Chapter 17: Friend

Liu Qiu was a little puzzled as to why the cuckold value hadn’t increased.

[System, she was being that intense—am I still not green enough? Why isn’t the progress bar moving?]

The system’s voice lagged, accompanied by a faint electric buzz.

[Don’t—don’t rush. Maybe—it’s not time yet.]

The system would occasionally make that buzzing sound.

Liu Qiu had long since grown used to it.

She had asked about it before, and the system said it was because it was playing a real system-versus-system battle game and was linked to other systems, so there might be some lag on her end.

“Thud.”

Another dull collision came from next door.

The sound wasn’t very clear by the time it reached her room, but it was still audible.

Liu Qiu wasn’t fully awake yet.

The feeling after sobering up from drunkenness wasn’t pleasant—especially when the entire room was filled with another alpha’s pheromones.

Each breath came with a strong wave of dizziness.

She yawned heavily and decided to sleep a little longer, hoping that when she woke up, the scent of pheromones would be gone from the room.

Just as she was about to drift back into sleep, the bedroom door was suddenly pushed open.

Liu Qiu’s body trembled in fright.

She instantly became fully awake but kept her eyes tightly shut.

A soft, gentle laugh drifted over.

“Qiuqiu, still sleeping?”

Bai Qingqing stood by Liu Qiu’s bed, her long lashes lowered as she examined her.

Her gaze swept over Liu Qiu’s neck and arms, confirming there were no extra marks.

She didn’t believe Liu Qiu would cheat.

After all, Liu Qiu loved her so much.

But there were always pests that would throw themselves forward.

She had gone out for a few days to break through to the next realm.

She hadn’t expected that in just a few days, someone would come knocking.

When she returned and saw the leftovers and wine bottles on the dining table, she had almost been unable to suppress the killing intent rising in her heart.

She knew that Liu Qiu was especially obedient when drunk.

She had clearly warned Liu Qiu not to have contact with others.

So why had she brought someone home?

A dark glint flickered in Bai Qingqing’s eyes.

She revealed a gentle smile, bent down, and pinched Liu Qiu’s neck, lightly stroking it.

“Darling, if you don’t get up, I’ll strangle you.”

As she spoke, her fingers tightened slightly.

The pulse beneath her palm beat rapidly.

It was nervous.

Bai Qingqing let out a low laugh.

“Why are you so disobedient? How many times have I told you not to interact with others?”

“I don’t like it.”

Liu Qiu couldn’t take it anymore.

She truly felt that Bai Qingqing might actually strangle her to death.

Her lashes trembled lightly as she slowly opened her eyes.

She frowned slightly, pretending to have just woken up.

Her voice was soft and hoarse.

“Wife, you’re back.”

Bai Qingqing released her neck and straightened up, her smile lingering.

“Qiuqiu, it seems you’ve been doing quite well while I was away.”

Only after Bai Qingqing stepped back did Liu Qiu dare open her eyes wider to see more clearly.

The bedroom lights were off, and dusk had already fallen, so she couldn’t quite read Bai Qingqing’s expression.

She could only see the faint smile on her lips.

Liu Qiu was confused.

Bai Qingqing and Song Ciyu had just been so intense—how did she still have the energy to come find her?

But now wasn’t the time to think about that.

Liu Qiu sat up from the bed and gave Bai Qingqing a somewhat uneasy smile.

“W-wife, I haven’t been doing well.”

“I missed you every day.”

Bai Qingqing narrowed her eyes slightly.

“You’re not going to ask me where I went?”

Liu Qiu couldn’t help gripping the fabric of her pants.

She lifted her face, her misty eyes carrying a pitiful look.

“I won’t ask. If you want to tell me, you will.”

The things Liu Qiu said, the way she acted—everything looked like love.

“Liu Qiu, come with me,” Bai Qingqing said.

Then she turned and walked out first.

Liu Qiu got out of bed and followed her slowly.

Seeing Bai Qingqing sit down at the dining table, she hesitated but walked over anyway.

The food on the table had gone completely cold.

“Wife, I’ll clean it up right away,” Liu Qiu said softly.

Bai Qingqing smiled.

“No. Qiuqiu, sit.”

Liu Qiu paused, then obediently sat down opposite her.

Bai Qingqing picked up the wine bottle and refilled Liu Qiu’s glass.

“Qiuqiu, keep drinking.”

Liu Qiu pressed her lips together.

“W-wife, I—”

“Qiuqiu, don’t be disobedient.”

Bai Qingqing’s smile faded slightly.

“You can drink with others, but you don’t want to drink with me?”

Liu Qiu’s lashes trembled lightly.

