The Black Lotus Wife Forces Me to Pretend to Be an Omega. - Chapter 48

Ever since kissing Li Fanshuang, Luo Xiaoxiao’s mental state had become somewhat unstable.

The most obvious change was her sleep. She used to sleep soundly, but that night, she couldn’t fall asleep at all.

Every time she closed her eyes, she would remember how Li Fanshuang had cupped her face and kissed her fiercely.

“Ugh—” Waking up flushed for the Nth time, Luo Xiaoxiao realized she was still shamelessly clinging to Li Fanshuang in her sleep.

This was bad!

Luo Xiaoxiao wanted to cry—was she really this shameless deep down?

But then again…

She shifted her hand slightly, the soft warmth beneath her palm sending her heart racing again.

What kind of fabric was Li Fanshuang’s pajamas made of? They were so plush…

Li Fanshuang lay with her back to Luo Xiaoxiao, eyes wide open. What was this girl doing, fidgeting with her clothes in the middle of the night?

She felt both nervous and expectant. Just as she thought Luo Xiaoxiao might finally have some sense, a murmur came from behind her.

“What material are Li Fanshuang’s pajamas? They don’t even have static…”

Li Fanshuang was speechless. She must have been blind to think Luo Xiaoxiao had any romantic awareness.

Just as she was about to turn around, Luo Xiaoxiao spoke again.

“Li Fanshuang… you’re really an Omega, huh? Do you… like me?” Her voice carried a hint of grievance.

Luo Xiaoxiao sighed, staring at Li Fanshuang’s motionless back. What was wrong with her?

“Am I being too cautious?”

So what if she knew how things might end?

“I might not necessarily die, right? If you found out who I really am, would you send me to prison?”

“And if I went to prison… would you have me killed?”

“Never mind…”

She pressed her face against Li Fanshuang’s back and mumbled softly, “I’m not scared of you anymore. I like…”

Li Fanshuang’s heart skipped a beat. Was that so?

What Luo Xiaoxiao didn’t realize was that the reason for her restlessness wasn’t her complicated emotions—it was because she was in her rut.

Alphas in rut became extremely vulnerable, and Luo Xiaoxiao, already a weak Alpha, was even more sensitive during this time.

Li Fanshuang could sense her unease—Luo Xiaoxiao’s pheromones had unintentionally betrayed her.

In the darkness, the scent of cherry liqueur lingered around Luo Xiaoxiao’s nose, gradually lulling the anxious Alpha into sleep.

In her dreams, that voice returned to torment her again.

Terrified, Luo Xiaoxiao wanted to keep hiding her feelings for Li Fanshuang.

Just as she was about to give up, Li Fanshuang appeared, holding a glass of cherry liqueur. “Sweetheart, let’s go home, okay?”

Luo Xiaoxiao looked at her—her eyes curved into crescents, filled with the warmth of spring blossoms.

“Mm!” She placed her hand in Li Fanshuang’s palm, feeling completely at ease.

Li Fanshuang woke with a deep exhale, only to find Luo Xiaoxiao already gone.

“Did she go train again?” Rubbing her still-groggy head, she frowned.

“Huh?” Why was there an unfamiliar pheromone scent in the room?

She couldn’t smell her own pheromones, but she knew Luo Xiaoxiao’s had a green tea scent. Yet now, an entirely new minty fragrance permeated the room.

Li Fanshuang’s eyes gleamed as she pulled out her phone to call Lu Chenfeng.

“Hello?” The voice on the other end sounded somewhat impatient.

Li Fanshuang didn’t care about Lu Chenfeng’s attitude. “Your condition might have a cure—Xiaoxiao’s pheromones have evolved.”

Lu Chenfeng fell silent for a long time after hearing this. Her grip on the phone tightened unconsciously, her fingertips turning white. After a full two minutes, her voice trembled as she asked, “Are you serious?”

“Dead serious. Lu Chenfeng, aren’t you going to try?”

“I’ll think about it.”

With that, Lu Chenfeng hung up.

“What’s wrong?” Yuan Zhiqing, still half-asleep, instinctively tightened her embrace at the disturbance.

Lu Chenfeng didn’t answer immediately, glancing at her sideways. “I might still have a chance.” A chance to become a complete Alpha.

Yuan Zhiqing’s expression shifted slightly. She traced Lu Chenfeng’s features with her fingers. “No matter who you are, I just like Dr. Lu.”

Lu Chenfeng’s gaze flickered. She reached out and grasped Yuan Zhiqing’s hand. “If I were an Alpha, I could go back.”

