I Really Didn't Intend to Pick Up the Black Lotus Omega - Chapter 39

The corridor was silent, with no sound of approaching footsteps.

 

Jiang Nianyu warily peered through the peephole. A familiar face filled the cat-eye lens: Jiang Siqing.

 

Jiang Nianyu’s eye, pressed against the peephole, paused as the chestnut irises in her line of sight turned to meet her gaze.

 

The saffron hem of Jiang Siqing’s dress swayed with her movements. Then came her trademark spoiled voice: “Sister, are you watching me?”

 

Ever since Jiang Nianyu had known her, Jiang Siqing’s words always carried an inexplicable smile, yet it never felt genuine.

 

Those who didn’t understand her saw it as naive innocence, the childlike nature of someone well-protected by her family.

 

But those who understood knew it was mockery, provocation, and sometimes even outright hostility.

 

Jiang Nianyu ignored Jiang Siqing, her expression cold as she watched her peer around outside the door.

 

But Jiang Siqing didn’t give up. She stood on tiptoe, her chestnut eyes meeting Jiang Nianyu’s through the peephole. “Sister, you’re off work today. I know you’re home.”

 

Jiang Nianyu’s chestnut eyes widened abruptly, the intricate patterns of her irises clearly visible.

 

Startled by the woman’s sudden movement, Jiang Nianyu’s pupils contracted sharply, inadvertently revealing her presence.

 

“Sis~ter~” Jiang Siqing drawled from the doorway, her tone dripping with false affection.

 

Jiang Nianyu, however, knew their relationship was far from intimate. She took a deep breath, her face hardening as she opened the door. “What do you want?”

 

“I’m here to give you a neighborly gift,” Jiang Siqing replied. “I baked this cake myself. Why don’t you and Yu Qing share it?”

 

The moment Jiang Nianyu opened the door, Jiang Siqing’s earlier yandere demeanor vanished. Her smile returned to its innocent, radiant self as she casually presented the small cake hidden behind her back.

 

“You moved in next door?” Jiang Nianyu glanced at the discarded packaging piled outside the adjacent door but didn’t take the cake.

 

Tomorrow’s Yu Qing’s birthday, isn’t it?

 

We both remember.

 

“Exactly!” Jiang Siqing didn’t mind Jiang Nianyu’s indifference to the cake she held. Instead, she grew even more cheerful as she chatted with Jiang Nianyu. “The real estate agent had to wait ages to find an apartment near Sister’s place. I was worried something might go wrong, so I took a day off work and moved in today!”

 

Jiang Siqing’s voice was like a song, radiating vitality and freshness.

 

Yet, despite their shared vibrancy, Jiang Nianyu felt an immeasurable gulf between Jiang Siqing and Yu Qing.

 

Comparing Yu Qing to Jiang Siqing felt like defiling Yu Qing’s memory.

 

As this thought crossed her mind, Jiang Nianyu’s brow furrowed slightly.

 

She didn’t like her new neighbor.

 

Yet this new neighbor was clearly looking forward to their future life as neighbors.

 

“Please take care of me from now on, Sister,” Jiang Siqing greeted warmly, deliberately emphasizing the word “Sister.”

 

The voice was exactly as Jiang Nianyu remembered.

 

The last time she heard that voice in her mind, she had torn apart the rabbit plush toy Jiang Siqing had given Yu Qing. This time, she couldn’t guarantee she wouldn’t do something to Jiang Siqing.

 

“I understand. You can leave now,” Jiang Nianyu said, gripping the doorknob tightly, ready to shut Jiang Siqing out.

 

But before she could react, Jiang Siqing had slipped half a foot into the doorway while Jiang Nianyu’s attention was diverted. “Come on, as your neighbor, you should at least offer me some hospitality.”

 

“Even when you disliked me in the past, you never treated me this coldly.”

 

As she spoke, a hint of petulant dissatisfaction and resentment crept across Jiang Siqing’s face.

