Top-Tier Omega: Chasing Alpha to the Crematorium – Chapter 66
by Little PandaHeat Period
Song Qingpei had left in a hurry. Not having found a suitable place to stay, she simply booked a cheap hotel.
She carried her suitcase inside alone. Just as she walked into the hotel, two young people were registering at the front desk. The moment she entered, their eyes fell on her, and they occasionally muttered to each other in low voices.
Song Qingpei didn’t take it to heart. When she walked up to the front desk to check in, she vaguely overheard their conversation.
“Hey, look at her, she looks so familiar.”
“Yeahβ¦ I think it’sβ¦ Song Qingpei? Admiral Ming Yu’s wife?”
“There’s definitely a resemblance, but it probably isn’t her. How could the Admiral’s wife stay in a place like this?”
“Right, they probably just look alike.”
The two cast a few more glances her way before continuing their hushed discussion.
Song Qingpei ignored them. After finishing her registration, she headed straight to her room.
The room was very simple, containing only a bed and a bathroom. The decor was downright shabby.
However, Song Qingpei was already used to this kind of life. This place was much better than where she used to live.
Setting her suitcase down, she sat on the bed, gazing at the lights outside the window as she began to contemplate her current situation.
Since she had moved out, she couldn’t easily reconcile with Ming Yu. If she did it too easily, Ming Yu herself probably wouldn’t believe it. She had to establish a posture of long-term independence to make Ming Yu believe that she had completely abandoned the idea of leaving.
First, she had to support herself.
She checked her balance; there wasn’t much left. Fortunately, she didn’t have many material desires, so the money would be enough to sustain her for a while.
During this time, she needed to find a job. No matter how long it took for the mysterious contact to help her leave, she had to prepare for a long-term living arrangement.
Next, she needed to rent an apartment so it would be convenient to bring her daughter, Song Song, over to stay.
At the thought of Song Song, a wave of sorrow washed over her heart.
When she left, Song Song must have cried terribly, but Song Song would have a better life staying with Ming Yu. Her own future was still uncertain, and she couldn’t let her daughter suffer alongside her.
So, Song Qingpei listed three urgent tasks:
- Find a place to live.
- Find a job.
- Pick up and drop off Song Song regularly.
She opened a rental app, filtered through a few suitable listings, and sent messages to schedule viewings for the next day.
Then, she opened a job-hunting app and submitted her resume. Thanks to her previous experience at Blue Sea, she quickly received interview invitations from several companies.
Once everything was arranged, she took a shower, lay down on the bed, and let her mind go blank.
She told herself that this was a long-term battle.
Ming Yu’s actions had sobered her up considerably.
Song Qingpei could actually understand some of Ming Yu’s thoughts. They had finally managed to come together and start a new life, only for it to be interrupted by sudden, unexpected events. Her identity was special and fraught with danger; the fact that Ming Yu was willing to help her was already a tremendous favor.
What she was angry about was Ming Yu’s deception, and even more so, her own weakness and incompetence.
She could only rely on othersβwhether it was Murong Ruixue, Li Man, Ming Yu, or even that mysterious contact. She hated this feeling of being unable to control her own life.
But right now, there was no other way. She could only take things one step at a time.
Fortunately, her starting point was already low enough; things couldn’t get much worse. And Ming Yu could take good care of Song Song, leaving her with no worries on that front.
As for saving her aunt, she insisted on doing it herself because Ming Yu’s status and position made her somewhat hesitant. People had their priorities. The lengths Ming Yu would go to for Song Song and herself were definitely not the same as the lengths she would go to to save her aunt.
As she thought about this, Song Qingpei gradually drifted off to sleep.
However, just as she was finally feeling drowsy, the notification chime of her communicator shattered her sleepiness.
She glanced at it. Sure enough, it was a message from Ming Yu.
γQingpei, where are you right now?γ
Song Qingpei couldn’t be bothered to reply. She rolled over and went back to sleep.
Not long after, the communicator chimed again. She hesitated for a moment before clicking it open.
γQingpei, tell me where you are, alright?γ
γI really know I was wrong. I’m sorry. Could you just reply to me?γ
γSong Song has already fallen asleep, you don’t need to worry.γ
β¦
A barrage of messages poured in, making her eyes blur.
Song Qingpei skimmed through a few, her mood rather complicated. She didn’t know whether she should praise Ming Yu; her methods of showing goodwill had actually improved. She was no longer just blindly showing weakness and begging for forgiveness like before. She had actually learned to use softer tactics, bringing up their daughter to win her favor.
If this were the past, she might have been somewhat moved.
