After Being Bound to the Scummy Alpha System, I Became Famous Thanks to My Face Blindness - Chapter 62

Tang Ling and Tan Shiyi took a taxi back to the Xinhe Mall. Neither of them dared to get off directly at Gate 1, so they detoured to enter from Gate 3 instead.

The entire ride back, Tang Ling kept holding Tan Shiyi’s hand. Even though the taxi and the mall were both heavily air-conditioned, their palms were still slick with nervous sweat.

Neither of them made any move to let go.

When they finally crossed through the mall and reached Gate 1, Ah Tong’s car was still parked exactly where they’d left it.

Ah Tong, ever perceptive, had already noticed the two of them sneaking about through the rearview mirror. She deliberately didn’t unlock the doors, continuing to scroll through her phone as if she was busy with work.

Tang Ling had no choice but to knock on the car window. “Tong-jie, we’re back.”

Ah Tong rolled down the window and took off her sunglasses, giving Tang Ling a glance first before turning her eyes to Tan Shiyi. “Two hours and forty-six minutes. What, did you stop to have a baby while you were at it?”

At those words, Tan Shiyi’s face flushed bright red.

Tang Ling hurried to explain, “Tong-jie, don’t be mad! We really went to take care of something important. Look—we’re back now, aren’t we?”

Ah Tong’s tone was far from pleased. “Something important? What could possibly be more important than a hospital visit? Do you two even realize what time it is? Anyone else would’ve left long ago—only I have the patience to sit here waiting for you.”

Tang Ling quickly tried to soothe her. “That’s exactly why I came straight back to you, Tong-jie! You’re the only one I trust. Let us get in the car first—there are too many people around. I’ll explain everything, okay?”

Ah Tong let out a short laugh, half exasperated, half amused. “You’ve really learned how to talk, haven’t you? Now you’re even trying to sweet-talk me. Hurry up and get in. We’ve already missed the hospital appointment, and I don’t know if we’ll even be able to reschedule today.”

Tang Ling knew she had caused trouble and felt a twinge of guilt. “Actually, we don’t need to go to the hospital anymore. The pregnancy thing—I made that up. Shiyi’s perfectly healthy.”

Ah Tong was silent for a long moment.

Then she exhaled deeply. “Find somewhere quiet and start explaining—now.”

At the café.

In the private booth, an old record player softly spun out a slow classical tune, the melody floating like mist.

After listening to Tang Ling’s entire account, Ah Tong was nearly speechless.

“You’re certain the paternity test in Pu Xiaoyu’s hands is real? You’re really not the biological daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Tang?”

“I don’t know. But our birthdays are on the same day, and we were born in the same hospital.”

Twenty years ago, the Tang family had only just begun to rise in prominence. They didn’t yet have a private physician. When Mrs. Tang’s water broke unexpectedly, she was rushed to the nearest hospital. It was only after giving birth that she was transferred to a better-equipped facility.

“She spoke with such confidence, like she had all the proof in the world. And if you look closely, she really does resemble my parents a little in the eyes and brow.”

Tang Ling lowered her gaze, her expression deliberately somber, as though she had suffered a crushing blow.

Seeing her like that, Tan Shiyi’s heart ached. “Tong-jie, it’s my fault too. I shouldn’t have helped Tang Ling deceive you. But she has a right to know the truth.”

Ah Tong sighed. “You two, you should’ve told me from the very beginning. I could’ve handled it for you.”

“I’m sorry,” Tan Shiyi murmured.

“Alright, enough. Leave the rest to me. I’ll keep investigating. I’ll deal with Pu Xiaoyu myself, and I’ll inform Mr. and Mrs. Tang when the time comes.” Ah Tong’s voice softened. “Tang Ling, don’t overthink this. Just focus on your work.

Even if you’re truly not their biological daughter, twenty years of love and family don’t disappear overnight. They won’t abandon you for something like this.”

After a pause, she turned to Tan Shiyi. “Shiyi, I owe you an apology. I was wrong about you before, and some of the things I said today were out of line. I hope you’ll forgive me. As for Tang Ling—she’s headstrong and easily lost in her own thoughts. Please, take care of her for me.”

Tan Shiyi nodded gently. “You’re too polite. I will.”

Ah Tong personally drove the two back to the training camp.

Even as they got out of the car, she couldn’t stop herself from fussing—repeating her reminders again and again until they disappeared from sight. Only then did she finally drive off, setting her GPS toward the hospital where Mrs. Tang had given birth twenty years ago.

Tang Ling exhaled deeply. For now, the matter seemed to be settled.

“Are you alright?” Tan Shiyi asked, her face full of concern.

Tang Ling opened her mouth to respond—but suddenly, a wave of dizziness crashed over her. The world tilted, and Tan Shiyi’s figure blurred into overlapping doubles. She crouched down, clutching at her temples.

“What’s wrong?” Tan Shiyi immediately knelt beside her.

“Secondary differentiation,” Tang Ling managed to say, her voice trembling. “Just a little dizzy.”

Tan Shiyi pressed a hand to her forehead, her brows furrowing. “You’ve got a fever.”

