Top-Tier Omega: Chasing Alpha to the Crematorium – Chapter 33
by Little PandaFingertips Tracing the Gland
Inside the Military Headquarters Office.
Ming Yu sat behind her expansive desk, her brows tightly furrowed. Her mind continuously replayed last night’s argument with Song Qingpei, as well as the morning’s unpleasant breakfast.
The matter of Murong Ruixue was like a thorn in her heart, leaving her unable to find peace.
“This cannot go on.”
Ming Yu muttered to herself. She pressed her communicator and said in a deep voice, “Xihan, come to my office.”
Not long after, Song Xihan pushed the door open and entered. “Ming Yu, you were looking for me?”
Ming Yu looked up, her gaze sharp and calm. “Xihan, I’ve decided to include Blue Sea Technology in the Planet Lan Advanced Military Academy’s talent recruitment plan. Go make the arrangements and connect with Blue Sea Technology as soon as possible.”
Song Xihan paused, stunned. “If we do that, won’t Murong Ruixue… get suspicious?”
“She won’t refuse,” Ming Yu said with certainty. “Blue Sea Technology has always wanted to enter Military Headquarters. This is a rare opportunity. You just need to follow the plan; I will handle the rest.”
Song Xihan nodded in agreement. Ming Yu added, “Remember, don’t make it too deliberate. Don’t let anyone sense anything unusual.”
“I understand.” Song Xihan gave a solemn nod, then turned and left the office.
Ming Yu leaned back in her chair and let out a long breath.
Keeping Murong Ruixue right under her nose wouldn’t completely solve the problem, but it would at least give the Omega some reservations.
She rubbed her temples, a wave of exhaustion washing over her. Just then, her communicator rang again.
Ming Yu glanced down. It was her grandmother calling. Frowning, she answered the call.
“Grandma.” Ming Yu kept her voice as steady as possible.
“Ming Yu, how has your health been recently?”
Old Madam Ming’s voice was gentle, as if trying to smooth over their relationship after their last argument.
Naturally, Ming Yu could not show disrespect. She smoothly replied, “I am very well. How have you been recently?”
“I am quite well.” Old Madam Ming did not stop there, continuing with a probing tone. “I heard your spirits haven’t been great lately? Are you too tired from work?”
Ming Yu’s frown deepened. Her spirits hadn’t been great?
Why would Grandmother suddenly ask such a thing?
As she pondered, it suddenly struck her—she had returned home last night in her “Mengmeng” persona. Very few people knew about this. Butler Su must have reported everything to her grandmother.
A surge of fury instantly rose in her chest, but she quickly suppressed it.
“Perhaps I’ve been under a bit of pressure lately, so I’m a little mentally exhausted,” Ming Yu said, trying to make her tone sound placid. “But it’s nothing major. You don’t need to worry, Grandma.”
Old Madam Ming fell silent for a moment before saying, “Come back to the Ming Family Ancestral Home for dinner tonight. It’s the perfect time to have Doctor Gong give you a checkup. He just returned from the Federation Academy of Sciences, and his techniques are even more refined than before.”
At the name “Doctor Gong,” Ming Yu’s voice turned cold. “Grandma, I’m fine. I don’t need a checkup.”
But Old Madam Ming’s tone hardened. “Ming Yu, Doctor Gong is an expert in this field. Letting him take a look at you will put my mind at ease.”
Ming Yu’s fists clenched tightly. She knew exactly what her grandmother’s insistence meant. Unable to repeatedly defy her, she could only compromise.
“Alright, I’ll return tonight.”
After hanging up the phone, Ming Yu’s expression was frighteningly dark.
She stood up, walked to the window, and stared out into the distance with an icy gaze.
Doctor Gong’s appearance forced her to recall a past she had no desire to remember. She would absolutely never allow anyone to control her life again.
“It seems some things must be resolved as soon as possible,” Ming Yu muttered to herself, a flash of absolute resolve in her eyes.
Night fell.
By the time Ming Yu returned home, it was already late.
The villa was brightly lit, yet it exuded a desolate, chilling atmosphere.
As soon as she stepped into the Great Hall, Butler Su came forward to greet her. “Admiral, you’ve returned.”
Ming Yu’s gaze swept coldly over the woman. Her tone carried a trace of suppressed fury. “Butler Su, have you forgotten your place?”
Butler Su’s smile stiffened slightly, a thread of panic bleeding into her voice. “Admiral, I don’t understand what you mean.”
“You don’t understand?” Ming Yu’s voice suddenly rose, her eyes as sharp as knives. “I told you to look after this house, not to report my affairs in exhaustive detail to Grandmother! Just whose person are you?”
