Willing to Be for Her - Chapter 7

Chi Li froze mid-bite of her caramel pudding, her silver spoon suspended motionless in mid-air. “So you’re saying you were betrothed as children?”

“Exactly! They said we’d wait until we differentiated at sixteen, then have an engagement party at eighteen,” Xia Zhiwan winked at Luo Xuan, her laughter bright and mischievous, leaving it unclear whether she was joking or serious. “Too bad we lost contact later.”

Luo Xuan had just taken a sip of cranberry juice, a clear droplet clinging to her lip. The candlelight cast a soft glow, accentuating her vivid beauty.

Xia Zhiwan’s directness left Luo Xuan utterly speechless. She had never encountered someone so forthright, like a relentless flame charging forward.

“My mom, I—” Luo Xuan’s palms grew clammy. She took another sip of cranberry juice and, predictably, choked.

Under the table, Chi Li kicked Luo Xuan’s leg at the opportune moment. She knew Luo Xuan, with her awkward social skills, would be overwhelmed by the situation.

*She was so brave and fearless when she stood up for me and chased away those bullies,* Chi Li thought, *but now she’s completely frozen up.*

“Luo Xuanxuan, Sister Zhiwan is just teasing you,” Chi Li said, her mouth falling open in surprise as she noticed a strikingly elegant woman standing a meter away from their table.

The woman carried a plain suit jacket draped over her arm. Her long hair flowed like silk, and her white shirt was buttoned all the way up.

The snow-blue Buddhist prayer beads on her wrist made her seem like a celestial being who had descended from the moonlit heavens, radiating an aura of glacial purity and the clean fragrance of White Sandalwood.

“President Ning?” Chi Li felt a sudden wave of dizziness.

She was about to tug at Luo Xuan’s sleeve and say how fortunate they were to encounter such a powerful business magnate again when she saw Ning Yiqing gently stroke Luo Xuan’s hair, her long, jade-white fingers curling around the ends.

“Xiao Xuan, out for dinner with friends?”

At this sudden encounter, Luo Xuan felt the White Sandalwood scent, which seemed to permeate her very being, envelop her completely, especially where Ning Yiqing’s fingers lightly brushed her hair.

“Ning Yiqing,” Luo Xuan blurted out unconsciously.

“This must be a dream, I’m definitely dreaming,” Chi Li muttered beside her, unable to stop her rambling. *When did Luo Xuan get involved with Ning Yiqing?*

It wasn’t that she thought Luo Xuan wasn’t good enough for Ning Yiqing, but how could two people from such seemingly disparate worlds have found common ground?

*No, I need to interrogate Luo Xuan properly later.*

Qin Shiyi joined the group, eager to join the commotion. She greeted Luo Xuan with a smile, noticing the suspicious flush creeping across her face. “Luo Xuan, we meet again. Have you missed Yi Qing?”

Luo Xuan’s face burned crimson, and she couldn’t utter a word.

Ning Yiqing picked up a napkin and gently wiped the juice from the corner of Luo Xuan’s mouth, her long lashes lowered slightly. “Don’t pay her any attention.”

Only then did she turn to Xia Zhiwan, who was sitting across the table. She nodded slightly in greeting. “Miss Xia, what a coincidence.”

“Indeed, what a coincidence. Meeting President Ning requires considerable effort. My team waited outside Ningyi Building for a month, and we never even caught a glimpse of you.”

Unfazed by Xia Zhiwan’s teasing, Ning Yiqing pushed up his half-rimmed silver glasses, his demeanor aloof and refined. “I was indeed away on business. I apologize for keeping you waiting so long, Miss Xia.”

At that moment, the restaurant manager rushed over and bowed deeply to Ning Yiqing.

“Chairman Ning, I wasn’t aware these ladies were your guests. We’ll immediately prepare a private room for them. From now on, they’ll have access to the chef’s special menu, with ingredients flown in fresh daily.”

“Thank you,” Ning Yiqing nodded.

The restaurant manager’s face lit up with excitement, and he hurried off to instruct the staff to prepare the private room.

“President Ning, you’re too generous. I’ll accept your kindness for now, but next time, I’ll treat you to dinner alone to discuss the art museum collaboration.”

