Important Condition
Inside the elevator of Nanjing Apartments.
Cheng Jiqing and Bai Xin stood side by side. The atmosphere in the gleaming elevator was somewhat quiet.
Initially, when Bai Xin had said, ‘Let’s go to your place,’ she thought it was a joke.
But then she saw the seriousness in Bai Xin’s delicate features, the faint desolation deep within her peach-blossom eyes, and recalled Bai Xin standing alone at the entrance of the Special Management Office earlier. She herself had stood in the light, yet the world behind Bai Xin seemed black.
Cheng Jiqing dismissed the thought.
She didn’t even ask, Don’t you have anywhere else to go?
She couldn’t ask.
How could you ask such a question of a woman who had just experienced danger and been hurt by her original family?
More importantly, weren’t you afraid that if you asked, she might suddenly perform a ‘darkening’1 for you?
Cheng Jiqing thought this inwardly.
But Cheng Jiqing ignored the truest point in her heart—she was starting to feel soft towards Bai Xin.
And it wasn’t just for self-preservation.
She had also forgotten something.
When a person’s heart softens, that is when they are most easily deceived, and also when they are most vulnerable.
Bai Xin was exhausted, in every sense.
In the car, she had leaned against the window the whole way, resting with her eyes closed.
She hadn’t fallen asleep; she rarely slept when there was a second person present.
Bai Xin listened to the sounds outside the window, listened to Cheng Jiqing speaking softly to her bodyguard: “You’ve worked hard today. No need to come tomorrow.”
“Understood.”
Then there was silence.
A few seconds later, Bai Xin slowly opened her eyes. It was true she couldn’t check into a hotel without an ID card, but Cheng Jiqing’s place wasn’t the only option.
She had made the decision the moment she came out of the Special Management Office entrance and saw Cheng Jiqing.
She liked to let things accumulate when doing things, often like fishing.
But she made decisions quickly.
She needed Cheng Jiqing, perhaps even tonight. Besides that, she also needed this ‘little white mouse’2.
And her future plans… rushing into these might scare the person away.
So, some gradual interaction was necessary3.
As she thought, Bai Xin genuinely started to feel sleepy this time. After an unknown amount of time, someone tapped her shoulder.
She groggily opened her eyes, only then realizing she had actually fallen asleep completely unguarded.
Cheng Jiqing withdrew her hand, saying enviously, “You slept quite soundly.”
Bai Xin turned her head to look at her. In her peripheral vision, the driver was gone. Only she and Cheng Jiqing remained in the car.
“We’re here.”
Bai Xin rubbed her eyelashes with her fingertips and followed Cheng Jiqing out of the car.
Nanjing Apartments ranked among the top three ‘luxury residences’ in Beicheng.
The entire complex was very well-equipped and high-end, with excellent landscaping. As Cheng Jiqing and Bai Xin walked along the stone path, neither said much.
Cheng Jiqing was quiet because she was also tired and didn’t have much energy for conversation.
There was also the matter of the private room incident. She hadn’t had that kind of contact with anyone before. After what happened with Bai Xin while sober, being together like this late at night, heading to the same residence—she couldn’t help but have some thoughts.
Her apartment was on the twelfth floor.
Using her fingerprint to enter, Cheng Jiqing got Bai Xin a new pair of slippers, black, not disposable ones.
Bai Xin surveyed the apartment. It wasn’t exceptionally large, but the layout was very comfortable, especially the murals and style on the walls, leaning towards aqua blue, creating a very healing visual effect.
“Um…” Cheng Jiqing thought for a moment. “Make yourself comfortable.”
With that, she walked into the guest bedroom.
The guest bedroom was adjacent to her master bedroom, with a similar style, just that the bed was bare.
That was because Cheng Jiqing had never expected a guest.
Of course, she certainly hadn’t expected that guest to be Bai Xin.
Hearing the movement, Bai Xin approached, a hint of surprise in her eyes—Cheng Jiqing was making the bed.
Making a bed wasn’t strange; what was strange was Cheng Jiqing’s proficiency.
Does she usually do these things herself?
Bai Xin tilted her head slightly, observing with a thoughtful look in her eyes. Her hair cascaded down accordingly, perhaps imbued with a few strands of laziness from sleeping in the car.
Cheng Jiqing looked up and saw Bai Xin at the door. Her hands paused. “Gray or pink?”
“Hm?” Her voice was also lazy.
“I grabbed the pink one, there’s also a gray set.” She held up the bedsheet to show her.
No one had ever discussed bedsheet colors with her. Bai Xin looked at both, actually considered it for a moment, then suddenly realized—this kind of exchange made it seem like she was planning to stay for a long time.
Cheng Jiqing prompted her, “Hello?”
Bai Xin looked at the pink one in her hand. “This one’s fine.”
Actually, she had never slept on this color before.
Cheng Jiqing said, “Oh,” and moved quickly. With the air conditioning on, she just needed to put on the sheet and add an AC quilt.
Bai Xin stood there for about ten seconds, watching Cheng Jiqing’s busy figure, somewhat lost in thought.
