Top-Tier Omega: Chasing Alpha to the Crematorium – Chapter 18
by Little PandaThe Show Begins
Because she had returned so late last night, Song Song was already asleep, so Song Qingpei hadn’t woken her.
The next day, she went to see her daughter first thing in the morning. Song Song’s tranquil sleeping face was utterly adorable, and Song Qingpei couldn’t resist pinching her little nose.
“Time to get up, little sleepyhead~”
Song Song rubbed her eyes and mumbled, “Mama~”
Hearing Song Song’s soft, sweet voice, Song Qingpei kissed her rosy little cheek. “Hurry and get up. What do you want to eat today? Mama will go make it for you.”
The little girl stretched, opened her drowsy eyes, and mumbled again, “Mama~”
Song Qingpei smiled. “What is it?”
“Mama~” Song Song called her name once more. “Why did you come back so late? Songsong didn’t even get to see you.”
Song Qingpei had been planning to find the right moment to talk to Song Song, and now that she’d asked, she decided to test the waters. “Songsong, Mama wants to go to work, okay?”
At her words, Song Song leaped out of bed, her big, dark eyes wide. “No!” she declared in her high-pitched voice.
“Why not?” Song Qingpei was a little surprised.
Song Song blinked her big eyes, thinking very seriously. Finally, her eyes reddened. “Because… I always feel like Mama wants to leave me.”
Song Qingpei: “…”
She thought she had hidden it so well, but her daughter had seen right through her.
For so long, she had been deliberately suppressing her emotions, afraid of scaring her daughter. But now, looking into her daughter’s clear, bright eyes, Song Qingpei suddenly didn’t know how to explain her thoughts, nor could she lie to her child…
All she could do was hold Song Song tightly, burying her face in the crook of her daughter’s neck as her own eyes began to burn.
Song Song tilted her head in confusion and patted Song Qingpei’s back with her little hand. “Mama, you’re crying~”
Song Qingpei shook her head. “No, I’m not.”
Song Song raised a small hand to wipe away her tears. “Mama, do you not like Songsong anymore? You don’t want me, do you?”
Hearing the grievance in her daughter’s voice, Song Qingpei felt an even deeper pang of guilt. She hugged her daughter tighter and explained patiently, “Songsong, Mama doesn’t want to leave you. But Mama has to go to work to support you, to give you a happy life…”
Song Song’s little mouth formed an ‘o’. “Wuwu~ Mama, are we out of money again?”
Song Qingpei: “…”
How was she supposed to explain this?
Should she tell Song Song that her Mommy, Ming Yu, was not only rich but also powerful, and that she, Song Qingpei, was working so desperately to become better because she felt inferior and was terrified Ming Yu would take their daughter away?
At that thought, Song Qingpei could only sigh and try to explain going to work from an angle that would interest Song Song.
“Songsong, listen to Mama… When Mama goes to work, she’s going to repair mechs. Don’t you love mechs the most?”
Hearing this, the little girl did indeed stop crying and began to listen intently.
Such a little mech fanatic!
Seeing it was working, Song Qingpei quickly continued to draw a big pancake1 for her. “Songsong, when Mama gets really good at it, how about I build you a super-awesome mech?”
Song Song’s face lit up at once. “Yay~ That’s great!”
Seeing her daughter’s happy expression, Song Qingpei smiled and stroked her soft hair. “Then, Songsong, while Mama is at work, you’ll be a good girl and have your lessons at home, okay?”
“Okay then~”
Song Song reluctantly accepted her words.
Song Qingpei: “Songsong is such a good girl~”
Song Song puffed out her cheeks. “Then Mama has to come home early~”
“Okay, Mama will definitely come home early.”
Having finally convinced her daughter, Song Qingpei breathed a sigh of relief. Just as she was about to take Song Song out, she heard a knock on the door.
Song Qingpei opened it to see Ming Yu standing outside, wearing an expression that looked like the whole world owed her money.
