Chapter 34: It’s hers

“Li Qiu, why are you spacing out?”

Hearing Shi Ran’s question, Liu Qiu came back to her senses and withdrew her gaze from the apartment door.

It must have been her imagination.

She thought she had heard someone speaking.

But the voice had been too faint, and she couldn’t make out what was said.

“Nothing.”

Shi Ran poked Liu Qiu’s cheek and frowned.

“You still haven’t answered me. Are you coming to stay at my place or not?”

Before Liu Qiu could respond, Song Ciyu spoke first.

“This young lady is an omega, and Liu Qiu is an alpha. In terms of propriety, it wouldn’t be appropriate for her to move in with you.”

“Liu Qiu, come stay with me instead.”

Liu Qiu tightened her grip on the suitcase handle.

She spoke slowly, but her words were unusually clear.

“I’ll find a place myself.”

Shi Ran was an omega, and she had feelings in that sense for her.

Liu Qiu would not get close to her again.

Song Ciyu was a good person, but Liu Qiu did not feel their relationship was close enough to that extent.

So she would not go either.

Song Ciyu smiled faintly.

“Liu Qiu, I just want to help you.”

Shi Ran clicked her tongue and mocked, “What a fool. Refusing a good offer and insisting on being stubborn.”

Song Ciyu was calm and steady.

Shi Ran was straightforward and passionate.

Yet both of their gazes carried the same unmistakable heat.

A chill rose inexplicably in Liu Qiu’s heart.

She pressed her lips together.

“I’m sorry.”

Just then, her phone rang.

She hadn’t looked at her phone these past few days.

Only now did she pick it up and see that it was Liu Xia calling.

Liu Qiu answered.

The call had come at the perfect time.

Even through the phone, Liu Xia’s voice carried clear concern.

“Liu Qiu, are you okay?”

From the corner of her eye, Liu Qiu saw Shi Ran and Song Ciyu watching her closely.

“I’m fine.”

She lowered her voice slightly.

“Um… Liu Xia, can I stay with you?”

Liu Xia replied without hesitation.

“Of course. Where are you right now? I’ll come pick you up.”

After giving her the address, Liu Qiu hung up.

Behind her black-framed glasses, her large eyes blinked lightly.

“I’ll be staying with my sister.”

Shi Ran realized that although Liu Qiu appeared timid, she was extremely stubborn about the things she insisted on.

Pinching the bridge of her nose, Shi Ran said, “Fine. Send me the address later.”

She had been worried something had happened to Liu Qiu.

Now that she was safe, there was nothing wrong with her finding her own place.

Song Ciyu’s gaze swept across Liu Qiu’s face.

Her fingers rubbed together slightly.

Sister?

Wasn’t Liu Qiu an orphan?

It seemed she hadn’t investigated thoroughly enough.

That omega beside her didn’t look confused at all, which meant she already knew.

Song Ciyu carried the suitcase downstairs.

As an alpha, she had strength, and the suitcase wasn’t heavy.

She brought it easily to the entrance of the residential complex.

Liu Qiu stood between Song Ciyu on her left and Shi Ran on her right.

Both were taller than her.

Sandwiched between them, she looked like a sudden dip between two mountains.

Outside the complex was the main road.

There weren’t too many people, but not too few either.

Almost everyone who passed by cast curious glances their way.

Liu Qiu lowered her head.

Her curly hair fell over her cheek.

Suddenly, she remembered something and asked in her mind.

[System, before I passed out, you said my vital signs were dropping. What did you mean?]

The system replied, [It meant you were about to die. But you’re perfectly healthy now. Probably a program error.]

It actually knew the whole process, but there was no need to say it.

The host was standing here just fine—that was enough.

The system felt guilty about another matter.

Fortunately, the host hadn’t questioned it about sending messages.

It had clearly followed instructions and replied properly.

It didn’t even know how things had escalated to this point.

“Liu Qiu, think about what I said,” Shi Ran murmured near her ear.

Liu Qiu’s eyelashes trembled.

“What thing?”

Shi Ran answered succinctly, “Marry me. You kissed me—don’t tell me you’re planning to deny it.”

“Marry? Liu Qiu, you kissed her?”

Before Liu Qiu could think of a response to Shi Ran, Song Ciyu’s question came from the other side.

Liu Qiu raised her head, feeling a headache coming on.

Why bring that up?

She didn’t want to answer.

[Host, just say you deeply love Bai Qingqing and will never marry anyone else.]

The system offered advice swiftly.

Liu Qiu pressed her lips together.

“I won’t get married.”

She had just gotten divorced, and now they were already asking her about marriage.

Shi Ran’s intentions were too obvious.

She needed to distance herself even more.

Shi Ran chuckled softly.

“Look how nervous you are. I was just teasing.”

She intended to remind her repeatedly, to make Liu Qiu keep it in mind.

Unlike Shi Ran’s relaxed attitude, Song Ciyu’s gaze darkened.

“If you do get married, you can consider me.”

“I have a house, a car, and savings.”

Liu Qiu stiffly turned her head.

