I Really Didn't Intend to Pick Up the Black Lotus Omega - Chapter 30

A cold wind swept up Jiang Nianyu’s back, striking her like an unexpected slap.

 

The night seemed to have grown colder by a degree. In the dim light, Jiang Nianyu turned to see a blurry yet familiar face.

 

Siqing stood with her hands behind her back, her short ponytail bobbing jauntily atop her head.

 

Her eyes sparkled with mischief, an endless cunning hidden beneath her naturally flamboyant demeanor.

 

The wind pressed against Jiang Nianyu’s cheek, icy cold.

 

Still clutching Yu Qing’s hand, Jiang Nianyu saw a flood of unclear images flash before her eyes, a damp, endless vista.

 

This person’s arrogance.

 

This person embracing another woman right in front of her, shamelessly flaunting the maternal love she possessed.

 

This person, leading her lackeys, locking Jiang Nianyu in the hotel bathroom.

 

“No one attends a ball wearing such filthy clothes. You might as well stay here and wait.”

 

“Don’t waste your energy. Someone like you doesn’t deserve to appear with us.”

 

 

“Enjoy today, Sister,” the mocking voice echoed through the door, grating on Jiang Nianyu’s ears.

 

Wrapped in her drenched gown, Jiang Nianyu found the clammy, fishy stench particularly repulsive.

 

The way Jiang Siqing had called her “Sister” in her memories almost perfectly matched the voice she had just heard.

 

She was certain that the Siqing on the other side of the door was the same Jiang Siqing from her memories.

 

But why would she conceal her real name and work as a low-level employee at a game development company? This was something to be wary of.

 

In truth, Jiang Nianyu needed to be wary of everything related to Jiang Siqing.

 

As she watched Siqing approach, her gaze lowered and her hands clenched.

 

The pressure from Jiang Nianyu’s fingers quickly transferred to Yu Qing’s hand.

 

Unaware of the complex relationship between Jiang Nianyu and Siqing, Yu Qing assumed Jiang Nianyu was simply nervous about meeting strangers. She gently squeezed Jiang Nianyu’s hand and took a step to the right, deliberately positioning herself to shield Jiang Nianyu.

 

“Don’t be afraid,” Yu Qing whispered in Jiang Nianyu’s ear, her dark shadow swallowing the streetlights.

 

Jiang Nianyu blinked, momentarily disoriented. Before her, Yu Qing’s figure merged with the tree shadows, forming a hazy gray gloom that enveloped and protected her.

 

The aroma of food drifting from the restaurants lining the street was far more appealing than the antiseptic smell permeating the hospital.

 

Jiang Nianyu watched Yu Qing’s retreating figure, her expression blank as she thought, She’s probably going to surrender again.

 

“Siqing, what are you doing out here?” Yu Qing asked, protecting Jiang Nianyu as she addressed Siqing, who had approached them.

 

“I was just going to the restroom and ran into Sister Gong Ning. She said you seemed to have had a bit too much to drink and asked me to check on you,” Siqing replied, her gaze fixed on Yu Qing as if oblivious to the person standing beside her.

 

Yet the young woman’s eyes lingered on Yu Qing’s shoulder, glancing through the rustling shadows of the trees at the figure hiding behind her.

 

“Sister, are you alright?”

 

The way she called Yu Qing “Sister” felt deliberate, as if carrying a hidden meaning.

 

Jiang Nianyu’s eyes, hidden in the shadows, suddenly darkened. Gripping Yu Qing’s hand, she stared intently at Siqing.

 

Their gazes locked, two pairs of eyes clashing like swords, neither willing to yield.

 

Finally, the oblivious Yu Qing spoke up, “I’m fine. The fresh air helped clear my head.”

 

Then she added, “You came at the perfect time. Could you tell Director Chen and Sister Zhou I had to leave early? Something came up.”

 

Siqing’s usually composed expression faltered for a moment.

 

She hadn’t expected the person behind Yu Qing to whisk her away so quickly, making her completely disregard the company dinner.

