The Amnesiac Omega Who Reels Me In Every Day – Chapter 41

Her Secret

I Can Accompany You

Jiang Ningshu possessed snake-like facial features¹. Her facial contours were sharp and defined, yet they still retained a delicate softness. Though she was nearly forty years old, her skin remained exceptionally well-preserved, and she exuded the profound charm of a mature woman.

            

Not only that, but she was also an SS-class omega, and Jiang Jinyi had inherited her near-perfect genes.

Jiang Jinyi bolted over. Hearing the commotion, Jiang Ningshu turned her head, a warm smile instantly gracing her face. “Baby, you’re awake?”

Jiang Jinyi pouted, looking so aggrieved she seemed on the verge of tears. She threw herself onto Jiang Ningshu, wrapping her arms around her neck and burying her face in the crook of her collarbone. Like an overgrown child, she whimpered and whined without end.

            

A helpless smile played on Jiang Ningshu’s lips. She reached up to stroke her daughter’s messy hair, her voice incredibly tender. “How are you still like a baby who hasn’t been weaned yet?”

Jiang Jinyi mumbled sullenly, “You have the nerve to say that! Who told you to leave for so long, throwing me aside and leaving me home all alone…”

The mother and daughter were incredibly close, their bond seemingly unbreakable. Meanwhile, Jiang Youwan sat opposite them, unable to blend into their warmth. She looked as though she didn’t belong to this family at all.

            

“Didn’t you have your jiejie to keep you company?” Jiang Ningshu said. “Your jiejie said you were very good, and that she likes you very much.”

She likes me very much?

Jiang Jinyi froze. She pushed herself up from Jiang Ningshu’s embrace, turning her head to shoot a glance at Jiang Youwan.

            

Did she really not complain? I bullied her so badly; how could she possibly like me…

“While Mom was away, did you bully her?” Jiang Ningshu asked. It was merely a casual inquiry, but it struck straight at Jiang Jinyi’s heart. She felt a pang of guilt. But when she recalled the events of the previous night, her confidence returned. She parted her lips to speak, but Jiang Youwan suddenly cut her off.

“Xiao Jin didn’t bully me. She was very good, and she treated me well.” Jiang Youwan smiled as she spoke, looking exceptionally sincere.

            

Hearing this, Jiang Ningshu turned to Jiang Jinyi apologetically. “And here I was, worried that Xiao Jin would bully her jiejie. It seems I thought too poorly of you. I’m sorry, sweetheart.”

Jiang Jinyi’s eyelashes trembled. Momentarily speechless, she buried her face back in Jiang Ningshu’s arms.

She was far too clingy. In Jiang Ningshu’s words, there wasn’t another eighteen-year-old adult who would cling to her mother like this.

            

Especially when compared to Jiang Youwan.

For a split second, she felt as though the scent of her mother’s pheromones was slightly different. But it was only a fleeting sensation, and her attention was quickly drawn elsewhere.

“Your jiejie’s eyes are diseased, and she suffered a lot of hardships while she was away. Fortunately, she’s returned home now. In a few days, I’ll take her to the hospital for an exam. If possible, she’ll have the surgery. After that, our family will live well together. What do you think, Xiao Jin?” It was clear that Jiang Ningshu cared deeply about Jiang Jinyi’s feelings and was seeking her opinion.

            

Going to the hospital? Jiang Jinyi glanced at Jiang Youwan again. The urge to seek justice for her mother, to drive Jiang Youwan out, and to treat her as an enemy subsided significantly.

How does Jiang Youwan call me by my nickname so naturally?

“…Mm.”

            

Only Jiang Jinyi had yet to eat breakfast. As she ate, Secretary Song arrived. Through the glass window, she could be seen driving into the courtyard, parking her car, and walking into the house. She was clearly walking much faster than usual.

“Chairman Jiang, you’ve returned.” She was extremely respectful, though there was an unfathomable look in her eyes beneath her deferential gaze.

“Mm.” Jiang Ningshu raised her eyes to look at her. “Is there something?”

