Top-Tier Omega: Chasing Alpha to the Crematorium – Chapter 39

See You Once, Mark You Once

Song Qingpei’s eyes hadn’t fully healed yet. Watching the video for a long time had irritated them, causing physiological tears to fall.

Scalding tears slid down her cheeks and dripped onto Ming Yu’s hand. Thinking Song Qingpei was crying out of heartache for her, Ming Yu was instantly overwhelmed with emotion and hugged her even tighter.

            

“Qingpei, don’t cry. I’m fine now.”

Ming Yu’s voice was flustered, carrying a gentle tone tinged with helpless panic.

Song Qingpei’s eyes were uncomfortable; she hadn’t paid close attention to what the woman said. She gently pushed Ming Yu away and squinted. “Ming Yu, my eyes are still hurting. Could you please get my medicine?”

            

“Qingpei, as long as you stay by my side, I…”

Ming Yu’s remaining words died in her throat. The deep emotion in her eyes instantly solidified.

She hadn’t expected it to be a case of her own unrequited sentimentality. A wave of embarrassment crashed over her, followed by a sharp bitterness, though she quickly forced it down.

            

“Alright. I’ll go get your medicine.”

She tried her best to keep her voice soft, but a trace of disappointment unconsciously leaked through.

Ming Yu turned and walked to the medical kit. With crisp movements, she retrieved the eye drops and some gauze before returning to Song Qingpei’s side.

            

Watching her bustling back, the corners of Song Qingpei’s mouth curled into a faint smile.

She knew exactly what Ming Yu had misunderstood, of course, but she offered no explanation. Experience told her she couldn’t afford to be too nice to Ming Yu; indulging her too much would easily make her get carried away¹.

Ming Yu needed to understand that affection was mutual, not something to be blindly demanded.

            

Ming Yu walked over with the eye drops and a towel. She gently supported Song Qingpei’s shoulders, easing her back against the sofa.

Her tone was so soft it practically dripped with water. “This will feel a bit better. Close your eyes and rest for a while.”

Song Qingpei closed her eyes, allowing Ming Yu to apply the medicine.

            

A sudden thought occurred to her, and she couldn’t help but ask, “By the way, how is Ming Rui doing?”

Ming Yu’s movements paused for a second before she replied, “Ming Rui was taken away by the Bureau of Investigation. But it’s not a major issue, just a routine review.”

Song Qingpei couldn’t help her worry. “Is there really no problem? After all, she only did it for you…”

            

“I will handle it.” Ming Yu habitually cut her off. Realizing immediately that she had sounded too cold and hard, she patiently explained, “You don’t need to worry. Ming Rui is a Section Chief at the Bureau of Investigation, after all. They wouldn’t dare go too far. I’ll go see the President tomorrow. Everything will be fine.”

Hearing the word “President,” a complex surge of emotion welled up in Song Qingpei’s heart.

Ming Yu’s identity and status remained an uncrossable chasm between them.

            

She was just an ordinary person, while Ming Yu was the youngest Admiral in the Federation, someone who could speak directly with the President. If anyone should feel inferior, it was her. She instantly felt utterly emo².

She rubbed her temples, her voice tinged with exhaustion. “Ming Yu, I’m a bit tired. I want to go back to my room and rest.”

Hearing this, Ming Yu stood up immediately and gently supported her arm. “Okay. I’ll take you back to your room.”

            

Song Qingpei leaned against Ming Yu’s shoulder, letting the woman support her as they slowly walked to the bedroom.

Once inside, Song Qingpei sat on the edge of the bed and closed her eyes, pretending to doze.

After a long time, hearing no retreating footsteps, she knew Ming Yu hadn’t left. She finally spoke up, “Alright, I’m fine now. You should go back and rest too.”

            

Ming Yu wanted to speak but stopped, then stopped only to want to speak again.

She didn’t want to leave.

“Earlier, you said…” Her voice was low, carrying a probing edge. “You were willing to stay. Is that true?”

            

Song Qingpei looked up at her. Realizing she currently couldn’t see a thing anyway, she half-lowered her head and explained, “I only said I’d stay and help you take care of Song Song together. Don’t overthink it.”

The words couldn’t have been clearer. The Admiral instantly regretted her outburst from earlier. If she hadn’t impulsively said she didn’t want her love, Qingpei might have softened in the moment and agreed to start over with her.

