Rumor Has It I Don’t Follow A-Class Morals - Chapter 38

An Jinyao watched as her boss staggered around and could only sigh deeply as she walked over to support her.

“President Ming, we’re supposed to meet President Heng from Ruicheng Group today. What happened to you?” she said, frustrated. “If they see you like this, what are they going to think?”

Ming Muyao replied helplessly, “I was exhausted last night. I fell asleep as soon as I lay down. I almost didn’t wake up this morning.”

“That’s obvious,” An Jinyao said. “Why don’t you sit down for a bit? I’ll get someone to make you a cup of coffee. You can rest a while, and then we’ll head to the airport?”

“What time are they arriving?”

“Still early. Their flight’s after ten, and it’ll take at least thirty minutes for them to get out of the terminal.”

Ming Muyao rubbed her temples and said, “Then yeah, get me a cup of coffee.”

Halfway through the coffee, Ming Muyao headed to the airport with her team to greet the Ruicheng Group representatives.

They waited at the entrance for quite a while before a group of people appeared, pulling suitcases behind them. An Jinyao quickly leaned over to whisper in Ming Muyao’s ear, “The woman in the khaki trench coat in the middle—that’s President Heng, Heng Jingxian.”

Ming Muyao gave a small nod, then took the lead and walked over to greet them.

Heng Jingxian was wearing a pair of oversized sunglasses. When she saw someone walking toward her, she tilted her head and listened as her assistant whispered something into her ear.

“President Heng,” Ming Muyao greeted warmly, “welcome! You must be tired from the trip. I’ve already arranged your hotel—take some time to rest today, and we can discuss business tomorrow.”

Heng Jingxian took off her sunglasses. She was strikingly bold and confident, with sharp, attractive features.

Ming Muyao gave her a quick once-over. Okay, her aura might be a little stronger than mine… but overall, I still look better.

Heng Jingxian stared directly at the woman in front of her, shook her hand briefly, and then quickly let go.

“President Ming, right?” Heng Jingxian said. “You’re much better looking than in the photos.”

Everyone there knew exactly which photos she meant.

Ming Muyao was well aware too. But she wasn’t about to take the fall for someone else’s mess. As long as Heng Jingxian was willing to be her golden goose, she could put up with a few jabs—especially from someone known to have a venomous tongue.

“President Heng, come on, pictures never tell the whole story. Let’s not stand out here in this blazing sun. Let’s get in the car.”

She smoothly changed the subject and guided them away from the airport.

They’d brought three cars for the group. Ming Muyao and Heng Jingxian rode together, sitting side-by-side in the back. The driver and Heng Jingxian’s assistant sat up front.

Ming Muyao glanced at the young assistant—a slim Omega in professional attire with a neat ponytail, holding a black bag that looked heavy and packed with stuff. Her gaze drifted to the assistant’s delicate features.

Even in plain clothes, her beauty was hard to miss.

Curious, Ming Muyao asked, “President Heng, is that your assistant?”

Heng Jingxian shot her a wary look. “Yes,” she said curtly.

“What’s her name?”

“……”

Heng Jingxian glared at her, but Ming Muyao just smiled. “No need to be so tense, President Heng. I just thought she didn’t look too well and wondered if she was feeling sick. That’s all.”

“My assistant’s perfectly healthy.” Heng Jingxian leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes. “I didn’t sleep well on the plane. I’m going to rest a bit. Wake me when we get to the hotel.”

Ming Muyao didn’t mind. She glanced at the supposedly sleeping Heng Jingxian, then turned her attention to the assistant in the front seat again.

In the original storyline, this assistant was Heng Jingxian’s soft spot—a devoted, self-effacing little thing, the classic pitiful sweetheart.

Too bad Heng Jingxian was too arrogant, used to being adored. She took others’ affection for granted and ended up pushing the girl away. Only when she was gone did she realize she’d fallen deeply in love.

Ming Muyao rolled her eyes. Thank God I’m just here to do business with her. They can keep all the heartbreak to themselves.

Heng Jingxian kept up her fake nap the entire ride. The moment they arrived at the hotel, she opened her eyes—completely alert, as if she hadn’t slept at all.

The assistant got out of the front seat, still carrying that heavy bag.

Ming Muyao, seeing how small she was, offered to have the driver help.

“No need for President Ming to concern herself,” Heng Jingxian said sharply. She turned to the assistant and added, “It’s her job. If people keep rushing to carry things for her, then what’s the point of having an assistant? Right, Assistant Si?”

The last sentence was directed at the assistant.

Si Chen looked up at her, both hands gripping the heavy bag. “President Heng is right. Thank you for your concern, President Ming, but I can manage.”

Ming Muyao glanced at Si Chen’s pale face, then at Heng Jingxian, and said helplessly, “Alright then. Let’s head in.”

Heng Jingxian had requested a suite for herself—two connected rooms with a separate living area and a river-view bedroom.

Behind her, Si Chen dutifully dragged the luggage, doing the work of a porter. Ming Muyao couldn’t stand to watch and occasionally lent a hand.

