After the Nerd Marked the Top Omega - Chapter 21.1
On the weekend, after tutoring ended.
Fang Xu was holding a pencil, sketching on paper, her brows slightly furrowed.
Tang Xingxing whispered next to her, “Having trouble with the game?”
“I tried drawing the protagonist for the game today.” Fang Xu moved the sketch so both of them could see it. “I just feel like something isn’t quite right.”
Her mother had signed Fang Xu up for art classes when she was still around. But years had passed, and she had basically forgotten everything, so she could only draw based on her own ideas.
Tang Xingxing looked for a moment, “It’s in a cute, Q-style, what’s wrong with it?”
It looked simple but its features were prominent, making it suitable as the protagonist for a mini-game.
“I can’t quite pinpoint it,” the tip of the pencil hovered over the two drawings for a moment, before finally moving away.
“Have you finished writing your text?” Tang Xingxing asked.
She played games often and knew a bit more about these things: “Maybe the drawing isn’t the problem, but it clashes with your text, which makes it feel off.”
“Only half done,” Fang Xu said.
There are too many management mini-games now, and the gameplay is mostly unoriginal.
As a solo developer, she couldn’t win on game environment or art design, so she had to carefully design the text to try and make her game stand out from others, which slowed her down.
“Then let’s finalize the text first,” Tang Xingxing reassured her, “and then modify the drawing.”
Fang Xu gained some clarity: “You’re right.”
She temporarily set the drawing aside, adjusted her plan slightly, and then saw a video call from her younger sister.
Fang Yi leaned close to the camera, smiling sweetly, and called out, “Sis!”
Fang Xu responded and tilted the camera to the side, “Your sister Xingxing is here too.”
Tang Xingxing often visited their home during high school and was very familiar with Yi Yi.
“Hello, Sister Xingxing, you look even prettier!”
Tang Xingxing smiled happily, “Yi Yi, you’re pretty too. I’ll come visit you during the break.”
“Okay, okay! We can go out and play with my sister then.”
After the two finished greeting each other, Fang Xu moved to the balcony.
“Did you have a school exam this week?”
“Yes, I did. First place, fifteen points higher than the second.”
This score difference was Fang Yi’s usual level.
But Fang Xu still asked, “Do you want any reward?”
“Not yet, let’s save this reward for now. But Sis, you can’t back out,” the child said playfully.
She also had scholarships in high school, not much, but enough to buy a favorite stuffed animal or decoration, and there was nothing urgently needed.
“I won’t back out.”
The evening breeze blew, sweeping aside the hair on Fang Xu’s forehead and revealing her clear, moist eyes. “Yi Yi, I might not be coming home this summer.”
“Huh?” Yi Yi immediately asked, “Why, Sis?”
Growing up with Fang Xu, she depended on her and looked forward to her coming home for the holidays every day.
“I found an internship recently, and I have to intern during the summer,” Fang Xu said.
The school has a summer break, but the company doesn’t, and work has to be completed as usual.
“Oh, I see…”
Yi Yi lowered her head, and after a while, she looked up, “Sis, then you should intern well.”
She spoke very understandingly, but her tone was brimming with disappointment.
Fang Xu hummed in response. Seeing her look even more disappointed, she offered, “Do you want to come to Jiangcheng to visit this summer?”
“Yes!” Fang Yi immediately agreed.
After that, she started making plans, “Sis, my summer break might start a little later than yours. Once it ends, I’ll take the high-speed rail to find you. When I do…”
Fang Xu interrupted her, “I’ll go back to Yucheng to pick you up.”
She wasn’t comfortable letting the child take the high-speed rail alone.
Fang Yi also knew she couldn’t go against her sister on this matter, “Okay, then Sis will come pick me up.”
“Oh, right, Sis. Will I get to see Sister Pei when I come to Jiangcheng?”
Fang Xu’s fingers moved slightly, “She’s very busy with work, it’s not certain.”
“Okay, we’ll see then.”
Fang Yi most wanted to see her sister, so not being able to see Pei Yunci wasn’t a big problem.
As she was about to hang up, Fang Xu didn’t forget to remind her, “Go to bed early.”
She wasn’t home, so she could only rely on saying it a few times.
“I know,” Fang Yi looked at her seriously, “Sis, you go to bed early too, no staying up late!”
In previous summers, she had seen the light in her sister’s room stay on until midnight.
“Okay, I’ll sleep early tonight,” Fang Xu agreed.
