I Really Didn't Intend to Pick Up the Black Lotus Omega - Chapter 4

This was the first time Jiang Nianyu had called Yu Qing’s name.

She gently clicked her tongue, the syllables “Yu Qing” brushing against her teeth. Each sound was clearly enunciated, yet filled with anxiety.

A warm, rustling breath trailed down Yu Qing’s ear. Unable to bear the tickling sensation, let alone the indescribable numbness, she instinctively recoiled.

As a result, she saw the girl behind her clutching the hem of her shirt, her distinct knuckles digging into the fabric—almost exactly as she had done yesterday when begging for help.

She said she was scared.

Yu Qing’s heart clenched. Jiang Nianyu’s frail voice, like a shivering puppy’s whimper, made her straighten her shoulders and stand up to protect her.

“Little girl, who allowed you to barge into someone else’s hospital room?” Yu Qing demanded sternly, her expression severe.

The girl stared at Yu Qing’s face, momentarily stunned, before instantly adopting a timid demeanor. “Sister, please don’t be angry. I can’t find my mommy.”

Yu Qing wasn’t convinced the girl had been looking for her mother earlier. “Do you really think that’s how someone looks when they’re looking for their mother?”

Realizing her lie had been exposed, the girl bit her lip.

Then, as if struck by a new idea, she reached out and grabbed Yu Qing’s hand. “Then can you come with me to find my mommy, Sister? I’m scared I’ll go to the wrong room again.”

As the little girl spoke, her large eyes sparkled as she gazed at Yu Qing, putting on a pitiful act.

The finger she had grasped was held up brightly in the sunlight, and even as she spoke, she tugged at Yu Qing, ignoring her reluctance.

Behind Yu Qing, Jiang Nianyu watched with a cold expression.

Her usually timid brows suddenly furrowed, radiating a murderous aura, like a fierce beast sensing an intruder in its territory.

She was too familiar with this kind of feigned innocence.

At a glance, she recognized they were of the same kind.

Jiang Nianyu’s grip on Yu Qing’s hem tightened, fearing Yu Qing might give in to the little girl’s request.

But Yu Qing never did what others expected. Seeing the little girl’s pitiful act, she said, “I’ll help you find your guardi—”

Before Yu Qing could finish, an urgent call burst into the room from the corridor: “Xiaoyu! Xiaoyu! Has anyone seen a girl about seven or eight years old with pigtails?”

Hearing the woman’s description, Yu Qing glanced down and saw the little girl’s face twist with displeasure.

Just as I thought.

Yu Qing immediately grabbed the girl’s hand and pulled her away from Jiang Nianyu’s bedside. “Hello, is this your child?”

The frantic woman froze, her anxiety instantly transforming into relief. “Yes, yes! Thank you so much!”

“Xiaoyu, I told you not to run off! You scared me to death!” The woman, relieved to have her daughter back, hugged the little girl tightly.

The little girl, who had been so calm moments before, now clung to her mother, sobbing, “Mommy…”

Yu Qing watched the scene, feeling a strange sense of familiarity mixed with unease.

Before she could process her thoughts, the woman stood up, still holding Xiaoyu. “Thank you so much, young lady.”

“It was nothing,” Yu Qing replied quickly.

“Young lady, I’m truly grateful. She’s my only child. If I had lost her, I don’t know what I would have done…” The woman choked up, unable to finish the thought. Overwhelmed with gratitude, she reached for her purse to offer Yu Qing money.

“No, no, no!” Yu Qing protested, waving her hands. “This hospital is crowded. Instead of that, just keep a close eye on your daughter so she doesn’t get lost again.”

Afraid the woman might think of another way to repay her, Yu Qing added, “I have a patient who needs my care. I really should get back to her now.”

Hearing this, the woman immediately stopped trying to thank Yu Qing further and left with her daughter.

The brief incident was insignificant, like a curtain by the bed—a quick shake and it was gone.

But not everything disappears with a shake.

“All gone…” Yu Qing had just returned to the ward, intending to tell Jiang Nianyu that everything was fine, when the words caught in her throat.

Jiang Nianyu knelt on the bed, her slender fingers clasped over the open hospital gown.

The rain from the previous night had washed the sky a brilliant blue, and bright sunlight streamed through the window, bathing her in its glow and partially revealing her body.

She remained in the same position as before, her collarbone tracing a pale, cool line across her shoulder.

Her skin was flawlessly white and her frame delicately slender, like a camellia blossom battered by a night of spring rain, its petals drooping as if about to fall.

No other Omega could possibly be more beautiful than her, Yu Qing thought, before snapping back to reality and quickly averting her gaze, determined to maintain proper decorum.

Yet Jiang Nianyu showed none of the fear she had displayed earlier when the little girl had peeked at her body. She seemed completely unfazed by their “frank encounter,” gently reminding Yu Qing, “Aren’t you going to change my dressing?”

