37

The investigation would take time, so the competition team, understanding how exhausted the contestants were, gave everyone a break, saying they would notify them once the results were in.

Shi Yue didn't leave right away. She helped Zhou Leya back to her workstation, continuing to soothe her. "Don't be upset. No matter what happens, your talent won't go unnoticed."

Zhou Leya seemed dazed, as though she hadn't fully recovered.

Hearing Shi Yue's words, she looked up at her, shaking her head with a complicated expression. "If I miss this chance, I don't know if I'll ever…"

"There will definitely be a turn of events. Right now, the most important thing is for you to get some rest," Shi Yue said, feeling concerned. "Where are you staying? I'll take you home."

"No need," Zhou Leya quickly refused.

She reached out and gently hugged Shi Yue, whispering in her ear with gratitude, "Thank you… I'm okay now." Releasing her, she tried to force a smile. "You're tired too. Go home and get some rest."

Shi Yue sighed.

After bidding Zhou Leya farewell, she returned to her workstation, packed her things, and was about to leave when someone took her bag from her hand.

Leng Yanmi stood there, wearing a pair of black sunglasses, her outfit low-key.

"You've worked hard," she said simply, her voice carrying a familiar warmth.

Shi Yue's mood brightened immediately.

It had been nearly ten days since they last saw each other, and her life had been consumed by work. It felt like she hadn't had time to think about anything else. But now, seeing Leng Yanmi standing in front of her, all the suppressed longing surged up, making her heart feel hot.

She exhaled a breath of warm air but, aware of the busy staff around them, refrained from doing anything inappropriate. After a few moments, all the love she wanted to express was reduced to a simple, playful remark: "You look beautiful today, Auntie."

Leng Yanmi's eyes were hidden behind her sunglasses, so it was hard to read her expression. Her lips formed a thin line. "Where do I look beautiful?"

"Everywhere," Shi Yue responded without hesitation. "You're so beautiful, I can't take my eyes off you."

Leng Yanmi smiled slightly and reached out her hand.

She hesitated for a moment, unsure where to place it, before gently pinching Shi Yue's cheek.

They walked out of the venue together and got into Leng Yanmi's sports car.

From behind a nearby pillar, Shen Lingling's face was pale. "Shi Yue… she's really gotten close to Auntie?"

Unlike her, Leng Mingchuan's face was dark. "I told you that woman is a snake. Auntie has been completely bewitched!"

Shen Lingling clutched his arm. "Auntie is just playing with her, right? Or is she… is she actually serious about her?"

The possibility of either outcome was unbearable for both of them, and Shen Lingling didn't dare to finish her sentence.

Leng Mingchuan spoke with conviction, "Of course, she's just playing! How could she be serious about someone like Shi Yue?"

Shen Lingling sighed with relief but still couldn't shake her worry. "Auntie looks completely infatuated. I don't know when she'll realize…"

Leng Mingchuan frowned. "Auntie has a pheromone disorder. Great-Grandfather had tried introducing her to potential partners, but she refused every time, saying she didn't want to burden anyone."

"So what tricks did Shi Yue use to make Auntie keep her around?"

Shen Lingling sneered, "Probably lies and sweet talk. She's great at putting on an act."

Leng Mingchuan suddenly had an idea. "You're right."

He felt like he had grasped the key to the situation. "Auntie's never been in a relationship before, so it's understandable she'd be momentarily fooled by Shi Yue. But once she meets a real match, someone better suited for her, Auntie will definitely come to her senses!"

Shen Lingling blinked. "Do you have a plan?"

A woman's face flashed in Leng Mingchuan's mind.

Smiling, he turned to Shen Lingling. "I know what to do. Just wait. Once Auntie wakes up and dumps Shi Yue, I'll make sure you get your revenge!"

Shen Lingling smiled, leaning her head on his shoulder. "Mingchuan, you're so good to me…"

Leng Mingchuan didn't respond, lowering his head to kiss her on the forehead.

Meanwhile, Leng Yanmi brought Shi Yue home. After coaxing her to drink a bowl of porridge to soothe her stomach, Shi Yue couldn't stop yawning.

"I can't, I'm too tired to eat anymore," she mumbled.

Leng Yanmi, normally the dignified CEO of a massive corporation, behaved like a devoted and capable wife in front of Shi Yue. "Go to sleep first. I'll keep the rest warm, so you can eat whenever you wake up."

Shi Yue leaned over and planted a loud kiss on her cheek. "Mwah."

Apparently not content with that, she added with a playful grin, "Wifey is so good."

Leng Yanmi: "…"

The hand she had placed on Shi Yue's waist tightened briefly before slowly relaxing, indulging Shi Yue's teasing.

Going straight to sleep was out of the question. While Leng Yanmi busied herself in the kitchen, Shi Yue took off her headband and headed to the bathroom. She turned on the shower, letting the warm water cascade over her face.

The relaxation after such intense work made her feel lightheaded. The rising steam enveloped the bathroom, making her wonder if she was awake or dreaming.

By the time her fingers started to wrinkle from soaking too long, she snapped out of her daze and got out of the tub.

Stepping out of the shower, she realized the towel rack was empty. Only then did she remember that she had completely forgotten to bring any clothes.

"Auntie? Auntie?" Shi Yue cracked the bathroom door slightly.

Leng Yanmi's voice came from the living room. "What is it?"

Shi Yue raised her voice, "I didn't bring my clothes."