Butler Su’s face instantly went pale. She hurriedly explained, “Admiral, the Old Madam only cares about you. She was worried about your physical and mental state, so she asked me to pay closer attention. I… I meant no harm.”
“Cares about me?” Ming Yu scoffed coldly. “Butler Su, have you forgotten who is currently in charge of this house?”
Fine beads of sweat seeped from Butler Su’s forehead.
She lowered her head, her voice trembling. “Admiral, I… I have never forgotten my duties. I just… I just…”
“Butler Su, you have disappointed me far too much.” Ming Yu’s voice was as cold as ice. “From today onward, you no longer need to remain here.”
Butler Su’s eyes filled with disbelief. “Admiral! I… I have worked for the Ming family for so many years and have always been utterly loyal. How can you…”
“Utterly loyal?” Ming Yu cut her off, a hint of mockery in her tone. “Your loyalty is to Grandmother, not to me. I do not need someone whose loyalty lies elsewhere staying by my side.”
Butler Su’s face turned deathly white. Panicking, she pleaded, “Admiral, I… from now on, I will only listen to your orders! I will absolutely never reveal another piece of information to the Old Madam! Please, give me one more chance!”
Ming Yu looked at her coldly. “I already gave you a chance. You were the one who failed to cherish it.”
Butler Su finally felt the profound depths of Ming Yu’s anger. She hastily swore her allegiance.
“I… I know I overstepped! I beg you to give me one more chance. I swear, I will never make this kind of mistake again!”
Right at that moment, the front doors were pushed open. Song Qingpei walked in, leading Song Song by the hand.
The moment Song Song entered, she saw the terror on Butler Su’s face. A flash of confusion crossed the little girl’s eyes. “Mommy, are you mad at Grandma Su?”
Song Qingpei also noticed that the atmosphere in the Great Hall was wrong. She looked at Ming Yu’s harsh expression, then at Butler Su standing to the side. Without speaking rashly, she simply patted Song Song’s head lightly, gesturing for her not to ask too many questions.
Seeing Song Qingpei and Song Song, Butler Su acted as if she had grabbed her final lifeline. She hurriedly begged, “Miss Song, Little Miss, please speak a few words on my behalf! Ask the Admiral to give me one more chance!”
Song Qingpei looked toward Ming Yu, a probing note in her voice. “Ming Yu, what is…?”
Ming Yu said bluntly, “You don’t need to concern yourself with this matter.”
Song Qingpei was choked by her dismissive attitude. A flare of displeasure rose in her heart, but she didn’t let it show. She merely took Song Song’s hand and said, “Song Song, let’s go upstairs first.”
But Song Song stood rooted to the spot, refusing to move.
She looked at Butler Su, then at Ming Yu, and asked in a small voice, “Mommy, did Grandma Su do something wrong? Can you forgive her?”
Ming Yu’s brows furrowed slightly at Song Song’s words.
She looked down at Song Song’s innocent face, and the rage in her heart subsided a fraction. She didn’t want Song Song to witness these unpleasant scenes, much less feel sad because of her decisions.
After a moment of silence, a hint of compromise seeped into her tone. “Song Song, do you really want Grandma Su to stay?”
Song Song nodded. “Mommy, Grandma Su is usually very good to me. Could you please not chase her away?”
Ming Yu sighed. She reached out to stroke Song Song’s head, helpless resignation coloring her voice. “Alright. Since Song Song is pleading for her, I will give her one more chance.”
Hearing this, Butler Su hastily bowed her thanks. “Thank you, Admiral! Thank you, Little Miss!”
Seeing that the matter had concluded, Song Qingpei tugged Song Song’s hand and said softly, “Song Song, let’s go upstairs. Let Mommy handle the rest.”
Song Song nodded obediently and followed Song Qingpei upstairs.
Ming Yu watched their retreating backs, a complex swirl of emotions rising in her chest.
She knew she had been somewhat impulsive today, but Butler Su’s actions had definitively crossed her bottom line.
Butler Su stood to the side, her head lowered, not daring to speak another word.
Ming Yu shot her a look, her tone laced with warning. “Butler Su, this is your final chance. If I ever find you leaking my affairs to Grandmother again, you should be well aware of the consequences.”
Butler Su nodded frantically. “Please rest assured, I will absolutely only follow your orders from now on!”
Seeing this, Ming Yu said nothing more. She turned and headed back to her study.
By the time Song Qingpei brought Song Song back downstairs for dinner, Butler Su had already laid the meal out on the table.
Song Song skipped over to the dining table, her eyes sparkling as she looked at the dishes. Song Qingpei followed behind with a smile. She was just about to sit down when Ming Yu’s voice drifted over from the staircase.
“We won’t be eating at home tonight. We’re going to Lakeheart Courtyard.”