            

Meeting Jiang Ningshu’s gaze, Song Lian paused for half a second before saying, “I have some work to report.”

Jiang Ningshu didn’t spare her another glance. “Report back at the company. I don’t want to hear about work right now.”

“Alright.”

            

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At noon, the household chef prepared a large table of dishes. Jiang Ningshu returned home on time, and with Jiang Youwan, the three of them sat at the table to eat.

It used to be just the two of them. Now, there was suddenly an extra person. Although it wasn’t hard to accept, it was still hard to get used to.

Because Jiang Youwan couldn’t see, a dedicated maid served her food and peeled her shrimp. Jiang Jinyi kept staring at her. Noticing this and assuming her daughter wanted someone to serve her too, Jiang Ningshu picked up a piece of meat and placed it in Jinyi’s bowl.

            

Jiang Jinyi stared at the meat in her bowl, about to pick it up and eat it, when Jiang Ningshu shot her another look—an inquiring gaze, as if asking, Can you serve a piece to your jiejie too?

Jiang Jinyi lowered her eyes, casually picked up a piece of mutton, and dropped it into Jiang Youwan’s bowl. “Here.”

Jiang Youwan was pleasantly surprised. A smile tugged at the corners of her lips. She picked up the mutton and placed it into her mouth. She seemed to pause for a brief moment as she chewed, but it was only a split second before she continued eating.

            

Unaware of anything amiss, Jiang Jinyi kept her head down and ate.

Having been away for so long, Jiang Ningshu had a mountain of work to handle. She left for the office right after lunch, promising to return for dinner.

Once Jiang Ningshu left, Jiang Jinyi didn’t need to pretend to be on her best behavior anymore. She went to find Jiang Youwan in a huff. Today’s weather was not particularly hot. Normally, Jiang Youwan would sit quietly under the phoenix tree in the courtyard.

            

But she wasn’t there this time. She seemed to be in her room. Jiang Jinyi knocked on the door, and upon receiving a response, she pushed it open and entered.

Jiang Youwan appeared a little uneasy. “Miss Jiang.” Out of Jiang Ningshu’s presence, she didn’t call her Xiao Jin anymore, reverting instead to “Miss Jiang.”

Jiang Jinyi frowned, finding her behavior slightly off, though she couldn’t pin down why. Staring at her, she demanded, “Why did you tell Mom that I treat you well? I obviously don’t.”

            

“Because I want to please you.” Jiang Youwan didn’t offer any hypocritical excuses, responding with blunt honesty. Yet, her voice trembled slightly as she spoke, and her fists were tightly clenched, as though she were enduring something.

Her complexion, which was already paler than average, was now utterly ghostly.

“You…” Jiang Jinyi finally noticed something was wrong. Stepping closer, she asked, “What’s wrong with you?”

            

“I’m fine,” she said.

She claimed she was fine, but Jiang Jinyi wasn’t blind. As she drew closer, she clearly saw the red rash on her face—and not just on her face, but her neck as well!

Jiang Jinyi was stunned. “What happened to your face?” This was clearly a symptom of an allergic reaction. A sudden realization struck her. “Are you allergic to mutton?!”

            

Jiang Jinyi grew anxious. Casting her modesty aside, she began stripping Youwan’s clothes to inspect her body. Sure enough, her arms and back were covered in red hives. Shock and anger surged within her. “If you’re allergic to mutton, why on earth did you eat it?! Are you out of your mind?!”

“I’m going to call someone and get you to the hospital.” With that, Jiang Jinyi turned to head outside.

“I’m fine. Don’t go to the hospital.”

            

Jiang Youwan grabbed her arm to stop her, speaking in a soft, soothing tone. “It’s only a mild allergy. These hives will fade very quickly. I’m fine. I just… didn’t want to disappoint Miss Jiang’s kindness…”

Jiang Jinyi froze at those last words. In the next instant, she bolted out of the room.

