Good Girl. [new version]

...

Liu Wei woke up very early, earlier than even Anna.

 The princess had already informed everyone that she would be visiting Wang Zheng's old house, so all were waiting for her to finalize the last details; this was her final chance to see the progress in person.

Anna slowly opened Liu Wei's door and found the young omega waiting, ready to leave. They hurried toward the palace entrance, where Chao Hong and Shi Lian were already waiting by the car.

In the corridors near the exit, Liu Wei noticed the queen's young secretary carrying some papers. The alpha approached gently with a smile.

"Hello, Miss Liu."

"Hello, Huan Yang… Where is the queen?"

Glancing at his watch to estimate her location, he replied, "I believe she is now on a plane heading to the Muanshi Islands."

"Oh… I thought she had a date today."

"She did. Miss Yang Fan requested to hold her meeting on one of her country's islands, and the queen agreed, so she's on her way now."

"I see…"

Liu Wei's heart sank a little. That place was like heaven on earth, white sandy beaches and crystal-clear waters… so beautiful and truly worthy of Wang Zheng. Yet, for the young princess, Yang Fan and Li Zhang were her greatest rivals; both were independent and stunning, while she still had no legacy of her own, in contrast to the vast achievements others proudly displayed.

Still, she pushed such thoughts aside, focusing on how she could be useful at that moment.

There was plenty of work ahead to surprise Wang Zheng.

"Miss, are you leaving?"

"Yes, I'm going to the queen's old house to check on the preparations."

"Understood. In fact, the queen asked me to deliver these medicines last night, but you hadn't arrived yet. Here they are."

"Thanks."

Liu Wei examined the small bag of medicines, smiled, handed it to Anna, and quickly climbed into the waiting car, taking a seat in the back. The young princess had memorized the route, and even the menus of the two restaurants they frequented along the way.

She already knew that by the time she reached her destination she'd be famished, and that many workers had been busy with a massive renovation since the early hours; so she had bought several snacks and drinks for everyone.

She ordered an egg salad sandwich with iced coffee for herself, delicious indeed. With everyone sleep-deprived, the best remedy was good food, and the young princess made a point of treating everyone who helped her tackle this enormous challenge. Liu Wei had only a day and a half to get everything done.

There was no time for nerves; she spent every spare moment poring over recipes that might please the queen. Calmly eating her sandwich in the car, she read from the old Liu family cookbook, a treasured book filled with recipes and culinary tricks passed down from her grandmother. Grandma Liu's recipes were a family secret, and only Liu Wei could replicate them perfectly.

Well, she's the only one who knows how to cook as well as the family's grandmother.

After getting out of the car, a small crowd gathered for breakfast, some taking the opportunity to update Liu Wei on the renovation progress. Upon arriving at the house, she found that the electrical system was nearly complete and the carpentry work to reinforce the structure was almost done, the only pending task being the table, which was scheduled to be finished at the last minute. Hours flew by, and before she knew it, it was time for the princess to return to Wang's palace.

Anna would stay behind to oversee the remaining work while Liu Wei headed back to continue her to-do list.

Now, Liu Wei needed to meet the royal cook.

Meanwhile, Yang Fan's country stretched across a vast archipelago of islands, renowned for its traditional Eastern culture and one of the few monarchies that had never suffered political shocks severe enough to endanger the throne.

 The Yang family, with deep military roots, had built the finest army and navy in Eurasia. Its paradisiacal, alluring beaches attracted people from around the globe, spurring tourism and creating thriving opportunities for fishermen and local traders. Muanshi had long been in conflict with neighboring nations, but after the attack on Wang's country just over a decade ago, the two nations grew closer, sharing many common enemies.

High above, Wang Zheng could see the plane descending, with the vibrant blue sea accentuating the landscape. It was her first chance to experience the beauty of Muanshi firsthand, a thought that made her sigh happily at the prospect of spending a long vacation in such a paradise.

Although the omega rarely used an actual plane, one was always at the ready when needed.

One of the hallmarks of Wang's country was that major companies were owned by the royal family, a policy designed to prevent excessive taxes on commoners and create widespread employment opportunities. Airports, railways, factories… every branch had at least one state-owned company. If all the assets and properties of the Wang Zheng royal family were tallied, she'd likely be known as the richest woman on the continent.

With immense responsibilities and vast wealth, countless people assisted the queen every day to help maintain her enormous empire.

Wang Zheng arrived at the airport, where a small group awaited her. Approaching them, she received a customary greeting and was soon informed that she would meet Yang Fan at the nearby port. Within ten minutes, while riding in the car, she spotted several boats and ships anchored on the horizon. Yang Fan waited anxiously, dressed in a bathing suit with a quirky brand of sunscreen adorning her cheeks.

The alpha greeted the queen with a kiss on her hand and led her toward her ship.

"Does Your Majesty suffer from seasickness on the high seas?"

