The Black Lotus Wife Forces Me to Pretend to Be an Omega. - Chapter 23

It was just too close, Li Fanshuang thought to herself as the faint aroma of tea drifted into her nostrils.

Where was this green tea scent coming from?

But neither of them had the energy to think anymore.

Only a finger’s breadth separated them from complete intimacy.

“Darling? Why aren’t you saying anything?” Sensing Li Fanshuang’s abnormally high body temperature, Luo Xiaoxiao’s voice grew anxious. “Are you okay?”

“I…” Li Fanshuang panted slightly, her heart sinking. Could her heat cycle be starting?

Clutching at her last shreds of rationality, Li Fanshuang calculated the timing of her cycle. No matter how she counted, there should still be over ten days left—how could this be happening?

Yet every sign pointed to her heat cycle being unexpectedly triggered early.

Her vision began to blur. Seeing her on the verge of losing consciousness, Luo Xiaoxiao quickly supported her waist.

“Darling?!”

Li Fanshuang didn’t respond.

“Li Fanshuang has fainted!” Luo Xiaoxiao immediately shouted.

The program recording was temporarily halted.

Li Fanshuang’s assistant rushed over in a panic.

When she felt Li Fanshuang’s temperature, she was completely stunned—how could this be happening?

“Who are you?” Luo Xiaoxiao no longer recognized this person.

Xiao Chen paused. “You don’t remember me?”

“Should I?” Luo Xiaoxiao inhaled sharply—could this be that assistant from the novel?

“Are you Xiao Chen?” Luo Xiaoxiao ventured cautiously. Was this the incredibly capable Xiao Chen from the story?

What a pity—despite doing so much for Li Fanshuang, this remarkable assistant hadn’t even been named in the novel.

Xiao Chen nodded blankly before realizing Li Fanshuang’s condition couldn’t wait.

She glared fiercely at Luo Xiaoxiao. “We’ll talk about this later.”

As she turned to leave, Li Fanshuang’s body went limp, completely unconscious.

The crew wanted to help, but Luo Xiaoxiao simply scooped Li Fanshuang up in a princess carry.

“I’ve got this.”

Li Fanshuang probably wouldn’t want others touching her casually.

Instead of waiting for an ambulance, Luo Xiaoxiao drove her to the hospital.

Only upon arrival did Luo Xiaoxiao realize—she might not have a driver’s license. Damn it, would she be arrested for unlicensed driving?

When she first arrived, she’d gone through the original owner’s belongings.

The wallet had an ID card but no other documents, and considering how young the original owner was, Luo Xiaoxiao had assumed she didn’t have a license.

But she was wrong—the original owner did have one, so the police wouldn’t be an issue.

At the hospital, Luo Xiaoxiao wasn’t allowed into the examination room.

She waited outside with Xiao Chen.

Xiao Chen studied Luo Xiaoxiao again—last time they’d met was at the massage parlor.

Back then, Luo Xiaoxiao had carried a certain air about her, but now that quality seemed to have faded.

“Xiao Chen?” Luo Xiaoxiao looked up seriously. “Is my wife okay?”

“She’s fine,” Xiao Chen replied quickly. It was just an early heat cycle—they just needed to run tests and determine the cause.

Thank goodness she’d arrived in time, otherwise Li Fanshuang’s secret might have been exposed.

“Has her body always been like this? Fainting at the slightest stimulation?” Luo Xiaoxiao was somewhat puzzled.

Back when she was with her wife, she never noticed any health issues—just that she wasn’t fond of getting out of bed.

Oh, and she ate very little, always so delicate.

Xiao Chen gave a vague hum, Yuan Zhiqing’s face flashing through her mind as she casually made up an excuse: “It’s because of before… Yuan Zhiqing drugged our sister, which left her health in a poor state. Her pheromones are a bit…”

Xiao Chen’s hesitant tone made Luo Xiaoxiao fall silent. So, could Li Fanshuang really be…?

She didn’t know how to describe her current emotions. She did have feelings for Li Fanshuang, but…

Ugh!

Luo Xiaoxiao didn’t want to dwell on these thoughts anymore. She needed something else to distract herself. Her gaze landed on Xiao Chen beside her, and she finally asked the question that had been bothering her for a long time.

