After Little Sweet Omega Runs with the Ball - Chapter 1

 

The new product launch event of ST Group had just concluded, and marketing accounts across the internet began popping up like mushrooms after rain.

@Famous Industry Editor

ST Group is dedicated to preserving the art of jewelry, pursuing excellence in quality. The Winter Snow collection draws inspiration from nature, showcasing masterful craftsmanship and the pinnacle of high-end jewelry’s allure…

Meanwhile, the comment section showed no mercy.

“Not to be harsh, but ST hasn’t produced anything stunning in ages. Can you stop copying M Group all the time? It’s getting old.”

“Time to shake up the executive team. At this point, their ‘creations’ might as well be money laundering.”

“Seriously, is it really appropriate to have only one omega heir? Maybe the chairman and his wife should try for an alpha kid instead.”

“Honestly, ST Group should just hand over the reins already. That omega daughter of theirs might as well marry into another rich family and become a stay-at-home socialite.”

“LOL, the ST store in my local mall already shut down. Rumor has it M Group squeezed them out.”

“Gotta blame the ST heir for being utterly useless.”

“Funny how the omega heir has never even shown her face in public. Clearly, the problem lies with the executives and the design team.”

As the very heir being mocked online, Song Shuangtian was currently leaning against her desk, stressed to the point of pulling out her hair.

“Maybe ask admin to swap your desk? That creaking noise is driving me insane.”

“Admin doesn’t care about small fries like us.”

Spread out in front of Song Shuangtian were the design drafts for M Group’s next season. As a member of the design department, she had been burning the midnight oil sketching new pieces.

But this charade was almost over.

The beautiful young woman cradled a cup of coffee in her hands, her peach-blossom eyes scanning the flood of scathing comments.

“My dear young miss, it’s about time you wrapped up your undercover mission.”

A message popped up on her phone screen.

Song Shuangtian glanced around to ensure no one was watching before quickly tapping out a reply:

“Got it. Almost have the plans.”

Perfect. Her undercover days were nearly behind her.

Contrary to the public’s perception of ST Group as incompetent, the number of people actually getting things done could be counted on one hand and that included Song Shuangtian herself, who had been deep undercover at M Group.

While corporate espionage was common enough in the business world to barely raise eyebrows, sending the heir herself as a spy was unheard of.

After swiftly replying, she switched her phone screen back to Weibo.

She long-pressed the comment mocking her for being an omega, then reported it for “false information.”

How could she possibly be an omega?

Since her secondary gender manifested, she had never experienced a heat cycle and had zero reaction to alpha pheromones.

The hospital must have made a mistake.

Song Shuangtian arched a brow, watching with satisfaction as the comment vanished from sight.

Bathed in the checkered sunlight streaming through the office windows, she flipped through M Group’s upcoming jewelry blueprints.

Casually picking up another folder, this one containing next year’s store location proposals, a thoughtful glint flashed in her eyes.

M Group, an internationally renowned luxury brand primarily known for high-end watches, didn’t exactly overlap with ST’s core business.

Thanks to Song Shuangtian’s alpha father, after the death of her mother, the company’s founder he became obsessed with climbing the ranks by emulating top international luxury brands, relentlessly copying their styles while abandoning the original aesthetic.

For over a decade, the group’s products have been… well, let’s just say they’ve been questionable.

And now,

This year’s new collection just happened to rip off M Group’s designs.

Song Shuangtian muttered a curse under her breath because the stolen designs were her drafts for M Group.

Round it up or down, and it’s basically original, right? (Laughs.)

Fashion is just one big circle of everyone copying each other anyway.

It was lunch break.

Song Shuangtian received a phone call, the woman’s voice on the other end stern and serious.

“Quit M Group immediately. As for the mining intel, you don’t need to dig for it, I’ll handle it.”

Leaning against the counter in the break room, Song Shuangtian frowned. “How exactly do you plan to handle it? If M Group really acquires those mines, where are we supposed to source our raw materials?”

Her striking omega features made passing colleagues subtly inhale in awe long hair cascading past her ears, dark amber peach-blossom eyes that always carried a hint of warmth even when she wasn’t smiling.

Even when she was angry, she somehow still looked tenderly affectionate.

She wore little jewelry, save for a single strand of pearls around her neck.

Their soft luster lent this ordinary employee an air of effortless elegance.

Like a delicate beauty who’d stepped right out of an oil painting.

The woman on the phone paused for a moment. “Do you even know Ji Mingxue is returning to the country?”

Song Shuangtian froze. “You mean Ji Mingxue?”

“Yes, Ji Mingxue.”

“You two were in the same kindergarten, remember?”

For a second, Song Shuangtian’s mind went blank.