Right, it’s time to change the dressing.

Yu Qing took a deep breath, silently repeating “Do not look upon what is improper,” and sat behind Jiang Nianyu to apply the medicine.

The medical report indicated that Jiang Nianyu had landed on her back, making it the most severely injured area.

The once smooth, pale skin was now covered in scabs and mottled with bruises in shades of blue and purple, a horrifying sight.

Yu Qing frowned deeply, unable to help but think: Pheromones aren’t something worth pursuing.

This ABO world seemed both wonderful and terrible.

As a Beta, she would have to live even more cautiously from now on, Yu Qing thought, her movements becoming increasingly careful.

She was afraid of hurting Jiang Nianyu.

Unbeknownst to her, her warm breath was now falling gently but heavily on Jiang Nianyu’s back.

Omegas possessed far superior sensory perception compared to other secondary genders. Jiang Nianyu quietly accepted Yu Qing’s application of the medicine, acutely aware of her tenderness.

More than the pain-relieving mint, Jiang Nianyu preferred the accidental warmth of Yu Qing’s breath on her wound.

Jiang Nianyu bit her lip lightly, greedily inhaling Yu Qing’s scent once more.

She hadn’t felt this sense of security in a long time—perhaps never, not even in her lost memories.

She desperately wanted Yu Qing to stay by her side forever.

The blank canvas of her memory was the most fertile soil, and newly formed thoughts branched out endlessly, tirelessly rebuilding Jiang Nianyu’s connection to this world.

Faced with danger, her remaining instincts compelled her to draw her blade.

When confronted with pain, she suppressed her emotions, maintaining a cold, restrained, and expressionless demeanor.

Yet now, her newly awakened instincts were stirring restlessly.

She wanted to have breakfast with Yu Qing every day and have her help apply medicine.

They would chat and talk in this curtained-off space, and when the sun set, they would sleep together.

A desire for dependence spread across Jiang Nianyu’s back.

It had nothing to do with love or hate; a person without memories needed an anchor.

A gentle breeze drifted through the window as Jiang Nianyu felt Yu Qing’s fingertips carefully moving across her back.

Desire, like the downy feathers of a fledgling, gradually grew fuller.

Jiang Nianyu had overheard Yu Qing’s conversation with the little girl’s mother outside the curtain.

Since Yu Qing had said she would take care of her, they could probably stay together forever, right?

Suddenly, a gust of wind swept through the window, causing the lush treetops to sway violently, as if mocking her naivety with a scornful laugh.

After applying the medicine to Jiang Nianyu, Yu Qing went to the nurses’ station to submit the registration form.

Although the form was nearly blank—the only information, Jiang Nianyu’s age, was Yu Qing’s estimate based on her appearance—Yu Qing still hoped the hospital could help Jiang Nianyu find her family as soon as possible.

“This is going to be tricky,” the Head Nurse said, looking at the nearly empty form with concern. “She really doesn’t remember anything at all?”

“Nothing,” Yu Qing replied, shaking her head. “Yesterday, when I asked her name, her face went pale with pain. This morning, I asked again, and she shook her head, clearly unable to recall anything.”

“Concussions can indeed cause amnesia,” the doctor who had treated Jiang Nianyu the previous day said, approaching with a large thermos. “The tests show no physical abnormalities. It’s likely temporary amnesia caused by the concussion. She might regain her memories in time.”

The Head Nurse remained optimistic. “The police will be here tomorrow. We’ll make sure they prioritize her case and check the System for any matches.”

“What if they still can’t find her?” Yu Qing blurted out.

The Head Nurse and the doctor exchanged childlike glances before turning to Yu Qing. “Alphas and Omegas represent the biggest gap in the population registry. It’s easy for their information to become outdated or for their records to go missing.”

Yu Qing blinked, understanding a little but still confused.

She suddenly remembered how many fanfiction authors, eager to bring Alphas and Omegas together, had created deliberately vague and convenient “gray” headcanons.

This registry system seemed to be one of those headcanons, a plot device to drive the protagonists’ romance forward.

But had these authors ever considered the consequences for ordinary people like her?

Yu Qing asked anxiously, “If the unknown woman never remembers who she is, and the police can’t identify her, what will happen?”

“Well… most likely she’ll be sent to the Shelter,” the Head Nurse said, her expression softening with pity.

Yu Qing frowned, her instincts telling her that this “Shelter” couldn’t be a good place.

“What kind of people are in the Shelter?”

“The Shelter, as the name suggests, houses the homeless and marginalized. I have a friend who volunteers there. She says the number of homeless people has surged recently, overwhelming the Shelter’s resources. It’s quite chaotic.”

“And if they had a choice, who would choose to be homeless? Most of the residents at the Shelter are Alphas or Omegas with flaws—some physical, others behavioral. Many Alphas deliberately bully Omegas, especially those who are particularly well-behaved and beautiful…”

The night was still, with scattered stars dotting the sky.