 

Her words were too blunt, as if she had no qualms about their strained sisterly relationship in the past, leaving Jiang Nianyu speechless.

 

Jiang Nianyu couldn’t quite recall what kind of person Jiang Siqing truly was, or how this pampered young lady had managed to be so flexible in her interactions with her.

 

Yet, as she observed Jiang Siqing, Jiang Nianyu subtly concealed her amnesia about their past.

 

Suddenly, she realized that perhaps letting Jiang Siqing in for a cup of tea wouldn’t be such a bad idea.

 

Wasn’t she already struggling to piece together her fragmented memories of the past?

 

Getting Jiang Siqing to clarify the details of her past seemed like a good approach.

 

The oppressive heat had persisted throughout the summer, and a faint white mist slowly rose in the living room.

 

Jiang Siqing watched Jiang Nianyu hand her a cup of tea, her expression one of surprise. “I want cola,” she protested.

 

The colorful streamers that had been piled on the sofa had been hastily hidden away before Jiang Siqing even reached the foyer. The living room now appeared spotless and orderly.

 

However, Jiang Nianyu’s demeanor was completely different from how she usually acted at home with Yu Qing. She glanced at Jiang Siqing with a subtle, commanding air that seemed to suppress her.

 

Ignoring Jiang Siqing’s request, Jiang Nianyu calmly cut the cake Jiang Siqing had brought into small, neat slices and placed them on delicate plates. “Cake is best enjoyed with tea,” she said.

 

To be honest, Jiang Siqing’s baking skills hardly matched the elegance of the plates and tea.

 

Staring at the crooked, lopsided cream frosting, Jiang Siqing glared at Jiang Nianyu.

 

She was certain that this…

 

But this wasn’t the first time she had been outmaneuvered by Jiang Nianyu.

 

Facing Jiang Siqing’s piercing gaze, Jiang Nianyu said calmly, “Tell me, what’s going on?”

 

Jiang Siqing angrily shoved a mouthful of cake into her mouth, her expression furious.

 

Jiang Nianyu wasn’t surprised, taking a sip of tea with an impassive expression.

 

After all, she knew her younger sister intimately, even subconsciously.

 

She watched Jiang Siqing devour the mouthful of cake cream before the younger woman volunteered, “Well, Mom, Dad, and Grandmother are all looking for you, but they’re all idiots—nowhere near as clever as me. I found you in no time and hid myself perfectly!”

 

As she spoke, Jiang Siqing shot Jiang Nianyu a smug look, as if she had accomplished something truly remarkable.

 

But Jiang Nianyu saw it differently. “So, you ran away from home?”

 

No wonder her name at the company was “Siqing.”

 

Hearing this, Jiang Siqing’s carefully maintained facade faltered for a moment, but she stubbornly kept her chin raised. “What’s wrong with that? It’s better than what you’re doing.”

 

Jiang Siqing scoffed, snorting through her nose. “First you tried to kill me and force me into that factory, then you faked your death in an explosion. I thought you’d be hiding somewhere, plotting your revenge after Grandmother betrayed you, but instead you’re just freeloading at some Beta’s house.”

 

As she continued to berate Jiang Nianyu, Jiang Siqing scrutinized her outfit. “Even the dress you wore when you first came to our house was better than what you’re wearing now. Doesn’t that fabric give you a rash?”

 

But as she stared, Jiang Siqing suddenly sensed something was off. “Wait, are you wearing…?”

 

Jiang Nianyu slowly raised her eyes to meet Jiang Siqing’s astonished gaze and nodded deliberately. “Yes.”

 

Jealousy forced Jiang Siqing to take a deep, steadying breath.

 

Still unwilling to concede, she childishly tried to one-up Jiang Nianyu. “What’s so special about that? I don’t even care. Did you know? My desk faces Sister’s at work!”

 

Jiang Nianyu listened casually, scraping the cream off the cake and eating only the fruit-filled sponge. “Siqing, how many beds does your house have?”