[System, why does she want me to drink?]

[Host, you really don’t like using your brain. Think about what kind of world this is.]

[I don’t know.]

[Idiot… This is the cuckold world. What could be more stimulating than cheating with someone in front of your drunk wife?]

Liu Qiu immediately understood.

So that was it.

No wonder Bai Qingqing suddenly came looking for her and insisted she drink.

Drunk was good.

When the time came, she could slump over the table while things happened nearby.

Wouldn’t the cuckold value skyrocket?

Thinking of this, Liu Qiu felt delighted.

She picked up the wine glass and began pouring alcohol into her mouth.

Bai Qingqing watched steadily, her gaze growing darker.

Some things were easier to do when one was drunk.

The burnt smell of overcooked food drifted into Bai Qingqing’s nose.

She lowered her eyes to the charred dishes, an indescribable emotion stirring within her.

“Qiuqiu, did you make this?” she asked.

Liu Qiu opened her beautiful eyes.

The slight droop at their corners made her look especially innocent.

“…Yes, I did.”

Why was Bai Qingqing asking about the dishes?

She had intended to throw them away.

They tasted terrible and looked even worse.

Bai Qingqing picked up her chopsticks, lifted a piece of the cold dish, and placed it in her mouth.

Liu Qiu’s pale pink lips parted slightly as if to speak, then stopped.

Bai Qingqing’s brows curved gently.

“Qiuqiu, keep drinking.”

She actually cooked for that trash.

So disobedient.

Bai Qingqing ate bite after bite, her posture elegant, as though she were savoring a delicacy.

Liu Qiu began to suspect her own sense of taste.

Could it be that what she made actually tasted good?

As the alcohol spread through her body, her consciousness gradually blurred.

She sat there blankly, unmoving.

When drunk, Liu Qiu’s eyes and movements always carried a dull, sluggish air.

Bai Qingqing could tell at a glance what state she was in.

After swallowing the last bite, she wiped her lips and walked over to Liu Qiu.

“Qiuqiu, do you still recognize me?”

Liu Qiu blinked and nodded lightly.

“W-wife.”

She let out a small hiccup.

Bai Qingqing’s red lips curved upward, a meaningful smile blooming across her stunning face.

“Darling, it’s time for inspection again.”

Liu Qiu frowned slightly, trying to process what “inspection” meant.

But her muddled mind couldn’t support any thought.

She lowered her long lashes and murmured softly,

“O-okay… let wife inspect.”

“Such a good girl.”

Bai Qingqing led Liu Qiu toward her room.

But the moment she pushed the door open, Liu Qiu stopped moving.

“W-wife… don’t go in,” Liu Qiu said pitifully, brows furrowed.

A scent in the room made her instinctively recoil.

She didn’t like it.

Bai Qingqing grabbed her hand and forcefully pulled her inside.

---

“Mm—wife… uncomfortable… it feels swollen.”

Song Ciyu woke up to that ambiguous voice.

Bai Qingqing had knocked her unconscious.

She hadn’t resisted.

After all, if this turned into a scandal, she would be the one disgraced.

“Qiuqiu, be good. Don’t be nervous.”

Amid the thick tulip pheromones filling the room, Song Ciyu caught the scent of mint.

That was Liu Qiu’s pheromone.

It carried the scent of arousal.

What was happening outside was self-evident.

And she was trapped in this cramped space, forced to listen.

Her entire body was burning.

Her heat had arrived—this was no joke.

But she was a superior alpha.

Her control was far stronger than that of lower-tier alphas.

At least for a short time, she wouldn’t lose her rationality.

“W-wife… so—mm…”

Liu Qiu’s breathy moans steadily eroded her restraint.

When she first met Liu Qiu, she had wondered—could such a weak alpha really dominate anyone?

The answer was clearly no.

Just listen to that voice.

So soft. So delicate. So lewd.

Was she being pressed down by a beta?

Song Ciyu closed her eyes, unable to stop imagining what Liu Qiu looked like right now.

Bai Qingqing must know she was awake.

Yet she continued so brazenly.

Wasn’t it just to let her know?

Song Ciyu’s breathing grew heavier.

She was going insane.

She had never imagined that mere imagination would make her unable to suppress her desire.

Her pheromones overflowed wildly, clamoring to cover someone completely.

Liu Qiu seemed to sense it.

Her voice turned distressed.

“Strange… it’s strange.”

“W-wife… it smells bad.”

Song Ciyu laughed softly.

Her pheromones replaced her, licking at Liu Qiu.

Liu Qiu’s pheromones fiercely resisted hers.

The two scents tangled together—

Even in mutual rejection, it was unbearably intimate.

