A White Cloud (GL ABO) - Chapter 15

Tomb Cheng took Xu Yiyi to a quiet breakfast shop outside the hospital.

Xu Yiyi sat against the wall, tearing a tissue into pieces.

Tomb Cheng accepted a bowl of sweet porridge from the shop owner, pushed it in front of her, and said, “Yiyi.”

Xu Yiyi’s body trembled slightly, clutching Tomb Cheng’s arm fearfully, staring at the food as if it were an enemy.

Small chunks of pumpkin floated in the sweet porridge, golden and fragrant, the aroma already wafting out.

Tomb Cheng thanked the shop owner, picked up a small porcelain spoon, stirred the steaming porridge gently, blew on it to cool it, scooped a spoonful, held it to Xu Yiyi’s mouth, and said softly, “Yiyi, don’t be afraid. Mommy is right here.”

When Xu Yiyi was diagnosed with childhood autism, Tomb Cheng was shocked.

She had just returned to the military then and could only entrust Dean Luo to take her for tests in a better medical facility, but the results were the same.

Except for Tomb Cheng, Xu Yiyi rejected the entire outside world.

Tomb Cheng coaxed patiently, “Mommy prepared a nice room for you. From today, you’ll live with Mommy, okay?”

Xu Yiyi looked up at her, her small mouth opening and closing, making sounds but saying no words.

Tomb Cheng rubbed her back and affirmed, “It’s true.”

Tomb Cheng gathered the torn tissue pieces.

Xu Yiyi lowered her head quietly, sipping the porridge without joy or sadness.

The psychiatric department nurses recognized Xu Yiyi, their young patient, but saw Tomb Cheng for the first time, sparking curiosity about her identity.

Only after Tomb Cheng showed her identification did they realize.

She was the guardian who spoke with Xu Yiyi during every follow-up visit.

Hearing the attending doctor was still doing rounds, Tomb Cheng sat with Xu Yiyi outside the clinic room.

The cold, quiet corridor held just the two of them.

Tomb Cheng checked her wristwatch, leaned over, pulled a translucent box from the cloth bag, took out two soft candies, and asked, “Yiyi, want some candy today?”

For Xu Yiyi’s health, these were daily necessities.

Her trust in food was so low that this was the only way to ensure her body’s growth needs.

Xu Yiyi nodded dully, coaxed by Tomb Cheng into eating the candy.

But when Tomb Cheng turned away, she spat it out, hiding it in her pocket.

Shen Zhiqing saw all this from the ward.

***

Dean Luo usually brought Xu Yiyi, but now with a new family member, the hospital recorded Tomb Cheng’s contact information.

Learning she was a retired soldier surprised them, and they asked, “Who conducted your health check and psychological evaluation?”

Retired Alphas or Omegas from military units faced strict requirements.

They needed health reports and evaluation documents to reenter society.

Their hospital was one of only two authorized institutions, and most normally retired soldiers came there.

“Oh!” A young nurse gasped in realization, quickly muffled by a colleague.

The nurse took Tomb Cheng’s information card and apologized profusely, “I’m so sorry.”

Tomb Cheng didn’t mind, returned the pen, and said, “It’s okay.”

Those sent to the research institute for checks were non-standard retirees, often due to gland damage, requiring detailed gland-related reports from the institute.

Having accepted her “half-disabled” status, Tomb Cheng didn’t dwell on the nurse’s overstep.

She adjusted her wristwatch and said, “Don’t worry, I have proof from the research institute. You can verify it.”

Retired soldiers’ records were documented, mainly to monitor those exposed to combat for potential pheromone disorders.

The research institute also tracked gland-damaged individuals, monitoring pheromone fluctuations.

A chip would physically stimulate them to stabilize pheromone levels if disruptions occurred.

An experienced nurse glanced at her wrist, understanding Tomb Cheng’s explanation of compliance with institute monitoring, nodded, smiled faintly, and said, “Thank you for understanding.”

Suddenly, a roar echoed through the corridor.

“Get out! Get away!”

Nurses at the charting station stood up instantly, asking, “Bed five?”

Su Jue, still buttoning her clothes, rushed out of the office, her Alpha strides swiftly as she headed to the ward.

“Call for help! Dr. Shen is inside,” she directed calmly, organizing staff, instructing others to soothe other patients, and entered the half-open ward door.

Tomb Cheng held Xu Yiyi, frowning at the commotion.

Soon, security arrived, and a crowd gathered outside the ward, the scene chaotic.

Tomb Cheng assessed the situation, glanced at Xu Yiyi trembling in her arms, and moved farther from the ward.

She covered Xu Yiyi’s ears, watched the ward, and comforted her frightened daughter, saying, “Don’t be scared, Yiyi. Mommy’s here.”

Xu Yiyi buried herself in Tomb Cheng, shaking uncontrollably.

A nurse soon brought a syringe, discreetly handing it to Su Jue.

Su Jue nodded slightly to Shen Zhiqing inside.

Receiving the signal, Shen Zhiqing, ignoring her arm’s pain, crouched and reached out to the Alpha who had fallen from his wheelchair, saying, “It won’t hurt you anymore.”

The Alpha sensed his abnormality.

Lately, his mental state was unstable.

He looked at the wall in terror, shrinking back on his knees, pleading, “Don’t come closer, don’t come…”

Unable to restore his rationality, his family, held back by nurses, wept.

Shen Zhiqing followed his gaze, blocking the wall he feared.

The Alpha’s vision of a monstrous, bl00d-licking creature was replaced by a person.

He muttered, reaching for Shen Zhiqing, saying, “Xiaomi… Xiaomi… save me…”

Shen Zhiqing’s heart jolted.

She grabbed his hand.

At that moment, Su Jue and others rushed in, restraining the Alpha.

“Why, Xiaomi!” the Alpha screamed.

His face twisted, glaring at Shen Zhiqing like a ferocious wolf.

The pheromone suppression collar on his neck flashed red, his aggressive pheromones breaking free.

“Get out!” Su Jue shouted, urging Shen Zhiqing and others to leave. She tore open the syringe packaging, injecting it into the gland at the Alpha’s neck.

The cool liquid entered the gland, calming the clashing pheromones with the sedative. The Alpha passed out.

The Alpha’s pheromones had targeted Shen Zhiqing, leaving her flushed, leaning against the wall, her head dizzy.

She pinched her palm to stay alert.

The ward’s chaos subsided.

When Tomb Cheng looked up, she saw Shen Zhiqing, supported by an Alpha, walking out of the ward.