I Really Didn't Intend to Pick Up the Black Lotus Omega - Chapter 25

The darkness always makes it easier to lose oneself.

 

It also makes it easier to confront one’s desires.

 

If Yu Qing’s nod carried no anticipation, that would be a lie.

 

Jiang Nianyu had pulled her from a nightmare, her back still cold with fear.

 

Yet the arm resting against Jiang Nianyu’s side felt warm.

 

The night swallowed all morality and restraint, and desire bloomed in its wake.

 

Yu Qing gently curled her fingers, the touch of skin against skin bringing back memories of how this woman had once held her in her mouth.

 

Right here.

 

Pressed against this very blanket.

 

Yu Qing couldn’t help but wonder if kissing her elsewhere would feel the same.

 

“……”

 

Amidst the rustling sounds, Jiang Nianyu’s shadow fell across Yu Qing’s forehead.

 

Her breath, warm and steady, was more practiced than before, easily slipping into Yu Qing’s nostrils.

 

Yu Qing’s breath hitched.

 

She was as awkward as a schoolgirl, unaware that one shouldn’t purse their lips when kissing.

 

In the end, Jiang Nianyu’s kiss never reached her lips.

 

Those soft, warm lips pressed gently against Yu Qing’s forehead, like a damp feather, like cotton filled with warmth, enveloping her and driving away the nightmares left by her original body.

 

Things untainted by desire always make one feel ashamed of their own desires.

 

Yu Qing realized she had been wrong from the start.

 

Jiang Nianyu was pure and pristine, like the clearest dewdrop nestled in the heart of a flower. She shouldn’t have projected her own desires onto someone like this.

 

To defile such purity was the gravest sin.

 

Yet, for some reason, Yu Qing felt more than just self-loathing for her thoughts. There was also an overwhelming, unrepentant sense of loss.

 

In the dim yellow lamplight, Jiang Nianyu’s shadow enveloped Yu Qing from above.

 

Her disappointment was subtle, yet it inexplicably caught Jiang Nianyu’s eye.

 

Jiang Nianyu pursed her lips slightly and slowly reached out to lift Yu Qing’s chin.

 

Her delicate fingers traced a slow path along Yu Qing’s neck and jawline, as if soothing or searching.

 

The sensation was so intoxicating that Yu Qing didn’t even notice Jiang Nianyu’s fingers had also brushed against the corner of her lips.

 

If a kiss was defined as skin touching skin, did this fleeting contact between finger and lip also count as a kiss?

 

At least, that’s how it was depicted in the books.

 

The rain had softened, mirroring the quiet settling of Yu Qing’s heart.

 

A lingering dampness permeated the air as Yu Qing lay on the bed, watching Jiang Nianyu’s long hair cascade down before slowly retreating.

 

Jiang Nianyu ended their kiss, gently cupping Yu Qing’s face. “Feeling better now?”

 

Yu Qing thought she was feeling better, at least now her mind was no longer haunted by the original owner’s nightmares. “I’m feeling a bit better,” she said.

 

“Then get some sleep. Lianlian and I will protect you in your dreams,” Jiang Nianyu said, her eyes curving into a gentle smile.

 

“Okay,” Yu Qing replied, obediently closing her eyes.

 

The roles seemed to have reversed; this time, Yu Qing was the one acting docile and compliant.

 

The rain was in its final stages, sporadic droplets pattering against the windowsill, making it difficult to fall asleep.

 

With her eyes closed, Yu Qing found the original owner’s memories had long since been banished, leaving only Jiang Nianyu’s face in her mind.

 

Her long hair obscured most of her features, leaving only the line between the tip of her nose and her lips clearly visible.

 

Jiang Nianyu’s lips were thin and often pale, like a white camellia fallen from a tree.

 

Feeling the lingering warmth on her forehead, Yu Qing unconsciously pursed her lips in the darkness.

 

She suddenly recalled the ABO novels she used to read, which endlessly described the scents of Alphas and Omegas, even claiming that the pheromones of highly compatible individuals would smell uniquely distinct to each other.

 

What scent does Jiang Nianyu have?