Now, she was consumed by regret.

            

“I…” Her voice was dry, laced with profound reluctance. “I don’t want to leave.”

“You want to sleep here?”

Song Qingpei’s voice remained calm, as if stating an inconsequential fact.

            

Ming Yu nodded, her voice dropping so low it was barely audible. “Can I?”

“You can.” Song Qingpei chuckled. “But you have to call me ‘Jiejie’ like Mengmeng does.”

Hearing her suddenly bring up Mengmeng, Ming Yu’s first reaction wasn’t anger, but a reflex to argue back. “I’m older than you. Why should I call you Jiejie?”

            

Seeing her react this way, Song Qingpei’s smile deepened.

All along, ‘Mengmeng’ had been a major issue wedged between them. Her interactions with Ming Yu had started because of her, even if Ming Yu constantly claimed they were the same person. But to Song Qingpei, two people with identical faces but completely different personalities were, in the end, different.

If she wanted to try and accept the complete Ming Yu, she naturally couldn’t pretend the past hadn’t happened. So, not only would she refuse to deliberately avoid mentioning ‘Mengmeng,’ she needed to be completely honest about her own feelings.

            

She answered without hiding a thing. “Simply because I like hearing you call me Jiejie. Whether it’s Mengmeng, or you, Admiral Ming… I like hearing it.” In fact, compared to Mengmeng, hearing Ming Yu call her Jiejie felt even more amusing.

Song Qingpei couldn’t describe the feeling in concrete terms.

Just thinking about how the once high-and-mighty Admiral Ming Yu—who used to look at her with such disdain—was now calling her ‘Jiejie’ with a face full of reluctance just so she could stay the night… especially since Ming Yu was older than her… it gave her an unbelievable thrill.

            

This perverted thought gave her a fright. She wasn’t such a terrible person, was she?

Truly unwilling to admit her own nature was so wicked, she could only blame it on the fact that the former Ming Yu hadn’t acted like a decent human being and had pushed her too far, which was why she was having such perverted thoughts.

Not only was Song Qingpei trapped in deep self-doubt, but Ming Yu was also stunned by the demand.

            

Previously, Song Qingpei had always been cold and distant toward her, or she had outright rejected her advances. The most warmth she ever showed was when facing her ‘Mengmeng state.’ She had never engaged in this kind of practically shameless behavior before.

She was highly unaccustomed to it and could only mutter repeatedly, “Impossible. I’m clearly older than you, how could I call you Jiejie.”

Seeing her argue so clumsily, Song Qingpei couldn’t help but add a teasing note to her voice. “Haven’t you already called me that plenty of times before? Don’t use hypnosis and Mengmeng as excuses. You’ve already admitted that those are just your methods of escaping. Admiral Ming Yu, the first step to fully accepting yourself is to stop throwing the blame onto Mengmeng for everything.”

            

Ming Yu bit her lower lip, her face flushing bright red.

She was struggling internally. On one hand, she didn’t want to show weakness in front of Song Qingpei. On the other, she desperately craved her validation and warmth. But she truly didn’t want to say it…

Song Qingpei waited patiently, a hint of expectation in her eyes.

            

Her stance was perfectly clear—if she didn’t say it, she could get out.

Time ticked by, minute by minute. The room was so quiet that only the sound of their breathing could be heard.

After a very long time, Song Qingpei’s eyelids began to droop. Sleepiness steadily washed over her.

            

She let out a yawn, her tone carrying a touch of helplessness. “Hai³, if you don’t want to say it, forget it. I didn’t want you to stay anyway.”

A flash of reluctance and deep shame crossed Ming Yu’s eyes. In the end, she said nothing, turning on her heel and storming out.

BANG—

            

The door slammed shut heavily, making Song Qingpei’s eardrums throb.

She looked at the closed door and sighed softly. This was entirely within her expectations. Under the influence of the Mental Imprint, Ming Yu’s personality was stubborn and fiercely proud. How could she change so easily?

To her, it was just a small joke; to Ming Yu, it was likely an immense humiliation.

            

However, she didn’t feel she had done anything wrong. After all, this was part of them smoothing out their rough edges. The Ming Yu heavily affected by the Mental Imprint certainly deserved sympathy, but that didn’t stop her from being unlikable. To be perfectly honest, it was impossible for her to fall in love with a Ming Yu who refused to change at all. If the two of them really couldn’t smooth things out, then just being friends for Song Song’s sake would be fine too.

