The Salted-Fish Alpha and the Actress Got Their Marriage Certificate - Chapter 16

Chapter 16

In the continuous drizzle, under the dim yellow lamplight, a lone Alpha and Omega walked hand in hand, strolling along the long stone steps.

The moment the scene flashed in her mind, Ye Cike’s pupils contracted slightly. She could even hear her own heartbeat, pounding far faster than normal.

She had never held an Omega’s hand in her entire life!

Seeing Ye Cike freeze while holding the umbrella, Xi Ling’s gaze dimmed. Most of her beautiful face was hidden in the bamboo shadows, adding a touch of fragility.

“It’s just a few steps,” she mumbled under her breath, her thick eyelashes drooping, as if complaining about someone’s indifference.

Ye Cike’s heart trembled, like it had been brushed by a cat’s tail—itchy and tingling.

If she refused such a small request, she’d blame herself for her inaction! It was just holding hands, a friendly and caring gesture. What was the problem with that?

Quickly steeling herself, Ye Cike reached out confidently and said, “Come on.”

Xi Ling lowered her eyes and slowly extended her hand. Her hands were fair and slender, even her nails neatly trimmed and harmless, strikingly beautiful.

The next second, Ye Cike’s hand was tightly grasped by Xi Ling.

Instinctively, Ye Cike curled her fingers, gripping back.

Perhaps because of the cold night breeze, Xi Ling’s fingertips were slightly chilly, while Ye Cike’s palms, due to her constitution, were always warm and dry.

It felt like holding a piece of snow, the cold and warmth intertwining. Heat continuously transferred through their skin, and the snow seemed to slowly melt in her palm, blending seamlessly.

Ye Cike almost held her breath. The sensation of their skin touching was too extraordinary!

Xi Ling naturally leaned most of her weight on Ye Cike’s hand for balance, softly asking, “Aren’t we walking?”

“Oh, right.” Ye Cike belatedly turned her head, focusing on the path beneath her feet.

They walked one behind the other, the bamboo-lined path twisting and turning, seemingly endless, as if time itself had slowed down.

The mist blurred the distant scenery and their vision. Ye Cike felt a bit dazed, wondering if it wouldn’t be nice to keep walking like this for a while longer.

Click! The sound of a high heel landing.

The force transmitted through their hands snapped Ye Cike back to reality.

Xi Ling’s heel seemed to have caught on the steps. Losing her balance, her body tilted forward like a bird with broken wings.

As she was about to fall into Ye Cike’s arms, Ye Cike reacted swiftly, dropping the umbrella to steady Xi Ling’s shoulders. Her other hand held firm, barely shaking.

Xi Ling’s forward momentum stopped just inches away. Ye Cike let out a sigh of relief—almost a full embrace!

Taking advantage of someone in distress was unacceptable!

Once Xi Ling steadied herself, Ye Cike bent down to pick up the umbrella, remarking, “Good thing you were holding my hand, or you might not have stayed upright.”

Xi Ling: “”

She lifted her gaze faintly, staring unblinkingly at Ye Cike, unconsciously grinding her back teeth.

Ye Cike didn’t notice, still concerned. “Did you twist your ankle?”

In that brief moment, Xi Ling’s hair was adorned with fine raindrops, like a layer of frost, and her face bore a few wet streaks, dripping with moisture.

“I’m fine,” she replied coolly, then casually let go of Ye Cike’s hand. “Let’s go.”

The path ahead was much smoother, so letting go made sense.

Still, when that warmth slipped away, Ye Cike felt a pang of loss.

She seemed to have grown addicted to the feeling of their skin touching, reluctant to let it go.

But her own feelings were trivial. Ye Cike frowned, recalling the earlier scene, and hesitated. “Are you…”

Xi Ling glanced at her, expression innocent. “Am I what?”

She wasn’t afraid of Ye Cike seeing through her little scheme; she even faintly anticipated it. She wanted to know what Ye Cike was thinking. Was she truly indifferent to her?

“Are you feeling faint from eating too little at dinner? Low bl00d sugar, maybe?”

Xi Ling felt her bl00d pressure spike. What was she even expecting? The sun rising in the west?

“Just a misstep,” she said, composing herself and offering a polite smile. “Have you ever had a girlfriend?”

