Chapter 11: Carnival

Liu Qiu lowered her long, straight lashes and pressed her lips together tightly, looking pitiful beyond words.

Bai Qingqing remained unmoved. She had always regarded Liu Qiu as nothing more than a tool to be used.

She was of the demon race; to humans, she was prey, yet to her, humans were the true quarry.

A gentle façade was more than enough to bind Liu Qiu to her without effort.

But sometimes, too much gentleness made prey disobedient.

She did not like others touching what belonged to her. Before she grew tired of it, she needed to wind Liu Qiu more tightly around herself.

Bai Qingqing smiled softly. “Qiūqiū, next time, call me as soon as you get off work, okay?”

Liu Qiu nodded slowly, staring at the tips of her shoes in silence.

It was as if the previous scene had never happened.

Behind her, Song Ciyu concealed the darkness in her eyes and stepped forward considerately. “If you don’t mind, I can drive you home. It’s already very late.”

Before Liu Qiu could speak, Bai Qingqing replied, “No need. I’ll take Qiūqiū home by taxi. We wouldn’t want to trouble her superior.” The word superior was bitten off with deliberate emphasis.

A chilling glint flickered in her eyes.

Song Ciyu understood perfectly—Bai Qingqing was warning her to remember her place.

She gave a faint nod. “Then I’ll be going.” Too much was as bad as too little. Sooner or later, this beta would push Liu Qiu away. She had patience; she had plenty of time.

After Song Ciyu left, Bai Qingqing hailed a taxi and had Liu Qiu get in first before following.

The atmosphere inside the car was silent. Bai Qingqing did not say a single word until they reached the residential complex.

With her long legs, she walked quickly, and Liu Qiu had to hurry to keep up.

Drizzle soaked Liu Qiu’s hair and clothes. Watching Bai Qingqing’s tall silhouette ahead of her, she jogged a few steps, trailing behind like a little tail.

Her uneven, hurried footsteps echoed clearly in the night, yet Bai Qingqing never once looked back.

Already exhausted, and shaken by the fright earlier, Liu Qiu’s strength finally gave out. She stumbled and fell straight onto the wet ground, her trousers quickly soaking through.

Liu Qiu couldn’t take it anymore. If it had been the original owner—who loved Bai Qingqing deeply—she would have been heartbroken to death.

Forget it. She wouldn’t chase anymore. She was too tired. She would rest first and go back later. Getting a little wet in the rain wouldn’t matter.

Bai Qingqing was keenly aware of Liu Qiu’s every move. When she sensed Liu Qiu had fallen and remained motionless, she stopped.

Turning around, she looked at Liu Qiu sitting on the ground with her head lowered. In the darkness, her deep black pupils faintly emitted a sinister red glow, eerie and alluring.

Liu Qiu did not see this. She was staring at the rain-slick pavement, lost in thought.

She hadn’t finished her sentence before the call disconnected—so how had Bai Qingqing known she was at the company?

And—

“Qiūqiū, how did you fall?” The voice above her cut off her thoughts. Liu Qiu looked up and called softly, “…Wife.”

Bai Qingqing extended her hand gently. “Qiūqiū, take my hand.”

But Liu Qiu shook her head and stammered, “N-no touching… Wife, I can’t touch you.”

“You said I wasn’t allowed to.”

Bai Qingqing narrowed her beautiful eyes slightly. Instead of insisting, she bent down and lifted Liu Qiu from the ground, holding her firmly in her arms.

Liu Qiu was stunned. Didn’t Bai Qingqing dislike being touched?

Of course, she wouldn’t dare voice that question. Her body tensed as she cautiously glanced at Bai Qingqing. “W-wife… are you not angry anymore?”

Bai Qingqing’s arm supported the back of Liu Qiu’s knees. A faint smile curved her lips, soft and gentle under the streetlights. “Why would I be angry?” Indeed, she hadn’t been angry—she had only wanted to give Liu Qiu a small punishment.

Liu Qiu’s lashes trembled uneasily. She didn’t really want to be held like this.

But according to the original owner’s personality, she would never refuse Bai Qingqing.

“Qiūqiū, did you hurt yourself anywhere?”

Liu Qiu shook her head. “No.”

It was very late when Bai Qingqing carried her home.

Yet she did not put Liu Qiu down, instead carrying her straight into the bathroom.

Liu Qiu grew nervous. “Wife… you can put me down now.”

Bai Qingqing set her down—but did not step away. Instead, she leaned close, pressing herself against Liu Qiu like a boneless serpent, exhaling cold breaths against her neck.

Goosebumps erupted over Liu Qiu’s skin.

[What is Bai Qingqing doing? This is scary!]

Bai Qingqing hooked an arm around Liu Qiu’s waist, her breath fragrant, her voice carrying a seductive tremor. “Qiūqiū… do you want to have me?”

A strand of faint purple mist drifted from Bai Qingqing’s lips and slipped into Liu Qiu’s mouth.

It was demonic aura—capable of enticing others.

Liu Qiu could not see it, yet an inexplicable restlessness rose within her. She suddenly wanted—wanted to claim Bai Qingqing entirely for herself.

Bai Qingqing straightened and pressed her forehead against Liu Qiu’s, sweetness thick in the air.

“Darling, you’ve always wanted this, haven’t you? Tonight, I’m yours.” Her soft, coaxing voice was overwhelmingly alluring, and Liu Qiu’s ears burned red.

