Chapter 77
When she heard Zhuang Chi ask that, Gu Ximian was a little happy.
It meant that Zhuang Chi had indeed noticed she was different towards her and was taking it seriously enough to think about it further—all good signs. A small warmth seemed to swell in Gu Ximian’s chest. She had to defensively think to herself, who would ask the person involved so directly? It was clear Zhuang Chi had no experience with romance.
But Zhuang Chi’s next words made her feel a bit annoyed. At a time like this, she was still talking about the Official Match… Gu Ximian herself hadn't thought about it for a long time. She didn't expect Zhuang Chi to remember it more clearly than she did, and now there were signs that Zhuang Chi mistakenly believed this was the reason she was being nice to her.
In the end, at this point, Gu Ximian basically had no doubts about the Official Match anymore—they were sleeping in the same bed now, after all. However, setting aside the fact that whether they were the Official Match or not didn't really matter, Gu Ximian thought, to take a step back, "Zhuang Chi is her Official Match" and "they have real feelings for each other" weren't mutually exclusive, were they?
Gu Ximian felt that this matter didn't contradict their current situation, nor should it be the focus right now. But Zhuang Chi didn't seem to think so. After hearing her counter-question, the person beside her was quiet for a long time before suddenly turning to her side and whispering, "...I hope not, because I'm not your Official Match."
For some reason, her tone was light yet certain. Gu Ximian frowned in confusion, not understanding why Zhuang Chi would suddenly say such a thing when it seemed so certain from every angle. Just as she was about to ask for details, she was startled to realize that the body temperature of the person beside her had become scorching hot at some point, the heat faintly radiating over. She hurriedly checked on Zhuang Chi's condition and saw her biting her lip with restraint, so hard that the edge had turned pale. At the same time, she had a hand pressed to her chest, clutching it so tightly that it created messy wrinkles in her pajamas, whether from the feverish discomfort or something else.
Knowing that it was likely another wave of heat from her susceptible period, Gu Ximian blamed herself for not noticing earlier. She no longer had the mind to think about that nonsensical sentence from before. She first grabbed Zhuang Chi's hand, slowly coaxing her to unclench her fist, then gently interlaced their fingers.
"You have to tell me when you're feeling unwell," Gu Ximian said softly, moving closer to Zhuang Chi's side and reaching out to touch her cheek. "Don't bite like that, you're using too much force. You'll break the skin."
Zhuang Chi didn't make a sound, but she obediently relaxed her lip and looked at Gu Ximian quietly. However, her eyes were shimmering with moisture, and a single blink was enough to wet her lashes, like damp crow feathers, giving the illusion that tears would fall at any moment.
"...I'm sorry..."
Gu Ximian heard Zhuang Chi say this in a very small voice. She then slowly moved closer, burying her head in Gu Ximian's neck, still on the side away from her glands. Zhuang Chi had been very careful all day, not daring to approach that area even once.
She must be overthinking again, apologizing to me so suddenly, Gu Ximian thought. She wouldn't have been angry even if Zhuang Chi had held her more proactively. Why was Zhuang Chi always so polite and careful with her, as if she felt she owed her something? Even when she drew near, she was gentle, unwilling to use an ounce of extra force, as if she would immediately pull away at the slightest sign of resistance.
Although she didn't dislike it, she sometimes felt a lonely sense of distance, as if they were separated by an insurmountable fog.
Gu Ximian closed her eyes, placed a hand on Zhuang Chi's shoulder, and on a sudden impulse, intentionally released more of her pheromones, throwing herself into the vortex formed by the suddenly chaotic, intertwined, bittersweet scents.
Night is more dangerous than day.
It was a truth tacitly acknowledged since ancient times, and Gu Ximian knew it well. But in this hotel room, perhaps it should be changed to... it's more dangerous with the lights off than with them on.
The light from the night lamp was perfectly ambiguous, casting blurry shadows. The blanket that had been neatly covering them had been half-thrown off by someone, and the pheromones were steadily heating up.
It was very hot. Zhuang Chi's body temperature was high, making Gu Ximian feel hot all over as well. Zhuang Chi held her very tightly, an embrace that left no room for any gaps. The heat from the palm on her lower back was scorching and flustering. Gu Ximian couldn't help but lean forward as if to escape, but it only made her sink deeper into Zhuang Chi's arms.
