I Really Didn't Intend to Pick Up the Black Lotus Omega - Chapter 24

Two figures were squeezed onto the narrow sofa, the warm yellow glow of the floor lamp blending with the rain-streaked window.

 

The daylight was completely blocked out, as if mirroring the muffled sound escaping from someone’s tightly pressed lips.

 

Yu Qing’s hovering fingers paused mid-air.

 

She noticed Jiang Nianyu’s reddened ears and finally realized what she had just done.

 

An Omega’s scent glands weren’t just for releasing pheromones; they were also the area where Alphas bit to mark them.

 

Their fragility and intimacy were common knowledge in the ABO world, requiring no reminder.

 

How could I have touched that spot…?

 

What must Jiang Nianyu think of me?

 

“A-Qing… is this your first time touching a scent gland?”

 

Contrary to Yu Qing’s expectations, Jiang Nianyu didn’t react negatively. Her cool, clear voice cut through the rain like a gently falling feather, subtly masking Yu Qing’s embarrassment.

 

Through the Suppressant Patch, it didn’t quite count as a true first time.

 

Yu Qing found herself inexplicably bothered by this, as if the Suppressant Patch were some unforgivable transgression.

 

Yet she knew deep down that if she didn’t take the olive branch Jiang Nianyu offered, the situation would become deeply offensive.

 

Jiang Nianyu nodded, her meticulous nature shining through. “I saw it in textbooks when I was studying, but only in pictures.”

 

“Then, would you like a refresher on the knowledge?”

 

Jiang Nianyu turned to Yu Qing, and as she spoke, she reached out and grasped Yu Qing’s wrist, which was still hovering in mid-air.

 

Under the dim yellow light, Jiang Nianyu’s gaze burned with an almost hypnotic intensity.

 

Yu Qing’s mind momentarily blanked. The long strands of hair Jiang Nianyu had been holding slipped from her grasp, cascading down like a waterfall under that piercing gaze.

 

Each strand clung to lingering sweat, damp and warm, covering both Yu Qing and Jiang Nianyu’s hands and obscuring Yu Qing’s vision.

 

Unable to see what Jiang Nianyu was doing with her hand, Yu Qing’s heart raced with a premonition.

 

Her fingertips showed no sign of searching before Jiang Nianyu abruptly pressed them against the rough surface of the Suppressant Patch.

 

With precise movements, Jiang Nianyu pinched the patch, slowly peeled it off, and casually tossed it aside.

 

Though Yu Qing hadn’t initiated any of these actions, she felt as if she had willingly done it all herself.

 

Yu Qing’s gaze remained fixed, her limbs moving of their own accord.

 

She watched her fingers thread through Jiang Nianyu’s tangled hair, peeling off the Suppressant Patch. A cool, minty scent wafted from the patch, stimulating Jiang Nianyu’s throat and causing it to bob.

 

I’m about to touch an Omega’s gland, Yu Qing realized.

 

The wind whipped raindrops against the window, creating a sudden, loud splatter.

 

Yu Qing’s fingers pressed against Jiang Nianyu’s gland.

 

Thump-thump.

 

Thump-thump.

 

Whether startled by the damned rain or not, Yu Qing’s heart raced wildly.

 

People often approach the unfamiliar like blind men feeling an elephant, grasping only fragments of the whole.

 

The moment Yu Qing touched Jiang Nianyu’s gland, she felt something small and soft press against her finger. It was delicate, smooth, and faintly moist, as if kissing her fingertip.

 

This was an Omega’s gland, utterly unique and unlike any organ on an undifferentiated person. Yet, its presence didn’t feel alien or unnatural.

 

After barely a second of contact, the expression in Yu Qing’s lowered gaze shifted.

 

Her fingers brushed against Jiang Nianyu’s scent gland, her eyes flickering with a longing for the unknown.

 

Though a Beta couldn’t detect the camellia fragrance emanating from that spot, Yu Qing seemed bewitched like an Alpha. She traced the bud-like contour in circles, her fingertips meticulously caressing and rubbing against it.

 

With her most vulnerable spot covered by Yu Qing’s fingers, Jiang Nianyu momentarily lost control of her breathing.

 

She bit her lip lightly, its pale color taking on a bewitching crimson glow under the lamplight.

 

At some point, Jiang Nianyu released her grip on Yu Qing’s wrist.

