Top-Tier Omega: Chasing Alpha to the Crematorium – Chapter 69

Fake Marriage

Ming Yu’s office had been relocated to the military academy, situated on the east side of the Central Star District.

The architectural style of the military academy was solemn and majestic. Ming Yu’s office was on the top floor of the main building, overlooking the entire campus through floor-to-ceiling windows. Her arrival had caused quite a stir within the military academy.

            

The personnel who had accompanied her were full of curiosity regarding the trending search¹ incident, but no one dared to ask casually. Ming Yu’s aura was already cold and stern, and coupled with her gloomy expression today, she was clearly in a foul mood. Everyone kept quiet out of fear, terrified of bringing her wrath down upon themselves.

That morning, Ming Yu was processing the military academy’s recruitment plan documents when there was a knock on the office door.

“Come in,” she said without raising her head.

            

The door was pushed open, and Zhan Nansheng walked in.

She was wearing a crisp military uniform, without a trace of a smile on her face. The two of them had frequently argued over disagreements when they were at Military Headquarters; now working together at the military academy, conflicts were even more inevitable.

Zhan Nansheng walked up to the desk and placed a document on it.

            

“Chancellor Ming, I want to discuss this year’s recruitment plan with you.”

Ming Yu looked up and glanced at her. “Speak.”

Zhan Nansheng pulled out a chair and sat down, her tone calm. “I suggest that recruitment should first be screened through internal recommendations within Military Headquarters. This can ensure the quality and loyalty of the students. After all, the military academy trains future military officers, not ordinary students.”

            

“I disagree.” Ming Yu frowned, her tone strictly business. “The military academy will select talents through the joint entrance exams, rather than limiting it to Military Headquarters. We cannot deny those with military aptitude the chance to compete fairly.”

Zhan Nansheng retorted, “Ming Yu, aren’t you being too idealistic? Talents selected through the joint entrance exams might not necessarily adapt to the strict training of the military academy and the discipline of Military Headquarters. What we need is not just ability, but loyalty.”

“The future of Military Headquarters needs a diversity of skills, not a bunch of machines that only know how to follow orders. The talents selected through the joint entrance exams will actually have far more potential.”

            

Zhan Nansheng’s expression shifted slightly. “Admiral Ming, are you questioning the selection mechanism of Military Headquarters?”

Ming Yu sneered. “I’m only questioning your narrow-mindedness.”

The atmosphere between the two instantly became tense, the temperature in the office seeming to drop a few degrees.

            

Zhan Nansheng fell silent for a moment. Suddenly changing the subject, she provoked, “Admiral Ming, I heard you were kicked out by your wife last night? If you can’t even handle your own private life, what right do you have to talk about work?”

Ming Yu’s face instantly darkened, and she retorted sarcastically, “Vice-Chancellor Zhan, you certainly care a lot about my private affairs. But compared to my family matters, you and Qin Shuang’s out-of-wedlock pregnancy seems much more worthy of a trending search, doesn’t it?”

“Qin Shuang’s child has nothing to do with me. Don’t let me hear this kind of rumor again, or else don’t blame me for turning hostile.”

            

Zhan Nansheng’s face turned incredibly ugly, her eyes looking as if she wanted to kill someone.

Ming Yu chuckled mockingly. “What? You dare to do it, but don’t dare to admit it?”

“Ming Yu, you’ll regret what you said today.”

            

Leaving behind those harsh words, Zhan Nansheng turned around in anger and slammed the door as she left.

Quiet returned to the office. Ming Yu didn’t take this little interlude to heart at all.

She went to send a follow-up message to Song Qingpei. But the moment the message was sent, a glaring red exclamation mark appeared on the screen—

            

She had been blocked².

Her fingers abruptly froze, panic and disbelief flashing through her eyes.

Ming Yu tried to steady herself, but her mind constantly replayed the previous night: Song Qingpei’s cold eyes, her resolute back, and the miserable sight of herself being pushed out the door.

            

The current Song Qingpei was so ruthless it terrified her.

Ming Yu forced herself to calm down. She had to do something. She quickly dialed Wu Lan’s communicator number.

After the communicator rang a few times, Wu Lan’s voice came through. “Admiral Ming—no, Chancellor Ming. How do you have the free time to call me?”

            

Ming Yu was in no mood to pay attention to her teasing. Her tone was urgent. “How are things with Murong Ruixue and Li Man going?”

Wu Lan sighed, a bit of helplessness in her tone. “Ming Yu, aren’t you being a bit too impatient? How much time has even passed? You have to give me some time.”

Ming Yu’s fingers tightly gripped the communicator. “I can’t wait anymore! You must find a way to get this done as soon as possible.”

            

Hearing this, Wu Lan’s tone carried a bit of mockery. “Is it because of Qingpei? I heard that the grand and mighty Admiral was actually kicked out of the house. Tsk, tsk, it’s really an eye-opener.”

Ming Yu’s face instantly turned ashen. “You—”

Wu Lan laughed. “Don’t be angry, I just care about you. Right now the whole Star Network is discussing the matter between you and Song Qingpei. How do you plan to clean this up?”