"…"

There was no immediate reply, but the sound of approaching footsteps assured Shi Yue that Leng Yanmi was coming.

Relieved, Shi Yue returned to the shower, using a towel to dry her wet hair bit by bit.

Soon, the bathroom door opened.

Leng Yanmi: "I put them on the rack."

Shi Yue peeked out from behind the shower curtain and smiled in the dim bathroom light. "Thanks."

Leng Yanmi couldn't help but remind her, "Hurry up, don't catch a cold."

"Got it," Shi Yue replied with a soft nod.

With her hair now half-dry, she stepped out of the tub, still damp, and approached Leng Yanmi. "Thanks, wifey."

Leng Yanmi's eyes widened slightly.

But Shi Yue wasn't done. She stood on tiptoe and rubbed her cheek against Leng Yanmi's.

She leaned close to her ear, whispering, "Wifey is the best."

The bathroom floor was slippery, and worried Shi Yue might fall, Leng Yanmi had already placed a protective hand on her waist.

Now, faced with Shi Yue's teasing, she pressed her hand against her soft waist, her voice low and controlled as she asked, "You're not tired?"

"I am," Shi Yue replied, her eyes half-closed, looking a little pitiful. "Wifey, help me get dressed."

Leng Yanmi glanced at the sleepwear on the rack, Her other hand instinctively moved toward Shi Yue's neck.

"Get dressed?" she asked, "You've got the wrong person. I don't do that sort of thing."

Shi Yue tilted her head, still smiling. "Then what should I do?"

Leng Yanmi's thumb began gently rubbing the gland at the back of Shi Yue's neck, coaxing out the familiar citrus scent. Before long, the entire bathroom was filled with the rich, sweet fragrance, more intense than ever.

Shi Yue felt her breath hitch, her mouth parting as she panted softly.

As her breathing grew heavier, Leng Yanmi finally spoke. "I know another way to help you sleep."

Shi Yue smiled, wrapping her arms around her shoulders, closing the already small gap between them.

"What way?"

Leng Yanmi: "Want me to show you?"

Shi Yue nodded. "Yeah~."

The moment she agreed, Leng Yanmi scooped her up, carrying her back behind the shower curtain.

The sound of running water resumed, this time louder and more intense than before.

Shi Yue could barely handle it, trembling as she clung to Leng Yanmi, begging, "Auntie…"

"Hmm?"

"Stop, just for a moment."

"Say it again."

Shi Yue, dazed, didn't understand. "What?"

Leng Yanmi wiped the water droplets from her face. "Say it again."

Shi Yue: "Auntie?"

Clearly, that was the wrong answer. Leng Yanmi didn't slow down at all, and Shi Yue's voice began to crack, almost as if she was crying.

Frantically, Shi Yue called out her name. "Leng Yanmi!"

Leng Yanmi leaned in, gently licking her cheek.

Tears had already begun to gather at the corners of Shi Yue's eyes.

In her daze, she finally remembered the trick she had used earlier to tease Leng Yanmi. She realized what Leng Yanmi wanted her to say. But the last bit of rationality left in her warned that saying it wouldn't save her—it would only drag her deeper into an inescapable situation.

Leng Yanmi watched her trembling eyelashes. "Hmm?"

Shi Yue, her nose red, glared at her, half-angry.

She whispered, "Wife."

Leng Yanmi's breath caught.

Shi Yue couldn't help but tilt her head back, exposing her soft, inviting gland like a feast presented before Leng Yanmi. Leng Yanmi felt a sweet ache in her teeth as she stared at the spot, but instead of biting, she lightly ran her tongue over her itching fangs.

On the other hand, Shi Yue, desperate to end it, had already started calling out again, her voice soft and confused.

"Wifey… wifey, is it enough? Let me go…"

Those few words were more effective than any aphrodisiac.

Leng Yanmi's eyes reddened. By the time she realized it, she had already lowered her head and bitten into Shi Yue's gland.

The sensation of marking her prey was intoxicating. Amid Shi Yue's muffled sobs, the two of them crossed the final line.

Already exhausted, and further drained by the marking, Shi Yue nearly fell asleep the moment it ended. She nestled against Leng Yanmi, breathing in her faint tea-like scent, and finally drifted off into unconsciousness.

What she didn't know was that while she slept peacefully, Leng Yanmi, still awake, turned pale upon seeing the bite marks on her neck.

Thankfully, she retained enough presence of mind to carefully dry Shi Yue, carry her out of the bathroom, and tuck her into a warm bed to prevent her from catching a cold.

As the quiet hum of the hair dryer ran on low to dry Shi Yue's hair, Leng Yanmi's face alternated between joy and deep frowns.

Finally, after finishing everything, she turned off the overhead lights, leaving only a small, soft nightlight by the bed. Standing beside the bed, she didn't leave or lie down next to Shi Yue. Instead, she stood there, staring blankly at the bite mark on Shi Yue's neck.

In nearly thirty years of life, Leng Yanmi realized for the first time how weak her self-control truly was. It was so weak that a few whispered 'Wifey' from Shi Yue had made her lose all reason and cross the very line she had set for herself from the start.

But what was done was done, and regret or self-reproach were now meaningless.

Leng Yanmi returned to the living room and sent a few messages to her assistant. Then, she turned off all the lights in the house and returned to Shi Yue's side. Lifting the covers, she carefully lay down next to her.