She was no Bodhisattva; she wasn’t about to martyr herself to offer Ming Yu salvation.

Song Qingpei lay back down, closed her eyes, and drifted peacefully to sleep.

            

Meanwhile, Ming Yu returned to her own room. She lay on her bed, her eyes swimming with confusion and bitter unwillingness.

She didn’t understand why the woman had to use this method to make things difficult for her.

Just moments ago, they had shared such a tender atmosphere. And in the blink of an eye, things had turned exceedingly ugly over such a minor issue. No—strictly speaking, only she was angry. Song Qingpei had simply been treating her like a joke.

            

Ming Yu rolled over and closed her eyes, trying to calm herself down.

Yet, the image of Song Qingpei gently comforting her kept surfacing in her mind. She liked it very much. She was even a little greedy for it. She warred with herself. On one hand, she absolutely loathed the idea of compromising; compromising was the behavior of the weak. On the other hand, she hungered for Song Qingpei’s warmth.

Ming Yu abruptly yanked her blanket up, wrapping herself completely inside it in an attempt to escape her internal struggle.

            

She didn’t know how much time had passed, but she finally fell into a hazy sleep.

However, her sleep was far from restful.

Song Qingpei’s figure constantly drifted through her dreams. Her smile, her gentleness—it was as if they had been carved into her memory, impossible to shake away.

            

In the middle of the night, Ming Yu jolted awake, fine beads of sweat dotting her forehead.

Her chest heaved violently. She sat up and took a deep breath. The cold silence around her only made her yearn more deeply for that reassuring embrace.

“It’s just one ‘Jiejie’…”

            

She muttered under her breath, as if trying to convince herself.

After sitting there in silence for a long time, Ming Yu couldn’t help but throw back the covers and slip quietly out of bed.

She walked to Song Qingpei’s door. Her fingers rested lightly on the handle. She hesitated for a moment before finally pushing the door open.

            

The room was pitch black. Only the faint moonlight filtering through the window spilled across the bed.

Song Qingpei lay there, her breathing even, clearly fast asleep.

Ming Yu stood in the doorway for a moment before creeping inside with feather-light steps.

            

Her heart was pounding frantically, as if she were committing some shameful crime.

She reached the edge of the bed, gently lifted the blanket, and slid inside. Her movements were incredibly soft, terrified of waking the sleeping woman.

However, Song Qingpei was still startled awake by her movements. She blearily opened her eyes, and seeing Ming Yu lying beside her, she jumped in fright.

            

“When… when did you get here?”

Song Qingpei’s voice was a bit hoarse, thick with sleep.

Ming Yu’s face instantly turned bright red, a flash of panic crossing her eyes.

            

Song Qingpei had almost forgotten about the earlier incident. But seeing her so awkward, her interest was instantly piqued. All traces of sleepiness vanished. She fought to hold back her laughter and put on a solemn expression.

“Who told you to come in? Get out, I want to sleep.”

At this, Ming Yu bit her lower lip. A flash of struggle crossed her eyes before she finally whispered, “Jiejie…”

            

Her voice was incredibly low, almost inaudible, yet it sounded as if it had taken all her strength.

Song Qingpei couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh, her tone laced with teasing. “That wasn’t easy. You’re finally willing to say it.”

Ming Yu’s face burned crimson, a deep sense of shame flashing through her eyes.

            

Seeing Ming Yu’s flustered reaction, Song Qingpei’s desire for ‘revenge’ only grew. She deliberately teased, “Oh, was that Admiral Ming Yu saying it, or was it Mengmeng? This time you definitely weren’t under hypno—mmph…”

Before she could finish, Ming Yu slapped a hand over her mouth.

The flush on Ming Yu’s face spread from the corners of her eyes all the way down to the tips of her ears. She looked as if she might die of mortification right then and there. Furious from the embarrassment, she snapped, “Song Qingpei, that’s enough!”

            

Song Qingpei truly hadn’t expected such a massive reaction from her. Remembering the effects of the Mental Imprint, she worried that pushing the woman too far might leave behind some psychological trauma. She sighed. “Alright, I won’t say anymore. Let’s sleep.”

Ming Yu looked as though a heavy burden had been lifted. With a slight huff of temper, she lay down with her back facing Song Qingpei.