“Xiao Chen, what’s your name?”

Yes!

I finally asked!

Xiao Chen paused, her brows furrowing as if she were contemplating a century-old mystery. After a long silence, she finally said, “Why do you ask?”

What is my name again?

Her mind grew hazy, as though she were realizing for the first time that she even had a name.

She pulled out her wallet and checked her ID. Why were the characters on her ID card so blurry?

Luo Xiaoxiao found her behavior odd. Could it be that the author never gave her a name, so her ID was blank and she didn’t even know her own name?

“Xiao Chen? You didn’t forget your name, did you? How careless! Chen Careless?”

As Luo Xiaoxiao’s words fell, Xiao Chen’s ID suddenly became clear. She could see it now—her name was… Chen Careless!!!

What? That’s how slapdash my name is?

Seeing Xiao Chen staring wide-eyed without speaking, Luo Xiaoxiao wondered—had she discovered her ID was expired? Or had she grabbed the wrong one?

Taking two steps closer, Luo Xiaoxiao caught a glimpse of Xiao Chen’s full name—Chen Careless?

No way! Wasn’t that the name she had just randomly thrown out?

Could it be…?

Luo Xiaoxiao realized something astonishing. Since Xiao Chen had no name in the original novel, the name she had just casually given her had become her actual name.

Oh my god, did that mean she was now a pivotal character?

Could she really dictate the unwritten parts of the story just by speaking them into existence?

Of course, this was just Luo Xiaoxiao’s fantasy. She knew there had to be a price for such power.

Like Xiao Chen—a dignified, proper girl—suddenly stuck with an absurdly terrible name.

“There’s no way my name is this!” Xiao Chen stared at her ID in disbelief. No! It was just too awful. She’d go to the police station in a few days to change it!

Putting away her ID, she shot Luo Xiaoxiao a look. “You’re way too nosy!”

Luo Xiaoxiao was taken aback, opening her mouth to retort, but “Careless” clearly had no interest in continuing the conversation.

Luo Xiaoxiao could only turn away and stop talking to her.

Just then, the examination room door swung open, and a beautiful Beta female doctor stepped out.

Luo Xiaoxiao had sharp eyes and immediately noticed the doctor had neither a suppressant patch nor a scent gland on the back of her neck.

“Xiao Chen, why did she suddenly become like this?” The woman’s voice was laced with anger.

Luo Xiaoxiao stared blankly at the doctor before her, and after a moment, she realized who this was.

In every story, there was always someone who longed for love but never received it.

She loved the female lead deeply—so deeply that the whole world knew of her feelings, except the female lead herself.

This was Luo Xiaoxiao’s first time meeting the living, devoted third female lead, Lu Chenfeng.

She was the legendary medical prodigy who knew all of the female lead’s deepest secrets.

When Luo Xiaoxiao saw her, she stopped in place and greeted her politely.

Lu Chenfeng merely gave her a brief glance, nodding in acknowledgment before immediately pulling Xiao Chen aside.

They made sure their conversation was out of Luo Xiaoxiao’s earshot.

“Is she in heat?” Xiao Chen asked urgently.

Lu Chenfeng shook her head. “No, she was just induced. But she’s much better now after the suppressant. Has she been around any Alphas recently?”

“Not that I know of…” Xiao Chen paused, then recalled that her sister had been around quite a few Alphas on a variety show lately. Maybe the crowd at the National Treasure Park last time had triggered it.

That seemed to be the only explanation.

Lu Chenfeng waited for a moment, but when Xiao Chen didn’t speak, she said, “Tell the production team to keep her away from crowded places for now. It’s not good for her health.”

With that, Lu Chenfeng left.

This wasn’t what Luo Xiaoxiao had expected. Shouldn’t a proper, devoted third female lead stay by the female lead’s side at all times? Why did you just leave like that?

“Stop staring. I’m going in to check on my sister. Don’t you want to see your mom? She’s in this hospital too.”

Xiao Chen’s reminder made Luo Xiaoxiao realize she hadn’t even met her so-called “utterly ridiculous” mother yet.