Go back?

Yuan Zhiqing’s eyes darkened as she recalled the phone call Lu Chenfeng had received not long ago—from her half-brother.

“Sis, if you’re useless, stay out of Hucheng’s affairs.”

“Lu Chenfeng.” Yuan Zhiqing shed her usual playful demeanor, her expression turning serious for the first time. “Go back. Take back everything that belongs to you.”

Lu Chenfeng scoffed. “Belongs to me?”

“I’m a little scared,” she chuckled, the laughter laced with suppressed madness, nothing like someone truly afraid.

Yuan Zhiqing patted her cheek. “Scared of what? What do you even have to lose?”

Lu Chenfeng stared at her intently. “I didn’t before. Now I do.”

“Pfft.” Yuan Zhiqing laughed. “Should I feel honored?”

“Of course.”

A hint of complexity flashed in Yuan Zhiqing’s eyes. Most of their time together had been spent on less-than-proper activities.

She knew this wasn’t a normal relationship.

She also knew they were both sick—she with her polydipsia, and Lu Chenfeng with her underlying penchant for cruelty.

“If Dr. Lu doesn’t mind, you can tell me your secrets. Your little dog won’t spill them.”

The term “little dog” sent a sharp jolt through Lu Chenfeng, but this time, she restrained her impulses. Her heart ached briefly.

“My family…” Lu Chenfeng’s smile was no longer carefree, tinged instead with self-mockery. “My mother died—killed by my father and his mistress. The funny thing is, I thought that woman was kind… until the day I turned eighteen…”

–

When Luo Xiaoxiao returned to the hotel, she was surprised to find Li Fanshuang hadn’t gone to the filming set—and that Zhu Yuxin had shown up in her room first thing in the morning.

“What’s going on?”

The atmosphere between them was tense, the air thick with unease.

Luo Xiaoxiao swallowed nervously. It was the first time she’d seen Zhu Yuxin’s expression look so terrifying.

“Yuyu is being forced into marriage by her father.” As she spoke, Zhu Yuxin placed her phone on the table.

Luo Xiaoxiao looked down.

Wealthy Hu City family seeks live-in son-in-law!!!

Luo Xiaoxiao narrowed her eyes, “What kind of nonsense is this? Has Old Yu lost his mind?”

“At first I thought he wouldn’t disregard Yuyu’s feelings, but now he’s even issued a public announcement. It might be real.”

The dark circles under Zhu Yuxin’s eyes looked painfully concerning.

Luo Xiaoxiao pursed her lips, thinking for a long moment, “Maybe we should go check it out.”

“The Lu family in Hu City isn’t that simple,” Li Fanshuang raised an eyebrow. “I suspect Lu Yu can’t even contact the outside world right now.”

Luo Xiaoxiao frowned, remembering the messages she’d sent to Nan Jiu and Frying Pan.

Nan Jiu had replied quickly.

She wasn’t sure if Frying Pan had responded yet.

Checking her phone, she saw their chat remained unread.

“I need to go to Hu City too. I’m afraid Yuyu might do something drastic,” Zhu Yuxin stood up.

Li Fanshuang shot her a glare, “You came to me because you want me to persuade Lu Chenfeng, didn’t you? And now you’re putting on this act in front of me?”

Zhu Yuxin glanced sideways, “Since you know what I’m thinking, why…”

Li Fanshuang chuckled lightly, “You don’t understand Lu Chenfeng, nor the Lu family.”

“I truly don’t, but I know if the Lu family intervenes, even Old Yu would be powerless.”

“The current head of the Lu family isn’t Lu Chenfeng,” Li Fanshuang said.

Luo Xiaoxiao narrowed her eyes. The book had contained very little information about Lu Chenfeng’s family, only mentioning she and Li Fanshuang were somewhat childhood friends.

They’d met during their senior year of high school.

Strangely enough, Lu Chenfeng had transferred from Hu City to Jincheng during this crucial final year.

“The Lu family’s waters run terrifyingly deep. Do you think Lu Chenfeng’s stepmother is someone to be trifled with?”

“Huh?”

Luo Xiaoxiao sensed some juicy gossip in this.

“Lu Chenfeng is sick,” Li Fanshuang stated bluntly.

Luo Xiaoxiao gasped, “But isn’t she a doctor?”

“Not that kind of sickness,” Li Fanshuang’s expression turned dark and dangerous.

Luo Xiaoxiao and Zhu Yuxin exchanged glances—what kind of sickness then?

