Chapter 39: Ch 39: Shared Bites and Quiet Storms

Su Wanyan stepped back from the dining table with a satisfied smile curving her lips. The spread looked inviting under the warm overhead lights—glossy braised pork belly glistening in its rich sauce, golden egg tarts with perfectly caramelized tops, chocolate-filled cookies still faintly warm, and cheese-topped baked scallops bubbling with savory aroma.

Every dish had been arranged with care, steam curling gently upward like soft whispers of comfort. She reached behind her waist and gently untied the apron strings, folding the fabric neatly before setting it aside.

The kitchen’s lingering warmth clung to her skin as she made her way toward the living room to call the others. "Guys, the food is ready!" Su Wanyan shouted in the hallway.

Hurried footsteps echoed down the hallway almost immediately. Su Wanyan laughed lightly under her breath. That must be Qin Yuran, she thought, the sound of eager energy bringing a fond spark to her eyes.

She didn’t wait. Instead, she turned and headed straight for the bedroom, her steps quiet and purposeful on the polished floors.

She eased the door open and paused at the threshold. Mo Xingxue was sitting up in bed, quietly scrolling on her phone, the soft glow illuminating her delicate features. The omega looked more rested now, though a faint fragility still lingered in the gentle slope of her shoulders.

"Xuexue," Su Wanyan called softly, careful not to startle her.

Mo Xingxue looked up, her phoenix eyes carrying a questioning tilt. Su Wanyan offered a warm smile from the doorway, maintaining that respectful distance. "Should I bring your food here, or would you like to eat at the table?"

Mo Xingxue’s expression softened with palpable gratitude, a gentle light blooming across her face. "If it’s not too bothersome.. I would like to eat here." Mo Xingxue replied, her voice carrying quiet appreciation.

Su Wanyan’s smile widened. "Of course not." She turned and left with light haste, already planning the details in her mind.

Mo Xingxue watched her childhood friend’s retreating back with a fond, lingering gaze, her fingers tightening slightly around the edge of the blanket.

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Back in the dining area, Su Wanyan moved with efficient grace, plating portions with neat precision. She arranged generous servings of braised pork, a few egg tarts, cookies, and scallops onto separate dishes, balancing flavors and aesthetics. Qin Yuran, already hovering near the table with sparkling eyes, tilted her head curiously.

"Who’s that for?" she asked, voice bright with interest.

Su Wanyan hummed softly, not missing a beat. "It’s for Xuexue." With that simple explanation, she gathered everything onto a sturdy bed tray and slipped into the storage room to retrieve a few extra napkins.

Zhao Yichen and Han Jiho, still lounging in the living room, blinked in surprise as Su Wanyan zoomed past them like a gentle whirlwind. Moments later, she passed again, this time carrying the fully loaded tray with careful balance, moving as swiftly and silently as a fleeting shadow. Zhao Yichen stared after her in a mix of amazement and disbelief.

"She’s the most under alpha I’ve ever known," he muttered, half in awe.

Han Jiho merely chuckled, shaking his head with a knowing look.

The live chat barrage exploded with reactions, text scrolling rapidly across the screen.

[Su Wanyan, girl, stand up.]

[STAND UP, GIRLLL!]

[Stand up, Yanyan! You’ve been under Mo Xingxue ever since this show started!]

[Guys, leave her be.]

[Yeah, she’s where she wants to be.]

[Under Mo Xingxue?]

[Yeah, but to be honest, I would prefer it if Su Wanyan topped me instead.]

[CAN YOU PLEASE STOP??]

[What an acute alpha.]

[Acute???]

[Ha... I remember the days when I had Su Wanyan under control like that too. Good old days.]

[Upstairs, stop with your delusions and drink your medicine.]

[Wait.. are you actually feeding her medicine??]

Su Wanyan paid the comments no mind. She had finished her tasks with quiet focus. Steadily lifting the tray, she speed-walked back to the bedroom, balancing it with practiced care so nothing shifted.

At the door, she held the tray with one hand and gently pushed it open with the other, slipping inside before closing it softly behind her with her foot.

"Hey there," Su Wanyan said, her voice bright and warm as she entered. She approached the bed and carefully set the tray across Mo Xingxue’s lap, adjusting it so everything was within easy reach. The rich aroma of braised pork filled the space between them.

Mo Xingxue murmured a soft "thank you," her eyes curving with appreciation.

"Sorry I kept you waiting," Su Wanyan added apologetically. Her gaze then drifted to little Mo Yan resting peacefully under the tray. She gently scooped the baby into her arms, cradling her close to her chest. "She might feel a bit cramped.

Mo Xingxue watched the two of them with a tender smile. "Have you eaten?" she asked after a moment.

Su Wanyan paused. Drawing on the original owner’s memories, she recalled the weak stomach that had plagued her predecessor. A wry smile touched her lips. "Oh, I’ll eat later."

Guilt flickered across Mo Xingxue’s face. "Sorry," she murmured, the word heavy with remorse.

Su Wanyan continued serving her, seemingly forgetting her own needs entirely. Mo Xingxue sighed inwardly—she kept wronging this kind-hearted woman.

Sensing the shift, Su Wanyan hastily waved it off. "No, no! It’s not your fault! I’m okay!" she replied, her voice a hushed but emphatic whisper to avoid waking the baby.