“It would be my honor,” Ning Yiqing replied with a slight bow. His slender, pale fingertips brushed inadvertently against Luo Xuan’s earlobe, hidden beneath her dark hair and fair skin. The delicate skin flushed a faint pink, a subtle display of restraint that sparked the imagination.

“That concludes our meal perfectly, Chi Lixuan. Shall I drive you home?” Xia Zhiwan rose gracefully, accepting a small bag from her driver. Smiling, she said, “Here, I bought milk tea for you two from that newly opened shop. It’s quite good.”

“No need to trouble yourself. We’ll take Luo Xuan and little Chi Li home,” Qin Shiyi said, desperately signaling Ning Yiqing with her eyes. She wanted to jump onto the table and shout, *Someone’s trying to steal your girl right in front of you! Can’t you show some reaction?*

“Very well,” Xia Zhiwan turned to Luo Xuan and Chi Li, her smile widening. “Let’s plan another outing soon. We’ll take you to the new amusement park. And Luo Xuan, I deeply admire your talent. I hope you’ll consider joining our team.”

Luo Xuan, in her socially awkward state, instinctively flashed Xia Zhiwan a polite smile and nodded. “Okay.”

Xia Zhiwan departed first.

“I thought Xia Zhiwan’s family owned a hospital. Why is she so involved in these side projects? Don’t her elders disapprove?”

“And her younger sister,” Ning Yiqing replied calmly, his expression unchanged.

As they left the restaurant, a light drizzle began to fall.

Due to a childhood kidnapping incident, Ning Yiqing’s security measures remained at the highest standard. Seven or eight bodyguards accompanied him, with a lead car clearing the way.

Seated in the passenger seat, Qin Shiyi fastened her seatbelt and occasionally glanced back at Ning Yiqing in the back.

In the dimly lit car, neon lights from the city flashed intermittently across the interior. The woman, draped in a suit jacket, her slender waist concealed beneath a white blouse, rested with her eyes gently closed, her posture relaxed yet upright against the seat back.

Meanwhile, Luo Xuan sat beside her, enduring Chi Li’s “confess and be lenient, resist and be punished” gaze. An unspoken tension simmered between them, confined to the undercurrents of their interaction.

Chi Li stole glances at Ning Yiqing. Though the woman’s expression remained serene and her tone gentle, the aura of someone who had long occupied the pinnacle of power—a detached, almost emotionless authority—left Chi Li half-paralyzed with nervousness.

Finally, when they reached their destination and Chi Li could disembark, she first thanked Ning Yiqing, then bid farewell to Qin Shiyi and Luo Xuan. Only after the car had driven away did she swiftly pull out her phone, open WeChat, and send a message to Luo Xuan:

Luo Xuanxuan, you heartless wretch! You kept this from me for so long!

Spill the beans about your relationship with Chairman Ning! Is she your half-sister or something?

On the other side, Luo Xuan gripped the milk tea bag tightly. She noticed Ning Yiqing seemed exhausted; the hand wearing the Buddhist prayer beads lay limp on the seat, like a clear moon reflected in a tranquil lake.

Luo Xuan gazed mesmerized at this artful hand until her phone vibrated.

After reading Chi Li’s message, Luo Xuan chuckled softly and immediately replied:

She’s not related to me by bl00d. She’s not my sister.

Chi Li seemed to be glued to her phone, sending two more messages just seconds later.

Or maybe you two have some secret, thrilling PY relationship? Could it be the kind where a powerful business tycoon falls for a romantic artist who loves sculpting, willing to break your wings just to keep you by his side?

Or is it that the tycoon can’t have you, so he’s willing to lower himself, abandon everything, and become your nameless, powerless lover? Suppressing his desires, yet unable to resist.

As Chi Li’s theories grew increasingly absurd, Luo Xuan sighed and rubbed her forehead.

You’ve been reading too many novels. We’re married. We had a quiet ceremony half a year ago, so not many people know.

After sending this message, it vanished into the void. Chi Li remained silent for what felt like an eternity.

“Xiao Xuan, let’s get out of the car.”

Luo Xuan put down her phone and turned to see Ning Yiqing standing outside the car door, holding a silver-handled umbrella and extending a hand toward her.

