After the System Called Me Mom, My Arch-Nemesis Omega Fell for Me - Chapter 44

Lu Lingzhi stood with her arms crossed, her gaze fixed on Pei Ying. The photo of Pei Ying and Xie Zhixia’s tryst was no longer on her phone, what should she do? She needed Pei Ying to gift her those smart mattresses.

Her only option was to talk nonsense and bluff her way through.

I’ll just fool her the same way I usually fool my sister, she thought. I just can’t use “romance” as the bait this time.

“Hmm?” Out of the corner of her eye, she suddenly noticed the empty spot where Jiang Mingyue had been standing. Her heart skipped a beat. Wait! Where did that small cart piled with cakes go?

I only told you to take the cake, Mingyue! I didn’t tell you to swallow the whole dining cart! Are you practicing a “burn all, loot all” policy?

However, this gave her an inspiration.

Indeed, this could be framed as a supernatural event. First, the lift platform malfunctioned, and now a dining cart had vanished. Too many accidents ceased to be accidents.

Pei Ying was an actor, a popular starlet. Naturally, she would be sensitive to such things.

Lu Lingzhi had a plan.

[Lu Lingzhi snaps her fingers: “System, in a moment, do this… then that… cooperate with me for a big show…”]

[The System rubs its hands excitedly: “Mama, you’re so wicked. I love doing bad things.”]

Lu Lingzhi sat down next to Pei Ying. “Sister Pei Ying, have any… supernatural events happened around you lately?”

“Supernatural events?” Pei Ying looked confused, following Lu Lingzhi’s pointed gaze. The corner where the cart had been just a moment ago was now completely empty. She remembered clearly that her assistant had pushed it there only recently.

Pei Ying’s expression froze.

Thinking back to the lift issue and now the vanishing cart, it did seem a bit… eerie.

Pei Ying was a veteran of the industry and kept her composure, but she decided to hear what Lu Lingzhi had to say.

Striking while the iron was hot, Lu Lingzhi lightly toyed with the warm white jade Pixiu pendant around her neck. She said solemnly, “Sister Pei Ying, I won’t lie to you. Ever since I put on this ancestral Pixiu pendant, I’ve been turning bad luck into good. Evil spirits and ‘unclean’ things can’t get near me.”

The white jade Pixiu shimmered under the lights. It truly looked spiritual.

To increase her credibility, Lu Lingzhi carefully removed the pendant and placed it in Pei Ying’s palm. The moment the jade touched Pei Ying’s hand.

Clang.

A light sound echoed. The silver dining cart, which had vanished without a trace, reappeared out of thin air in its original corner. It was even refilled with various cakes and drinks.

Pei Ying: “!!!”

She gasped, her eyes widening, her hand holding the jade trembling slightly. Could there really be something ‘unclean’ here? Is this jade really that powerful?

Lu Lingzhi watched her reaction, secretly pleased but remaining stoic. She slowly took the Pixiu pendant back from Pei Ying. The moment the jade left Pei Ying’s palm.

Whoosh!

The dining cart vanished again right before their eyes. Not a trace remained.

Pei Ying: “!!!!!!”

She reached for her unfinished drink on the side table to calm her nerves. However…

Slurp.

The remaining half-cup of liquid was sucked dry by an invisible force right under her nose. The cup became empty instantly. Pei Ying’s hand froze in mid-air, completely stunned.

This had surpassed the realm of pranks or magic.

“Miss Lu, let me see your Pixiu again,” Pei Ying said, her voice trembling with anxiety.

She had heard legends of the Xie family’s ancestral Pixiu. The Xie family’s ancestors were royalty a century ago, and the piece was said to have been consecrated in a great temple. It was a supreme treasure for warding off evil.

Pei Ying was now certain that Lu Lingzhi was the “little friend” Xie Zhixia had mentioned and also Xie Fuyun’s daughter. Though, she didn’t know why Xie Fuyun was acting this way.

“Of course you can see it,” Lu Lingzhi held the pendant, drawling her words with a mischievous glint in her eyes. “But…”

“What do you want?” Pei Ying asked immediately. She just wanted to get her hands on that protective charm.