Ji Mingxue was mixed-race, a rarity in their local kindergarten and Song Shuangtian had quickly befriended the doll-like little girl.

But their friendship didn’t last long. By elementary school, Ji Mingxue had moved abroad.

Song Shuangtian scoffed. “No way. You think Ji Mingxue would even remember what I look like?”

“Who knows? I did a Tarot reading, you’re in for some serious trouble this time. A major crisis.”

Song Shuangtian: “Since when are you into mysticism?”

“My Tarot readings are scary accurate.”

Song Shuangtian was convinced her friend had lost it. “Do another one.”

“Can’t. The more I read, the shorter my lifespan gets.”

The agitated omega ran a hand through her hair. “Fine. I’ll resign as soon as possible.”

But a company like M Group wasn’t the type where you could just walk out the door handing over her workload alone would keep Song Shuangtian busy for a while.

“Xiao Song, come to my office.”

The moment she hung up, a woman in a tailored blazer passed by the doorway and smiled at her.

Song Shuangtian hurried over. “You called for me, Team Leader?”

Once the office door closed, Cui Yu beamed at the diligent jewelry designer in front of her.

On the desk lay Song Shuangtian’s forged resume and documents.

“Xiao Song, you’ve been doing great. You’re up for a promotion after the New Year.”

Song Shuangtian’s smile stiffened. “Excuse me?”

Cui Yu mistook her shock for excitement. “M Group is expanding. Your salary could double.”

Song Shuangtian’s head spun, her forced smile nearly cracking.

She was supposed to quit. Quit!

“Your brooch designs are fantastic. The higher-ups love them.”

Cui Yu placed the finalized design in front of Song Shuangtian. “You’re a remarkably talented newcomer. It’s hard to believe you switched careers midway rather than being born into a jewelry design dynasty.”

The last shred of hope in Song Shuangtian’s heart withered away.

Cui Yu clearly hadn’t considered that Song Shuangtian might have any reason to refuse. She stood up, patted Song Shuangtian’s shoulder, and handed her the documents for the new department.

“Take a look when you get back. Oh, and don’t forget to attend the company banquet tomorrow.”

Given Song Shuangtian’s position, she had absolutely no business attending such a high-profile event.

Her fair complexion turned pale. Why would they invite her?

Had she been recognized?

Song Shuangtian was, after all, the heir of a prominent family suddenly having her identity exposed like this would be mortifying.

Cui Yu, oblivious to her concerns, smiled at her gifted subordinate.

“President Ji really liked your maple leaf brooch design.”

The “President Ji” Cui Yu mentioned was Ji Mingxue.

Song Shuangtian: “…”

She wasn’t exactly thrilled about catching the rival CEO’s attention.

Before leaving, Cui Yu tapped the design drafts on the desk. “You’ll need to work overtime tonight. Send me the brooch designs for next quarter before you clock out.”

Song Shuangtian: “…”

Working late into the night, Song Shuangtian sketched a magnolia brooch on the paper before her.

The white jade was smooth and lustrous, its warm hue gradually gaining international recognition as Hua Country’s influence expanded.

Aside from using white jade as the primary material, platinum accents would enhance the finer details.

It could be crafted into intricate textures, like the delicate veins of leaves.

For the finishing touch, Song Shuangtian opted for pearls less extravagant than gemstones but perfectly complementing the jade’s understated elegance.

By the time she emailed the drafts to Cui Yu, it was already past midnight.

Outside, the sky was studded with stars, the streets quiet save for the occasional streetlamp flickering. The city seemed to have drifted into slumber.

Song Shuangtian turned off the last office light, stifling a yawn as she stuffed M Group’s upcoming jewelry collection files into her bag.

She needed to study them thoroughly.

The hallway was deserted. Pulling out her phone, she saw a message from a friend sent ten minutes earlier:

“I read the stars tonight, you’re in for an unexpected encounter soon.”

Typing one-handed, she replied, “How soon is ‘soon’?”

Before she could send it, a figure suddenly appeared in front of her.

Song Shuangtian’s pupils contracted as she jerked her head up.

Who else was still in the office at this hour?

Her hair practically stood on end though she refused to acknowledge her omega instincts. She was a strong alpha, damn it.

“Working late?”

The long-haired woman’s gaze flickered past Song Shuangtian, barely registering the junior employee.

“As an omega, remember to wear scent patches. Don’t disrupt your colleagues’ pheromones.”

With that, she strode away in her red-soled heels, vanishing into the elevator.

That fleeting glance left Song Shuangtian breathless.

The woman’s presence was overwhelming her fathomless dark eyes seemed to pierce straight through the soul.

A faint, crisp fragrance of magnolia lingered in the air.