Her gaze instantly turned cold. She ignored Ming Yu completely and spoke directly to her daughter. “Songsong, Mama will wait for you downstairs. Hurry and get dressed so you can come down for breakfast.”
Watching her walk away, Ming Yu frowned and turned to go into the room.
Once Song Song was dressed, her little legs went pat, pat, pat toward the door. Seeing Ming Yu, she called out, “Mommy.”
“Mm, let’s go eat.”
Ming Yu suppressed the displeasure in her heart and took Song Song’s little hand. She wore a sour expression all the way down the stairs.
When Song Qingpei saw the two of them come down, she fixed her gaze on Song Song, naturally ignoring Ming Yu.
During the meal, Ming Yu’s eyes were locked on Song Qingpei. She tried several times to find an opportunity to speak, but Song Qingpei kept her head down, either eating or turning to feed Song Song, not even sparing her a sliver of a glance.
By the end of the meal, Ming Yu found the food tasteless, and her mood was utterly foul.
“Song Qingpei, I need to talk to you.”
When Song Qingpei finally finished eating, Ming Yu could no longer hold back and got straight to the point.
Song Qingpei frowned slightly, looking up at her. “Is there anything left for us to talk about?”
Ming Yu: “Of course there is.”
Song Qingpei had no desire to engage with her. She just dropped a single, stiff sentence. “I’m going to be late. Whatever it is, we can talk about it when I get back.”
With that, she stood up and walked out.
Remembering the scent of an unfamiliar Omega’s pheromones from last night, Ming Yu instantly grew vigilant. She stood up and blocked Song Qingpei’s path. “Where exactly are you going?”
“I don’t need to report my whereabouts to you, do I?”
Afraid that an angry Ming Yu would sabotage her job again, Song Qingpei didn’t explain. She just gave a cold snort and walked right past her. Ming Yu’s face turned livid.
Song Song waved and called out in her high-pitched voice, “Bye-bye, Mama. Come home early, Mama.”
Song Qingpei smiled at Song Song. “Mm, okay.”
One tall and one small, they watched in unison as her figure disappeared.
“Mama’s gone,” Song Song said, slumping onto the table with a pout.
Ming Yu’s expression was incredibly gloomy.
Just then, Song Song suddenly turned her head, propped her chin on her little hands, and stared at her. “Mommy, why is Mama still ignoring you? Didn’t you apologize?”
Ming Yu thought of last night, and her face darkened. “This is grown-up business. Kids shouldn’t get involved!”
“You definitely didn’t apologize, and you bullied Mama!” As she spoke, Song Song’s face scrunched up, clearly unhappy.
“I did not!” Ming Yu enunciated each word.
Song Song pouted. “You did too! Bad Mommy! I’m not talking to you anymore.”
Ming Yu: “…”
She didn’t know how to comfort a child, nor how to explain the situation between them. All she could do was change the subject. “Alright, finish your food.”
Song Song was already full. She put on the air of a little adult and lectured her, “You have to apologize properly and make Mama forgive you!”
Ming Yu: “…”
She took a deep breath and forced a smile. “Fine!”
With mixed feelings, Ming Yu got up and left for the Military Headquarters.
Planet Lan Military Headquarters.
Dressed in a black military uniform with gold trim, Ming Yu walked into the Military Headquarters Great Hall, her slender waist, long legs, and extraordinary aura on full display.
Her appearance immediately drew the attention of many. Having ascended to the rank of the Federation’s youngest admiral as a veritable god among Omegas, she was a figure of true shock and awe.
But Ming Yu had a cold personality and a stern appearance, so people only dared to observe her cautiously. No one approached to make conversation, terrified of inadvertently offending the aloof Admiral.
Ming Yu walked straight ahead, not looking left or right, and entered the executive elevator that went directly to the Marshal’s Office on the top floor.
The moment they saw her, the guards on duty immediately saluted. “Admiral Ming, the Marshal asks that you wait for him in his office.”