“Lu Chenfeng has sadistic tendencies,” Li Fanshuang said casually, as if discussing the weather rather than her friend.

“Sadistic tendencies!” Luo Xiaoxiao was shocked—was this the kind of sadism she thought it was?

But the book had portrayed Lu Chenfeng as pure and deeply affectionate!

It said that during her darkest days in senior year, Li Fanshuang had appeared as the light in her life.

“Do you know why she became a doctor, specifically an pheromone specialist? In medical school, her best performance was actually in surgery.”

Zhu Yuxin and Luo Xiaoxiao felt chills down their spines—just hearing this was terrifying.

Zhu Yuxin asked, “What does this have to do with asking her to help save Yuyu? Are you worried she might dissect Old Yu if she’s in a bad mood?”

Li Fanshuang rolled her eyes, “I’m explaining the Lu family situation to you. I suspect Lu Chenfeng will come looking to collaborate with you soon.”

“Oh?” Zhu Yuxin narrowed her eyes—did this mean Lu Chenfeng would definitely help them?

The Lu family was among Hu City’s elite families, though this status only came after the current head remarried.

In the beginning in Hucheng, the Lu family was insignificant, just a minor company at the bottom of the hierarchy.

The current head of the Lu family and his wife had an arranged marriage, having grown up together since childhood. They enjoyed a happy life together for a time after their wedding.

Lu’s wife, Gu Yuyin, possessed remarkable business acumen. She helped elevate the Lu family to unprecedented heights.

Lu Ting was a designer—his talents lay in creativity rather than commerce. After marriage, he always followed his wife’s lead. But later, an Omega entered his life, one who truly understood him. This Omega never mentioned money in his presence, only art.

He fell in love.

“Gu Yuyin once called my mother, asking what she should do because it seemed her husband had fallen in love with someone else.”

Gu Yuyin was an exceptionally composed woman. When she discovered everything, she didn’t act impulsively but instead planned for her daughter’s future. She couldn’t tell her daughter that the homeroom teacher she adored most had destroyed their family.

Yet on the day her daughter came of age—the day she presented—the other woman stormed into their home with her son, a boy merely three years younger than her daughter.

“From the moment Lu Chenfeng’s presentation failed, she lost control of the Lu family. That boy presented as an Alpha three years later.”

Li Fanshuang’s words plunged the two into silence.

Luo Xiaoxiao didn’t quite understand the inheritance customs of this world. “I don’t get it—can only Alphas become heirs?”

Zhu Yuxin shook her head. “Of course not. But compared to Alphas, Betas only produce Beta offspring, while current research shows that AO genes…”

She left the rest unsaid.

Luo Xiaoxiao smiled bitterly. “How utterly tedious.”

Her mind conjured images of towering infant-abandonment towers—apparently such things existed in every timeline.

“Before her death, Gu Yuyin begged my mother for help. Lu Chenfeng came to Jincheng and, with my mother’s assistance, successfully became a doctor.”

Li Fanshuang finished her story.

Zhu Yuxin slapped her thigh. “I never imagined it would be so complicated! That Lu Chenfeng just gave up like that? If it were me, I’d have made those two bastards pay!”

Li Fanshuang neither agreed nor disagreed. After all, Zhu Yuxin was the most outstanding heir of their generation—the youngest yet most capable. Had it been her, perhaps the mistress and illegitimate child wouldn’t have grown so brazen.

Beep Beep beep—

The phone rang. It was Lu Chenfeng calling.

Li Fanshuang answered.

“Put Zhu Yuxin on. I deleted her contact,” came Lu Chenfeng’s icy voice.

Zhu Yuxin wasn’t offended. When she’d previously approached Lu Chenfeng about pharmaceutical business, she’d known the woman wasn’t interested.

But now it seemed… she’d developed an interest.

Damn it! Zhu Yuxin cursed inwardly. If she weren’t in need of Lu Chenfeng’s help right now, she’d ignore her completely.

Zhu Yuxin waved at Li Fanshuang. “Put it on speaker. There’s no one else here.”

The moment Li Fanshuang activated speakerphone, Lu Chenfeng’s voice declared, “Zhu Yuxin, let’s work together.”

Her tone made Zhu Yuxin’s brow furrow in displeasure.

“Do you still think you’re the young mistress of the Lu family?”

“My mother left me some people in Hucheng. As long as I’m willing to return, they’ll follow my lead.” Lu Chenfeng didn’t hold back, laying all her cards on the table.