 

Yu Qing’s closed eyes flickered slightly, a hidden darkness lurking beneath.

 

And I’m just a Beta.

 

 

The less-than-pleasant weekend flew by, followed by an even more dreaded Monday.

 

Yu Qing thought no one could possibly enjoy Mondays. She wasn’t SpongeBob, after all. Instead, she would spend the monthly team meeting with her head bowed, pretending to take notes.

 

Look at that, she thought, such wisdom from a seasoned office veteran.

 

“Who’s responsible for this section?”

 

“Yu Qing, I believe. Wang assigned it to her.”

 

Lost in thought, Yu Qing was doodling puppies in her notebook when the keyword reminder drew everyone’s attention to her.

 

Seeing this, Gong Ning immediately nudged Yu Qing’s arm. Yu Qing, belatedly realizing she had been called upon, quickly put down her pen and looked up at the head of the conference table.

 

There sat their project director, staring at her with an expressionless, stern, and oppressive gaze.

 

Beside him was their Deputy Team Leader, who had just thrown her under the bus without a word of support.

 

Yu Qing remembered.

 

Survival.

 

This person was truly pragmatic, wasn’t she?

 

Pragmatic to the point of being meticulous.

 

But based on Yu Qing’s work experience, she didn’t think the original problem—even with the algorithm slightly optimized—could possibly have any issues.

 

Without hesitation, Yu Qing raised her hand and said, “Me, Director.”

 

“Your algorithm is quite impressive,” the Director remarked. “Did you reference the machine dog example from last year’s Qingqiao Cup at A University?”

 

The speaker wasn’t the Director, but rather the Chief Programmer, who sat nearby. His dark circles under his eyes were particularly pronounced, giving him the quintessential coder look.

 

Yu Qing was somewhat surprised.

 

Just last week, she had been maneuvering and deflecting responsibilities with a colleague in her team, assuming the group was utterly dysfunctional. She never imagined that someone higher up would actually recognize her work.

 

“Yes,” Yu Qing nodded without hesitation.

 

The Chief Programmer, clearly impressed with Yu Qing’s algorithm, told her, “Excellent. Feel free to come discuss any ideas you have with me in the future.”

 

Upon hearing this, the expressions of everyone in the conference room shifted subtly.

 

The Chief Programmer, a pure technical genius recruited by the Director, had no interest in office politics. For her to take notice of someone…

 

Gong Ning observed the Deputy Team Leader’s expression shift dramatically. The schadenfreude that had been on his face moments ago vanished, replaced by an unprecedented range of emotions.

 

Yu Qing’s recognition by the Chief Programmer seemed like an insignificant detail in the grand scheme of game development.

 

The meeting proceeded smoothly according to the Director’s plan, and the little dog in Yu Qing’s notebook continued to wag its tail.

 

Yu Qing simply traced over Lianlian’s tail again, making it appear even more joyfully raised.

 

She knew the Chief Programmer had seen her sharp mind, while the Deputy Team Leader was now feeling guilty.

 

She would steadily climb the ranks, step by step, until she reached her original position in the world.

 

Make money!

 

Support Jiang Nianyu!

 

Yu Qing’s fighting spirit burned brightly, and she remained energized until the meeting concluded.

 

Walking out of the conference room with her listless colleagues, she stood out like SpongeBob among the dreary crowd.

 

Buzz.

 

Just then, Yu Qing’s phone vibrated in her pocket.

 

A message from Yu Qingyun:

 

Coming home for dinner tonight.

 

Concise and to the point.

 

Yu Qing was surprised Yu Qingyun had completed the handover so quickly, and even more surprised that she would be meeting her original self’s parents so soon.

 

The truth revealed in her dream had left her with a poor impression of these parents. Yet the sudden burst of pain she had felt from her original self didn’t align with the idea that her parents had always treated her badly.

 

If her original self had always been unhappy, she wouldn’t have reacted so violently to the truth. She should have been numb by now, just like Yu Qing herself had been in the past.

 

With these thoughts, Yu Qing replied to Yu Qingyun: Okay.

 

Then she sent a message to Jiang Nianyu: I won’t be home for dinner tonight.