Song Qingpei said nothing more. If her guess was correct, based on her past habits sleeping next to Ming Yu, when they woke the next morning, the woman would have rolled directly into her arms and would be hugging her waist so tightly she’d practically be strangled.

            

Sure enough, the next day went exactly as expected.

Ming Yu opened her eyes, only to find herself clinging to Song Qingpei for dear life. Her expression immediately cracked. She quickly scrambled up and, with crisp, practiced movements, donned her immaculately pressed military uniform.

Her figure was tall and slender. The uniform accentuated the lines of her long legs and narrow waist, making her look exceptionally heroic and striking.

            

Song Qingpei sat on the edge of the bed. She had never scrutinized Ming Yu so closely before, yet in this moment, she felt the woman looked extraordinarily handsome in her uniform.

“Are you going to the Presidential Palace today?” Song Qingpei asked softly.

Adjusting her cuffs, Ming Yu replied, “Mhm. Ming Rui’s situation can’t be delayed any longer. I have to resolve it as soon as possible.”

            

“Be careful. Don’t be too impulsive,” Song Qingpei murmured, her voice laced with concern.

Ming Yu nodded. “Don’t worry, I’ll handle it. You stay home and rest well.”

In a rare moment of harmony, Song Qingpei watched Ming Yu leave.

            

Standing at the door, she waited until Ming Yu’s figure vanished from sight before letting out a soft sigh. She couldn’t shake the feeling that continuing to entangle herself with Ming Yu would lead things to spiral out of control, yet she couldn’t bear to refuse her.

When it came down to it, her lovesick brain hadn’t been fully cured yet.

Ming Yu drove toward the Presidential Palace, her mind turning over the recent events the entire way.

            

She knew that on the surface, this incident was aimed at Ming Rui, but Ming Rui was merely taking the fall for her. She had to launch a powerful counterattack against the Zhan family; otherwise, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Upon arriving at the Presidential Palace, Ming Yu walked straight to the President’s Office.

The guards at the door immediately saluted upon seeing her, clearly unsurprised by her arrival.

            

“Admiral Ming, the President is waiting for you,” a guard said respectfully.

Ming Yu nodded and pushed the door open.

Zhan Li was sitting behind his desk. Seeing Ming Yu enter, a smile immediately broke across his face.

            

“Ming Yu, you’re here.” Zhan Li’s tone was warm and enthusiastic. “How is progress on the military academy? I heard you’ve been incredibly busy lately.”

Ming Yu offered a faint smile, her tone even. “Everything regarding the military academy is proceeding smoothly. Thank you for your concern, Mr. President.”

“That’s good.” Zhan Li nodded, gesturing for her to sit. “The military academy is the future of our military command. You must dedicate yourself to it fully.”

            

After sitting down, Ming Yu cut straight to the chase. “Mr. President, I came today regarding Ming Rui. She was taken away by the Bureau of Investigation, and I was hoping you might look into the matter.”

At her words, the smile on Zhan Li’s face faded slightly, replaced by a look of difficult reluctance. “Wu Lan did mention Ming Rui’s situation to me. But as you know, the Bureau of Investigation is an independent department. It’s not appropriate for me to interfere.”

Ming Yu sneered internally, knowing full well that Zhan Li was pushing the issue away.

            

She had anticipated that Zhan Li wouldn’t relent easily, but she maintained a calm exterior. “Mr. President, Ming Rui is my cousin. I know her character very well. I’m afraid there must be some misunderstanding regarding this incident. I was hoping you could help coordinate things.”

Zhan Li sighed, his voice tinged with helplessness. “Ming Yu, I understand how you feel. But it truly isn’t my place to interfere excessively with the Bureau’s affairs. You should go directly to Wu Lan. She will surely give you a reasonable explanation.”

Knowing that further entanglement would be useless, Ming Yu nodded. “Understood. Then I won’t disturb you any longer.”

            

Zhan Li smiled, offering a few words of comfort. “Ming Yu, rest assured. There won’t be any major problems with Ming Rui’s situation. Go talk to Wu Lan properly, and I’m sure things can be resolved amicably.”

Ming Yu stood up and gave a slight bow. “Thank you, Mr. President.”

The moment she stepped out of the Presidential Palace, Ming Yu’s expression darkened completely.

            

She knew that old fox Zhan Li would never willingly interfere in this matter. She would have to go to Wu Lan herself.