She remembered the disappointed look in her grandfather’s eyes when she turned eighteen—because she was just a Beta. The Lu family was like that; only Alphas had inheritance rights.

But she no longer wanted to continue like this.

Li Fanshuang’s gaze darkened. Did this mean Lu Chenfeng had accepted her proposal?

“I want to go back.”

“And in what capacity?” Li Fanshuang replied indifferently.

Lu Chenfeng scoffed. “As Lu Chenfeng. As Gu Yuyin’s daughter. Zhu Yuxin, just give me a straight answer—do you want to work with me or not?”

“Fine.” Zhu Yuxin didn’t hesitate either. She had her own heavy responsibilities.

Lu Chenfeng continued, “I have 30 billion left to me by my mother, along with a group of the Gu family’s old retainers. That pharmaceutical project you mentioned earlier has potential, but you know how it is—biotech companies develop too slowly.”

“Then invest in clubs and films with me.”

Zhu Yuxin glanced up at Li Fanshuang and Luo Xiaoxiao.

The married couple shrank back slightly. Why did it feel like Lu Chenfeng and Zhu Yuxin were treating them like workhorses?

Li Fanshuang objected, “Forget it, I don’t want to work—”

“Your studio account only has a few million left, doesn’t it?” Zhu Yuxin said bluntly.

Li Fanshuang shut her mouth.

Luo Xiaoxiao’s jaw dropped. What?

My wife’s account only has that much?

Her mind flashed back to the first day she met Li Fanshuang, when she had transferred her 100,000 yuan, and then—

“The anti-fraud app said I exceeded the daily transfer limit.”

Luo Xiaoxiao stared at Li Fanshuang in disbelief. “You were that broke, and you still acted like a big shot in front of me?”

Li Fanshuang turned her head away, refusing to acknowledge the comment, muttering under her breath, “Still better than someone whose bank balance was only 3,000 yuan.”

Luo Xiaoxiao fell silent. She had imagined Li Fanshuang might one day send her to prison, but she never expected her to wound her with such cruel words.

“If we’re going to set a trap for the Lu family, the best method is right in front of us,” Zhu Yuxin said, grinning like a fox.

Li Fanshuang and Luo Xiaoxiao exchanged confused looks.

On the other end of the call, Lu Chenfeng understood her plan. “You want to drag Old Yu into this?”

Li Fanshuang thought Zhu Yuxin had lost her mind. Old Yu practically hated her—how could she even consider involving him?

“Old Yu is a businessman, and the Lu and Lu families have significant overlapping business interests. If the Lu family runs into trouble, what do you think Old Yu would do?” Zhu Yuxin spread her hands.

“Your plan is good, but I think Old Yu’s son-in-law recruitment will attract a bunch of ill-intentioned people,” Lu Chenfeng pointed out the key issue.

“So your idiot brother has already started provoking you,” Zhu Yuxin chuckled. No doubt he had sent his own people to vie for Old Yu’s son-in-law position.

Lu Chenfeng didn’t deny it. She had considered this too—the simplest way for the Lu family to swallow the Lu family.

“What other brilliant ideas could he and that homewrecker mother of his possibly have?”

Lu Chenfeng sneered.

“Then arrange a trip to Hucheng with me. We’ll go see Old Yu first, but ideally…” Zhu Yuxin said, her gaze shifting to Luo Xiaoxiao and Li Fanshuang beside her.

“What’s up?” Luo Xiaoxiao felt uneasy under her stare, as if Zhu Yuxin was about to sell her out.

Li Fanshuang rolled her eyes at Zhu Yuxin. “Xiaoxiao and I still have business in Fancheng. You can go gather information first. I suggest you check on Yuyu discreetly.”

“Fine.” Zhu Yuxin stood up, ending the call with Lu Chenfeng. “I’ll be going now.”

After she left, Li Fanshuang rubbed her temples in frustration. “So annoying.”

Luo Xiaoxiao reached over to massage her temples. “Why are you so worked up over something that’s not your problem?”

Feeling Luo Xiaoxiao’s gentle touch, Li Fanshuang gradually relaxed. “You don’t understand—it’s related to my family issues too,” she said wearily.

Luo Xiaoxiao didn’t get it. “You can talk to me about it.”

The book hadn’t elaborated much on the protagonists’ backgrounds, as if their sole purpose was romance, with nothing else in their lives.

“I only want to act, but my Alpha mother expects me to take over the family business.”

