Scum A with a Sweet Black Lotus O – Chapter 31

Hot and cold, near and far, and step by step closing in.

【Fu Chaoyun has perked up!】

【Kiss! Go ahead and kiss directly! If not that… this angle of subtly inhaling her fragrance is so captivating ahhh kdlkdl】

            

【Be bold, bite and mark her directly!!!】

Fu Chaoyun rarely experienced pheromone leakage normally, something she had always controlled well.

Or perhaps it was all pretense.

            

But this time, Pei Xuezhi could clearly sense the other’s pheromones continuously overflowing, not particularly strong, yet intertwining like a web, completely enveloping her.

The entire space was saturated with the scent of red wine, making one dizzy and enchanted.

Just before drowning in this wine-like fragrance, Pei Xuezhi, like a prisoner struggling in seawater, used her last bit of strength to step forward, escaping from this cage.

            

“No…”

The words of rejection caught in her throat.

Pei Xuezhi wanted to see Fu Chaoyun’s expression.

            

In her imagination, it should have been ugly, stained with lust and desire… one glance would be enough to harden her heart, at least preventing her from wavering as she did now.

However, when she turned around, she met a pair of clear, amber-colored eyes.

There was none of the ugliness and disgust she had imagined; on the contrary, they were pristinely clean, untainted by even a speck of dust.

            

What was this?

Was this also pretense?

Then what about the pheromones from earlier?

            

An alpha’s pheromone overflow shouldn’t be something that could be faked…

Various thoughts tangled together, causing even Pei Xuezhi’s clever mind to become momentarily confused. She could still smell Fu Chaoyun’s pheromones, so why could her expression remain so calm?

“Zhizhi?” Fu Chaoyun called softly.

            

“No need,” Pei Xuezhi’s thoughts finally steadied, though her voice carried a trace of coldness, “I heard everything earlier.”

“You understood after hearing it just once? Zhizhi is so clever.” She paused, “Just like me~”

Pei Xuezhi turned away, no longer looking at those eyes, also trying her best to ignore the lingering wine-scented pheromones that hadn’t yet dissipated.

            

“Let’s begin,” she said.

【Ahhhh you finally got to hold her and you just let her escape like that?】

【Fu Chaoyun, you’re not a real woman! I look down on you!】

            

【Tch~ All talk and no action, if you were this shameless when getting intimate with Pei Xuezhi, you wouldn’t be worried about finding a wife!】

“Then Zhizhi, please pour the milk.”

Pei Xuezhi nodded.

            

While Fu Chaoyun was handling the eggs, she turned to check on Pei Xuezhi and saw her holding various measuring cups for precise proportions, even using weights to measure the sugar.

She was meticulously measuring each ingredient, her cool face looking extremely serious.

Comment: 【Thanks for asking, but is this some kind of chemistry lab?】

            

Fu Chaoyun couldn’t help but laugh, and Pei Xuezhi looked up, remembering what happened earlier, still feeling somewhat embarrassed.

“That’s what it said in your video.”

“Yes, yes, yes—” Fu Chaoyun was stunned for a moment before quickly trying to appease her, “Zhizhi did very well, following the instructions perfectly.”

            

However, a slight smile still hung at the corner of her lips as she stared at Pei Xuezhi’s serious face, trying but failing to hold back her amusement.

Pei Xuezhi, who had never been teased like this before, glared at her.

“I just think Zhizhi looks so cute when she’s serious. Hmm… you must have been very popular with teachers during your school days?” Fu Chaoyun both explained and changed the subject.

            

Pei Xuezhi seemed somewhat placated, though her tone remained neutral.

“It was fine.”

“Of course, Zhizhi has always had excellent grades, always at the top of the class. How could any teacher not like Zhizhi?”

            

Fu Chaoyun looked at her, gaze warm, and when she said the word “like,” she rolled it around in her mouth, her voice dropping lower, becoming particularly tender and intimate.

How could anyone not like Pei Xuezhi?

*Thump thump—*

            

Pei Xuezhi, seemingly unable to stand the other’s smug expression, fiercely retorted, “What about you?”

“Me?”

Fu Chaoyun genuinely thought about it, “I was probably the type of student that gave teachers the biggest headache. Even the homeroom teacher couldn’t control me. When they called my parents, my family was too permissive. With no other choice, and not wanting me to continue causing trouble, they would likely assign the best student in class to sit next to me, hoping their behavior would gradually influence me… right?”