“Where is she?” Luo Xiaoxiao lowered her gaze.

Xiao Chen shot her an exasperated look. In her eyes, Luo Xiaoxiao was still the same money-grubbing person she’d always been—someone who would even neglect her own mother for the sake of money.

“Room 250, second floor. Go ahead.”

With that, she turned and entered the examination room to fetch Li Fanshuang.

Luo Xiaoxiao stood at the door for a long while, the room number replaying in her mind. Even the room number was calling me an idiot—how infuriating!

But it wouldn’t be right to visit the hospital without seeing the original host’s mother.

So, upholding the principle of being a decent person, Luo Xiaoxiao went to Room 250 to pay her respects.

The moment she saw Ms. Luo Jing, Luo Xiaoxiao couldn’t hold back an internal “holy sh1t.”

She looked exactly like her own mother.

“You…” Luo Xiaoxiao’s finger trembled as she pointed at Ms. Luo Jing’s face. “You’re here too?”

Luo Jing frowned, studying the fool in front of her before snapping, “Who are you? You’re not our Xiaoxiao.”

Otherwise, how could she not recognize her own mother?

Luo Xiaoxiao’s smile vanished. So this wasn’t her mother after all?

Her heart sank, but at the sight of that familiar face, the disappointment quickly faded. It didn’t matter—at least in this lifetime, she could see her mother alive again.

“As long as you’re alive,” Luo Xiaoxiao muttered under her breath, her eyes brimming with unconcealed tenderness.

Luo Jing widened her eyes—was this brat actually cursing her to die?

“I thought you’d changed when you transferred me all that money earlier. The kidney donor match has been found, so I’ll probably have the surgery soon.”

As Luo Xiaoxiao listened to her speak, she realized how much her voice resembled Mom’s. Perhaps this was fate’s hidden gift to her.

After Luo Jing rambled on for a while without getting any response, she glared at Xiaoxiao. “What’s your problem?”

But when she turned, she saw Xiaoxiao’s tear-streaked face. “You…”

Luo Jing hesitated. Had she made her condition sound too dire? Was the pressure too much? Didn’t they say Xiaoxiao just married some famous actress? Could they really be short on money?

“What’s wrong? Is the stress too much?” Luo Jing reached out.

Xiaoxiao immediately threw herself into the embrace, nestling against her. Mom was so warm.

“Mhm.”

“Don’t just ‘mhm’ me! What about your identity documents?” Luo Jing asked worriedly. “What gender did you register for the marriage?”

“Omega,” Xiaoxiao answered automatically.

Luo Jing felt like the sky had fallen. How could her daughter make such a catastrophic mistake?

“How could you—” She pushed Xiaoxiao away and gripped her shoulders.

“Shh~” Xiaoxiao placed a finger against her lips. “Be good and don’t get too worked up. Do you even remember how you died last time?!”

“What?” Luo Jing froze, pressing a palm to Xiaoxiao’s forehead. Had the girl lost her mind? What nonsense was she spouting?

Xiaoxiao swatted her hand away. “I’m fine—you’re the one with problems. You act like you’ll die if you go a day without drinking or smoking.”

Luo Jing shrunk back, avoiding eye contact. “I’ve quit drinking now.”

“Really?” Xiaoxiao yanked open the bedside drawer.

Before Luo Jing could stop her, a half-empty pack of women’s cigarettes came into view. Xiaoxiao picked it up and shook it. “Confiscated. What’s the point of smoking these all day?”

“Alright, alright.” Luo Jing found her daughter unusually naggy today, but she was still touched by the concern.

“Can I at least—”

“No,” Xiaoxiao cut in. “No compromises. Were you playing word games earlier? ‘Quit drinking’—what about the cigarettes? Ridiculous.”

Seeing her daughter so assertive, Luo Jing actually felt a pang of grievance. “You little brat, lecturing your mother after barely any schooling yourself.”

“True, I’m uneducated. But now that I have money, I’m willing to try adult self-study exams.”

“Really?!” Luo Jing’s eyes lit up, tears glistening. “My child…after all these years, you’ve finally come around…”

Xiaoxiao’s lips twitched. Come around to what?