Song Qingpei paused. She looked up at Ming Yu, a flash of confusion in her eyes.
Lakeheart Courtyard? The Ming family banquet?
She subconsciously assumed that her presence would not be welcome at a Ming family banquet.
“Song Song, you need to be good and listen to your mommy tonight, do you understand?” Song Qingpei instructed.
Song Song blinked her large eyes, looking at Song Qingpei in bewilderment. “Mama, aren’t you going with us?”
Song Qingpei smiled and stroked Song Song’s head. “Mama will wait for you at home.”
“But…” Song Song wanted to say something else, but Ming Yu interrupted her.
“You’re going too.” Ming Yu’s voice came from behind.
Song Qingpei froze. She turned to look at Ming Yu, her eyes filled with astonishment.
She hadn’t expected Ming Yu to actively suggest bringing her to the Ming Family Ancestral Home. Ming Yu had always been so secretive about her status before, clearly unwilling to let anyone know her true identity. Why the sudden change of heart?
She opened her mouth, but before she could ask, Ming Yu had already walked right up to her.
A complicated emotion flashed through Ming Yu’s eyes. She seemed a bit awkward, yet also somewhat apologetic. “You are Song Song’s mother. There’s no reason you can’t go.”
Song Qingpei was momentarily speechless.
Song Song tugged at her hand, swinging it back and forth. “Mama, let’s go, let’s go~”
The thought of letting her daughter face an unfamiliar environment and strange people alone made Song Qingpei’s heart ache. Ultimately, she nodded. “Alright. Mama will go with you.”
“Yay!” Song Song cheered in excitement.
Seeing her agree, Ming Yu quietly breathed a sigh of relief. She turned to Butler Su. “Contact the top stylist on Planet Lan. Have her come over right now.”
Butler Su hurriedly nodded in compliance and turned away to contact the stylist.
Song Qingpei looked at Ming Yu in confusion. “It’s just a family banquet. Does it need to be this formal?”
Ming Yu met her gaze, a faint smile coloring her tone. “A Ming family banquet is never just a simple meal.”
Recalling Ming Yu’s powerful background, Song Qingpei couldn’t really argue. She could only silently accept the arrangement.
Not long after, the stylist rushed over to the villa.
She was a tall, elegant woman named Elena, one of the most prestigious stylists on Planet Lan.
The moment she entered, she smiled and greeted Ming Yu. “Admiral Ming Yu, it’s been a long time.”
Ming Yu nodded. “Elena, I’ll have to trouble you to get her ready.”
Elena smiled, her gaze sweeping between Ming Yu and Song Qingpei. A flash of understanding appeared in her eyes. “No problem. Leave it to me.”
Ming Yu said nothing more and directly led Elena upstairs.
Song Qingpei felt entirely out of her depth. She had never experienced this kind of occasion before, so she had no choice but to follow them up.
Sitting in front of the vanity mirror, she looked visibly nervous and unsettled.
Elena enthusiastically picked out clothes, jewelry, and hairstyles for her, repeatedly asking Ming Yu for her opinion.
Song Qingpei felt somewhat numb from being fussed over. Deep down, she only wanted this torture to end as quickly as possible.
“How about this one?” Elena held up a light purple gown, measuring it against Song Qingpei’s body.
Song Qingpei glanced at herself in the mirror. She felt the dress was entirely too lavish and exaggerated. Just as she was about to refuse, Ming Yu spoke up first: “Not bad. We’ll go with this one.”
Helpless, Song Qingpei could only let Elena help her change into the dress.
The tailoring of the dress was a perfect fit, outlining her slender waist in exquisite detail. The light purple fabric accentuated the fair paleness of her skin. Elena then fastened a delicate necklace around her throat, instantly elevating her entire aura with an undeniable nobility.
“Truly wonderful,” Elena praised, her eyes full of appreciation.
Song Qingpei looked at herself in the mirror, shifting uncomfortably. “Is this… isn’t this too over the top?”
Ming Yu glanced at her, a flicker of stunning awe flashing through her eyes, though she quickly masked it.
She nodded, her tone carrying faint approval. “It looks good. We’ll stick with this one.”
Hearing this, Song Qingpei had no desire to keep dragging things out. She silently accepted the choice, finally bringing an end to the ordeal.
After finishing with Song Qingpei, Elena began styling Ming Yu.
Ming Yu sat at the vanity. She seemed entirely accustomed to the process, allowing Elena to fuss over her hair and makeup without complaint.
Song Qingpei stood to the side, looking at Ming Yu in the mirror with mild surprise.
Perhaps due to her nature as a soldier, Ming Yu’s usual aura was rather cold and severe. But under Elena’s skilled hands, her long hair was swept up, revealing her slender neck. Her entire being now radiated the cold, glamorous allure of a queen.