But Bai Qingqing was a beta.

She would never know that at this moment, Liu Qiu’s pheromones were entwined with Song Ciyu’s.

The pitiful sobbing continued, drawing closer and closer until it felt almost right beside her ear.

Thump. Thump.

That was her own violent heartbeat.

Too close.

Liu Qiu’s pheromones had already seeped in everywhere.

Song Ciyu pressed herself against the wooden partition.

Outside, Liu Qiu had been brought to the wardrobe.

Her back was pressed against the cold cabinet door.

“W-wife…”

Her eyes were red from crying.

The scent made her uncomfortable.

Her lowered eye corners were damp, looking especially pitiful.

Bai Qingqing lifted Liu Qiu’s arms around her neck.

The cabinet door trembled faintly.

“Qiuqiu, say you love me,” Bai Qingqing coaxed.

Liu Qiu sniffled.

“W-wife… I love you.”

“Say it a few more times.”

“W-wife… I love you.”

Her soft, tearful voice repeated those words again and again until her tone rose slightly.

“I—ah—love you—”

Heavy breathing followed.

Two—or perhaps three—breaths overlapped, indistinguishable.

Bai Qingqing carried Liu Qiu, whose body had gone limp, to the bed and lay beside her.

Looking at Liu Qiu’s flushed skin, she ran her tongue across her lips and laughed softly.

“Qiuqiu, now it’s your turn to inspect.”

Liu Qiu slowly crawled up, her misty puppy-like eyes blinking, cheeks flushed and tear-streaked.

“O-okay… wife, I’ll do it.”

Her mind was a haze.

She remembered nothing clearly.

But she remembered what Bai Qingqing had just done to her.

Wife wanted her to inspect.

After a brief silence, ambiguous low moans rose again.

“Qiuqiu… so good.”

Song Ciyu’s eyes were bloodshot.

This was madness.

Bai Qingqing was insane.

Time passed—how long, she didn’t know.

Eventually the sounds stopped.

Song Ciyu was drenched in sweat.

She leaned against the cabinet door, her lips bitten bloody.

She truly felt like a rat, hiding in the shadows and peeking at others.

Liu Qiu had already fallen asleep from exhaustion.

Bai Qingqing gazed at her peaceful sleeping face and pressed a hand to the back of her neck.

As she applied pressure, she felt an uneven texture beneath her palm.

Her eyes narrowed.

She moved behind Liu Qiu and brushed aside her damp hair.

Several shallow bite marks were clearly visible.

Bai Qingqing smiled slowly.

There was no warmth in it.

[Green Hat Value +3]

Unfortunately, the sleeping Liu Qiu could not hear the progress bar moving.

Bai Qingqing dressed, walked to the wardrobe, tapped it lightly, and suddenly pulled the door open.

She grabbed Song Ciyu by the hair and dragged her out.

“So you noticed,” Song Ciyu said hoarsely.

Bai Qingqing said nothing.

She dragged her to the living room and slammed her head violently against the floor.

Blood slowly spread across the pristine white tiles.

Even then, Song Ciyu still found it in her to smile.

“Miss Bai, why are you so angry?”

She coughed lightly.

“You don’t even like her, do you?”

Bai Qingqing released her, her expression unreadable.

“You talk too much.”

Ridiculous.

Did this human think she was joking when she said she didn’t like her?

She was of the demon race.

How could she possibly fall in love with her own food?

Song Ciyu’s entire body ached.

Blood streaked her face, but her expression barely changed.

“Do you really think Liu Qiu loves you?”

“Humans lie best.”

A trace of amusement curved Bai Qingqing’s brows.

“If she doesn’t love me, does she love an alpha like you?”

Song Ciyu slowly sat up and coughed twice.

“What if she doesn’t love you?”

She was only provoking her.

Bai Qingqing’s self-assured demeanor was irritating.

“There is no such possibility,” Bai Qingqing said coldly.

She couldn’t keep this person here any longer.

If this continued, she truly might kill her.

Human lives were like ants in the eyes of the demon race.

But this world had its order.

If she killed her, Liu Qiu would most likely die as well.

Before she grew bored of her, she wouldn’t let such trouble drive Liu Qiu away.

Bai Qingqing dragged Song Ciyu to the door and threw her out.

Just before closing it, she smiled sweetly.

“Miss Song, please don’t come to my house again. It’s disgusting.”

The door shut in Song Ciyu’s face.

She touched the blood on her forehead and suppressed all emotion.

She had never been so humiliated—

All because of an inferior A.

---

“Director Song took leave today. I heard something happened.”

“What a shame—we don’t get to see Director Song’s beautiful face today.”

