CFAIACTH Chapter 87 - More intimate than a kiss

The torrential rain poured down relentlessly, accompanied by the thunderous roar.

Even with her raincoat on, Jing Qingxia could feel the icy chill seeping through the fabric.

She didn't understand why Old Madam Jing suddenly insisted on taking her to the Separate Courtyard at the back of the mountain.

But in the storm-lashed forest, Jing Qingxia's anxiety flared, her PTSD symptoms surfacing.

This tension stemmed primarily from Old Madam Jing herself.

Though advanced in years, the threat posed by a high-level Alpha with formidable martial prowess remained undiminished. Moreover, this forest was Old Madam Jing's personal domain. The terrifying mechanisms she had only heard about but never witnessed might suddenly activate at any moment.

Old Madam Jing reached out.

Jing Qingxia reflexively sidestepped, instantly grabbing Old Madam Jing's arm in a defensive move.

Unsurprised, Old Madam Jing looked kindly at her, speaking as a grandmother might to her granddaughter: "The path is slippery. Help me walk."

Jing Qingxia relaxed her grip, loosened her fingers, drew closer to Old Madam Jing, and switched to supporting her arm.

The grandmother and granddaughter walked along the muddy path, appearing warm and affectionate. Only they knew of the undercurrents surging beneath the surface, like the torrential rain.

They arrived at the Separate Courtyard.

Old Madam Jing shook the rain from her clothes, removed her raincoat, and said with a smile, "Zhenyi told me you'd become so skilled, but I didn't quite believe it. I thought she was just flattering you. Now I see it's true. This remarkable progress—was it due to love or the training camp?"

Jing Qingxia remained silent.

She couldn't answer a question that touched on the truth of her transmigration.

Old Madam Jing seemed unconcerned whether she received an answer. After watching Jing Qingxia remove her raincoat, she continued, "I've noticed your transformation since the summer break. Though I've always said you could live your life however you wished, I'm truly pleased with this change. Do you remember when you first began to change?"

The question sounded probing.

But Jing Qingxia had already decided to reveal what she could. "Around a week before school started."

Old Madam Jing nodded. "It's not just teenagers who experience sudden changes in temperament. Even adults who have long since grown up can have sudden moments of enlightenment. Take the Luan Family, for example, a prominent clan in Kyoto City's tech industry. Their only daughter was famously a wastrel, even to the point of nearly severing ties with her family. But then she had a sudden change of heart, like a completely different person. Your father even interacted with her and marveled at the transformation."

Jing Qingxia stared intently at Old Madam Jing.

In the dimly lit Separate Courtyard, the background thunderstorm echoed, lightning occasionally illuminating the old madam's face.

The horror movie atmosphere made Jing Qingxia's scalp tingle.

Old Madam Jing's words clearly carried a hidden meaning, yet she seemed utterly unconcerned about the response. After speaking, she acted as if she had forgotten, her voice dispersing into the air and fading away.

She turned on all the lights in the Separate Courtyard.

The tense atmosphere vanished as suddenly as the darkness.

Jing Qingxia squinted.

The Separate Courtyard looked exactly the same as when she had come to fetch local specialties last time.

Compared to the main residence's lavish decor, the Separate Courtyard's furnishings were simple and unremarkable, everything laid out plainly in view.

Old Madam Jing crossed the living room and headed toward the corridor.

Jing Qingxia followed instinctively.

"This is a photo of your Omega Grandma when she was young. I wonder if you remember her," Old Madam Jing said, pointing to the yellowed photograph in the frame on the wall.

Just as Jing Qingxia remembered from her childhood, the Omega Grandma was a kind and beautiful woman with smiling eyes that curved like crescents, radiating warmth to everyone she met.

"Although she was born into a wealthy merchant family, she had little interest in business. She was fascinated by strange and exotic things—black holes, higher-dimensional beings, time travel, and such. She even conducted serious research, took meticulous notes, and left behind numerous manuscripts, which she was immensely proud of." Old Madam Jing brushed her hand across the framed blueprints on the wall.

The right edges of these frames were worn and discolored from countless strokes of her hand.

Old Madam Jing chuckled. "Though she called it research, it was mostly wild speculation. I used to tell her she'd have made a better novelist."

She wasn't mocking her late husband's passions and dedication; rather, the memory of his earnest demeanor drew her into a fond reminiscence.

Jing Qingxia gazed at the manuscripts on the wall, then looked at Old Madam Jing, still unsure why she had been summoned.