 

The bright sunlight warmed the little dog, who rolled happily in the taskbar.

 

But then it noticed the person sitting beyond the screen lower their eyelashes. The phone they had been eagerly anticipating just moments ago was now carelessly tossed onto the sofa.

 

Jiang Nianyu wasn’t happy.

 

Yu Qing wasn’t doing much better.

 

After work, she took a taxi straight to her parents’ house, frantically reviewing their names in her mind before knocking on the door.

 

“Dad’s an Alpha, Yu Zhengjian. Mom’s an Omega, Zhou Tian. Good, I didn’t mess it up.”

 

“Phew—”

 

Yu Qing took a deep breath, mustered her courage, and pushed open the door. “Mom, Dad, I’m home!”

 

“Xiao Qing’s back!”

 

To her surprise, Zhou Tian’s warm, enthusiastic voice greeted her.

 

Wearing an apron, Zhou Tian peeked out from the kitchen, her eyes curving into crescents as she smiled—a mirror image of Yu Qing’s own. “Dinner’s ready! Go wash your hands and come eat right away.”

 

“Okay,” Yu Qing replied, nodding in slight astonishment.

 

She had never received such a warm welcome before, rekindling a flicker of hope for this family.

 

Maybe things aren’t as bad here as they seemed in my dream.

 

“Honey, come help me carry the dishes!” Zhou Tian called to Yu Zhengjian.

 

“Coming, coming!” Yu Zhengjian scurried over eagerly.

 

Listening to their interaction from the bathroom, Yu Qing realized their marriage seemed quite harmonious.

 

When she emerged after washing her hands, she saw Yu Qingyun had already arrived, sitting at the dining table and tapping on her phone.

 

Sensing someone’s gaze, Yu Qingyun glanced up at Yu Qing and said, “Sit.”

 

“Okay,” Yu Qing nodded obediently and sat down next to Yu Qingyun.

 

“Oh my, it’s been ages since our whole family has sat down to a meal together,” Zhou Tian said happily as she sat across from Yu Qing and Yu Qingyun, after the dishes had been arranged on the table. “Qingyun has been so busy abroad, she hasn’t been home in ages. Now that she’s back, I’m so thrilled.”

 

She seemed to have been eagerly anticipating her daughters’ return, having prepared a table overflowing with dishes, almost too much to fit.

 

Amidst the fragrant aroma of the food, Yu Zhengjian added, “Qingyun, you must come home more often. Your mother misses you terribly.”

 

“I’ll come when I have time,” Yu Qingyun replied with her usual detached tone.

 

Yet her coldness did nothing to dampen Zhou Tian’s enthusiasm. Still beaming, she glanced between Yu Qing and Yu Qingyun. “My dear daughters, have there been any happy moments at work or in your lives lately that you’d like to share with your father and me?”

 

Perhaps it was the delicious food, or perhaps the warm family atmosphere was a stark contrast to her own upbringing, but Yu Qing found herself almost forgetting the unease from her dream. Her desire to share surged, and she told her parents, “I got praised at work today! The Chief Programmer approved my code! A promotion and raise might be coming!”

 

“That’s great.”

 

“You’ve really made progress.”

 

Perhaps Yu Qing’s voice, brimming with enthusiasm as she shared her joy, made Zhou Tian and Yu Zhengjian’s responses seem lukewarm by comparison.

 

Each offered a single, perfunctory word of encouragement, their tones neither high nor low, as if they didn’t really care. The smile on Yu Qing’s face froze slightly.

 

The young woman blinked uncomfortably.

 

Looking at the meticulously prepared meal spread across the table, she wondered if she was overthinking things.

 

But then she heard Zhou Tian and Yu Zhengjian shift the conversation to Yu Qingyun.

 

Their voices, now filled with anticipation, sounded far more eager than when they had congratulated her.

 

“Where’s Qingyun?”

 

“Qingyun must have good news too, right?”

 

Yu Qingyun, seemingly accustomed to such expectations, glanced up and said casually, “Well… I officially took over as Asia-Pacific Director today.”

