The moon revealed a crescent moonbeam from the dark clouds, casting it on the pitch-black night.

The wind blew past the snow-covered pine tree hanging downstairs, the rustling sound became the only accompaniment of this winter night.

Wei Qingyu looked at the girl who cast a pleading glance at her, and her heart instantly softened.

She retracted the step she had just taken and sat back on the chair beside the bed: "I won't leave."

As soon as the words fell, the girl's limpid eyes were still gazing at her

The floating scent of peach brandy in the air wrote the unease that only exposed during the susceptible period.

The girl was afraid that after she fell asleep, the person who could bring her a sense of security would disappear, so she refused to close her already exhausted eyes.

Wei Qingyu even felt the reluctance from Ji Xiao in her palm.

She sighed softly and patiently said to Ji Xiao: "I really won't leave."

That voice, mixed with incomparable warmth amidst its chill, flowed into Ji Xiao's muddled body like the melting snow water of spring, carrying the coolness of mint.

The girl's eyes, barely holding on, shimmered heavily, dropping one star after another from her dense eyelashes.

The soft light poured onto her pale and weak face, and finally, the vast ocean that existed only in Wei Qingyu's sight returned to the silence of the night.

Ji Xiao's small face sank back into the soft pillow, holding Wei Qingyu's hand tightly with that mint-flavored sense of security, she fell back asleep.

As the night deepened, Wei Qingyu looked at the sleeping Ji Xiao with no intention of withdrawing her hand.

She gently leaned back on the chair, and her slightly empty mind involuntarily replayed the topic she discussed with Ji Xiao during lunch at the hotpot restaurant this afternoon.

The higher the level of an Alpha, the purer and more aggressive their pheromones, and the higher their status in primitive society.

At the same time, the negative state brought by the susceptible period became harder to suppress.

Wei Qingyu thought about this, then looked at the already sleeping Ji Xiao.

Her black long hair was soaked with sweat, then gradually dried by the warm room, sticking to her face in strands, making her look both obedient and slightly disheveled.

The neat quilt was wrinkled by her side-sleeping position, and the rising and falling outlines showed her curled-up body.

The rare vulnerability and sensitivity of an Alpha were all intertwined with her that night, yet it did not seem out of place.

Wei Qingyu looked and, as if guided by an unseen force, reached out with the other hand that was not held by Ji Xiao, gently brushed aside a strand of hair that covered half of her face, and tucked it behind her petite ear along with the rest of her hair that hung by her face.

Now, the girl's face was fully in Wei Qingyu's sight.

The blush that had not yet faded still stained the corners of her eyes and brows, even the tip of her nose that had just brushed against Wei Qingyu's skin showed a slight redness.

The side of her small face resting on the pillow was hidden by the long hair beneath her face, and the faint hint of fleshiness made Wei Qingyu's memories suddenly flash back.

Her gaze moved from top to bottom, carefully tracing and outlining the girl's features just like when she was ten years old in that dilapidated factory.

As the childishness in her memory faded, the heroic spirit of an Alpha gathered between her brows and at the bridge of her nose.

That young yet mature body was rising and falling slightly with her uneven breaths.

But unlike that day, the breath exhaled by the girl in front of her was no longer weak and powerless after being "warned" by someone.

Instead, it carried a lingering, ambiguous heat that fell unexpectedly into Wei Qingyu's secretly observing gaze.

The taste of peach brandy, with the sharpness of strong liquor, slid down Wei Qingyu's throat, leaving the sweetness of peaches on her tongue.

And the source of this sinful temptation, those lips, were crimson and soft, slightly parted, and as enticing as freshly picked fruit from the mountains.

Wei Qingyu watched and involuntarily swallowed her parched throat clumsily.

A blush spread across her cool face as, guided by an unseen force, she leaned closer to that sleeping side profile.

The atmosphere was ambiguous, and her heart was pounding in her chest.

But just as the pink tip of her tongue left a decadent glisten on the side of her lips, Wei Qingyu suddenly froze.

In the quiet room, the sound of gears clicking echoed, and her gaze at Ji Xiao became obscure.

Why...

Why did she have this impulsive reaction?

Why did she choose to stay after Ji Xiao's unconscious plea?

Why did she almost compromise when Ji Xiao nearly marked her just now?

It was as if she truly expected Ji Xiao to mark her...

That true desire extracted from the depths of her heart dripped onto the girl's desolate field, nurturing a delicate and weak flower.

The flower's stamen trembled in the wind, releasing a piercing fragrance of affection.

It was liking...

The night wind blew through the silent night, and the snow hanging on the bare branches was blown to the ground, causing a small snowfall in the confined area.

Wei Qingyu's gaze flickered as she looked at the sleeping girl in front of her, her thoughts tangled and chaotic.

What is liking?

Appreciation, fondness, adoration... all these emotions can be called liking.

But what is liking that stems from infatuation?

When you start to feel jealousy and hostility toward the Omegas around her, it means your liking for her is no longer pure.

Should I allow myself to like someone who once pushed me into the abyss?

….

Silence wrapped around Wei Qingyu's mind in the quiet room.

Even Wei Qingyu herself didn't know how to answer.

It was like her initial reaction when Ji Xiao pinned her against the door as she entered.