Unlike the gentle scent of a magnolia brooch carved from warm jade, this aroma was sharp, almost indistinguishable from the biting chill of midwinter.

“The scent is so strong.”

Song Shuangtian waved her hand in front of her nose, though she didn’t find it unpleasant.

Banquet.

Evening.

Song Shuangtian had been dragged by Cui Yu to attend the company’s evening banquet, clad in a fail-safe little black dress.

As a seasoned employee, Cui Yu was a social butterfly, able to strike up a conversation with anyone.

Champagne glasses in hand, Cui Yu led Song Shuangtian around as if showcasing a promising investment product.

“Yes, Song Shuangtian is the newest member of our department. Don’t let her youth fool you several of her projects have already caught the eye of the big boss.”

The “big boss” Cui Yu referred to was none other than Ji Mingxue herself.

Amid the clinking glasses and toasts, Song Shuangtian was plied with drink after drink, her vision gradually blurring.

“Hey, Director Li just toasted you. How come you only took a tiny sip?”

Rubbing her temples, Song Shuangtian thought to herself, who would’ve dared to force her to drink before this?

Though the Song family had declined somewhat in recent years, they were still far beyond the reach of ordinary people.

Her head spun from the alcohol, and she staggered slightly.

A warm flush spread across her fair skin.

The string of pristine pearls around her neck only accentuated her refined beauty, making her look like a plump, juicy lychee.

Cui Yu whispered in her ear, “Listen, you need to drink more and act eager to learn. That way, our team’s budget for next year might just get a bump.”

Song Shuangtian thought, I want to quit.

Cui Yu poured her another glass of champagne and smiled. “Who knows? Next year, we might even get to visit the mining site.”

Song Shuangtian’s eyes lit up. “But hasn’t the acquisition not been finalized yet?”

Cui Yu: “That’s just for outsiders. For us, it’s just a formality.”

“M Group is a global leader. It’s not like there’s any real competition certainly not ST.”

Song Shuangtian: “…”

That’s some shameless favoritism.

Her smile was awkward yet polite.

“Still, the mining zone development will go to open bidding. Keep your mouth shut, don’t let competitors fish for intel.”

Song Shuangtian flashed a flawless smile. “Understood.”

Cui Yu had always trusted Song Shuangtian.

Before she could say more, her gaze suddenly caught on a figure standing by the banquet hall’s spiral staircase.

Her expression froze for a split second before she instinctively arranged her features into a flawless smile.

Ji Mingxue!

Her face flushed even deeper with excitement, as if she were on the verge of drunkenness. Grabbing Song Shuangtian’s arm, she beamed and strode forward.

It was Ji Mingxue, Ji Mingxue had actually come. The true power behind M Group.

A woman like her was the center of attention wherever she went.

Cui Yu pulled Song Shuangtian through the crowd of executives and directors.

It was the first time Song Shuangtian had seen Cui Yu look so fervent like she was reuniting with a long-lost lover.

The kind from Korean dramas, the ones who’d survived life-and-death separations.

Song Shuangtian: “…”

She lowered her head, convinced her undercover career was about to meet its end.

People at Ji Mingxue’s level usually aren’t much to look at, Song Shuangtian mused. Not that she had any prejudice against bosses, it was just that every high-ranking executive she’d met had been stubborn, obsessive, and relentlessly competitive.

Song Shuangtian adjusted her expression and looked up, only to freeze in surprise.

A faint scent of white magnolia pheromones lingered in the air.

Subtle, yet undeniably potent.

Song Shuangtian: “It’s you?”

Ji Mingxue stood half a head taller than her, swaying gracefully in her red-soled high heels. Her outfit wasn’t meticulously styled just a black dress, not unlike Song Shuangtian’s.

Except for the white jade bracelet on Ji Mingxue’s wrist.

A fine piece of Hetian jade.

The last bracelet of such quality had sold for eight figures at auction.

Song Shuangtian couldn’t help but admire it, her smile growing a touch more genuine.

Your bracelet is lovely, but once ST acquires your company, it’ll be mine.

Cui Yu pulled Ji Mingxue aside to discuss a few design drafts. Ji Mingxue’s expression wasn’t cold, but it was far from interested.

“So, this is the designer of the brooch?”

For the first time, Ji Mingxue called Song Shuangtian by name.

The gaze of the group’s powerful leader lingered on Song Shuangtian, half-amused, half-indifferent.

Song Shuangtian’s back was already damp with sweat.

She had been well-protected by her family, and almost no one in the industry knew her true background.

Would a kindergarten classmate recognize her?

Cui Yu’s smile grew even more enthusiastic, as if entrusting Song Shuangtian with M Group’s product designs would guarantee blockbuster sales, raking in billions annually.

Ji Mingxue’s scrutinizing gaze swept over Song Shuangtian’s face, and the latter was barely holding it together.