 

She couldn’t explain why such a small protrusion on her neck had caused her to involuntarily whimper.

 

I don’t mind sharing my things with Yu Qing, she thought.

 

So when Yu Qing showed curiosity, Jiang Nianyu consciously guided her, inviting her to explore together.

 

But Jiang Nianyu never imagined Yu Qing’s exploration would make her feel so strange.

 

Warm breath formed a small cloud of mist in the damp, cold air, dampening Jiang Nianyu’s eyes.

 

Jiang Nianyu swallowed the choked sobs rising in her throat, one by one. Unable to endure the restraint any longer, her breathing began to tremble.

 

Suddenly, Jiang Nianyu’s leg, which had been propped against the sofa, dropped to the floor.

 

A cool breeze brushed against her ankles, swaying gently. Despite the thin blanket, Jiang Nianyu felt as if she were about to…

 

Outside, wind and rain raged, while inside, the only sound was the soft rhythm of human breathing.

 

Jiang Nianyu gasped for air, as if she had just surfaced from underwater, greedily and desperately inhaling the oxygen in the living room.

 

A sharp, icy sensation pierced through her glands and shot straight to her brain, finally snapping her out of her daze.

 

Once.

 

“What’s wrong?” Yu Qing asked, tilting her head to look at Jiang Nianyu.

 

The fingers that had been resting on the back of Jiang Nianyu’s neck lifted as she spoke, taking with them the lingering warmth of their touch.

 

Jiang Nianyu didn’t want to lose that sensation. She sniffed the air and obediently told Yu Qing, “It smells bad.”

 

It was the truth.

 

Jiang Nianyu disliked the minty coolness permeating the air, which completely overwhelmed Yu Qing’s natural scent.

 

“Then how about orange?” Yu Qing immediately rummaged through a nearby bag, searching for other scents of ointment. “There’s peach, rose, cedarwood…”

 

More and more fragrance-related words burrowed into Jiang Nianyu’s ears, causing her brow to furrow.

 

She didn’t want any artificial scents. These manufactured fragrances couldn’t even compare to a fraction of the natural scent emanating from Yu Qing’s body.

 

Where this sudden realization came from, Jiang Nianyu couldn’t say. Lowering her lashes, she murmured to Yu Qing with ambiguous intent, “Actually, human saliva also has disinfectant properties.”

 

Flicker.

 

The bedside lamp flickered like a faulty connection, flashing across Yu Qing’s eyes.

 

Her hand, which had been searching for the medicinal ointment, froze mid-motion. Her face, flushed crimson in the light, remained fixed on Jiang Nianyu’s retreating figure.

 

The remark had an inexplicable effect, leaving Yu Qing’s ears burning.

 

The finger coated with mint-scented ointment felt abruptly cold, inexplicably reminding Yu Qing of the moment Jiang Nianyu had held her hand earlier.

 

Using fingers versus kissing glands.

 

Which was more intimate?

 

The summer pajamas were as thin as cicada wings. Though they weren’t touching, Jiang Nianyu could still feel the warmth radiating from Yu Qing’s body.

 

She craved that warmth.

 

The gland at the back of her neck throbbed with anticipation, imagining the sensation of being enveloped by such warmth…

 

“Done.”

 

Yu Qing abruptly withdrew her hand.

 

Just before that, Jiang Nianyu had felt something cold and smooth being pressed against her scent gland.

 

A Suppressant Patch.

 

The dimly lit room seemed to swallow too many unspoken emotions.

 

Jiang Nianyu sat with her back to Yu Qing, unable to see Yu Qing’s restrained gaze, deliberately averted, just as Yu Qing couldn’t see the hidden disappointment in Jiang Nianyu’s reddened eyes.

 

Why didn’t she touch my gland longer?

 

Why didn’t she brush aside my hair and lean in for a gentle kiss?

 

Is my gland ugly?

 

Why won’t she even let me have her finger, not even a soft, lingering kiss?

 

“Human saliva isn’t necessarily sterile. We should be careful when it comes to scent glands.”

 

Just as Jiang Nianyu was thinking this, Yu Qing’s voice drifted into her ears.

 

She watched as the woman, who had been sitting behind her, wiped her fingers and moved around to face her.