            

Saying this, her eyes brightened, suddenly looking at Pei Xuezhi, “Mm, that top student would probably have been Zhizhi. Sorry, but you’d have to come save me.”

Pei Xuezhi’s profile remained cool, “I never had such experiences. I always sat in the spot with the best view, and while my seatmates might not have been second in grades, they were all quiet and well-behaved. Teachers wouldn’t let them disturb my studies.”

“Huh? Was your key middle school [elite academic school] that boring? None of those classic school novel plot lines?”

            

“None.” Pei Xuezhi coldly cut off someone’s fantasy.

“That’s fine too,” Fu Chaoyun changed tack, “Thanks to the homeroom teacher for successfully killing any sprouts of teenage romance, and cultivating another excellent provincial gaokao [national college entrance exam] champion for the school.”

Given Pei Xuezhi’s excellence and pride, whether she had experienced young love or been distracted by other things, she would have been that year’s gaokao champion regardless.

            

But thinking of someone’s fantasies about their shared high school life, she ultimately kept these words to herself.

“Should we pour in the egg yolks now?” She withdrew her gaze, conveniently changing the subject.

Fu Chaoyun took the bait, “Your side needs a bit more stirring…”

            

“Okay.”

As Pei Xuezhi responded, her heart also relaxed slightly.

The two continued making egg tarts. As Fu Chaoyun had said, it was indeed simple. Soon all the ingredients were handed to Fu Chaoyun for mixing, ready to be placed in the pastry molds and baked in the oven.

            

During this stage, Fu Chaoyun worked quite seriously, no longer chatting with Pei Xuezhi. However, as she kept her head down, her seaweed-like thick hair would occasionally fall forward, blocking her vision, forcing Fu Chaoyun to keep brushing it aside.

Pei Xuezhi watched from the side for a while, then stepped closer.

“Here.”

            

Fu Chaoyun lowered her head and saw Pei Xuezhi’s extended hand, two slender fingers holding a hair tie.

It was a plain black one without any decorations, very much in Pei Xuezhi’s style.

However, most of her attention fell on someone’s hands.

            

“Hair, tie it up,” Pei Xuezhi said.

Fu Chaoyun continued working on her task, saying lazily, “No hands~”

The alpha started acting coquettish again.

            

“Zhizhi, help~”

“Stopping for a moment wouldn’t affect anything.”

“No!” Fu Chaoyun emphasized strongly, “It would affect the taste!”

            

Pei Xuezhi stared at Fu Chaoyun for a while, who put on an especially innocent expression. Finally, Pei Xuezhi, lacking culinary knowledge, was persuaded to step forward. “Lower your head,” she said, “bend down a little more.”

“Oh~”

At this moment, the alpha knew to obey docilely.

            

The mixing movements slowed slightly, and the kitchen atmosphere took on a peaceful beauty.

Pei Xuezhi’s hand landed on Fu Chaoyun’s head, five fingers slightly spread, gently combing through someone’s hair.

The alpha’s hair was soft too.

            

Moreover, alphas also had glands, and if damaged, it would cause significant harm to an alpha, even affecting future pheromone secretion, marking ability, and reproductive capabilities.

At this moment, Pei Xuezhi stood behind Fu Chaoyun, able to see that exposed stretch of fair and graceful nape.

As an omega and with lessons learned from her previous life, Pei Xuezhi habitually protected this area of herself, rarely exposing it to others.

            

But now.

Fu Chaoyun so openly exposed her glands before her eyes. If she harbored any ill intentions, she could completely destroy what an alpha prided most.

Was Fu Chaoyun really that foolish? Or was it because of the camera’s presence, assuming she wouldn’t dare do such a thing? Was this all part of her calculations?

            

“Ouch—” Lost in these thoughts, her combing hand unconsciously became heavier until Fu Chaoyun let out a light cry, bringing her back to reality.

Two broken strands of hair lay in her palm.

“Sorry.”

            

“It’s fine, it’s fine.” Fu Chaoyun, the victim, instead actively consoled her, “I have plenty of hair anyway, losing a few strands doesn’t matter.”

