The Aloof Omega Caught the Eye of a Clingy Sweetheart (GL, ABO) - Chapter 9
At the banquet, Director You had drunk half a glass of champagne and taken a suppressant. The combination in her stomach sped up the absorption of alcohol into her bloodstream, making her feel lightheaded as the night breeze brushed past her.
She didn’t notice anyone approaching from behind. All she wanted was to get back to her car quickly. Even sleeping inside it overnight would be better than staying out in the cold.
But a buzzing in her ears made her feel even dizzier. Holding her bag, she reached out for something to support herself, when suddenly a pair of hands grabbed her from behind.
“Well, if it isn’t Director You. Long time no see,” came a stranger’s voice beside her.
The man clutched her slender, pale forearm tightly and leaned in with a smirk. “The party’s only just started. Where are you off to in such a hurry?”
Director You tried to shake off his hand, but it felt like being caught in a vise. His grip tightened, causing her pain. She could also faintly detect the messy scent of pheromones in the air.
The smells were jumbled together: smoke, alcohol, something vaguely herbal, and even some weirdly mixed notes that made her stomach turn.
It was unbearable.
Seeing that she remained silent, her eyes lowered, the group of half-drunk men exchanged looks, their gazes becoming increasingly predatory as they surrounded her.
Tonight, Director You was wearing a fitted violet gown that highlighted her delicate waist and exposed a section of her smooth, pale calves. Her rounded shoulders, graceful collarbones, and swan-like neck made it impossible for their eyes to look away.
She looked like a rare flower blooming under the moonlight, delicate and beautiful.
One of them reached out and began to grope her waist, his rough fingers moving up and down, making her frown deeply.
“Don’t touch me,” Director You said, her voice low and pained. Her head was still throbbing, and being surrounded like this made her feel nauseated.
She could feel more than one hand beginning to wander. The violation, the arrogance in their eyes, all made her furious.
Just as she was about to lift her foot and kick someone, the sound of rushing wind sliced through the air, followed by a scream of pain.
“Ah! Who are you? Why did you hit me?”
A familiar voice shouted back.
“I hit you because you’re a filthy creep!”
Jian Qiuyi had been in rough environments since she was young. She was good with her hands, and tonight, she had grabbed a sturdy baseball bat before getting out of the car. Her presence was imposing, and in just a few swift moves, she had knocked down the man who was touching Director You’s waist. He was now crying out on the ground.
The others sobered up quickly at the sight.
They looked at Jian Qiuyi, then back at Director You. They couldn’t tell what relationship the two women had, but it was clear they had gotten themselves into trouble. After all, this was still near the banquet hall. If Director You decided to press charges, they would have no way to explain themselves.
They quickly let go of her and exchanged panicked glances.
“What are you looking at? Get lost!” Jian Qiuyi shouted, holding the bat in her black gown with a fierce look in her eyes. “Or do you want me to start calling people over?”
As soon as she finished speaking, the group scattered. Even the one who had been beaten scrambled to his feet and fled, afraid of being hit again if he lingered.
Once they were gone, Jian Qiuyi turned back toward Director You and walked over, clearly unhappy.
“Director You, are you alright?” Seeing her pale face, Jian Qiuyi’s voice softened. She gently held her arm and asked quietly, “Why were you just standing there? They were touching you and you didn’t even fight back. If I hadn’t come, do you even realize what could’ve happened?”
Director You looked up at her, and then her body suddenly went limp, collapsing into her arms.
Startled, Jian Qiuyi dropped the bat and quickly wrapped her arms around her, alarmed by how hot her body felt.
Director You leaned into Jian Qiuyi’s chest, her breathing rapid. Her fair skin was flushed with a faint, unhealthy pink, and her chest was rising and falling quickly.
So hot.
That was Jian Qiuyi’s first thought when she touched her. She placed a hand on her forehead, but unsure if it was really a fever, she leaned in and pressed her own forehead against hers.
From this close, she could smell the faint scent of white tea coming from Director You. The fragrance felt strangely familiar. But now wasn’t the time to think about it. Once she confirmed that Director You was indeed running a fever, she immediately picked her up and carried her to the car.
Jian Qiuyi’s car was a mess, but the front passenger seat was the cleanest spot. She gently placed Director You into it, then rummaged through the back to find a jacket and draped it over her before starting the engine and heading for the nearest hospital.
It was still rush hour between seven and eight in the evening, and traffic was crawling.
When Director You opened her eyes, she didn’t immediately register where she was.