"No."

"Great!"

Yang Fan then requested that the queen change into her bathing suit.

The queen quickly went to the ship's bathroom and changed.

The alpha could barely contain her excitement at being with Wang Zheng, releasing an almost uncontrolled amount of pheromones, the scent of the sea mingled with pine. The queen found it amusing to see the future queen of Muanshi so nervous; it was undeniably cute.

A slight blush on Yang Fan's face only enhanced her beauty, her strong muscles, fair skin, and soft, pleasant pheromones marked her as a remarkable alpha. Yet, deep inside, Wang Zheng sighed, she wasn't in the mood for such intensity.

For a brief moment, she even missed Liu Wei, longing to see and touch her.

Breaking the queen's reverie with a bright smile, Yang Fan offered, "Would Your Majesty like to take a dip? I'll be your instructor for the day, how about that?"

The queen smiled shyly and nodded. Not having many friends or many chances to simply have fun, everything here felt new and exciting.

The alpha then prepared the diving gear so they could spend a leisurely few hours exploring the seafloor.

Back at the palace, Liu Wei returned accompanied only by Shi Lian, who was driving.

 They chatted excitedly about memories from their childhood and adolescence, the beta feeling so comfortable with the princess that she spoke freely about everything.

"Ready, princess…"

The car finally came to a stop, and Liu Wei stretched as she reached for the door, until she remembered something. "Thank you, Shi Lian… I'd like to ask you something."

The beta turned fully to face her, curious. "Yes?"

"Would it be possible for me to have a car tomorrow?"

The guard chuckled; after all, Miss Liu Wei didn't strike one as someone who drove cars, she was full of surprises. "Can you drive?"

"Of course!"

Liu Wei cherished her freedom and was eager to learn anything that would bolster her independence. She loved cooking her own food, driving, and roaming freely around her home.

Shi Lian smiled and nodded. "Well, I suppose that's fine, but we can't let you go out unaccompanied."

"Can't I ride in a car with the queen while you drive another?"

"Yes, I think that's possible."

"Great!"

Liu Wei wasn't sure how Wang Zheng would behave when they were together; they hadn't been in touch much since her time in the infirmary. She felt anxious to see the queen again, yearning for moments alone with her. Soon, Anna handed her a small map of the palace, a map she had made. It was her first time wandering freely through the vast corridors, and though the maze was intimidating, the place was truly immense.

Following the enticing aroma of food, her stomach rumbled, she was absolutely starving.

The royal kitchen was a massive, industrial space designed to handle the enormous output required for royal banquets. Upon entering, the sounds of knives chopping and spoons clanging against pans filled the air, accompanied by the rhythmic, melodic roar of the fire. A woman, likely the head of the kitchen, approached the princess. "How can I help you?"

Liu Wei smiled gently. "My name is Liu Wei; I'm participating in Bloody Spring…"

Then, a sweet, childlike voice piped up, Chun Lei was there. "Weiwei!"

"Lelei! How are you, little one?"

"I'm fine! Is your foot feeling better?"

"Yes, I told you it no longer hurts…"

The small child hugged Liu Wei tightly, clinging to her neck as she was lifted by the omega. The chef watched the scene with astonishment, her daughter was hugging a princess. Unsure whether to scold or inquire, she asked, "Chun Lei, where did you meet Princess Liu Wei?"

"She's that friend I told about."

The woman blushed deeply, as if her daughter might have inadvertently endangered the princess; she instinctively bowed to the omega, a gesture Liu Wei quickly brushed off.

"Princess, please forgive me, my daughter meant no harm…"

"There's nothing to be sorry about… Your daughter has helped me a lot, so don't worry."

Liu Wei's sympathetic smile soothed the young lady's heart, though she couldn't help but worry about the child's boldness. The little one clung stubbornly to the princess, even playing with strands of her hair. "Leilei, is today your picnic with the queen?"

"No, tomorrow, I'm renovating the place you took me to, then we'll have a picnic there, right?!"

"Really?"

"Of course! You're my friend, aren't you?"

"Yeah!"

The child beamed with excitement, eager to tell all her friends that Princess Liu Wei would be inviting her for a picnic. Eventually, she let go, and Mrs. Chun couldn't hide her relief at finally seeing her daughter free of the princess's embrace.

Watching the child's excitement, Liu Wei broke the silence with the head chef. "Ms. Chun… Could you spare a little space in your kitchen?"

"Can you cook?"

The princess smiled in amusement, people were always surprised that she knew how to cook. It was so rare for princesses to cook!

"I know a bit; I'm going on a picnic and plan to cook everything myself…"

Madam Chun, who adored picnics, felt a surge of happiness at the thought of preparing one. "Certainly. May I help you with something?"