But now? Haha~, she only felt how foolish she had been to ever trust Ming Yu.
Song Qingpeiβher heart like ironβreplied:
γWhen school lets out tomorrow, I promised Song Song I would pick her up. I will drop her off back home after we eat.γ
γQingpei, where are you?γ
γI’m free tomorrow. Let’s have dinner together, alright?γ
γI really know I was wrong. I will never lie to you again.γ
The messages kept chiming incessantly. Song Qingpei directly muted the device, rolled over, and went to sleep.
On the other end, Ming Yu stayed awake the entire night.
The next day, when Song Qingpei woke up, she found a stack of 99+ messages on her communicator.
She didn’t bother looking at them. She simply deleted them all, then set out to view apartments according to her plan.
After some careful selection, she rented a well-located small apartment. Once she paid the rent, she headed out for her interviews.
After interviewing at two companies, she unexpectedly ran into Ming Rui.
“Qingpei-jie, what a coincidence! Why are you here?” Ming Rui greeted her with a smile.
Of course it was a coincidence. She was probably just one step away from blocking her door directly.
Song Qingpei silently roasted her in her mind. This clumsy acting was truly laughable. She had known all along that someone had been tailing her, presumably arranged by Ming Yu. She just hadn’t expected Ming Rui to take the field personally.
However, she didn’t bother exposing her. Playing along with Ming Rui’s words, she said, “Yeah, quite a coincidence. What are you doing here?”
“I came to visit a friend,” Ming Rui explained with a smile, then probed, “Qingpei-jie, are you here for an interview?”
Song Qingpei gave a noncommittal hum, looking at Ming Rui with a half-smile.
Ming Rui instantly felt mortified to the extreme.
Her cousin was really something else. To think that she, a dignified section chief of the Bureau of Investigation, had been reduced to playing private detective. It was an absolute sin. She could only brazen it out, pretending to know nothing, and follow Song Qingpei inside.
To make matters even more awkward, the boss wasn’t there, making the lie she had casually spun even less convincing.
With nowhere to hide her embarrassment, she called her friend. Thanks to her connections, Song Qingpei smoothly passed the interview and secured the job. Knowing she couldn’t possibly shake Ming Yu off in the short term, Song Qingpei politely declined at first before feigning a reluctant acceptance.
After the interview, Ming Rui even treated her to a meal, and it was agreed that Song Qingpei would start work in two days.
Once Ming Rui’s friend had left, Ming Rui pulled Song Qingpei aside and asked in a low voice, “Qingpei-jie, what’s going on with you and my cousin? Why did you move out?”
Song Qingpei stated coolly, “We’ve separated. I’m going to start living independently.”
Ming Rui tried to ask more, but Song Qingpei simply refused to elaborate, offering only a mild, “Go ask your cousin.”
She had asked, but her cousin stubbornly refused to say a word, only ordering her to keep an eye on Song Qingpei. It left her itching with unbearable curiosity. And judging by the current atmosphere, whatever happened wasn’t a small matter.
Helpless, Ming Rui could only part ways with Song Qingpei politely and immediately called Ming Yu to report the situation.
Upon hearing the news, Ming Yu’s mood grew even worse.
In the office, Ming Yu sat behind her desk, her face so darkly clouded it looked as if water might drip from it.
Her fingers unconsciously tapped against the desktop, producing a dull tap, tap sound. Documents were piled high on her desk, but she had absolutely no desire to flip through them. Her mind had clearly drifted far away.
This was the scene Song Xihan saw when she pushed the door open and walked in.
She raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile curling her lips. Walking up to Ming Yu, she unceremoniously sat down in the chair opposite her, crossed her arms, and said with a hint of mockery, “My, Admiral Ming, what’s wrong? You look awful. Don’t tell me your backyard caught fire1?”
Ming Yu shot her a cold glare. “Song Xihan, can you shut your mouth?”
Song Xihan shrugged, completely unfazed by her cold reception, and instead laughed, “Oh my, this attitude of yours won’t do. We’ve been friends for years. If you have some trouble on your mind, tell me about it. Maybe I can help you come up with an idea.”
Ming Yu’s expression grew even uglier. Her lips were pressed tightly together, clearly unwilling to talk.
Seeing this, Song Xihan put away her joking demeanor and said seriously, “What exactly happened? You’re really not acting like yourself.”
Ming Yu remained silent for a moment, a trace of struggle flashing through her eyes.
Since Song Xihan had already noticed something was amiss, there was no point in hiding it any longer. Besides, she was one of the few people who knew Song Qingpei’s true identity; perhaps she could offer some advice.
