219 - Cinderella’s Dream: Together Forever

**Chapter 219 (Extra Content)** "Well, what is it? Is Commander Xiao planning to use his position for personal gain and let me go?" Xiao Yu asked, a tinge of interest in her voice as she looked at Xiao Zhen Ting. "Xiao Yu, how did you become like this? Haven't enough people died by your hand? I could never let you go." Xiao Zhen Ting shook his head in disappointment as he watched his daughter. "So then, what do you mean by all this? Commander Xiao, you should leave quickly. This cell is too small to accommodate your imposing presence," she retorted with a cold smile, unafraid of death, only fearing a meaningless life. "Xiao Yu, it's my fault for not raising you well, leading you to harm so many people. Cao Wei is a good person. I won't put her in a difficult position, nor can I let you go unchecked. I'm sorry." Tears welled up in Xiao Zhen Ting's eyes as he spoke, drawing a pistol. "Don't be scared, Papa will stay with you. You've killed so many people. You don't deserve to live anymore. I'll go with you. You won't be alone." Gritting his teeth, he finished speaking and pulled the trigger on Xiao Yu. Even as her body slid to the ground, Xiao Yu couldn't believe her father had actually shot her. She felt the warmth of blood flowing from her chest, life slipping away with it. Tears spilled from Xiao Zhen Ting's eyes as he pressed the gun against his own forehead. With a bang, he ended his life alongside Xiao Yu. When Cao Wei and the others rushed in, all they could see was Xiao Zhen Ting and Xiao Yu lying on the ground. Cao Wei hurried over to help, but Xiao Zhen Ting had already stopped breathing. Tears filled her eyes. "Commander Xiao, why did you do this? Xiao Yu made the mistake, not you." "We should lay them to rest. The dead can't come back to life," Shang Nuan advised as she tried to console the tearful Cao Wei. Soon, soldiers buried both of them in the cemetery of the first district. Cao Wei watched her former mentor's burial and returned not in the best spirits. Shang Nuan stood by cautiously, brewing tea and bringing it over. "Commander, have some tea. You've been working all day; take a break." "Thank you, but you should rest too. I'd like to be alone for a while." With her hand propping her head, Cao Wei spoke softly. "Yes." Shang Nuan acknowledged and quickly left the office, but she didn't return to rest. Instead, she went to the nearby kitchen, worried because Cao Wei hadn't eaten since returning from the cemetery, and it was already past eight. Shang Nuan decided to cook something for her. Unsure if Cao Wei would eat anything else, she made a simple vegetable noodle soup, hoping it would be easy to digest. Once done, she carried it over and knocked on Cao Wei’s door. The sound of sniffling came from inside. "Come in." Shang Nuan sensed a hint of sobbing in Cao Wei's voice and entered more carefully than usual. She placed the noodles in front of Cao Wei, noticing her reddened eyes, evidence of recent tears. Her heart ached at the sight. "I made some noodles for you. You haven't eaten all day. Have something and rest early. These things were beyond your control. Xiao Yu can only blame herself for what happened. Wei Wei, don't push yourself too hard. The first district belongs to everyone; it can't all be on your shoulders," Shang Nuan spoke softly, daring to offer advice she typically wouldn't. Cao Wei, struggling to hold back tears from the day's events, succumbed to sobbing as Shang Nuan comforted her, even while reprimanding, "Who told you to call me Wei Wei? It's Commander, understand?" Sniffling, she looked at Shang Nuan with a touch of grievance, stripped of her usual authority. Shang Nuan's lips curled slightly, although restrained from outright laughter. She reassured, "Alright, I won't call you that outside. It's just the two of us here. If you want to cry, just cry. It’s normal to release stress once in a while. The first district has indeed seen too much lately, and you've been bearing all the weight. I fear you'll snap if you keep holding it all in." "You saw me crying," Cao Wei stated while sniffling, looking at Shang Nuan. Shang Nuan hesitated, then bravely approached Cao Wei, gently patting her shoulder. "It's okay if I saw. I won't tell others. Let it all out. I'm here with you." Cao Wei had been under tremendous pressure, with all decisions for the first district resting on her. Seeing her mentor pass away was heart-wrenching. Shang Nuan's comfort allowed her to finally break down, hugging Shang Nuan tightly. Shang Nuan's ears turned red as she gently patted Cao Wei's back, soothingly whispering, "It's okay now. Let it out. I'm here. If you're ever in a bad mood, you can talk to me, or I'll keep you company as you cry." Seeing the state of the noodles on the table, Shang Nuan hesitated but eventually reminded, "Why not eat the noodles first? They’re about to get clumpy." Cao Wei, caught mid-sob, was momentarily divert by Shang Nuan's comment, instinctively glancing up at Shang