Then she stepped forward and smoothed the corner of the sheet on the other side.
“Cheng Jiqing.”
“Hm?”
“Do you like me?”
Cheng Jiqing was just straightening up when she suddenly heard Bai Xin’s question and nearly slipped.
She looked up. “…Huh?”
Seeing her reaction, Bai Xin knew the answer was no. While feeling somewhat relieved, an inexplicable sense of disappointment and regret arose.
“It’s good that you don’t.”
Cheng Jiqing: “…”
This was actually Bai Xin’s normal tone, but she herself felt something wasn’t quite right.
It’s good that you don’t meant, according to her understanding—You’d better not like me.
Cheng Jiqing realized she kept thinking about the Bai Xin from the villa and the parking garage. On one hand, her mental preparedness wasn’t sufficient; on the other hand, Bai Xin’s contrast index was too high.
It gave her the feeling several times—she hadn’t yet detached from the image of Bai Xin needing a hug in distress, while the other person was already refreshed, sitting on the edge of the bed, metaphorically smoking a post-coital cigarette4.
That made sense too.
Bai Xin’s ‘show of weakness’ back then was largely superficial, a temporary compromise to protect herself.
Bai Xin was like that in the book too: enduring, compromising, seemingly fragile, yet inwardly tougher and more changeable than anyone.
But right now, they just had this emotionless cooperative relationship.
Like today in the private room, and when dealing with Zeng Lu and Bai Xingxing together.
To reassure the villainess, Cheng Jiqing declared solemnly5, “Miss Bai, rest assured, I guarantee I won’t like you.”
Bai Xin hadn’t actually finished her question. There was originally a second part—Then why are you so good to me?
But after Cheng Jiqing said that, she no longer wanted to ask. All kindness in this world has a purpose. It wasn’t affection, and she couldn’t detect any other motive.
She could only stick to her initial thought: Cheng Jiqing’s guilt.
Based on her recent interactions with Cheng Jiqing, especially today… Cheng Jiqing was indeed one of the few people whose intentions towards her seemed pure. A kind person, too.
This was her third time probing, and this was her final conclusion.
Cheng Jiqing being like this was a good thing for her.
Guilt was easier to deal with than affection; it would make things easier for her, without too much burden.
Because affection is an emotion, the softest yet most powerful weapon humans possess. Today, someone might do anything for you out of affection; tomorrow, the backlash could make them the enemy who knows you best.
But guilt wouldn’t do that; it didn’t carry such great risk.
This was an important condition for her future ‘cooperation’ with Cheng Jiqing.
Good for both of them.
However, recalling her feeling upon hearing ‘don’t like’ just now, Bai Xin felt a bit strange.
She pondered for a few seconds and attributed it to the two markings, especially since today’s marking had only happened a few hours ago.
It was the omega’s dependence on the alpha after being marked. But Tang Jia had also said this symptom would ease after a month.
Therefore, she didn’t dwell on it further.
By now, it was already past one in the morning6.
Cheng Jiqing brought a first-aid kit into the room for Bai Xin. Bai Xin’s arm and neck still needed some ointment applied. Finally, one more problem needed solving.
“This is the only new set of pajamas.” Cheng Jiqing placed it beside Bai Xin’s hand, speaking before the other could, “I didn’t know you were coming, this is all I have at home.”
Her tone was matter-of-fact.
Bai Xin took it—a beige silk pajama set, two pieces.
She had little energy, sinking into the fabric sofa and not wanting to get up. Hearing Cheng Jiqing’s words, she looked up and asked, “Do you find me very troublesome?”
It was a sudden question. Cheng Jiqing shook her head without thinking, “Not at all.”
After answering, she saw the slight relaxation on Bai Xin’s face. Good grief, was that almost a life-claiming question7?
Bai Xin averted her gaze, saying with unclear emotion, “It’s not that I want to be picky.”
There was no follow-up. Cheng Jiqing assumed she just didn’t like them, which wasn’t strange. But Bai Xin then pressed, “Don’t you want to ask why?”
Cheng Jiqing said, “Everyone has things they don’t like. You don’t like pants, I don’t like rabbits.”
Bai Xin: “…?”
Seeing Bai Xin’s speechless expression, Cheng Jiqing chuckled. “It’s getting late. You wash up first?”
Cheng Jiqing wasn’t joking either. Because she watched a horror movie as a child where a rabbit with bleeding eyes suddenly appeared, she now had a phobia of rabbits.
Of course, she didn’t like horror movies either.
Bai Xin went into the bathroom. Cheng Jiqing went to her own room to get pajamas. As she reached for underwear at the very bottom of the drawer, she paused slightly.
Something came to mind.
Cheng Jiqing walked to the bathroom door with a small bag. Just as she was about to knock, she heard the sound of running water from inside.
Her heart inexplicably skipped a beat.
Perhaps it was a chain reaction; her gland suddenly felt a bit tingly, like the residual embers after a volcano eruption.
She placed the bag on the guest bed, sat on the sofa for a while, finding the sound of water increasingly grating.
A few hours ago, the omega had hugged her, exposing her pale neck… When the skin was pierced, the person couldn’t bear the force and slid down.
