A White Cloud (GL ABO) - Chapter 14

In the morning, after making love, Tomb Cheng carried Shen Zhiqing to the bathroom.

In the bathroom, both avoided mentioning the earlier topic.

Later, they changed clothes and parted ways.

Shen Zhiqing didn’t ask what Tomb Cheng was doing or mention the phone call.

This mode of interaction wasn’t new to Tomb Cheng.

When she and Shen Zhiqing first came together due to their respective heats and differentiation, they maintained a physical relationship without interfering in each other’s lives.

Perhaps things were the same now.

Shen Zhiqing didn’t need her to take responsibility because Shen Zhiqing didn’t like Alphas.

As Tomb Cheng took a taxi to the bus station, she didn’t notice Shen Zhiqing watching her from a car parked by the roadside.

The taxi drove smoothly on city roads.

Since it was a weekday, the streets were already filled with people.

While waiting at a traffic light, Tomb Cheng rolled down the window.

Having not returned for years, she noticed the city’s appearance had changed significantly.

The breakfast shop in her memory had been renovated, now sporting a grand signboard.

The once-tiny storefront was now spacious and bright, with clean white light illuminating abundant breakfast items.

Students who had eaten there walked out in small groups.

Students in white-and-blue uniforms crossed the street with the crowd.

Among the bustling people, Tomb Cheng saw a silver nameplate on their uniforms—Huajing City High School.

Luxury cars lined up near the school’s gate, where well-dressed children, surrounded by classmates, entered the campus.

“It’s nice,” the driver remarked, sensing youthful energy from the playful students.

Noticing Tomb Cheng’s gaze fixed on them, he asked, “Are you from Huazhong too?”

Tomb Cheng looked away and replied, “Yes, I was.”

The Beta driver’s eyes showed clear respect.

Tomb Cheng knew he misunderstood and clarified, “I was a sports scholarship student.”

As the car passed the school gate, a row of luxurious vehicles outside displayed the school’s wealth.

Students here were either rich or noble, though some, like Tomb Cheng, were admitted for special talents.

Huazhong had a social sponsorship program, including an orphanage where Tomb Cheng came from.

She later passed the sports scholarship exam as a specially supported student and studied at Huazhong.

Tomb Cheng’s gaze was calm, free of the arrogance common among wealthy students.

Her eyes held resilience forged through countless trials, her presence commanding yet not oppressive.

The driver nodded in realization, his tone carrying admiration, and said, “You must be very accomplished.”

Tomb Cheng smiled and let the topic pass.

She felt guilty.

Entering Huazhong was driven by her selfish desire—her feelings for Shen Zhiqing.

Huajing City High School had top-tier educational resources.

Influential people went to great lengths to enroll their children, who, raised in privileged compounds, held clear advantages from birth.

Shen Zhiqing was one of them.

Her father, Shen Zhihe, was a military doctor, a formal major-level medic.

Shen Zhiqing inherited his drive to save lives but not his dedication to serving the people.

Tomb Cheng first saw Shen Zhiqing while visiting Huajing for an exam with volunteers.

That day, spring was vibrant, a breeze carried a sweet scent, and peach blossoms fell gently.

Sunlight through her fingers dazzled her eyes.

Tomb Cheng followed her guide into Huazhong’s gates.

At fourteen, she met seventeen-year-old Shen Zhiqing.

The girl’s skirt swayed in the breeze, her fingers flipping through a book, her focus unbroken by their arrival.

Pink petals rested on her shoulder.

She sat cross-legged under a tree, a white backpack and matching water bottle beside her, a nameplate on her uniform.

“Student Shen,” the guiding teacher called out.

A breeze stirred the tree’s shadow.

Shen Zhiqing’s fair face glowed with pink, her clear eyes sparkling like fireflies dancing in a nighttime forest, too radiant to look away from.

The teacher led Tomb Cheng over.

Shen Zhiqing packed her things into her backpack and stood.

Though an undifferentiated Omega, Tomb Cheng felt an unprecedented comfort in her presence.

“Student Tomb, this is the high school student representative, Shen Zhiqing. She’ll be your senior,” the teacher said.

Tomb Cheng had come to decline Huazhong’s offer, knowing they chose her only because, among the orphanage’s eligible children, she was the only one destined to differentiate into a secondary gender—a natural Alpha.

But upon meeting Shen Zhiqing, Tomb Cheng changed her mind.

She wanted to stay and get closer to this star.

***

The rising sun cast bright, cheerful light across the earth.

Crowds poured out of the bus station.

Xu Yiyi spotted Tomb Cheng, whom she hadn’t seen in days, and rushed to hug her leg, shouting, “Mommy!”

Tomb Cheng bent down, her hand on her daughter’s back, showing a gentle smile.

After comforting her, she looked up at Dean Luo and said, “Thank you, Dean.”

Dean Luo carried a cloth bag with Xu Yiyi’s clothes.

She handed it to Tomb Cheng with a warm smile and said, “Yiyi is yours now. Her things are all in here.”

Tomb Cheng took the bag, slung it over her shoulder, crouched down, and stroked Xu Yiyi’s head, saying, “Yiyi, don’t you want to thank Dean Mommy?”

The little girl peeked out from Tomb Cheng’s pants, glanced dully at Dean Luo, then back at Tomb Cheng.

Tomb Cheng encouraged her with a look.

Clutching her mother’s pants tightly, Xu Yiyi’s voice was faint as a mosquito’s, her eyes vacant as she said, “Thank you.”

Except for Tomb Cheng, Xu Yiyi had low awareness and acceptance of the outside world.

Even Dean Luo, who cared for her for nearly two years, could only occasionally get close.

After bidding Dean Luo farewell, Tomb Cheng held Xu Yiyi’s hand, carried the bag, and gently asked, “Would Yiyi like to have breakfast with me?”

Hearing her voice, Xu Yiyi’s eyes began to focus.

The little girl looked up at her mother’s gentle smile, tightened her grip on her pants, and said, “Mm.”

Then she lowered her head.

Tomb Cheng lovingly stroked her hair, guiding her into the crowd.

***

When Shen Zhiqing arrived at the hospital, it was still early.

She hung up her gray coat, tied back her light brown curls, looking sharp and professional.

A kiss mark lingered in the hollow of her unbuttoned shirt collar.

After a moment’s thought, she reluctantly buttoned it up, put on her white coat, and added another layer to hide the intimate marks.

From the bottom drawer of her desk, she took out a stack of drawings, placing them on the desk.

When it was time for rounds, she reluctantly put the papers away, locked the drawer, and left.