She lacked the confidence to convince herself that the nightmare haunting her for half a year wouldn't repeat itself.

Wei Qingyu looked up at the sky outside.

The clouds were divided by the window frame, and the moon hid in the topmost section of the sky, unwilling to come out.

She wondered, if her "liking" was real.

How much she wished the sleeping girl could give her more confidence.

If it wasn't real...

The wind silently swept across the dark sky, pushing the clouds that covered the moon away from the midnight sky.

The brilliance edged the clouds with gold, and stars scattered into the girl's sight, adorning her dark and lost heart.

If it wasn't real.

She wished again that her judgment was true.

….

The damp, metallic smell of rust surrounded Ji Xiao, a suffocating sensation pressing heavily on her chest, making each breath unusually burdensome. She could feel the pain emanating from her body, different from the numbness of the susceptible period; this pain felt vivid, as if there really was a wound there sending out pain signals.

"Ji Xiao, are you okay..."

A clear, cold voice, anxious yet tinged with a hint of youthful innocence, echoed in Ji Xiao's ears. She found the voice incredibly familiar, struggling to open her eyes amidst the chaos. 

In her line of sight, the girl's cold and aloof face appeared much smaller, tinged with a hint of adorable childishness. The girl looked at her anxiously, tears filling her turquoise eyes, her usually clean face now marked with a messy gray.

Ji Xiao was somewhat confused about the situation but involuntarily raised her hand. She saw the bloodstains on the indigo sleeve, the finely crafted fabric torn and tattered for some unknown reason.

Despite feeling pain with every movement, the young voice pretended to be strong: "It doesn't hurt, it doesn’t hurt at all…”

Little Wei Qingyu listened as clear teardrops uncontrollably fell from her eyes. A stark and piercing tear streaked down her ashy face.

Ji Xiao looked on, placing her lifted hand gently on Little Wei Qingyu's cheek. As she wiped away the tears, she reminded her, "And also, you're Ji Xiao, and I'm Wei Qingyu."

"But..." Little Wei Qingyu tried to say more, but Ji Xiao's gaze suddenly fixed on a burly figure that appeared.

Covered in smoke, with a fierce expression, the man grabbed Little Ji Xiao forcefully from her makeshift bed with just one hand. 

Little Ji Xiao felt something icy pressing against her temple, a heavy pressure drilling into her nerves. She could see the despair on Wei Qingyu's face, and behind the shattered window, police rifles were hidden in the shadows, their presence making her heart pound in her throat.

"You damn brat, your dad reported me to the police, I can't run away, so I'll just kill you now!"

Bang!

The man's voice and the gunshot rang out simultaneously. In an instant, Little Ji Xiao's wide eyes were splattered with crimson blood.

The young girl's slightly parted lips were tainted with the man's violence, vivid red like poppies in pale silence.

"Xiaoxiao!"

Ji Qingyun's nervous, trembling voice came running from afar, and Ji Xiao looked at the chaotic scene before suddenly opening her eyes.

"Haah... haah..."

Although it was just a dream, Ji Xiao vividly experienced the fear in the original owner's heart at the time.

The girl's body followed the rapid rise and fall of her heavy breaths, as if the blood spray from the man who had just been shot dead was still lingering in her throat.

The mint lingering in the air seemed to notice the girl's unease, settling on her with the fluctuation of Ji Xiao's breath.

Its gentle and mild scent carried a faint morning light, gradually calming her filled with anxious emotions.

Ji Xiao looked around the unfamiliar room, inevitably recalling the last dream after fainting during her susceptible period.

It seemed that she would always revisit these crucial memories left in this fragile consciousness.

But what kind of critical memories were these dreams for the original owner?

The chaos of the susceptible period had not yet subsided, and Ji Xiao couldn't make sense of it as she leaned against the soft pillow at the head of the bed.

The girl sighed in distress, as the cool taste suddenly slid down her tongue into her brain.

Cool yet fiery, like an unfinished flirtation from last night, teasing Ji Xiao's now calmer heart. She could feel the mint spreading on her tongue, suddenly recalling what she had done to Wei Qingyu last night when her consciousness was blurry.

The delicate neck of the girl appeared in Ji Xiao's mind, her torn dress revealing a swath of pale skin. Mint was cool, yet as her tongue rolled it, it felt as delicious as honey. Ji Xiao felt her throat burning, about to lift her hand but realizing her arm was numb.

Curiously, she looked towards her arm, and there was a beautiful, long-haired little head. Wei Qingyu was sleeping, resting on her arm, in contrast to the distressed figure in her hazy and insecure dream. Her slightly plump face showed tranquility, lips slightly open in a soft pink, resembling cherry blossoms.

Her pale hands clenching the neatly arranged bedsheet. Ji Xiao slightly straightened her body, leaning towards Wei Qingyu. 

She breathed slowly and carefully, her breath still carrying the lingering warmth of her susceptible period, her golden-orange eyes hinted a malicious thought on those unsuspecting lips.

Author's Note:

Happy weekend!

Pigeon quietly made a Weibo: 晋江_鸽子不会咕咕咕咕咕咕咕 (Jinjiang_Pigeons don't coo coo coo coo coo)

(If there are many "coo"s, it's a silly pigeon OwO).