 

The fingers, coated in ointment, shimmered strangely in the light—pale, slender, and smooth, like a bow drawn across strings, gliding back and forth, scraping against the inside of Jiang Nianyu’s mouth.

 

A taste of marrow.

 

“Will you be applying my medicine from now on?” Jiang Nianyu asked, her gaze fixed on the Beta before her, suppressing her desire.

 

“Of course,” Yu Qing nodded, settling down in front of Jiang Nianyu.

 

Oblivious to the trap she was falling into, Yu Qing worried about Jiang Nianyu’s ability to care for herself and cautioned her, “If you feel unwell, it might be your Heat. I’ll keep Suppressants in every room on both floors. I can’t always be by your side, so remember to find one and inject it when needed. I’ll make sure they’re easily accessible.”

 

“I understand,” Jiang Nianyu replied earnestly, offering Yu Qing sincere reassurance.

 

Her decisive nod showed no hint of disappointment at the prospect of having to manage her future Heats alone.

 

However, while Yu Qing believed she couldn’t always be there for Jiang Nianyu, Jiang Nianyu was convinced that Yu Qing would “coincidentally” be by her side during every Heat, either at home or returning from work.

 

Yu Qing wiped the last of her fingers with a wet wipe and placed it within Jiang Nianyu’s view.

 

As Jiang Nianyu gazed at Yu Qing’s impeccably clean fingers, a thought slowly surfaced in her mind: she wanted to find a reason for her earlier actions, a reason Yu Qing would accept.

 

Sooner or later, she would imprint her scent upon these fingers.

 

“I’m a little hungry. My mom made dinner. Want to grab a bite?”

 

Jiang Nianyu’s gaze, which had been fixed on Yu Qing’s fingers, suddenly shifted to Yu Qing’s eyes.

 

Oblivious to Jiang Nianyu’s lingering gaze, Yu Qing smiled cheerfully, already planning their dinner.

 

“Sure,” Jiang Nianyu replied, her composure regained, her eyes once again radiating a docile innocence. “Need any help?”

 

“No need, it’s all ready-made. Just pop it in the microwave to heat it up,” Yu Qing waved her hand, declining Jiang Nianyu’s offer.

 

In all these years, Yu Qing had never received a home-cooked meal from her family.

 

She was genuinely looking forward to trying her mother’s home-style dishes, completely forgetting Yu Qingyun’s dismissive remark when she brought the food: “They couldn’t finish it, so they sent it over.”

 

Opening the refrigerator, the cold air inside felt even colder than the rain outside.

 

Yu Qing was about to reach for the lunchbox Yu Qingyun had placed inside when she noticed something odd. Yu Qingyun had shoved aside her neatly arranged chilled drinks in the wall compartment and awkwardly squeezed in a jar of beef sauce.

 

The sight felt jarringly out of place.

 

Yu Qing was puzzled. There was still plenty of space above and below the beef sauce jar in the wall cabinet. Why had Yu Qingyun insisted on placing it there, disrupting her carefully organized arrangement?

 

In truth, when Yu Qing first learned that her original body had a sister, she had felt a flicker of anticipation.

 

After all, Yu Qingyun was a master’s student at a top-tier university, a true academic prodigy who had attended elite schools since childhood.

 

With such a sister, Yu Qing had imagined the original body’s life must have been incredibly fortunate.

 

But, as with all things held to high expectations, the reality seemed to fall short of the idealized image.

 

After her initial interactions with Yu Qingyun, Yu Qing began to suspect that things weren’t as perfect as she had imagined.

 

The ice-cold beef sauce jar pressed against Yu Qing’s hand, gradually stealing her warmth.

 

Yu Qing couldn’t help but wonder if she had romanticized everything too much.

 

Hot, steaming food always evoked a sense of warmth, especially on a rainy night like this, with the downpour raging outside and the cozy comfort of the indoors.

 

Yet Yu Qing found herself eating without appetite.

 

Her stomach seemed to reject the food, each bite requiring a long, slow digestion before she could bring herself to take another.

 

By the end of the meal, she had eaten even less than Jiang Nianyu, who already had a small appetite.

 

“Are you feeling unwell?” Jiang Nianyu had noticed Yu Qing’s unusual behavior earlier.

 

Yu Qing shook her head, unsure of what was wrong. “Maybe I got too much sun today. I’m just tired. A nap should help.”