Though inexperienced in love, she was an adult—she understood what that meant.

But she didn’t love Bai Qingqing. And Bai Qingqing was the original owner’s wife.

She wanted to refuse, yet a strange desire welled up from within, making rejection impossible.

This was too strange.

With a low laugh, Bai Qingqing guided Liu Qiu’s hand toward her chest. “Qiūqiū, are you going to refuse me?”

She intended to bind Liu Qiu even tighter—to fill her mind with nothing but herself.

Liu Qiu’s pale face flushed crimson. Stiffly, she shook her head. “N-no… I won’t refuse.”

[System! What do I do? I’ve never done this before—I want to refuse!]

The system responded lazily. [If you reject Bai Qingqing’s advances, that’s a serious break in character. What if the world consciousness eliminates you?]

Then its tone turned meaningful. [Don’t you want to finish the mission quickly?]

[Don’t overthink it. The person in front of you is just data—virtual. In other words, just air.]

Those words worked strangely well. Liu Qiu wanted to be resurrected, to find the person who pushed her.

She closed her eyes, then opened them again with determination. Right. Just virtual. She would treat it as a one-time lesson.

Her cheeks burned. At this distance, she could see Bai Qingqing clearly. Clenching her fingers nervously, she asked in a small, yearning voice, “R-really?”

Bai Qingqing smiled, fingers gliding along Liu Qiu’s neck and shoulder. “Of course. We’re partners.”

She removed her damp clothes, speaking softly. “Qiūqiū, it’s my first time. Be gentle.” She wanted Liu Qiu conscious. She wanted Liu Qiu to believe she had possessed her.

In this world, if Liu Qiu ever realized she—an alpha—had been manipulated by a beta, she would collapse. For now, Bai Qingqing still needed a mentally stable prey.

Liu Qiu deeply loved her, yet did not refuse others. Something was still missing—physical intimacy.

If Liu Qiu believed they had crossed that line, she would love Bai Qingqing even more—love her beyond escape.

Bai Qingqing wanted complete obedience. She did not want her prey touched by others—or touching others.

Liu Qiu hardly dared to look.

[…System, what’s the first step?]

The system, mid-game, nearly choked in shock. For someone her age not to know? It coughed awkwardly and pulled up a reference video visible only to Liu Qiu.

[Figure it out.]

First step—kiss.

Liu Qiu glanced at Bai Qingqing’s crimson lips and leaned closer—only to be stopped by a finger.

Bai Qingqing smiled gently. “No need to kiss.”

Liu Qiu froze, cheeks reddening further. “Th-then what should I do?”

Bai Qingqing turned around and pressed back against her. “Be direct.”

Liu Qiu’s neck flushed as the instructional video continued playing in her vision.

—Wait until it’s ready.

Her eyes grew damp. She decided not to listen to Bai Qingqing. If she was too direct, there would be injury.

Her wet clothes clung uncomfortably, but she didn’t dare remove them. It felt too awkward.

“W-wife…” Her voice trembled faintly, body shaking, sweat beading at her forehead—though most of her focus remained on the system’s tutorial.

“Be direct,” Bai Qingqing urged softly, finding her slow pace exasperating.

Tears slid down Liu Qiu’s reddened cheeks.

“Darling, don’t be afraid,” Bai Qingqing coaxed breathlessly.

If she had looked back, she would have seen Liu Qiu’s face set with the seriousness of someone studying an academic report.

The video showed entwined bodies, kisses and embraces—far more chaotic than this.

But Bai Qingqing wouldn’t even allow a simple kiss.

So even in this, Bai Qingqing still disliked the original owner.

Liu Qiu had always known—s*x and love were separate.

Water dripped to the floor.

Bai Qingqing finally stood upright, cheeks flushed, eyes hazy with allure.

Liu Qiu’s eyes were moist; her pale lips swollen from being pressed together.

Taking Liu Qiu’s damp hand, Bai Qingqing kissed it, voice low and intimate. “Qiūqiū, now I belong to you completely.”

“From now on, keep your distance from everyone.”

Liu Qiu, cheeks pink and eyes misty, still in her damp clothes, looked both pitiful and endearing. “I—I will.”

Under that watery gaze, Bai Qingqing felt like Liu Qiu’s savior. Her mood was exceptionally bright.

“Qiūqiū, you should shower first.”

Liu Qiu parted her lips but said nothing in the end.

Bai Qingqing’s attitude eased some of her discomfort. She reframed it inwardly—just helping a friend relieve herself once.

With that thought, the awkwardness lessened.

Bai Qingqing dried herself and left the bathroom without another glance, intending to make Liu Qiu care more—but unexpectedly, she found she had enjoyed it.

Though she preferred being enveloped by Liu Qiu.

As soon as she left, the system popped up. [Host, how was it?]

It could only see mosaics, but judging by posture, the host had taken the lead.

Liu Qiu touched her ear awkwardly. [So that’s what it’s like? It was… pretty average.]

She had felt like a tool. The initial shyness had vanished halfway through.

From start to finish, she had only used her fingers.

That wasn’t what the video showed.

After a long pause, the system sighed. [Host, you’re really a block of wood.]

Even it knew such things were supposed to bring pleasure—yet her verdict was simply “average.”

Anyone who fell for this host in the future would be unfortunate.

She might even respond to a confession with, “Oh? What kind of like? It feels pretty average.”

In the end, the incident left little impression on Liu Qiu’s heart.