Zhuang Chi didn't seem to be feeling well either. Gu Ximian could feel her entire body was tense, as if she was trying her utmost to control herself. A fine layer of sweat had beaded on her forehead. Her gaze was hazy, the black of her eyes deep and heavy, clarity and indulgence intertwined, revealing a dazed bewilderment.
"...Gu Ximian..."
She called Gu Ximian's name with a trembling voice, holding her tighter, as if clinging to the only piece of driftwood that could save her.
When Zhuang Chi's hand nervously touched the hem of her pajamas, Gu Ximian started to think she might have gone too far.
An Alpha's rationality is weak during their susceptible period and they are easily aroused, not to mention Zhuang Chi had already been enduring it for so long today. Gu Ximian could feel Zhuang Chi hesitating; the hand on her waist tentatively touched and pulled away, easily conveying its owner's agitation.
And Gu Ximian knew clearly that Zhuang Chi instinctively wanted to touch her directly.
Gu Ximian hadn't properly studied the specific physiological mechanisms, but she knew that both Alphas and Omegas found it easier during their susceptible periods to have direct contact with their partners. This was why the words "susceptible period" always carried a hint of eroticism and were generally avoided in daily conversation, as if shrouded in a secret intimacy.
Although her physical contact with Zhuang Chi today had been more restrained, the current situation was gradually spiraling out of control. Zhuang Chi, under the influence of her susceptible period, was clearly no longer satisfied with touching her through clothing.
Gu Ximian clutched the back of Zhuang Chi's clothes but said nothing.
How far would this go? It felt as if her own mind was being ironed into irrationality by Zhuang Chi's body heat, making Gu Ximian dizzily wonder, how far... would she let Zhuang Chi go?
The hand on her lower back finally lifted the thin hem of her pajamas and slowly covered her skin.
The moment she was truly touched, it wasn't like her waist was being touched, but her very soul, making her spirit tremble violently. Gu Ximian bit her lower lip, her mind and vision going blank for an instant. If her thoughts could be visualized, they would have sparked into tiny flames the moment Zhuang Chi touched her, crackling up her spine from that small patch of skin, and finally exploding into a splendid, sensual kaleidoscope in her mind.
And her body, like her thoughts, had no intention of resisting. Gu Ximian was a little dazed. She didn't know what she was thinking; in her increasingly chaotic thoughts, only one word was clear: so hot.
Zhuang Chi's hand slipped inside but didn't move further, just resting uneasily on her lower back. An occasional curl of her fingers was enough to warm the cool, pale skin. A strange, tingling numbness spread across her lower back, as if the skin where Zhuang Chi touched had inexplicably thinned, becoming too sensitive to bear, sapping her strength. Gu Ximian bit her lip harder, unconsciously hugging Zhuang Chi tighter, thinking she shouldn't be biting herself, but this person instead.
Gu Ximian, the one being touched, hadn't even started trembling, but Zhuang Chi, the one doing the touching, was shaking violently. She buried her head in the side of Gu Ximian's neck. Gu Ximian couldn't see her expression, only noticing that her shoulders were heaving, as if she were panting deeply, or perhaps crying.
Zhuang Chi abruptly pulled her hand back, released Gu Ximian from her embrace, and let her lie back down on the bed.
The sudden departure of the heat caught Gu Ximian off guard. She was stunned to see that Zhuang Chi hadn't lain down with her but was still propped up, looking down at her. Her eyes were indeed red, the corners moist, looking as if she had been crying. Yet her gaze wasn't clearer for having been washed by tears; too many complex, ineffable emotions were intertwined, making her seem even more inscrutable to Gu Ximian.
Gu Ximian stared, entranced. A strange sliver of clarity emerged in her mind, so much so that as Zhuang Chi leaned down, she could still think rationally, Is she finally unable to resist marking me?
She couldn't be blamed for thinking that, because Zhuang Chi was clearly heading for her glands this time. Her pheromones were agitated, finally showing a hint of an Alpha's sharpness, as if driven by instinct towards the place she had resisted looking at all day. But Gu Ximian, for some reason, didn't move. Her reason told her she should push Zhuang Chi away quickly; a lucid Zhuang Chi wouldn't want to do this. Yet Gu Ximian couldn't raise her hand, instead watching helplessly as Zhuang Chi drew near, leaning into the side of her neck.