 

In all the years Jiang Siqing had known Jiang Nianyu, she had rarely heard her use her given name.

 

The woman’s voice was cold, yet when she spoke her nickname, it sounded strangely friendly and gentle.

 

Jiang Siqing blinked uncomfortably, her tone softening. “Just one. Why?”

 

“Nothing much,” Jiang Nianyu replied casually, as if merely curious about whether the two houses had similar layouts. “Ah, so everyone’s homes only have one bed.”

 

Jiang Siqing immediately realized that if the layouts and decor were similar, Yu Qing’s house must also have just one bed. But Yu Qing’s house was shared by her and Jiang Nianyu.

 

Two people, one bed.

 

Jiang Siqing gripped the spoon handle tighter and tighter.

 

Her chestnut-like eyes, golden in the sunlight, suddenly glared at Jiang Nianyu.

 

Jiang Nianyu remained unfazed, critiquing Jiang Siqing’s baking skills. “Has your baking always been this way? The whipped cream isn’t smooth enough.”

 

“Did I offer you any? This is for my sister!”

 

Just like every past confrontation between Jiang Siqing and Jiang Nianyu, she had once again descended into a state of furious frustration.

 

Seizing on the flaw in her words, Jiang Nianyu calmly reminded her, “I’m your sister too.”

 

“True, you’re my sister, and you’re also a member of the Jiang Family.”

 

Jiang Siqing sneered at Jiang Nianyu’s reminder.

 

Jiang Siqing glared at Jiang Nianyu, her teeth clenched. “So, are you planning to go back now?” she demanded. “You schemed so hard to get onto the Board of Directors—you’re just going to throw away such a powerful position?”

 

Director.

 

This was a detail missing from Jiang Nianyu’s memories. Her flippant demeanor instantly turned cautious.

 

Instead of directly addressing her memory loss, Jiang Nianyu evaded the question. “Didn’t you run away too?”

 

“Of course my situation is different,” Jiang Siqing said, oblivious to Jiang Nianyu’s evasion, spreading her hands in explanation. “If you want to stay here and not go back, that’s fine by me. I’m not one of your subordinates.”

 

As if suddenly enlightened, Jiang Siqing became surprisingly magnanimous toward her sister, even offering a well-meaning warning: “But I’ve heard they’re still quite loyal. Even after all this time, Grandmother and Dad haven’t been able to win them over. No one believes you’re dead. If you don’t want to go back, you’ll have to stay hidden for a while.”

 

At this point, Jiang Siqing paused.

 

She quickly scooted along the sofa to Jiang Nianyu’s side, her expression earnest as she stared intently at her. “By the way, have you finally let go of what happened with your mother?”

 

The crucial question had finally been raised.

 

Jiang Nianyu’s expression tightened at the key words in Jiang Siqing’s question, but she maintained an air of nonchalance. “You’re talking nonsense.”

 

“I remember it clearly,” Siqing insisted. “At Grandmother’s house, she went thump, thump, thump—whoosh—splat!”

 

Unable to fully describe the scene with words, Siqing gestured, miming a tiny figure tumbling down the stairs and then leaping off the edge.

 

A sudden gust of summer wind swept in from the balcony, piercingly cold.

 

As Jiang Nianyu watched Siqing’s gestures, a sharp pain shot through her head. It felt as if some unresolved trauma were coiled inside her skull, pressing, expanding.

 

The cream she had been pushing around on her plate was gradually being swallowed by a dark shadow. Snowflakes danced across her vision.

 

These were the warning signs of her slipping into a nightmarish memory. She could almost hear the howling wind and see the white hem of a dress fluttering across her line of sight.

 

That figure, which had haunted her memories countless times, blurred beyond recognition, dragging Jiang Nianyu once again into the icy, boundless sea of her past.

 

She felt the anchor she had so painstakingly secured beginning to loosen.

 

Yu Qing…

 

“Sister, some burdens you simply can’t avoid. This is your destiny.”