Thinking of this, Ming Yu slowly opened her mouth. “Qingpeiβ¦ she moved out.”
“Moved out?” Song Xihan was stunned for a second. “What do you mean? Did you two fight?”
Ming Yu gave a bitter smile, her eyes filled with exhaustion. “It wasn’t a fight. It’sβ¦ more serious than that. Iβ¦ did something she can’t forgive.”
Song Xihan’s brows furrowed deeper, her curiosity piqued even more. “What exactly happened? What did you do?”
Ming Yu fell silent for a while, but ultimately recounted the entire sequence of events to Song Xihan.
From how she used Song Qingpei to lure out the people from Black Kite, to Song Qingpei’s anger and absolute resolve upon discovering the truth, to her own futile attempts to salvage the situation.
As Song Xihan listened, her face instantly turned ashen. She slammed her hand against the table and stood up sharply.
“Ming Yu! Are you crazy? Doing that is practically twisting a knife in her heart!”
Ming Yu lowered her head. “I knowβ¦ I already know I was wrong. But now, she refuses to forgive me, and I don’t know what to do. I have never seen her this angry, not even before⦔ She didn’t say the rest, but the implication was clear. Even when Song Qingpei had been at her angriest in the past, she had never been ruthless enough to move out.
Song Xihan took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down.
To her, this wasn’t just about Ming Yu deceiving Song Qingpei and the conflict between them. The most crucial part of this entire affair was the role her grandmother had played. Hearing it now, it sounded like she had pulled off a perfect disappearing act.
She sat back down in her chair, her eyes swirling with complex emotions. “Ming Yu, what did my grandmother say? Did she really do absolutely nothing and just watch her own biological daughter suffer in prison?”
At the mention of Marshal Song, Ming Yu was quiet for a moment before answering truthfully. “Marshal Songβ¦ said the Song family cannot weather any more storms. They cannot take a risk for the sake of one person.”
Upon hearing this, Song Xihan’s face turned livid, her voice trembling with barely suppressed fury. “What? How could she say that? That is her biological daughter! How can she just leave her to die?”
Ming Yu sighed helplessly. “Xihan, calm down. Marshal Song might have her own considerations. The current situation is indeed very complex; it’s not suitable to act rashly.”
“Calm down? How do you expect me to calm down?” Song Xihan’s voice pitched up sharply, her eyes burning with rage. “Ming Yu, let me tell you, I stand with Qingpei on this! To disregard her adoptive mother like thatβyou’re worse than beasts2! And my grandmother too, how utterly cold-blooded. That is her own biological daughter! No, I’m going back to have a good talk with her!”
Ming Yu’s expression shifted. She hastily stood up to block her. “Xihan, don’t be impulsive! This matter isn’t that simple. We can’t afford to act recklessly.”
Song Xihan gave a cold snort and shook off Ming Yu’s hand, her eyes full of absolute determination. “Ming Yu, don’t try to stop me. I’m telling you, I am getting involved in this.”
Ming Yu looked at her with a complicated expression, caught in a dilemma.
She knew Song Xihan had always been clear-cut about debts of gratitude and grievances. But if she really let her intervene, things would likely only become more complicated.
“Xihan, listen to me⦔ Ming Yu grabbed her arm and said, “Right now, the most important thing is that we cannot expose Qingpei’s identity. We cannot let Zhan Li notice anything unusual. Otherwise, not only will Qingpei’s aunt not be saved, but even Qingpei will be in danger.”
Song Xihan looked at her, eyes brimming with mockery. “Ming Yu, you people are always like this. Always looking ahead and behind, always overly cautious and fearful. But have you ever thought about it? Back then, the reason my two aunts ended up with such tragic fates was precisely because of my grandmother’s weakness and compromise. And the reason the Song family has fallen to this state is also because my grandmother gave ground step by step.”
Ming Yu didn’t say a word, remaining silent, lost in her own thoughts.
Seeing this, Song Xihan took a deep breath and spoke slowly, “Ming Yu, no matter what you did in this matter, you have fulfilled your duty to the utmost, and no one can blame you. I believe Qingpei isn’t angry because you wouldn’t help her, but because you deceived her.”
“But this matter is different for me and Qingpei. That is our aunt, my grandmother’s biological daughter! Whatever others choose to do is their business, but we cannot sit by, and my grandmother absolutely cannot. The Song family has already shown weakness once. We cannot yield and compromise a second time, or we will never be able to stand back up.”
With that, she turned and strode out of the office, leaving Ming Yu standing alone in a daze.
It seemed that only in this moment did she truly realize just what exactly she had done wrong.
