A White Cloud (GL ABO) - Chapter 3

Half a month ago, Zhiman hosted a private party but extravagantly reserved an entire hotel floor, befitting a prominent Huajing aristocratic family.

Shen Zhiqing wore a teal evening gown that day.

She styled her light brown, wavy hair up with a delicate hairpin adorned with a butterfly pendant.

For such an important occasion, she dressed impeccably.

Her spendthrift younger brother spotted her immediately and approached through the crowd.

“Sis, you look stunning,” Shen Mu said.

He is two years younger than her at 28.

He was her half-brother.

He was born to her father, Shen Zhihe, after her mother, Fang Qing, passed away and he remarried.

Shen Zhiqing glanced up, her usually aloof face showing little emotion.

She took Shen Mu’s arm and entered the venue only when the event began.

The party was hosted by an aristocratic heir; it served as both entertainment and networking.

The clever Shen Mu seized the opportunity, leveraging Shen Zhiqing’s connection to Zhiman to attend.

Along the way, many people engaged Shen Zhiqing in conversation.

As the Shen family’s legitimate daughter and the only grandchild of the Fang family to differentiate into a gender, her status was undeniable.

Even without pursuing a military medical career like Shen Zhihe or joining the Fang family’s pharmaceutical business, she remained a “prodigy’s daughter” like her peers.

Shen Zhiqing had little interest in mingling with aristocrats.

After creating opportunities for Shen Mu, she retreated to a corner and observed the scene calmly.

Despite the banquet hall’s four-sided pheromone filtration system, Shen Zhiqing still detected intertwined Alpha and Omega pheromones.

Whiskey, soda, sweet milk, mint, strawberry, and other scents blended into a strange concoction.

She frowned instinctively, sipped her champagne lightly, and waited for Zhiman’s appearance.

The banquet hall’s doors opened and closed repeatedly.

After several times, a commotion suddenly arose in the room.

Zhiman entered, arm-in-arm with a tall Alpha.

Shen Zhiqing’s typically composed expression wavered rarely for such an occasion.

She heard the clamor in the noisy hall and caught someone jokingly asking Zhiman who the Alpha was.

She saw a lone, innocent Alpha extend a warm hand, her voice clear and pure.

A distant, ethereal cold fragrance floated in the air, reminiscent of a winter plum quietly blooming on a snowy cliff.

The child’s eyes were crystal clear, strikingly pure and dark.

The Alpha stood beside Zhiman, her gaze cutting through the crowd to land on Shen Zhiqing.

A flash of surprise passed under her silver-framed glasses, quickly suppressed.

Tomb Cheng placed one hand lightly behind Zhiman’s waist, the other on her coat, and turned aside to avoid Shen Zhiqing’s gaze.

Seeing Tomb Cheng in person again, Shen Zhiqing noted the vibrant girl with a high ponytail had shed her youthfulness.

Resolve and resilience now surrounded her.

Military life had made her much taller, especially as an Alpha.

Shen Zhiqing traced Tomb Cheng’s features with her eyes across the crowd, finally capturing her image clearly at the last moment.

The striking female Alpha was soon surrounded by aristocratic young ladies.

“Hey, Man, who’s this?” one aristocratic heiress asked.

Zhiman pulled Tomb Cheng behind her, smirking mischievously and teasing the eager women.

“What’s that? What are you all up to?” she said.

Tomb Cheng was tall.

Zhiman, at 170 cm and wearing eight-centimeter heels, was still half a head shorter.

Several elegantly dressed ladies huddled together, whispering.

“Nothing! What are you up to, holding her hand like that? Aren’t you afraid…” one began.

Before she finished, Zhiman leaned against Tomb Cheng’s shoulder with a beaming smile, her intent clear—she wasn’t afraid.

The ladies encircled them, erupting in cheers.

Tomb Cheng straightened at Zhiman’s gesture, her hand cautiously resting behind Zhiman’s waist, prompting louder teasing from the crowd.

To onlookers, Zhiman and this Alpha seemed intimately connected.

Only a few close acquaintances, noticing Yuan Jin’s darkened expression, silently gave Zhiman a thumbs-up in their minds.

Bold move!

As a Beta, Zhiman couldn’t sense the pheromones mingling nearby, but she read the ladies’ intentions.

She smiled and introduced Tomb Cheng to a few people.

“This is Cheng Yi, Jin Xiyan, Lin Momo, and Xia An. We grew up together. If you need help in Huajing, you can turn to them,” she said.

The one who asked first was Cheng Yi, closest to Zhiman.

Like Zhiman, she worked in the Foreign Affairs Department.

Zhiman was in the Translation Division, Cheng Yi was in the Administrative Division.

Zhiman turned to the group and said, “This is Tomb Cheng.”

Tomb Cheng bowed politely and greeted them.

“Hello, sisters,” she said.

After a brief chat, Zhiman concocted an excuse with the group and led Tomb Cheng to meet others.

Fresh from the military, Tomb Cheng attended this gathering of Huajing’s accomplished younger generation.

Zhiman aimed to build connections for her, ensuring people knew her.

While speaking with a male aristocratic Alpha, someone passing by bumped into Zhiman.

Tomb Cheng reacted swiftly, pulling her back to prevent a stumble.

“Are you okay?” the male Alpha asked, pointing at Tomb Cheng’s clothes.

Tomb Cheng steadied Zhiman before noticing her coat’s hem dripping.

The champagne in Zhiman’s hand had spilled entirely onto her clothes.

Yuan Jin, watching Zhiman from a few steps away, hurried over upon seeing the collision.

She placed a hand behind Zhiman’s waist, her eyes full of concern.

“Man, are you okay?” she asked softly.

Her voice was gentle and caring.

Zhiman, steadied but startled by the embrace, flinched before realizing it was Yuan Jin.

She relaxed against her, frowned, and shook her head.

“I’m fine,” she said.

The person who bumped into her without noticing apologized hurriedly.

Tomb Cheng saw Zhiman half-embraced by Yuan Jin and confirmed she was unharmed before addressing the person softly.

“It’s okay,” she said.

Her words carried an upright authority, her soldier’s quiet dignity evident.

After the person left and the onlookers dispersed, only the three remained.

Tomb Cheng shook the formal coat Zhiman had prepared for her, smiling apologetically.

“Zhiman, Yuan Jin, I’ll head to the restroom to clean up,” she said.

Yuan Jin nodded, pointed toward the restroom, and guided Zhiman by the waist to a corner.

The banquet hall’s doors opened and closed.

The minor incident went unnoticed, and no one saw someone follow Tomb Cheng out.