 

“Then go lie down. I’ll take care of the dishes,” Jiang Nianyu offered.

 

“Thank you,” Yu Qing said, not bothering with formalities as she slipped into her slippers and headed upstairs.

 

The rain intensified, chaotic droplets hammering against the glass like they might shatter this fragile sanctuary at any moment.

 

While most people would feel uneasy in such harsh weather, some welcomed its ability to conceal and wash away all sins.

 

No one heard the sound of food being dumped into the trash. Jiang Nianyu expertly shattered the glass container Yu Qingyun had brought.

 

Humming an unfamiliar piano melody, she calmly wrapped the shards in kitchen paper. Her slow, indifferent voice blended with the rain, leisurely yet chilling to the bone.

 

Thud.

 

With a dull thud, Jiang Nianyu casually tossed the bundle into the food waste bin, her fingers clean. The countertop looked as if the shards had never been there.

 

They shouldn’t have been here in the first place, Jiang Nianyu thought.

 

 

Lightning flashed outside the window, and thunder rumbled heavily through the night.

 

Yu Qing fell asleep the moment she collapsed onto the bed, a thin blanket wrapped around her. She curled up on her side, seeking the most secure sleeping position.

 

A gentle breeze swept away the dampness of the rainy night, and Yu Qing’s dream was filled with an unusually bright sun.

 

She blinked hard twice, unaccustomed to such intense light.

 

Then, a tall, slender, and haughty little girl appeared before her eyes.

 

The girl wore her long hair in two ponytails, revealing turquoise-like eyes beneath the strands. However, thick glasses perched on her nose obscured the gemstone-like brilliance of her gaze.

 

Yu Qing felt a sense of familiarity but couldn’t recall the girl’s name.

 

Yet, her mouth moved slightly, uttering a hesitant, uncertain sound: “Sister?”

 

Yu Qing froze for a moment.

 

Then, the girl nodded expressionlessly and stated flatly, “Yes, I’m your sister. From now on, you must listen to me. Do you understand?”

 

The young Yu Qingyun was no different from her adult self—her face remained stiff and cold, like a block of ice.

 

Yu Qing watched the woman’s hands on her hips and cold expression, sensing a condescending air.

 

Such words would have been difficult for her younger self to fully grasp.

 

She tilted her head, studying the beautiful older sister before her, as if understanding yet not quite. Finally, she nodded with a cheerful smile. “I understand now!”

 

“Good girl,” Yu Qingyun chuckled, gently tapping Yu Qing’s chin.

 

Perhaps sisters shouldn’t keep score so meticulously.

 

Which older sister hadn’t enjoyed playing the little adult, bossing her younger sibling around from a position of authority, while the younger sister happily trailed behind like a loyal puppy?

 

Yu Qing didn’t dwell on it, drifting through the dreamscape woven from her original self’s memories.

 

Until the little girl stood proudly on the flowerbed platform, announcing to her friends, “My sister is amazing! She got first place in the whole grade again this semester! Tomorrow, she’s even giving a speech as a top student at the provincial junior high school teaching conference!”

 

“Pfft, I don’t believe it!”

 

“Yeah, yeah! We’ve never even seen your sister go out! She’s just a bookworm!”

 

“Heh heh heh… She’s probably just an ugly freak who can’t do anything but study.”

 

“Ha ha ha ha ha…”

 

The group of mischievous boys mocked and questioned Yu Qingyun, erupting into laughter.

 

Yu Qing’s fists clenched abruptly, and she shouted angrily, “Don’t you dare talk about my sister like that!”

 

“We will! We will!”

 

“Yu Qing’s sister is a freak!”

 

“Teacher’s little suck-up… Ouch!”

 

Xiao Yu refused to let anyone insult or slander her sister. Seeing their dirty faces, she charged forward, fists flying.

 

Elementary school kids don’t have much strength, so their fights are usually soft and clumsy.

 

But when Yu Qing was shoved to the ground, her arm still throbbed with pain.

 

Perhaps it was the adrenaline, but the pain soon faded.

 

The brat whose tooth she’d knocked out was probably hurting far worse.

 

“Hmph.”

 

Yu Qing sat on the flowerbed, which was taller than her legs, swinging her legs back and forth.

 

She looked calm and composed, but secretly, she was dreading going home.