Jiang Youwan didn’t know which of her words had set the other girl off again, but soon, her breath was once more filled with the scent of hyacinths. Jiang Jinyi had run off to call Dr. Li. Within minutes, Dr. Li arrived to examine her, with Jiang Jinyi remaining by her side the entire time.

            

Today, the smell of disinfectant on Dr. Li was as strong as ever, but Jiang Youwan discovered that the scent of Jiang Jinyi, who was sitting beside her, was incredibly effective at masking the smell of disinfectant, making her feel much less uncomfortable.

Thus, she instinctively wanted to draw closer to her. Closer, and even closer.

Dr. Li administered medicine, noting that the allergic reaction was quite severe. Fortunately, they had treated it in time; otherwise, she could have ended up in the ICU. Jiang Youwan herself didn’t particularly care, but to her surprise, Jiang Jinyi’s reaction beside her was so intense that she was on the verge of tears, the corners of eyes flushed red.

            

In addition to oral medicine, topical ointment had to be applied. When Dr. Li offered to do it, Jiang Youwan’s reluctance was obvious. Jiang Jinyi snatched the ointment directly from the doctor’s hands, told her to leave, and drew the curtains. She helped Jiang Youwan lie face down on the bed, then knelt on the edge of the mattress to apply the medicine herself.

Unable to see Jinyi’s tearful face, Jiang Youwan could only hear her voice, which carried a slight sob. As she applied the ointment, Jinyi scolded, “If you’re allergic to mutton, why did you eat it? Idiot! Idiot!”

“Then I won’t eat it anymore,” Jiang Youwan murmured. She felt much better after taking the medicine, and the ointment felt refreshingly cool. “Even if you serve it to me in the future, I won’t eat it.”

            

“…Do you really want to please me that badly?”

Jiang Youwan was silent for a moment before replying, “I was thinking… if possible, I’d like to live well with Miss Jiang’s family. But if Miss Jiang can’t accept that, I’ll be good. I’ll remain within bounds, just as I did before Mother returned.”

Jiang Youwan tilted her head up toward her, speaking with earnest sincerity. “I want the former more, so I really want to please Miss Jiang.”

            

Jiang Jinyi was stunned. Several times she opened her mouth only to close it, before finally blurting out, “Idiot!” She followed it with several more “idiots” in quick succession.

Jiang Youwan accepted them all quietly.

Once Jiang Jinyi finished venting, her heart genuinely softened. After everything that had transpired over the past half-day, she was entirely certain that Jiang Youwan hadn’t come to steal anything from her. Even if she had, she could never steal their mother’s love.

            

The one Mom loved most would always be her, Jiang Jinyi.

Sniffling, she said in a trembling voice, “Didn’t you want to be my model? Didn’t you say it wasn’t serious? If the hives clear up by tomorrow, I’ll paint you.”

Pausing for a second or two, Jiang Youwan replied with absolute certainty, “The hives will definitely be gone by tomorrow.”

            

“They had better be!”

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The next day.

The hives on Jiang Youwan’s body had faded to the point of being nearly invisible. True to her promise, Jiang Jinyi led her into her private art studio.

            

Jiang Youwan had a deep impression of this art studio. She remembered being humiliated by this young mistress the last time she came here—though that humiliation had already been repaid in full.

Now, the young mistress was going to help fulfill her wish.

By letting her be her model.

            

After some consideration, Jiang Jinyi decided to paint Youwan based on her very first impression of her: a mermaid stranded on the shore from the deep sea.

“I want to do your makeup and turn you into a mermaid.”

“A mermaid?” Jiang Youwan seemed somewhat surprised. “Does Miss Jiang think I resemble a mermaid?”

            

“The moment I saw you, I felt you looked like a captive mermaid whose eyes had been blinded by the sunlight. It was incredibly, beautifully tragic.” Jiang Jinyi shared the thoughts in her heart.

No sooner had she spoken than she felt a twinge of regret, fearing these words might dredge up painful memories for Youwan.

But Jiang Youwan merely said, “As long as it’s the feeling Miss Jiang desires.”