After hanging up the phone, she did not “say one thing and do another” but rested earlier than usual.
But after lying in bed, sleep was slow to come, and she was overly awake.
Fang Xu turned over, recalling the incident at the apartment that day.
Her emotions at the time were truly complex: there was sadness, hesitation, nervousness, and also the dependence on the Omega right after the marking.
These emotions were intertwined and forcefully suppressed.
After placing the bank card on the table, she rushed away without even seeing Pei Yunci’s expression.
Fang Xu pulled the quilt up higher.
Was the other person angry?
She could understand Pei Yunci’s actions; she had likely learned about her mother, saw her doing tutoring and part-time jobs, and so thought to give her the remuneration in advance.
Pei Yunci didn’t offer charity without reason, nor did she say any pitying words; she just wanted to help her.
Fang Xu also knew that her current feeling of distress was due to her self-esteem.
She had endured so much hardship before, and many people had done things that were more excessive. But the moment Pei Yunci handed her the bank card, she felt genuinely wronged.
Fang Xu wiped away her tears, glanced at the blank chat box, and finally closed her eyes.
If the other person was angry, she would figure out a way then.
It was the weekend.
Du Xing’an called as usual: “Remember to come for your follow-up check. Don’t forget this time.”
Compared to other parts of the body, the gland is more sensitive, and various data only yield accurate results when measured. A monthly check-up is very important.
“Okay,” Pei Yunci responded, “Next week.”
Hearing this, Du Xing’an specifically emphasized: “You said the same thing the week before last, and I still haven’t seen you. You can’t miss it this time.”
“Mhm, I know,” Pei Yunci said lightly.
“So perfunctory.” Having such a patient, Du Xing’an felt her own mindset had stabilized considerably: “If you don’t come next week, I’m really going to be angry!”
“I will come, I have time,” Pei Yunci gave a definite time.
After saying that, she added a question, “If you get angry, what will happen?”
Du Xing’an: “…”
What could happen? She’d continue to beg the patient to come.
But she wouldn’t say words that lowered her morale and boosted the patient’s.
Du Xing’an: “If I really get angry, I’ll let you fend for yourself and marry your work for life!”
Pei Yunci: “Mhm.”
Her tone was indifferent, showing no sign of being threatened.
“You should at least cooperate and respect me a little!” Du Xing’an protested.
Pei Yunci thought of the bank card and the girl’s hastily retreating figure, her long lashes slightly moving.
Didn’t feel respect and cooperation?
She asked, “Is that why you’re angry?”
“No, not really, just kidding,” Du Xing’an said, and then casually asked, “Why are you suddenly asking about this today?”
If it were in the past, the other person wouldn’t have given her a chance to elaborate so much.
Pei Yunci: “It’s nothing.”
Du Xing’an: “Something’s off. If you don’t tell me, I’m hanging up.”
She was particularly perceptive at this moment; whatever was bothering her good friend must be related to the good student Alpha.
Silence hung in the air for a moment, and then Pei Yunci briefly recounted the incident at the apartment that night.
Du Xing’an: “I get it. Good students have self-esteem. You just handed her a bank card, and she felt like you were insulting her dignity?”
Having read many melodramatic novels and TV dramas, she effortlessly analyzed the reason.
Pei Yunci’s eyelashes drooped, “It wasn’t charity; it was what she deserved.”
Du Xing’an: “What would you think if your business partner transferred the funds six months in advance before receiving the goods?”
“Ulterior motives.”
“There you have it. In the good student’s eyes, you also had ulterior motives.”
Pei Yunci: “…I understand.”
She meant no harm, but she left too hastily at the time and didn’t explain, so it was inevitable that the other person would overthink it.
Hanging up the phone, she stood on the balcony, the night stretching her shadow.
Apologize, or coax her?
Two words rarely associated with her, now lay before her.
A moment later, Pei Yunci withdrew her gaze and returned to the bedroom.
She took off the silver-white inhibitor bracelet and placed it nearby; the faint citrus scent became more pronounced.
Pei Yunci closed her eyes.
They only had a cooperative relationship; it didn’t affect the treatment, and she didn’t need to consider the other person’s feelings.
No matter how much she thought about it at night, the next day, work had to proceed as usual.
Fang Xu slowly caught up with the team’s progress and could solve some simple requests independently.
When she was free, she occasionally wondered how to face Pei Yunci next time. But no matter how much she thought about it, it wasn’t like a math problem with a unique, absolutely correct answer.