Luo Xiaoxiao understood, hiding her envy. She admired Li Fanshuang’s privileged upbringing—having her future mapped out for her, so different from her own life.

Li Fanshuang’s path was paved with flowers, even as an actress. “But I didn’t like it, so I became an actress, starting as an extra and working my way up…” There was a fire in her eyes that unsettled Luo Xiaoxiao.

After a brief moment of unease, Luo Xiaoxiao gazed at her face. “Li Fanshuang, you’re so beautiful.”

“Huh?”

You’re truly stunning. Even as an Alpha debutant, you’ve carved your own path to stardom. But me? I’m just wild grass from Longshan.

Luo Xiaoxiao chuckled bitterly. Wouldn’t it be better if Li Fanshuang remained this innocent forever?

Li Fanshuang frowned. She knew Luo Xiaoxiao’s thoughts—she didn’t believe her steady rise in the entertainment industry was without her mother’s help. But why was Luo Xiaoxiao so sorrowful? Had she been through something?

Li Fanshuang didn’t dare ask. “So you don’t want to involve your family?”

“Right.” Li Fanshuang nodded. “What do you think about Lu Yu’s situation?”

Luo Xiaoxiao pictured the young lady who always said “daddy.” “Her father loves her too, but he’s stubborn about certain things. Still, I think Old Yu would let them be together even without Zhu Yuxin’s interference.”

Li Fanshuang paused. In her memory, Old Yu was rigid. “You…”

“He loves Yuyu.” Luo Xiaoxiao smiled brightly yet sadly—he loved his daughter. That smile pained Li Fanshuang.

Her mind flashed to the vast mountains, recalling the grimy girl who once held her hand as they walked through the hills. “Some things are in the past now.”

“Of course.” Luo Xiaoxiao raised her eyebrows and crossed her arms, as if the sorrowful person from moments ago wasn’t her at all.

“I might not come back to stay tonight or tomorrow.” Luo Xiaoxiao’s competition date was approaching, and the weigh-in session was coming up soon.

Li Fanshuang frowned. “Not coming back? Who are you staying with? Min Nanxi?”

“Ah?” Luo Xiaoxiao felt there was a hint of jealousy in Li Fanshuang’s words.

“Don’t forget you’re already married.” Li Fanshuang frowned, her usually calm eyes now tinged with irritation.

Luo Xiaoxiao chuckled ingratiatingly, “Darling, I’m just going for training. Remember the weigh-in?”

Li Fanshuang recalled that terrifying experience—was Luo Xiaoxiao planning to…?

“Then take care of yourself,” Li Fanshuang said with concern.

Luo Xiaoxiao nodded, “Don’t worry, I’m very experienced with this sort of thing.”

Li Fanshuang felt speechless. That wasn’t what she meant, but seeing Luo Xiaoxiao so relaxed, it seemed something between them had disappeared.

“Xiaoxiao,” Li Fanshuang called softly.

She wanted to reveal the secrets hidden in her heart—to tell Luo Xiaoxiao she already knew her identity, that she knew Luo Xiaoxiao was an Alpha, and to ask her not to feel burdened.

“Hmm?” Luo Xiaoxiao felt her face grow warm under that gaze but couldn’t bring herself to look away.

Li Fanshuang stared intently into her eyes, “If someone kept something from you, would you be angry?”

Luo Xiaoxiao hesitated, her eyes darting away, unable to meet Li Fanshuang’s gaze.

Why was she asking this? Did she know my secret?

“I don’t know? That came out of nowhere. Who’s keeping things from me? You?”

Li Fanshuang paused, hurt flashing in her eyes, “I thought you already knew I’m an Omega.”

She said it!!!

Something inside Luo Xiaoxiao screamed wildly—Li Fanshuang had actually said it to her face.

“Aren’t you afraid I might be a bad person?” Luo Xiaoxiao grew nervous.

Li Fanshuang hummed in acknowledgment, “I don’t think so. Xiaoxiao has been very good to me, hasn’t she?”

“Just okay,” Luo Xiaoxiao chuckled nervously, trying to brush past the topic, but Li Fanshuang seemed unwilling to let it go so easily.

Li Fanshuang leaned closer to her ear, “Xiaoxiao, I’ve told you my secret. Don’t you have anything to tell me?”

“Like what?” Luo Xiaoxiao shrank back slightly.

Li Fanshuang’s eyes darkened as she nuzzled against Luo Xiaoxiao’s neck, inhaling deeply, “I really like Xiaoxiao’s scent, don’t you agree? My Alpha.”