Nuan, glaring slightly, then continuing to cry, vaguely scolding, "No wonder you're 26 and no girlfriend. With your comforting skills, even if you had one, she'd leave in three days. Can't you see I was crying?" "I saw," Shang Nuan grumbled softly, feeling she had been quite considerate. How were her comforting skills poor? "If you saw, why didn't you focus on comforting me instead of the noodles?" Cao Wei's incredulity halted her tears momentarily as she gazed at Shang Nuan. "But if the noodles clump, they'll lose their texture and stick together, making them inedible," Shang Nuan mumbled quietly. Cao Wei shoved Shang Nuan lightly, "Noodles, noodles, all you care about is noodles. Go comfort your noodles; I don't need your consolation." "Don't be like that, you're more important. Don't be mad. If the noodles aren't good, I'll cook a new bowl." Shang Nuan rarely showed such resolve, pulling Cao Wei back into her embrace. After crying for a while, Cao Wei felt relieved, though a bit awkward. Despite her close relationship with Shang Nuan, this was her first time crying in front of someone else, especially a subordinate, making her feel slightly embarrassed. After a moment, Cao Wei decided this couldn't continue, lest her authority as a superior be compromised. She gathered her composure, clearing her throat, "Ahem, I'm better now and ready for some noodles." Shang Nuan finally released her hold on Cao Wei, glancing at the noodles. "I'll cook another bowl for you; this one won’t taste good anymore." "No need, I’ll eat this one. The base is tough, and we shouldn't waste it," Cao Wei indicated, moving to take the bowl, but Shang Nuan was quicker. "I’m hungry too, and I won't let it go to waste. I'll reheat this bowl and eat with you. Wait a moment," Shang Nuan said, promptly leaving with the bowl. Feeling lighter, Cao Wei watched Shang Nuan leave, smiling softly while shaking her head. "Silly, I'm not an Omega. Why comfort me like this?" However, the mere thought of Shang Nuan with an Omega irked her heart. She mumbled softly, "It’s best not to have an Omega. Staying single is just fine now." After preparing another bowl of vegetable noodles for Cao Wei and reheating the previous one for herself, Shang Nuan returned with two bowls, placing the freshly made one in front of Cao Wei, and sat across to consume the clumpier noodles. Relieved, while genuinely hungry, Cao Wei quickly finished her bowl, noticing Shang Nuan’s ease brought a sense of relaxation to her own mind. As she ate, Shang Nuan thought how wonderful it would be if what Xiao Yu said were true, if she could be Cao Wei's little sweetheart. That hug, even if only in comfort, was her first with Cao Wei. Shang Nuan mused she'd rather forego such closeness than see Cao Wei upset. With both finished, the thought of having cried in Shang Nuan's arms left Cao Wei feeling self-conscious. So, she subtly urged, "I'm much better now. Thank you for being here with me. You should rest too tonight.” Shang Nuan glanced at Cao Wei, hesitant, "Alright then, I'll head back." As she walked out, Shang Nuan kept looking back, finally mustering courage at the door to say what she'd long wanted, "Actually, Alpha and Alpha pheromones don't necessarily repel. Alphas can try together too." Not waiting for Cao Wei's reaction, she dashed out, her face and ears flushed, entirely abandoning her usual confident Alpha demeanor, worried, "I've been clear. Hopefully, Cao Wei understands." Cao Wei was momentarily stunned, reflecting on Shang Nuan's recent behavior, uncertain yet hopeful, "So, was she hinting at something? That can't be right, could it?" Cao Wei was utterly exhausted, her mind overwhelmed with too many thoughts. At the moment, she didn't want to guess Shang Nuan's intentions. She decided it would be better to ask directly in the morning to avoid any misunderstandings that could make future interactions awkward. After washing up, Cao Wei went to bed early, while Shang Nuan tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep as she kept thinking about Cao Wei's reaction. Unbeknownst to her, Cao Wei was already sleeping soundly. The next morning, Shang Nuan arrived to find Cao Wei having breakfast while reviewing the latest reports from the first district. Noticing Cao Wei made no mention of last night's conversation, Shang Nuan busied herself by repeatedly passing in front of her, trying to catch her attention. Eventually, Cao Wei couldn’t ignore the movement any longer. Cao Wei glanced at Shang Nuan and, standing up, approached her. Clearing her throat softly, she asked, "What did you mean by what you said last night? Something about alpha and alpha?" Shang Nuan bit her lip to keep from taking a step back, though the question made her knees weak. Cao Wei was standing too close. Mentally bolstering her resolve, Shang Nuan remembered how long she had wanted to address her buried feelings, ones she'd harbored for years without acting on. Finally, mustering her courage, she took a bold step forward and kissed her.