 

Just moments ago, Sister Zhou had dumped a particularly thorny task on her simply because she seemed distracted.

 

Siqing frowned, her stray bangs clinging to her forehead like rebellious currents.

 

Her gaze at Jiang Nianyu was full of defiance as she tilted her head provocatively. “Oh, Sister, are you leaving already? But why doesn’t the person behind you come out and say hello?”

 

Before this, Jiang Nianyu hadn’t realized that Siqing also referred to Yu Qing as “Sister.”

 

Without any bl00d ties, the term suddenly felt charged with ambiguity. Each syllable Siqing lingered over sounded far more intimate and cloying than Jiang Nianyu remembered.

 

It was just like the time Siqing had deliberately called Mrs. Jiang “Mommy” in front of her, throwing herself into her arms.

 

Jiang Nianyu’s possessiveness, unable to be contained, hammered at her nerves.

 

Her eyes, shadowed beneath the trees, were dark and fathomless, making the few glints of light on her lashes seem as sharp as knives.

 

“That’s right…”

 

“She’s family,” Yu Qing interjected gently, cutting off Jiang Nianyu’s cold-faced attempt to confront Jiang Siqing. “She doesn’t like meeting people.”

 

In Yu Qing’s words, Gong Ning was a senior colleague, Yu Qingyun was her beloved sister, Jiang Siqing was a colleague who brought gifts, and Gong Ning was family.

 

Perhaps there wasn’t much joy in her life.

 

So when her heart began to beat with a rapid, delicate rhythm, her gaze abruptly shifted from fierce to bewildered.

 

Her thick eyelashes lifted like opening fans, allowing light to stream into Jiang Nianyu’s eyes, bathing her pale cheeks in a pure, gentle glow.

 

She stood behind Jiang Nianyu, her posture relaxed and carefree, showing no intention of confronting Jiang Siqing. Instead, she mimicked the other woman’s words,

 

“Family? How could that be…” Siqing’s expression was now far more animated than before.

 

Her forward momentum faltered, as if she had lost the will to provoke Jiang Nianyu.

 

The sense of emptiness was overwhelming, more intense than ever before.

 

Yu Qing, overhearing Siqing’s murmured words and noticing the strange expression on her face, asked, “What’s wrong?”

 

Siqing quickly regained her composure, her voice bright as she said, “I just feel so honored to have met your family member, Sister, today.”

 

Yu Qing found Siqing’s way of speaking oddly familiar, as if she’d heard it somewhere before.

 

Why was Siqing referring to Jiang Nianyu as “family member, Sister”? Didn’t she find it awkward?

 

Jiang Nianyu was her family, not Siqing’s.

 

As Yu Qing pondered this, she noticed Siqing waving goodbye.

 

The girl was back to her usual overly cheerful self, showing no trace of the emotional turmoil she’d just experienced. “Then I’ll head back now, Sister! I’ll pass on your message. Let’s all have dinner together sometime!”

 

“Okay,” Yu Qing replied politely, nodding slightly.

 

In adult social etiquette, “sometime” meant “never.”

 

So Yu Qing never imagined Siqing would suddenly show up at her house one day.

 

Still basking in the relief that the crisis had passed, Yu Qing turned to Jiang Nianyu and said, “It’s okay now. She’s already…”

 

Jiang Nianyu didn’t wait for Yu Qing to finish before suddenly leaning in close.

 

The shadows of the trees provided the perfect cover, flickering in Yu Qing’s vision as the light shifted. She felt a warm breath fluttering against her nose and lips.

 

Something felt wrong, yet her feet seemed rooted to the spot.

 

Having experienced it once before, her instincts recognized what was about to happen a split second before her brain could process it. The lingering taste of that first kiss left her powerless to resist.

 

The pure white hem of her dress billowed gently in the breeze, then settled against her legs.

 

In a daze, Jiang Nianyu had already leaned in, her breath brushing against Yu Qing’s skin as she pried open her teeth beneath the shade of the trees.

