After the System Called Me Mom, My Arch-Nemesis Omega Fell for Me - Chapter 45

The melodious finale of Swan Lake faded into the air.

On stage, Xie Zhixia completed her final bow with an elegant posture. Thunderous applause rose from the audience like a tide, refusing to subside for a long time.

Standing in the shadows by the curtain, Pei Ying quietly watched the entire performance. Once it ended, Xie Fuyun stood up from the front row holding a bouquet, walked backstage, and handed it to her. “Zhixia, that was a wonderful dance.”

Xie Zhixia was delighted. “Little Aunt, didn’t you say you weren’t coming?”

Xie Fuyun clapped. “How could I miss your debut? You danced beautifully.”

“I want you to meet someone,” Xie Zhixia said, leading Pei Ying out from behind the curtain. This was Pei Ying’s first time meeting Xie Fuyun in person. The mysterious President Xie possessed a transcendent aura and a commanding presence.

Xie Zhixia took Pei Ying’s hand and presented her to Xie Fuyun. “This is my girlfriend, Pei Ying. She’s a popular star under the Shisheng Group and a future top-tier celebrity.”

“What do you think? Is she worthy of your notice?”

Xie Fuyun’s gaze fell on Xie Zhixia’s face. She knew her niece wasn’t close to her parents and only shared a bond with her. Zhixia’s parents wanted her to be a “phoenix” among women, but Zhixia had her own ideas, studying ballet abroad and advocating for free love. She was a typical romantic idealist.

“Miss Pei Ying’s reputation precedes her. Seeing you today is an honor,” Xie Fuyun said. “If I may be so bold, could I ask these two beautiful ladies for a ‘To’ autograph? Just write: May all things go smoothly, and may every wish be fulfilled.”

Pei Ying realized today’s meeting with Lu Lingzhi was likely orchestrated by President Xie. She wanted her to meet Lu Lingzhi. Pei Ying couldn’t help but admire Xie Fuyun’s painstaking efforts to pave the way for someone.

Taiyu Group, which focuses on semiconductors and chips, is a leading enterprise in Country H. It has long been deeply bonded with Shisheng Group, and the two were set to sign a cooperation agreement in July. Unexpectedly, President Xie declined in July, citing ill health.

In August, President Xie brought up the inaugural Robotics Competition in September. She had said, “The first Robotics Competition is about to start. Once Shisheng wins an award, I’ll give you the contract. That way, both companies’ stock prices will rise. I have great confidence in Shisheng, this era belongs to the youth.”

In the end, Pei Song of the Pei Group took the championship, while Shisheng took runner-up. When Pei Song approached President Xie for cooperation, she rejected him citing health reasons, and once again rejected Shisheng.

Later that afternoon, Shisheng executives ran into Xie Fuyun accompanying Doctor Chang to buy clothes.

An executive asked angrily, “President Xie, didn’t you say you were sick? How do you have time to go clothes shopping?”

Xie Fuyun replied calmly, “What’s there to brag about being a runner-up? I lied to you because I didn’t want to work with you. You didn’t even understand my subtext. Instead of looking at your own problems and improving your capabilities, do you think I’m running a charity?”

She was forcing both companies to seek out Lu Lingzhi. This was clearly an exam set by President Xie, a practical exercise for Lu Lingzhi. Shisheng and the Pei Group were merely the sparring partners. If they wanted to cooperate with Taiyu, they had to play the part.

The “exam question” was essentially:

Given that Shisheng is a long-term partner and Pei Group is a tech rising star, bitter rivals both needing Taiyu’s contract, how can Lu Lingzhi use this opportunity to boost her reputation as Taiyu’s heir and achieve a win-win situation without offending either party?

In President Xie’s script, the representatives sent by Shisheng and Pei Group would undoubtedly be Pei Ying and Pei Song. Because Shisheng placed second, the board of directors questioned the heir’s ability. Though Xie’s words were harsh, she was the “Party A” (client), and she was right. The battle for succession within Shisheng was turning white hot. Thus, the actual heirs wouldn’t come to negotiate; the most suitable person was Pei Ying.

Why Pei Ying? Her grandmother was the Chairman of Shisheng, and her grandfather was the Chairman of Pei Group. She wasn’t involved in the succession battle and would make concessions for the sake of family peace. Meanwhile, Pei Song would also yield to secure a long term deal.

They were cousins. And they both knew Lu Lingzhi. In a sense, the three of them were on the same side. This was President Xie’s safety net for Lu Lingzhi to ensure a win-win and show the Taiyu board that she could solve the problem.

Currently, everyone was wondering what Lu Lingzhi could pull off. In a week, they would witness what “extraordinary talent” looked like. The stir she would cause would be seen by all of Country H. With a brilliant exterior and an exquisite mind, her first move would stun the capital’s elite circles.

And the best part? She didn’t spend a single cent.

Yuanshan Apartment

Warm lights filled the living room. Jiang Mingyue and Lu Lingzhi returned to the apartment one after the other. Lu Lingzhi went straight to the bathroom, skillfully turning on the bathtub faucet and adjusting the temperature until a misty steam rose.