 

She was covered in injuries.

 

Her parents would definitely scold her when she got home.

 

“Where are you hurt?”

 

In the sweltering afternoon sun, a shadow fell over Yu Qing’s head.

 

Finally, Xiao Yu Qingyun, wearing her thick glasses, approached, looking helplessly at her sister, who was still lingering outside.

 

Yu Qing immediately withdrew her arm and crossed her legs to hide her injured knee. “N-nowhere,” she stammered.

 

“Nowhere? Then what’s that obvious cut on your face?”

 

Yu Qingyun’s cold voice landed alongside the iodine, stinging Yu Qing so badly she winced.

 

The girl hadn’t held back at all, and Yu Qing grimaced in pain.

 

Just as she was about to look up, a floating halo of light descended into her vision.

 

Yu Qingyun stood within the halo, bathed in golden light that warmed Yu Qing’s heart.

 

“Did I tell you to move? Why don’t you listen to me?”

 

Yu Qingyun gripped Yu Qing’s chin, her voice cold and commanding as she issued a warning.

 

It was this very gesture, as if something had gone wrong, that made Yu Qing feel an odd tension between herself and Yu Qingyun.

 

Her gaze deepened, as if trying to extract some hidden truth from Yu Qingyun’s very being.

 

Suddenly, the sunlight bathing Yu Qingyun dimmed, turning a dull, murky yellow.

 

Yu Qing’s vision shifted. The stifling summer heat seemed to condense within the small room.

 

A door creaked open before her, revealing a couple seated amidst outdated decor.

 

“What’s going on? She’s turning eighteen tomorrow, and she still hasn’t differentiated?” The woman’s voice sounded concerned, but her hands continued applying lotion at a leisurely pace.

 

“She won’t differentiate,” the man sighed, placing a medical report on the table. “The doctor said Yu Qing’s glandular development has stalled.”

 

“How could this happen?” The woman’s voice tightened. “How could she be a Beta? Even an Omega would be better than a Beta!”

 

Hearing this, the man dredged up old grievances. “The doctor warned us during the pregnancy that our pheromonal contributions were insufficient, making a Beta outcome highly likely. Why weren’t you so disdainful back then?”

 

“But Qingyun wanted a little sister so badly,” the woman countered softly. “She scored a perfect hundred on her exam and came to me to claim her promise. Would you have wanted her to think we were parents who break their word?”

 

“Alright, alright,” the man said, sensing his lover’s displeasure, and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “Little Qing is so considerate. Being a Beta isn’t so bad. We have Qingyun, and that’s all that matters.”

 

“Yes, thank goodness we have Qingyun,” the woman nodded, resting her head on his shoulder.

 

Under the warm glow of the bedroom lamp, the couple nestled together, dreaming of their accomplished daughter.

 

Yu Qing stood at the doorway, watching, a chill creeping through her despite the summer heat.

 

This feels so familiar.

 

It was as if she were once again eavesdropping on her adoptive parents’ conversation, just like she used to do.

 

The original Yu Qing had been her elder sister’s perfect reward.

 

She, on the other hand, had been the younger sister’s most practical gift.

 

“Hah.”

 

With a sharp exhale, Yu Qing laughed.

 

This was a dream woven from the original Yu Qing’s memories. If she hadn’t witnessed these moments, Yu Qing wouldn’t be seeing them now.

 

The coming-of-age gifts they both received were equally unforgettable.

 

What a terrible dream.

 

It dredged up memories Yu Qing had deliberately buried for so long.

 

“Your sister is a top student, right? How can you be so dense? You can’t even memorize something this simple.”

 

“Oh my god, I’ve explained this formula ten times already! You’re not applying it correctly! Isn’t your sister supposed to be smart? Doesn’t she teach you?”

 

“You and Qingyun are sisters, but you don’t seem alike at all… Ah, you’re not an Alpha.”

 

 

In an instant, a barrage of judgmental and gossiping faces and voices crowded Yu Qing’s vision.

 

She gradually realized that her original self had lost the ability to smile. She was no longer the person who stood up for her sister on the flowerbed.

 

Driven into a corner by the relentless voices, she found herself utterly alone.

 

The last thing she saw was Yu Qingyun, pulling her luggage, walking toward her at the airport before leaving the country.

 

“I’m leaving. Work hard. I went to great lengths to get you this position, so don’t let me down, understand?”

