I Really Didn't Intend to Pick Up the Black Lotus Omega - Chapter 16

Before Jiang Nianyu asked the question, Yu Qing hadn’t felt she’d made any mistakes today.

But when Jiang Nianyu asked, the word “pheromone” ground between her teeth, Yu Qing suddenly felt inexplicably guilty, as if she’d done something to betray Jiang Nianyu.

Yet all she’d done was: “There was an Omega in heat at the company today, so I brought her some suppressants.”

The words “heat” and “suppressants” arranged together triggered a familiar yet alien sensation in Jiang Nianyu’s mind.

This must be another common sense thing I’ve forgotten, she thought, her brow furrowing even deeper than before. “You’re a Beta, aren’t you? Where did you get the suppressants?”

Jiang Nianyu’s interrogation was thorough, her eyes lifting from beneath her cascading hair to fix Yu Qing with an unwavering gaze.

Yu Qing felt an invisible pressure, even more intense than being questioned by her boss. The tips of her fingers grew clammy and cold.

“Yes, Sister Gong Ning gave me her emergency Omega suppressants to give to Siqing,” Yu Qing explained, her earnest gaze pleading for Jiang Nianyu’s trust. “Sister Gong Ning is an Alpha, so it wouldn’t have been appropriate for her to go herself.”

Siqing.

Jiang Siqing.

The name flashed through Jiang Nianyu’s mind like a reflex.

Yu Qing’s explanation didn’t reassure her; instead, it made her even more uneasy.

The faint scent of green grapes hung in the air, like a newly sprouted grapevine in spring, its tendrils reaching out to annoyingly brush against Jiang Nianyu.

Jiang Nianyu disliked this feeling. She felt her unhappiness with piercing clarity and snatched the dinner Yu Qing was carrying. “Shower.”

The simple word carried a hint of stubbornness, though Jiang Nianyu’s soft voice masked it.

Yu Qing didn’t notice the underlying tension, her mind racing with the realization that she seemed to have found the answer. In the novels she’d read, nearly all Alphas and Omegas experienced pheromone repulsion.

So Jiang Nianyu is the same.

Remembering the potential consequences—from mild restlessness to violent outbursts, and even triggering heat cycles or fevers—Yu Qing didn’t dare delay.

“Sorry, I’ll go right now.”

Yu Qing dashed to the balcony, swiftly removed her pajamas, and waved to Jiang Nianyu before entering the bathroom. “If you’re hungry, go ahead and eat. Don’t wait for me.”

The weight of the sour soup with fatty beef made Jiang Nianyu’s wrist ache. She stared at the shadowy figure behind the frosted bathroom door, her grip tightening.

How could she not wait for her?

Even if she was hungry, so what?

She could wait.

But why was this person so eager to help?

Did she offer this kindness to all Omegas?

Wasn’t she special?

“Siqing,” Jiang Nianyu murmured, her bare feet padding onto the sofa as she hugged her knees.

She softly bit the name, her gentle gaze darkening uncontrollably, like the humid, sticky evening breeze.

Yu Qing showered quickly and emerged soon after, towel-drying her hair.

The warm, humid air billowed outward with each step, mingling with the living room lights as it diffused into the air.

“I’m done! Does the scent seem gone now?” Yu Qing waved her hand, smiling at Jiang Nianyu.

Jiang Nianyu, seated on the sofa, froze for a moment.

Yu Qing couldn’t possibly realize how much of her scent lingered in the steamy mist.

The humid air seemed to rain within Jiang Nianyu’s body, the clean, fresh fragrance mingling with the earthy scent of wet soil, all swirling into her nostrils.

Too much.

Overwhelming.

Jiang Nianyu’s pale pupils dilated slightly. Unable to withstand such provocation, she let one curled leg slide off the sofa.

“Is there still a scent?” Yu Qing, noticing Jiang Nianyu’s movement, assumed she still detected another Omega’s pheromones and was about to leave.

Momentarily flustered, Yu Qing lowered her head and sniffed her own pale skin.

But Betas were completely immune to pheromones. Her nose detected no pheromonal traces, only the damp strands of hair that fell forward as she bent over, dampening the collar of her pajamas and tracing the faint outline of her collarbones.

Jiang Nianyu’s gaze fixed, she quickly shook her head, snapping out of her daze. “No.”

“Let’s eat. I’m a bit hungry.”

The suppression patch felt stifling against the glands on her neck, as if a ball of heat were churning beneath it.

That evening’s dinner stretched on endlessly.

Jiang Nianyu periodically pinched the palm of her hand, struggling to maintain control, her food tasting like nothing.

Yu Qing noticed Jiang Nianyu’s strange behavior.

She assumed Jiang Nianyu was still bothered by the lingering scent of another Omega in their home. The more she appreciated Jiang Nianyu’s delicious cooking, the guiltier she felt.

Having been in this ABO world for nearly a week, Yu Qing still kept forgetting its rules.

Jiang Nianyu had worked so hard to prepare this wonderful meal, yet Yu Qing had made her feel uncomfortable.

This is terrible.

After proactively clearing the table, Yu Qing eagerly carried her laptop from the study.

“Look at this,” Yu Qing said, quickly adjusting the program and gesturing for Jiang Nianyu to come closer.