She could only temporarily put it aside and think about it when she saw the other person.
Working a full week, Fang Xu didn’t see Pei Yunci.
She only learned from a colleague that the other person had gone to another province to attend a technology development summit organized by the government.
“It was on the news; you can even see our CEO Pei,” the colleague shared the link in the group chat.
Fang Xu clicked it open and scrolled down to see Pei Yunci sitting in the same row as the CEOs of other companies.
“Among so many people, the first person I see is still our CEO Pei.”
“Of course, just look at CEO Pei’s good looks.”
“What do you think, does the Chief Assistant feel highly motivated to work every day facing a face like that?”
Tong Huai chuckled, reminding her, “CEO Pei vetoed our department’s research and development plan four times last month.”
Jin Yu’s smile instantly vanished: “I take back what I just said.”
No matter how beautiful a person is, they can’t make her willingly work overtime, and they certainly can’t veto R&D plans!
Others laughed out loud, and Fang Xu also curved her lips into a smile.
Near the end of the workday, Tong Huai walked up to her desk.
“Xiao Xu, He Ya.”
He Ya responded, “Team Lead, is there a task to assign?”
Fang Xu also looked over.
Tong Huai: “Yes, CEO Pei is coming to inspect our team next week and wants to focus on understanding the improved third-generation game pod. I’d like to entrust the introduction task to you two.”
He Ya was involved in the entire R&D of the game pod, and giving an introduction was something she was familiar with, so she immediately accepted.
Fang Xu, however, hesitated slightly: “Team Lead, I might not be that knowledgeable and familiar with the game pod yet.”
“Don’t worry, I know,” Tong Huai smiled and patted her shoulder, saying, “It’s just an introduction. I’ll give you the relevant information and data for the game pod; you just need to memorize the key points.”
He Ya also chimed in, “And I’m here too. Just ask if you don’t understand anything.”
Hearing this, Fang Xu no longer refused: “Okay, I’ll study it thoroughly during this time.”
That day.
Fang Xu and her colleague He Ya went to the employee cafeteria together.
He Ya ordered a bowl of beef noodles, and Fang Xu had tomato and egg noodles.
After finding a place to sit, He Ya spoke, “I heard from a friend that CEO Pei seems to be in a bad mood today.”
Fang Xu’s fingers paused slightly: “Why is she in a bad mood?”
“I’m not sure, but they just warned us not to bother the CEO’s office with non-urgent matters today.”
He Ya loved documenting things and took a picture of their lunch, “Xiao Xu, do you want to take one?”
To not be rude, Fang Xu also took a picture.
The two bowls of noodles looked good, but she was a little distracted.
Before, in Yucheng, Pei Yunci had said that seeing her photo would improve her mood when she was troubled.
After two seconds of thought, Fang Xu slid out of the album and placed her phone face down on the table.
Given their current subtle relationship, it wasn’t appropriate.
“Dig in!” He Ya picked up her chopsticks, “We have to deal with the inspection this afternoon after we eat.”
As she spoke, she suddenly had a wild thought: “Do you think if CEO Pei is in a bad mood, she might just skip our R&D department this afternoon?”
Fang Xu: “That’s probably unlikely.”
Judging from her interactions with Pei Yunci, the other person’s schedule was very full, and she rarely changed plans.
“…You’re right,” He Ya sighed, “CEO Pei is a workaholic.”
After eating, they returned to their desks.
It wasn’t long before someone informed them that Pei Yunci had arrived.
Tong Huai clapped his hands: “Everyone please pause your work and head to the game pod R&D area first.”
On the way, He Ya asked Fang Xu, “Nervous?”
“A little,” Fang Xu answered honestly.
There was the nervousness of having to introduce the team’s key project, and the nervousness of facing Pei Yunci.
The two hadn’t been in contact for days, as if the bank card incident had never happened.
Or, there was another possibility: the other person hadn’t given it a second thought at all.
“Don’t be nervous. Just get through your part, and leave the rest to me,” He Ya reassured her.
Fang Xu gently pressed her lips together, temporarily pushing aside thoughts unrelated to work: “Thank you, Sister He Ya.”
“No need to thank me,” He Ya was already used to introductions and explanations, and her mindset was relaxed: “When I first joined, the Team Lead directly had me accompany a big leader on a business trip.”
“And it was just me alone then,” He Ya mused, “Could this be a team tradition?”
Fang Xu was a little surprised: “It’s possible.”
