What to Do if You Mess With an Omega? - Chapter 4

“Tonight, you’ll have to squeeze in with Qianqian on the bed.”

“What about you?”

Ning Hanzhu resignedly moved their dining table to block the door, then sorted through unused items to clear a spot on the floor. She dragged out a set of off-season bedding from under the bed and spread it out. “I’ll sleep on the floor.”

The uneven floor, even with thick bedding, looked uncomfortable.

Ning Hanzhu tended to Ning Qianqian first. The little one was sound asleep, undisturbed no matter how she was moved. Ning Hanzhu gestured to Xu Yuqing, who stood stiffly to the side. “Sit wherever.”

Xu Yuqing glanced at the stool, then at the bed she’d sleep on, and finally perched on the bed’s edge. “You’ve always lived here?”

“Not always. Before, we were on the streets, huddled with a bunch of vagrants. Then we met Auntie Lu. She saw how tough it was for me with Qianqian and helped us get this place. We just pay a bit of rent each month.”

Ning Hanzhu chatted casually, her tone light, as she deftly removed Ning Qianqian’s shoes and clothes, wiping her hands and face with a towel like she’d done it a hundred times. Once everything was settled, she gently placed Qianqian on the inner side of the bed, covering her with a thin blanket. “Qianqian’s a good sleeper, doesn’t fuss.”

Xu Yuqing nodded. “She really is well-behaved.”

Not crying or making a scene despite not seeing her sister—her obedience was almost heartbreaking.

At Qianqian’s age, Xu Yuqing had been a pampered treasure, getting whatever she wanted.

The two sat in silence. Ning Hanzhu took a nutrient tube from the bedside table and sipped it slowly. Noticing Xu Yuqing staring off into space, she hesitantly grabbed another tube and offered it. “For you.”

Xu Yuqing looked at her but didn’t take it.

Ning Hanzhu lowered her eyes, starting to retract her hand, when a delicate, pale hand intercepted the tube.

The milky liquid contrasted sharply with Xu Yuqing’s overly fair skin, her fingers like polished jade, making Ning Hanzhu steal a few extra glances.

“Thanks.”

“No problem.”

After finishing her nutrient tube, Ning Hanzhu crouched on her floor bedding, pulling out paper and pen to continue her grand plans.

Xu Yuqing wasn’t watching her at first, but with the room so small, her gaze eventually landed on Ning Hanzhu.

Ning Hanzhu was scribbling furiously, channeling the energy she once used for job applications, occasionally scratching her scalp with the pen when stumped.

“You actually like recording things this way?”

“Hm?”

The original owner had a habit of collecting old, discarded paper and jotting notes on it. Ning Hanzhu saw no issue with it and kept it up, finding it comforting. “Is there something wrong with it?”

Xu Yuqing shook her head, reminded of someone. “Not many people do it this way anymore.”

Ning Hanzhu felt a twinge of worry, thinking she’d slipped up. “I couldn’t afford an optical computer before, so I wrote things down wherever I could. Later, I found people throwing out this old paper as trash, so I picked it up to use.”

Xu Yuqing wasn’t sure whether to be shocked that someone in this world lacked an optical computer or impressed by Ning Hanzhu’s resilience.

No optical computer was like having no identity.

It wasn’t uncommon on a remote planet like this.

Seeing her engrossed in writing, Xu Yuqing didn’t disturb her further and lay down, still clothed.

In this strange, cramped room, on a hard wooden bed, she was flanked by a newly differentiated Alpha on her right, whose potent pheromones leaked out unconsciously—those earlier warnings weren’t a bluff.

On her left was a soft little kid, making her feel like the filling in a sandwich, enveloped by two unfamiliar presences.

It was a completely novel experience.

If she hadn’t left…

After weighing pros and cons, Ning Hanzhu set down her pen and turned to see two serene sleeping faces. Under the light, Xu Yuqing glowed with an almost holy beauty, breathtakingly stunning. How could someone be this beautiful?

When Ning Hanzhu snapped out of it, she realized she’d been staring at Xu Yuqing like a creep for five minutes.

She slapped her cheeks hard. To think she’d be swayed by beauty one day—unimaginable.

But appreciating beauty was only human nature.

She lay down, forcing her eyes shut, but the uneven floor was too uncomfortable. She rolled and tossed all night.

Xu Yuqing, who thought she’d never sleep, woke up feeling surprisingly refreshed. She stared at the shabby ceiling for a while, lingering in bed, until a small hand touched her.

Ning Qianqian, eyes closed, burrowed into her arms. “Sister, Sister, I need to pee.”

“!!!”

Xu Yuqing shot up.

“Hey, your sister needs the bathroom.”

“I’ve got it.”

The chaotic day began like that. By the time Ning Qianqian was fully awake, she had no idea what a feat she’d accomplished.

“I’m going job hunting today.”

“Perfect, I need to grab my stuff from the hotel.”

Ning Hanzhu wanted to ask about her plans but feared it’d sound like she was rushing her out. “How about I walk you to the hotel, and we can look for job openings along the way?”

Xu Yuqing nodded.

With Ning Qianqian in tow, they headed toward the hotel. Xu Yuqing asked, “What kind of job are you looking for?”

The original owner had wanted to be a trader, buying low and selling high for profit, with flexible hours to care for her sister.

Ning Hanzhu thought it was a solid idea, but every plan the original owner made hit obstacles. Projects barely started before fizzling out, either thwarted by setbacks or sabotaged, as if someone didn’t want her to succeed. That’s why she’d resorted to working with Snake Bro. “I’ll take it one step at a time.”

Xu Yuqing’s brow furrowed slightly.

“Sister, that big guy looks so cool!”

“That’s a mecha.”

The biggest mecha shop on Alpha Star was right in front of them, reportedly a chain owned by the Luo family from the capital star, spanning over fifty planets. Mechas were exorbitantly priced—a standard one cost millions, while custom models started in the billions.

Xu Yuqing saw the big and little sister standing outside the shop, staring longingly at a plain, decorative mecha on display, as if it were some rare treasure.

“Wipe your mouths, your drool comes out.”

“Huh?”

The two turned back simultaneously, touching their mouths, their identical panicked expressions making Xu Yuqing laugh.

“No drool! Pretty lady’s teasing!”

“Yeah!”

“Want to check it out? Go inside.”

In high spirits, Xu Yuqing led the way in.