Top-Tier Omega: Chasing Alpha to the Crematorium – Chapter 70
by Little PandaWu Lan Is Incommunicado
Having been blocked, Ming Yu couldn’t reach Song Qingpei all day.
She could only try her best not to think about it, pouring all her energy into the military academy’s affairs, trying to distract herself and fill every waking moment with an endless stream of official business.
By the time she had dealt with everything on her desk, it was about eight in the evening.
Thinking of Song Song, Ming Yu sighed and got up to head home.
Qingpei wasn’t there, and she couldn’t let her daughter stay home alone for too long. She would surely be sad.
When Ming Yu returned to Shanshui Manor and entered the Great Hall, she found it terrifyingly quiet.
It was as if there wasn’t a single soul in the house.
She had once been accustomed to such silence, but after just a few months of her life being filled with laughter and commotion, the sudden quiet was jarring.
Ming Yu frowned and called out, “Butler Su?”
Hearing the sound, Butler Su immediately hurried down the stairs to greet her. “Admiral, you’re back,” she said respectfully. Her gaze subconsciously swept the space behind the Admiral, but seeing no one else, she asked, “Where’s Song Song?”
“The Little Miss was unhappy when she came home from school. She said she didn’t want to be alone. After playing by herself for a while, she called Miss Song to come and get her. Miss Song just picked her up a short while ago.” At this, Butler Su carefully observed her expression before adding in a low voice, “Miss Song said that since tomorrow is Saturday, she’ll let the Little Miss stay with her for the night. She’ll bring her back tomorrow afternoon.”
Hearing this, Ming Yu’s face fell, her expression turning ugly.
Her leaky little padded jacket1 had betrayed her just like that, abandoning her to run off on its own.
A pang of grief shot through Ming Yu’s heart, but she had nowhere to vent it. She couldn’t possibly take it out on Butler Su—she wasn’t capable of such a thing. She could only let out a weary sigh.
“I see.”
She said nothing more and went to her room.
Butler Su watched her lonely figure retreat, sighing helplessly. In the end, she kept her thoughts to herself.
Ming Yu returned to her bedroom, took a shower, and lay on the bed in a long silence.
Images of Song Qingpei flashed incessantly through her mind. She knew she shouldn’t be a nuisance right now, but the irrepressible longing and emptiness tormented her.
She tossed and turned, and finally, unable to bear it any longer, she dialed Song Song’s communicator number.
The communicator rang a few times before Song Song’s little face appeared on the screen.
Her eyes were sparkling, and she was hugging a plush little bear, clearly in high spirits.
“Mommy!” Song Song chirped with a child’s unique innocence. “How come you’re not asleep yet?”
Ming Yu fought back the sorrow in her heart, forcing a faint smile. “Mommy missed you. I wanted to see what you were doing.”
“I’m playing with Mama! Mama just went to take a shower, so I’m waiting for her.” As she spoke, she held the little bear up to the camera. “Mommy, look! Mama bought this for me today! Isn’t it cute?”
Another sharp pain lanced through Ming Yu’s heart. Song Qingpei’s love for Song Song had never wavered, but for her, there was nothing left but coldness and distance. She tried to keep her voice steady. “It’s very cute. Do you like it, Song Song?”
“I love it!” Song Song nodded vigorously, her eyes curving into crescent moons. “And Mama said she’s going to take me out to play tomorrow! Mommy, do you want to come too?”
Ming Yu’s throat tightened, and she could barely speak.
Song Qingpei wouldn’t want her there. She certainly wouldn’t want to take Song Song out to play with her. All she could do was say softly, “Mommy has work tomorrow. You and Mama have fun, okay?”
Song Song’s little face fell at once. “…Mommy, were you not able to make Mama feel better? Can’t we all go out and play together anymore?”
Hearing her daughter’s words, Ming Yu’s nose stung, and her eyes instantly reddened.