You realized last lifetime that I wasn’t cut out for studying—better suited for boxing.

“Anyway, I just came to check on you. I have to leave soon.”

“Going to that variety show, right?” Luo Jing’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “You and your so-called wife… And how come you’re so good at acting cute? You’re not really an Omega, are you?”

Luo Xiaoxiao rolled her eyes. “Whether I’m an Omega or Alpha, if anyone should know, it’s you.”

Luo Jing’s expression darkened. “I know it’s because your father and I had inferior genes that you were born with such a low rank.”

What was this about?

This was the first time Luo Xiaoxiao had heard the term “rank.” So in this world, even among Alphas and Omegas, there were hierarchical distinctions?

She made a mental note to investigate this later.

“I’m perfectly fine as I am. Whatever rank I am doesn’t matter as long as I’m healthy.”

“Alright then.” Luo Jing sighed, knowing her daughter was just trying to comfort her. How could a low-ranking Alpha possibly have good physical attributes?

She probably wasn’t much different from an ordinary Beta. These things were determined at birth—both she and Xiaoxiao’s father had simply been unlucky. Though her father had been even more unfortunate, dying so young.

Luo Xiaoxiao could see the guilt in Luo Jing’s eyes.

“Don’t look at me like that,” Luo Xiaoxiao said with a bitter smile. Don’t wear that expression like you’ve wronged me.

Luo Jing paused. “You’re acting strange today. Could it be… that my joke earlier was true? Are you really not my daughter?”

“Your nonsense skills are top-notch,” Luo Xiaoxiao scoffed.

The perfectly measured curve of Luo Xiaoxiao’s smirk—that disrespectful look was unmistakably her daughter’s.

Their conversation was interrupted by Luo Xiaoxiao’s phone. It was a message from Xiao Chen saying Li Fanshuang wasn’t seriously injured, and Sun Lei suggested they return early if there was nothing else to do.

“Alright, let me know if you need anything.”

“What could I possibly need? My only wish is that no one finds out about you. If they do, you’ll probably be beaten to death,” Luo Jing grumbled.

Who would have thought this child would do something so dangerous for her illness?

That was the nation’s Alpha, after all.

If Xiaoxiao’s identity were exposed, she’d likely be drowned in public scorn.

“Worry about yourself more. Don’t worry about me,” Luo Xiaoxiao reassured before leaving. If she stayed any longer, she might not be able to bring herself to go.

She hadn’t expected Ms. Luo Jing to be so much like her own mother.

“What are you still doing here?” Xiao Chen’s tone carried a hint of reproach.

As Luo Xiaoxiao opened the door, she was met with Xiao Chen’s impatient face. She knew the other woman looked down on her current self.

But the money she was earning belonged to Li Fanshuang—what right did Xiao Chen have to judge her?

Her expression darkened at the thought. “Is spending time with my own mother a crime now?”

Xiao Chen was momentarily speechless—that wasn’t what she’d meant at all.

“That’s not it,” Xiao Chen said, composing herself. “It’s just that Yuan Zhiqing is here. I suggest you—”

Before she could finish, Luo Xiaoxiao had already vanished.

Upon reflection, Li Fanshuang had been perfectly normal at first—an excellent caretaker at the national park. How did she suddenly collapse like this?

It must be because of that person!

Yuan Zhiqing is definitely suspicious!

Luo Xiaoxiao refused to think kindly of her.

When she entered the hospital room and opened the door, she saw Yuan Zhiqing hovering uncomfortably close to Li Fanshuang.

Yuan Zhiqing was about to feed her a piece of apple.

Li Fanshuang’s face was full of reluctance.

“Darling! How could you trouble our guest like this?”

Luo Xiaoxiao snatched the apple from Yuan Zhiqing’s hand and shoved her aside with a bump of her hip.

Caught off guard, Yuan Zhiqing staggered back.

“Xiaoxiao?” Li Fanshuang shot her a warning glance—there were cameras here.

This Yuan Zhiqing would stop at nothing to fabricate a romantic pairing with Li Fanshuang.

“Xiaoxiao, I was just here to visit Shuang-jie…”

Luo Xiaoxiao lifted her gaze, her cold stare freezing the rest of Yuan Zhiqing’s words in her throat.

