Chapter 115
Zhuang Chi touched her gland, then held her breath, concentrating as she carefully released a wisp of pheromones.
“...It’s still a bit high.”
Looking at the number displayed on the concentration detector, Zhuang Chi muttered, somewhat deflated. She relaxed her body and leaned back against her chair, accepting her umpteenth failure. She was currently in her room, where everything was extremely quiet, not even the sound of the wind could be heard. Only the photo frame on her desk flashed, and the sound of a page being turned rustled through the air.
【Don't be anxious. Rehabilitation takes time. Haste makes waste.】
Zhuang Chi looked at the Notebook in the photo frame, sighed, and nodded to accept its comfort. Then, she saw it continue to write: 【Besides, for you to deliberately use my ability to save time like this, I believe your daily rehabilitation time is already a bit excessive.】
“...It’s fine, I guess,” Zhuang Chi blinked, looking away guiltily. “I don't feel very tired... Alright, thank you. It's just that I suddenly realized this was very convenient...”
She was currently using the Notebook's ability as a shortcut. After all, when the Notebook appeared, it had an effect similar to stopping time, instantly making Zhuang Chi's day longer than 24 hours. After returning home, she had a sudden whim and thought of this trick. She used the photo frame to summon the Notebook and give it a try, and it turned out to be quite useful, though the Notebook didn't quite approve.
【How could you not be tired? Even if the outside world's time has stopped, your physical and mental energy are still being consumed.】 The Notebook's tone was a bit stern. It then changed the subject. 【However, I didn't respond to your call today just to lecture you. I used my power once not long ago—I'm mainly here today to tell you about this.】
Zhuang Chi was startled and quickly sat up straighter. “Not long ago? Did something happen?”
【It was nothing major.】 Perhaps afraid she would worry, the Notebook first offered a word of comfort before confessing, 【It was on the day you went to the female protagonist's home. The female protagonist's father, due to her subconscious misconception, was on the verge of actually giving you money to make you leave his daughter. I intervened at that moment and made him revert to his original way of thinking.】
“...”
...It was talking about the time Father Gu had pulled out the check. Zhuang Chi was stunned, not expecting that behind that whole fiasco, the Notebook had been working to set things back on track. “...I see. I didn't even notice. Thank you.”
【You're welcome. I'm still capable of handling small things like this. I've said before that I will do my best to maintain the world's stability, so you don't need to worry too much.】
As the Notebook wrote, it bolded its script and added seriously: 【But you still need to be more careful. As you can see, the power the female protagonist possesses is very difficult to control. This time was relatively easy to handle, but you need to be careful in the future to avoid letting her have any major misunderstandings—for example, be absolutely sure not to let her mistakenly think you are cheating on her.】
“I would never do that!”
Zhuang Chi retorted reflexively and decisively. After watching the Notebook slowly write 【That's good】, she grew a little curious and couldn't help but ask, “...Speaking of which, if she really did have that kind of misunderstanding, what would happen?”
【Judging from past situations, your thoughts will not be affected by this power, so you don't need to worry that you will actually fall in love with someone else because of it.】
Looking at the Notebook's script, Zhuang Chi had just begun to feel relieved when she saw it continue smoothly: 【But your clothes will be affected. So it's possible the female protagonist might really find something like a lipstick stain that doesn't belong to her on your collar.】
...Just reading the words made it sound like a major catastrophe. Zhuang Chi sucked in a sharp breath and nodded at the Notebook with a very serious attitude. “...I will not let Gu Ximian misunderstand me.”
It seemed this power was indeed a bit dangerous at times. Zhuang Chi once again resolved to behave even better in front of Gu Ximian. The Notebook, likely sensing her grave demeanor, offered some comfort: 【You don't need to worry too much. I'm still here, after all. Besides, from my observations of your interactions with the female protagonist, the probability of such a situation occurring is basically zero, because you are very obedient.】
...It seemed like it was trying to comfort her, but she wasn't sure if it was also praising her. Zhuang Chi silently looked at the Notebook. After a moment of silence, it added another sentence: 【Sometimes I even feel you're a little too obedient.】
【For example... regarding the matter of the “Permanent Mark.”】 The script slowed for an instant, then continued slowly, 【Don't you think that when the female protagonist was so indulgent with you before, it carried the subtext that she wouldn't mind being permanently marked by you?】
“...”