Ming Yu noticed her gaze. The corners of her lips curled up slightly. “What are you looking at?”
Song Qingpei snapped back to her senses, a flash of embarrassment crossing her face. “Nothing. Just… I’m a little unused to seeing you look like this.”
Ming Yu let out a soft chuckle and said nothing more, though a trace of smug satisfaction lingered in her eyes.
She possessed a very clear understanding of her own beauty; she simply never paid it much mind on a regular basis. But if she could use it to capture Song Qingpei’s attention, she didn’t mind wasting a little time.
Meanwhile, Elena, who was currently touching up the lines along Ming Yu’s neck, suddenly paused with her hand hovering in midair.
“Admiral Ming Yu’s concealer requires a bit of special attention today, it seems,” she teased with a mischievous smile. Her fingertips tapped lightly against Ming Yu’s collarbone. The mirror reflected the ambiguous bite marks scattered across Ming Yu’s snowy skin, looking exceptionally alluring under the cold white lights.
“Qingpei~” Ming Yu suddenly called out, deliberately drawing out the syllables.
Song Qingpei turned her head at the sound. She caught sight of Ming Yu leaning languidly against the back of her chair, her slender fingers brushing over the marks, the corners of her eyes curving in teasing amusement. “I seem… to have suddenly remembered something.”
The full-length mirror reflected Song Qingpei’s slightly flushed face.
She recalled how “Mengmeng” had cried and begged to be marked last night. The image of those wet, trembling eyelashes at the height of passion had pierced straight into her heart, causing her to lose control and bite down on her collarbone. Overcome by a sudden wave of guilt, she didn’t know what to say.
Ming Yu stared at her directly. “Shouldn’t you explain yourself?”
For once, Song Qingpei fell into a guilty, breathless silence.
Seeing this, Elena smiled tactfully. “I’ll go get Song Song styled. You two take your time.”
With that, she turned and left the room.
Only Ming Yu and Song Qingpei remained in the room. The atmosphere instantly turned delicate.
Ming Yu stood up. She walked slowly over to Song Qingpei and leaned in slightly. The scent of her cold fragrance brushed past Song Qingpei’s ear. “There’s no one else here now. Would you like to explain… just what exactly you did to me last night?”
Cool fingertips traced over the gland1, sending a simultaneous shudder through them both.
When Song Qingpei turned around, she crashed straight into a gaze rippling with liquid light.
Ming Yu’s military uniform collar was slightly open. The marks looked like red plums blooming in the snow2—a clear, silent snare.
She opened her mouth, fully intending to come clean with Ming Yu and have a proper talk about “Mengmeng.”
Outside the door, Song Song’s laughter suddenly rang out.
Ming Yu’s eyes filled with the regret of being interrupted. Stepping back a half-pace to adjust her collar, she swapped her earlier allure for her usual solemn severity. Only the faint smile lingering at the corners of her lips had not yet been fully retracted.
The door burst open. Song Song ran in wearing a pink princess dress, a tiny crown perched on her head. She looked every bit as adorable as a little princess.
She dashed over to Song Qingpei and Ming Yu, spinning around excitedly. “Mama, Mommy, do I look pretty?”
Song Qingpei smiled and praised her, “Very pretty. Song Song is the prettiest.”
Ming Yu also revealed a rare, gentle smile. She reached out and patted Song Song’s head. “Song Song is the prettiest, most adorable little princess in the world.”
Praised so highly, Song Song felt a little shy, her small face turning red.
“Let’s go. It’s time to head out.”
The family got into the car and headed toward the Ming Family Ancestral Home.
The atmosphere inside the car was somewhat quiet. Song Qingpei felt a lingering unease in her heart.
“Ming Yu…” Song Qingpei began softly, a hint of trepidation in her tone. “Is there anything I need to pay attention to at the family banquet tonight?”
Ming Yu’s tone carried a faint, soothing quality. “Don’t be nervous. Just follow my lead.”
Song Qingpei nodded, her heart settling slightly.
The car slowly drove through the main gates of the Ming Family Ancestral Home. Looking through the window at the magnificent architecture, Song Qingpei couldn’t help but feel a little stunned.
She knew that tonight’s family banquet would likely be anything but simple.
Footnotes
- In the ABO dynamic, the gland (xiàntǐ) is a sensitive organ located on the back of the neck that produces and receives pheromones. It is the site where an Alpha bites an Omega to form a bond, known as marking.
- A common literary trope in Chinese romance comparing red marks—like hickeys or bite marks—on pale skin to red plum blossoms (hóngméi) blooming against white snow.
0 Comments