บท 20: 20
Pei Yuzhang didn't know whether to laugh or feel annoyed. She touched her face awkwardly and muttered, "We look that similar?"
"Yes," Yu Zhiwan replied without hesitation. "That person has a narrow mind, is obsessed with beauty, uneducated, and relies on their family wealth. They're lazy and ungrateful, but they are quite pretty."
Yu Zhiwan added softly, "Manlin described her appearance to me."
Yu Zhiwan's lips were thin, making her an Omega with a gentle, rather than sweet, demeanor. Pei Yuzhang later learned that, according to this world's age norms, Yu Zhiwan was three years older than her; she should be calling Yu Zhiwan 'sister.'
Her lips naturally curved slightly upward, giving her a subtle smile, but it wasn't exaggerated. Her delicate jawline and soft almond-shaped eyes were serene and clear. Despite her gentle appearance, she didn't hold back in criticizing Pei Yuzhang.
Pei Yuzhang had heard these negative traits before but had never thought they would be attributed to her. She felt a bit wronged.
She bit her lip unconsciously, not realizing she had done so until it started to hurt, then she quickly let go.
The wind grew stronger, bringing a cool sting to her sweat-dampened skin. Pei Yuzhang instinctively stepped forward to block the wind from Yu Zhiwan. The leaves rustled loudly in the wind as Pei Yuzhang steadied Yu Zhiwan's wheelchair with one hand and softly asked,
"So, what do you think of me?"
Yu Zhiwan didn't answer.
The atmosphere between them grew a little tense.
Yu Zhiwan's wheelchair didn't need anyone's help to push—it was an automatic model. As Pei Yuzhang released her hold and followed behind, she noticed how, despite her paralyzed legs, Yu Zhiwan's slender back remained straight.
The woman's posture was graceful and dignified, even in a wheelchair. The fierce autumn wind bit at their skin, making even Pei Yuzhang feel cold. Yet Yu Zhiwan sat calmly, her slender, upright figure resembling a frosty pine tree.
But Pei Yuzhang was in no mood to admire her elegance; she followed behind, her steps heavy.
Taking advantage of the fact that Yu Zhiwan couldn't see her, Pei Yuzhang trailed behind with a sulky expression, scrunching her nose and pouting childishly.
She was feeling quite aggrieved.
Here she was, protecting Yu Zhiwan all this time, going to great lengths to find her a new place to live, helping her escape from that scumbag Liu Huanran—and yet, Yu Zhiwan couldn't even say a kind word to her. How petty! No wonder she ends up turning to the dark side later.
She began to worry that Yu Zhiwan's recent coldness might mean that Liu Huanran had managed to win her over, turning her into a lovesick fool who would obediently become her little wife.
As she imagined a series of cliched, melodramatic scenarios involving a scumbag Alpha winning over a naive Omega, Pei Yuzhang felt a shiver run down her spine.
She remained silent as she walked behind Yu Zhiwan. The path they took was quiet under the autumn moonlight, with few pedestrians around. The dim streetlights cast a yellowish glow, and Pei Yuzhang idly watched her shadow stretch out before her, feeling a growing sense of frustration.
Just as they were about to exit the neighborhood, Yu Zhiwan suddenly stopped her wheelchair. Pei Yuzhang almost stumbled forward but caught herself by grabbing onto the wheelchair's handles just in time. That's when she heard Yu Zhiwan ask,
"Are you upset?"
Her voice was soft but playful, with a teasing lilt that made it sound like she had successfully coaxed a child. The corners of her mouth lifted in a slight smile, and her voice carried a gentle sweetness, like honey mixed into warm water.
Yu Zhiwan continued, "You've never been in a relationship, right? Do you know what it means when someone asks another person how they feel about them?"
Pei Yuzhang was momentarily taken aback.
Back when she was still an Alpha, she knew the boundaries between herself and Omegas well. Although she had never been in a relationship, she understood that when an Alpha asked an Omega such a question, it was usually to test the waters. Otherwise, why ask such a thing out of the blue?
But Pei Yuzhang hadn't asked out of a desire to pursue Yu Zhiwan. She had only asked because Yu Zhiwan's harsh words about "Pei Yuzhang" had stung, and she was seeking some comfort.
Though she admitted it was a bit childish.
While Pei Yuzhang was busy reflecting on her own behavior, she felt something unexpected—a soft hand entwining with hers. The subtle scent of roses filled the air, intoxicating and elusive.
Yu Zhiwan had taken her hand.
Yu Zhiwan's frame was smaller than Pei Yuzhang's, but not so petite that there was a drastic difference in size. Her fingers were slender and long, her skin smooth and delicate. Though she tried to avoid it, Pei Yuzhang couldn't help but notice that Yu Zhiwan's fingertips, when brushing against hers, weren't as soft as they seemed.
Her middle and index fingers had calluses, softened but still noticeable. When their fingers intertwined, Pei Yuzhang felt the roughness against her skin.
Pei Yuzhang had held countless weapons and treated wounded soldiers on the battlefield, so she recognized the feeling immediately. But why would an Omega, who wasn't involved in any military work, have such rough hands?
Yu Zhiwan's skin was smooth, her hand flawless. Yet when she entwined her fingers with Pei Yuzhang's, she gently stroked her palm as if drawing invisible circles.
Even though she was now a Beta, having a beauty so close by made Pei Yuzhang feel a bit flustered. She had never considered herself a paragon of virtue, and with Yu Zhiwan's fair cheeks tinged with a rosy hue, she quickly explained,
"I'm straight."
As a Beta, Pei Yuzhang's declaration meant she wasn't attracted to women.
She expected Yu Zhiwan to retreat at this, but instead, the Omega went a step further, wrapping an arm around Pei Yuzhang's neck. Pei Yuzhang, not wanting to hurt her, leaned down quickly, afraid the Omega might fall from her wheelchair.
"Why do you keep insisting you're straight? What's wrong with two girls holding hands?"
Yu Zhiwan seemed annoyed by Pei Yuzhang's earlier comment. Her breath was warm against Pei Yuzhang's ear, carrying a faint rose scent that mingled with the crisp autumn air.
"But—"
As she dragged out the last word, Yu Zhiwan's grip tightened, nearly pulling Pei Yuzhang's head into her lap.
Pei Yuzhang found herself in a rather awkward position, her hands desperately gripping the wheelchair's armrests in a last-ditch effort to keep from collapsing. Meanwhile, the Omega's voice sounded again, this time closer to her ear.
She asked,
"What a coincidence, Miss Pei. You and Xiaoyu are both straight Beta women?"
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