 

Suddenly, Jiang Siqing’s soft, mocking voice whispered in Jiang Nianyu’s ear, piercing through her memories.

 

Jiang Siqing lifted her head, her expression one of detached observation, and patted Jiang Nianyu’s shoulder.

 

Jiang Nianyu glared up at Jiang Siqing, her gaze even colder than before.

 

Without warning, Jiang Siqing’s hand, which had been resting on her shoulder, was seized in a crushing grip.

 

Contempt flashed in Jiang Nianyu’s eyes, like a hedgehog retreating into its defensive posture. “Jiang Siqing, are you afraid that if I return, your mother won’t force you to inherit the company?”

 

Jiang Nianyu had ruthlessly exposed Jiang Siqing’s true motives, leaving the latter stunned.

 

Ever since she had known Jiang Nianyu, she had never gained any advantage over her.

 

As they grew older, Jiang Siqing had no desire to compete for the heir position. Managing a corporation was a tedious affair that held no appeal for her.

 

The day Jiang Siqing overheard her grandmother ordering Jiang Nianyu’s downfall, she knew that once the plan succeeded, she would be forced to inherit the family business.

 

Working one day and resting two, Jiang Siqing seized the opportunity during Jiang Nianyu’s disappearance and the Jiang Family’s ensuing chaos. She hastily packed her bags and fled home under cover of night.

 

After all, losing one daughter is still losing one.

 

Losing two daughters is still losing one, right?

 

Jiang Siqing believed her plan was foolproof, leaving no room for anyone to detect its flaws.

 

Yet, barely had she strutted in with her tail held high when Jiang Nianyu exposed her scheme.

 

The afternoon sun slanted across the sky, its piercing rays stabbing straight into the heart.

 

Jiang Nianyu’s shadow loomed over Jiang Siqing, her disdainful gaze sweeping over the younger woman as she flung aside the wrist Siqing had dared to grab. “Jiang Siqing, you can’t even hide your tail properly.”

 

Even through the fabric of her clothes, Jiang Nianyu recoiled from the physical contact.

 

She had never been one to be provoked or subdued. Her eyes lowered slightly, her pale pupils gleaming with icy menace in the harsh sunlight. “Still want me to dunk you in the pool, little sister?”

 

In the silence, Jiang Siqing swallowed hard.

 

She was all too familiar with Jiang Nianyu’s oppressive aura, the memories of past humiliations flooding her mind.

 

“I-I’m sorry,” she stammered, finally grasping the situation through her terror.

 

Even in her current state of disgrace, this woman remains beyond my ability to provoke.

 

Especially when it came to things Jiang Nianyu held dear.

 

Yet Jiang Siqing couldn’t help but wonder:

 

What does Jiang Nianyu cherish most now?

 

 

Ding-a-ling.

 

The bell above the coffee shop door chimed crisply as a customer pushed it open.

 

Inside, a mellow old English song played, its soothing rhythm a stark contrast to the bustling atmosphere of the company upstairs.

 

Yu Qing, determined not to play the role of a docile younger sister, had arranged to meet Yu Qingyun at the coffee shop below the office building.

 

Whether Yu Qingyun genuinely wanted to reconcile or not, she hadn’t objected and had even arrived earlier than Yu Qing.

 

“I’m going on a business trip tomorrow, so I wanted to wish you a happy birthday in advance,” Yu Qingyun said as Yu Qing sat down across from her, pulling a bag hidden under her seat.

 

Her tone was noticeably warmer than during their previous three meetings, and she even presented the gift with both hands.

 

Yu Qing glanced at the bag Yu Qingyun had produced—an old-fashioned, floral-patterned handbag that looked quite expensive.

 

“Why are you so late?”

 

Before Yu Qing could examine the bag further, Yu Qingyun spoke first.

 

The warmth had been an illusion; her usual condescending demeanor remained.