 

Yu Zhengjian’s enthusiasm surged. “That’s fantastic! Your company clearly values you highly.”

 

Zhou Tian clasped her hands together, her eyes shining with anticipation. “I knew our Qingyun could do it! Will I be seeing you in the news more often now, dear?”

 

Yu Qingyun, remaining composed, poured cold water on her mother’s hopes. “Not really. I generally avoid interviews that would get me in the papers.”

 

Zhou Tian dismissed this with a wave of her hand, raising her glass as she spoke. “My daughter is amazing! Mommy is so proud. Dad, let’s raise a toast to Qingyun!”

 

“Yes, yes, yes! We should definitely toast to that,” Yu Zhengjian nodded enthusiastically, finally noticing Yu Qing. He picked up the wine bottle and poured her a glass as well. “Xiao Qing, come join us in congratulating your sister.”

 

The wine still rippled in the glass as Yu Qing stared at it, her blurry reflection shimmering in the liquid.

 

Watching the harmonious scene of the three family members around her, she forced a smile, feeling as if she had momentarily slipped back into the days of the past.

 

The contrast was too stark; it would be a lie to say she felt no sense of loss.

 

But precisely because Yu Qing had experienced those past days, she could maintain a perfect facade of cheerfulness. “Congratulations, Sister.”

 

“Thank you,” Yu Qingyun replied with a smile, graciously accepting her sister’s congratulations.

 

She raised her glass and clinked it against those of her family members.

 

In the crisp sound of the glasses clinking together, Zhou Tian and Yu Zhengjian’s overflowing love and expectations for Yu Qingyun resonated.

 

This love and expectation were so overwhelming that there was no room left for Yu Qing.

 

Yu Qing lowered her head and poked at the rice in her bowl, eating in sullen silence.

 

What’s the point?

 

They asked their daughters to share their happy news, but all they really wanted to hear was about Yu Qingyun.

 

Even the toast of celebration didn’t include her.

 

How could she be a Beta? Even being an Omega would be better than being a Beta.

 

Throughout the meal, Zhou Tian kept fussing over Yu Qingyun, but all Yu Qing heard was that disdainful line from her dream.

 

Alpha…

 

Omega…

 

In this ABO world, was being undifferentiated a sin?

 

Yu Qing didn’t enjoy the meal at all.

 

The Yu parents were fair in some ways. For instance, they didn’t expect their daughters to do chores or clean up after dinner. They even urged them to go home early and get some rest.

 

The night wind whistled through the low-rise apartment complex, rustling the plane trees.

 

Yu Qing hurried out, finally able to breathe freely once she stepped out of the dilapidated single door.

 

So even being an emotionless glutton can be this unbearable.

 

Just as she was thinking this, a familiar hand suddenly landed on her head, kneading and pressing.

 

Familiar…

 

Like something she’d seen in a dream.

 

Yu Qing whipped around to see Yu Qingyun strolling out unhurriedly.

 

Her hand hovered over Yu Qing’s head. Yu Qing glanced at it, then took a step back, creating distance between them. “What do you want?”

 

Yu Qingyun’s hand fell awkwardly, suspended in mid-air.

 

A flicker of surprise crossed her eyes, but she quickly regained her composure, withdrawing her hand and saying calmly, “You did well.”

 

Yu Qing knew this was Yu Qingyun’s response to her sharing her joyful news at the banquet earlier.

 

Yet her heart remained unmoved, feeling only a deeper sense of suffocation.

 

“You should have congratulated me at the banquet, Sister,” Yu Qing said flatly, her ordinary black eyes fixed on Yu Qingyun, who always seemed to occupy the top rung of their family’s social hierarchy.

 

“Now there’s no wine left, and I have to go find some myself.”

 

Yu Qing shrugged and turned to leave, not waiting for Yu Qingyun to reply, nor intending to actually ask her for wine.

 

The night wind billowed the expensive skirt of her dress, but then a ruthless hand gripped it, stopping her in her tracks.

 

Yu Qingyun froze.

 

Her turquoise eyes darkened, their intense summer hues enveloping Yu Qing’s retreating figure like an oppressive shroud.