Song Qingpei stood at the gates of the kindergarten, watching a group of children happily running out.
Her gaze searched the crowd. The moment Song Song saw her, her eyes lit up, and she threw herself forward joyfully.
“Mama!” Song Song plunged into Song Qingpei’s embrace, hugging her waist tightly. Her voice was tinged with grievance and a need for affection. “You finally came to get me! I thought you didn’t want me anymore.”
Song Qingpei crouched down and gently hugged her daughter, softly comforting her, “How could Mama not want you? Mama just moved out to live on her own for a while, but Mama will always love you just the same.”
Song Song lifted her head, tilting it to the side as she asked, “Then Mama, aren’t you going to live with Mommy anymore?”
“I’m not going back for the time being.” Song Qingpei cradled her daughter’s small face, her tone gentle but firm. “Your Mommy made a very big mistake. Mama needs some time to calm down. But Mama promises you, I’ll come pick you up often, alright?”
Though Song Song was still a bit sad, hearing that her mother wouldn’t abandon her made her feel a little better.
She nodded, her small hands gripping Song Qingpei’s tightly, as if terrified she might suddenly disappear.
“Mama, where are we going now?” Song Song asked curiously, turning her small face up.
Song Qingpei smiled and took her little hand. “Mama is going to take you to see our new home, okay?”
Song Song’s eyes instantly brightened. “Really?”
“Of course.” Song Qingpei smiled, holding her hand as she led her toward the new apartment.
Though the new home wasn’t large, it was arranged very warmly.
Song Qingpei had specifically prepared a small bed for Song Song. Several cute plush dolls lay on the bed, and a few cartoon stickers Song Song liked were pasted on the wall.
The moment Song Song entered, she leaped onto the bed, hugging a doll and rolling around happily. “Mama, I love it! Mama really didn’t throw me away!”
Standing in the doorway, Song Qingpei watched her daughter’s sheer joy, feeling both comforted and a pang of sorrow.
She walked over and sat on the edge of the bed, gently stroking Song Song’s hair. “Song Song, remember this: Mama will never abandon you. I will love you forever.”
Song Song crawled up from the bed and threw herself into Song Qingpei’s arms, whispering, “Mama, I missed you so much. When you weren’t home, the house always felt so empty.”
“Mama missed you too.” Song Qingpei’s heart ached. She hugged Song Song tight and quickly smiled. “From now on, Mama will pick you up to stay here often, alright?”
Song Song nodded vigorously, a bright smile finally blooming on her face.
The mother and daughter chatted for a while before Song Qingpei checked the time and suggested, “Song Song, Mama will take you to get some food, and then we’ll go to the amusement park to play. How does that sound?”
The moment Song Song heard they were going to the amusement park, she jumped up excitedly. “Yay! I want to go to the amusement park!”
Song Qingpei smiled, took her hand, and led her out the door.
At the amusement park, Song Song pulled Song Qingpei along by the hand, running around excitedly. Watching her daughter so happy, Song Qingpei’s heart gradually relaxed, and a long-lost smile appeared on her face.
However, Song Song’s little mind wasn’t idle.
As she played, she stealthily peeked at Song Qingpei, plotting how to help her Mommy coax her Mama back.
Taking advantage of the brief window when Song Qingpei went to buy ice cream, Song Song quickly pulled out her device and hid behind a massive cartoon statue, sneakily sending Ming Yu a message using her children’s smartwatch.
“Mommy, Mama took me to the amusement park! She’s in a much better mood, but I feel like she’s still a little mad.”
As Song Song sent the voice message, her eyes continuously darted toward Song Qingpei’s direction, terrified of being caught.
“Song Song, did Mama mention me? Is she still mad at me?”
Song Song furrowed her little brows and quickly replied, “Mama said Mommy made a very big mistake and she won’t forgive you for now. But Mama is really nice to me. She even got a small bed ready for me.”
Ming Yu’s reply carried a touch of desperation: “Song Song, can you think of a way to have Mama take you home? Mommy wants to see her.”
Song Song’s little mind spun rapidly.
After thinking it over, she replied in her milky voice, “I’ll try! But Mama is very smart, so I can’t let her find out I’m helping you! Otherwise, Mama will get mad and won’t like me anymore. I don’t want to be abandoned by Mama like you were.”
Ming Yu, her heart ruthlessly pierced by her daughter: β¦
Just then, Song Qingpei walked over holding the ice cream.
Song Song quickly pretended as if nothing had happened. She ran over, took the ice cream, and said sweetly, “Thank you, Mama!”
