A White Cloud (GL ABO) - Chapter 1

The city roads of Huajing were crowded, with vehicles flowing endlessly.

Bright, cheerful sunlight dispelled the gloom of past days.

The vibrant life of early spring climbed up both sides of the roads.

Lush, flourishing branches hung with golden hues.

The streets bustled with surging crowds of people.

“Traffic jam occurred on XX road; citizens heading to XX place should detour in advance,” the radio announced.

Inside the car, Shen Zhiqing gazed calmly at the vehicles ahead.

Only one street remained to her workplace, Huajing Medical University Affiliated Hospital.

When the green light appeared at the intersection, she steadily pressed the accelerator.

She drove the car into the hospital.

***

“Okay, Yiyi listens to the dean; I’ll come see you later, alright?”

Xu Yiyi wasn’t five years old yet.

She held the phone tightly.

Her eyes stared unblinkingly at the woman on the screen, as if confirming her words were true.

On the screen, an Alpha sat upright while accepting Xu Yiyi’s scrutiny.

The alpha picked up a panda toy beside her, waving it side to side.

“I also prepared a gift for you,” she said.

The adorable toy and her mother’s playful teasing softened Xu Yiyi’s demeanor.

She shyly nodded at the phone, her eyes filled with trust and faint anticipation for her Alpha mother.

Tomb Cheng coaxed her a bit more, then glanced at her wristwatch.

It was time for her checkup.
She spoke a few more words to Xu Yiyi, entrusted the dean to care for her, and hurriedly ended the call.

After hanging up, Tomb Cheng placed the panda toy and her wrist communicator into a storage box.

A researcher in a white coat handed her a set of clothes and a suppression collar, smiling as she said, “Tomb’s little sister? She’s really cute.”

Tomb Cheng put on the suppression collar and paused before entering the changing room.

She turned back and replied, “Thanks, but she’s my daughter.”

Mentioning Xu Yiyi softened Tomb Cheng’s expression.

Her long military life etched resolve into her eyes.

A soldier’s will was ingrained in her skin and heart, her features sharp with intensity.

Even without her uniform, she stood radiant and upright.

The researcher’s face showed surprise and disbelief at her response.

“Your daughter? Are you married?” she asked.

Then, as if realizing something, she added, “Of course, an outstanding Alpha soldier like you must be very popular.”

Records showed Tomb Cheng was born in 3010; she wasn’t even twenty-seven.

In an era where young people married late, a twenty-seven-year-old Tomb Cheng with a nearly five-year-old daughter surprised the researcher.

Tomb Cheng neither confirmed nor denied, smiling faintly as she changed clothes in the changing room.

Her black shoulder-length hair fell loosely on both shoulders.

She followed the researcher into the testing room and lay on the testing bed as instructed.

The researcher wore goggles and a mask, revealing only serious eyes.

Tomb Cheng watched her adjust equipment and take out two test tubes.

“Tomb, if this test result matches the previous ones, you can remark on your Omega partner,” the researcher said.

Tomb Cheng had retired due to injury just over two weeks ago.

Until the final report was received, she avoided social activities and gland-marking behaviors.

During this time, she stayed alone in a hotel; she traveled daily between the hotel and the research institute for tests.

This was the final pheromone extraction.

If this report matched the others, she could resume normal life and reemployment.

Mentioning a partner, Tomb Cheng shook her head.

Her silver-framed glasses shifted slightly on her nose.

After a moment’s thought, she calmly said, “I don’t have a partner.”

The researcher paused briefly, then smiled and said, “You’re truly responsible.”

Though military rules forbade disciplinary issues, some Alpha soldiers partied during leave and shirked responsibility, citing their service.

As long as no issues arose, the military rarely intervened.

After extracting the pheromone, the testing room’s door opened.

Several other researchers, their faces obscured, entered.

Tomb Cheng thanked her, closed her eyes slightly, and lay quietly.

The researcher lifted her sleeve and injected a drug.

Her shoulder-length hair cascaded straight down her shoulders.

The striking female Alpha slowly slipped into a haze.

Before sinking into the fog, Tomb Cheng vaguely saw the researcher’s breath fogging her protective mask.

In a daze, through the mist, they seemed to speak again.

“Forced heat will be uncomfortable,” one said.

“Please endure, Tomb,” another added.

***

When Shen Zhiqing arrived at the clinic, the hallway was silent.

A few night-shift nurses wrote logs at the reception desk.

The ward area in the distance was equally quiet.

As soon as Dean Luo saw Shen Zhiqing, she pulled Xu Yiyi up from the waiting chair.

“Dr. Shen,” she greeted.

Shen Zhiqing smiled gently and took two candies from her camel-colored coat.

This was her habit, especially for young patients, which she maintained over the years.

She held the candies in her hand, crouched down, and presented them to Xu Yiyi.

“Yiyi, good morning.”

Her Omega voice is soft and melodious, like a lark on a branch.

Xu Yiyi stared blankly at Shen Zhiqing; she stayed silent.

Dean Luo was familiar with this behavior; she gently shook Xu Yiyi’s hand.

She leaned down and smiled kindly.

“Yiyi, do you remember what your mom said earlier?” she asked.

At this, a glimmer of light rippled in Xu Yiyi’s vacant eyes.

She stood beside Dean Luo and gradually focused on Shen Zhiqing’s face, recognizing the gentle doctor.

Her voice was faint, but Shen Zhiqing heard clearly in the quiet setting.

“Good morning,” Xu Yiyi said.

Shen Zhiqing hung her camel-colored coat on the rack.

Inside her white coat, she wore a light blue silk blouse.

She crossed her hands on her knees and patiently watched Xu Yiyi draw with colored pencils on paper.

A faint floral scent filled the room.

The cuckoo’s song drifted through the half-open window.

Sunlight fell on two potted plants by the desk.

The serene beauty of the moment shattered when Xu Yiyi handed over her drawing.

Shen Zhiqing took the paper and thanked her.

She looked at the shifting scenery on the paper, pointed at a large and small figure holding hands, and asked her usual question.

“Is this your mom?” she inquired.

Xu Yiyi stared woodenly at the drawing, then nodded slowly.

“Has your mom come to see you?” Shen Zhiqing asked again.

This time, Xu Yiyi responded quickly; she nodded as soon as Shen Zhiqing finished speaking.

She lifted her head, her eyes fixed on Shen Zhiqing for a long time, then spoke.

“Mom picks up Yiyi,” she said.

A rare smile spread across her face, as if the words held immense power.

Seeing the innocent smile on Xu Yiyi’s face, Shen Zhiqing’s grip on the drawing tightened.

For a moment, she found Xu Yiyi’s face strikingly painful to look at.