            

She cradled Jiang Youwan’s face, meticulously doing her mermaid makeup. Her current mindset was entirely different from when she had tried to humiliate her by scribbling on her face; she was doing it with absolute seriousness now.

Jiang Youwan’s eyes were closed, her eyelashes like small fans. Jiang Jinyi applied the eyeliner perfectly, painting her lips a bold crimson and drawing deep-blue marine markings and patterns along the side of her face. Her hair naturally had a slight wave to it. Once the makeup was finished, the result was breathtaking—a stunning sight that made it impossible to look away.

A beautifully tragic, fragile mermaid.

            

Jiang Jinyi’s eyes lit up. Telling Youwan to wait patiently in the art studio, she ran off to her walk-in closet to search for outfits.

Her closet housed an extensive collection of various costumes, including several mermaid outfits complete with large fish tails. She imagined that once Jiang Youwan put one on, she would look even more like a mermaid than the real thing.

Hearing the studio door close, leaving her entirely alone, Jiang Youwan—who had been sitting obediently by the floor-to-ceiling window—moved. She stood up and began walking slowly, tracing her palm along the wall as she felt her way forward.

            

She had never forgotten her true purpose for entering this art studio. Did she really want to be Jiang Jinyi’s model?

Honestly, she didn’t have the slightest interest in modeling for anyone.

It was all for the “secret” Jiang Jinyi had mentioned when she was drunk.

            

Feeling her way to a computer, she stopped. She located the power button and pressed it gently. It booted up. She didn’t know if it required a password, nor did it matter.

Pulling a USB flash drive from her pocket, she inserted it into the USB port.

After about ten seconds, a soft beep signaled that the file transfer was complete. She pulled out the flash drive, slipped it back into her pocket, and powered the computer down.

            

Then, she returned to her original spot.

Before long, Jiang Jinyi returned, cradling the mermaid costume in her arms.

She looked at Jiang Youwan, then at the garment in her hands. “Y-You should take off your clothes quickly. I’ll help you put this on.”

            

“You’ll help me…?” Jiang Youwan asked.

Jiang Jinyi felt a wave of embarrassment herself. In a small voice, she muttered, “It’s too complicated, and you can’t see, so you won’t be able to put it on by yourself.”

Indeed, she likely couldn’t. The outfit was indeed highly complex.

            

Jiang Jinyi walked over to the floor-to-ceiling window and drew the curtains.

After a moment of thought, Jiang Jinyi suggested, “Maybe I should call a maid up to help you dress.”

“No,” Jiang Youwan stopped her, her tone pleading. “Could Miss Jiang do it herself? I don’t want anyone else to see my body.”

            

“Th-Then you’re just going to let me see it instead…?”

Jiang Youwan chuckled softly. “Hasn’t Miss Jiang already seen it?” She was referring to the time Jinyi had barged into the bathroom.

At those words, Jiang Jinyi’s cheeks flushed bright pink. She mumbled under her breath, “I didn’t…”

            

That time had been an accident. This time, she was doing it solely for art. Yes, for art’s sake.

Having her stand up, Jiang Jinyi positioned herself in front of Youwan. Since she was slightly shorter, she lowered her head as she began unbuttoning the collar of Youwan’s shirt.

The further down she went, the slower her movements became. Her hands trembled more violently, and her face grew hotter.

            

She could only repeat to herself in her mind, We were both born of the same mother, there’s nothing to be shy about.

Yet, looking at Jiang Youwan’s current appearance—so calm with her eyes closed—Jinyi felt as though she were profaning a deity.

Why is she the one being undressed, yet I’m the one who is so nervous and embarrassed?

            

Biting her lip, Jiang Jinyi slipped the entire shirt off Youwan’s shoulders. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, then stepped behind Youwan with a crimson face to undo the hidden clasps.

Fair skin was exposed to the slightly cool air, breaking out in goosebumps—the most honest physical reaction. Even her nipples hardened in response to the chill. Was Jiang Youwan nervous? Her increasingly dense pheromones betrayed her.