Song Qingpei smiled and patted her head. “Eat slowly. Don’t get it on your clothes.”
As Song Song licked the ice cream, she stealthily observed Song Qingpei’s expression.
She decided to help Mommy out after all.
Looking up with her big, blinking eyes, she acted spoiled. “Mama, could you take me home later? I want to spend a little more time with you.”
Looking into her daughter’s expectant eyes, Song Qingpei’s heart softened. “Alright, Mama will take you home.”
Song Song felt a surge of secret pride. When Song Qingpei wasn’t looking, she quietly fired off another message to Ming Yu: “Mommy, Mama promised to bring me home! I can only help you this much. The rest is up to you!”
Ming Yu stood in the living room, glancing at the time every few seconds.
As the minutes ticked by, her anxiety grew more intense. Forcing herself to calm down, she began to look around the room.
She had already ordered the staff to clean the house until it was spotless. She had even lit Song Qingpei’s favorite scented candles, allowing the faint fragrance of lavender to permeate the air. A bouquet of fresh liliesβSong Qingpei’s favorite flowersβsat on the coffee table.
Ming Yu looked down at herself. She had changed into a tailored red dress that Song Qingpei had once complimented her on. It cinched at her waist, making it look delicate enough to hold in one hand. She had even meticulously styled her hair and sprayed on a touch of light perfume.
Doing all this might seem a bit too deliberate, but she was beyond caring.
“Mommy!” Song Song’s crisp voice rang out from outside the door.
Ming Yu’s heart gave a violent jolt. Almost subconsciously, she stood up perfectly straight, her fingers trembling slightly.
The door opened. Ming Yu’s gaze involuntarily bypassed Song Song, locking onto the person she had been yearning for.
Song Qingpei stood outside the door, holding Song Song’s little backpack. Her expression was mild, giving nothing away.
She wore a simple beige trench coat, her long hair draped casually over her shoulders. Her entire presence seemed cold and detached. Her eyes lingered on Ming Yu for a split second before shifting away, as if she were looking at an irrelevant stranger.
“Qingpei.”
Ming Yu’s tone carried obvious caution, as if terrified that saying the wrong word would upset her.
Song Qingpei gave a faint nod, her voice calm. “Song Song was tired from playing, so I brought her back. She’s already eaten dinner. Just give her a bath and she can go to sleep.”
Ming Yu quickly nodded and stepped aside to clear the doorway. “Thank you for the trouble. Would you like to come in and sit for a while?”
Song Qingpei shook her head, her tone remaining flat. “No need. It’s getting late, I’m leaving.”
With that, she looked down at Song Song and gently stroked her hair. “Song Song, be a good girl and listen to Mommy. Go to sleep early. Mama will come see you next time.”
The moment Song Song heard she was leaving, she grew frantic. Her small hands tightly gripped the hem of Song Qingpei’s coat. Looking up, her eyes were filled with grievance. “Mama, can you stay and sleep with me? I can’t fall asleep by myself.”
Song Qingpei paused, looking down into her daughter’s expectant eyes, feeling a twinge of hesitation.
Before she could answer, Ming Yu stepped forward and said softly, “Qingpei, Song Song didn’t sleep well last night. She kept calling your name.”
Song Qingpei finally sighed and nodded. “Alright.”
Joy flared across Ming Yu’s face. She hurriedly stepped aside. “Okay, come inside first.”
Song Qingpei took Song Song’s hand and walked into the living room, entirely ignoring Ming Yu’s existence, and led Song Song straight to the bathroom.
Ming Yu stood rooted to the spot, watching their retreating figures. Her heart was a mix of bitterness and helplessness; all she could do was quietly follow behind.
In the bathroom, Song Qingpei drew a warm bath for Song Song, carefully tested the water temperature, then undressed her and lifted her into the tub.
Song Song sat in the warm water, her small hands splashing the surface as she smiled playfully. “Mama, will you tell me a story later?”
Song Qingpei smiled, picked up the children’s shampoo, and began gently lathering Song Song’s hair. “Alright. After your bath, Mama will tell you a story.”
Song Song nodded happily, closing her eyes obediently and letting Song Qingpei wash her hair.
Standing in the bathroom doorway, Ming Yu watched this scene, wanting to say something.
“Qingpei⦔
The moment she opened her mouth, Song Qingpei shot her a cold, sidelong glance. Ignoring her completely, she went back to focusing on bathing Song Song. Ming Yu could only swallow the words on the tip of her tongue and stand silently to the side.
After the bath, Song Qingpei wrapped Song Song in a towel, carried her out of the bathroom, and headed straight to Song Song’s bedroom.