She didn’t want Song Song to see her so vulnerable, so she quickly lowered her head and pretended nothing was wrong. “Of course not. Mommy’s just been a little busy lately. Your mama will definitely forgive me… Be a good girl, Song Song, and don’t overthink things.”
Song Song was clearly unconvinced, her little brow furrowed tightly. “Mommy, don’t lie to me… I know Mama is really angry. I asked her if she was going to ignore you forever, and she didn’t say anything.”
“Song Song, Mommy and Mama just… we just have some things that need time to sort out. Don’t you worry, okay?”
Song Song lowered her head, her little hands unconsciously tugging at the toy bear’s ear. Her voice was muffled. “Okay. I just really don’t want you two to be apart… I want to live with Mommy and Mama, just like before.”
Ming Yu’s heart felt as if it were being pierced by needles. Song Song’s wish was so simple, and everything had been about to get better, but she had ruined it all. In an instant, guilt threatened to swallow her whole.
Her eyes were red. “Be good, Song Song. Mommy and Mama will always love you. No matter if we live together or not, you’ll always be the most important person to us.”
Song Song looked up, her eyes reddened. “But I want you to be together…”
At that, Ming Yu’s sinuses burned, and she quickly turned her head away. “Song Song, don’t worry. Mommy will definitely get your mama to forgive me…”
Just then, Song Song suddenly turned her head, her eyes lighting up. “Mama! You’re done with your shower!”
Ming Yu’s heart leaped into her throat, and she instinctively held her breath.
She saw on the other end of the video call that Song Qingpei, dressed in loose pajamas with her hair still damp, was walking over while toweling it dry. Her gaze swept over the communicator in Song Song’s hands, clearly taking in the sight of Ming Yu on the screen, but she merely spared it a cool glance before looking away as if she weren’t there at all.
Song Qingpei ignored Ming Yu completely, walking straight to the sofa and sitting down. She turned on her own communicator and began scrolling through something.
Her expression was focused and serene, as if she were completely immersed in her own world, deaf to the conversation between Song Song and Ming Yu.
Song Song looked at Song Qingpei, then back at Ming Yu on the screen, her little face a mask of conflict. “Mommy, I don’t think Mama wants to talk to you…”
Ming Yu’s heart felt as if it had been viciously stabbed. She struggled to remain calm. “It’s okay, Song Song. Mama is probably tired. Let her rest.”
Song Song lowered her head and mumbled, “But I want to talk to Mommy a little longer…”
Ming Yu greedily watched Song Qingpei in the video feed. Even if it was just a side profile, even if she was being utterly ignored, Ming Yu wanted to look at her for just a moment longer.
Time ticked by, second by second.
Song Song and Ming Yu chatted, but Song Qingpei never once looked up. Ming Yu’s heart sank lower and lower. The feeling of being completely invisible was so agonizing it nearly drove her mad.
After a long while, Song Qingpei finally raised her head to check the time and said faintly, “Song Song, it’s time for bed.”
Song Song looked at Ming Yu on the screen and whispered, “Mama, can we talk for just a little longer, please?”
Song Qingpei didn’t answer, only looking at Song Song quietly, a hint of disapproval in her eyes.
Fearing that Song Qingpei would get angry, Ming Yu had no choice but to suppress her own reluctance. “Song Song, it’s getting late,” she said softly. “You should get to bed early. Mommy… Mommy loves you.”
Song Song looked down and waved reluctantly. “Good night, Mommy. I love you too!”
“Good night, Song Song,” Ming Yu’s voice was barely a whisper.
After the call ended, Ming Yu replayed Song Qingpei’s dismissive and distant behavior in her mind, and her heart twisted in pain.
She couldn’t bear to think about it anymore. She silently got up, pushed open the door, and went to the room Song Qingpei used to stay in.
It was still exactly as it had been. Ming Yu lay down on the bed as if doing so would allow her to feel Song Qingpei’s presence. Her mind was filled with images of her. She remembered the warmth of their embraces as they slept, but now, all of that felt so distant.
