The Black Lotus Omega Always Wraps His Tail Around Me (GL, ABO) - Chapter 3
The press conference was a grand affair. The media turnout included not only entertainment reporters but also representatives from the business world.
The area in front of the building was packed with cars.
Ji Yanwan followed closely behind Ji Mingtao, head down, stealing glances in every direction.
Ji Mingtao exuded a natural aura of authority. Her high heels clicked crisply against the marble floor, echoing confidently as she walked.
“Good morning, Director Ji. Good morning, Third Miss.”
Wherever they passed, people stopped to greet them with polite bows.
As a college student who hadn’t even graduated yet, Ji Yanwan had never witnessed such a scene.
The lobby seemed to stretch endlessly upward. The floor was so polished it reflected light, and the luxurious decor screamed extravagance.
Inwardly, Ji Yanwan sighed. Novels really had undersold this level of wealth.
Once inside the elevator, Ji Mingtao glanced back at her and frowned slightly.
Since they entered, her younger sister had been sneaking glances around, occasionally letting out a quiet sigh.
Something was off. A girl who normally caused trouble was suddenly acting obedient and cautious.
That could only mean one thing — she was hiding something.
Ji Mingtao turned around and gave a warning. “During the press conference, if you can’t say anything proper, keep your mouth shut. I’ll handle it. Understood?”
Ji Yanwan nodded rapidly, like a pecking bird.
The elevator chimed. They had arrived.
As soon as the doors opened, staff members rushed over to fit both women with earpieces and microphones.
Ji Mingtao and her assistant walked quickly ahead, checking the arrangements inside.
Ji Yanwan glanced around the floor, even more stunned by the over-the-top luxury here than on the first floor.
When the doors to the conference room opened, Ji Yanwan was once again wide-eyed.
The room was filled with professional equipment — cameras, lights, everything perfectly in place.
At the front of the room, three women sat facing the cameras.
The one in the center wore a tailored suit with red lipstick. Her long hair was pinned up neatly at the back of her head.
She handled the reporters’ questions with calm poise.
Hearing the doors open, she adjusted her gold-rimmed glasses and said calmly, “Tao, Yanwan.”
Ji Mingtao smiled in response and quickened her pace toward the front.
A character profile automatically filled in Ji Yanwan’s mind.
Ji Hesong. Alpha. Current general manager of Ji Corporation. She was known both inside and outside the company for being a mature and elegant eldest sister.
Just as Ji Yanwan was about to follow, someone suddenly bumped hard into her, causing her to stumble forward.
Right before she fell, a pair of smooth, jade-like arms wrapped around her from behind, holding her tightly.
“We meet again, Miss Ji.”
The woman’s voice was clear and soft, with a delicate sweetness at the end that was undeniably seductive, especially when whispered into her ear. The faint scent of perfume mixed with the woman’s breath, brushing against her skin.
Ji Yanwan shivered and quickly stepped aside.
The woman behind her had creamy white skin and a face with light, refined makeup.
Fu Suihe withdrew her arms and gave a faint smile. “Please, after you, Miss Ji.”
Ji Yanwan mumbled a thank-you, then scurried forward to Ji Mingtao’s side.
Their little scene had drawn attention. Several reporters were already looking over.
Including the women onstage.
Ji Hesong chuckled softly, then turned her face back toward the reporters and said with composure, “My fault. It seems the Ji Corporation’s entrance threshold is still too low.”
“When all sorts of people crowd into one space, traffic jams are inevitable.”
She smiled harmlessly, but behind the lenses, a flicker of disdain glinted in her eyes.
Ji Yanwan sat obediently beside Ji Mingtao, keeping her head down.
“That’s a bit much, Sister Ji,” someone said.
The speaker was the eldest daughter of the Cheng family, Cheng Qi, seated on Ji Hesong’s right. “It’s clearly the Cheng family’s fault for inviting too many guests.”
The two women exchanged glances. The atmosphere was quickly heating up.
Once everyone had arrived, the reporters began the questioning process.
“So regarding last night’s incident, do either of you have a response?”
The two people involved sat on opposite ends of the room.
Ji Yanwan was too busy matching names to faces in her head to even register the question.
So, when a camera suddenly pointed directly at her, it startled her into holding her breath.
The reporter waited for an answer.
Ji Yanwan swallowed hard and looked to her side. Everyone in the room was staring at her.
The invisible pressure closed in around her like a heavy dome.
She frowned, growing irritated. When she lifted her head again, her expression had changed. A cold sharpness had appeared between her brows.
“Are you speaking to me?”
Her tone was icy as she continued. “I think the other person involved in the incident should be clearer on the details than I am.”
Ji Mingtao was shocked by her sister’s response. The words she had prepared to smooth things over got stuck in her throat.