Pei Xuezhi stopped her wild thoughts, letting the strands of hair pass through her fingertips one by one, the friction creating a subtle, ambiguous warmth, as she quickly helped Fu Chaoyun tie up her hair.

She turned around holding the mixing bowl, tilting her head while still working.

            

“Does it look good?”

【Holy crap!】

Even Pei Xuezhi had to admit that Fu Chaoyun looked good like this.

            

Being only 23 years old and having left school not long ago, with her hair tied up, Fu Chaoyun’s fluffy head instantly became much neater, revealing her ears and more facial skin that had been hidden beneath the thick hair.

Snow-white like jade.

The excessive allure on that face was somewhat subdued, the player-like aura from the big waves completely gone, making her look somewhat innocent.

            

…If only someone wasn’t looking at people with those fox-like seductive eyes.

The danmu were all stunned by her appearance.

【Thank you, Pei Xuezhi.】

            

【Master Tony Pei [many famous hairstylists uses Western names in China, ‘Tony’ being one of the most recognizable] working miracles to save Fu Chaoyun’s player image!】

【Tied up like this, she really looks younger.】

【She’s only 23 to begin with!!!】

            

【Please let Pei Xuezhi tie Fu Chaoyun’s hair like this every day, especially when picking her up from school. I’m living for this school idol drama!】

【I suddenly get Fu Chaoyun’s high school scenario now – excellent student x delinquent rich kid, clearly from different worlds yet thrown together, so good, so good, *heavy breathing*, gonna go write some fanfic—】

【Bro, drop the fanfic link!】

            

Pei Xuezhi didn’t answer.

“…Hmm?” Fu Kitty, having acted cute without getting a response, became a bit unhappy and started mischievously shaking her head.

“Don’t move around.” Pei Xuezhi hadn’t tied it too tight, at least allowing Fu Chaoyun’s scalp to relax, but it couldn’t withstand such frolicking.

            

“Does it look good?” Fu Chaoyun asked again, eyes bright, this time adding a threat, “If it doesn’t look good, I’ll undo it and you’ll have to tie it again.”

“…”

Pei Xuezhi had no choice after being pestered, “It looks good.”

            

She seemed to hear someone let out a light, satisfied hum, like a smug human-sized cat!

The next second, her shoulder sank as Fu Chaoyun leaned her head over again, this time face-to-face, even nuzzling against her.

Acting cute again.

            

The wine-scented pheromones wafted over again…

“Got it, Mama Zhizhi.”

Pei Xuezhi: “…”

            

What kind of way to address someone was that?!

Fortunately, Pei Xuezhi always maintained her rationality. The moment Fu Chaoyun leaned in, she moved faster than her thoughts, blocking the space between them.

Partly to prevent Fu Chaoyun from getting too close, and partly—

            

“Don’t let your pheromones leak out.”

Little Chicken Student Fu whined, “I’m really good at controlling it~”

Finally, the egg tarts went into the oven, needing exactly twenty-five minutes to bake. During this waiting period, the danmu stayed busy.

            

【Do you think Pei Xuezhi was really a cooking novice who knew nothing and got tricked by Fu Chaoyun?】

【You mean the hair-tying thing?】

【Yeah, I feel it was half-willing. Even a novice must have some common sense, right? How long could tying hair take? Like Fu Chaoyun said—our Zhizhi is a gaokao champion! How could a gaokao champion not know this?! IM! POSSIBLE!!】

            

【LOL, stop beating up the gaokao champion already.】

【Anyway, I can’t taste these egg tarts tonight, but I’m very satisfied with all the sweet moments they’ve been dropping while making them, thanks kdl】

After some ups and downs, the egg tarts were finally baked. They were still quite hot when taken out, so instead of eating them immediately, they delivered some to the others upstairs.

            

When Pei Xuezhi went to the third floor, she ran into Ni Jiaojiao who was showering, causing a slight delay in her return.

“Zhizhi~” Fu Chaoyun called.

Pei Xuezhi turned around instinctively, and her mouth was immediately filled with half a broken egg tart, tasting the fragrant, soft custard center in one bite.

            

Fu Chaoyun, having successfully ambushed and fed her target, smiled with curved eyes, extremely pleased with herself.

“Now isn’t it sweet?”

Though they had put in considerable effort making the egg tarts, they didn’t end up eating many themselves.

            

As time approached nine-thirty in the evening, both needed to return to their rooms to rest.