The discussion behind her wasn’t quiet.

Liu Qiu could hear it clearly.

She couldn’t help but feel curious.

Just how intense had things been between Bai Qingqing and Song Ciyu for her to take leave?

She had gotten drunk last night and slept until morning.

The hangover left her feeling uncomfortable everywhere.

When she checked the progress bar today, it had reached thirty-eight.

It had been twenty-five before.

This time it jumped thirteen points at once.

That was quite a lot.

Bai Qingqing, however, looked no different.

A thought popped into Liu Qiu’s mind.

Could it be that Song Ciyu was the bottom?

Was that why she took leave?

But according to this world’s logic, the possibility of an alpha being the bottom was small.

Still—not impossible.

Liu Qiu’s imagination began running wild.

Gossip was human nature.

She was no exception.

“Liu Qiu.”

A somewhat familiar voice called out.

She snapped out of her thoughts and looked aside.

When she saw it was Zhao An, she immediately lowered her head and quickened her steps.

Zhao An took two large strides and blocked her path.

“Wait.”

Liu Qiu pressed her lips together and looked up warily.

“W-what?”

They had just had a conflict recently.

Now that Song Ciyu had taken leave, Zhao An came looking for her—was this revenge?

Zhao An nervously squeezed her palm.

“Liu Qiu, I came to apologize.”

Liu Qiu looked away, her refusal obvious.

This person must have bullied the original host plenty.

Why would she accept an apology?

Zhao An hadn’t expected easy forgiveness.

Seeing Liu Qiu’s reaction only made her a little dejected.

She had thought a lot.

She had indeed been malicious.

At first she just couldn’t stand how an alpha like Liu Qiu acted so cowardly.

But later, bullying her had felt almost justified.

She scratched her neck.

“I know you won’t forgive me.”

Liu Qiu tightened her grip on her bag strap.

Looking at Liu Qiu’s pale cheeks and sharp chin, Zhao An glanced around before leaning closer.

Liu Qiu jumped in fright.

Before she could react, Zhao An whispered,

“Liu Qiu, you’d better not get too close to Director Song.”

Then she immediately straightened up and stepped back.

Liu Qiu didn’t understand.

Behind her black-framed glasses, her clear eyes looked directly at Zhao An.

Zhao An’s face flushed slightly under that gaze.

“Anyway… I’m sorry, Liu Qiu.”

Coming to apologize had been impulsive.

Their interaction likely wouldn’t go any deeper.

But she couldn’t stop thinking about the day of their argument—about how easily she had lifted Liu Qiu.

And those misty, innocent eyes.

Plus, she had heard the rumors circulating recently.

So she decided to apologize—and give a warning.

Rumors about Liu Qiu and Director Song were spreading throughout the company.

Liu Qiu was probably too dull to notice.

But she didn’t believe Director Song was unaware.

Letting rumors ferment like that—it felt wrong.

Although she looked down on Liu Qiu’s weak personality, she didn’t think Liu Qiu would actively seduce a fellow alpha like Director Song.

As for more than that—she couldn’t say.

It was all speculation.

Zhao An coughed lightly.

“I’m leaving.”

Liu Qiu nodded slowly.

After Zhao An left, she began to think.

Had Song Ciyu’s charm reached the point where even alphas came to warn her?

“You’d better not get too close to Director Song.”

Coming from someone who always bullied the original host, it sounded very much like a warning.

Liu Qiu soon put the small incident out of her mind.

At noon, she received another message from an unfamiliar number.

—Landing at the airport at eight tonight. Will you come pick me up, Liu Qiu?

Liu Qiu frowned immediately.

This person even knew her name?

She searched through the original host’s memories for anyone she might have overlooked.

The original host’s social circle had been simple.

Raised in an orphanage, left after high school, worked part-time while studying, barely graduated university, found a job, entered this company last year, and married Bai Qingqing at the beginning of this year.

There had been no wedding—just a marriage certificate.

Her life was a straight line between company and home.

No friends.

On days off, she just stayed home.

Something was wrong.

What was she missing?

[System, this message is strange. Could it be a scam? The original host had no friends.]

Through Liu Qiu’s perspective, the system saw the message.

Unlike Liu Qiu, it immediately understood.

[Host, look at the hint again.]

It stored everything unless deliberately cleared, and could instantly retrieve relevant data.

Liu Qiu opened the task panel.

[Hint: You are poor and ugly, a withdrawn inferior A. Your wife is a stunning beta. You gloat over having married such a gentle and caring wife, unaware that she has long had substantive relationships with your friend, your superior, and your neighbor…]

Friend. Superior. Neighbor.

Friend?!

