A White Cloud (GL ABO) - Chapter 45

The night passed with each person lost in their own thoughts.

The next day, Shen Zhiqing strictly ordered Zhiman to stay with her for now.

“If Auntie asks, I’ll explain for you,” she said.

The night had heightened people’s senses, but in the daytime, Zhiman put on a mature adult’s demeanor.

She smiled lightly, not reaching her heart, and asked, “Are you worried about me?”

Years ago, when Fang Qing passed away, young Zhiman followed her mother to visit this Shen family sister.

She heard Fang Qing locked herself in her room, refusing to come out.

Zhiman used candies she had saved for Yuan Hua to get to know her.

Shen Zhiqing looked at her younger sister’s figure.

If not for Zhiman and Auntie, she might have carried a lingering shadow from her youth.

Zhiman wore her small suit—a sky-blue women’s suit Shen Zhiqing rarely wore, but it fit Zhiman perfectly.

She lightly flocked Zhiman’s forehead, replying grumpily, “What else?”

Though upset because of Tomb Cheng, Shen Zhiqing knew right from wrong.

Zhiman and Auntie’s care far exceeded what her family gave her.

Even for Auntie’s sake, Shen Zhiqing couldn’t clash with Zhiman, even if it involved Tomb Cheng.

Shen Zhiqing drove to the hospital for work, sighing deeply.

Her pursuit of her wife was still a long road.

She remembered her heat cycle was approaching and didn’t know how to tell Tomb Cheng.

Zhiman, who took a day off, returned to the Foreign Affairs Department and was immediately swamped with work.

An intern translation assistant brought files to her office, saying, “Director, these are the participant lists for the medical conference. The boss said to prepare well.”

“Deputy Director,” Zhiman corrected, head down, organizing desk papers.

She took the files from the assistant’s hand.

The assistant closed the office door, pouting.

Last year, the former director of the Spanish Translation Department became the head of the Translation Division.

Zhiman, his prized student, stood out among translators and should have taken the director role.

But unexpectedly, a new translator, surnamed Gu, was appointed director.

Everyone felt it was unfair to Zhiman.

“Why did that Gu person snatch your position?” the assistant said, cheeks puffed with anger.

Zhiman smiled faintly, comforting her gently, “Director Gu is very capable, more suited than me.”

“But,” the assistant started, but Zhiman stood, interrupting, “And I recommended her. If you don’t trust her, you should trust me, right?”

The assistant, chastised, left dejectedly.

Zhiman sat back in her chair.

Her drawer held years of collected, unreliable information, all possibly related to Yuan Hua.

She knew she couldn’t face not only Yuan Jin and her family but also the spotlight.

After a few speaking opportunities, she chose to stay behind the scenes.

The spotlight and honors shouldn’t belong to her.

—

Tomb Cheng received a call from Huazhong Affiliated Primary School.

The summer camp would start in a month, but before that, the school organized a week-long educational trip.

“Families intending to enroll bring their children for a week of study,” the school explained.

“During this, the school observes each child, using it as part of the admission criteria.”

Most elite children skipped these processes.

Those attending were typically middle-class families hoping to get their kids into the school.

Tomb Cheng’s recommendation letter came through Zhiman’s connections, but it wasn’t a free pass.

She still needed to pass the school’s initial interview, and this trip was the first step.

Tomb Cheng carefully asked about the trip’s details, noting them down.

She then inquired if an Alpha bringing a child alone was convenient.

Considering various factors, the school suggested both parents accompany the child.

For dual-Alpha or dual-Omega families, they could bring a Beta.

“Okay, thank you,” Tomb Cheng said, hanging up. She rubbed the paper, deep in thought.

Both parents were ideal, but Xu Yiyi only had her as a mother.

If Tomb Cheng took Xu Yiyi alone, the school might consider her situation before deciding.

She couldn’t just find someone to co-parent Xu Yiyi.

At that moment, Xu Yiyi came out of her room, Bread following with a high tail, stepping in a catwalk.

“Mommy,” Xu Yiyi said.

She showed Tomb Cheng her completed Rubik’s cube.

The girl wore a light gray dress, matching Tomb Cheng’s in a parent-child set.

Tomb Cheng moved her skirt aside and patted the spot next to her.

Xu Yiyi obediently sat beside her.

“Meow,” the ragdoll cat said, its blue eyes gleaming, its soft cry complaining they left no space for it.

The sofa was small, just fitting one adult and one child.

Two adults would feel cramped.

Tomb Cheng’s eyes encouraged Xu Yiyi to pet the whining cat.

Over time, Xu Yiyi had grown familiar with Bread.

Bread, soothed by her touch, purred and flopped at Xu Yiyi’s feet, showing its belly.

Tomb Cheng held the Rubik’s cube, stroking Xu Yiyi’s head, her eyes soft, saying, “Yiyi is amazing.”

The girl shyly nestled into her mother’s arms.

Tomb Cheng hugged her daughter, gently discussing, “Does Yiyi want to play with other kids?”

Xu Yiyi lifted her head from her mother’s arms, eyes teary, looking at her.

Tomb Cheng wiped her daughter’s tears, encouraging her, saying, “Next year, Yiyi will start school. Mommy can’t go with Yiyi, but now there’s a chance for Mommy and Yiyi to meet new friends together.”

As she spoke, she lifted Xu Yiyi onto her lap, carefully fixing her hair, her gentle face full of love and care for her daughter.

She hugged Xu Yiyi, saying dreamily, “I want to sit with Yiyi in a classroom, listen to the teacher, and watch kids play.”

Alpha shed her adult world’s tough exterior, using a longing tone to describe the trip’s possible scenes to her daughter.

“Dragonflies by the river, fireflies in the forest—will the teacher let us adventure in the woods?” she asked.

“At night, kids sit together. Will Yiyi share her Rubik’s cube and paintbrushes with them?” she continued.

Tomb Cheng painted a joyful picture, emphasizing she’d stay with her. Xu Yiyi curled in her mother’s arms, hugging her neck, eyes blinking brightly.

Xu Yiyi feared unfamiliar places and people.

As her guardian, Tomb Cheng paved the way with love and acceptance.

One day, she’d grow, explore the world, and live well, even as a sick child.

That evening, Shen Zhiqing returned home.

The opposite door was closed.

After changing and leaving the bathroom, Tomb Cheng and Xu Yiyi knocked on her door.

Bread rushed to his owner, meowing nonstop, as if he’d suffered at Tomb Cheng’s place.

The clingy cat rubbed against Shen Zhiqing’s ankles.

At the door, Tomb Cheng held Xu Yiyi’s hand, warmly inviting her, saying, “Doctor Shen, want to come over for dinner?”