 

Yu Qingyun ran her fingers through Yu Qing’s hair, giving it a rough pat.

 

A sudden wave of repulsion surged through Yu Qing’s heart. Her calves tensed, as if her original self was desperate to flee.

 

The sound of the rolling suitcase was like salvation, carrying Yu Qingyun away from this place.

 

Yu Qing finally felt she could breathe again.

 

But when she turned to watch the plane take off, the airport noise seemed to intensify.

 

Countless voices barked orders at her.

 

Yu Qing’s feet felt rooted to the ground, leaving her no room to dodge as the relentless voices crashed down on her.

 

“How did you mess this up?! Didn’t I explain it to you clearly?”

 

“What do you mean I didn’t explain it? If you can’t remember, that’s your problem. Don’t try to blame me!”

 

“Sorry, I only bought four coffees. With the leaders here, there’s none left for you.”

 

“Ugh, Betas get government subsidies, so they’re supposed to work overtime for us. If I go into Heat while on duty, can you take responsibility?”

 

 

Yu Qing listened, her anger rising, a suffocating weight pressing down on her chest.

 

Countless thoughts flooded her mind. She felt she could never catch up to her sister’s thinking. Despite the seemingly decent environment, she felt exploited at every turn. She wanted to leave, but she didn’t dare.

 

This job had been introduced to her by her sister.

 

If she didn’t obey, she would face another scolding.

 

These emotions swelled within Yu Qing’s heart, causing her shoulders to tremble uncontrollably.

 

She wanted to fight back, but the lingering consciousness of the original owner, trapped within this dream, held her captive.

 

Yu Qing could no longer distinguish whether her labored breathing stemmed from her own nightmare or from the original owner’s lingering pain.

 

She clutched her chest, each breath bringing unbearable agony, the metallic tang of rust spreading through her throat.

 

Suffocating… I can’t breathe…

 

The surrounding air was colder than winter, engulfing Yu Qing and leaving her drenched in icy sweat.

 

“A-Qing…”

 

“A-Qing!”

 

The calling voice was like a hand, pulling Yu Qing from the icy water.

 

Yu Qing’s face was ashen, as if she had just crossed the Naihe Bridge. When she opened her eyes, her ordinary black pupils were clouded with confusion.

 

She recognized the voice.

 

Lifting her head, she saw a figure sitting on her narrow bed.

 

The figure was slender and graceful, yet impossibly tall. Her thick black hair was braided into a plait that draped over her shoulder, radiating a gentle warmth even without light.

 

The rain had softened to a drizzle, pattering softly against the window, no longer intrusive.

 

Yu Qing’s breathing was heavy, still recovering from the nightmare.

 

Seeing Jiang Nianyu beside her, she felt no surprise at how she had squeezed onto her bed again, only a deep sense of peace.

 

This person didn’t belong to that dream.

 

She had no connection to the original Yu Qingyun; Jiang Nianyu was entirely her own.

 

How selfish of me.

 

She didn’t want to be an appendage of Yu Qingyun, yet she repeatedly affirmed in her heart that Jiang Nianyu belonged to her.

 

But what exactly is Jiang Nianyu to me?

 

She was just a useless Beta.

 

“Don’t think about it anymore. You’re awake now.”

 

Suddenly, a touch far gentler and more sincere than Yu Qingyun’s caresses in her dream landed on Yu Qing’s head.

 

She weakly looked up and saw a few scattered stars hanging outside the window, framing Jiang Nianyu beside the bed.

 

It wasn’t as bright as the sun in her dream, perhaps just the reflection of a streetlight in the rain.

 

Yet it was more precious than anything in her dream.

 

Jiang Nianyu didn’t shy away from Yu Qing’s gaze. She gently stroked her hair and earnestly suggested a remedy for her nightmare: “The book says nightmares can be eased with a kiss.”

 

“Does A-Qing need one?”

 

No one knew what book Jiang Nianyu had been reading. Under the dim yellow light of the closet’s night lamp lay a book with a strangely decorated cover.

 

The suggestion sounded absurd.

 

But Yu Qing didn’t care.

 

As the nightmare receded, only one thought remained in Yu Qing’s mind.

 

She looked at Jiang Nianyu, then at her lips, and nodded as if possessed: “Yes.”