But Jiang Jinyi didn’t have time to notice. She didn’t dare stand in front of Jiang Youwan, keeping her eyes fixed solely on her pristine white back, nor did she have time to notice her flushed earlobes.

            

Putting on the outfit was an incredibly difficult task, and both of them were to blame—though the bulk of the responsibility lay with Jiang Jinyi, who was simply too nervous. It took over ten minutes to finally get her fully dressed.

Jiang Youwan assumed the pose Jiang Jinyi had requested, sitting sideways on the floor with one hand supporting herself. Her eyes were closed, her eyelashes fanning out, and her long hair fell like a waterfall down her back, trailing over the massive, long fish tail. As Jiang Jinyi drew back the curtains behind her, a flood of bright sunlight washed over her, making her look breathtakingly, spectacularly beautiful.

Jiang Jinyi stared blankly for several seconds. Even after her brush was loaded with paint and touched the canvas, she paused for several more moments before she finally began to paint.

            

…

As the sun began to set, golden light washed over Jiang Youwan, lending her a completely different charm compared to the afternoon.

“Alright, let’s stop here for today.” The mermaid painting was complete. Jiang Jinyi was absolutely in love with it. Looking at her work, her mood improved immensely.

            

Consequently, her attitude toward Jiang Youwan became much warmer and gentler. Helping her untie the large tail, she said, “I’ll have a maid take you to remove your makeup in a bit, and then we can have dinner.”

Jiang Youwan smiled at her and asked, “Will you still need me for this painting later? I might be going to the hospital tomorrow. If you still need me, it’ll have to wait until I return.”

Jiang Jinyi blinked. “…You’re going to the hospital tomorrow?”

            

“Mm-hmm.” Jiang Youwan was smiling, but there was no trace of joy in her expression.

Jiang Jinyi’s brow furrowed. She’s going to have surgery, and she’ll have to be hospitalized afterward. She’ll surely be stuck there for a long time.

Mom definitely won’t have time to accompany her. Going to the hospital all by herself, she must be terrified. Jiang Jinyi still remembered how deeply Youwan detested hospitals.

            

“You’ll be able to see again after the surgery.”

Typically, anyone who was blind would be overjoyed at the prospect of regaining their sight. Yet, Jiang Youwan appeared exceptionally calm, her mood dropping even lower than before as she uttered a lackluster, “I look forward to regaining my sight.”

Jiang Jinyi assumed she was down because she feared being hospitalized alone. Lowering her gaze, she fell into thought, hesitating over whether to speak her mind. Ultimately, she broached the subject indirectly. “Mom is so busy; there won’t be anyone to keep you company.”

            

“Those maids don’t count as family. If you’re really scared—really, really scared…”

I can accompany you.

Jiang Jinyi kept those words to herself, pretending to just casually speculate instead. “A friend of mine was hospitalized a few days ago. I wonder if it’s the same hospital. I’ve been pretty bored at home lately anyway.”

            

Only after a few seconds did Jiang Youwan’s cool, magnetic voice ring out. “I’m not afraid.” She let out a dry chuckle. “I’m already twenty-four, and this isn’t my first surgery.”

The slight nervousness Jiang Jinyi had felt moments ago instantly plummeted, replaced by a strange sense of disappointment. She mumbled, “Oh.”

Idiot!

            

The two left the art studio. Jiang Youwan went to remove her makeup, while Jiang Jinyi sat at the dining table, brooding. Before long, Jiang Youwan arrived in the dining room. Jiang Jinyi lifted her eyes to look at her, letting out a soft “Hmph” to voice her displeasure.

Jiang Youwan remained silent.

Mutton didn’t make an appearance on the dining table tonight.

            

According to the servants, a mutton dish had originally been prepared, but someone had taken it away to feed the stray dogs on the street.

Throughout the meal, Jiang Jinyi practically ignored Jiang Youwan, not even sparing her a glance. Even when Jiang Ningshu prompted her to serve some food to Jiang Youwan, she didn’t.

“Did you have a fight with your jiejie?” Jiang Ningshu asked with mild amusement.