Her eyes widened.

“W-What did you say?”

She wondered if she had hallucinated.

Song Ciyu curved her lips faintly.

“Nothing. I was joking.”

“I just tried saying it too. Don’t take it to heart.”

Just as she expected, Liu Qiu was the type who wouldn’t think much of it.

She had only been testing her.

Liu Qiu let out a sigh of relief.

Her expression grew serious.

“I don’t like that kind of joke.”

Song Ciyu nodded lightly.

“I’m sorry. I won’t do it again.”

Shi Ran let out a mocking laugh.

Competing, were they?

If Song Ciyu actually confessed seriously, Liu Qiu would probably be frightened by this same-alpha attraction.

Liu Xia arrived quickly.

Liu Qiu hadn’t stood there long before she saw Liu Xia stepping out of a taxi.

Her long hair was slightly messy.

Liu Xia’s eyes were very similar to Bai Qingqing’s—narrow, charming phoenix eyes with slightly upturned corners and curled lashes.

Yet their temperaments were completely different.

The same pair of eyes could create entirely different impressions on different people.

Liu Xia spotted Liu Qiu and smiled.

Her eyes curved warmly, red lips lifting, bright and confident.

“Liu Qiu, I’m here to pick you up.”

She had many questions she wanted to ask.

But perhaps right now, Liu Qiu needed rest more than anything.

Walking quickly over, Liu Xia stopped in front of her.

She greeted Song Ciyu and Shi Ran politely.

“Hello, I’m Liu Qiu’s sister, Liu Xia.”

Shi Ran nodded in acknowledgment.

They had met before, so there was no need for introductions.

Still, seeing a face resembling Bai Qingqing’s made her uncomfortable.

Even though Liu Xia was confident and radiant, unlike that fake, gentle woman.

Song Ciyu said gently, “Hello, I’m Song Ciyu.”

She looks very similar to Bai Qingqing.

But she’s Liu Qiu’s sister.

Same surname as Liu Qiu.

Children from the same orphanage?

A thought slowly formed in Song Ciyu’s mind.

Could Bai Qingqing have been a substitute Liu Qiu found?

It wasn’t impossible.

Though many thoughts passed through her mind, her expression remained unchanged.

Feigning composure was something she excelled at.

Liu Xia recognized Shi Ran—the omega who had once said at the hospital that it was a pity she hadn’t kissed Liu Qiu.

As for this alpha named Song Ciyu, she had never met her.

It seemed Liu Qiu did have friends—and very outstanding ones at that.

Liu Xia took the suitcase from Liu Qiu’s hand.

“I’ll take Liu Qiu with me then. Bye.”

Liu Qiu followed without resistance.

Watching the car disappear, Song Ciyu spoke softly.

“Miss Shi, you were the one who made Liu Qiu and her wife argue at Blue Bar that day, weren’t you?”

Shi Ran’s steps paused.

She turned her head slightly.

“What’s it to you?”

Song Ciyu smiled.

“Thank you for letting Liu Qiu get divorced.”

Shi Ran crossed her arms and looked Song Ciyu up and down.

The alpha was tall, shirt buttoned neatly to the top, posture straight, face refined.

Her aura wasn’t aggressive—rather scholarly and gentle.

But the way she spoke was filled with arrogance.

Shi Ran grinned wickedly.

“No need to thank me. I was just clearing space for my alpha.”

She emphasized the word alpha deliberately.

She didn’t take Song Ciyu seriously.

An alpha who appeared out of nowhere had already lost from a biological standpoint.

“Miss Shi is overly confident. Not all alphas prefer omegas. Secondary gender is not everything. What truly wins someone’s favor is what you do to move their heart.”

Song Ciyu spoke unhurriedly, her tone gentle but every word clear and firm.

Shi Ran let out a meaningful “Oh.”

She didn’t think Liu Qiu had a romantic bone in her body.

Rather than beating around the bush, it was better to be direct about what she wanted.

“Rich people really are different,” Shi Ran sneered coldly.

She walked off and soon disappeared from Song Ciyu’s sight.

Song Ciyu’s gaze darkened.

Calculations surfaced in her mind first.

Slowly withdrawing her smile, she turned toward her car.

She couldn’t afford to make another mistake.

Night fell gradually.

The entire city was draped in deep blue.

Neon lights lit up the streets, dispelling the darkness.

Liu Qiu stood by the window, watching the traffic below.

It felt as though she had been in this world for a long time.

Yet in truth, it had not even been a month.

[I miss Mom and Dad.]

The system comforted her.

[Host, keep working on your missions. Once enough scattered energy is collected, after completing thirty worlds, we can rewind time.]

Liu Qiu withdrew her gaze and sat on the bed.

For now, staying with Liu Xia was the best choice.

Who knew if Bai Qingqing might suddenly appear, see her, and raise the green-hat value.

Liu Xia was in the shower.

Liu Qiu opened her phone and looked at the system’s automated replies to others’ messages.

She sighed softly.

The system really wasn’t reliable at handling such matters.

---

Bai Qingqing didn’t know how long she had slept.