The desire Jiang Nianyu had suppressed throughout dinner finally receded.

Regaining some of her composure, she met Yu Qing’s expectant gaze and looked at the screen.

There, in the corner of the desktop, lay a small white dog with pink-tipped ears, wagging its tail enthusiastically at her.

“What’s this?” Jiang Nianyu asked, her curiosity piqued by the little dog.

“It’s a desktop companion I made for you,” Yu Qing said excitedly, using the mouse to lift the dog and demonstrate its features. “A-Qing exclusive—one of a kind! It’ll keep you company when I’m not home.”

It was impossible for Jiang Nianyu to completely dismiss the Omega named Siqing who had appeared earlier.

She felt a mix of wariness and hostility toward both the incident and the name itself.

But when she heard “A-Qing exclusive,” that unease was immediately overshadowed by another emotion:

Adoration.

She absolutely loved the little dog Yu Qing had made for her.

Its fluffy tail swept back and forth along the edge of the screen, as if brushing away the shadows in her heart.

It shimmered with pink and gold, just like someone she knew.

Meanwhile, Yu Qing, seeing Jiang Nianyu’s lack of reaction after her explanation, suddenly felt insecure.

Staring at the pink dog on the screen, she realized the mouse interaction felt a bit stiff. She quickly added, “I rushed to finish it today, so some features are incomplete. If you don’t like it, I can revise it for you.”

Jiang Nianyu disagreed. “No, I think you did a wonderful job, A-Qing,” she said softly, mimicking Yu Qing’s nickname. Her words instantly shattered Yu Qing’s self-doubt.

In truth, Yu Qing had always craved validation and recognition.

Perhaps her creation wasn’t perfect.

Perhaps she needed someone to help her refine it.

But Jiang Nianyu’s affirmation gave Yu Qing something even more precious than companionship.

Sitting there, watching Yu Qing play with the little dog she had made, the mouse interactions creating a playful back-and-forth, Yu Qing couldn’t help but wonder if Jiang Nianyu’s condition had improved since her discharge from the hospital. In that moment, her usually cold and calm eyes seemed bright and full of life.

“Why don’t you give it a name?” Yu Qing suggested.

Jiang Nianyu looked surprised. “Me?”

Yu Qing nodded firmly. “Of course! It’s your little dog, so you should name her.”

More than ever, even more than when she was coding at work, Yu Qing wanted to give this little dog to Jiang Nianyu.

Jiang Nianyu gazed at the little dog on the screen, watching its tiny paws move with delight. Her mind raced through a flurry of thoughts.

But everything seemed to point her toward a name familiar to both her and Yu Qing: “Lianlian.”

Yu Qing paused, surprised.

Jiang Nianyu repeated, “I want to call it Lianlian.”

The repeated syllables rolled gently off her tongue, her voice as firm as Yu Qing’s had been moments before.

Her eyes locked onto Yu Qing’s, conveying, “It’s not just my dog. It’s our dog, A-Qing.”

For some reason, Yu Qing let out a soft, involuntary chuckle after hearing Jiang Nianyu’s explanation.

Her emotions were inexplicably complex, a whirlwind of feelings and thoughts flashing through her mind.

Jiang Nianyu loves the little dog I made.

Jiang Nianyu wants to raise this dog with me.

Jiang Nianyu called me “A-Qing” again.

Yu Qing wondered if naming this electronic puppy “Lianlian” would betray her real dog, Lianlian.

But when she looked into Jiang Nianyu’s eyes, the last rays of sunset still clinging to her face, casting a warm, warm glow on her profile, she couldn’t resist.

“Alright, it’ll be called Lianlian,” Yu Qing agreed, solemnly promising Jiang Nianyu, “I’ll develop more features for it so it can always be with you.”

“A-Qing, you have to keep your word,” Jiang Nianyu said earnestly.

“Of course,” Yu Qing replied with unwavering certainty.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the room darkened completely.

Yu Qing reached up and switched on the living room lights, watching Jiang Nianyu hug her laptop and play with Lianlian for a while longer.

Her thoughts slowly returned to her original purpose—

It seems I’ve managed to pacify Jiang Nianyu.

The matter of the other Omega’s pheromone scent in their home had been resolved.

If only Yu Qing hadn’t discovered Jiang Nianyu climbing into her bed later that night.

The night was damp, and the dim room echoed with the rhythmic patter of water, as if it were raining.

But the rain wasn’t thorough, half-falling and half-stopping, leaving a stifling heat to churn in the room.

Yu Qing lay sprawled on the bed, feeling as if something heavy were pressing down on her chest, making each breath feel oppressively heavy.

Even the air conditioning, which should have been cool, blew hot air onto her face.

That’s wrong…

How could the air conditioning be blowing hot air?

And why was it directed at her face?

Yu Qing sensed something was amiss. The sensation of being weighed down grew more real.

In the darkness, Yu Qing’s eyes snapped open.

But instead of darkness, Jiang Nianyu’s face filled her vision.

The dim nightlight cast a faint glow on Jiang Nianyu, illuminating her through her thin, pale clothing.

Her slender, pale arms were braced on either side of Yu Qing’s face, and her long hair cascaded down like a waterfall, enveloping them both in a dense curtain.