"...Gu Ximian."
She heard a soft call by her ear, a sound so quiet she wouldn't have heard it if they weren't so close, as if she were unconsciously murmuring her name.
Why didn't I push Zhuang Chi away? Gu Ximian wondered. Probably because of her expression just now. She didn't look like a predator, but more like a whimpering puppy.
A faint heat spread from her glands. Gu Ximian closed her eyes.
Zhuang Chi placed a very light kiss there.
It was a very chaotic night.
When Gu Ximian opened her eyes, Zhuang Chi was no longer beside her. All sleepiness vanished in an instant. She sat up and only relaxed when she saw Zhuang Chi sitting on the sofa, sighing in relief. Yet, the moment she saw Zhuang Chi, her glands began to feel slightly warm.
She couldn't help but think, Last night, Zhuang Chi kissed me here.
But what happened after that didn't continue so sensuously. Zhuang Chi reacted faster than Gu Ximian, springing away first. She seemed terrified by her own actions, covering her mouth with her hand as tears, whether from a physiological reaction or something else, began to stream out. She mumbled something and tried to get off the bed. Luckily, Gu Ximian grabbed her first, otherwise she probably would have fled the room in a panic without looking back.
Noticing Zhuang Chi's extreme emotional fluctuations, Gu Ximian felt both guilty and self-reproachful as she pulled her close. Zhuang Chi was particularly uncooperative then, but Gu Ximian used a very stern tone and finally got her to quiet down and accept the comfort of her pheromones. She just became very quiet, not saying a word or making any other movements. By the time Gu Ximian found it strange, she realized Zhuang Chi had fallen into a deep sleep at some point.
Even in her sleep, she was frowning uneasily, looking like she wasn't sleeping soundly, Gu Ximian thought. It seems she really didn't sleep for long. I was going to watch over her, but who knew I'd accidentally fall asleep too... I wonder when Zhuang Chi woke up. It's a good thing she didn't leave on her own.
But her current reaction wasn't very good either. Zhuang Chi had obviously noticed Gu Ximian was awake, but her gaze was evasive, darting glances over while her body hesitantly leaned in the opposite direction, as if two conflicting wills were causing chaos, leaving her no time to even greet Gu Ximian. Gu Ximian saw all this, frowned slightly, and spoke first, "Zhuang Chi."
Zhuang Chi looked over at the sound of her name. Her eyes looked like the Zhuang Chi Gu Ximian was familiar with again, but the guilt within them made Gu Ximian unhappy. She had just gotten out of bed and was about to walk over when she heard Zhuang Chi say, "...Gu Ximian, I've thought about it. I think we should keep some distance for now."
Gu Ximian's steps faltered, but she then continued walking towards her unceremoniously, stopping only when she was close enough that Zhuang Chi looked ready to flee. She frowned, "Why are you saying that again?"
"..." Zhuang Chi was a little uneasy, but she still sat up straight on the sofa obediently and said in a low, apologetic tone, "My mind was a mess last night, I couldn't think clearly. I think it's because we were too close..."
That's not it. It's because I impulsively released too many pheromones. Thinking this, Gu Ximian turned her head away without a word. Meanwhile, Zhuang Chi, the victim in a sense, continued with downcast eyes, "...I also thought a lot of bad things. This can't go on. So if you won't leave, then at least let's keep some distance. And it would be best to ask Ling Jing to help me buy something to prevent biting, like one of those things that goes over your mouth..."
Aren't those for dogs?
Gu Ximian wanted to say that but held back. She felt she was the one who had made Zhuang Chi suffer this time, and she felt bad about it. She also didn't know how to explain her actions if she confessed. Her thoughts were a mess, and all she knew was that she had to comfort Zhuang Chi first. "There's nothing 'bad' about it. If you're talking about wanting to mark me... that's a very normal situation. After all, you're an Alpha..."
A few words were enough to make her own face blush. Gu Ximian thought despairingly, Just consider this my penance. But she saw that Zhuang Chi, who had also become uncomfortable, hesitated for a long while before gently shaking her head.
"Although I did have that thought... it wasn't just that."
Zhuang Chi said softly, lowering her eyes nervously. The susceptible period made her more direct and honest than usual, so even though she was still shy and at a loss, she spoke truthfully.
"...I also wanted to kiss you."
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