I Really Didn't Intend to Pick Up the Black Lotus Omega - Chapter 43

In the winter of 2064, East City experienced its heaviest snowfall on record.

 

A profound silence blanketed the world as snow covered the hospital’s lawn, turning everything white.

 

The cry of a newborn infant shattered the rare daytime stillness.

 

A nurse gently placed the cleaned and swaddled baby against the mother’s cheek. The woman’s sweat-drenched face lit up with a smile.

 

“Have you chosen a name for her?” the nurse asked.

 

The exhausted woman nodded weakly, her pale lips trembling as she whispered the baby’s name to the nurse:

 

“Jiang Nianyu.”

 

Though she only had a mother, Jiang Nianyu’s life was remarkably happy until she turned seven.

 

She and her mother, Yu Yue, lived in a modest but charming old Western-style house. As a toddler learning to walk, Jiang Nianyu would slowly rise to her feet, guided by the melodies of her mother’s piano, and stumble toward her.

 

Yu Yue was a pianist who often performed on stage, leaving little Jiang Nianyu in the care of a nanny.

 

Too young to distinguish between the stage and backstage, the little girl would hide behind the curtains, watching her mother on stage. The shimmering, colorful gown made her look like a celestial being who had descended to earth.

 

Back then, Jiang Nianyu believed there was no one in the world more beautiful or gentle than her mother.

 

That changed in the autumn of 2072. Withered yellow leaves lay scattered across the courtyard, neglected by its owner for far too long.

 

Jiang Nianyu returned home from school, clutching the gift her teacher had given her on the first day of class, eager to share it with Yu Yue. But she tripped over a carelessly discarded beer bottle, the pain searing into her memory.

 

She cried loudly that day, but no comfort or concern came.

 

Slowly, she shuffled to the sofa by the window and saw the woman sprawled there, dead drunk and utterly disheveled—a stark contrast to the gentle mother who used to cradle her, sing lullabies, and call her “Mommy’s good little Xiaoyu,” promising kisses no matter what.

 

From that day on, the mother in Jiang Nianyu’s dreams vanished.

 

Yu Yue’s unpredictable moods terrified young Jiang Nianyu.

 

One moment, she would be gently coaxing Jiang Nianyu to sleep, patiently teaching her piano, calling her “Mommy’s good little Xiaoyu,” and promising kisses no matter what.

 

The next moment, she would be jolted awake, her face gripped in a vicious pinch as Yu Yue berated her for not being as talented as herself. Again and again, she would emphasize that as a daughter of the Jiang Family, Jiang Nianyu had to excel in everything, mastering every skill perfectly.

 

Jiang Nianyu endured this routine for what felt like an eternity, long enough to believe it would define her entire life.

 

Yet it was also fleeting.

 

Yu Yue’s alcoholism worsened, rendering her unable to play the piano. No one invited her to perform anymore.

 

One day after school, Jiang Nianyu returned home to find several unfamiliar women with stern expressions, who announced they were there to take her away.

 

Both Jiang Nianyu and her mother wept bitterly.

 

As they stood at the entrance of the Shelter, Yu Yue’s tears streamed down Jiang Nianyu’s neck, converging into crimson rivers.

 

In the summer of 2074, Jiang Nianyu lost her mother, Yu Yue.

 

But at the funeral home, she met her father.

 

He was a stranger, yet not entirely unfamiliar.

 

Jiang Nianyu had often hidden in her small bedroom, gazing at photos of her mother embracing him, shedding countless tears.

 

This man asked Jiang Nianyu to stay at his home temporarily.

 

But in that house, she was deliberately lost twice, locked in a storage room once, and nearly went into anaphylactic shock from eating food she was allergic to.

 

Even in her unconscious state, Jiang Nianyu heard Si Yuting, Jiang Siqing’s mother, trembling as she whispered to Old Mrs. Si, “I just can’t stand looking at Jiang Nianyu’s face! Mom, do you know? Every time I see her, I’m reminded of that b1tch who pushed you down the stairs…”

 

After leaving the hospital, Jiang Xianyun repeatedly apologized to Jiang Nianyu, yet he took no concrete action to make amends.

 

Jiang Nianyu silently squeezed his hand, assuring him it was alright. She didn’t blame her sister or Aunt Si, displaying remarkable docility and understanding.

 

She understood that tantrums wouldn’t earn her father’s sympathy.

 

She didn’t want to temporarily live with the Jiang Family; she wanted to belong there forever.

 

These were the words her mother had repeatedly pinched her cheeks to make her remember.

 

In 2075, Jiang Nianyu successfully established herself as the Jiang Family’s acknowledged eldest daughter. Old Mrs. Si, watching from the audience, stared at the face so similar to Yu Yue’s, her expression darkening.

 

In the summer of 2082, Jiang Nianyu traveled abroad for further studies, where she assembled her own team.