“I came to visit Shuangshuang.”

Wow, Xiaoxiao just went full alpha mode!

 

That was so rude!

 

Rude? That woman’s a veteran green-tea act! She was all over someone else’s wife—of course Xiaoxiao would be furious!

Meanwhile, the apple that Li Fanshuang had refused to eat despite Yuan Zhiqing’s coaxing was now in Luo Xiaoxiao’s hand. Within moments, Li Fanshuang took a bite.

“How is it?”

“Not tasty.” Li Fanshuang frowned slightly.

Luo Xiaoxiao was speechless—that wasn’t what she meant.

She had wanted to ask how Li Fanshuang was feeling.

Li Fanshuang collapsing during the variety show had terrified her.

Of course, public opinion was divided, with most claiming Li Fanshuang was just cowardly.

Yuan Zhiqing’s expression darkened, especially when she realized the cameras were no longer favoring her.

Every lens was now focused on Luo Xiaoxiao and Li Fanshuang.

Yuan Zhiqing knew that staying any longer would only make her a laughingstock.

“I’ll leave you two to chat. I sneaked out during a mission, so I shouldn’t linger.”

Luo Xiaoxiao shot her a disdainful glance, silently mourning the unlucky guy paired with her—his luck was terrible, always ending up with useless partners.

Sneaking out during a mission? Such irresponsibility.

Of course, Luo Xiaoxiao was certain she and Li Fanshuang wouldn’t have to deal with someone like her in the future.

“What’s wrong?” Li Fanshuang, noticing her silence, assumed it was bad news from Luo Jing. “Did something happen with your mom?”

Luo Xiaoxiao shook her head and suddenly laughed. “Why would you think that? Mom’s fine—no issues. She said they’ve matched a kidney donor, and the surgery’s scheduled in a couple of days.”

“That’s good.” Li Fanshuang exhaled deeply.

Then, silence fell between them again.

Li Fanshuang found it unbearable. Luo Xiaoxiao had always been like a chatterbox around her—why was she suddenly so quiet?

“Sun Lei said we should head back soon,” Li Fanshuang said after a long pause.

Luo Xiaoxiao hummed in agreement, her gaze worried. “How are you feeling? Are you well enough to go back?”

Li Fanshuang nodded, the oversized hospital gown making her appear even more frail. Yet her eyes shone brightly as she said, “I’m fine. The doctor said I just have some hormonal imbalance.”

“Imbalance?” Luo Xiaoxiao didn’t understand this condition—it didn’t exist in her previous world.

“Just an old issue,” Li Fanshuang lied with a bitter smile. She herself didn’t know what was wrong with her body.

Just moments ago, Lu Chenfeng had explained to her—essentially, a highly compatible Alpha had appeared, affecting her condition.

But these were words she couldn’t share with Luo Xiaoxiao, after all, their marriage had been a deception from the very beginning.

“You’re fine, that’s what matters,” Luo Xiaoxiao said with a gentle smile.

She was no longer the carefree, unserious person she had been at the start. Now, she was acting completely proper.

But being overly proper led to another problem—Luo Xiaoxiao didn’t know where to put her hands.

Should she clasp them demurely in front of her? That wouldn’t be bad, but wouldn’t it seem a little too… performative? Would Li Fanshuang dislike that?

It was frustrating, really. She had no idea what to do.

Ah, whatever. Luo Xiaoxiao sighed inwardly.

She decided to just go with the flow. After all, she was only Li Fanshuang’s contractual wife.

Once she accepted that, she actually felt a little lighter. She sat quietly beside her.

Li Fanshuang received a message from Sun Lei: “The program crew’s car will pick us up soon. You should rest for now.”

Guilt gnawed at her. Because of her, Luo Xiaoxiao probably hadn’t even eaten yet.

“Are you hungry?” Luo Xiaoxiao opened a food delivery app—there were plenty of good options near the hospital.

Li Fanshuang nodded. She was indeed a little hungry. “A bit. Are you ordering? I’d like to have…”

“What?” Luo Xiaoxiao looked up when she didn’t continue, only to meet Li Fanshuang’s slightly dazed expression.