 

Yu Qing raised an eyebrow, a mix of embarrassment and a radiant smile blooming on her face. “Sorry, Sister, I’ve been really busy lately. I’m the project lead now, and I’m about to be promoted to Deputy Team Leader.”

 

Yu Qingyun’s face registered clear astonishment at these words.

 

This wasn’t the reaction one would expect from someone genuinely happy for Yu Qing. Instead, it was the shock of seeing someone she had looked down on suddenly soar to new heights, creating a jarring sense of disparity.

 

Yu Qing knew this expression all too well. She interrupted Yu Qingyun, “Didn’t expect it, did you? Your ‘idiot’ sister actually managed to snag the Deputy Team Leader position.”

 

Yu Qingyun let out a derisive snort. “Indeed.”

 

Her turquoise eyes flickered over Yu Qing as she spoke, as if reassessing her with renewed scrutiny.

 

Under this intense gaze, Yu Qingyun leaned forward and reached out to Yu Qing.

 

She seemed about to straighten Yu Qing’s crooked collar as Yu Qing fumbled with her ID badge.

 

But Yu Qing immediately recoiled, her evasiveness clear. “I can do it myself.”

 

The distance between them felt vast, as if the tension from Yu Qingyun’s birthday hadn’t dissipated.

 

Yu Qingyun’s hand hung frozen in mid-air, her expression awkward and her eyes betraying irritation.

 

“You weren’t like this before,” Yu Qingyun said coldly. “When I visited your home last time, you didn’t avoid me.”

 

At this, she noticed Yu Qing straightening her clothes. “Is it because of that Omega?”

 

“She’s manipulating you.”

 

Yu Qing frowned involuntarily at the accusation. She disliked such language, especially when applied to Jiang Nianyu. No one was allowed to slander Jiang Nianyu, even under the guise of acting in her best interest.

 

“She saved me,” Yu Qing said firmly.

 

“Saved you?” Yu Qingyun scoffed. “Yu Qing, stop being so naive. Do you think she’s your lifeline? You’ve fallen into a dangerous trap without even realizing it.”

 

As she spoke, Yu Qingyun’s hand hooked onto the strap of the bag she had given Yu Qing.

 

An invisible possessiveness radiated from her eyes, as if her words were divine decrees.

 

“Do you really think she only threw a rabbit plush at me that day?” Yu Qingyun countered, her tone unwavering.

 

The fragile veil between them had finally been pierced, revealing Jiang Nianyu’s hidden side to Yu Qing.

 

Those eyes lurking in the foyer, that arm coiling around Yu Qing’s like a snake.

 

Every detail of their interactions seemed to expose Jiang Nianyu’s true nature.

 

Yet, despite all this, Yu Qing simply replied, “Didn’t she just throw a rabbit at you?”

 

The protectiveness was blatant, utterly undisguised.

 

It gave the impression that Yu Qing had chosen Jiang Nianyu over Yu Qingyun.

 

Hearing these words from her sister’s mouth, Yu Qingyun could scarcely believe her ears. “Yu Qing, what kind of spell has this Omega cast on you? You’re a Beta! Stop indulging in these delusional fantasies of being with an Omega, okay?!”

 

Yu Qingyun, caught up in her excitement, didn’t care if her words stung her younger sister.

 

Hearing terms like “Beta” and “Omega,” and the nonsensical dreams associated with them, Yu Qing felt as if someone had torn a gash in her heart.

 

Perhaps that gash had always been there, born from her own inferiority complex, the world’s disdain for Betas, and the contempt of those around her, even her parents.

 

Whether Yu Qingyun had been the one to first tear open this wound or not, she had succeeded in hurting her again.

 

The dark, bitter coffee before Yu Qing seemed to bleed crimson through her eyes.

 

This isn’t the flavor I like, Yu Qing thought. It’s not even the flavor this body used to prefer.

 

Jiang Nianyu knew her taste and would always add a layer of creamy, cloud-like foam to her coffee.