Ming Yu trailed behind, holding Song Song’s pajamas, and carefully handed them over. “Qingpei, here are Song Song’s pajamas.”
Song Qingpei took the pajamas and helped Song Song into them without sparing Ming Yu a single extra glance.
After being met with such cold treatment time and time again, Ming Yu felt a level of panic she had never experienced before. The Song Qingpei before her felt entirely unfamiliar. In the past, even when she was angry, Ming Yu could still feel her emotions. But the current Song Qingpei seemed to be completely ignoring her existence.
Her eyes reddened with anxiety, yet she was utterly at a loss for what to do.
Looking almost helplessly toward her sweet little padded jacket3, Song Song instantly received her Mommy’s distress signal. Scrambling down from the bed on all fours, she said to Song Qingpei, “Mama, I’m going to grab a new storybook. Wait for me.”
With that, she bounded out the door in her shoes, not forgetting to pull the door shut behind her.
Hehe, the books said that alone time would let Mama and Mommy make up quickly. I hope Mommy can actually pull her weight. Worrying like a tiny adult, Song Song deliberately took her sweet time heading to her little study to fetch a book.
With only the two of them left in the room, it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Ming Yu stepped forward, attempting to draw closer to Song Qingpei.
When she was still several paces away, Song Qingpei looked up at her and said coldly, “Ming Yu, using our daughter to achieve your own goals will only make me hate you more.”
“I wasn’t⦔ Ming Yu’s face turned starkly pale.
“Wasn’t what?” Song Qingpei looked at her, mocking, “Dare you say that everything Song Song did today wasn’t taught by you?”
Ming Yu struggled to open her mouth, attempting to explain.
But Song Qingpei didn’t give her the chance. She turned right around, marched into the study, and plucked Song Songβwho was leaning over the desk, dangling her little legs while flipping through a bookβright out of her seat.
Deliberately, she said, “Song Song, if you aren’t tired, Mama is leaving.”
“No!” Song Song threw herself forward at once, forcing a yawn. “Mama, I’m so sleepy.”
Song Qingpei leaned down to pick Song Song up, asking as they walked, “Since you’re so sleepy, why didn’t you go back to your room to sleep? Why were you reading a book in there?”
She asked this question just as they reached the bedroom door, ensuring Ming Yu heard it loud and clear.
“Becauseβ¦ becauseβ¦ because⦔
Song Song twisted her fingers together. She looked at Song Qingpei, then looked at a crestfallen Ming Yu.
Wuwu, this is so hard!
If she lied, Mama would be unhappy. But if she sold Mommy out, wouldn’t that make her a really bad friend?
Just as she was trapped in this dilemma, Ming Yu, her face pale, walked out. “Qingpei, Iβ¦ I won’t do this anymore. You coax Song Song to sleep; I’ll step out first.”
She walked to the door and paused for a second, as if holding onto a desperate hope of hearing words urging her to stay.
Song Qingpei didn’t utter a single sound. Carrying Song Song inside, she simply reached back and shut the door.
Seeing her mother angry, Song Song obediently scrambled into bed and handed over the storybook, her eyes sparkling. “Mama, read me a story!”
Song Qingpei nodded. Sitting on the edge of the bed, she took the fairytale book and began to read aloud softly.
Her voice was gentle and calm. Song Song was soon immersed in the tale. Her eyes blinked slower and slower as drowsiness crept in, but she knew that as long as she held out, Mama would stay a little longer.
So, she forced herself to stay awake, occasionally rubbing her eyes as she focused on her mother’s stories.
Noticing Song Song’s fatigue, Song Qingpei gently patted her back. “Song Song, if you’re sleepy, just go to sleep. Mama is right here with you.”
Song Song shook her head, her voice thick with sleep. “Mama, I’m not sleepy. Will you read one more story?”
Left with no choice, Song Qingpei could only begin reading the next one.
Song Song tried hard to keep her eyes wide open, but ultimately couldn’t fight the exhaustion. Her eyes slowly fluttered shut.
Her breathing grew steady and long.
Song Qingpei gently set the book down, leaned over to press a kiss to Song Song’s forehead, then stood up and walked toward the door.
She quietly pulled Song Song’s bedroom door shut and turned to leaveβonly to see Ming Yu standing in the shadows of the corridor. It was impossible to tell how long she had been standing there.
More than an hour had passed. Had Ming Yu never even left?
Just as the thought arose, Song Qingpei chided herself for overthinking. How long Ming Yu chose to stand there had nothing to do with her. Never pity a woman; you’ll only be fooled.