"I plan to make sweet and sour pork sandwiches. In my country, there's a recipe where we marinate the meat for 24 hours, then cook and shred it. I intend to assemble the sandwiches on-site with the shredded beef…"

Liu Wei had read these recipes so many times that she could prepare them with her eyes closed, she only needed a stove and the right ingredients.

"May I accompany you during the preparation?"

"Of course…"

Madam Chun was delighted to learn new recipes; it was a wonderful experience, and she might even master them to serve the queen in the near future.

Liu Wei had already set her menu and planned every step meticulously. "I also want to make a strawberry cake with sour strawberry syrup."

"The queen's favorite…"

"Yes."

The omega felt satisfied; cooking alongside the chef would undoubtedly be fruitful. She'd immediately know whether the food would suit the queen's refined palate.

"Tomorrow, I need to bake a batch of bread. Could you remind me what the queen's favorite fruits are?"

"Certainly, she loves strawberries, blackberries, peaches, and grapes."

Always carrying a little notebook, Liu Wei jotted down the list without hesitation. A quick glance at its pages would reveal summaries of the queen's tastes and characteristics, writing helped her understand Wang Zheng's personality even from a distance.

At last, lunchtime arrived, and Liu Wei could no longer hide her hunger.

"That sounds great! May I join you for lunch?"

"But, princess…"

"Don't worry, I'm here as a humble servant of the queen. Don't fuss over titles…"

"It's all right…"

Liu Wei was well aware of the formalities between commoners and royalty, but she never liked being treated like a fragile crystal doll. She preferred when people could be comfortable and be themselves, it felt far more natural.

After a long afternoon of diving, the queen needed to return home.

Spending the day with the alpha had been one of the most enjoyable experiences she'd had in years; she hoped that after Bloody Spring, their bond would remain strong and even blossom into friendship.

Yang Fan accompanied Wang Zheng to the airport. The queen hadn't had time to shower or touch up her makeup, yet even without it her features were smooth and striking. In just over half an hour, they reached the VIP area, where the queen quickly changed and applied some makeup, she had to return to Wang's country for a meeting.

 Once ready, her plane was set to depart. She bid farewell to the young alpha who had stayed with her all day and left.

Yang Fan wouldn't return with the queen, as she had matters to attend to in her own country; yet she hoped that from now on the queen would regard her with even greater fondness.

Gazing out at the blue landscape dotted with white clouds, the queen sighed. Tomorrow, at the same time, she would be with Liu Wei… The surge of happiness in her heart was almost overwhelming; she eagerly looked forward to it. Then, she took out some papers and began analyzing them, the country never stopped, even when the queen was traveling. There was still so much work awaiting her.

Liu Wei spent the whole day cooking. Chef Chun was thoroughly impressed by the princess's skills, she could easily run a successful restaurant, and her dishes would undoubtedly please the queen's refined palate.

Meanwhile, Liu Wei received updates on the renovation progress while still in the kitchen; Anna sent several messages with photos and videos, and it was a great relief to see everything unfolding as planned.

The place was becoming more beautiful and comfortable by the minute.

The electricians and the first group of carpenters had finished their work that afternoon; cleaning would be completed later that night, and the only remaining item was the table she had ordered, but she was optimistic about that too.

With a happy sigh, she asked Anna to treat everyone to good food as thanks for their hard work. Anna smiled with satisfaction as she read the message from her boss and promptly fulfilled the request.

The queen returned to the palace just after dusk, and within minutes she was in her office with representatives from the people's parliament and the merchants' council. Tensions ran high between the traditional councils and the newly formed parliament, each side constantly vying for power to prove its strength.

Though the queen tried to bridge the gap, she could not fully contain their ambitions.

The meeting dragged on for several hours, but after much discussion she managed to broker a compromise. She sighed in relief as they left… What a long day. All she wanted now was a quick shower and a good night's sleep.

Then, the big day finally arrived! Although Liu Wei felt that with every new dawn she was waking up earlier, and her body was growing increasingly sore and exhausted, she also felt the adrenaline and anxiety pushing her to get up and start the day's activities.

The day before, the little princess had already agreed with Anna that she would head directly to Wang Zheng's old house upon waking, while Liu Wei would have breakfast in the kitchen and use the time to finish preparing the remaining food.

Having spent years in college, Liu Wei was used to cooking for herself and truly enjoyed crafting different and complex dishes. But for a picnic, she needed simple yet delicious fare. Except for wine and fresh fruit, every dish would be made by her own hands, with hardly any help, ensuring that even a simple meal was the best possible.

Chun Lei was excited to sample the princess's cooking and made sure to prepare enough for the picnic to share with the staff.

Mrs. Chun spent her days in the vast kitchen surrounded by diverse aromas and flavors, yet the homely pleasure of cooking for someone in a festive mood was especially rejuvenating.

Though she knew the young princess was an omega, deep down she hoped Liu Wei would surprise the queen and win her over.

Liu Wei was, without a doubt, a very good girl.