Inside the office, Marshal Lin Pinghai was sitting at his desk reviewing documents. He looked to be in his early forties, with a resolute and handsome face. His pair of bright, piercing black eyes held a natural authority, giving off an invisible sense of pressure.
Hearing footsteps, he looked up, his sharp, hawk-like eyes unabashedly sizing up the person who was about to be entrusted with a great responsibility.
Ming Yu stood ramrod straight, returning his gaze with a demeanor that was neither servile nor overbearing. “Marshal Lin,” she said.
Only then did Lin Pinghai retract his gaze and laugh heartily. “Ah, Ming Yu. You should know the reason I called you back this time.”
“I know some of it. It’s about the establishment of the Planet Lan Advanced Military Academy, correct?”
Ming Yu’s answer was simple.
“Correct.” Lin Pinghai nodded in approval, then handed her a stack of documents. “Take a look at this file first.”
With that, the Marshal pointed to the sofa opposite him, motioning for her to sit.
Ming Yu nodded, closed the file in her hands, placed it on the coffee table, and began to read through it carefully.
When she had finished, the Marshal finally spoke in a measured tone. “The establishment of the Planet Lan Advanced Military Academy has been approved by the Federation Ministry of Defense, and all other aspects have been coordinated. However, there is still one crucial issue, and that is the choice for the first chancellor…”
He didn’t finish his sentence, but Ming Yu quickly understood his meaning.
The new advanced military academy would recruit the most outstanding students from every military school, all of whom would become mid-to-high-ranking officers in the military upon graduation. To be the first chancellor was to establish a teacher-student relationship with them in advance, making it much more convenient to win them over later.
Moreover, doing so would be beneficial for her own future. But Ming Yu wasn’t particularly keen on such political scheming; her talents lay in direct warfare.
So she didn’t respond immediately. Instead, she frowned slightly and hesitated. “Teacher, you mean…”
Noticing her hesitation, Lin Pinghai cleared his throat. “Ming Yu, my intention in having you be the chancellor is my hope that you can lead Planet Lan’s military to even more glorious achievements. More importantly, our military needs reform. Whether it’s tactical innovation, personnel quality, even equipment and training standards—all of it needs reform. Otherwise, we will only fall further and further behind.”
“In particular, although the military passed the bill allowing Omegas to enlist, their enthusiasm for joining has always been low. Worse, some outstanding Omegas are ostracized in military academies. This culture must be changed.” As he spoke, Lin Pinghai gave Ming Yu a meaningful look. “Ming Yu, you are my most brilliant student, and currently the most accomplished Omega in the military. I trust you can resolve this issue properly.”
Hearing this, Ming Yu’s brow furrowed even deeper.
As an Omega herself, she could of course empathize and knew just how difficult it was for an Omega to stand out in the military. If she had little interest at first, this news left her with no reason to refuse.
Ming Yu no longer hesitated. Her expression grew solemn. “Thank you for your trust, Teacher. I will do my utmost and will not fail to live up to your expectations!”
“Good, then it’s settled.”
Lin Pinghai nodded in satisfaction. “I will make the arrangements with the military command. Your official appointment as chancellor will be passed at next week’s military conference. Take these materials back and study them carefully. Draft a practical plan for the academy’s establishment and report to me with any personnel you need. I will arrange for them to be transferred to assist you.”
Ming Yu took the documents. “Understood!”
Lin Pinghai smiled. “Alright, you can go. I still have a mountain of official business to deal with.”
“Yes, Marshal Lin.”
Ming Yu returned to her own office and began to study the materials, preparing to convene a small seminar with her trusted subordinates.
She was so engrossed that time slipped by quietly.
It wasn’t until there was a sudden knock on her office door that she called out, “Enter,” and looked up. A familiar face came into view.
The visitor wore a black professional skirt suit. Her long, silky black hair was tied back in a ponytail. Her skin was as white as snow, and her features were exquisite and defined. She looked clean, capable, and radiant.