Ming Yu drove to the Federation Bureau of Investigation, her mood growing heavier by the mile.

She wasn’t a stranger to Wu Lan, but they weren’t exactly close either. Wu Lan was Zhan Li’s trusted confidante, and her methods had always been ruthless. Ming Yu wasn’t certain whether the woman would give her any face at all.

            

Upon arriving at the Bureau, Ming Yu walked directly to Wu Lan’s office.

Wu Lan was seated behind her desk. She didn’t look the least bit surprised to see Ming Yu walk in, as if she had expected her all along.

“Admiral Ming, we meet again.” Wu Lan stood up, her tone polite. “Please, have a seat.”

            

Ming Yu didn’t sit. She walked straight up to Wu Lan and asked, “Director Wu, regarding Ming Rui’s case, exactly when do you plan to release her?”

Wu Lan’s response carried a dismissive edge. “Admiral Ming, the Bureau has its rules. The procedures aren’t finished yet, so it wouldn’t be appropriate for us to release anyone arbitrarily. Please wait patiently a little longer. Once the investigation results are out, we will naturally give you an explanation.”

Ming Yu’s patience had been ground to dust. She demanded sharply, “Director Wu, are you playing Tai Chi⁴ with me? Tell me clearly—what exactly is the problem with Ming Rui?”

            

“Since Admiral Ming is being so direct, I won’t beat around the bush either.” Wu Lan’s smile dialed back. Her tone was calm, yet laced with calculation. “You must have already known about Murong Ruixue, yes?”

Ming Yu’s brows furrowed slightly. Warning bells blared in her mind.

She hadn’t expected Wu Lan to suddenly bring up Murong Ruixue, but she quickly recovered her composure and gave a vague response. “Yes, I am aware of some things.”

            

Wu Lan stared sharply at her. “Then your decision to include her in the military academy’s talent recruitment plan was also to keep her under your nose for easier surveillance, wasn’t it?”

Ming Yu didn’t deny it. “That was the intention.”

Wu Lan let out a light laugh, her tone laced with dark amusement. “Admiral Ming, this isn’t originally within the military’s jurisdiction. Your extreme dedication to this… is it for Miss Song Qingpei?”

            

At the mention of Song Qingpei, Ming Yu’s eyes instantly sharpened. “Director Wu, what do you mean by this?”

Wu Lan stopped speaking in circles and laid it out plainly. “I suspect that Murong Ruixue’s true target in going undercover is actually Song Qingpei.”

“What proof do you have?” Ming Yu’s heart sank violently, but she kept her face perfectly composed.

            

Wu Lan shook her head. “We don’t have concrete evidence yet. But based on our intelligence analysis, Murong Ruixue’s level of attention toward Song Qingpei far exceeds the norm. She risked staying at Blue Sea very likely just to get closer to her.”

Seeing that Wu Lan couldn’t utter a sentence without bringing up Song Qingpei, Ming Yu quickly caught on. Wu Lan’s true goal wasn’t to use Ming Rui to strike at her, but to use Song Qingpei for some deeper scheme. Her voice turned as cold as ice. “What exactly are you trying to say?”

Wu Lan looked at her, her words a deliberate test. “I suggest we let Song Qingpei return to Murong Ruixue’s side and actively get close to her to uncover her true purpose.”

            

“Impossible!” Ming Yu’s voice carried unquestionable absolute finality. “I will not let Qingpei get dragged into something so dangerous.”

A look of regret crossed Wu Lan’s face. “If you’re unwilling to cooperate, then I’m afraid Ming Rui’s situation will have to drag on a bit longer. Furthermore, during the course of an investigation, the Bureau inevitably uncovers certain non-compliant operations. You know very well that Ming Rui has handled quite a few matters for you over the years. If we were to blow things out of proportion⁵, I’m afraid…”

She didn’t finish her sentence, but the threat in her words couldn’t have been more obvious.

            

Fury flashed in Ming Yu’s eyes. She glared coldly at Wu Lan. “Director Wu, are you threatening me?”

Wu Lan spread her hands, feigning innocence. “Admiral Ming, you misunderstand. I am merely stating the facts. The Bureau’s duty is to uncover the truth. No matter who is involved, we will investigate to the very end.”

Ming Yu fought to suppress the rage boiling within her. She knew Wu Lan was forcing her to make a choice: either let Song Qingpei take the risk, or push Ming Rui directly into the line of fire.