He Ya pouted and whispered, “A terrible tradition.”
…
As they chatted, it wasn’t long before Pei Yunci and people from other departments arrived together.
Tong Huai stepped forward: “CEO Pei.”
“Mhm,” Pei Yunci saw the game pod placed in the center: “The third generation?”
“Yes,” Tong Huai handed over the R&D proposal and test data: “The simulated scenes and modeling have been optimized, and the testing is more stable.”
“Tell me more?” Pei Yunci looked down, flipping through the documents.
Tong Huai nodded, then looked at the two beside him: “Xiao Xu, He Ya.”
Hearing this, Pei Yunci also looked up, and her gaze met Fang Xu’s.
Fang Xu took a deep breath and began the introduction according to the original plan: “Compared to the second generation, the third-generation game pod has seen improvements in immersion and realism. The R&D department has optimized the game pod’s access time, loading time, and…”
Her introduction was well-organized, with appropriate data listed, making it neither tedious nor confusing.
Pei Yunci had put down the materials in her hands at some point and was focused on watching her.
She hadn’t been wrong about her judgment; the other person was indeed excellent.
Fang Xu concluded after presenting the relevant data: “That’s mostly the situation right now.”
Pei Yunci nodded, then asked, “Is there still room for optimization? Specifically, where?”
Fang Xu had prepared in advance and could answer: “There is room for optimization, which is also the R&D department’s objective. The next optimization will focus on scene clarity, detail, and performance balance.”
“Understood,” Pei Yunci said.
Afterward, He Ya introduced the game pod from the perspective of gameplay and design.
Halfway through, Pei Yunci slightly frowned.
“CEO Pei, is something wrong?”
“No, continue.”
Pei Yunci looked at the demonstration animation on the screen and subtly adjusted the inhibitor bracelet.
She was standing close to the front, and others didn’t notice, but Fang Xu did.
Her eyelashes fluttered, and a flicker of worry crossed her heart; was the other person’s gland acting up again?
The introduction concluded, and Pei Yunci, along with Tong Huai and people from other departments, went to the conference room.
Fang Xu didn’t find an opportunity to speak.
“What are you thinking about?” He Ya walked up to her, concerned, “CEO Pei didn’t scare you, did she?”
Fang Xu retracted her thoughts and gently shook her head: “No.”
“That’s good. But CEO Pei’s presence is really strong. I was a little scared when I was talking,” He Ya recalled.
Fang Xu had felt the same way the first time she met Pei Yunci.
But gradually getting to know her, she realized the other person was just a little cold-natured, not malicious: “The questions CEO Pei asked were very targeted.”
“They were!” He Ya agreed with her.
“CEO Pei isn’t from our R&D department, but she knows a lot about the R&D progress. During the introduction, she could chat back and forth with us and was even familiar with the technical terms.”
For a top boss to be this involved shows how much she valued the R&D department.
Speaking of this, He Ya suddenly stopped walking.
Fang Xu looked at her: “Is something the matter?”
“No,” He Ya said seriously, “I just want to remind myself that even so, I’m not working overtime tonight.”
The corners of Fang Xu’s lips also curved into a smile: “If the task is completed well today, maybe the Team Lead will let you leave early.”
He Ya: “You’re right!”
…
As the workday drew to a close, many people were wrapping up their tasks.
Fang Xu clicked open the chat box with Pei Yunci, typing and deleting.
[Are you okay?] Deleted.
[Do you need a marking tonight?] Deleted.
[You seemed uncomfortable this afternoon, are you feeling better now?] Deleted.
[Regarding the bank card, I] Deleted.
After the last incident, any message seemed deliberate.
At the same time.
On the twenty-eighth floor, in the CEO’s office.
“CEO Pei, the proposal is temporarily set. If there are any other modifications, I’ll bring them to you.”
“Good.”
The office door closed again, and Pei Yunci leaned against the chair back.
It had been a while since the last marking, and it hadn’t worn off yet.
But perhaps because she was physically close to an Alpha this afternoon, the pheromones in her body had undergone some changes. The most obvious change was that the citrus-scented pheromones had become quite sour.
High-level Alphas and Omegas can convey their emotions through pheromones, such as anger, distress, happiness, sadness… After a marking, these emotions can also be perceived by the other party.
Pei Yunci had intermittently felt this in the past few days, and it was particularly noticeable today.
The citrus scent was intensely sour, making her gland less comfortable than usual.
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