Liu Qiu’s eyes widened.

This person was a target character.

[System, didn’t expect you to be useful.]

[I’m more than useful. I’m very useful.]

Leaning back in her chair, Liu Qiu unconsciously scrolled her mouse wheel.

In that case, she had to go see this person.

But it was strange.

Why was there no trace of them in the original host’s memory?

She tapped on the message.

—Okay. I’ll pick you up.

After thinking for a moment, she added what she was wearing.

—I’m in a light blue plaid shirt and wide-leg pants. I’m wearing glasses.

The reply came quickly.

—I thought you wouldn’t respond.

So there had been some conflict between them.

Liu Qiu resolved to see this person no matter what.

But first, she had to call Bai Qingqing.

It was 5:30 p.m.

There was still half an hour before work ended, but she was the only one left in the office.

She dialed Bai Qingqing’s number.

The call connected after three rings.

“Qiuqiu, off work already?” Bai Qingqing’s gentle voice came through.

“Wife, not yet. I’m going to the airport tonight to pick up a friend.”

She realized she sounded too natural and hurriedly added,

“I-is that okay?”

Bai Qingqing chuckled softly.

“Of course.”

“Can you be home before eleven?”

Liu Qiu hadn’t expected her to agree so easily.

“Yes. I’ll be home on time.”

After hanging up, she stared at her phone.

It wasn’t that Bai Qingqing was easygoing.

She simply didn’t care about the original host.

But that day when she was trapped at the company, Bai Qingqing had come looking for her.

It was hard to understand.

She didn’t think about it for long.

Without Song Ciyu around, she always felt at ease.

Stretching lazily, she packed up and left.

It would take an hour and a half by subway to reach the airport.

If she left now, she would arrive just in time.

When Liu Qiu set off, Bai Qingqing left as well.

After being together so long, she had never heard Liu Qiu mention any friends.

For someone to appear so suddenly—it was laughable.

Liu Qiu had no friends.

Her life had only ever contained her.

---

Night fell.

Neon lights flickered on across the streets.

Liu Qiu stood at Exit A1, scanning the crowd.

She was truly curious what kind of person this “friend” was—the one absent from memory.

Suddenly, she saw a tall woman in a camel-colored trench coat.

Her heart began pounding violently.

This woman looked five parts like Bai Qingqing.

Their eyes met.

Liu Qiu’s eyes widened slowly.

She gripped her bag tightly, her lips trembling.

This was the original host’s friend.

She was certain.

The woman pulled her suitcase through the crowd and stopped before her.

The sound of black high heels striking the ground seemed to hit directly against her eardrums.

Then the footsteps stopped.

Liu Qiu lifted her face slightly.

This person felt both unfamiliar and familiar.

Unfamiliar because she didn’t know her.

Familiar because she resembled Bai Qingqing.

The same alluring eyes.

The same sharp, smooth facial contours.

The woman extended her hand and smiled faintly.

“Long time no see, Liu Qiu.”

Polite. Courteous.

Completely different from Bai Qingqing’s temperament.

Liu Qiu’s hand trembled as she reached out and gently grasped those slender pale fingers.

“L-long time no see.”

[ Ding! Target confirmed: No. 3 – Friend (There seems to be an unspeakable past.) ]

[ Ding! Entering instance in three seconds. ]

[ The Past — ]

The notifications rang one after another.

Before losing consciousness, Liu Qiu saw time freeze.

When she opened her eyes again, she found herself in a cramped, narrow room.

Mold-stained walls.

A broken window.

A crude wooden bed.

It took her a while to process.

[System, what’s going on?]

[An instance has been triggered. If you clear it, you’ll probably unlock something.]

Liu Qiu understood.

If she guessed correctly, clearing this instance would unlock the original host’s memories about this friend.

She calmed herself and examined the room more carefully.

When she looked closely, she was stunned.

The walls were covered in photos.

Back views. Side profiles.

Eating. Reading. Sleeping.

An entire wall filled with photos.

And judging by the angles—they were all taken secretly.

This was the original host’s past.

If she had to describe it in one word—

Dark and damp.

Knock. Knock.

A gentle knock sounded at the door.

Liu Qiu walked over and carefully opened a crack.

Warm light streamed in from outside.

Seeing the girl before her, a name surfaced in her mind.

Liu Xia.

She had seen this girl before.

Not only on the wall of photos—

But also years later at the airport.

The woman in the camel trench coat.

“L-Liu Xia.”

The girl still carried a bit of youthful baby fat.

Yet even before fully maturing, her beautiful, striking features were already dazzling.

Liu Xia smiled brightly.

“Liu Qiu, time for school.”

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