Song Shuangtian even wondered, if her identity were exposed now, would the people at M Group beat her up?

“You didn’t wear a gland patch.”

With that remark, Ji Mingxue’s attention shifted away from Song Shuangtian.

Bored and indifferent, in Ji Mingxue’s eyes, Song Shuangtian was no different from any other woman.

As the head of the group, Ji Mingxue had little time to spare. After exchanging a few words with Cui Yu, she was quickly pulled away by others.

Thankfully, no normal person remembers their kindergarten classmates.

Song Shuangtian closed her eyes briefly. The alcohol in her system stirred up a restless heat, and Ji Mingxue’s pheromones coiled around her senses.

If she wanted to quickly infiltrate the upper echelons, wouldn’t getting close to the leader be the easiest way?

“Mmm!”

An involuntary whimper escaped Song Shuangtian’s throat. Her high heels wobbled, nearly sending her stumbling to the side.

The champagne wasn’t strong, but she had drunk too much.

Staggering, she made her way to the restroom.

In the empty washroom, Song Shuangtian ran her hands under icy water before pressing them to her burning cheeks.

The cold water didn’t sober her up instead, it was like pouring gasoline on a fire, igniting the heat within her completely.

Hah! hah!

Her legs weakened. The air was thick with the faint scent of orange blossoms.

A small bump slowly swelled on the back of Song Shuangtian’s neck, which had been smooth just moments ago.

Her legs trembled, her breath scorching, her body devoid of strength. Song Shuangtian’s pupils dilated, her limbs limp as if after an overly intense workout.

So hot so unbearable.

A delicate flush crept across her fair skin.

“Mmm… hah!”

Song Shuangtian’s slender legs shook uncontrollably.

A misty haze veiled her bright eyes, and her lipstick-coated lips, now slightly swollen, looked even fuller.

Even if she were foolish, Song Shuangtian would know this wasn’t drunkenness, it was a pheromone issue. Assuming she really was an alpha.

Stumbling, Song Shuangtian yanked open the stall door.

Song Shuangtian hid in the cubicle, her hands trembling uncontrollably as she fumbled for her phone, her mind in complete disarray.

“Song Shuangtian.”

Another woman stood inside the cubicle.

Ji Mingxue had somehow entered without notice, her black evening gown nearly soaked through with cold sweat. Her pitch-black eyes bore into Song Shuangtian like a hawk’s gaze.

Ji Mingxue wasn’t faring much better than Song Shuangtian.

She had been single all these years, never finding a match with over 80% compatibility in the national pairing system.

“Sorry, I’m not feeling well,” Song Shuangtian stammered, trying to retreat.

She felt helpless, unsure why her body was burning up. She was an alpha, could this be an alpha’s rut?

She had used alpha pheromone suppressants, so why weren’t they working?

The young woman’s mind was blank, her body shaking like a frightened rabbit backed into a corner.

Ji Mingxue’s gaze darkened. She had encountered tricks before people trying to lure her with pheromones.

“Are you deliberately releasing omega pheromones?”

Song Shuangtian’s back pressed against the cubicle door, her thoughts muddled. Just standing took all her strength. “I’m sorry, it’s not intentional. I drank too much today.”

Ji Mingxue’s hostility confused her. Why was this person still talking about omegas?

Song Shuangtian had never experienced an omega’s heat.

Ji Mingxue had never taken a bed partner. Ordinary omegas couldn’t soothe her pheromones, leaving them to accumulate endlessly inside her.

Until last night’s chance encounter in the company hallway.

An alpha’s pheromones compelled her to claim scents that intrigued her.

The orange blossom fragrance was too bright, too enticing, impossible to resist.

Ji Mingxue’s eyes smoldered. “Song Shuangtian, enough.”

The girl before her kept tugging at her collar, releasing more, stronger pheromones. To Ji Mingxue, it was unmistakable provocation.

Song Shuangtian’s entire body burned. Suddenly, she leaned against Ji Mingxue’s cool skin, her expression tinged with desire.

“Stop, I’m not an omega.”

Her protest died as she met Ji Mingxue’s darkened gaze.

Under the dim light, a boldness she didn’t know she possessed surged. She picked up a room key between her lips.

“My legs feel weak. Could you take me back to my room to rest, jiejie?”

Still clutching a glass of wine, Song Shuangtian took a dazed sip before pressing her lips to Ji Mingxue’s.

Amid the champagne bubbles, Song Shuangtian’s feverish heat seeped into Ji Mingxue, equally affected by the pheromones.

Only then did she realize Ji Mingxue’s arm had already encircled her waist.

Was Ji Mingxue into alpha-alpha relationships?

Well then, why not give it a try?