 

By the autumn of 2088, after graduating and returning to China, Jiang Nianyu presented the investment company she had founded as a stepping stone to Jiang Xianyun, integrating it into the Jiang Group’s corporate structure.

 

In the winter of 2090, Jiang Nianyu devoured a Si Family faction embedded within the Jiang Family, securing a seat on the Board of Directors and sharpening her blade against Old Mrs. Si.

 

 

“Little girl, you’re too impatient.”

 

Old Si’s triumphant smile was etched before Jiang Nianyu’s eyes, her snow-white hair far more blinding than the flames.

 

The explosion suddenly pierced through the illusory Old Si’s face, a searing, grotesque force hurtling toward Jiang Nianyu.

 

“Zhi—!!”

 

The shrill cry of cicadas pierced through the glass, sharp and piercing.

 

Jiang Nianyu’s eyes snapped open.

 

There was no explosion.

 

The faint scent of disinfectant mingled with the rare summer coolness, brushing away the heat clinging to Jiang Nianyu’s forehead.

 

It gradually cooled and solidified her newly recovered memories.

 

“You’re awake?”

 

Yu Qing’s face squeezed into view, her concerned gaze reflecting back at Jiang Nianyu.

 

Confusion clouded Jiang Nianyu’s eyes. She suddenly didn’t know how to interact with Yu Qing.

 

Yet her body betrayed her. The irresistible physiological response to Yu Qing’s proximity filled her with an unprecedented sense of security.

 

“Do you feel any discomfort?”

 

The familiar concern washed over her as Yu Qing earnestly inquired about Jiang Nianyu’s condition.

 

“You experienced a sudden Heat due to the shock. The Head Nurse administered a Suppressant.”

 

Yu Qing’s breath, warm and clean, drifted down with her voice, brushing against Jiang Nianyu’s nose.

 

Jiang Nianyu’s glands welcomed the scent, instantly rekindling the familiar feeling of being with Yu Qing. “A-Qing…”

 

“What is it?” Yu Qing responded, her eyes sparkling.

 

Jiang Nianyu opened her mouth, eager to tell Yu Qing that her memories had returned. She longed for them to be as close as ever.

 

But the words caught in her throat.

 

Her past—her feud with Old Si, the Jiang Family’s affairs—it was all too dangerous. She couldn’t let Yu Qing know; she had to protect her.

 

“I… remembered something about my mother,” Jiang Nianyu murmured, lowering her lashes. She began to softly recount the parts of the story she could share.

 

Yu Qing was surprised. She hadn’t expected Jiang Nianyu to recover any memories. But considering the shock of witnessing someone jump from a building, it made sense that such trauma could trigger recall.

 

“My mother also died by jumping from a building,” Jiang Nianyu added.

 

Yu Qing’s gaze froze, instantly realizing how hellish her earlier thoughts had been.

 

What kind of iron heart must one possess to face the scene of their mother’s death?

 

“My mom and dad were each other’s first loves. But when Dad graduated from university, he had a promising future and married a wealthy heiress for a family alliance, abandoning my mom.”

 

“By then, Mom was already pregnant. She couldn’t bear to give me up, so she brought me into the world.”

 

The sun shone brightly outside the window, yet not a single ray of light reached Jiang Nianyu’s eyes.

 

Sometimes she wondered if her mother hadn’t given birth to her, she wouldn’t have become entangled with Old Si and wouldn’t have been harmed.

 

As Jiang Nianyu spoke, her voice grew less clear than at the beginning.

 

She didn’t understand why she was telling Yu Qing all this. It was just that so many memories had suddenly flooded her mind, and her chest felt heavy.

 

And Yu Qing happened to be sitting right beside her.

 

She tilted the umbrella to shield herself from the torrential rain. From that day on, Jiang Nianyu felt happier than she had in all the years before.

 

The only thing that could compare to those days was her mother’s life before she became addicted to alcohol.

 

“After that, her mental health never recovered, and she jumped to her death.”

 

The sudden shift caught Yu Qing off guard. She had been expecting Jiang Nianyu to share more about her cherished memories with her mother. Instead, she was abruptly confronted with the reality of Jiang Nianyu’s life as an orphan who had lost her mother.

 

Yu Yue’s death shocked Yu Qing, and Jiang Nianyu was equally stunned.

 

As Jiang Siqing had mentioned, Yu Yue died at Jiang Siqing’s grandmother’s house—on the very night she had promised to return and pick up Jiang Nianyu.

 

From that moment on, Jiang Nianyu seemed to have lost all sense of tomorrow.

 

She endured inexplicable bullying from the children at the shelter and later had to endure the whims of the Madam and Miss at the Jiang Family.

 

What tomorrow might hold for her was beyond her imagination.

 

“It’s okay, Mom is always watching over you from above. Don’t be afraid.”

 

Suddenly, a gentle embrace enveloped Jiang Nianyu.