So she had held her as they fell to the ground together.
Even then, her lips hadn’t left.
It was just a temporary marking lasting a few minutes, just a bite, just injecting a tiny bit of pheromones inside.
No other actions were taken.
But the more Cheng Jiqing tried to brainwash herself, the more her mind felt like it was on fire.
Buzzing.
Her lips felt hot too.
Cheng Jiqing exhaled, touching the calming white jade bracelet on her wrist, and retreated into her bedroom to ‘escape the heat’.
Shifting her thoughts.
She opened her phone and looked at the few talent agencies she was focusing on. One called ‘Yi Xin’ was registered just last year. Although its artists didn’t have abundant resources8, the production teams they joined all had good reputations, including some major productions.
And they were mostly newcomers.
For newcomers, a role in a reputable production team is more valuable than starring in a whole basket of web dramas.
Of course, this wasn’t to say web dramas were bad, or that there weren’t any explosively popular good ones, but the opportunities and exposure were relatively smaller, meaning one would need to wait longer.
An experienced ‘newcomer’ like her would naturally choose the option with greater opportunity, even if it was risky.
She considered ‘Yi Xin’ her top choice.
As Cheng Jiqing was thinking, she heard the bathroom door open, and Bai Xin called her name.
The moment she stepped out of the bedroom.
She could smell the unique scent produced by water vapor mixed with fragrance, that damp aroma only present after bathing.
Because the space wasn’t small, the scent was faint.
But still noticeable.
Cheng Jiqing went over with her pajamas.
Bai Xin’s hair was pinned up, stray strands damp with water, her face pinker than when she went in.
The beige silk had a nice drape, suddenly making Cheng Jiqing think of—a rainy, misty day, a Jiangnan beauty picking lotuses by a pond, drenched in dew, her figure delicate, fanning herself self-pityingly.
Seeing Bai Xin’s tired face, Cheng Jiqing said, “I left something for you on the bed, disposable.”
“What is it?” Bai Xin looked at her.
Being watched made Cheng Jiqing feel a bit embarrassed. She walked past Bai Xin, her tone still calm, “Something you don’t have on you right now.”
The innermost, disposable kind.
Those were originally the previous host’s, she actually often brought them when filming, especially preparing them for water scenes or short business trips.
Bai Xin understood after a moment’s thought. Somehow, seeing Cheng Jiqing look away brought her a slight sense of pleasure.
“Oh.”
She held the dirty clothes, bundled up, looked at Cheng Jiqing and asked, “I didn’t see a hairdryer.”
“In the cabinet above the sink.” After saying that, Cheng Jiqing looked at her hair. “Didn’t you not wash your hair?”
“I washed what I don’t have on me right now.”
“…”
My bad.
Cheng Jiqing handed the hairdryer to Bai Xin and left.
Passing Bai Xin, she caught a faint sweet scent, not lily.
Only when she entered the bathroom did she remember—it was the scent of her own body wash.
Milky salt flavor.
But her neck still felt uncomfortable. After showering and coming out, the guest room door was already closed. She returned to her own room.
It was two in the morning.
She had been very sleepy earlier, but once in bed, she felt wide awake. She randomly picked a movie, planning to listen to it to fall asleep.
《Carol》9. She had seen it once before; the two lead actresses’ performances were superb, the emotional details spot-on.
She also liked the music.
She had planned to rewatch it carefully, but today was clearly not the time. She couldn’t get into it.
Because now she could clearly feel her gland acting up again. Not as sudden as in the private room, but there was a similar sensation.
She was also a bit thirsty. There was no water in Cheng Jiqing’s room. After tossing and turning for a while, she got up to go out.
As soon as she opened the door, she saw a slender figure by the water dispenser bar.
A soft floor lamp was on, making the whole living room hazy.
“You’re not asleep?”
Bai Xin turned around, putting down the glass cup. She raised her fingers to wipe the water from her lips, nodding. “Neither are you.”
Cheng Jiqing looked at the water cup and pursed her lips. She walked over and poured herself a glass too.
She stood beside Bai Xin and took two sips.
“Let me ask you a question.”
Bai Xin turned her head. Cheng Jiqing asked, “For an alpha’s agitation period10, can a temporary marking last through the night?”
Bai Xin paused. “…You’re in your agitation period?”
“Not exactly, it just feels weird.”
“Where does it feel weird?”
“Just…” Cheng Jiqing stopped, realizing belatedly that discussing this with an omega might not be appropriate.
“Never mind, let’s sleep. You should sleep early too.”
Cheng Jiqing put the cup back, turned, took a step, then turned back again. “Right, remember to lock your door.”
Bai Xin, also holding her glass of cool water and preparing to return to her room, heard this. She stopped beside Cheng Jiqing, tilting her head up slightly.
Her gaze swept over Cheng Jiqing’s lips, where she had just drunk water.
“You’d better lock yours too.”
The author has something to say:
Wishing everyone a happy National Day in advance～
Bai-jie: Who needs to be careful is still uncertain.
Chengcheng: …
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