The woman’s fingers were cool and smooth, with distinct joints. As Luo Xuan took her hand, she felt the heat in her body instantly dissipate.

“You haven’t been back these past few days. Did you remember to make peppermint water for yourself?”

The two rode the elevator up from the underground garage, Ning Yiqing occasionally turning to ask Luo Xuan.

“Yes, I did.”

“Three mint leaves, one lemon slice, and 45-degree warm water. Did I get it right?”

“Yes, I’m not a child anymore.”

Ning Yiqing stopped walking, turned to face Luo Xuan, and nodded earnestly. “That’s right, Xiao Xuan has grown up.”

Upon reaching the second-floor dressing room of the villa, she settled languidly into a velvet armchair, half-closing her eyes and murmuring, “I’m going to take a bath. You can go back to your room later.”

Without waiting for Luo Xuan’s response, the woman rose and headed straight for the bathroom.

The sound of rushing water filled the air as Luo Xuan sat on the sofa, sipping her mint water.

Gradually, the scent of White Sandalwood seemed to melt into the humid warmth, enveloping her senses. The dampness heightened Luo Xuan’s already sensitive hearing, putting her on high alert.

“Oh, right, Xiao Xuan, you’re not allowed to drink milk tea. It’s bad for your health.”

“But Sister Zhiwan made it for me.”

“No milk tea.”

After a moment, the woman added, “Because it’s unhealthy.”

The woman’s voice, laced with a hazy dampness, pierced through the sound of water, seeping into every inch of Luo Xuan’s nerve cells. It conjured a disorienting, dreamlike hallucination, as if rainwater were soaking her entire body.

Luo Xuan lay limp and half-reclined on the sofa, drifting into the hazy state that precedes heat.

It wasn’t until Ning Yiqing, her long, wet hair cascading down her back and her eyes rimmed with a flushed, heat-induced redness, knelt before her and pressed a hand to her forehead to check her temperature.

The woman had dampened the stray strands of hair framing Luo Xuan’s forehead. The S-Class pheromones sent her thoughts spiraling into chaos, her fragile nerves bombarded with vivid fragments:

The crimson streaks on her soft lips, the bruises on her pale wrists, the black raindrops from the beating, the arc of light reflecting off the woman’s silver-rimmed glasses, the cotton candy the same color as her reproductive cavity…

Sensing Luo Xuan’s growing loss of control, Ning Yiqing bit her pale lips, as if desperately suppressing something.

She retrieved a new black muzzle from the drawer, her fingers trembling slightly as she fastened it onto Luo Xuan.

Luo Xuan instinctively tried to obediently secure the buckle, but her fingertips, slick with moisture, kept slipping, causing her to fail repeatedly.

Physiological tears streamed down Ning Yiqing’s face, blurring her silver-rimmed glasses. The tear mole beneath her eye shimmered faintly in the dampness.

She knelt beside Luo Xuan, gently fastening the restraints.

The sofa was soaked with pheromones and fluids, radiating the languid, ambiguous scent of afterglow.

It was a warmth she had long forgotten.

Anyone entering the room would immediately sense what had transpired.

Fleeing as if seeking refuge, Ning Yiqing retreated to the bed and changed into a silk nightgown.

Exhausted, Luo Xuan clung to the blanket, too drained to remove the muzzle. She simply lay on her side, gazing at Ning Yiqing.

The muzzle had been worn for too long, leaving faint red marks on the girl’s pale face. The neat, symmetrical lines added an unsettling, almost morbid beauty.

“You’re graduating soon, right? Have you found a job yet?” Ning Yiqing asked, wiping the tears from the corners of her eyes, her voice slightly hoarse.

“Sort of,” Luo Xuan replied, her voice muffled by the muzzle, her eyelashes glistening with moisture.

“Your major is economics, isn’t it?”

“I don’t like economics, so my work isn’t related,” Luo Xuan said, rubbing her eyes. “The Luo family insisted I study it, saying it would help me join the company later.”

Ning Yiqing, having regained some strength, helped Luo Xuan remove the muzzle. “Then how did you end up compromising?”

Judging from that dinner between the two families, Luo Xuan seemed to be the biggest rebel in her family, often making the Luo family lose face.