            

Ming Yu’s chest heaved violently. She suppressed the anger in her heart and said coldly, “Wu Lan, you don’t need to worry about my private affairs. The matter with Murong Ruixue and Li Man, you must hurry—”

Wu Lan interrupted her. “I know, I’m handling it. Stop rushing me.”

After hanging up the communicator, Wu Lan went straight to the Presidential Palace.

            

She walked down the long corridor, still wearing that careless smile on her face, but she felt a faint unease in her heart. The person she had to face next was President Zhan Li—a man of deep thoughts and high status. To achieve her goal without arousing suspicion, she had to be fully prepared.

Pushing open the door to the President’s Office, Wu Lan walked in.

Zhan Li was sitting behind his desk, holding a document, his brows slightly furrowed as if pondering something.

            

Hearing footsteps, he looked up and saw it was Wu Lan. His expression relaxed a bit. “Wu Lan, you’re here.”

Wu Lan nodded, her tone respectful. “President, I’ve come to report on the situation regarding Murong Ruixue and Li Man.”

Zhan Li put down the document in his hand and gestured for her to sit. “Speak. What did you find out?”

            

Wu Lan sat in the chair opposite him, her tone calm. “The backgrounds of Murong Ruixue and Li Man have been thoroughly investigated. They are indeed closely connected to Murong Xia. As for their objective, they adamantly refuse to say a single word. I suggest we find an opportunity to release them, then secretly track them to locate Murong Xia’s whereabouts.”

“Release them?” Zhan Li narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing her. “Wu Lan, to release the tiger back to the mountain³ is not a wise move.”

Wu Lan smiled, her tone relaxed. “Murong Xia is exceedingly cunning. The reason we haven’t been able to catch her is because her movements are too hidden. If we continue to lock up Murong Ruixue and Li Man, it will only beat the grass and startle the snake⁴. It’s better to cast a long line to catch a big fish⁵. We might just reap an unexpected harvest.”

            

Zhan Li remained silent for a moment, his eyes holding a bit of scrutiny. “Wu Lan, you have always been meticulous. This suggestion of yours actually surprised me a bit. Are you sure this plan can succeed?”

Wu Lan’s heart tightened, but she maintained a calm smile on her face. “I am extremely confident. If I fail to catch Murong Xia, I am willing to take the blame and resign. Please give me a chance.”

Zhan Li stared at her for a few seconds, then smiled, his tone softening a bit. “Wu Lan, I believe in your loyalty. However, the situation within Military Headquarters has been somewhat complicated recently. I hope you can remain vigilant at all times and not lose the big picture for small gains.”

            

Wu Lan nodded, her tone firm. “President, I will.”

Zhan Li nodded in satisfaction, then suddenly changed the subject. “By the way, Wu Lan, how is your investigation into the matter between Zhan Nansheng and Qin Shuang going?”

Wu Lan secretly breathed a sigh of relief and explained, “The matter between the Eldest Miss and Qin Shuang is a bit complicated. The Eldest Miss refuses to admit the child is hers, but Qin Shuang firmly insists that the child belongs to the Eldest Miss. I have people investigating Qin Shuang’s recent whereabouts. If all else fails, we can only persuade the Eldest Miss to do a paternity test.”

            

Zhan Li frowned, a bit of displeasure in his tone. “That child Nansheng has always acted recklessly. If the child really is hers, she must take responsibility. It just so happens she’s not young anymore; the matter of a marriage alliance with the Qin family should also be put on the agenda.”

Wu Lan nodded, her tone respectful. “Rest assured, I will give you an answer as soon as possible.”

Zhan Li waved his hand, signaling that she could leave.

            

Wu Lan stood up, bowed slightly, then turned and walked out of the office.

After coming out of the Presidential Palace, Wu Lan’s mood was somewhat heavy. Zhan Li’s probing and suspicion had doubled her pressure.

She adjusted her emotions and drove back to the Federation Bureau of Investigation building.

            

Pushing open the office door, Wu Lan saw Zhan Nansheng sitting in her office chair, staring straight at her.

Wu Lan smiled. “Eldest Miss, what brings you here?”

Zhan Nansheng glared at Wu Lan and asked with a cold face, “Wu Lan, you went to see my father? What did you two talk about?”

            

Wu Lan replied, “Nothing much, just reporting on some work-related matters.”

Hearing this, Zhan Nansheng snorted in dissatisfaction. “How is the investigation into Qin Shuang’s matter going? Whose child is it anyway? Daring to pin this on me⁶—I won’t let her off.”

“I’ve investigated it clearly. It’s nothing unusual, just another old-fashioned cliché of a family breaking up lovebirds.”

            

Wu Lan smiled and slowly told Zhan Nansheng the information she had gathered.

Qin Shuang had fallen in love with an unknown little bodyguard, and the two had secretly conceived a child. However, the Qin family was forcing Qin Shuang into a marriage alliance with the Zhan family, using the little bodyguard to threaten Qin Shuang into aborting the baby. That day, Qin Shuang had originally wanted to find Zhan Nansheng to talk and arrange a fake marriage to protect her child and lover. Unexpectedly, Zhan Nansheng was drunk, and someone just happened to capture a picture of them looking ambiguous.