“Hmm?” Ye Cike had never been asked so directly. After a few seconds, she replied, “No. Why’d you suddenly ask?”

“No reason. I just think you’re pretty great. Probably a lot of Omegas like you, right?” Xi Ling carefully watched her step, her tone flat, betraying little emotion.

She couldn’t help but grumble inwardly: some people had a reason for not finding a girlfriend.

Tilting the umbrella more toward Xi Ling, Ye Cike touched her own face with the back of her hand, a bit uneasy. “Before today, I’d never even held an Omega’s hand.”

“You’re the first.”

Her honesty was so straightforward that Xi Ling felt as if she’d been singed by fireworks. Her mind blanked, forgetting her prepared response.

The first. Did that carry special meaning?

Her gaze wavered, and she forcibly suppressed her wandering thoughts, stiffly changing the subject. “Thanks. Even with all the online buzz, you still took the time to go over the process with me.”

Few celebrities ignored their own trending topics, unless they were playing the controversy game.

In past scandals, Ye Cike had dutifully issued statements, though whether others believed them was another matter.

“You mean the trending searches?” Ye Cike replied casually. “Don’t care.”

Even her past statements were posted by Ning Lan on her behalf. She had no interest in such matters and wasn’t swayed by them.

“You don’t care about a lot of things,” Xi Ling remarked.

“Because they’re not important.”

Ye Cike’s response was matter-of-fact; she genuinely didn’t take these things to heart. During her variety show days, she’d said “I don’t care” with the same nonchalance. Xi Ling grew curious—what could actually move her?

She curved her lips, asking offhandedly, “What’s important, then?”

Ye Cike actually thought it over. The rain pattered on the umbrella, light and soothing like a lullaby.

She realized she hadn’t walked in the rain like this in a long time.

Especially with someone by her side, the chilly atmosphere melted away, replaced by calm comfort.

Hmm, if Xi Ling could eat a bit more, that’d be even better.

Speaking her thoughts aloud, Ye Cike said, “Eating and sleeping are important. Gaming and traveling, too.”

Realizing her answers weren’t exactly profound, she gave a self-deprecating smile. “Or maybe having a meal with you is way more important than online trends or troll wars.”

If she wanted to take it easy, so be it—it didn’t hurt anyone.

A wooden archway engraved with “Wang Jiangnan” loomed ahead, but Xi Ling suddenly stopped, standing still.

“What’s wrong?” Ye Cike turned back, startled by Xi Ling’s tearful expression.

Xi Ling took a shaky breath, her eyes misting over. “Ye Cike, my foot hurts a bit.”

Ye Cike glanced at Xi Ling’s ankle—slender and pale. But Xi Ling seemed to be in real pain, her lashes trembling as if tears might fall.

Some sprains weren’t visible on the surface. Maybe she’d been pushing through the pain and only spoke up when she couldn’t bear it. Ye Cike instinctively offered her arm for support.

“You’re wearing a skirt, so carrying you might be tricky. It’s just a few steps, so lean on me.”

Xi Ling let out a small, aggrieved “Oh.”

She seemed dissatisfied with the solution but didn’t argue, obediently holding Ye Cike’s arm and limping toward the parking lot.

Her compliance made Ye Cike wonder if she’d done enough.

Maybe she should’ve carried her? Would Xi Ling have been okay with that?

A car’s headlights flashed nearby, clearly there to pick up Xi Ling. Ye Cike helped her into the car, frowning as she advised, “Put a hot compress on it when you get back. Better yet, get an X-ray at the hospital.”

Xi Ling gave Ye Cike a deep look, clutching her two boxes of candy and mumbling, “Okay.”

The car door closed, and the tall figure outside waved as the vehicle pulled away, gradually fading from sight.

Xi Ling deftly unwrapped a lemon candy, her cheeks puffing as she chewed, gazing at the blurry, hazy lights outside the window.

She muttered to herself, “Why did I wear a skirt today?”

Xiao Xiang, driving the car, looked visibly confused.

Then Xi Ling added, “Why didn’t Ye Cike wear a jacket? It’s so cold.”

Xiao Xiang: “”

“Does she not know how to temporary mark? Do I have to teach her?”

Xiao Xiang: ?

Did Xi Ling even know what she was saying?!