What to Do if You Mess With an Omega? - Chapter 37.1

As expected.

Wen Yuan Shuang had not even formally listed the invitation roster for this little friends’ gathering when someone leaked the news that Xu Yuqing would come to sample her cooking.

That message spread like locusts over the land, with everyone discussing it wherever it went. Some even said this meant Xu Yuqing was selecting an Alpha for herself. She had lost one Yan Bojing, but there would still be thousands upon thousands of Liu Bojings, Zhang Bojings…

In short, before Xu Yuqing had a child, every Alpha on the capital star had a chance.

They also said she would invite many people, and the tales spread in vivid detail, as if the speakers had been right there on the scene.

Those with slightly closer relationships had already privately messaged Wen Yuan Shuang. How much of a headache that gave her remained unknown. Meanwhile, the very person who had sparked this storm—Xu Yuqing—busied herself picking out clothes for Ning Hanzhu and Ning Qianqian.

“This one, this one, and this one too—all of them.”

Xu Yuqing waved her hand grandly and spent without restraint. Ning Hanzhu and Ning Qianqian, seated on the sofa, looked just like an Alpha and her little tagalong child kept by a rich woman.

Ning Hanzhu’s mouth twitched. “This… is not so good, is it?”

The first time Xu Yuqing had taken her to a banquet, the clothes had also been Xu Yuqing’s choice. That outfit still hung in Ning Hanzhu’s closet to this day. She had not said anything about not returning it, but once she had mentioned it.

Xu Yuqing had seemed quite puzzled. “If you send back an Alpha’s clothes, they can only be thrown away. I cannot wear them anyway. You might as well keep them yourself.”

And so that outfit had remained until now.

Ning Qianqian still had an octopus ball in her mouth. Her little hand patted Ning Hanzhu, and her small mouth chewed faster until she finally swallowed. “Sister, wear it—super handsome.”

Ning Hanzhu, “…”

Xu Yuqing’s candy-coated shells were irresistible. Even Ning Qianqian had been conquered.

She struggled a bit. “I think picking one set is enough. The extras probably are not necessary.”

She had not missed the prices—that string of zeros was simply too frightening. Though her wallet had thickened lately, it could not withstand this kind of spending.

There could not possibly be a third or fourth banquet.

Xu Yuqing smiled in a way that was not quite a smile. “Do you need me to take them off for you personally?”

Take off what.

Ning Hanzhu’s scalp tingled at the mere image. She snatched up the clothes and dashed into the changing room, as if something terrifying chased her from behind. That attitude irritated Xu Yuqing immensely. “Qianqian, when you grow up, never learn from your sister. Such a scaredy-cat.”

Ning Qianqian tilted her head.

How could sister be a scaredy-cat?

Ning Hanzhu knew Xu Yuqing joked, but she could not stop her thoughts from wandering. She had finally managed to clear the junk from her mind.

She checked herself in the mirror and had to admire Xu Yuqing’s taste in clothes. The outfit fit perfectly, the fabric comfortable, and somehow it made her figure appear taller visually.

On ordinary days, Ning Hanzhu wore casual, comfortable clothes at home while cooking—whatever felt easiest.

This outfit gave her the sense of heading to work as a corporate drone—no, as a company boss.

She tried on one set, and Ning Qianqian clapped enthusiastically. “Sister’s new clothes look so good. Sister is so handsome. When I grow up, I want to be like sister too.”

Xu Yuqing, “?”

Like her and turn into a scaredy-cat?

Ning Hanzhu finished trying on her outfits, and it was Ning Qianqian’s turn. She had thought it would follow the same process: Xu Yuqing picks a few pieces, Ning Qianqian tries them on, and done.

But Xu Yuqing showed extreme enthusiasm when it came to selecting children’s clothes.

“I see Qianqian has too few outfits. This pink bubble skirt really suits her complexion. She would turn into a little princess in it. Then our Qianqian would be the most dazzling little girl in school.”

“This green forest outfit looks good too. It is the most eye-catching for going out to play.”

“This set, this set, and this, this, this…”

Ning Hanzhu carried at least seven or eight bags in her hands. After Xu Yuqing finished selecting Ning Qianqian’s clothes, she went to look at shoes and socks. Even passing a sailor hat, she thought it would look adorable on Ning Qianqian’s head.

So buy buy buy.

Ning Hanzhu, “…”

She watched Xu Yuqing squat down to wipe Ning Qianqian’s mouth and suddenly found the scene exceptionally warm. All of Xu Yuqing’s sharp edges retracted in that moment, leaving only gentleness—like a good big sister doting on her little sibling.

And she was the most superfluous one there.

Ning Hanzhu could not help thinking: was she not good enough to Ning Qianqian on ordinary days? Was she not suited to be a sister?

“What are you spacing out for?”

“Coming.”

Xu Yuqing felt Ning Qianqian still lacked something. In the end, they entered a accessories store, where Xu Yuqing picked out a sparkling crown. “This one.”

On Saturday.

Ning Hanzhu watched Xu Yuqing personally dress Ning Qianqian as a little princess. She wanted to remind her several times: was not this just a gathering for kids?

Dressed like that, it seemed as if they were attending an important royal banquet.

Ning Hanzhu’s change was the simplest.

Then it was Xu Yuqing’s turn. Ning Hanzhu and Ning Qianqian, big and small, waited on the sofa. They finished a magazine and a plate of fruit before Xu Yuqing emerged in a shimmering silver-white long dress. Her waist-length hair had slight curls at the ends, topped with a crystal hair accessory similar to Ning Qianqian’s.