“Years ago, to borrow money from the Luo family for my mother’s medical treatment, Grandpa declared that I had to obey him until I turned eighteen,” Luo Xuan said with a wry smile. Her beautiful eyes sparkled with a bright light, showing no signs of being suffocated by such oppressive patriarchal control.

Ning Yiqing felt a pang of bitterness and sighed softly.

Luo Xuan carefully reached out to stroke Ning Yiqing’s hair, savoring its silky texture. “The more they order me around, the more I enjoy watching their faces turn red with anger. It’s quite amusing.”

Perhaps it was the physical intimacy and the soothing effect of their pheromones that comforted Luo Xuan’s low spirits. Even though she was so tired she could barely keep her eyes open, she continued to chat animatedly with Ning Yiqing.

“Ning Yiqing, besides stargazing, is there anything else you’re particularly fond of?”

“Not really,” the woman replied, carefully examining her own feelings. She wasn’t surprised to find her emotions remained calm and still, like a tranquil pool. She had grown accustomed to maintaining this serene state of mind. “What about you?”

“So many things!” Luo Xuan exclaimed. “I love fireworks, the ocean, fireflies, all kinds of wood, and beautiful carving knives.” She secretly added “White Sandalwood” in her heart, but didn’t voice it aloud.

Ning Yiqing gazed at Luo Xuan’s clear, almost translucent face, radiating with vibrant, youthful longing—romantic, innocent, and deeply affectionate, as if embodying all the pure and beautiful things in the world.

For some inexplicable reason, the woman suddenly recalled a childhood hobby.

“Actually, I used to really enjoy bartending.”

Luo Xuan’s eyes lit up instantly. She had never imagined that Ning Yiqing, who seemed like an ascetic deity bound by strict rules, would have such a wild and alluring passion.

“Why did you stop?” Luo Xuan asked, genuinely puzzled. To her, pursuing one’s passions, even if it meant burning oneself out, was a source of joy and fulfillment—a choice worth making, even if it led to ruin.

Chi Li often teased her for this, calling her the ultimate romantic.

“There are more important things and responsibilities. Knowing when to let go is the wisest choice.”

“Hmm, it sounds like a pity,” Luo Xuan said, watching Ning Yiqing’s composed expression as she spoke. Yet she couldn’t help but feel that Ning Yiqing, who always made the right choices, didn’t seem truly happy.

The soft patter of rain outside the window broke the silence. Ning Yiqing turned off the light, and the lingering scent of their intimate entanglement seemed to fade slightly.

“There’s nothing to regret. Go back to your room. I’m going to sleep.”

Knowing Ning Yiqing’s habit of sleeping alone, Luo Xuan nodded and skillfully slipped out of bed, returning to her own room. Before leaving, she glanced back at the spot where the star lights had once hung—now spotless and pristine.

A heavy, fragmented feeling seeped through the darkness. Exhausted yet unable to fall asleep quickly, Luo Xuan’s thoughts swirled chaotically as she suppressed the burning ache in her chest, greedily inhaling the lingering scent of White Sandalwood.

That clean, orderly, and intellectually aloof fragrance.

She had always warned herself to only dabble lightly in this marriage and affection.

But when her secret longing was met with the woman’s tender, entwining response, who could possibly pull away after just one touch?

Once you’ve smelled White Sandalwood, you’re bound to sink deeper and deeper. Whether heaven or hell lies ahead, you can’t seem to care anymore.

The night passed, and when Luo Xuan woke up, Ning Yiqing had already left.

The woman maintained an extremely disciplined routine, never allowing anyone or anything to disrupt or alter it.

Opening her phone, Luo Xuan found exactly what she expected: a barrage of WeChat messages from Chi Li. Dozens of “Ahhh!”s expressed her exaggerated excitement, followed by enthusiastic congratulations.

Since you two have been married so long, haven’t you thought about doing something romantic? Like surprising Goddess Sister for her birthday?

Luo Xuan sighed at the nickname Chi Li had given Ning Yiqing and sent a voice message:

“It’s not like I haven’t thought about it. Her birthday’s coming up soon, but I’m worried she’ll be too busy. Plus, I only recently learned her preferences, and I want to make it perfect. There’s just not enough time.”