Retracting her gaze, Song Qingpei turned to head downstairs.
Ming Yu instantly rushed forward, grabbing her arm and calling out with a trembling voice, “Qingpei⦔
“Let go!”
“Qingpei, I was wrong. Let’s talk, alright? I’m begging you.”
Ming Yu’s voice grew smaller and smaller as she spoke. Her spine was rigid, her head bowed in fear of looking at her, yet the grip on her arm didn’t loosen in the slightest.
Song Qingpei frowned, but unexpectedly agreed, “Fine. Let’s talk.”
Ming Yu froze for a moment. A look of overwhelming relief and surprise surfaced on her face, and she nodded hastily. “Okay, okay, let’s talk in the study.”
The two walked into the study, one after the other.
Ming Yu closed the door, turned to look at Song Qingpei, and spoke with a hurried, humble tone. “Qingpei, I truly know I was wrong. I shouldn’t have hidden things from you, I shouldn’t have used you, Iβ”
“Stop.” Song Qingpei directly raised a hand, cutting her off. Her eyes were calm and distant. “I don’t want to hear your apologies. Let’s talk business.”
Ming Yu opened her mouth, but ultimately could only lower her head. “Okay, tell me.”
Song Qingpei cut straight to the chase. “When will Murong Ruixue and Li Man be released? You promised me.”
“I’ve already spoken to Wu Lan, she’s handling it. But this matter takes time. Zhan Li is watching very closely; we cannot alert the enemy.” Ming Yu explained nervously, “Believe me, I will do what I promised you.”
“I understand.” Song Qingpei nodded, her tone remaining flat. “But I expect you to resolve this as quickly as possible. If we drag this out, I’m afraid there might be complications.”
Ming Yu nodded frantically. “I will. I will definitely handle it as soon as possible.”
Song Qingpei glanced at her and continued, “In addition, I’ve already found a job and an apartment. From now on, I will pick Song Song up from school every other day, take her to dinner, and drop her back off. On Saturdays, I might take her to stay with me for a night. This is my arrangement for Song Song. Do you have any objections?”
Ming Yu was stunned, the expression on her face morphing from surprise to sheer bewilderment.
She never expected Song Qingpei to have already formulated such a detailed planβone in which she was completely excluded.
Her voice trembled slightly. “Qingpei, areβ¦ are you serious?”
Song Qingpei laughed. “You thought I was playing house with you? Ming Yu, I have given you plenty of chances, but you never truly changed. I don’t want to waste any more time.”
Ming Yu’s face turned stark white. She begged, “Qingpei, give me one more chance, alright? I swear, this time I will absolutely change, I will definitelyβ”
“Enough.” Song Qingpei cut her off again, a flash of impatience in her tone. “I don’t want to hear these empty promises anymore. I’ve made myself very clear. My decision will not change.”
With that, she turned to leave, only to find Ming Yu blocking the door once more, barring her path.
“Step aside.” Song Qingpei’s voice turned absolutely freezing.
“β¦Qingpei, don’t go. Let’s talk some more, alright?”
Ming Yu’s voice carried a humble plea, but her body remained entirely motionless.
In Song Qingpei’s eyes, this was exactly like the past. Admitting her faults was one thing; actually changing was an impossibility.
Song Qingpei frowned. She reached out to pull Ming Yu out of the way, only to find the door was locked.
The lock was facial recognition; she couldn’t open it.
Song Qingpei’s expression instantly darkened, a surge of anger bleeding into her voice. “Ming Yu, what is the meaning of this?”
With her head bowed, Ming Yu’s voice trembled slightly. “Qingpei, I justβ¦ I just wanted to spend a little more time with you. Don’t be angry, Iβ”
Song Qingpei ignored her, her face growing colder by the second. “Ming Yu, did you really think this would be enough to keep me here?”
Panic seeped into Ming Yu’s voice. “Qingpei, I⦔
Before she could finish, Song Qingpei’s hands clamped tightly onto Ming Yu’s shoulders. With a slight pressure from her fingertips, she forced Ming Yu to retreat step by step until her back was pressed against the cold wall, leaving her with nowhere left to go.
Her breathing quickened, leaving only the sound of Song Qingpei’s close-range breaths ringing in her ears.
The distance between them was too closeβso close that Ming Yu could clearly smell Song Qingpei’s scent, mixed with the faint warmth of her body. Ming Yu was already in her heat period, leaving her body much more sensitive than usual. Enveloped by Song Qingpei’s aura now, the pheromones within her spilled out uncontrollably.
A faint, cloying sweetness permeated the air.