Zhuang Chi frowned slightly and shook her head. “That kind of thinking would be a bit too presumptuous, wouldn't it?”
“...Besides, even if she really did think that,” Zhuang Chi lowered her eyes and said seriously, “this is a very important matter, after all. So rather than her giving the choice to me, I think it should be left for her to decide for herself.”
The Notebook was quiet for a moment before writing bluntly: 【Then what about you? When are you going to prepare a ring?】
“Th-this, isn't this a bit too fast—why are you so worried about this!”
The slightly serious atmosphere was broken. A faint blush appeared on Zhuang Chi's face as she shyly looked at the Notebook. “...You seem to know a lot, don't you? You're not watching from beginning to end whenever Gu Ximian and I are together, are you?”
【No.】 The Notebook answered honestly. 【I'm also watching when you and Gu Ximian are apart. For example, when you returned home and were unpacking your suitcase, you took out Gu Ximian's clothes and sniffed them. I saw that with my own eyes.】
“That was just a reflex?!”
Good heavens, she had really only sniffed subconsciously because she caught a whiff of Gu Ximian's scent while unpacking. Why did the Notebook have to make it sound so weird! Zhuang Chi couldn't sit still anymore. She leaned toward the photo frame, stammered through an explanation, and then tried to negotiate in a placating tone, “...In the future, could you... avert your gaze at certain times... or something...”
【You need not be shy. I am merely a notebook. My social circle is very narrow, and I won't tell other people or other notebooks what I see.】
“So you have a social circle—that's not the point! The point is, I feel uncomfortable whenever I think about you always watching the two of us! If Gu Ximian knew, she would definitely feel the same way!”
【Alright. But I'm not sure how to judge the timing. Could you teach me which moments I shouldn't be watching?】
“...Do I really have to teach you this! It's... darn it, you should at least have some idea, right!”
【I'm sorry. I don't know. Because you never wrote any intimate scenes in me back then.】
“E-eh...”
New semester registration day.
The vacation had felt quite long in various senses—she'd even had to spend time explaining to the Notebook the precursors to intimate scenes, which was quite a novel experience.
Zhuang Chi sat on the plane, feeling too restless to sleep. When it landed, her heart even began to beat faster—not because of the Notebook, of course, but because of Gu Ximian.
The city where Gu Ximian's family lived was close to St. Blaisedon, and she had previously said she would drive back. A few days ago, she had asked Zhuang Chi for her flight number and arrival time. Although she didn't say what for, Zhuang Chi knew perfectly well and asked directly, ‘Are you coming to pick me up?’
The other end was silent for a long moment before she answered, seemingly very casually, ‘We'll see if I have time that day.’
No matter how much time passed, Gu Ximian always seemed to have this slightly awkward streak. If this had been when they first met, Zhuang Chi would probably have taken her words at face value. Now, however, she just found it cute. And just as she expected, after collecting her luggage and walking out of the arrivals gate, she saw Gu Ximian waiting outside.
The noble and beautiful Omega naturally drew attention just by standing there. Judging by the frequent glances from the people around, if not for her cold aura and the butler accompanying her from behind, she probably would have been hit on several times already. Zhuang Chi's eyes curved into a smile. Under everyone's gaze, she strolled leisurely up to Gu Ximian, leaned in slightly, and asked with a perfectly straight face, “Hello, do you have some time?”
Even as a pickup line, it was a bit too cliché; one look and you could tell she wasn't a seasoned pro. Gu Ximian couldn't help but curl her lips into a smile. In a rather good mood, she tilted her head and readily responded, “That depends on where you plan on asking me to go.”
She was surprisingly cooperative with this impromptu act. Zhuang Chi had absolutely no experience hitting on people, but she knew this counted as a positive response. She just didn't know what to say next to continue the act, so she simply stood up a little straighter and threw out her original destination. “Then... if we're going to St. Blaisedon, would you have time?”
