A White Cloud (GL ABO) - Chapter 16

The unfamiliar Alpha’s pheromones oppressed Shen Zhiqing, making her feel so uncomfortable that her face paled and her rosy lips trembled.

A faint flush rose on her cheeks.

Su Jue supported her shoulders, letting her lean against her, and asked with concern, “Are you okay?”

Shen Zhiqing licked her lips, calming her unsettled pheromones, shook her head, and said, “I’m fine. I’ll be okay after a moment.”

“You were too reckless!”

Su Jue scolded while helping her walk out.

“What if he completely broke free from the suppression collar?”

All admitted patients, whether Alpha or Omega, were strictly required to wear suppression collars to prevent accidental pheromone attacks or seduction.

The patient had only momentarily broken through, leaking a tiny amount of pheromones, yet it discomforted everyone present, especially Shen Zhiqing, who was the target.

Shen Zhiqing steadied her weak body, forced a smile, and said, “He wouldn’t. He wouldn’t really attack ‘Xiaomi.’”

Xiaomi was the patient’s delusional figure.

When Xiaomi appeared, it signaled his extremely dangerous mental state.

To prevent self-harm, Shen Zhiqing had no choice but to intervene.

Seeing her downplay it, Su Jue’s teeth itched with frustration and said, “You shouldn’t take your safety lightly! You’re an Omega!”

Shen Zhiqing’s face stiffened.

She knew what Su Jue meant: Omegas were more prone to pheromone disorders and had higher mortality rates.

While arguing with Su Jue, she didn’t notice her surroundings.

But a faint, ethereal cold fragrance suddenly seeped into her skin, the distant agarwood scent oddly soothing her unease.

Shen Zhiqing turned and saw Tomb Cheng holding Xu Yiyi’s hand at the clinic area.

Noticing her patient, Su Jue toned down, slightly taller than Shen Zhiqing.

She leaned down and whispered in her ear, “Do that again, and I’ll tell the teacher!”

Shen Zhiqing pushed her away, pursed her lips, and replied, “Got it. Go back.”

Su Jue eyed her skeptically, warned sternly, “Don’t push yourself!” and prepared to leave with security to report the incident to the medical department, requesting a risk assessment for the patient.

When pheromone disorders became uncontrollable, they had to transfer patients to the pheromone ward under the direct management of the pheromone genetics department.

As she passed Tomb Cheng, Su Jue gave Xu Yiyi a gentle, harmless smile.

Xu Yiyi clutched Tomb Cheng’s clothes, hiding behind her.

The nurses returned to their tasks.

The patient in bed five, who had the outburst, lay unconscious.

The responsible nurse comforted the family.

Shen Zhiqing pursed her lips again, her hands fidgeting behind her back. Only after a nurse’s reminder did she walk over.

“Good morning, Yiyi,” Shen Zhiqing said, bending down to speak to Xu Yiyi.

Xu Yiyi, hiding behind Tomb Cheng, flinched at her name but recalled Tomb Cheng’s past encouragement.

She peeked out, looked at Shen Zhiqing, and said, “Morning, good morning.”

Shen Zhiqing’s eyes curved into a gentle smile, radiant like peach blossoms.

She extended her hand, revealing a green apple-flavored candy in her palm, and said, “I’ll wait for you inside, okay?”

Xu Yiyi looked up at Tomb Cheng but noticed her mother’s gaze fixed on Shen Zhiqing’s hand.

For the first time, she took the candy, clutched it, and said timidly, “Thank you…”

Shen Zhiqing’s heart trembled, but she quickly composed herself, stood, nodded to Tomb Cheng, and entered the clinic room.

The clinic door closed from the inside.

Tomb Cheng stood outside with Xu Yiyi.

Suddenly, something hard was pressed into her hand.

Looking down, she saw Xu Yiyi had given her the candy from Shen Zhiqing.

The little girl thought she wanted it and offered it, her innocent eyes seeming to say, “For Mommy.”

Tomb Cheng’s heart softened.

She crouched to Xu Yiyi’s eye level, cherishing her daughter’s gesture, peeled the candy’s wrapper, held it to her mouth, and said, “Yiyi, I’ll wait here for you, okay?”

Xu Yiyi entered the clinic room with the candy in her mouth.

Tomb Cheng watched her go. Inside, Shen Zhiqing had already set out drawing paper and a pen, waiting.

***

Bright sunlight streamed into the ward, golden rays covering the bed.

Yuan Jin woke from a dream, the dazzling light making her squint instinctively.

“Xiao Jin, you’re awake?!” A refined woman entering the ward saw Yuan Jin awake and burst into tears, saying, “Xiao Jin, don’t scare Mommy.”

Xiaomi followed Yuan’s mother.

Seeing Yuan Jin propped against the headboard, sunlight on her, her thin frame barely filled the blue-and-white hospital gown.

Yet, from the moment Xiaomi entered, Yuan Jin’s gaze locked onto her.

“Xiao Jin, how do you feel? Anywhere uncomfortable? If something’s wrong…” Yuan’s mother said.

“Mom,” Yuan Jin interrupted, patting her mother’s hand to comfort her, and said, “Mom, I’m fine.”

She knew what her mother wanted to say but, with Xiaomi present, changed the topic and asked, “How long did I sleep?”

Yuan’s mother held her hand, still shaken, and replied, “Three days.”

Yuan Jin buried herself in the lab, losing track of time.

If Xiaomi hadn’t returned recently to rest, the consequences could have been worse.

Even if Xiaomi was upset about Yuan Jin neglecting her health, she couldn’t show it in front of Yuan’s mother.

She placed the items she brought on the bedside, glanced at Yuan Jin, who looked better, and reassured Yuan’s mother, saying, “Auntie, you can relax now that Yuan Jin’s awake.”

During Yuan Jin’s three-day collapse from overwork, Yuan’s mother stayed in the ward, often crying. Xiaomi, visiting, saw her several times but didn’t enter, only watching Yuan Jin, motionless in bed, through the glass door, praying for her to wake soon.

Yuan’s mother wiped tears from her refined face, her eyes red from crying, which pained Xiaomi further.

Feeling embarrassed, Yuan’s mother asked Xiaomi to stay, then went to the ward’s bathroom to fix her makeup.

The bathroom faucet turned on, water hissing.

Xiaomi stood by the bed, facing Yuan Jin.

Yuan Jin looked down first, reached for Xiaomi’s hand, and called softly, “Xiaomi…”

Usually, Yuan Jin’s call was tender, but now Xiaomi heard weakness in her voice.

Her nose stung, but Xiaomi held back tears, shook off her hand, and stood firm.

Yuan Jin frowned, confused, grabbed her hand again, and said, “Manman?”

Xiaomi glanced at the closed bathroom door, where Yuan’s mother showed no sign of emerging.

Under the cover of running water, she said cruelly, “Yuan Jin, let’s break up.”