Regardless of Old Madam Jing's plans or how unorthodox her ideas might be, Jing Qingxia decided to stick to her original plan.

"Perhaps Grandma's intuition isn't wrong; it's just that the theories to support it can't be articulated by those who possess them, at least not under certain circumstances."

Old Madam Jing seemed unsurprised by Jing Qingxia's response. "Whether they can articulate it or not, I don't know. But I told Ayu long ago that even if time travelers existed, anyone who claimed to have met one would likely be locked up as a madman."

This acknowledgment wasn't a challenge to Jing Qingxia's identity; rather, it seemed to be a subtle warning to keep her true nature hidden. The subtle tension between grandmother and granddaughter vanished like mist.

Old Madam Jing led Jing Qingxia down the corridor and into the room at the end.

It was a bedroom, but also a museum, a repository of memories—memories of her and her wife.

Old Madam Jing gestured for Jing Qingxia to sit, then brewed a pot of hot tea to chase away the chill.

"I hear you've been getting along well with Zhenyi lately?"

Jing Qingxia was surprised. She had only reached out to Su Zhenyi in the past couple of days. How had Old Madam Jing, who had been in seclusion, already learned of this?

Did this information come from the network report, or did Su Zhenyi say it herself?

"It's... acceptable, I suppose. After all, what happened in the village wasn't her fault. She's my cousin, so it's only natural to maintain a good relationship with her. Besides, I'll need her help with several things when I return to the village during the winter break."

After listening to this, Old Madam Jing pushed the freshly brewed tea toward Jing Qingxia. "Everyone said you'd changed a lot after the summer vacation. It seems I was the one who misunderstood. You handled the village situation admirably—no, remarkably. So remarkably that I began to doubt... who exactly you are."

The last sentence, spoken by Old Madam Jing, caused Jing Qingxia's hand to tremble slightly as she held her teacup.

She looked up at Old Madam Jing.

The old woman's expression remained unchanged as she confessed with a smile, "I've always been the type to investigate my suspicions. That's why I had Zhenyi obtain your DNA for testing. The DNA was fine—you're still 'you.' Now I see that I might have been too nostalgic about Ayu, letting her unfounded speculations bewitch me."

Jing Qingxia pressed her lips together.

Now she understood Old Madam Jing's earlier actions.

When she first learned her granddaughter was being pursued by mercenaries, she had Su Zhenyi rescue her first.

From Su Zhenyi, Old Madam Jing learned many detailed insights about her granddaughter, feeling as if her granddaughter had become a completely different person. This reminded her of her wife's earlier suspicions.

Jing Qingxia wondered whether Old Madam Jing had chosen to go into seclusion primarily because she was devastated by her granddaughter's sudden "switch," or if she had been anticipating that her wife's suspicions might prove true.

Later, DNA test results dispelled her doubts.

Jing Qingxia looked into Old Madam Jing's eyes.

Unlike the clouded eyes of most elderly people, Old Madam Jing's eyes remained clear and sharp.

As she recounted her suspicions about her granddaughter, she spoke as if telling someone else's story.

Jing Qingxia thought that Old Madam Jing might still be pondering the matter, reserving judgment but choosing not to pursue it further.

From this perspective, the little cannon fodder was rather pitiful.

Her doting grandmother cared more about her outward appearance than her inner nature.

Jing Qingxia smiled. "So, Grandma, did you call me here today just to explain why you went into seclusion?"

"Not exactly. More to talk about Xiaoxue. That rascal Guangyao, after all these years in the business world, still can't bring himself to make tough decisions when he needs to. He called me the moment he heard I came out of seclusion, asking for my advice."

"What's your opinion, Grandma?"

Old Madam Jing took a sip of tea and exhaled a puff of steam. "Give them a taste of their own medicine. In a public relations battle, speed is key. The most important thing is to capture the public's attention—whether it's true or false doesn't matter. Make it explosive, seize on the Zhong family's weak points, and keep amplifying them. Once the spotlight is on the Zhong family, it's no longer our problem."

Old Madam Jing was indeed as fierce and decisive as the rumors portrayed her. Her methods cared nothing for morality, only for self-interest—a state of pure chaos.

Jing Qingxia remained silent, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

Seeing Jing Qingxia's silence, Old Madam Jing continued, "Zhong Xiaoling thinks she can pull off such a dirty trick? She picked the wrong opponent. Even if Guangyao couldn't find Zhong Hongbo's original team's data files, our lawyers could smooth things over. But that would likely kill the project, leaving neither the Jing nor Zhong families with anything to gain—and giving others an opportunity to swoop in."