Her pregnancy had subsequently been exposed, which led to the rumors that Qin Shuang was pregnant with Zhan Nansheng’s child.

            

After hearing all this, Zhan Nansheng sneered. “Wu Lan, do you believe there are such coincidences in this world?”

Wu Lan didn’t directly answer her, but instead suggested, “Actually, the matter between you and Qin Shuang isn’t without a solution. Why don’t you push the boat with the current⁷ and enter a fake marriage? Anyway, your father will sooner or later want you to marry into the Qin family. If it’s not Qin Shuang, it will be someone else.”

Hearing this, Zhan Nansheng’s face instantly turned ashen, her eyes full of fury. “Wu Lan, you—”

            

She abruptly raised her hand and viciously slapped Wu Lan across the face.

Wu Lan’s face was struck so hard it turned to the side, but she continued to smile carelessly. “Eldest Miss, why are you so agitated? I’m merely making a suggestion.”

Zhan Nansheng trembled with anger. “Wu Lan, you’re asking me to fake-marry Qin Shuang? Do you even have a heart?”

            

A trace of complexity flashed through Wu Lan’s eyes, but she quickly restored her calm. “Eldest Miss, feelings and interests are two different things. Your father needs you to marry into the Qin family; this is an unchangeable fact. If you fake-marry Qin Shuang, you can protect the Zhan family’s interests while keeping your freedom. Why not?”

“Wu Lan!” Zhan Nansheng glared at her fiercely and questioned angrily, “You clearly said before that you would confess to my father and marry me.”

Thinking of Zhan Li’s probing just now, Wu Lan was silent for a long time before saying flatly, “If I told your father about our relationship now, he wouldn’t let me off. Being dismissed from my post would be the lightest outcome.”

            

“Good, good, good… Wu Lan, you’re really something.”

Zhan Nansheng sneered in anger. “For the sake of this Director position, you even dare to use my feelings.”

“This is just a temporary measure, there’s no need to take it so seriously.”

            

Wu Lan spoke carelessly, as if talking about an incredibly ordinary matter.

Seeing her indifferent appearance, Zhan Nansheng’s eyes filled with anger and pain. Her chest heaved up and down. After a long while, she turned abruptly and slammed the door as she left.

“Wu Lan, just you wait. This isn’t over.”

            

Wu Lan stood where she was, touching her struck cheek, a bitter smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.

---

That night, Wu Lan arranged to meet Qin Shuang at a highly discreet private club.

This club was located in a bustling area of the Central Star District, but the entrance was hidden, and only a small number of dignitaries and celebrities knew of its existence.

            

Wu Lan had booked a private room in advance and sat inside, waiting quietly.

Before long, the door to the room was gently pushed open, and Qin Shuang walked in.

She wore a low-key black trench coat, a hat, and sunglasses, almost covering most of her face.

            

Seeing her dressed like this, Wu Lan couldn’t help but laugh. “Miss Qin, with this outfit, you look like you’re here to be a spy.”

Qin Shuang took off her sunglasses and hat, revealing a delicate but somewhat exhausted face.

She walked over to sit opposite Wu Lan and said helplessly, “Director Wu, stop making fun of me. I’m treading on thin ice right now. There’s been no news from Zhan Nansheng at all, and I’m really worried.”

            

Wu Lan poured her a cup of tea, her tone relaxed. “Don’t rush. Things are still under control.”

Qin Shuang said worriedly, “But Zhan Nansheng’s attitude is very unyielding. She absolutely refuses to admit the child is hers, and even threatened to kill me. When you told me to approach her back then, you promised me that you would ensure I could safely give birth to this child.”

“Relax, I will definitely do what I promised you,” Wu Lan soothed. “As for Zhan Nansheng, I will figure out a way to make her agree.”

            

Qin Shuang picked up the tea and took a sip, worry still lingering in her eyes. “Wu Lan, are you sure Zhan Nansheng will agree to a fake marriage? Someone as proud as her, how could she compromise so easily?”

Wu Lan said with certainty, “I will make her agree.”

After a moment of silence, Qin Shuang nodded helplessly. “Alright, I trust you. But please, you must resolve this matter as soon as possible. The Qin family will come looking for me very soon, and I don’t want to live in fear every day like this anymore.”

            

Wu Lan smiled, a bit of confidence in her tone. “Rest assured, everything is under my control.”

Qin Shuang sighed. “I hope so.”

Seeing that she had calmed down, Wu Lan didn’t forget to remind her with a smile. “Don’t forget our deal. I want the Qin family’s copy of the Interstellar Route Map.”

            

“You can rest assured. As long as you can convince Zhan Nansheng to agree to a fake marriage with me and let me escape the Qin family’s control, I will give you the route map,” Qin Shuang said with a grave expression.

“No more than three days. I promise, Zhan Nansheng will agree to marry you.”

Wu Lan promised once again, her eyes dark and unpredictable.

            

The two chatted for a while longer before Qin Shuang put her hat and sunglasses back on, and the two of them left together.

---