She turned to look at Ji Yanwan, who was still lounging lazily against the back of her chair.
Those gray eyes, usually wide and dopey, were now narrowed slightly.
There was something dangerous and playful in her gaze.
It was a presence she had never seen in her sister before, and Ji Mingtao suddenly felt that something about her had changed.
Meanwhile, the woman in the spotlight appeared delicate and fragile. A single tear hovered in her eye, ready to fall.
Her hands trembled slightly on her lap, her entire figure like a bubble that could burst with a single touch.
Facing the camera, she took a shallow breath.
“Nothing really happened last night, did it?”
“My heat came earlier than expected, so my memory is a little hazy. Did I encounter Miss Ji?”
“If I did, then she would know better than I do.”
Fu Suihe blinked, and a tear slipped down the corner of her eye. “After all, she’s an Alpha…”
The topic had been kicked right back like a ball.
Ji Yanwan gave a scoff. “Funny. I had a few drinks last night too. All I remember is someone throwing themselves into my arms.”
She winced theatrically and rubbed her temple. “As for who it was… that part’s a little blurry.”
The reporter immediately followed up. “So did you accept it?”
“Of course not.” Ji Yanwan gave a cold smile. “Someone throwing themselves at you doesn’t make them a gift. Sometimes, they’re trouble.”
She turned her head slightly. “What do you think, Miss Fu?”
Their eyes met across the crowd for just a second, then broke away.
That one second was enough for Ji Yanwan to read several emotions from her.
Fu Suihe’s tears still hadn’t fully fallen, clinging to her porcelain face like perfect diamonds.
They were clear and flawless.
Maybe it was the white silk gown she wore today. Maybe it was the soft and delicate makeup.
Seated at the edge of the stage, she looked like a lonely island. Fragile. Isolated.
But unfortunately, those were crocodile tears.
Ji Yanwan remembered how she had been lured into heat the night before.
Those red-rimmed eyes, the smudged lips, and her disheveled hair…
There was a sharp disconnect between the jasmine-like woman in front of them and the one from the night before.
The topic was tossed around for several rounds, with the host desperately trying to keep things under control.
Eventually, the conversation ended with everyone agreeing it had all been a misunderstanding.
At the close of the topic, Fu Suihe appeared as if she had suffered unbearable humiliation.
She softly murmured an apology, then gently covered her face and began to sob.
Her crying was so faint it sounded like a kitten, echoing softly through the air.
It stirred sympathy in many of the reporters.
Sitting next to her was Cheng Mo, the second daughter of the Cheng family.
She only gave Fu Suihe a quick glance and remained completely unmoved.
Cheng Qi, the eldest daughter, kicked Cheng Mo under the table. Only then did she react, and even then, all she did was pat Fu Suihe lightly on the shoulder.
That simple gesture didn’t go unnoticed. The reporters immediately caught the matching ring on Cheng Mo’s middle finger, while Fu Suihe’s hand was bare.
Cheng Qi gave a cheerful laugh. “So it was just a misunderstanding after all. Then you must come to Mo and Suihe’s engagement banquet tomorrow night, Ah Wan. Otherwise, some people might get the wrong idea again.”
Ji Yanwan smiled sweetly and nodded politely.
Cheng Qi smiled with satisfaction. “Ah Wan really is just like when she was little. So simple and honest.”
Ji Hesong responded with a warm tone. “Yes, and Mo is still the same. Quiet and composed.”
The topic smoothly shifted back under the control of the Ji and Cheng family elders.
Once Ji Yanwan finished apologizing, she finally breathed a long sigh of relief.
The main issue had been handled. Everything else at the press conference was just polite chatter.
When the event ended, the reporters gradually packed up and left.
Cheng Qi and Ji Hesong exchanged a few more friendly words before seeing the Cheng family off.
The once-crowded conference room quickly became quiet.
The woman who had been smiling moments ago lowered her gaze and became expressionless.
Ji Mingtao stepped forward and gently lifted Ji Hesong, placing her carefully into a wheelchair.
Ji Yanwan stared blankly for a moment. Her eldest sister was in a wheelchair?
Sensing her gaze, Ji Hesong gave a soft smile. “It’s nothing. I’ve just been tired lately. The same old problem.”
Ji Mingtao shot her a sharp look and scolded Ji Yanwan. “So don’t make her upset again. You hear me?”
Ji Yanwan nodded hard.
Ji Mingtao pushed Ji Hesong forward, and Ji Yanwan quickly followed. The three of them returned to the office.
A small click echoed in the room.
The flame from the Zippo lighter vanished as the lid snapped shut.
Ji Hesong held a cigarette between her fingers. The smoke curling upward made her face look slightly hazy.