"Hmm, Jing Feibai said the same thing. By the way, Grandma, Jing Feibai claimed he returned to China after graduating this year. That would have been during the summer break, right?"

Old Madam Jing frowned. "Yes."

"Have you investigated her?"

"Do you suspect there's something wrong with her?"

"Even if there's nothing wrong, it doesn't hurt to look into it, right?" Jing Qingxia observed the subtle shift in Old Madam Jing's expression and tone, raising an eyebrow.

I wonder how far this old lady's emotions will cloud her judgment. Could she really refrain from investigating just because Jing Feibai resembles the Omega Grandma?

Old Madam Jing didn't respond directly. Instead, she steered the conversation back to the main topic. "Earlier, you asked me how I would handle the Zhong family. Now, I'm curious—what's your plan?"

Jing Qingxia clearly had this well-considered. "If we're going to act, we must ensure Zhong Xiaoling and Jiao Chunxiao never have another chance to cause trouble."

Old Madam Jing approved of Jing Qingxia's current demeanor. She was like a predator lying in wait.

"Starting with the Jiao family would be straightforward. Their background is far from clean. But Zhong Xiaoling is cunning." The unspoken implication was clear: Zhong Xiaoling wasn't easy to catch. She even schemed against her own wife, keeping her own hands clean.

"That's why, Grandma, you need to help me. I have a plan that requires your cooperation."

---

Zhong Mingxue waited in the living room of her old mansion until past ten o'clock, when Butler Xiao Lin advised her to return to her room and wait.

Even confined to her room, she couldn't sit still. This unease felt even worse than this morning when Zhong Xiaoling deliberately smeared Zhong Hongbo's reputation.

All she wanted now was to hold Jing Qingxia's hand, to embrace her, not needing the calming effects of pheromones, just simple physical contact.

She had recently realized that her sense of stability hadn't truly improved; it was only because Jing Qingxia was by her side that she felt steady.

The thunder outside increased her heart rate. All manner of evil seemed to brew on such a cold, stormy night.

Even Zhong Mingxue could detect Jing Qingxia's abnormal behavior. How could Old Madam Jing, with her vast experience reading people, possibly fail to notice that her own daughter had been replaced?

Old Madam Jing had never shown mercy to her enemies. What would she do to Jing Qingxia? Zhong Mingxue didn't dare imagine it.

When had Jing Qingxia first exposed her true identity to Old Madam Jing?

It must have been in the village, during the confrontation with the mercenaries.

Jing Qingxia's radiance had betrayed her.

And it was all Zhong Mingxue's fault.

If she hadn't needed help, Jing Qingxia would never have become a target of the Zhong Family.

If she could, she wouldn't even want to oppose the Zhong Family anymore, as long as Jing Qingxia remained safe.

Just as Hongbo had said when he transferred shares to his two elder sisters.

"Actually, whether we make a lot or a little doesn't matter. As long as the person I love is by my side."

Zhong Mingxue stood by the door, eager to see Jing Qingxia return as soon as possible. As long as the person I love is by my side. She didn't need the Jing family's help, nor Old Madam Jing's.

The two of them could stop worrying about these things, focus on their college entrance exams, and live a peaceful life. They could wait until they were strong enough to compete for Zhongshi Technology and reclaim what was lost.

She thought their parents in heaven would probably wish for the same. They wouldn't want her to remain trapped in the pain of hatred, unable to enjoy her own life while trying to wrestle the company back from her aunt.

Only at this point did she finally understand what she truly wanted, or perhaps it was only then that she realized, for the first time since losing her parents, she had someone she truly wanted to protect.

Knock, knock, knock.

The knocking interrupted Zhong Mingxue's thoughts.

"Xiaoxue, I'm coming in!" Jing Qingxia knocked half-heartedly before rushing in, rubbing her pale, cold hands.

She was surprised to see Zhong Mingxue standing anxiously by the door.

"Why are you standing here?"

"I was waiting for you to come back." Zhong Mingxue's voice trembled slightly, a mix of excitement and restraint, as she stepped forward and hugged Jing Qingxia tightly.

Jing Qingxia shrank back. "I'm freezing. Don't catch a cold."

"I just want to hold you. You won't freeze," Zhong Mingxue said. Her hands and body were indeed cold, but her heart burned with warmth.

Hearing this, Jing Qingxia relaxed and returned the embrace, holding her tightly and sniffing the air.

No pheromones.

So even when not in her fever period, Zhong Mingxue still had this soft, stubborn side.