Li Fanshuang shook her head, a wry smile tugging at her lips. “I was just thinking… I miss your cooking.”

Luo Xiaoxiao’s fingers froze mid-scroll. She blinked at Li Fanshuang, the air between them thick with something unspoken—awkward yet intimate.

Li Fanshuang lowered her gaze, unable to meet Luo Xiaoxiao’s eyes.

Luo Xiaoxiao quickly looked away too. “I found a decent rice noodle place nearby. I’ll order that, okay?”

“Mm.” Li Fanshuang responded neutrally. What was happening to her?

She took a deep breath and opened Weibo.

Luo Xiaoxiao’s phone buzzed—a message from her friend.

Nan Jiu: How are you holding up? Falling for an Alpha?

She unlocked her phone.

Big Laugh: Not exactly falling.

 

Nan Jiu: Honestly, same. But I just really like being around them.

Luo Xiaoxiao stared at the screen, fingers hovering. Her eyes darkened, as if brewing a farewell. Maybe some feelings should never have existed in the first place.

Her mind flashed to a vast mountain range and a towering abandoned baby tower.

A moment later, the images faded.

Only one thought echoed in her heart: Xiaoxiao, you have to be happy.

Right. She had to be happy. Why dwell on impossible things?

Big Laugh: Let it happen naturally. If you’re each other’s ‘Miss Right,’ you’ll find a way.

She sent the message with a small smile, her gaze drifting back to Li Fanshuang.

It didn’t matter if they were the same gender. As long as they were together now, wasn’t that enough?

Luo Xiaoxiao was an optimistic person. She chided herself for overthinking things. As for her identity, perhaps one day she could reveal it naturally—it wasn’t as complicated as she imagined.

Nan Jiu: Right? I think you’re correct.

Knock knock knock—

“Hello, your food delivery.”

A panting male voice came from outside the door.

Li Fanshuang seemed to have composed herself as well, looking up toward the entrance. “Why does this delivery guy’s voice sound a bit odd?”

Luo Xiaoxiao raised an eyebrow. “Maybe because I ordered quite a lot.”

“How much could it be?” Li Fanshuang couldn’t help but laugh bitterly.

But reality proved her naive—Luo Xiaoxiao’s appetite was truly terrifying.

She had actually ordered five portions of rice noodles for herself.

“Are you sure eating that much won’t be a problem?”

Li Fanshuang was concerned about her stomach. In the world of actors, hardly anyone ate like this.

Luo Xiaoxiao patted her chest reassuringly. “Don’t worry.”

She was already starving.

Just as they finished the meal, the production team arrived.

When Sun Weiliang pushed the door open and saw the stack of takeout boxes Luo Xiaoxiao had left behind, he showed little reaction.

But the new staff member behind him wasn’t as composed—it was her first time seeing someone eat so much. She had previously worked in logistics at the studio and had only seen Luo Xiaoxiao eating on TV, assuming it was just for publicity.

Witnessing it firsthand was genuinely shocking.

“I actually have some great protein shakes here. If you’re looking to bulk up, you could give them a try,” Sun Weiliang, standing beside Sun Lei, suggested.

Luo Xiaoxiao waved him off. “Life’s all about eating and drinking.”

She wasn’t the ascetic type.

Sun Weiliang watched her with envy. Why didn’t he have that kind of metabolism? He’d gain weight just from an extra sip of water.

“Everyone has their own struggles. You gain weight easily—I lose it too easily.”

Li Fanshuang didn’t quite follow their conversation and turned to Sun Weiliang. “How did you get here?”

Now, every time she saw Sun Weiliang, she thought of bicycles. She was half-afraid he’d arrived on one.

Sun Weiliang’s expression shifted slightly. “I’m not here to pick you up. I came to visit my junior brother and just dropped by to see you both.”

“Junior brother?” Luo Xiaoxiao blinked, only now noticing the absence of a cameraman behind him. So he really was here for personal business.

“I’m here to escort you two,” a production staff member raised their hand. “I’m actually a fan of your pairing—could I get your autographs?”

Autographs? Luo Xiaoxiao paused. In her past life, she’d signed for fans all the time, but this was a first in this one.