A fever meant Tang Ling was entering the final phase of her secondary differentiation.

“I’ll be fine. I just need to rest. Once I get through this, it’ll pass.”

Tang Ling forced herself to her feet, staggering a little as she made her way toward her dormitory.

After secondary differentiation, an Alpha’s susceptibility period and their instinctive desire toward Omegas only intensified. She didn’t want to risk losing control again—not now, when her relationship with Tan Shiyi had finally begun to ease.

Tan Shiyi followed her without giving her a chance to argue. “I’ll go with you.”

“Don’t come.” Tang Ling refused. “I’m afraid I’ll hurt you—I really can’t control it.”

Tan Shiyi lowered her eyes and said softly, “I’m not afraid. With how close we are now, there’s nothing left to be afraid of.”

Tang Ling froze for a moment, her heart skipping several beats as she realized what Tan Shiyi meant.

“Come on, let’s go back. I promised Ah Tong I’d take good care of you.” Tan Shiyi, feeling a little embarrassed herself, gently pushed Tang Ling in the direction of the dormitory.

The sun was blazing, and the two of them were still wearing heat-absorbing black clothes. Their shirts were already damp, clinging tightly to their skin.

Tan Shiyi helped Tang Ling lie down on the bed and turned on the air conditioner. “I’ll go to the cafeteria and buy some mung bean ice slush. Wait here for me.”

Tang Ling nodded.

The room soon fell silent.

Lying alone on the bed, Tang Ling closed her eyes. The fever made her mind drift and blur, replaying countless fragments of her time in this world like a flickering film reel.

Most of those fragments were about Tan Shiyi. The once faint outlines of her face now grew clear—every glance, every smile now carried vivid, living detail.

A wave of drowsiness washed over her, and Tang Ling’s thoughts slowly drifted away until she sank into a deep sleep.

“Host, host, host!”

Tang Ling’s consciousness was pulled back. She frowned and slowly woke up. Even with the air conditioning on, she was drenched in sweat, the sheets beneath her completely soaked.

But unlike the exhaustion she’d felt before, now she was brimming with energy. Her mind was sharper than ever.

“Host! You’re finally awake! Your secondary differentiation is almost complete—just twelve minutes left! This is our last bit of time together!”

Tang Ling blinked. “I slept for six hours?”

Xiao Nan’s voice trembled with tears. “I kept trying to wake you up, but you wouldn’t respond! I wanted to give you my final report, but now there’s no time!”

Tang Ling sighed. “Don’t tell me I’m the only person you’ve ever been assigned to. Do a proper reflection, and when you get your next unlucky host, you can brag about your glorious achievements then, alright?”

Xiao Nan wailed, “Host, you’re so cold! I know I messed up before, but I did help you overcome your face blindness—that counts as making amends, doesn’t it? As a loyal Tang Shi fan, don’t I deserve just a little fan service before I go?”

Tang Ling’s stomach tightened; the last thing she wanted was another of Xiao Nan’s “bright ideas” in these final minutes. “What are you planning now?”

Xiao Nan huffed. “Why do you make it sound like I’m always up to something! I just want to hear you confess to Shiyi before I leave, that’s all!”

Tang Ling thought bitterly—so you do know you’re always causing trouble. Her feelings toward Xiao Nan were complicated. Though the system had often been an obstacle in her emotional journey, in its own chaotic way, it had also forced her to face her own heart and grow.

A confession had to happen sooner or later. Tan Shiyi had already dropped several hints today; the thin wall between them couldn’t stay up forever.

No day like today. She might as well do it now.

Her gaze swept across the room and landed on Tan Shiyi’s back.

Tan Shiyi was sitting with her back to her, wearing headphones, typing on her laptop.

The mung bean slush she’d bought sat on the table, long since melted into a puddle.

Tang Ling, not wanting to startle her, deliberately cleared her throat.

Tan Shiyi turned around, her face lighting up. “You’re awake?”

Tang Ling scratched her head, embarrassed. “Yeah. Sorry for the trouble.”

“It’s no trouble.” Tan Shiyi came closer and gently touched Tang Ling’s forehead. Smiling, she said, “Your fever’s gone. Looks like your differentiation is complete. Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?”

“No, I feel light and clear.” Tang Ling met her gaze. “Shiyi.”

“Mm?” Tan Shiyi blinked, waiting quietly.

“I.” The words hovered on Tang Ling’s lips, but she couldn’t bring herself to say them.

It just felt too casual to confess like this—lying on a dorm bed, half-recovered. It lacked ceremony.

Tan Shiyi deserved better.

But Xiao Nan was still whining in her head, distracting her completely.

Tang Ling took a deep breath. “Tomorrow, come with me for a medical checkup, okay? If I’ve really differentiated as an Alpha, I want to officially start pursuing you.”

Though she was certain she had differentiated as an Alpha, there were rare cases in this world where the results of one’s first and second differentiation differed.

But unexpectedly, Tan Shiyi shook her head.

Tang Ling’s heart tightened.

Tan Shiyi looked straight at her and said, word by word, “Even if you haven’t differentiated as an Alpha, I’d still allow you to pursue me.”