Zhuang Chi saw a flash of amusement in Gu Ximian's eyes, then watched as the other woman coolly shook her head and refused outright, “No time.”
Feeling the “I knew it” exclamations from the people secretly watching them, Zhuang Chi couldn't help but chuckle. Just as she was thinking that the act couldn't go on, before she could break character, Gu Ximian suddenly raised a hand to her neck. Her fingertips gently hooked Zhuang Chi's choker, pulling her a little closer.
“If we were going to my place instead,” Gu Ximian said softly, a hazy light simmering in her dark eyes as she gave Zhuang Chi a faint smile, “then I would have time.”
And just like that, she was brought to Gu Ximian's place.
Zhuang Chi still hadn't quite processed it even after walking through the door. She looked at Gu Ximian blankly and couldn't help but laugh. “We really came straight to your place.”
“What else?” Gu Ximian raised an eyebrow, took her suitcase, and pulled it into the room. “Did you think I was joking? Plenty of people heard me when I said it.”
...They were indeed listening. When Gu Ximian had said that, Zhuang Chi could almost hear the astonished gasps from the people around them. She could feel multiple gazes following them until they walked out of the arrivals hall together. They were probably misunderstood as a highly successful pickup attempt, which made Zhuang Chi feel quite embarrassed—sigh, her Notebook probably saw it all, too. After all, the “times when you should look away” that she had spent so long teaching it about certainly hadn't included this kind of situation.
Seeing Zhuang Chi's dazed expression, Gu Ximian stopped and reminded her seriously, “You promised me before that you would move in with me after the new semester started.”
...Although that was indeed her plan, Zhuang Chi was still amused by Gu Ximian's self-righteous air of not wanting to wait even a moment longer. Her eyes were already curved with a smile, yet she couldn't resist teasing her, sighing deliberately, “You won't even give me time to go register first...”
Gu Ximian paused, then walked over to her, pushed Zhuang Chi against the wall, and trapped her with her arms.
“No.” With an innocent and alluring upturned gaze, Gu Ximian's clear voice was utterly unquestionable as she looked at her and asked back, “Is that not allowed?”
How could she possibly say no to that? Zhuang Chi obediently surrendered. “Then let's go register together after I unpack my things... Oh, right, if there's time, I might need to make a trip to the hospital.”
Seeing Gu Ximian's brow furrow slightly, Zhuang Chi explained before she could start to worry, “It's about my rehabilitation. I felt like I'd made some progress a few days ago, so I plan to go see the doctor again to check on the condition of my gland.”
“...” Gu Ximian was taken aback. She raised her hand, touching the spot over Zhuang Chi's gland through the leather of her suppression collar, and said softly, “...Is your rehabilitation progressing that quickly? Is it because of those things my dad said before? You've been forcing yourself, haven't you...”
It was mostly thanks to the Notebook's time-stopping ability. Zhuang Chi pursed her lips and shook her head. “I haven't been forcing myself. I also thought Uncle was right. After all... I'll still need to give temporary marks in the future. It's best to get any potential dangers under control beforehand.”
Gu Ximian looked at her for a long moment, then lowered her eyes. She didn't say anything more on the matter, simply leaning into Zhuang Chi's embrace and saying softly, “Then I'll go with you after we're done registering.”
Zhuang Chi didn't notice anything amiss, simply smiling in agreement and hugging her tightly in return. The temporary mark Zhuang Chi had given her during the vacation had already worn off, but Gu Ximian still felt at ease from Zhuang Chi's scent and warmth. She subtly turned her head slightly, burying her nose in Zhuang Chi's soft hair, which had grown a little longer over the winter break. She felt her body and mind relax, which also made it easier to hide her thoughts and prevent Zhuang Chi from noticing that she was holding something back.
...I'll still need to give temporary marks in the future, huh.
Silently repeating Zhuang Chi's words in her mind, Gu Ximian blinked quietly, thinking to herself that this wasn't necessarily true.
—For example, in a situation where a permanent mark has already been given, then naturally, there would be no further need for temporary marks, would there?
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