Lu Lingzhi poured her a glass of plain water. “That smart mattress you endorse is pretty good. Can you give me eight of them?”

“Pfft!” Pei Ying nearly sprayed the water out. She coughed in shock. “Eig… eight? Do you… do you have eight girlfriends to give them to? Or do you think I’m a wholesale center?”

Lu Lingzhi shook her head seriously. “Don’t worry about that. Just assume I have eight houses and each needs a mattress.”

In her head, her little calculator was clicking: One for me and Mingyue at Yuanshan Apartments, one for the Villain and Chang Xi’s villa (just in case I stay there), one for my home in Yuncheng, one for my sister, one for Mom and Mommy, and one for myself to keep. Perfect.

Pei Ying was speechless at this blatant “white prostitution” (freeloading) behavior.

Lu Lingzhi wasn’t done. “Oh, and give me 800 signed photos of yourself. Most college students are your fans. I’m preparing to run for Student Union President later.”

The “President” bit was a lie. Making money was the truth.

She knew that after National Day, Pei Ying’s fame would skyrocket. At a market price of 300 to 500 yuan per photo, she’d net a huge profit. Between the mattresses and the photos, she’d make nearly 700,000 to 900,000 yuan. Then she’d make a flashy financial report and use it to trick her Mom, Sister, and the Villain into investing.

I’m a commercial genius, Lu Lingzhi thought. Even if I don’t get a dime from them, I’m farming experience points like they’re NPCs.

Watching her cake supply dwindle, Pei Ying quickly agreed. “Deal.”

“Pleasure doing business,” Lu Lingzhi smiled radiantly, handing over the Pixiu. “I’ll lend it to you until the end of the show. It’ll keep the evil away.”

Despite being “haunted,” Pei Ying still asked on behalf of the Shisheng Group. “Sister Lu, who does President Xie plan to give the contract to?”

You’re asking me? Lu Lingzhi thought. The Villain is the one ignoring you. Shisheng and the Pei family are fighting, what does that have to do with me?

Lu Lingzhi feigned confusion. “What contract? I don’t understand.”

Pei Ying smiled. “Then what do you like? I’ll buy it for you.”

Direct, aren’t we? Lu Lingzhi mused. If I take this “job,” I have to help the Peis get the order, or I offend one of the two families. This is a thankless task. I’m not doing it.

Seeing Lu Lingzhi unmoved, Pei Ying added, “Sister Lu, as long as I have the ability, I will fulfill any request. Please help me.”

Seeing the desperation in Pei Ying’s eyes, Lu Lingzhi sat down to think.

Shisheng was desperate for the Taiyu order. Villain, you’re impressive, she thought. You’re making me find a way to balance the orders between Shisheng and the Pei family.

Shisheng had long collaborated with Taiyu, and Pei Ying was dating Xie Zhixia, who supported Shisheng. The Pei Group was a rising tech star and friendly with Lu Lingzhi. If the order went to Shisheng, they wouldn’t necessarily be grateful. If it went to the Peis, Shisheng would hate her, which might hinder the Villain’s plan to make her the heir, since Shisheng held a board seat at Taiyu.

How to give it? How to make both sides happy? This was the “problem” the Villain had set for her. How to maximize her own profit?

1. Give orders to both so they are satisfied, without using Lu family resources.
2. Get two “wishes” (like a luxury car or a storefront).
3. Gain Shisheng’s support for her inheritance.

This is a tough question. Truly an evil Villain. She claims to be my ‘little mom’ but doesn’t want to spend a penny to raise me.

Lu Lingzhi smiled elegantly. “I like it when you’re good to Sister Zhixia.”

[Lu Lingzhi commands in her head: “System, good job. In half an hour, remember to return the cart and cakes so they don’t catch on. I’ll buy you two new carts of snacks later.”]

[System cheers: “Wahoo! Thanks, Mama! You’re the best!”]

Lu Lingzhi then realized Jiang Mingyue hadn’t returned from the restroom. Suddenly, a trace of tulip pheromones drifted out from the door…

The Restroom

The world was getting crazy. Outside, the cart was flickering in and out of existence, and her cake and drinks were being consumed by a mysterious force.