The room was silent.
Ji Yanwan slumped in her chair, dazed, surrounded by the faint smell of tobacco.
Suddenly, an image of Fu Suihe flashed through her mind—her tearful face from earlier, overlapping with the flushed and teary-eyed expression from the night before.
Ji Hesong exhaled a final ring of smoke. Her voice was husky as she asked, “Wanwan, what are you thinking about?”
Ji Mingtao gave a cold snort. “What could she possibly be thinking? Probably something dumb.”
Ji Hesong smiled gently. “Don’t be so hard on her.”
Ji Yanwan turned to look at the two women beside her. One stood, the other sat. Both were beautiful and graceful, with perfect poise and elegance.
“I was thinking about Fu Suihe,” Ji Yanwan said slowly. “She doesn’t seem simple.”
“Oh? You figured that out too?” Ji Mingtao walked over to Ji Hesong and snatched the second cigarette she was about to light.
“And her engagement to Cheng Mo feels forced,” Ji Yanwan added. “Like a business arrangement.”
Ji Mingtao lit the cigarette she took and exhaled. “In the business world, there’s no such thing as love. It’s all about forming alliances and maximizing profits.”
As soon as she said that, a list popped into Ji Yanwan’s mind, showing brief descriptions of the major players.
In Jiangcheng’s economy, four powerful families held dominance: Ji, Cheng, Fu, and Meng.
The Ji family specialized in real estate and commercial centers. The Cheng family focused on luxury goods. The Fu family ruled the entertainment industry, while the Meng family was involved in politics.
Originally, the four families maintained a close partnership. But after a major leadership shake-up in the Fu family, their bond slowly fell apart. Outwardly they remained civil, but behind the scenes there was constant friction.
The new leadership in the Fu family struggled to win support and made many enemies. Meanwhile, the Cheng family clung to outdated ways and was beginning to show signs of decline.
This engagement between Fu and Cheng was clearly a strategic alliance.
After absorbing all this, Ji Yanwan finally realized just how complicated the situation really was.
If she had actually marked Fu Suihe last night, the Ji family would have been directly slapping the Cheng family in the face.
No wonder the Chengs lashed out today. They were about to seal a major alliance, and she nearly ruined it. Anyone would be furious.
Seeing her fall into a daze, Ji Mingtao couldn’t help but laugh. “You did alright back there. Did getting hit with my pillows knock your brain back into place?”
Ji Hesong laughed too. Her smile was soft and graceful, lighting up her entire face.
“So, should we try to marry into the Meng family next?” Ji Yanwan blurted out without thinking.
The other two burst into laughter.
“Who still does political marriages in this day and age?” Ji Mingtao scoffed. “Besides, the new head of the Fu family is rotten to the core. One day they’ll probably turn on everyone.”
Ji Yanwan leaned in, curious for gossip.
“You really think Fu Suihe is that simple?” Ji Mingtao asked.
“The old Fu family had fifteen members. One after another, they died from car accidents, falls, or sudden illnesses. None of it made sense. And yet she’s the only one left.”
Ji Mingtao sneered. “She even forced Cheng Qi to break up a couple and pushed Cheng Mo to come back and marry her.”
“It looks like a win-win engagement, but the truth is the Cheng family just took in a ticking time bomb.”
“Let them fight it out,” Ji Hesong said softly. “When the clams and cranes fight, the fisherman gains.”
Ji Mingtao and Ji Hesong exchanged a knowing glance and smiled.
Ji Yanwan leaned back in her chair, face blank, brain completely overloaded.
She thought about everything Ji Mingtao had just said. None of this had ever been mentioned by the system.
But after her two encounters with Fu Suihe, combined with what her sister had just revealed, Ji Yanwan swallowed hard.
A very bad feeling crept over her.
And just like that, the next mission arrived.
The system chimed softly.
System: “Now issuing Mission Two. Take Fu Suihe away from the engagement banquet.”
Ji Yanwan froze.
Are you serious?
Life Value: Countdown at 24 hours. Reward Pool: 1 million.
As the system vanished, a familiar electric tingle buzzed across her lower back.
She didn’t know when it started, but every time the system showed up or left, it always zapped her there.
Still not ready to give up, Ji Yanwan searched through the system’s clues again, only to confirm what she already feared — she was completely trapped.
She had entered this world without a script, without character profiles, and without even basic information on her mission target.
Fu Suihe’s identity remained a total mystery. And now, her mission was to elope with her.
The more she thought about it, the more terrified she became. She suddenly jumped to her feet, completely panicked.
“Big sis… maybe send me abroad for a few days to hide?”
Ji Hesong looked puzzled.
Ji Mingtao frowned and said, “What nonsense are you spouting now?”