Alpha, Straight To The Crematorium - Chapter 3
3: Going Out
In a small apartment on the outskirts of City A.
The dark, heavy curtains blocked out the vibrant spring sunlight, creating a perfect sleeping environment for the bedroom’s occupant.
Though the room was dimly lit, one could vaguely make out the cluttered books scattered on the desk and some drawings pinned to the walls.
After a while, the sound of a phone ringing echoed through the room. The person sleeping soundly in bed jolted awake, and a slender, fair wrist emerged from the covers, fumbling for the phone on the nightstand before pressing the answer button.
“Hello…” The voice from the person still nestled in the covers was groggy, clearly not fully awake.
The person on the other end of the call sighed helplessly. “Sweetie, you stayed up all night again, didn’t you?”
“Mm, I got inspired last night and drew a bit longer.” The person in bed rubbed their eyes and glanced at the phone’s screen to check the time.
Only four hours of sleep. I’ll catch up with a nap later, they thought.
“Fine, I can’t control you,” the caller said, clearly used to this excuse. “But, Li Yuan, you didn’t forget what we talked about yesterday, did you?”
At those words, clarity slowly returned to Li Yuan’s mind. The promise made with her friend before work last night gradually resurfaced in her memory.
Leaping up from bed, Li Yuan sat upright, the blanket sliding off to reveal a fair, delicate face. Her light brown bangs were a mess, slightly overgrown, falling in strands over her forehead and completely covering her dark, almond-shaped eyes.
She hurriedly got out of bed and started getting ready, slipping on clothes while speaking into the phone. “Ah Qin, are you already there? Give me five minutes!”
“Relax, relax, I know how you are. I’m still on my way, so take your time,” came the reply, accompanied by the sound of car horns in the background. Then, as expected, Jin Qin’s teasing followed. “I really don’t get why you’d choose to live in a suburban apartment so far from the city with such inconvenient transportation. You’re an Omega in the prime of your youth—why on earth would you rent a place out here?”
Li Yuan opened her wardrobe and began picking out clothes at a leisurely pace. Hearing Jin Qin’s complaints, she didn’t get upset; instead, she chuckled. “I often stay up late for work and need a quiet place to catch up on sleep during the day. Besides the transportation, there’s nothing wrong with a suburban apartment.”
“And anyway,” she added, her voice soft and sweet like a newborn lamb, “don’t you come pick me up every now and then to get some fresh air?”
Li Yuan had always been like this—endlessly affectionate and playful with those she was close to. Even her pheromone scent matched her personality: a sweet, sticky caramel fragrance.
“Fine, I can’t argue with you. You know I spoil you.” Jin Qin said.
“Hehe, I love you the most, Ah Qin!”
Time slipped by as the two chatted casually. Li Yuan finished getting ready, slung a bag over her shoulder, and headed to the door. Before leaving, she sprayed herself with a colorless, odorless suppressant.
This was another reason Li Yuan preferred not to live in the city—going out as an Omega was such a hassle.
The two best friends reunited in the car. It had been over half a month since they last saw each other, so as soon as Li Yuan got in, she gave Jin Qin a big hug, nuzzling her head against her friend’s chest a couple of times before letting out a satisfied sigh.
Jin Qin, used to this, patiently waited for Li Yuan to finish her affectionate display before saying with mock disdain, “You really need to break this habit. If I show up with your future partner someday and you still act like this, they’ll tear me apart.”
Li Yuan tilted her head up with a bright smile. “My future partner wouldn’t do that. Besides, I’ll protect you!”
“Oh, thanks for that.” Jin Qin replied dryly.
The car cruised along the road, sunlight streaming through the sunroof, casting a warm glow on the two girls inside as they enjoyed the cool breeze blowing through the windows.
“Oh, right!” Li Yuan suddenly spoke up, her eyes still glued to her phone. “You know that dark-themed series of drawings I did a while back?”
Jin Qin nodded. How could she not know? That series was incredibly popular in their circle, practically a go-to for concept art in fantasy-themed productions.
“Of course. What about it?”
“Then you must also know about Enchantment, right?” Li Yuan leaned in close, her eyes sparkling with pride.
“Who doesn’t know about Enchantment?”
As the hottest game of the year, Enchantment was a major project by the KN Corporation, backed by serious funding. Several artists at Jin Qin’s company were vying for its endorsement deals.
Li Yuan leaned back in her seat, her round face brimming with smug satisfaction. “A while back, the planners from Enchantment reached out to me about a collaboration.”
Jin Qin raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised. “Wow, not bad! You’re getting offers from KN now? So, what happened?” She reached over and playfully ruffled Li Yuan’s hair.
Li Yuan swatted at her hand like a kitten, giggling. “Hehe, I turned them down.” Her pride was practically radiating now.
Who in this day and age could say no to a collaboration with KN? Only her, of course!
“You turned them down?” Jin Qin sounded a bit regretful. “Was their offer too low?”
Li Yuan shook her head vigorously. “No, no, their offer was more than generous—three times the market rate. I turned it down because my schedule is fully booked for the next six months, and I’ve never done character designs for a game before. I’d probably mess it up.”
She added, “But they haven’t given up. They asked me to meet again the day after tomorrow to discuss it further. They seem really sincere. If I had even a single month free, I might’ve taken it.” Despite her words, there was a hint of regret in her tone.
Jin Qin found it amusing but was also quietly worried for her friend. She knew all too well how much Li Yuan doubted herself. Still, she reassured her, “It’s fine. If you don’t want to do it, don’t. We’re not exactly strapped for cash. Your health comes first—no more staying up late for drafts.”
Li Yuan’s face lit up with a bright smile, her trust in Jin Qin clear as day. “I knew you’d have my back.”
“Duh, who else would I support?” Jin Qin replied. “Oh, by the way, you’re meeting that blind date tomorrow, right? Why don’t you stay at my place tonight?”
“No need. I’m staying at the place my mom rented for me tonight. I don’t know what they were thinking, renting a place in the city for a whole year. They said it’s got great soundproofing and a nice environment, so it won’t disturb my daytime naps.”
“Alright. When are you moving in? I’ll help you out.”
“Mm, I probably won’t move in permanently. My mom said everything’s already set up—my aunt took care of it all, so I can just move in with my bags. I’ll probably just stay there tonight. I’ll give you a key later, and you can crash there whenever you want. They paid for a whole year’s rent, after all.”
“Sounds good.”
Jin Qin’s job kept her busy, and the two hadn’t seen each other in a while. They chatted endlessly about everything under the sun, as if they could never run out of things to say.
By the time their conversation wound down, they had arrived at their destination.