Li Fanshuang didn’t refuse either, gesturing for the person to come closer before signing her name on their clothing.

Luo Xiaoxiao picked up the pen and signed her English name right beside Li Fanshuang’s.

Sun Weiliang’s eyes narrowed slightly when he saw the signature.

Why did Luo Xiaoxiao add a “UFC” suffix when signing? That was a habit many fighters had.

“Teacher Luo…”

Sun Weiliang was about to say something when Luo Xiaoxiao quickly redirected. “Teacher Sun, what happened to your junior brother? Why is he in the hospital?”

“He got beaten by someone from Japan during this morning’s match,” a staff member interjected first.

Luo Xiaoxiao’s expression instantly darkened. “Call him back!”

Sun Weiliang swallowed hard. Why had Luo Xiaoxiao’s mood suddenly soured? Was she like him—someone with strong nationalistic sentiments?

The staff member didn’t understand what was happening, but Sun Lei had already sent a message urging them to proceed. After exchanging a few words with Li Fanshuang and obtaining her consent, she led Luo Xiaoxiao and Li Fanshuang away first.

During the car ride back, Luo Xiaoxiao remained silent, staring at the match footage playing on her phone. She watched frame by frame as Sun Weiliang’s junior brother was knocked down.

After the knockdown, the Japanese fighter didn’t hold back—he stepped forward and snapped the junior brother’s thigh bone.

Luo Xiaoxiao’s gaze was fixed on the screen, her fingers gripping the phone so tightly they turned white.

“Xiaoxiao?” Li Fanshuang noticed something was off and called out to her twice, but received no response.

Helpless, Li Fanshuang snatched the phone from her hands.

“You—” Luo Xiaoxiao looked up, the murderous glint in her eyes fading the moment they met Li Fanshuang’s.

“What’s wrong?” She suppressed her irritation.

Li Fanshuang turned off the phone screen. “That’s what I should be asking you. I’ve been calling you for ages. What did you mean by what you said to the boxing champion at the hospital?”

Luo Xiaoxiao took a deep breath, steadying herself. “I’m too thin. I’m trying to bulk up.”

“And? What’s all that about rice paste?”

Seeing Li Fanshuang’s earnest expression, Luo Xiaoxiao found it somewhat endearing. “Right now, everything I eat is carbs, but mixed with other stuff like seasonings and oils—so it’s not clean carbs. Rice paste is pure.”

Li Fanshuang nodded in understanding. “I didn’t realize you knew so much about this.”

“Yeah, I used to fight—” Luo Xiaoxiao caught herself mid-sentence.

“Fight what?” Li Fanshuang eyed her.

“You misheard. I said I used to massage, so I had to learn about these things. A lot of clients were overweight.”

“Is that so?” Li Fanshuang’s smile widened. “No wonder I love your cooking so much. You really are a professional.”

Luo Xiaoxiao chuckled.

“What were you watching so intently earlier?” Li Fanshuang had seen the boxing match but didn’t understand it. Could it be that Xiaoxiao was into that kind of Alpha?

Luo Xiaoxiao sighed. “That was Sun Weiliang’s junior brother. The opponent was a Japanese fighter. Even after our fighter was incapacitated, the other guy still went ahead and broke his thigh.”

“On purpose?!” Li Fanshuang’s voice rose sharply.

Luo Xiaoxiao nodded gravely. “Yes.”

What she hated most were those who treated the octagon as a playground for sadism.

The octagon was a no-holds-barred arena, but matches were meant to be controlled sparring, not slaughter.

“Looks like Sun Weiliang will be leaving our show soon,” Luo Xiaoxiao said, leaning back into her seat.

Though she hadn’t spent much time with Sun Weiliang, she knew enough to be certain—that guy wouldn’t lose.

Now calmer, Luo Xiaoxiao calculated the money she had on hand. Given Sun Weiliang’s reserved nature, he wouldn’t stir up unnecessary controversy. The odds would likely be quite favorable when the time came.

“Today’s mission was actually to set up a street stall?” Li Fanshuang stared at the trending hashtag on her phone. Lu Yu and Zhu Yuxin had performed quite well.