 

Yu Qing’s voice was full of tenderness as she hugged Jiang Nianyu and gently stroked her head.

 

To be honest, Jiang Nianyu had always hated this kind of affection.

 

She disliked physical contact and despised others’ pity.

 

Yet Yu Qing’s embrace seemed to be the exception, drawing her in and making her yearn for it.

 

But it also made her uneasy.

 

The hospital room was quiet, and Jiang Nianyu found herself thinking about the earlier phone call again.

 

If Yu Qing really finds out my true nature, I won’t wait for her to expose me. I’ll reveal myself first, she thought.

 

“What about that little girl?”

 

Yu Qing frowned at the mention of the girl, retorting irritably, “I gave her a good scolding. Who knows where she ran off to?”

 

This answer completely surprised Jiang Nianyu.

 

She stared at Yu Qing in astonishment, who stood with her hands on her hips and her head held high, radiating righteous indignation. “She thought she could fool me by playing the victim and acting weak. Tch.”

 

“From now on, if you’re worried about something, just ask me directly. Don’t listen to other people’s nonsense. Would I ever lie to you?”

 

“It’s partly my fault too. I never imagined a child barely in her teens could be so scheming. Honestly, what could a Beta like me possibly have that she’d want?”

 

 

Hearing Yu Qing’s words, Jiang Nianyu silently gripped the bedding beside her.

 

She too had joined the Jiang Family in her early teens.

 

She too had relied on feigning helplessness and weakness to win Jiang Xianyun’s initial pity and affection.

 

Driven by an inexplicable concern, Jiang Nianyu asked softly, “…A-Qing, do you really hate that so much?”

 

Yu Qing’s stream of complaints abruptly halted.

 

Noticing Jiang Nianyu’s downcast lashes, she realized her earlier remark about “feigning helplessness and weakness” might have inadvertently targeted her. She immediately clarified, “It all depends on the motive, you know.”

 

“The world isn’t black and white. I hate feigning helplessness, but I also don’t hate it.”

 

“Besides—”

 

Yu Qing drew out the word, leaning closer to Jiang Nianyu.

 

Having shown favoritism countless times before, she spoke with practiced ease, even in person: “If that person is close to me, I’ll unconditionally side with her, no matter if she’s right or wrong.”

 

Yu Qing grinned smugly and mischievously, as if fully aware of her flawed logic but determined to follow her own path regardless.

 

The afternoon heat in South City was stifling, the sun’s glare making her head swim and her heart race.

 

In the past, everything Jiang Nianyu did came with conditions. She traded obedience for her mother’s attention, feigned helplessness to win Jiang Xianyun’s pity, used her stellar academic performance to secure Jiang Xianyun’s promise to let her join the company, and constantly created value to build a fiercely loyal team.

 

Yet now, despite having exposed her worst self during her amnesia, this person had no conditions. She didn’t require Jiang Nianyu’s effort or calculation. Even now, Jiang Nianyu didn’t fully understand what the little girl had said, yet Yu Qing had chosen to side with her without hesitation.

 

This was something Jiang Nianyu had never experienced before.

 

A lonely heart deep within her chest began to stir.

 

Perhaps because she had never known such warmth, she was willing to chase even the most fleeting, illusory sunlight, consequences be damned.

 

The sunlight fell across Yu Qing’s face, drawing attention to the scabbed red mark at the corner of her lips.

 

Jiang Nianyu silently recalled the moment in the stairwell when, during her Heat, she had lost control and bitten Yu Qing during their kiss.

 

The Jiang Nianyu who had lost her memories and the one who had regained them felt like two entirely different people.

 

Her heart still pounded wildly from their recent kiss, having tasted the sweetness of the marrow. Yet her movements were surprisingly gentle, devoid of any roughness or greed.

 

Instead, she cautiously reached out, tracing the outline of the wound at the corner of Yu Qing’s lips with a feather-light touch.

 

“Does it hurt?”

 

Thump-thump! Thump-thump!

 

Jiang Nianyu’s fingers were cool, yet they carried a lingering warmth that refused to dissipate.

 

As they brushed against the corner of Yu Qing’s lips, the sporadic contact felt even more intense than a kiss.

 

Knock, knock, knock.

 

The sudden knock at the door startled them.

 

As if the person outside hadn’t considered the intimacy within, the door swung open immediately. “Xiao Yu, your test results are here!”

 

Yu Qing recognized the Head Nurse’s voice instantly and tried to pull away from Jiang Nianyu.

 

But Jiang Nianyu, familiar with the nickname “Xiaoyu,” refused to let her go. Instead, she rose with Yu Qing, their eyes turning toward the doorway.

 

The Head Nurse’s eyes curved into a smile at the sight before her. Without hesitation, she addressed Yu Qing in front of Jiang Nianyu: “The report shows your bl00d contains Alpha pheromone factors. While you won’t fully differentiate, they could prove useful in certain situations.”