"I'm sorry for making you worry. But Grandma didn't trouble me at all. She just had me look at some of Grandma Omega's belongings and discuss how to deal with Zhong Xiaoling. I think she must see me as an adult now, to be so serious about it. Don't worry," Jing Qingxia said, kissing the top of Zhong Mingxue's head.

Zhong Mingxue kept her head down, but the tension in her arms eased considerably.

"Have you even bathed yet? Your head smells."

"Huh?" Zhong Mingxue hadn't expected her moment of warmth to be interrupted so abruptly by Jing Qingxia's words.

When Zhong Mingxue looked up, Jing Qingxia saw not only surprise in her eyes, but also a hint of embarrassed annoyance.

Immediately contrite, Jing Qingxia laughed. "Just kidding! You smell perfectly fine. I only asked because you're still wearing the same clothes. So, should you go take a bath first? Let's get some sleep. Those uncles and aunties will be here early tomorrow, braving the rain for New Year's greetings. We won't get a peaceful night if we don't sleep now."

Zhong Mingxue released her grip and said, "Go take a bath. I've already washed. I wanted to calm down and relax after bathing, but I put my clothes back on because I was still worried."

"Hmm? Did you put your clothes back on to elope with me?" Jing Qingxia knew Zhong Mingxue was genuinely worried about her, so she teased her playfully, hoping to help her relax.

As expected, after receiving a playful "punch" from Zhong Mingxue, she did indeed calm down considerably.

"Alright, alright, no more teasing. I'll go take a bath first. You can change into your pajamas and lie down, how about that?"

"Okay," Zhong Mingxue nodded, but her grip remained firm.

Jing Qingxia looked at the clingy little kitten and found herself quite enjoying the affection.

"Siamese cats really are clingy creatures, aren't they? Come on, I'll carry you to bed."

With a gentle tug, she wrapped her arm around Zhong Mingxue's waist and walked toward the bed. Zhong Mingxue draped her arms over Jing Qingxia's shoulders.

Jing Qingxia laid her down on the bed, pressed the quilt down with both hands, kissed the corner of the adorable kitten's lips, and then went to tidy up before heading into the bathroom.

Zhong Mingxue lay on the bed, only snapping out of her daze when she heard the sound of running water from the bathroom.

She silently changed into her pajamas and waited in the warmth of the quilt.

Jing Qingxia didn't dawdle, completing her hair wash, bath, and blow-dry in one smooth motion.

Once in bed, she instinctively wrapped her arms around Zhong Mingxue's soft, fragrant body. "Having someone to warm the bed is wonderful."

"The way you say that makes me feel like I'm just a tool," Zhong Mingxue murmured, shifting in Jing Qingxia's embrace until she found a comfortable position, snuggling close to the person she loved.

"How could that be? I'll warm you up now." The little furnace that was Jing Qingxia quickly heated up, holding Zhong Mingxue tightly in her arms.

Zhong Mingxue savored this feeling, her heart overflowing with happiness. Gathering her courage, she whispered softly, "While you were at the Separate Courtyard with Old Madam Jing, I did a lot of thinking. I realized I'm already very happy. We can live happily without worrying about Zhong Xiaoling. I think this is enough. Having you is enough."

"Hmm? You're giving up the patents and the company? Am I really that important? You love me that much?" Jing Qingxia tilted her head back, trying to see Zhong Mingxue's face.

Zhong Mingxue smiled. "I just feel like I don't need to be so stubborn about doing everything myself and rushing into things. If the Jing Family is willing to help me, I'll just borrow their strength like a fox borrowing a tiger's might. At worst, I'll work extra hard for you all later to repay the favor. If the Jing Family also sees this as a major headache, I can wait until after graduation to become stronger before tackling it."

Jing Qingxia chuckled. "You're the one who accused me of ruining the mood. Wouldn't it be easier to just admit how important I am to you at a time like this?"

Zhong Mingxue stared intently at Jing Qingxia's face. "Mm, I really love you."

Caught off guard by this direct confession, Jing Qingxia flushed crimson, her limbs tensing instinctively.

Quickly regaining her composure, Jing Qingxia said, "I'm glad you feel that way. Don't make Zhong Xiaoling and the others your ultimate goal; they're not worthy of that. But since they've taken the initiative to act, we have no reason to back down, right?"

"Did you and Old Madam Jing discuss a plan?" Zhong Mingxue asked, intrigued by Jing Qingxia's reaction.

Jing Qingxia paused before replying. "Yes. Since some things can't be avoided, Grandma and I need to prepare ahead of time and be ready for any eventuality."