The sound of car horns snapped her out of her daze. She looked around blankly and realized she was in someone’s car. Turning her head slightly, she saw Jian Qiuyi behind the wheel.
Sensing her gaze, Jian Qiuyi glanced over and said, “You’re awake?”
“Why am I in your car?” Director You’s whole body felt weak, and even speaking made her throat feel dry and burning, as if she had just come out of a fire.
“You have a fever. I’m taking you to the hospital,” Jian Qiuyi said, using the traffic delay to look back at her. Seeing that her face was still pale, she adjusted the blanket covering her and added in a gentle tone, “You were being harassed, and I saved you.”
She had hoped that Director You would at least thank her. If she could get a simple “thank you,” she could smile graciously and say “no need,” and maybe the tension between them would ease a bit.
These past few days, Director You had given Jian Qiuyi the cold shoulder, and it had made her feel awful.
But just as she expected gratitude, Director You’s brow furrowed. She struggled to sit up and said, “I’m not going to the hospital.”
“Where else do you want to go then?” Jian Qiuyi quickly reached over to push her back down. “You’re burning up. I’m taking you to the hospital for your own good.”
Hearing the word “hospital,” Director You began to struggle more, but her body was so weak that all she managed was to exhaust herself further. Cold sweat broke out across her skin.
Seeing that she couldn’t calm her down, Jian Qiuyi snapped, “What are you doing? I’m taking you to the hospital!”
“I said I’m not going!” Director You leaned back in the seat, her eyes tightly shut in pain. Her chest rose and fell sharply, and her voice had gone hoarse. “Let me out. I don’t want to go to the hospital…”
Jian Qiuyi couldn’t understand her at all. How could someone so ill still be this stubborn?
Looking at her slumped in the seat, sweat clinging to her temples, her pale skin flushed with fever, Jian Qiuyi suddenly realized something.
Even sick, this woman was stunning.
The car horns continued to blare outside.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
When Director You opened her eyes again, she had no idea where she was.
She stared at the unfamiliar ceiling above her. Her head felt foggy, and her entire body was weak and sluggish.
It took a few seconds for her to piece things together. She remembered attending a banquet the previous night, something unpleasant had happened, and she had taken extra suppressant pills. Then she had been surrounded by a few men, and Jian Qiuyi had stepped in to rescue her. She had said she would take her to the hospital.
Right, the hospital.
Director You frowned and slowly pushed herself up from the bed, her long black hair sliding down her shoulders and making her already pale complexion look even paler.
This didn’t look like a hotel or a hospital.
Was this Jian Qiuyi’s home?
She sat on the soft bed, staring down at the heavy comforter draped over her. It smelled faintly of floral laundry detergent.
Beneath the blanket, she was wearing a long T-shirt with cartoon patterns that barely covered the tops of her thighs.
Just as she was feeling confused, she heard movement outside the door. A moment later, the doorknob turned and the door opened slowly and carefully.
Jian Qiuyi peeked inside and froze when she saw Director You sitting up in bed.
Director You’s brows were tightly knit as she looked at her.
“Where am I?” she asked coldly.
“This is my place,” Jian Qiuyi replied, now that she saw Director You was awake, she dropped the cautious tone and opened the door fully. She leaned casually against the frame and said, “I wanted to take you to the hospital last night, but you absolutely refused. I didn’t know where you lived, so I had no choice but to bring you here.”
Director You frowned again.
“You changed my clothes?” she asked.
Jian Qiuyi chuckled at the question. Her eyes curved with amusement as she smiled and said, “If it wasn’t me, would it have been my cat?”
Director You said nothing.
She wanted to scold this overly familiar girl for being inappropriate, but then remembered that Jian Qiuyi had gone out of her way to help her last night. She had even brought her home and taken care of her. Getting undressed was a minor detail in comparison. She shouldn’t be petty.
Letting out a silent sigh, Director You closed her eyes briefly and said, “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” Jian Qiuyi replied with uncharacteristic patience. She walked to the edge of the bed and looked down at her. “You wouldn’t go to the hospital, so I gave you some fever medication instead. How are you feeling now? Still uncomfortable?”
As she spoke, she reached out and placed a hand on Director You’s forehead, feeling for a temperature. After a moment, she said thoughtfully, “Still a bit warm.”
Director You frowned and turned her head away from the touch.
“I’m much better now,” she said, clearly uncomfortable with such close contact.
Jian Qiuyi looked down at her empty hand and suddenly felt like she had rescued an ungrateful little wolf.