            

“No.” Jiang Jinyi poked at her bowl. “I just don’t want to serve food to an idiot.”

Jiang Ningshu looked at Jiang Youwan with utter confusion. Jiang Youwan, however, remained completely unfazed, assuming Jiang Jinyi was still holding a grudge over the allergy incident from yesterday.

Jinyi was probably afraid that Youwan might react to something else, which was why she didn’t dare serve her. Of course, a large part of it was simply that she was too angry to bother.

            

The atmosphere at the dinner table was significantly colder than it had been at lunch.

Since she was still swamped with work at the office, Jiang Ningshu had only returned to accompany Jiang Jinyi for dinner. After the meal, she spent a brief moment in her study before driving back to the company.

She was incredibly busy.

            

This only soured Jiang Jinyi’s mood further. Whenever she was unhappy, she would retreat to her art studio. She stayed there until around eight or nine o’clock, when she heard the sound of a car outside. Thinking her mother had returned, she went out to check.

Stepping out of the studio, Jiang Jinyi quickly bumped into Song Lian. It wasn’t her mother.

“Secretary Song, why are you here? Where is my mom?”

            

Song Lian replied, “Chairman Jiang is still working overtime at the company. She said she left some files in the study and sent me to retrieve them.”

“Oh…” Without suspecting anything, Jiang Jinyi returned to her art studio in disappointment.

Song Lian watched Jiang Jinyi’s retreating figure disappear from sight, the light in her eyes fading into a dark, profound depth. She keyed in the passcode to Jiang Ningshu’s study, stepped inside, and closed the door behind her.

            

Downstairs, in Jiang Youwan’s room.

It was very late, but Jiang Youwan hadn’t yet gone to sleep. The feedback she had received was that the folders on Jiang Jinyi’s computer were filled almost entirely with painting materials and references, without a single piece of useful information. The only peculiar thing was a large collection of voice recordings, though they didn’t seem to contain anything of value either.

If so, what on earth was the “secret” Jiang Jinyi had babbled about when she was drunk? Or had it simply been the incoherent rambling of a drunkard?

            

She picked up her headphones, placing them over her ears with deliberate care, and clicked on the first audio recording. It seemed to have been recorded not too long ago.

After a couple of seconds, a voice began to play. It was undeniably Jiang Jinyi’s—sweet, soft, slightly nasal, and carrying a hint of grievance.

“Jiang Youwan is going to the hospital for surgery in a few days. Mom won’t have time to go with her, and I’m worried she’ll be scared. I gave her such an obvious hint that I could accompany her, but she actually turned me down! If no one goes with her, she’ll have to face that surgery all alone. She’ll probably be so scared she’ll cry, just like I did when I was little… Those maids don’t count as family at all…”

            

Once the recording finished playing, Jiang Youwan sat frozen for several seconds. She was only snapped out of her daze when the next recording began to play.

“Jiang Youwan seems a bit pitiful. I think I’ve been too mean to her. I won’t be so harsh on her in the future…”

“Jiang Youwan bullied me last night!!! She bullied me! She claimed it was for our plan, but she still bullied me anyway! So mean, so mean!”

            

“Having a jiejie doesn’t seem so bad after all, does it? I’m really curious to see what she looks like when she opens her eyes. She must be very beautiful.”

“I’m doomed. I think I bullied her way too much. What if she complains to Mom…”

“Jiang Youwan is so pretty, and her voice is so nice. I wonder if her eyes can really be cured…”

            

“Someone new came to the house saying she’s my jiejie. I don’t like her at all…”

…

These recordings were indeed of no practical value. Yet, Jiang Youwan listened in a daze, realizing that the “secret” the young mistress had spoken of was nothing more than these private, hidden musings.

            

These were the “secrets” she only dared to speak aloud when she was drunk.

It felt as though something were tugging at her heart, stirring endless ripples that refused to settle. A swell of emotions lodged in her throat, leaving her unable to speak. Jiang Youwan rewound the audio and listened to the first recording once more.

Jiang Jinyi’s voice said, “I can accompany her…”

            

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