ends, then falling back to her shoulder blades, spreading again in tireless play—or perhaps silent encouragement.

A breeze swept through the alley, rustling the cherry blossoms and scattering petals. Dappled light fell on the slender, bamboo-like spine, glinting off glossy fingertips.

“Sister.” Jiang Ciqing murmured, her voice lazy like a sated beast.

“A’Ci,” Xu Fusheng knew exactly what her Alpha needed in response.

Taking it as agreement, Jiang Ciqing’s restless hand crept upward, her finger hooking the coiled button of the qipao. Having never worn such clothing, her eyes refused to leave Xu Fusheng, fumbling clumsily.

This made the Omega frown, tugging Jiang Ciqing’s hair lightly as a reprimand.

“Ouch.” Jiang Ciqing muttered, forgetting her own canines were tracing Xu Fusheng’s veins. She grumbled again, “My hand hurts.”

Force works both ways. With no protection on her hands, she had struck that person’s face hard. While Yu Tiande was left bruised and battered, her knuckles were red and scraped, looking quite pitiful.

“Now you know it hurts? You were pretty fierce when you were hitting him.” Xu Fusheng teased.

“He was staring at you so blatantly—he deserved it.” Jiang Ciqing said, revealing a rare glimpse of her Alpha nature. She ground her small canines, her tone laced with unfulfilled aggression.

An Alpha’s possessiveness over their Omega was intense. In the Empire, there was even a law allowing an Alpha to challenge another to a life-or-death duel if they coveted their Omega—a testament to how provocative such an act was.

Even a marked Alpha couldn’t suppress their inherent dominance. Seeing someone look at their possession with greedy eyes, Jiang Ciqing, no matter how good-tempered, couldn’t tolerate it and had kicked him immediately.

Calming down later, she shifted the blame to the Chu family.

“Was that tea girl pretty?” Xu Fusheng suddenly asked.

Jiang Ciqing froze, cold sweat breaking out. She gave a nervous laugh. “Pretty or not? I didn’t even look closely.”

Before Xu Fusheng could press further, she quickly pressed closer, nuzzling like a spoiled child. “Sister, my hand hurts.”

“His face was so thick, it hurt my hand. Blow on it for me,” she said, her glossy black eyes pleading, as if wishing for a tail to wag behind her.

“Pathetic.” Xu Fusheng said, falling for her act. Her misty peach-blossom eyes tinged with red as she swatted away the Alpha’s clumsy hand. She undid the tricky button, revealing faint red marks like a vivid painting of plum blossoms on snow.

As the artist, Jiang Ciqing felt no guilt. Instead, she dipped her brush again, adding a few more strokes.

“There’s an old man by the Fengyu Bridge selling sugar figures. The syrup is sweet without a burnt taste, and his sugar figures are lifelike.” Jiang Ciqing said out of nowhere, perhaps craving sugar after tasting sweetness or finally recalling her long-planned scheme.

“Hm.” Xu Fusheng leaned back against the green brick wall, eyes half-closed, a glimmer of water at the corners, her tone ambiguous, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

“Want to try?” Jiang Ciqing licked her canines, deliberately grazing the straight collarbone.

“Up to you,” the Omega replied, as always, never giving a straight answer, forcing others to guess.

“Then let’s go,” Jiang Ciqing decided, adding, “I had them prepare hats…”

Their distinct hair and eye colors would draw attention on the busy streets, inviting trouble if noticed by the wrong people.

Xu Fusheng gave her a half-smile, as if amused that she had already made up her mind yet pretended to ask.

The shameless Alpha just grinned, nuzzling her neck like a rogue, half-spoiling, half-not. Xu Fusheng, tickled by her messy hair, dodged back and scolded, “Silly dog.”

Her tone softened as she asked quietly, “Coming to my place tonight?”

Jiang Ciqing paused before saying, “Zhile is coming back tomorrow.”

The implication was clear—she had to pick her up.

Xu Fusheng let out an “oh,” her hand sliding from Jiang Ciqing’s neck to her shoulder, pushing the clingy dog away with a slight effort.

“Ugh…” Jiang Ciqing, now standing steady, looked dazed, staring blankly, unable to fathom such heartlessness.