“By the way, do you want me to drive you to school tomorrow morning?” Fu Chaoyun suddenly asked as they walked side by side in the second-floor corridor.

“No need,” Pei Xuezhi said, “I remember you like sleeping in and have trouble getting up? Don’t specially wake up for me.”

            

The overhead light shone down, reflecting in Pei Xuezhi’s black eyes, creating a clear ripple like moonlight on water, seemingly intimate yet always cool and cold.

So close, yet suddenly feeling very far away.

Like flowers in a mirror and moon in the water [meaning: illusory and unattainable]

            

“You’re right.”

Fu Chaoyun smiled, her amber eyes already rippling with warm colors. She didn’t insist, but before parting, she sighed, “Zhizhi is so considerate.”

“Well then, good night?”

            

“Good night,” Pei Xuezhi replied.

Back in her room, she closed the door.

Pei Xuezhi didn’t immediately do anything, instead leaning her back against the door, eyes fixed on the bedroom light above, gradually emptying her mind.

            

It was different, completely different… She finally realized what was different about today’s Fu Chaoyun—

The previous Fu Chaoyun was like an online game player, where everything in this world was virtual to her, so she could act freely and willfully, without caring about others’ opinions or feelings.

And she, Pei Xuezhi, was like an NPC standing there, allowing herself to be teased.

            

Fu Chaoyun would occasionally come to flirt with her, and at those times she didn’t need to make any real response; the player would be happy on their own.

Having understood this point, whether for testing or teasing purposes, Pei Xuezhi would occasionally take the initiative.

Because she knew that regardless of her response, in Fu Chaoyun’s eyes she remained that NPC, her responses were programmed rather than genuine, so naturally the player wouldn’t care.

            

But now…

It was different.

Since coming back, or perhaps even earlier in the car, she clearly felt that Fu Chaoyun had genuinely started caring about her feelings.

            

Sweet?

The food she just tasted was naturally sweet.

But it was too sweet, the egg tart’s filling like thick and sticky syrup enveloping her once again, making her feel afraid and fearful, involuntarily wanting to escape…

            

This couldn’t continue.

This was… dangerous…

Under the light, Pei Xuezhi’s eyes were pitch black, unfathomably deep.

            

Perhaps.

It was time to create some distance, let both of them cool down properly…

Danmu:

            

【Damn, weren’t things just getting sweet? Why does Pei Xuezhi’s mood seem off? Don’t scare me…】

【I don’t think this is anything good.】

【Hot and cold, near and far… is Pei Xuezhi a Persian cat?】

            

【Sorry, that hit this old person’s funny bone. Hey, has anyone notified Fu Chaoyun?】

【Notify my ass! Someone already took their clothes to shower, probably going straight to bed after.】

【Ah… how can she be so heartless?】

            

【There’s a reason why some people can’t find a wife.】

【Your friend Qi Changfeng liked this.】

【Damn, Qi Changfeng’s wife already ran away, what does he know? Stop beating up on Qi Changfeng!】

            

The next day.

Pei Xuezhi had class at eight, so she got up early.

There were no transit stops near the villa, so last night she had messaged Jian Yi, asking him to drive her to the subway station.

            

Jian Yi happened to have an early shift too, so he agreed.

But now, as Pei Xuezhi looked around, she couldn’t find Jian Yi anywhere. Instead, a figure slowly stood up from the living room sofa.

Seeing that signature chestnut-colored hair, Pei Xuezhi’s heart tightened, but Fu Chaoyun smiled as soon as she saw her.

            

“Looking for Jian Yi? He got an emergency call and left early. He asked me to apologize to you, and by the way, he passed the task of driving you to…”

At this point, Fu Chaoyun paused, “The only other person with a car in this villa, me.”

Pei Xuezhi pressed her lips together, “It’s not even seven yet.”

            

“Indeed.”

Fu Chaoyun played with the car keys in her fingers. At this moment, her typically frivolous air dissipated somewhat, yet the early morning light filtered through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the living room, shining on her, clear and beautiful, making those eyes appear warmly irresistible.

When that gaze fell on Pei Xuezhi, it seemed to carry a gentle forcefulness.

            

“Sorry,” Fu Chaoyun smiled, “Suddenly, I felt like getting up early.”

…Yes, step by step, closing in.

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