"What is it that can't be avoided?" Zhong Mingxue keenly sensed the subtle shift in Jing Qingxia's demeanor.

It was nervousness, uncertainty.

Another vague remark.

Perhaps it had something to do with her secret again.

This time, an ominous premonition stirred in Zhong Mingxue's heart.

"Like a direct confrontation, for example. That's definitely unavoidable. But don't worry, I've decided that instead of waiting to be ambushed, we should take the initiative. Will you trust me?" Jing Qingxia asked, deliberately kissing Zhong Mingxue on the lips.

The kiss left Zhong Mingxue momentarily dazed. "Trust... what?"

"Trust that I will never leave you," Jing Qingxia replied.

"Why does that sound so ominous coming from you?" Zhong Mingxue snapped back to her senses.

"Huh? Leshan tricked me. She said that during moments of deep affection, you can say some cheesy lines to set the mood."

"But you're clearly killing the mood!" Zhong Mingxue's attention had been derailed, and she burst into laughter, burying her face in Jing Qingxia's shoulder.

"I still have one more trick up my sleeve."

Zhong Mingxue looked up, about to ask what the trick was.

Jing Qingxia had already cupped her face and kissed her with practiced ease.

Zhong Mingxue's hands tightened, responding to Jing Qingxia.

The kisses were clearly better than before, but in the fervent atmosphere, she still felt unsatisfied.

She could feel every kiss, every closeness, every moment of Jing Qingxia standing by her side and facing things with her, filling the empty space in her heart.

But as that space filled, her greed for more only intensified.

She wanted something more intimate than kisses.

She wanted to possess Jing Qingxia forever.

Under controlled circumstances, Zhong Mingxue's pheromones breached the barrier patch's resistance.

The familiar icy-cold lemon liquor shed its chill, carrying an alluring, hooking sweetness.

Zhong Mingxue had completed her pheromone tolerance training, but the direction of her training with Jing Qingxia was vastly different.

Her pheromones were like a piece of candy, tempting Jing Qingxia's appetite. All Jing Qingxia had to do was open her mouth, and what flowed down her throat would be an intoxicatingly sweet wine.

Without a moment's hesitation, Jing Qingxia surrendered. She tore off the barrier patch between them and slowly traced circles around Zhong Mingxue's pheromone gland, mimicking what Zhong Mingxue had done to her during their tolerance training sessions.

As the icy lemon-cinnamon drink mingled with the cinnamon, the clingy cat pressed even closer.

Jing Qingxia released Zhong Mingxue just as she was about to run out of breath.

Zhong Mingxue's face flushed crimson as she lunged at Jing Qingxia like a vengeful kitten, her teeth nipping at the back of Jing Qingxia's neck. Cinnamon surged uncontrollably, then flowed purposefully toward Zhong Mingxue, proclaiming their bond.

Seizing the moment, Jing Qingxia extended her canine teeth and gently scraped them against Zhong Mingxue's gland. The instant Zhong Mingxue shuddered, Jing Qingxia began to nibble rhythmically, the satisfaction of this temporary marking swiftly filling both women.

As consciousness slipped away, Zhong Mingxue thought, I still can't accept that Omegas can only be marked by Alphas. When will I finally be able to make Jing Qingxia mine?

A fierce possessiveness, reserved only for Jing Qingxia, flooded Zhong Mingxue's muddled mind.

Her hands clutched tightly at Jing Qingxia's back.

Next time... I'll mark this fool as my own, using my own methods. Worst comes to worst, I'll ambush her.

Buzz, buzz, buzz.

Amidst the irregular drumming of rain and thunder, the rhythmic hum of the exhaust fan drew attention.

The icy cinnamon lemon drink's aroma gradually faded with the operation of the ventilation system.

Zhong Mingxue's breathing evened out as she nestled against Jing Qingxia, finding all the comfort she needed. She forgot everything from the day and drifted into a worry-free slumber.

But in the dim light, Jing Qingxia opened her eyes.

She heard the slight vibration of her phone on the bedside table. This must be the message she had been waiting for.

She groped for the phone and checked the message. It was indeed a reply from Su Zhenyi.

Everything's arranged.

Jing Qingxia felt a wave of relief.

Then I'll see you in the village.

Yes, Cousin. See you in the village!

She put away her phone, kissed Zhong Mingxue's forehead again, and finally fell asleep herself.

This whole thing would soon be over.

---

Author's Note:

Heh heh, it's almost over, and then it's time to switch to shameless mode (not that I'm complaining).

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