            

Seeing Ming Yu’s silence, Wu Lan smiled. “Of course, you can take your time to consider it. However, time waits for no one. The longer Ming Rui’s situation drags on, the more variables will arise.”

The two remained locked in a tense standoff.

Suddenly, a loud commotion outside the door shattered the explosive tension in the office.

            

“Wu Lan, you bastard! Get out here!”

The familiar voice was sharp and filled with fury, sounding as if it wanted to tear the entire office apart.

The next second, the door was kicked open.

            

Both women turned to look. Zhan Nansheng stormed into the room, a picture of absolute rage. Her eyes locked directly onto Wu Lan, completely ignoring Ming Yu standing off to the side.

Seeing Zhan Nansheng charge in like a hurricane, Wu Lan didn’t bother standing. She leaned back in her chair, her tone calm but laced with mockery. “Lieutenant General Zhan, why such a fiery temper? Who offended you this time?”

Only then did Zhan Nansheng notice Ming Yu’s presence. “Ming Yu? Why are you here?” she asked in shock.

            

Ming Yu didn’t answer. She only threw a cold glance at Zhan Nansheng before turning back to Wu Lan. Her voice was perfectly steady. “Director Wu, I will consider your proposal. However, I hope you remember—Song Qingpei is my bottom line.”

“Rest assured, Admiral Ming. I will await your reply.”

Saying nothing more, Ming Yu turned and walked out of the office.

            

Zhan Nansheng had intended to throw a few sarcastic remarks at Ming Yu, but seeing her leave, she immediately redirected her fury back at Wu Lan.

“Wu Lan, you bastard!” Zhan Nansheng strode up to Wu Lan and raised her hand to strike.

But before her hand could even connect, a powerful wave of pheromones erupted from Wu Lan, crushing down directly onto Zhan Nansheng.

            

Zhan Nansheng’s body stiffened violently. Her legs went uncontrollably weak. It was as if all her strength had been siphoned away, and she collapsed directly into Wu Lan’s arms.

“What are you doing?!”

She tried to struggle, but her body completely refused to obey her commands.

            

Looking down at her, a chill flashed through Wu Lan’s eyes. “Eldest Miss, you’re always so impulsive. Was the lesson last time not enough?”

The memory of what happened at the Cloud Sea Hotel flooded Zhan Nansheng’s mind. The color drained from her face, and a tidal wave of shame and anger surged in her chest. She gritted her teeth, her voice trembling slightly. “Wu Lan, you wouldn’t dare! If you dare touch me again, my father won’t let you off!”

“Hahaha… Eldest Miss, do you think I’m still afraid of your father finding out?”

            

Wu Lan leaned in with a smile, her tone mocking. “When I marked you last time, I was indeed worried you’d tell the President in a fit of rage. But since the Eldest Miss didn’t say anything the first time, then the second time…”

As she spoke, she pressed Zhan Nansheng directly onto the desk. Her fingers lightly traced Zhan Nansheng’s cheek, her tone tinged with cruel amusement. “You definitely won’t say anything the second time. After all, a person’s bottom line only lowers over time. Eldest Miss, you value your face far more than your virtue⁶.”

Pure terror flashed in Zhan Nansheng’s eyes. She had never imagined Wu Lan could be so utterly unbridled.

            

“Wu Lan! You bastard! Get lost! Let me go!”

She cursed in panic, trying to break free from Wu Lan’s grip. But her forcefully marked body was completely incapable of resisting the powerful Enigma pheromones. She quickly dissolved into a weak puddle against the desk.

Wu Lan’s fingers slid down her cheek to her neck, lightly undoing the buttons of her military uniform.

            

“Wu Lan, you… you stop!”

Zhan Nansheng’s fingers dug desperately into Wu Lan’s sleeve, trying to stop her movements.

Yet Wu Lan didn’t pause for a single second.

            

She stripped away Zhan Nansheng’s uniform piece by piece until she was completely exposed to the air.

“Wu Lan, you bastard! I’ll make you pay for this!”

Zhan Nansheng screamed hysterically, biting her lip hard to keep herself from making any sound. But Wu Lan’s actions forced a low moan from her lips, one that slowly broke into a disjointed sob.