She knew she had been wrong. Terribly wrong.
She had thought that as long as she kept Song Qingpei by her side by force, she could endure anything, even Song Qingpei’s coldness and distance. But now she realized she couldn’t bear it at all. Even the slightest hint of disgust in Song Qingpei’s expression was like a knife to her heart.
“Qingpei… I was truly wrong…”
They had just managed to reconcile, but now, she had thrown it all away herself. She had thought she could control everything, but she never expected to lose the trust she had worked so hard to regain.
Qingpei would never trust her again.
A sense of panic washed over Ming Yu. She knew she couldn’t keep pestering her as she had before; that would only make Song Qingpei despise her more. But what was she supposed to do? She couldn’t stand a life without Song Qingpei. She couldn’t stand the loneliness and emptiness.
But… did she still have a chance? Would Song Qingpei give her another chance?
Just then, her communicator suddenly rang.
Ming Yu jumped, quickly raising a hand to wipe the tears from her face. “Ming Rui? What is it?”
“Cousin,” Ming Rui’s voice came from the other end. “I’ve found it. I’ve traced the source of the video.”
Ming Yu’s heart leaped. “Who was it?”
“It was someone from the Federation Bureau of Investigation. They’ve been tailing Qingpei-jie,” Ming Rui said, her voice low and serious. “The agent sold the video to an entertainment reporter for money. But he’s already been arrested by the Bureau and is being interrogated now.”
Ming Yu couldn’t help but frown. “Someone from the FBI? Does Wu Lan know about this?”
“Director Wu… I’m afraid she doesn’t know yet.” Ming Rui’s tone was laced with worry. “Cousin, I don’t think this is as simple as it looks. The agent who leaked the video was personally dispatched by Deputy Director Chen Duo. Chen Duo was just personally promoted by the President, and then this happens. I’m afraid it was done on the President’s orders.”
Ming Yu’s heart sank. “The President? What is Zhan Li trying to do?”
“I’m not sure,” Ming Rui speculated. “But I think the President might be suspicious of something. Wu Lan has been making some big moves lately, and Zhan Li has always been paranoid. He’s probably using this as a chance to issue a warning.”
The thought of Song Qingpei’s identity sent a powerful wave of unease through Ming Yu.
“Ming Rui, that’s all for now,” she said urgently. “I’m going to contact Wu Lan.”
“I’m afraid you won’t be able to reach her now either,” Ming Rui said, worried. “I’ve already checked. Wu Lan went to the Presidential Palace at four this afternoon, and there’s been no news of her since. Cousin, I think something is wrong. You’d better be careful.”
With those words, Ming Yu’s heart plunged once more. The situation felt increasingly dire.
Wu Lan was always cautious. She would never suddenly lose contact unless something major had happened. Ming Yu took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. “I understand. I’ll find a way to ask around.”
After ending the call, Ming Yu quickly contacted several high-ranking officials she knew, trying to get information on Wu Lan’s whereabouts, but they all claimed to know nothing. Ming Yu’s heart grew heavier and heavier.
She then dialed the number for the Presidential Palace. After a few rings, a gentle female voice answered, “Hello, this is the Presidential Palace. Who are you looking for?”
“This is Ming Yu,” Ming Yu said, her expression grave. “I need to speak with Director Wu Lan. There is an urgent matter I must discuss with her.”
“My apologies, Admiral,” the secretary’s voice was deferential. “Director Wu is currently speaking with the President. We will pass on your message when she is available.”
“Very well. I understand.”
After she hung up, Ming Yu’s unease intensified.
Wu Lan was at the Presidential Palace but couldn’t be contacted by the outside world. Her freedom had clearly been restricted. Zhan Li was a deeply suspicious man. If Wu Lan was truly under suspicion, it was only a matter of time before Qingpei’s parentage was exposed.
She had to find out what was happening as quickly as possible.
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