Why don’t you just ask her? You’re being such a perfectionist again! If you don’t have enough time, just give her the gift later! It’s not like you only get one birthday with Goddess Sister. You’re hopeless!

Encouraged by her friend’s words, Luo Xuan decided to act immediately. After agonizing over several drafts, she ultimately settled on her usual minimalist style:

Ning Yiqing, can I celebrate your birthday with you?

After sending the message, Luo Xuan received a reply almost immediately, barely having time to fret.

Check my schedule then.

Even with this uncertain response, Luo Xuan began preparing a gift with meticulous care.

For the next month, Ning Yiqing was frequently away on business trips, still flying around the country even the week before her birthday.

The Luo family, overjoyed by Luo Wei’s improving health, threw lavish banquets for relatives and friends even before Luo Wei was discharged from the hospital.

Three days after Luo Wei’s release, they expanded the banquet again, inviting everyone they could think of, all in the hopes of securing good fortune.

Luo Guoren sent Luo Xuan an invitation, but with remarkable tact, he didn’t pressure her to attend, merely saying, “Come if you want.”

After all, he was terrified that his rebellious, headstrong daughter—a full-blooded S-Class Alpha—might disrupt the grand celebration for her sister.

Luo Xuan initially had no intention of going. But as she sat in her secret base, idly playing with a sharp carving knife while listening to Chi Li’s soft, coaxing voice, she found herself wavering.

“Come with me, Xuanxuanxuan! There’ll be so much delicious food at the banquet!”

“I thought you were on a diet,” Luo Xuan retorted, mercilessly calling her out.

“Please, please, please? I’m begging you!”

Luo Xuan set down her carving knife, its metal glinting sharply in the sunlight. She knew Chi Li wanted to see Luo Wei and her stepmother, and might even be planning to cause trouble.

“Chi Li, the banquet will be full of business elites. You’ll be walking that path someday too. Don’t do anything that harms you more than it hurts them.”

“Then why are you so fearless? I remember a few years ago when the Luo Family was opening an art museum. When they opened your mother’s storage room, there wasn’t a single sculpture left. You almost bankrupted the whole family that time,” Chi Li said, glancing at Luo Xuan’s melancholy yet beautiful face. *That must have been so cool,* she thought.

Hearing this, Luo Xuan lowered her gaze and smiled softly, a hint of dark, almost morbid beauty flickering across her features.

“They scorned wood carvings. I simply ensured they would never see another one. No one touches my mother’s things.”

Sensing a flicker of defiance in Luo Xuan’s eyes, Chi Li quickly patted her friend’s arm and said with a smile, “Alright, cheer up! Get some rest and take care of yourself. You’re married now—you have a whole lifetime of happiness ahead of you.”

Seeing Chi Li wink mischievously, Luo Xuan laughed genuinely. Thinking of her relationship with Ning Yiqing, she felt as if her life had never been so full of hope and sunlight. For the first time, she truly looked forward to the future.

The banquet hall was carpeted in luxurious red, its walls adorned with dark green wallpaper trimmed in gold, creating an atmosphere of unparalleled opulence. Luo Xuan and Chi Li arrived slightly late, the dinner having already begun ten minutes prior.

Luo Xuan had casually donned a black evening gown, her fair, exquisite butterfly-shaped back concealed beneath a matching sheer shawl, revealing a sharp yet ethereal beauty—like solid ice beneath a frozen sea.

The moment Luo Wei saw Luo Xuan, this image flashed through her mind.

Her half-sister, with whom she shared a close bl00d relation, was notorious among the elders for her rebellious spirit.

Whenever their grandparents spoke of Luo Xuan, they would shake their heads and lament what a pity it was.

Luo Wei understood their regret. Luo Xuan had been the first grandchild they acknowledged, exceptionally intelligent from a young age. The tragedy was that her pheromone level had steadily declined from S-Class, casting doubt on whether she would even survive past twenty-one.

For the Luo Family, who desperately needed outstanding Alphas, this outcome was unacceptable.

Meanwhile, Luo Wei’s own S-Class pheromone level had secured her and her mother’s recognition by the Luo Family, naturally positioning her as the rightful heir.