“Song Xihan!”
Her sudden arrival was completely unexpected for Ming Yu.
Seeing her surprise, Song Xihan smiled. “Admiral Ming, long time no see!”
Ming Yu was slightly taken aback. “What are you doing at Military Headquarters?”
At this reaction, Song Xihan couldn’t help but laugh. “I was just transferred here to be Marshal Lin’s confidential secretary. You really didn’t know? You’re a bit too unconcerned about your own matchmaking partner, aren’t you?”
Ming Yu pressed her lips together, momentarily speechless.
Song Xihan walked over and sat down on a nearby sofa, a faint smile playing on her lips. “What, not happy to see me?”
“No.”
Ming Yu’s reaction was cool. She walked straight to her desk and began organizing files and documents.
“You stood me up2 for our blind date last time. There’s no time like the present,3 so why don’t we make up for it today?” Song Xihan looked at her with a grin and extended an invitation. “Let’s go have dinner together.”
“Sorry, I’m busy.”
Ming Yu didn’t even look up as she gave her cold refusal.
The rejection didn’t faze Song Xihan in the slightest. Instead, she smiled mysteriously. “Ming Yu, the person you had Rui-rui investigate is also having dinner at the restaurant I booked. Why don’t we go join the fun?”
What did this have to do with Song Qingpei?
Ming Yu immediately tensed, her cold eyes staring straight at Song Xihan. “Song Xihan, what are you playing at now?”
Seeing her nervous state, Song Xihan’s smile grew even brighter. “Why so tense? I was just curious what kind of person your ex-girlfriend was, so I asked Ming Rui to look into it. What a coincidence, we had the same idea. She went ahead and sent me a copy of the information and whereabouts of Miss Song.”
Ming Yu had been too busy today and hadn’t had a chance to open her inbox and read the message Ming Rui had sent her. Now, she quickly scanned its contents and found that it was almost identical to what Song Xihan had said.
The most recent update was from just ten minutes ago: Song Qingpei had walked into a restaurant, talking and laughing with a tall, beautiful Omega.
Seeing this, Song Xihan added at just the right moment, “Coincidentally, this Miss Song is currently eating with a friend of mine at the restaurant I booked.”
Ming Yu immediately thought of the unfamiliar Omega pheromones she had smelled last night. Was it her?
Her expression instantly turned grave. She pointed at the picture on the screen and looked at Song Xihan. “You said she’s your friend?”
“That’s right,” Song Xihan said with considerable pride. “Her name is Murong Ruixue. She’s my senior from school and the current head of Blue Sea’s repair department. I was just about to recommend to the Marshal that we poach her for the military academy.”
Hearing this, Ming Yu’s brows locked together, but she said nothing.
Song Xihan looked at her with great interest, feigning regret. “Since Admiral Ming is so busy with official duties, I won’t disturb you any longer. It seems this meal will have to wait for another time…”
Before she could finish, Ming Yu suddenly said in a low voice, “Let’s go. We’re going to dinner.”
Watching her get up in such a hurry, a faint, knowing smile slowly spread across Song Xihan’s lips.
Judging by her reaction, she looks like she’s going to catch a cheating spouse.4 This is getting more and more interesting.
Footnotes
- ‘To draw a big pancake’ (huà dà bǐng) is a Chinese idiom for making grand promises, often unrealistic, to entice or motivate someone, like drawing a picture of food for a hungry person.
- ‘To release someone’s pigeon’ (fàng gēzi) is a popular Chinese slang term for standing someone up for an appointment or date.
- The idiom ‘zé rì bùrú zhuàng rì’ literally means ‘choosing a day is not as good as bumping into a day.’ It’s a common expression for seizing the current opportunity instead of scheduling for later.
- The term ‘zhuō jiān’ specifically refers to catching a person in the act of adultery. It carries a strong, dramatic connotation.
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