Mo Xingxue still looked remorseful. Su Wanyan sighed softly. Ha.. she’s way too nice. The thought carried a pang of protectiveness. She remembered Mo Xingxue’s tragic fate in the original novel and grimaced inwardly. She really doesn’t deserve that ending.

Mustering a bright smile again, Su Wanyan tried to lighten the mood. "Then, you can just feed me," she said jokingly.

Mo Xingxue pondered it with surprising seriousness. Seeing her, Su Wanyan laughed. "I’m just kiddi—"

She stopped mid-sentence as Mo Xingxue lifted a pair of chopsticks holding a piece of tender braised pork right to her lips. "Say ah," Mo Xingxue said, completely earnest.

Su Wanyan felt as if she had choked on her own saliva. "I was kidding," she whispered, a light sweat breaking along her back.

Mo Xingxue simply held the chopsticks closer, mouthing "ah" encouragingly. Su Wanyan’s face heated up, a deep blush spreading from her cheeks to the tips of her ears. After a helpless glance at Mo Xingxue—who showed no sign of backing down—Su Wanyan sighed in resignation. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

She closed her eyes, opened her mouth, and accepted the bite. The braised pork was rich, savory, and somehow tasted unexpectedly sweet. Getting fed at this age? Su Wanyan, are you aging backwards? she thought while chewing slowly, savoring the tender meat.

Unbeknownst to her, Mo Xingxue noticed the vivid blush coloring her face and ears. Amusement danced in the omega’s eyes as she lifted another piece. "Eat more," she said tenderly.

"You eat first," Su Wanyan managed after swallowing, her voice a little unsteady.

Mo Xingxue obliged, placing the next piece between her own lips. She subtly observed Su Wanyan’s reaction to the indirect kiss through shared chopsticks, but the alpha showed no particular awareness.

Of course she wouldn’t think anything was amiss, Mo Xingxue thought with a quiet sigh. Back in the day, we always fed each other with the same spoon or chopsticks.

Meanwhile, Su Wanyan found her gaze drifting repeatedly toward the egg tarts. When will Xuexue feed me those, Su Wanyan thought longingly, then she paused. Wait—Su Wanyan! Why are you waiting to get fed?! she scolded herself inwardly, disbelief coloring her thoughts.

Mo Xingxue caught the glances and scooped up one of the golden egg tarts. "Ahh," she prompted gently, holding it before Su Wanyan’s mouth with a bright, joyous smile.

Su Wanyan blushed again. Dang, I’m feeling like a child, she thought wryly. Yet seeing Mo Xingxue’s happy expression, she relented. Whatever. As long as she’s happy. She opened her mouth and accepted the treat, the flaky crust and creamy custard melting on her tongue.

They continued like this—Mo Xingxue feeding Su Wanyan bite after bite—until the trays were nearly empty. Only then did Su Wanyan carefully place Mo Yan back onto the bed and lift the used tray. "I’ll be back in a sec," she said softly.

Mo Xingxue nodded understandingly. "Take your time."

Su Wanyan left hurriedly, placing the dishes in the sink. As she headed toward the storage room to return the bed tray, Qin Yuran called out from the dining area. "I’ll do it!" she offered, standing up.

Su Wanyan shook her head gently. "Nah, I’ll do it. Thank you though." She was already walking away.

"Eh! Eat first!" Qin Yuran called after her.

"I’ve already eaten!" Su Wanyan’s voice echoed back down the hallway.

Qin Yuran paused, confused, until Song Meiyu tugged her sleeve and shook her head with quiet knowing. Song Meiyu pointed meaningfully at the used dishes.

Qin Yuran looked at Song Meiyu still confused, but after a pause Qin Yuran’s eyes widened in realization, letting out an exaggerated gasp. Song Meiyu laughed softly at her dramatic reaction, her expression clearly saying, you get it now, don’t you?

Qin Yuran sank back into her seat, stunned. "Wow, their speed is.. wow," she murmured incoherently. Then she noticed something else. "There was only one set of utensils. One?!" Disbelief dripped from her voice.

Song Meiyu laughed again. "Aren’t their progress too fast?" Qin Yuran asked, still processing. She sighed eventually, deciding it was best to shut her brain off. As long as my new friend is happy, I should be happy too.

The barrage had, of course, caught every detail.

[Y’all... Are you thinking of what I’m thinking..?]

[You mean... THAT, right?]

[RIGHT, I’m thinking about that.]

[I think we’re all thinking the same thing.]

[Sigh... The saying "we lost to people who know" is true.]

[Kindly spill the tea, Qin Yuran and Song Meiyu.]

[What a cute way to exchange saliva. What I recommend next is french kissin—]

[YOO, HOLD YOUR HORSES, MY GUY.]

While the chat clamored excitedly over the budding ship, Gu Chengze’s eyes burned with barely contained hatred. He had noticed every interaction between Qin Yuran and Song Meiyu, but what truly enraged him was Su Wanyan once again "flirting" with his beloved wife—even sharing the same utensils.

Oh, Mo Xingxue, you keep angering me, he thought darkly, his grip tightening on his chopsticks until the wood creaked. He nearly released a surge of oppressive pheromones but stopped himself just in time.

Perfect timing—Su Wanyan zoomed past them again on her way back to the room. Gu Chengze followed her every movement with a cold smirk. I’ll show Mo Xingxue who the best alpha is, he vowed silently, darkness swirling in his gaze.