 

Here we go again.

 

The familiar sensation washed over Yu Qing’s body, leaving her mind blank.

 

With nothing to lean against, her only anchor was the hand she held tightly in Jiang Nianyu’s.

 

Isn’t she afraid someone we know might suddenly come out of the store and see us? Yu Qing wondered. She was probably afraid.

 

But behind her lay the company that had relentlessly exploited and drained her for years, along with its damned interpersonal relationships.

 

And before her stood the family she had chosen, the one who had comforted and supported her through it all, the only person in this world who had no connection to the original owner of her body.

 

A rebellious impulse surged within Yu Qing.

 

She deliberately flipped her hand, tracing Jiang Nianyu’s fingers upward to caress her wrist.

 

The mingled scent of alcohol and mint candy fermented on their lips, a cool contrast to Jiang Nianyu’s burning desire. A white mist instantly spread through their nerves, enveloping them completely.

 

A heavy gust of wind swept in from afar, rustling the treetops with a shush-shush sound.

 

Without explanation or question, the kiss appeared utterly natural to any onlookers.

 

But in this secluded place, who could possibly be watching?

 

Jiang Nianyu half-lifted her lowered lashes, her gaze suddenly darting toward the barbecue restaurant.

 

Her dark pupils, blurred by the alcohol, brazenly flaunted her flirtatiousness and defiance.

 

In the distance, the figure who had been deliberately lingering staggered.

 

For a fleeting moment, Jiang Siqing froze completely.

 

She hadn’t expected to witness such a scene after leaving, let alone be caught in the act.

 

What exactly was this emotion crushing Jiang Siqing’s chest, making it hard to breathe?

 

It felt like envy, yet also like jealousy. Even the sight of Jiang Nianyu and Yu Qing’s kiss made her throat tighten.

 

!

 

Jiang Siqing refused to admit she was having such a damned reaction to those two.

 

Caught off guard, she fled in a panic, nearly running for her life.

 

Pathetic.

 

Jiang Nianyu narrowed her eyes, letting out a barely audible scoff.

 

Her fingers threaded through Yu Qing’s long, damp hair, its clean scent cutting through the complex aromas of the street, isolating the purest note.

 

The night blurred the passage of time as Jiang Nianyu lost herself in Yu Qing’s kiss.

 

Her thoughts drifted lazily, like a victor basking in triumph, as if something had just occurred to her.

 

The final outcome of that memory that had surfaced earlier—

 

Back then, still in her teens, she had decisively stripped off her formal gown and nimbly climbed out of the bathroom window.

 

Even the lightest layers of tulle piled up to be heavy. Jiang Siqing, clutching her pink dress, hadn’t even reached the blind spot in the security cameras when Jiang Nianyu pinned her to the ground.

 

“Sister, where do you think you’re going? Don’t abandon your dear sister,” Jiang Nianyu purred, straddling Jiang Siqing’s waist, her lips twisting into a cruel smile as she gazed down from above.

 

These pampered canaries, raised in gilded cages since birth, had never witnessed such a scene.

 

The two young ladies beside Jiang Siqing immediately paled, their faces contorted in terror as they let out piercing screams.

 

“Jiang Nianyu! Have you gone mad?!”

 

“Oh my god! What have you done?!”

 

They don’t need to try so hard to prove their existence, Jiang Nianyu thought dryly.

 

Without hesitation, she grabbed the bucket of mop water, her expression dark and menacing, and dumped it over their heads.

 

The vast, empty restroom echoed with their near-hysterical screams.

 

Jiang Nianyu had no intention of figuring out how to clean up this mess.

 

After the jade and stone had been burned together, the stone—desperate to avoid humiliation—would find a way to conceal everything.

 

As the banquet lights brightened, the guests gathered in the grand hall.

 

Their elegant gowns and glittering jewelry filled the air with the rustle of silk and the clinking of glasses. Amidst the polite chatter, Mr. Jiang introduced his eldest daughter to the crowd.