Ming Yu’s face instantly flushed a deep crimson. Instinctively, she wanted to push Song Qingpei away, yet she couldn’t bear to part with this rare intimacy. Her gaze fell involuntarily onto Song Qingpei’s lips; her throat tightened, and her heart hammered wildly in her chest.
Song Qingpei noticed her unusual state, yet she didn’t push her away. Instead, her fingers slid slowly down Ming Yu’s shoulders, coming to rest at her waist. Ming Yu was wearing a red backless gown; Song Qingpei’s hands easily brushed against her bare skin, which felt scalding hot.
Ming Yu’s body trembled violently. Her breathing quickened, and her eyes grew hazy.
“Qingpei⦔ Ming Yu’s voice carried a tremor, sounding both like a plea and an eager anticipation.
Her fingers unconsciously caught the hem of Song Qingpei’s clothes. She wanted to lean closer, but she didn’t dare make a reckless move.
As if in a dream, Song Qingpei actually pulled her even closer.
Ming Yu’s body was practically pressed flat against Song Qingpei’s. She could feel the slight rise and fall of Song Qingpei’s chest, along with the heat radiating from her. Unable to help herself, she gently touched Song Qingpei’s cheek, wanting to kiss her.
However, just as her lips were about to brush against Song Qingpei’s, Song Qingpei suddenly pinched her chin, forcing her to tilt her head up.
“Open your eyes,” Song Qingpei said, her voice as cold as ice, completely devoid of warmth.
Ming Yu froze for a moment before instinctively opening her eyes.
A trace of confusion and bewilderment lingered in her gaze. However, Song Qingpei offered no explanation. Still pinching her chin, she simply turned Ming Yu’s face toward the door.
The facial recognition system on the door instantly activated, scanning Ming Yu’s features.
A second later, the door clicked open.
Ming Yu stood rooted to the spot in a daze. The flush on her face instantly drained away, replaced by an ashen pallor.
Song Qingpei released her, turned, and walked away.
Ming Yu subconsciously reached out to grab her, but Song Qingpei easily dodged her hand.
“Qingpei⦔ Ming Yu’s voice caught on a sob.
Song Qingpei never looked back. She walked straight out of the study, returned to her old bedroom, dug out a syringe she hadn’t used in a long time, and without hesitation, drew her own blood.
She had long anticipated the issue of Ming Yu being unable to control herself during her heat period. Previously, after confirming that her blood had a soothing effect, Ming Yu had already taken samples of it to a research facility to be synthesized. The synthesized blood could entirely solve Ming Yu’s problem temporarily. However, since they had reconciled shortly after, the matter had simply been dropped.
Now that this had happened so suddenly, she naturally wouldn’t take advantage of Ming Yu’s heat period to enact revenge. But it was equally impossible for her to engage in intimate contact with her without any lingering resentment. As for the futureβ¦ even she didn’t know what would happen.
Song Qingpei stepped out into the corridor and called down the stairs, “Butler Su.”
Butler Su quickly appeared at the foot of the stairs, asking respectfully, “Miss Song, what are your orders?”
Song Qingpei pulled the prepared syringe from her pocket and handed it to Butler Su. “Ming Yu’s heat period is here. This is an inhibitor. Help her take care of it.”
Butler Su accepted the syringe and nodded. “Yes, Madam.”
Without another word, Song Qingpei turned and walked toward the front doors.
Inside the study, Ming Yu thought Song Qingpei had long since left. Her fingers gripped the doorframe tightly, her body trembling slightly. The symptoms of her heat period brought on waves of dizziness and weakness; she was barely able to stand by leaning against the wall.
Hearing Song Qingpei’s voice just now, she instantly chased after her, ignoring the intense physical discomfort.
But all she saw was the sight of Song Qingpei’s retreating back. Her heart instantly twisted with agony. She bit down hard on her lip until a faint trace of crimson seeped out.
Butler Su hurried over and said softly, “Miss, let me inject you with the inhibitor first.”
Ming Yu didn’t answer, only staring blankly in the direction Song Qingpei had gone.
Seeing Ming Yu unresponsive, Butler Su could only support her arm and escort her back to her room first.
Ming Yu seemed to have lost all her strength, allowing Butler Su to maneuver her.
Butler Su expertly injected her with the inhibitor, sighed, and said softly, “Admiral, please rest well for now. Miss Song will come back once she’s thought things through.”
Ming Yu still gave no answer. She merely closed her eyes slowly, the scene from moments ago playing on an endless loop in her mind.
Song Qingpei’s coldness and ruthlessness were like a sharp blade, slowly slicing her to pieces.
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