When she woke, it was already night.

Her strength had recovered slightly.

She climbed onto the windowsill and pushed open the half-closed window with her head, then began moving down along the wall.

She had to find Qiuqiu.

Qiuqiu carried her demon core.

She could sense where Qiuqiu was.

It would be fine.

Qiuqiu was soft-hearted.

She wouldn’t drive her away.

Even after learning she was a demon, she had only been frightened for a moment.

Qiuqiu wouldn’t abandon her.

The moon hung high in the sky.

But its light could not pierce through the city’s towering buildings.

Bai Qingqing had clearly forgotten that this was not the world she was familiar with.

Cars, pedestrians, stray cats—any of them could harm her small snake body now that she had no cultivation.

“Ahhh! A snake!”

The sharp scream made Bai Qingqing dart quickly into the roadside bushes.

Unfortunately, she had intruded into a stray cat’s territory.

The cat arched its back, hissing viciously.

Faced with a creature far larger than herself, Bai Qingqing chose to retreat.

Her body was too weak.

But the cat had no intention of letting its prey escape.

It leapt agilely and slashed at her with its claws.

Bai Qingqing was just a little too slow.

Two long bloody gashes tore across her body.

In the end, she barely escaped into a sewer.

Qiuqiu, wait for me.

The sewer was uneven and rough.

Her scales were scraped raw, blood seeping out.

She was no different from an ordinary snake now.

She couldn’t stay here long.

Climbing out of the sewer, her once pristine white body was filthy.

There were still many humans on the road.

She could only head toward more secluded areas.

As she climbed up a wall, a stone suddenly flew from behind and smashed into her head.

The small snake fell hard to the ground.

“Wow, bullseye!”

Bai Qingqing twisted frantically and resumed climbing.

She couldn’t get caught.

The night was already deep.

Her body was exhausted to the extreme.

Looking up at the tall building before her, she flicked her tongue.

Qiuqiu was here.

Almost there.

Her snake body dragged forward slowly, leaving faint bloodstains behind.

For a snake, the distance between districts was far too great.

Her belly scales had been worn through.

The pain in her body was nothing compared to the panic of not seeing Liu Qiu.

Reaching a windowsill, Bai Qingqing lifted her scarlet vertical pupils toward the warmly lit room.

“Qiuqiu.”

Her soft call was perhaps audible only to herself.

Liu Qiu was already asleep.

Her small face was flushed, turned toward the window.

The warm light in the room was gentle and not glaring.

Bai Qingqing gazed greedily.

“Qiuqiu.”

She wanted Qiuqiu.

But in the next second, her heart nearly stopped.

She saw a woman who resembled her step into the room from another side and sit on the edge of the bed.

The woman blocked her view of Liu Qiu’s face and leaned closer.

Seeing this, Bai Qingqing’s eyes almost split with fury.

She began ramming herself against the window frantically.

But she was too weak.

The window didn’t even tremble.

The people inside couldn’t notice her.

“Don’t touch Qiuqiu!”

Don’t touch my Qiuqiu.

A headache and heartache struck simultaneously.

Her emotions tangled like a shredded ball of yarn, despair and pain knotting together, wrapping tightly around her soul and marrow.

Bai Qingqing was driven mad.

Even her breath carried a metallic tang.

She hated everyone who approached Qiuqiu.

She hated her own helplessness even more.

Tears spilled from her dry eyes.

Her blood-soaked white body tightened.

She couldn’t describe the agony twisting in her heart.

Don’t—don’t touch Qiuqiu—

Liu Xia bent down and tilted her head slightly, bringing her ear closer, trying to hear what Liu Qiu was murmuring in her sleep.

“…Home… I want to… go home…”

Hearing this, Liu Xia froze.

A fine, piercing ache spread across her heart.

It wasn’t heavy, but it was clear.

A sour bitterness flooded her whole body.

Straightening up, she brushed the hair from Liu Qiu’s face and sighed softly.

“Liu Qiu, where do you even have a home anymore?”

The only home they had no longer existed.

Bai Qingqing’s head was already a bloody mess.

Blood-streaked scales mixed with tears fell onto the windowsill.

“Qiuqiu.”

She called again and again.

Her body grew weaker and weaker.

Even her tears ran dry.

The warm light inside dimmed.

Her vision blurred further.

“Qiuqiu.”

Don’t leave.

Her once snow-white, translucent body was now mottled and ruined.

“Qiu… qiu…”

The faint voice seemed to truly reach Liu Qiu’s ears.

She slowly woke from her sleep.

There were two beds in the room.

Liu Xia slept on the other one.

Liu Qiu looked toward the window and noticed faint reddish marks on the glass.

She remembered there had been none before.

Rising, she walked to the window and gently opened it.

Her gaze fell upon a dying little white snake on the sill.

She frowned and reached out, touching it lightly with her fingertip.

Bai Qingqing could no longer open her eyes.

But she sensed the familiar scent.

With great effort, she lifted her tail and curled it around Liu Qiu’s fingertip.

It was her Qiuqiu.