Her hands crossed over her abdomen, and she walked toward them like a queen.

Ning Hanzhu stared dumbfounded at the person before her. She had always known Xu Yuqing was beautiful, but for the first time, she realized just how breathtaking that beauty was. Every step left an impression of allure.

Her heart thumped like a drum.

Xu Yuqing’s every step seemed precisely calibrated, inserting itself right into her heart. Ning Hanzhu found her own heartbeat rather noisy.

Xu Yuqing was very satisfied with Ning Hanzhu’s mesmerized gaze. She raised her chin slightly. “Do I look good?”

Ning Hanzhu’s lips parted and closed. She suddenly felt parched. Beside her, Ning Qianqian snapped back to attention and clapped wildly. “Pretty sister looks the best—better than sister.”

Ning Hanzhu, “?”

What had she done wrong?

Why step on her too?

The three finished preparing and set out. Before leaving, Ning Hanzhu could not help glancing at Xu Yuqing two more times. With a beauty at her side, her eyes kept drifting toward her—what was strange about that? But it seemed something was missing. She asked casually, “Why did you not spray that perfume you used last time today?”

Xu Yuqing, “What perfume?”

Ning Hanzhu recalled it: that clear, cool scent that refreshed the mind. “The one with that nice woody fragrance. I think it really matches your aura. By the way, next time you buy some, get a bottle for me too. I rather like it.”

Xu Yuqing’s steps faltered slightly. Ning Hanzhu walked two paces before noticing she had not followed. “Why are you not walking?”

A faint blush rose on Xu Yuqing’s cool face. Her expression complex, she walked to Ning Hanzhu’s side and huffed heavily. “Bad thing.”

Ning Hanzhu, “??”

How had she become a bad thing?

Xu Yuqing gave her the cold shoulder the whole way. Ning Hanzhu wanted to ask but could not with the curious Ning Qianqian beside her. Until the hover car reached its destination and she saw the parking area filled with hover cars in a long line. They had not arrived late, but finding a spot still took considerable time.

That was nothing. When they reached the Wen residence and pushed open the door, plenty of people were already inside. The banquet guests clustered in twos and threes, giving her a sense of a lively wine feast with toasts clinking.

Had Hua Rui Bo’s mom invited the entire school’s children?

But where were the children?

“Sister Xu, why are you so late?”

“Ah, little Qianqian, long time no see.”

Ning Qianqian still remembered Luo Tianran and called out to her right away. “Sister Tianran, your dress today is so pretty.”

Luo Tianran’s heart bubbled with delight at those words. She pinched Ning Qianqian’s chubby cheek. “What a sweet little mouth you have. Who knows how many people you will fool when you grow up. But I like it.”

Hua Rui Bo had waited all morning with bated breath for his expected little friend to arrive. In the end, a bunch of adults showed up, and he saw no children at all. He finally spotted Ning Qianqian and walked over with restraint. “Auntie Yuqing, Auntie Tianran, Sister Ning, can I take Qianqian out to play?”

Xu Yuqing, “?”

Luo Tianran, “?”

Ning Hanzhu nearly laughed out loud. This kid had messed up all three of their generations in one go.

Luo Tianran, displeased, hugged Ning Qianqian. “Hua family kid, one more chance. Speak properly. What did you just call me?”

Hua Rui Bo looked utterly reluctant but finally pouted. “Sister Tianran.”

Xu Yuqing also placed a hand on Ning Qianqian’s shoulder and raised an eyebrow at him. Hua Rui Bo lowered his gaze. “Sister Yuqing.”

Ning Hanzhu nearly burst out laughing at his deeply aggrieved expression. She was just about to speak for him when Xu Yuqing gently pushed Ning Qianqian. “Go play. Do not leave the Wen family grounds.”

Ning Qianqian nodded.

Hua Rui Bo took Ning Qianqian’s hand. Even from afar, they heard his deep sigh. “All a bunch of grown-ups, and they still make me call them sister. Does that not put me and my mom on the same level?”

Ning Qianqian turned back to wave at them, then ran off outside with Hua Rui Bo.

Ning Hanzhu felt a bit worried. “There are so many people today. Should I follow them?”

Xu Yuqing, “No need to worry. Hua Ge Lan installed plenty of surveillance cameras at home. The security is tight, in case his own son gets lost.”

Ning Hanzhu, “?”

Installing surveillance cameras in one’s own home?

Luo Tianran tossed her long hair. “Wen Yuan Shuang dotes on her son immensely. I remember two years ago, Hua Rui Bo wandered out from home while playing. The two of them searched for the child all night. After that, the Wen home turned into an impregnable fortress.”

No wonder.

Now she felt reassured.

The three stood at the entrance for a moment before someone came up to greet them.

“Miss Yuqing, it has been a while. You look just the same.”

“Miss Du.”

“Our Miss Du looks even more haggard. Could it be that Yan Bojing still has not accepted your rejection?” Luo Tianran blinked innocently at her.

The arrival was none other than the woman whose crush on Yan Bojing Xu Yuqing had exposed at the previous banquet. She favored heavy makeup, though this time it was lighter, making her look better than last time. Ning Hanzhu remembered her name was Du Wenmei.

Du Wenmei felt a surge of anger, but unusually, she did not lash out at Luo Tianran. Her voice was not as shrill as before. “I came to ask Miss Yuqing to show mercy. Since you do not wish to be with Yan Bojing, why not make him give up completely?”

Ning Hanzhu, “?”