A White Cloud (GL ABO) - Chapter 18

“Later, I learned about her connection to you,” Shen Zhiqing said, pausing to look at Tomb Cheng.

“Simply put, the doctor your daughter met happened to be me.”

Hearing that she knew about Xu Yiyi’s relation to her, Tomb Cheng’s brow twitched, then she fell silent, seemingly accepting it.

Seeing her quiet, Shen Zhiqing took her hand, feigning nonchalance while her heart churned, and asked, “So, can I ask why you have a child despite having no spouse?”

Since their separation nearly a decade ago, too much could have happened.

Shen Zhiqing dared not imagine.

Her feelings for Tomb Cheng were complex, evolving from indifference to lingering attachment over time.

They had s3x countless times, yet she never bore Tomb Cheng’s child.

As if to rip off her mask, fate brought a child to her, saying, “This is Tomb Cheng’s child.”

Tomb Cheng and she had high pheromone compatibility, recorded in the national pheromone gene bank.

If Tomb Cheng had a partner, the pheromone genetics department would notify her, asking if she and Tomb Cheng had married.

But she received no notice. Tomb Cheng had no partner yet had a child.

Based on the child’s age, it was the fifth year after their complete parting, when Tomb Cheng had graduated from military school, left Huajing, and gone beyond Shen Zhiqing’s reach.

Did she meet someone there?

An Omega or a Beta?

Prettier than me?

Kinder?

More passionate?

Shen Zhiqing felt jealous for the first time, initially of the person who bore Tomb Cheng’s child, then of Tomb Cheng’s daughter.

The child received Tomb Cheng’s care and love, which Shen Zhiqing had pushed away.

Then she envied her past self, living in this contradictory emotion day after day.

Shen Zhiqing didn’t know what answer she wanted.

Would Tomb Cheng deny Xu Yiyi was her daughter?

Regretfully say she parted with a partner? Or something else?

She wondered if, by acting aggrieved and humble, Tomb Cheng might agree to stay entangled with her.

She didn’t mind Xu Yiyi’s existence or Tomb Cheng’s past; she just wanted Tomb Cheng by her side, never leaving.

Tomb Cheng thought and answered, “Yiyi is my daughter.”

A loud crash.

Rain fell again, accompanied by thunder, its roar echoing, tearing a gash in the inky night.

Shen Zhiqing bit her, her fluctuating pheromones surging with intense, joyful restlessness.

As Tomb Cheng’s c0ck pierced her body, Shen Zhiqing clung to her shoulders, consoling herself that, at least now, Tomb Cheng was inside her.

They couldn’t resist pheromones, couldn’t stay rational under their lure, like Tomb Cheng, eyes red from the thick cherry wine scent.

At worst, she’d be Tomb Cheng’s mistress, resolute to never let her leave again.

The storm raged all night.

Shen Zhiqing knew Tomb Cheng left at midnight, her regretful sigh, mingled with rain, heard by the pretending-to-sleep Shen Zhiqing.

When pheromones faded, Tomb Cheng regained clarity.

With Shen Zhiqing, she easily lost herself, driven by pheromones and her overflowing emotions.

The next day.

Xu Yiyi couldn’t be left alone, so Tomb Cheng took her out.

The door across was tightly shut, and she wondered about Shen Zhiqing…

Never mind, it wasn’t her concern.

Shen Zhiqing only sought her due to pheromones.

Tomb Cheng dressed Xu Yiyi in a navy-blue pinafore dress, a plush fox backpack, and two cute buns on her head, looking like a cartoon protagonist.

Xu Yiyi let her mother dress her, shy yet happy.

Tomb Cheng wore navy-blue too, swapping her combat uniform for a tucked-in shirt and jeans, a foolproof outfit with a hint of matching parent-child style.

“Mommy,” Xu Yiyi said in the elevator, tugging Tomb Cheng’s pants, avoiding her reflection in the mirror.

The old elevator reflected the mother and daughter.

Tomb Cheng held her hand, adjusted her glasses with the other, touched Xu Yiyi’s head gently, and asked, “Mm, will you go shopping with Mommy?”

Xu Yiyi wanted to ask if her opinion mattered but saw Tomb Cheng’s smiling eyes waiting for her answer. She leaned closer and agreed softly, “Okay.”

Tomb Cheng met Xiaomi first.

In the tea restaurant, Xu Yiyi ate pastries Tomb Cheng served her, never looking at Xiaomi across the table.

Xiaomi didn’t mind, propped her elbow, gazed at the child’s twin buns, and chuckled, “Didn’t know you had this skill.”

Tomb Cheng sipped tea and said, “The dean taught us before, and when they were busy, we braided the younger kids’ hair.”

“Handled knives and guns so long, and your skills haven’t slipped?” Xiaomi teased.

Tomb Cheng choked, smiled, didn’t reply, and just looked at her.

Xu Yiyi listened to her mother and the elegantly dressed aunt, behaving perfectly.

“Alright, no more teasing,” Xiaomi said, pulling a new envelope from her bag, handing it over, “Here, what you asked for. Take this recommendation letter to the interview.”

Tomb Cheng took it and said, “Thanks, Sister Xiao.”

“No problem, but what’s next? Any job leads?” Xiaomi asked.

Tomb Cheng tucked the letter into Xu Yiyi’s plush backpack and replied, “Not yet, no rush. I’ll figure it out after her school issue is settled.”

Xiaomi, with her connections, secured a spot for Tomb Cheng—a temporary enrollment at Huazhong’s affiliated elementary school.

Xu Yiyi wasn’t school-age yet but could join a camp to adjust, enrolling next year when old enough.

Seeing her plan, Xiaomi didn’t pry.

Instead, Tomb Cheng refilled her tea and asked with concern, “Sister Xiao, not resting well lately?”

Since the meeting, Xiaomi hadn’t removed her sunglasses.

Tomb Cheng glimpsed faint dark circles when she turned, looking exhausted.

Xiaomi’s hand trembled slightly while holding the teacup, forced a smile, and said, “Yeah, work’s been busy.”

Tomb Cheng heard some renowned international scientists were coming to Huajing for a medical conference, likely involving Xiaomi in the reception.

“Hard work, and you still helped me with the school. I’m really sorry,” Tomb Cheng said.

Xiaomi waved it off, “It’s nothing.”

Tomb Cheng nodded and said, “Still, rest when you can, or Sister Yuan will worry.”

Xiaomi’s eyes dimmed behind her sunglasses, and she said, “Yeah, I know.”

They chatted, Tomb Cheng occasionally serving Xu Yiyi food or wiping her mouth.

Watching their interaction lifted Xiaomi’s low mood, and she smiled, unaware that across the street, in a parked car, Yuan Jin watched her every expression.