Sun Weiliang left halfway, while Yuan Zhiqing ultimately gave up on the task.

Ye Zhao and her partner were mediocre, earning less than Lu Yu’s team.

“I have a bad feeling about this,” Li Fanshuang clicked her tongue. “That bastard Sun Lei isn’t going to make the two of us go next, is he?”

Luo Xiaoxiao leaned over to check the show’s preview. “Looks like that’s exactly what he’s thinking.”

Li Fanshuang let out a long sigh. “I swear this dating show is more exhausting than filming dramas.”

“I think…” Luo Xiaoxiao gritted her teeth. “We should just beat Sun Lei up.”

A staff member in the front row turned around. “Teacher Luo, our cameras are rolling. The director can hear you right now.”

“Oh.” Luo Xiaoxiao replied indifferently with a single word. Like I care what he thinks.

Hahaha, that’s our Xiaoxiao for you—try to guilt-trip me? I have no morals to begin with.

 

This show is so weird. It’s called True or False Lovers, but they make you travel on a shoestring budget every day without even giving you money. How are you supposed to fall in love like this?

 

Hey, don’t be so cynical.

 

How am I being cynical? Have you seen the Weibo threads roasting Sun Lei? They’re already over 10,000 replies deep.

Honestly, you’re all distracted by Li Fanshuang fainting. Meanwhile, I’m still stuck on Xiaoxiao’s kick in the haunted house. What happened to that staff member?

Seeing this comment, the staff member figured it might be time to spice things up.

“Teachers, our online viewers have a lot of questions for you.”

Luo Xiaoxiao half-narrowed her eyes, silent.

Li Fanshuang raised an eyebrow, catching the faintly amused, gossipy smile on her lips. “Are you sure it’s the audience who wants to know?”

The young girl coughed lightly, her eyes burning with curiosity as she stared at Li Fanshuang. “Teacher Li~”

“Stop right there!” Luo Xiaoxiao lifted a hand, eyeing the girl’s youthful face. “What’s with the aegyo at your age? Trying to test a cadre’s resolve?”

With that, she snuggled into Li Fanshuang’s arms, whining and shamelessly flopping onto her wife’s lap. “Wifey, why is she acting cute with you?”

Li Fanshuang: Why does it feel like karma’s coming back to bite me?

“Go ahead and ask,” Li Fanshuang said to the camera, as poised and gentle as ever.

Encouraged, the girl immediately turned to Luo Xiaoxiao. “Teacher Luo, what was that move you used at the old dye house? It was amazing! Weren’t you a masseuse before? How are you so skilled?”

Luo Xiaoxiao paused, then looked up. Li Fanshuang also glanced down at her.

Their gazes met in midair.

Li Fanshuang smiled. “I’ve been wondering the same thing.”

After all, aside from swimming, she had always assumed this little Omega was delicate.

A mist clouded Luo Xiaoxiao’s eyes again—this time, genuine emotion.

The mountains of her past resurfaced in her mind.

“My mother raised me alone. I grew up surrounded by wolves. To survive, I often had to do things I didn’t want to do. But…”

The girl’s hesitation made Li Fanshuang’s heart clench. Could it be that those clients had…?

“You all know I used to work in massage therapy, so to protect myself, I learned some self-defense stances.”

“Teacher Luo is truly gifted,” the young girl said with a twitching lip. Luo Xiaoxiao really had a way with words.

Whether the others believed her or not was unclear, but those few sentences had genuinely swayed Li Fanshuang.

When they returned to the production team, Lu Yu and Zhu Yuxin came back with a full haul—the two had made quite a profit selling candied hawthorns at their stall.

“Xiaoxiao!” Lu Yu rushed forward and hugged Luo Xiaoxiao, urgently scanning her. “Are you okay?”

Zhu Yuxin was baffled by her reaction. “Wasn’t it Actress Li who fainted?”

“As long as you’re fine,” Ye Zhao and Qin Heya also returned to the villa at that moment.

Luo Xiaoxiao frowned and muttered, “Why is one missing?”

Not far away, a staff member suddenly shouted, “Emergency! Teacher Yuan has fallen into the water!”