            

“Wu Lan, you… you can’t treat me like this…”

Wu Lan turned a deaf ear to her. She pinned Zhan Nansheng against the desk, her movements growing increasingly brutal and merciless.

Zhan Nansheng gripped the edge of the desk tightly, her knuckles turning white from the force.

            

Finally, she couldn’t hold back her pleas. “Wu Lan, stop… As long as you stop, I’ll pretend this never happened. I’ll never cause trouble for you again.”

Wu Lan tightly gripped Zhan Nansheng’s shoulders, her pants laced with an unsatisfied hunger. “…Haa. Eldest Miss, how many times have I warned you? You just had to come and provoke me. Now you know how to beg for mercy? Too late.”

Zhan Nansheng trembled uncontrollably, her voice choked with tears. “Wu Lan, you… you bastard… I’ll kill you, I’m going to kill you!”

            

Without a single shred of gentleness, Wu Lan harshly marked her once again.

When it was over, Zhan Nansheng lay paralyzed and trembling on the desk. Wu Lan dressed her and said, “Eldest Miss, don’t provoke me again. From now on, every time I see you, I’ll mark you.”

---

Song Qingpei sat on the living room sofa, nursing a cup of warm tea in her hands.

            

With both Ming Yu and Song Song gone, she found herself deeply bored. She lowered her head and took a sip. The fragrance of the tea spread over her palate, but it couldn’t dispel the heavy irritation in her chest.

Just then, her communicator suddenly rang.

Glancing down, she saw it was a video call request from Murong Ruixue.

            

She paused for a second before accepting the call.

Murong Ruixue’s face appeared on the screen, her smile as gentle as ever.

Seeing Song Qingpei’s red, swollen eyes, Murong Ruixue asked with immediate concern, “Qingpei, what happened to your eyes?”

            

Song Qingpei subconsciously touched her eyes and forced a smile. “It’s nothing, they just got irritated by the scent of the Tear Sea Anemone.”

“The Tear Sea Anemone?” Murong Ruixue’s voice carried a note of surprise. “Why would you touch something like that? The smell of that thing is awful.”

“I’d never seen one before. My hands were itchy⁷ and I touched it, and this is the result,” Song Qingpei explained, a little sheepishly.

            

“You… do your eyes still hurt? Have you seen a doctor?”

“It’s fine. It’s already much better.”

Murong Ruixue’s tone was thick with care. “That’s good. How have you been recently?”

            

Listening to the woman drag the conversation in circles, Song Qingpei, who had been waiting for her to get to the point, felt a spark of impatience. She purposely tested the waters. “I’ve been alright, I suppose. It’s just that there’s been a lot going on lately. I’m afraid I won’t be able to come in to work.”

Predictably, the moment she mentioned not going to work, Murong Ruixue grew anxious. “Qingpei, are you in some sort of trouble? If there’s anywhere I can help, please, just tell me.”

“It’s nothing major, it’s just… Ming Yu still isn’t very willing to let me return to work.” She paused before adding, “If you’re busy, you should just hire someone else. Just consider me having resigned!”

            

Murong Ruixue quickly rushed to reassure her. “No rush, no rush at all. Just rest for now. When your eyes are better, I’ll go have a proper talk with Admiral Ming Yu and convince her to let you come to work.”

Song Qingpei nodded, feigning gratitude. “Thank you, Ruixue-jie.”

They exchanged a few more pleasantries before Murong Ruixue ended the call.

            

Setting the communicator down, Song Qingpei sighed softly.

Ming Yu’s warning still rang in her ears; she couldn’t let Murong Ruixue sense that anything was wrong.

She knew Murong Ruixue’s concern was entirely fake, and she could only play along with the charade. But the woman had been the very first person to acknowledge and encourage her, and knowing it was all a lie still left an ache in her chest.

            

At that moment, the door was pushed open and Ming Yu walked in.

Her eyes rested first on Song Qingpei’s eyes in silent concern before she probed, “Who were you just talking to?”

“Murong Ruixue. She just called me,” Song Qingpei answered honestly.

            

Ming Yu’s brows knit together, a sour note of jealousy slipping into her voice. “She certainly seems to care about you.”

Hearing the acidity in her tone, Song Qingpei found it a bit funny. She purposely asked, “What, are you jealous?”

“Is she worthy?” Ming Yu replied.

            

Hai, quite confident, wasn’t she.

Song Qingpei let out a light laugh and changed the subject. “How did things go with Ming Rui? Any progress?”