“Thank you…”

Si Chen kept her head down as she thanked her, not daring to make eye contact.

But when Ming Muyao looked up, she found Heng Jingxian glaring at her with visible displeasure.

Seriously? I’m helping your girlfriend, not stealing her. Why are you looking at me like I committed a crime?

Ming Muyao was baffled. I just helped her carry something! Why do I suddenly look like a villain?

Once everyone was settled in, Ming Muyao said, “I’ve reserved a private room at the second-floor restaurant. You’ve all had a long day—come try some of our local specialties.”

Heng Jingxian frowned. She was clearly annoyed, but she still followed Ming Muyao to the restaurant. The two of them sat at the head of the table, with senior staff and department heads seated in order.

Ming Muyao opened a bottle of red wine and poured a glass for Heng Jingxian, saying a few polite words.

Business dinner etiquette was common no matter where you were. While Ming Muyao didn’t love it, she’d had plenty of experience attending functions during work trips with upper management, so she handled it smoothly.

Heng Jingxian, on the other hand, didn’t seem to enjoy this kind of setting. She barely spoke the entire meal—it was mostly the managers and department heads chatting. The two main figures just sat there quietly eating.

“President Ming.”

Toward the end of the meal, Heng Jingxian raised her glass and gently clinked it against Ming Muyao’s. “This inspection is crucial to the future of both our companies. I hope you’ll be honest and not present us with falsified reports.”

Ming Muyao smiled and clinked glasses with her. “You don’t have to worry about that, President Heng. Everything in our cooperation is transparent. You’re welcome to inspect anything you like.”

She took a sip of wine, intending to continue the conversation, but then caught a faint scent of cream.

It was barely there—soft and sweet—and suddenly her head felt foggy.

Shoot… did I drink too much?

Before she could figure it out, Heng Jingxian suddenly shot up from her seat.

Her ears rang as chaos erupted around her. She heard someone fall to the ground, and An Jinyao covered her mouth and nose, face flushed red.

Even though Heng Jingxian was holding it together, she looked pale. She rushed to the corner of the room and picked up Si Chen, who had gone into heat, then shouted to the unaffected beta staff, “Call an ambulance, now!”

Ming Muyao’s head was spinning. Only then did she realize—

It’s her assistant. She’s gone into heat!

The whole room now reeked of that creamy sweet Omega scent—like the first bite of a whipped cream cake.

She collapsed onto the table, struggling to breathe. Her mind was filled with images of Su Yin in a thin nightgown, imagined scenes of them wrapped up together.

Her brain was completely hijacked.

Oh my god!!!

Ming Muyao covered her nose, nausea rising in her throat. She wasn’t just an alpha—she was an alpha who had already marked her Omega.

While unbonded alphas might get excited when another Omega went into heat, Ming Muyao’s reaction was the opposite—other Omegas’ pheromones made her feel sick.

A moment later, someone helped her out of the private room, and soon after, the medical team arrived and carried her onto the ambulance.

“Ma’am, how are you feeling?” a nurse asked, unbuttoning her collar slightly and patting her shoulder. “Can you hear me?”

Ming Muyao’s whole body was burning up. Eyes closed, she answered weakly, “I feel so hot… like I’m on fire…”

“Ma’am, you were just exposed to an Omega in heat. You’ve entered a sensitive phase. Do you remember when your last susceptibility period was?”

“…I don’t remember.”

The nurses tried to ask more questions, but by then, Ming Muyao had already passed out.

Su Yin was still in class, going over her math materials.

Her deskmate, Zhou Zhou, was chewing on a long caterpillar-shaped pastry—her post-meal dessert. It was covered in chocolate flakes and looked a little weird, but she was happily munching away. Noticing Su Yin’s intense focus on her textbook, she asked curiously, “Why are you studying so hard? Which school are you trying to get into?”

Su Yin rested her chin on the end of her mechanical pencil. “Omega Education Academy.”

“Huh?” Zhou Zhou thought for a second. “Didn’t they only require a score around 500-something last year? Not that high. I thought with how seriously you’re studying, you were aiming for one of those 700+ score schools.”

Su Yin gave her a helpless look. “I haven’t been in school for a year. I don’t even know if I can get into that academy.”

“You haven’t studied in a year?” Zhou Zhou immediately put down her pastry, intrigued. “What were you doing all year?”

Su Yin had just opened her mouth to answer when one of the teachers from the front office walked into the classroom, glanced around, and called out, “Su Yin, someone from your family is here for you. Come out for a moment.”

Family?

Su Yin froze. She couldn’t immediately think of who it might be. But as soon as she stepped out of the training center, she saw Aunt Chen pacing anxiously near the entrance, like a cat on a hot tin roof.

“Aunt Chen?” Su Yin walked over quickly. “What’s wrong? What happened?”

Aunt Chen turned to her, grabbing her hand tightly. “Hurry and pack your things—Muyao’s in trouble!”