 

 

Yu Qing really did go looking for a drink.

 

The bar pulsed with frenetic metal music, pumping adrenaline and seemingly helping patrons shake off their troubles.

 

Yu Qing swirled the glass in front of her, and as the next beat dropped, she tilted her head back and drained the drink in one gulp.

 

The sharp alcohol burned down her throat, as if washing away the inexplicable tightness in her chest.

 

Yu Qing couldn’t tell if this gloominess was her own or a lingering trace of the original owner’s consciousness in this body.

 

Either way, she didn’t care.

 

If it could drive away this awful feeling, that was all that mattered.

 

“Impressive tolerance, little sister,” a woman’s voice suddenly came from Yu Qing’s side.

 

Yu Qing looked up to see a woman in a black leather skirt leaning against the seat next to her. Noticing Yu Qing’s gaze, the woman tossed her long hair over her shoulder, revealing a glimpse of pale cleavage. “All alone?”

 

Yu Qing had no interest in conversation, nor did she appreciate such blatant displays.

 

She pushed her glass toward the bartender without answering. “Another round.”

 

“Coming right up,” the bartender replied smoothly, taking Yu Qing’s glass. This was the third drink she’d mixed for Yu Qing tonight.

 

The woman ignored Yu Qing’s rejection, instead pressing closer and insisting on conversation. “What’s wrong? Not feeling happy?”

 

The woman’s perfume, not particularly pleasant, overwhelmed Yu Qing as she leaned in too close.

 

Yu Qing frowned and bluntly revealed her status: “I’m a Beta.”

 

As expected, the woman’s eyes flashed with surprise. How could someone so beautiful be a Beta? she wondered.

 

But Yu Qing’s beauty only emboldened her. “I know a lot of people dislike Betas,” the woman continued, “thinking you’re bland and boring, without any scent. But as an Alpha, I actually prefer Betas.”

 

“This drink’s on me,” she said, leaning even closer with a feigned air of intimacy. “Whatever’s bothering you, I hope you can forget it. Okay?”

 

It was said that Betas lacked differentiated scent glands and couldn’t perceive subtle scents.

 

Yet Yu Qing now detected a complex, nauseating mix of odors beyond the crisp scent of alcohol at the bar.

 

Not feeling happy.

 

She thought she was already feeling quite unhappy just looking at this Alpha.

 

Even drinking in peace was impossible.

 

The person who should have been enthusiastic was cold, while the one who shouldn’t be was clinging to her like a leech, impossible to shake off.

 

Yu Qing’s frown deepened as the alcohol began to slowly climb over her rationality.

 

If this place can’t give me peace, then it’s lost its purpose. I might as well leave.

 

“Don’t go, Miss Beta. You haven’t finished your drink yet.”

 

Just as Yu Qing was about to leave, the woman grabbed her wrist.

 

This was the first time Yu Qing had directly experienced the raw power of an Alpha. A tightening, numbing pain shot through her wrist from the woman’s grip.

 

Her legs felt weak. Yu Qing tugged at her wrist several times, but couldn’t break free from the woman’s hold.

 

Disgust. Loathing.

 

Yu Qing stared at the dazzling array of bottles behind the bar. For a fleeting moment, she wanted to grab them one by one and smash them over the Alpha’s head.

 

“Let go.”

 

Just as she was thinking this, a cold, sharp warning cut through the air.

 

Yu Qing’s nascent rage was abruptly interrupted.

 

The voice sounded familiar. She blinked her slightly unfocused eyes and turned toward the sound.

 

In the dim light, Jiang Nianyu stood there, still wearing her loose shirt, an incongruous figure in this place.

 

The once-innocent baby blue in her eyes was swallowed by the dim bar lights, leaving only the oppressive tension that only Alphas and Omegas could sense.

 

She looked menacing, as if she could tear apart the persistent Alpha across from her at any moment.

 

Uncontrollably, the woman’s hand trembled as she gripped Yu Qing’s.

 

Sensing the situation, she quickly released Yu Qing, stammering, “I… I have to go. You two talk.”