 

Jiang Nianyu lifted her skirt and glided forward with graceful poise.

 

The gown she wore was several times lighter than the one she had been crammed into earlier in the restroom. Its diamond-studded hem far outshone the casual dress Jiang Siqing’s mother had provided.

 

She stood at the center of everyone’s gaze, her bowed neck resembling the graceful curve of a white swan.

 

“Miss Jiang,” an Alpha approached, extending his hand as rehearsed before the banquet, inviting Jiang Nianyu to dance.

 

The crystal chandeliers shimmered with dazzling light, making it difficult for Jiang Nianyu to clearly recall the Alpha’s face.

 

But judging by the reactions of those around her, she knew this man held a significant position within their social circle.

 

That was enough.

 

He was merely an accessory to her appearance tonight; his features didn’t need to be distinct.

 

She was like the jeweled tiara adorning her head, the gemstone rings on her fingers, and the diamonds embedded in her swaying skirt.

 

She was meant to shine brilliantly on this night.

 

After tonight, she would be the Jiang Family’s presentable daughter, her claim to the inheritance ranked ahead of Jiang Siqing’s.

 

The crystal chandeliers spun above Jiang Nianyu, and as she glanced at the diverse crowd around her, she finally understood the true meaning of a stage for fame and fortune.

 

She resolved that Jiang Siqing would never lay claim to what belonged to her, Jiang Nianyu.

 

“Hmm.”

 

With this thought, Jiang Nianyu kissed Yu Qing even more passionately.

 

In an instant, Yu Qing felt her bl00d surging backward through her veins.

 

She sensed Jiang Nianyu’s lingering hesitation, the stinging sensation of her nibbling kisses washing over her like waves, pulling her under and then lifting her up with gentle buoyancy.

 

Is this what kissing is like?

 

Last night, half-drunk and disoriented, Yu Qing hadn’t truly experienced kissing Jiang Nianyu. Now, she was fully present, feeling every nuance of their connection.

 

Her expression grew increasingly dazed, her focus blurring until only Jiang Nianyu’s nose remained in her vision—crystal-clear, like a freshly peeled lychee.

 

So beautiful.

 

Did I stare at her like this last night too?

 

A cicada hidden in the massive tree’s shadow suddenly erupted into a frantic chorus.

 

A group of partygoers strolled down the street, their voices blending with the cicada’s drone, adding a layer of buzzing to Yu Qing’s ears.

 

Unlike Jiang Nianyu, Yu Qing couldn’t fully relax in such a public setting.

 

Too tethered by societal constraints, her thin-skinned nature made her want to pull away from Jiang Nianyu.

 

But Jiang Nianyu wouldn’t let her.

 

She felt like the embodiment of all Yu Qing’s rebellions. Her fingers traced Yu Qing’s wrist upward, finally clasping around her neck.

 

The kiss once again shattered Yu Qing’s rationality.

 

Jiang Nianyu’s caresses didn’t feel like control; instead, they made Yu Qing want to surrender.

 

It seemed the initiative in this dance had always been in Jiang Nianyu’s hands.

 

As she realized this, Yu Qing felt a strange sense of familiarity with the scene unfolding before her.

 

The streetlights peeled away the darkness of the night, and Yu Qing belatedly remembered that yesterday, it hadn’t been her, drunk and impulsive, who had forced the kiss on Jiang Nianyu.

 

The rain that had threatened earlier had vanished, carried away by the wind, leaving the night air hot and sticky against everyone’s backs.

 

Yu Qing narrowed her eyes slightly and called out, “Niannian.”

 

Jiang Nianyu paid no heed, pressing her cheek into Yu Qing’s palm once more. “Hmm?”

 

“What’s the reason for kissing today?”

 

Yu Qing gazed into Jiang Nianyu’s eyes, subtly bringing up the kiss from the previous night.

 

Jiang Nianyu narrowed her eyes slightly and whispered, “The book said kissing is how you show you’re happy.”