At the mention of Ming Rui, Ming Yu’s expression instantly turned heavy. She fell completely silent.

            

Sensing the shift in her mood, Song Qingpei’s heart tightened. She knew the situation had to be complicated.

Knowing that Ming Yu was the type to keep everything bottled up, she worried the woman would hide something crucial. She pressed, “What exactly happened? Is Ming Rui’s situation very difficult to handle?”

Under her relentless questioning, Ming Yu had no choice but to reveal Wu Lan’s demand.

            

“Wu Lan proposed a condition. She suspects Murong Ruixue’s true target is you, and she wants you to return to her side to find out her real purpose.”

Shock flashed through Song Qingpei’s eyes. “Me? Why me?”

Ming Yu shook her head. “Wu Lan didn’t say it outright, but she clearly believes there’s some connection between you and Murong Ruixue.”

            

Song Qingpei fell silent for a moment before looking at Ming Yu with absolute determination. “I’m willing to try.”

“No!” Ming Yu refused categorically. “I will absolutely not let you get dragged into this danger! I have my ways regarding Ming Rui’s situation; you don’t need to worry about it.”

“Ming Yu, I know you’re worried about me, but I have to go.”

            

Song Qingpei sighed. Her voice was soft, but it carried an undeniable stubbornness. “To be completely honest with you, I also want to know why Murong Ruixue approached me. She was my first truly important friend. I refuse to let this relationship end in such a murky, unclear way.”

“Do you really want to know her purpose, or are you just looking for an excuse to see her?”

The Admiral, bursting with possessiveness, had untimely relapsed into her habit of speaking in a sarcastic, passive-aggressive tone.

            

Song Qingpei glared at her, carrying a hint of anger. “Ming Yu, speak properly.”

Ming Yu was stung by her tone. With a mix of reluctance and bitterness, she asked, “Murong Ruixue is your friend, but what about me? Am I your friend too? Are the two of us… the same in your heart?”

Song Qingpei hadn’t expected Ming Yu to drag the issue back to their relationship. She looked at her, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. “Ming Yu, you are Song Song’s mother. Of course it’s not the same.”

            

“Is it only because of that?” Ming Yu wouldn’t let it go, continuing her interrogation. “If Song Song didn’t exist, what would I be in your heart?”

Stumped by the question, a complex mix of emotions swelled within Song Qingpei.

She knew they hadn’t yet truly resolved the underlying issues between them.

            

Seeing Ming Yu relentlessly pressing the issue, she decided to stop speaking in circles and laid it out plainly. “Ming Yu, I know you want to start over. But to tell you the truth… I cannot accept the person you were before. My requirement for a lover is, at the very least, mutual trust and mutual respect—not someone acting dictatorially and making decisions for me just because they think it’s for my own good. Are you willing to try and trust me? To respect me?”

This was practically a deadly trap question⁸. Ming Yu froze. Her brows locked together tightly, a flash of struggle crossing her eyes.

If she said “No,” it meant she didn’t understand Song Qingpei, didn’t trust her, and was indeed dictatorial. If she said “Yes,” it meant she had to willingly agree to let Song Qingpei get close to Murong Ruixue, even if it meant she might be walking into danger.

            

Having spent so much time together, she also understood Song Qingpei’s personality. On the surface, she seemed easygoing, but deep down, she was incredibly stubborn. Once someone crossed her bottom line, there was no room for negotiation. And Ming Yu absolutely did not want the woman to hate her any more than she already did.

After a long hesitation, Ming Yu finally squeezed out a slow response. “…I trust you.”

A flash of surprise crossed Song Qingpei’s eyes before melting into joy. “You mean you agree?”

            

“Mhm.” Ming Yu nodded, somewhat reluctantly. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she blurted out out of nowhere, “But, you have to call me Jiejie.”

These words left Song Qingpei dumbfounded. She hadn’t expected Ming Yu to turn the tables on her at a time like this.

A trace of astonishment flashed across her face. “You… how are you still hung up on that?”

            

Enjoying a rare moment of having the upper hand, Ming Yu deliberately mimicked the tone she had used earlier. “I chose to trust you, but you’re not even willing to call me Jiejie? If you don’t want to say it, then forget it. Don’t go. I didn’t want you taking risks anyway.”

Song Qingpei was instantly left completely speechless.

---