 

Her heels clattered haphazardly against the floor as she scurried away. Before Yu Qing could even register what had happened, the woman had vanished.

 

Yu Qing had drunk too much, and the alcohol was taking effect. Her legs felt weak, as if she might collapse without support.

 

But Jiang Nianyu wouldn’t let her fall.

 

Just as Yu Qing was searching for a new point of balance, another warmth settled over the spot where the woman had touched her.

 

Jiang Nianyu’s palm pressed against Yu Qing’s skin—cool, smooth, and gentle. Then, she whispered in her ear, “Let’s go home.”

 

Home.

 

Our home.

 

The summer wind outside was far from the bar’s crisp air conditioning. It blew stiflingly hot along the road, as if it could make anyone ferment at any moment.

 

Yu Qing strolled leisurely down the road, her mind too muddled to ponder how Jiang Nianyu had ended up here or why her aura had shifted. She was solely focused on proving to Jiang Nianyu that she could walk alone.

 

I am an independent and complete person.

 

I don’t need anyone’s help.

 

The sidewalk ran alongside the busy road, where street racers roared past on modified motorcycles.

 

The same music blared from their bikes as had played in the bar earlier, and the Alpha’s voice suddenly echoed in Yu Qing’s mind:

 

“…Many people dislike Betas. You’re bland, boring, and have no scent at all…”

 

Yu Qing’s brow furrowed instantly.

 

She wobbled to a stop and turned to Jiang Nianyu, who had been protectively keeping her hand near her side. “Jiang Nianyu, do I… do I have a scent now?”

 

Jiang Nianyu froze, her heart pounding. She fell silent, guiltily wondering if Yu Qing had discovered something.

 

But Yu Qing hadn’t discovered anything. She was merely thinking, If I have a scent now, does that mean I’m no longer a Beta?

 

The strong scent of alcohol evaporated into the air, easily masking Yu Qing’s natural scent.

 

Jiang Nianyu disliked the smell and asked Yu Qing, “A-Qing, don’t you like being a Beta?”

 

Yu Qing shook her head without hesitation.

 

She quickly stepped out of Jiang Nianyu’s protective embrace and stumbled under a streetlight, gazing up at its blinding glare. “They all despise me,” she muttered.

 

Yu Qing wanted nothing more than to forget this whole mess. She leaned unsteadily against the lamppost, swaying slightly.

 

The harsh light left lingering spots in her vision, obscuring Jiang Nianyu’s face.

 

Suddenly, another thought surfaced: “Jiang Nianyu, what scent do you have? Was your scent in the wine we just drank?”

 

Jiang Nianyu moved closer to Yu Qing, her voice soft. “A-Qing wants to know?”

 

Yu Qing leaned against the lamppost, the silent night sky and stars forming a backdrop for Jiang Nianyu.

 

Though she couldn’t clearly see Jiang Nianyu’s face, she sensed her clean, beautiful presence.

 

After a long moment, her throat trembling, Yu Qing finally nodded. “Mm-hmm.”

 

Jiang Nianyu’s voice landed in her ear without hesitation: “Then you can try it.”

 

Yu Qing froze, unsure if she was still processing Jiang Nianyu’s words or simply stunned by their audacity.

 

Her throat tightened, and then she felt a soft, gentle touch land there.

 

Her eyes, which had been stinging from the light, gradually cleared. Yu Qing watched Jiang Nianyu’s lowered head, a wry smile flickering across her face.

 

I’ve been tricked again…

 

It was just a kiss on her throat.

 

“Jiang Nianyu…” Yu Qing murmured through her nose, her voice soft and slightly nasal.

 

The alcohol had flushed her cheeks, making her look particularly vulnerable and pitiful.

 

Jiang Nianyu’s eyes, hidden in the shadows, curved into a smile. She lifted her head to meet Yu Qing’s gaze. “A-Qing, have you heard the saying, ‘Once is chance, twice is coincidence, but three times is a pattern’?”

 

Yu Qing remained bewildered.

 

The figure before her suddenly leaned in, filling her vision.

 

Before the night breeze could even touch her lips, Jiang Nianyu kissed her.