Yu Qing lay restlessly on her cot, her mind replaying her conversation with the Head Nurse from earlier that day.

The Head Nurse’s description was practically a direct reference to the unnamed young woman.

Yu Qing shifted her head to rest on her arm, silently watching Jiang Nianyu, who had already drifted off to sleep.

Moonlight streamed through the window, casting a soft glow across Jiang Nianyu’s face like a delicate veil.

She slept soundly, curled on her side facing Yu Qing, her pale lips slightly parted and her breathing even, like a defenseless little animal.

How could anyone bully someone so beautiful and well-behaved?

The Head Nurse’s words echoed in Yu Qing’s mind: “At least she should know her own name. How can she survive in society without even that?”

The Head Nurse’s words seemed to point Yu Qing in a direction, yet ultimately offered no practical help.

Where could she possibly find the nameless young woman’s name?

“What are you thinking about?”

The cold, detached voice cut through the night’s stillness, startling Yu Qing.

She froze for a moment, then realized the person who had been asleep just moments ago was now awake.

Those baby-blue eyes were fixed on her, the moon reflected in their clear depths. They seemed to hold an endless sorrow, yet remained calm and profound.

Thump-thump, thump-thump.

Yu Qing blinked slowly, her heart racing far faster than her eyelids.

She couldn’t shake the feeling that the nameless young woman was standing too close—so close she could almost count her eyelashes.

“I…” Yu Qing stammered, instinctively answering Jiang Nianyu’s question honestly, “Has the nameless young woman still not remembered her name?”

Without hesitation, Jiang Nianyu shook her head. “No.”

Her reply was cold and resolute, as if she could once again deceive her way out of this.

But the woman’s piercing voice crashed into her mind again, punishing her for her ruthlessness.

“Jiang Nianyu! Do you hear me?! If you forget everything, you’ll be abandoned sooner or later!”

Terror instantly swelled in Jiang Nianyu’s mind, multiplying until her calm expression turned deathly pale, her body rigid with tension.

Yu Qing immediately sensed something was wrong and rushed to take Jiang Nianyu’s hand. “I’m sorry,” she said urgently. “I shouldn’t have asked for your name. I’m so sorry.”

“It’s nothing,” Jiang Nianyu replied calmly, shaking her head. A thin layer of cold sweat glistened beneath her bangs.

Amid Yu Qing’s remorseful apologies, Jiang Nianyu ruthlessly banished the sharp memories from her mind.

She didn’t want to remember them.

They only brought her pain.

The night was so quiet, it felt as if one could hear the thoughts in everyone’s hearts.

Bathed in the moonlight filtering through the glass, Jiang Nianyu quietly studied Yu Qing, her voice flat as she probed, “Do you really want me to remember my name?”

Yu Qing was genuinely afraid that if she told the nameless woman she needed to remember something, it would only plunge her into greater anguish that night. She quickly denied it. “Not really. I just… I just like to daydream before bed, ha ha. Let’s sleep now. It’s nothing.”

Yu Qing’s words brought a sigh of relief. Jiang Nianyu nodded obediently and closed her eyes under Yu Qing’s watchful gaze.

Unbeknownst to Yu Qing, Jiang Nianyu had been staring at her until the very last second before closing her eyes.

She could sense that Yu Qing was troubled by something, something that seemed to involve her, yet she was unwilling to share it.

Why?

Jiang Nianyu wondered, finding it difficult to fall asleep.

But within moments, her Omega nature took over, greedily devouring Yu Qing’s scent and lulling her back into slumber.

Things you don’t understand won’t be answered in dreams.

But the next day, someone would give Jiang Nianyu the answer.

The following morning, Yu Qing woke up and headed straight to the hospital cafeteria, just as she had the day before.

When Jiang Nianyu woke up, she saw the companion bed neatly placed against the wall. She proactively set up the small table, wondering what kind of breakfast Yu Qing would bring back.

Then the curtains around her bed rustled.

Jiang Nianyu looked over expectantly.

But instead of Yu Qing, the face she particularly disliked peeked through the gap.

It was the little girl who had barged in yesterday.

Holding a pretty little cake, the girl entered and placed it on Jiang Nianyu’s table. “Big sister, my mom told me to come apologize. I was wrong to barge in yesterday. I’m sorry, big sister. This cake is to make up for it.”

The child’s demeanor was so innocent and earnest that Jiang Nianyu felt like she was judging a noble person with petty thoughts.

She pressed her lips together, hesitated for a moment, and then decided to speak to the girl in a reasonably friendly tone. “It’s okay. Just don’t do it again…”

But before she could finish, the girl interrupted, “But big sister, where’s the other sister? Where did she go?”

The girl smiled innocently, standing on tiptoe as she approached Jiang Nianyu’s bed with the air of an intruder. “I heard you’re going to the Shelter because that sister doesn’t want you anymore.”