She didn’t stay, she walked into Jiang Mingyue’s master bedroom. The air conditioner remote made a slight “beep.” She opened the wardrobe, her fingers brushing past a row of clothes to pick out the silk pajamas Jiang Mingyue often wore, laying them flat at the foot of the bed.

She walked out with the items. “Jiang Mingyue, go take a bath first.”

Just then, the phone in her pocket buzzed, breaking the silence. Caller ID: Chang Xi.

Lu Lingzhi walked to the window and answered the call on the balcony. “Little Mommy, what’s up?”

On the other end, Chang Xi’s voice was gentle. “Lu Bao, are you and Jiang Bao free tomorrow?”

Lu Lingzhi subconsciously pursed her lips. “What is it? You’re not trying to make me meet more people from the Xie family, are you?”

“My Lu Bao is angry,” Chang Xi chuckled softly, quickly trying to soothe her. “Don’t be mad. I’ll take you to see the ‘endless mountains and rivers’ I’ve prepared for you tomorrow, okay?”

“Let me think about it.”

“Talk it over with Jiang Bao then.”

Lu Lingzhi glanced back at the bathroom. The sound of water had started, and a hazy figure was visible behind the frosted glass. “Okay. I got it. I’ll tell Mingyue.”

Under the soft bedside lamp, two pillows now sat side by side on the double bed. Jiang Mingyue wasn’t lying down, she was leaning against the headboard in her loose silk robe. Her usually cool, fair face looked weakly pale, her brows slightly furrowed, and her eyes unfocused. She looked sickly.

Lu Lingzhi withdrew her gaze. It turned out the pheromones of an S-grade Alpha were so powerful they could make an A-grade Omega suffer this much. Guilt instantly washed over her.

Lu Lingzhi set down a cup of milk and took an electronic thermometer from the medical kit, lightly clicking it against Jiang Mingyue’s forehead. The screen showed: 36.7°C. Normal.

She breathed a sigh of relief, but seeing Jiang Mingyue’s obvious discomfort, she picked up the warm milk and held it to her lips, her voice soft and tender. “Here, drink some milk. You’ll feel better.”

Jiang Mingyue drank the entire cup in small sips from her hand. The warm, sweet liquid sliding down her throat seemed to help, but a cute white milk mustache remained on her lip.

So cute. Lu Lingzhi’s throat tightened, she swallowed hard.

She handed her a tissue and brought up the business. “Little Mommy called just now. She wants to take us to lunch tomorrow. Not to meet the Xies, just a simple family gathering.”

Jiang Mingyue wiped her mouth and looked up, her voice a bit soft and weak. “What do you think? I’ll listen to you.” She was unusually obedient right now. The light cast their close shadows onto the quilt, blending them together, giving Lu Lingzhi the illusion that they had been living like this for a long time.

“Let’s just do afternoon tea then. You don’t seem to have much energy, sleep until you wake up naturally tomorrow morning.” Having said that, she picked up the empty milk cup and prepared to leave for her own room.

However, as she turned, her wrist was gently caught by a slightly cool hand.

Lu Lingzhi stopped and looked back in confusion. Jiang Mingyue looked up at her, her usually clear eyes now misted over. She spoke weakly, “I’m a little scared to sleep alone. I… I encountered something ‘dirty’ (paranormal).”

“Huh?”

Jiang Mingyue frowned, seemingly afraid of scaring her but unable to keep it in. “It’s true… backstage at the theater, my Black Forest cake… right before my eyes… one, two, three bites, and it just vanished into thin air. And my pear juice, just as I was about to drink it, the cup moved on its own, and the straw flew over and inserted itself. With a slurp, the whole cup was gone.”

The more she spoke, the more bizarre it sounded, and she instinctively wrapped the quilt tighter around herself. “So… would it be better if two people slept together? Please?”

Lu Lingzhi: “…”

Her mind was instantly flooded with guilt. It didn’t take a genius to know it was the gluttonous System’s doing. You can be a glutton, but why pick Mingyue’s food? And so blatantly! Look at how scared she is, she’s talking nonsense now. I’ll deal with you later.

[The System, picking its teeth with a piece of floss like a boss: Xie Zhixia gave those to both of us. Why should she get to eat it all? I just swiped your card; two truckloads of cake will arrive tomorrow.]

[Lu Lingzhi, enraged: You swiped my card again!]

“Jiang Mingyue, you’re a materialist. You’re a psychology student. You’re probably just too tired these past two days.” She took Jiang Mingyue’s cool hand in hers, her palm warm. “Don’t scare yourself. You’re definitely exhausted. Go to sleep. I…”

“Is that a yes?” Jiang Mingyue leaned her soft body closer, blinking her innocent, watery eyes. Her voice was soft and waxy.

Facing this version of Jiang Mingyue, the guilt from the pheromones and the System’s antics intensified.

“…Fine, fine,” she sighed in defeat. “I’ll stay here… and sleep with you.” She carefully tucked Jiang Mingyue in, dimmed the lights further, went to the other side of the bed, lifted the quilt, and somewhat stiffly climbed in.

As soon as she lay down, a cool, soft body pressed against her, and an arm naturally circled her waist. Lu Lingzhi stiffened, her ears warming. She whispered a warning, “…Jiang Mingyue, don’t push your luck.”

However, the hand didn’t let go. Instead, as if finding a heat source, it pressed closer and settled.