 

“Perhaps some things become clearer when you only look at the results,” Yu Qing murmured, staring at her coffee for a long moment before abruptly looking up at Yu Qingyun.

 

“For example, the gift Sister gave me was only because you liked it.”

 

“What are you talking about?” Yu Qingyun asked, surprised. “I specifically chose that birthday gift for you. I know you’ve been influenced by that Omega, who’s clearly interested in me, but how could you doubt my sincerity?”

 

“Really? Do you think I would like a color like that?” Yu Qing countered.

 

“What kind of outfit would go with a bag like that? Something casual like the dress I’m wearing, or a formal suit like yours?”

 

“When you came to my house, you seemed to know the layout so well—my belongings, even my wardrobe. Didn’t you notice what I usually wear?”

 

Yu Qing’s relentless questioning suddenly reminded her of the bed the original owner had deliberately left in her walk-in closet.

 

It wasn’t some strange cave, nor was it meant for guests.

 

It was her sanctuary.

 

A place to escape the unrealistic demands and exploitation from her family and colleagues.

 

Yu Qing clenched her fists tightly, her resolve hardening like it had when she severed ties with her adoptive parents. “Sister, don’t delude yourself into thinking that some random thing you bought on a whim can become the diamond that adorns my world.”

 

“I’ll have my own diamonds, and I’ll buy my first luxury handbag myself. Things that suit your taste should stay in your closet, not be given to me as birthday gifts.”

 

Whether the bag was Yu Qingyun’s birthday gift or a peace offering between sisters, Yu Qing didn’t want it.

 

She was tired of being treated like a toy, tired of being used and then coaxed back with trinkets.

 

Even if this choice were presented to her a second time, she would still get up and walk away.

 

Especially now that she had people who needed her, and none of the panic she’d felt before.

 

Yu Qing’s actions finally provoked Yu Qingyun’s first loss of composure in her life. “Yu Qing! Try walking out on me!”

 

“Why wouldn’t I walk out? I’m not your toy,” Yu Qing said softly, standing beside Yu Qingyun, her voice barely audible.

 

Then she continued striding away, her footsteps firm and resolute.

 

As she brushed past them, two young girls ran into the room.

 

“Sister, I want that!”

 

“Then be quiet and behave, and I’ll buy it for you.”

 

 

In the conversation, the younger sister leaned on her older sister, who patted her head like a little adult.

 

The sisters’ back-and-forth banter created an unusually harmonious scene.

 

Yu Qingyun sat stiffly in her seat, her expression strained as she watched this familiar tableau.

 

Yet, out of the corner of her eye, she saw Yu Qing walking past the window without pausing.

 

Yu Qingyun stared at the rejected bag in front of her, clenching her fists.

 

She felt a sense of unprecedented loss of control.

 

 

On her first day back at work, Yu Qing had to catch up on accumulated tasks.

 

She and Liaoliao worked overtime together, finally arriving home just before eleven.

 

The moonlight was bright, making the stars seem even more distant and lonely.

 

They watched the figures walking lightly beneath the streetlights, each beam of light landing softly on the young woman’s shoulders.

 

“I’m home,” Yu Qing called out, her voice still brimming with energy from the promotion and raise as she pushed open the door.

 

But the only response was the quiet stillness of the house.

 

And the pitch-black darkness.

 

The living room lights were off, and for a moment, Yu Qing thought she had stepped back into the hallway.

 

Then she noticed the flickering candlelight.

 

A pure white candle stood in an exquisite little tray, its short, plump shadow dancing prettily on the floor.

 

Yu Qing felt a pang of tenderness.

 

Her gaze followed the candle to its source, where Jiang Nianyu sat at the far end of the room, smiling softly at her in the dim, amber light.

 

This woman, Yu Qing thought, must have learned some new trick. Jiang Nianyu had tied a large, beautiful pink satin ribbon around her neck, like a perfectly wrapped gift.

 

Seeing Yu Qing’s gaze, Jiang Nianyu opened her arms wide. “A-Qing, welcome home.”