But these wild thoughts were quickly drowned out by the surging sensation inside Jiang Mingyue’s body. The gland at the back of her neck felt like it was on fire. Her breath became hot and ragged. She splashed cold water on her face, trying to cool down.

Her collar was soaked, and the suppression patch on her neck, weakened by moisture and pheromones, was peeling off.

Why?

She thought of Lu Lingzhi’s eyes turning azure. During the temporary marking last time, her eyes hadn’t changed. The doctor had said she might upgrade from A-grade to S-grade.

Was it the impact of a high-level Alpha? S-grade pheromones were not something an Omega could easily endure.

Click. The restroom door was bumped open slightly. Simultaneously, the suppression patch lost its grip and fell to the floor.

The suppressed pheromones exploded. The thick, elegant scent of tulips filled the small space.

Lu Lingzhi pushed the door open just as Jiang Mingyue was collapsing. She caught her in her arms. Jiang Mingyue fell into a familiar cherry scented embrace.

“What’s wrong?” Lu Lingzhi asked, one hand on her waist, the other patting her back.

“Pheromones… out of… control…” Jiang Mingyue gasped, her forehead resting in the crook of Lu Lingzhi’s neck.

Lu Lingzhi saw the fallen patch. Her heart sank. She remembered the doctor’s warning: An S-grade Alpha’s pheromones can cause a high-compatibility Omega’s heat to become irregular or intense.

Lu Lingzhi began to take off her jacket. Jiang Mingyue looked up with teary, disbelieving eyes. Here? In this place? It’s so wet and dirty… I don’t want it to be here. Even the car would be better…

“So dirty…” Jiang Mingyue sobbed out her honest dislike of the environment.

However, to Lu Lingzhi’s ears, it sounded different.

Dirty? She’s calling my clothes dirty?

This is a Dior limited edition I stayed up all night to get! I wash it so carefully!

“So what if it’s dirty?” Lu Lingzhi snapped, her temper rising. “Deal with it! Even I don’t think it’s dirty!”

She laid the jacket lining side up on the marble vanity, creating a makeshift, luxurious cushion. She lifted the weakened Jiang Mingyue onto it.

Lu Lingzhi leaned in, pinning her against the marble. She placed Jiang Mingyue’s hands on her own shoulders.

Hmph, I’m only doing this so your hands don’t get numb, Lu Lingzhi thought stubbornly.

She leaned down and kissed those surprised lips heavily, even nipping the lower lip as a punishment. She swallowed Jiang Mingyue’s whimpers. As their tongues tangled, the air grew thin.

Lu Lingzhi pulled back slightly, a thread of silver connecting them like a red string of fate. She looked at Jiang Mingyue’s misty, vulnerable eyes.

She pressed her hot cheek against the other’s, asking stubbornly, “Still saying my clothes are dirty?”

“I… I didn’t say you were dirty. I meant the…”

Lu Lingzhi’s forehead rested against Jiang Mingyue’s collarbone. Her own suppression patch had also come off.

Kiss her. Possess her.

Then, Jiang Mingyue lowered her head and pressed her warm lips against Lu Lingzhi’s exposed Alpha gland.

A slight sting followed. Jiang Mingyue bit down.

The tulip pheromones flowed into Lu Lingzhi’s gland, tasting the tempting sourness of the cherry pheromones. It satisfied the Omega’s subconscious craving for her Alpha.

Being bitten by an Omega, a rare, taboo experience for an Alpha.

A surge of pleasure like electricity shot through Lu Lingzhi. She let out an involuntary moan. “Mm~~”

The sound startled Jiang Mingyue. She let go and pulled back.

At that moment, one of Lu Lingzhi’s eyes turned a deep, mysterious azure, reflecting Jiang Mingyue’s silhouette. Jiang Mingyue felt a stir in her heart and kissed Lu Lingzhi’s trembling eyelid.

Like kissing a precious, fragile sapphire.

The blue faded under the kiss. Jiang Mingyue whispered, “I meant the room was dirty, not your clothes. Your clothes are beautiful. I like them.”

Lu Lingzhi said, “Then let’s go home.”

“Okay.” Jiang Mingyue stood up, saw the soaked jacket, and put it in a canvas bag. She tidied herself up and they headed out.

I’ll buy her a new one when we get back.