Everything she possessed would be the best, including her marriage partner.

As for Luo Xuan, she was just a pitiful, short-lived girl, not worth wasting any effort on.

On the contrary, Luo Wei genuinely wanted to help her younger sister, whose miserable fate stirred her compassion.

Luo Wei weaved through the crowd of perfumed gowns and elegant hairstyles until she reached Luo Xuan. “Did you enjoy the meal today?”

“It was alright.”

“Eat more. If there’s anything you don’t like, just tell me. Make yourself at home,” Luo Wei said, patting Luo Xuan on the shoulder before smiling and walking away.

“Xuanxuanxuan, Luo Wei is so arrogant! Just because she’s starred in a few leading roles, she acts like she’s too good for everyone,” Chi Li said, glaring at Luo Wei in her lavish gown. She held up a glass of red wine and took a theatrical sip. “This is awful! I don’t understand why everyone pretends to like it.”

Luo Xuan shrugged.

“You were treated like a pampered princess when you were little. How did you adjust to living a normal life? You never seemed to care about any of that stuff.”

“It’s not that I didn’t care at all,” Luo Xuan said, then laughed mockingly and defiantly.

Chi Li doubled over with laughter. If Luo Xuan had cared about power and status, she would have crawled back to the Luo Family on her knees long ago.

“Tomorrow is President Ning’s birthday. Do you think she’ll be able to come back?”

“I don’t know,” Luo Xuan replied, her smile radiant as she thought of the gift she had tucked into her coat. “She’s been so busy lately, barely any time to rest this past month. It’s okay if she can’t make it.”

Chi Li was about to sigh when she noticed a crimson stain on Luo Xuan’s nose. “Xuanxuan, you’re having a nosebleed!”

Clutching her nose, Luo Xuan weaved through the crowd of elegantly dressed guests, their laughter and chatter filling the air. She felt a sudden heat rising within her, realizing another episode was coming on.

Inside the restroom, the crystal chandelier cast a clear, bright light. After confirming the bleeding had stopped, Luo Xuan turned to leave when she overheard two women chatting in slightly slurred voices.

“Some people just want to climb the social ladder. Everyone knows how this world of fame and fortune works. Those who appear so refined on the surface are the ones who most enjoy corrupting the pure, breaking the proud, and forcing the arrogant to sell their smiles.”

“What do you mean?”

“Haven’t you heard? There’s this little Alpha in the industry who thought she’d landed a sugar daddy because of her looks. Turns out, the sugar daddy already had someone he loved, and as soon as his real partner returned, he kicked the little Alpha to the curb. They say he wouldn’t even let her mark him temporarily—talk about humiliating!”

“Not even a temporary mark? That’s brutal. It’s clear she was just being used.”

Inside the stall, Luo Xuan clenched her fists. After a long moment, she stumbled back to Chi Li’s side.

Leaning back in her chair, Chi Li noticed Luo Xuan’s pale face and quickly draped her coat over her shoulders. Just as she was about to ask if she was okay, the young woman froze as if struck by a spell.

Outside the side door of the banquet hall, where wooden branches were carved into the doorframe, the rainy night glowed faintly. A lantern woven from flowering vines swayed gently before the entrance.

A woman emerged from a black, silver-roofed sedan. Her dark, subtly patterned suit shimmered with a unique luster and texture, as immaculate and unattainable as the moon hanging high above.

Ning Yiqing walked through the misty rain, her presence radiating a pristine nobility that forbade any hint of impurity or desecration.

“Your Goddess Sister is back! Go greet her!” Chi Li patted Luo Xuan, genuinely happy for her friend.

President Ning had secretly returned, undoubtedly knowing where Luo Xuan was and coming to surprise her.

Luo Xuan’s chest swelled with a mix of bittersweet longing and bubbling joy. The feverish heat in her body and the effervescent happiness made her feel like a small boat tossed about in a dizzying storm.

Just as Luo Xuan was about to approach, Luo Wei, resplendent in an elaborate gown, darted ahead and ran toward Ning Yiqing, her smile radiant.

“Yi Qing, thank you for making the special trip to attend my banquet. I was worried you wouldn’t have time to celebrate my release from the hospital.”