Xu Fusheng glanced at her, leisurely fastening the coiled buttons, hiding the ambiguous red marks under the collar. The white jade pendant by her ear swayed.

Jiang Ciqing stepped forward, wanting to stay close. Having not seen her Omega for days, she was terribly clingy.

But Xu Fusheng raised a hand to stop her, lazily lifting her eyes. “Are we going or not?”

No more dawdling allowed.

What could Jiang Ciqing do but obey? “We’re going.”

The clear lake mirrored the capital city, willow branches drooping low, their delicate leaves swaying in the breeze. The recent rain had washed away the chill, and returning swallows darted through the shade. The wide, orderly stone path was crowded with people enjoying spring, brimming with vibrant life.

Jiang Ciqing led Xu Fusheng into the lively street, vendors calling out on both sides. With the Grand Assembly approaching and officials from across the land bringing their families to the capital, the market was livelier than usual, filled with distinct regional accents.

“This hairpin…” Jiang Ciqing, wearing a dark gray beret, turned to a vendor’s stall. Her visible hair was now silver, her eyes a clear deep blue.

Xu Fusheng wore a veiled hat, covering her hair and eyes, leaving only half her face visible. Even so, she drew the gazes of many Alphas, who looked away only to sneak glances back.

This annoyed the little Alpha, who tightly gripped Xu Fusheng’s hand to assert her presence.

The vendor, hearing her, lit up, thinking a noble had taken interest in his hairpin. His eyes gleamed as he prepared to name an exorbitant price.

“Don’t like it.” Xu Fusheng said coldly after a glance.

“Alright.” Jiang Ciqing nodded, sneaking a cautious glance at her.

They continued along with the crowd, their interlocked hands swaying slightly, like a big dog clumsily begging for forgiveness.

Xu Fusheng ignored her, turning to an old man selling candied hawthorn on sticks.

Jiang Ciqing immediately stepped forward to pay. “Sir, one stick.”

Now she was quick to act.

“Sure thing. Apple or hawthorn?” the old man asked with a smile, taking the money.

Early spring lacked fruit variety, leaving only these two options. Autumn would have more.

Jiang Ciqing instinctively turned to ask, then froze, quickly pulling out more money. “One of each.”

The Omega behind her nodded in approval.

Jiang Ciqing quietly sighed in relief, taking the candied fruit, removing the sharp skewer tips, and handing them to Xu Fusheng.

She took a bite, the glossy red sugar cracking to reveal the tender fruit inside, looking quite appealing.

Under the veil, Jiang Ciqing couldn’t see her expression but sensed her mood had improved, as she was now willing to hold her hand.

Looking at the candied apple in her hand, Jiang Ciqing wasn’t fond of such overly sweet things.

But why did Xu Fusheng like them so much…

She tentatively brought it to her lips.

“Hmph!”

A cold hum from beside snapped the dazed Alpha back to reality. She quickly pulled the candied apple away, turning to Xu Fusheng with a serious, sugar-avoiding expression.

Xu Fusheng hummed in satisfaction, continuing to nibble on the remaining half of her candied hawthorn.

Jiang Ciqing laughed helplessly. Thinking back on the day, she realized Xu Fusheng had been pretending not to like sweets, only able to watch the tea snacks on the table without touching them. She had to thank the Third Princess for suggesting the flower cakes were for her, or Xu Fusheng wouldn’t have eaten at all.

Then she recalled—when Yu Tiande came upstairs staring at her, was Xu Fusheng still calmly eating those flower cakes?

Feeling both heartache and amusement, Jiang Ciqing led her forward, saying softly, “There’s a stall ahead selling lotus pastries for spring.”

Xu Fusheng, with a candied hawthorn in her mouth, followed compliantly, quietly canceling her plan to punish Jiang Ciqing.

Unaware she had escaped a scolding, the Alpha cheerfully paid for pastries from the west, sugar figures from the east, and wontons from the south—nothing could be missed.

The spring breeze rippled the lake, and Jiang Ciqing, having performed well, finally got to taste the candied hawthorn. The sweetness, mixed with the heady agave scent, was neither cloying nor intoxicating. Under the willow’s shade, she pressed Xu Fusheng close, tasting it again and again, never satisfied.