As a Scummy Omega, I Ran Away with the Baby - Chapter 20

Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, the water feature murmured dutifully, a steady trickle of sound. Inside, the air conditioning kept the temperature just right, the lighting dim—conditions that should have been perfect for sleep.

Leaning against the headboard, Bai Qingqiu sighed.

Just look at Gu Yining: after a quick wash, she had flopped onto the bed and was already seconds away from sleep, as if she only needed a toothpick to keep her eyelids open. Qingqiu really envied that constitution of hers—able to fall asleep at will, anytime, anywhere.

And yet…

Something about Gu Yining had felt strange lately.

But if pressed, Qingqiu couldn’t quite say what it was. On the surface, Yining was the same as always—clingy, coquettish, reckless in her little ways.

Still…

Qingqiu’s fingers brushed the corner of her lips, tracing the faint break in the skin, her expression complicated. Never before had she seen that fierce, predatory look in Yining’s eyes like she had tonight. It hadn’t been the gaze of a lover at all, but that of a hunter sizing up prey.

It was a look she had seen often enough from self-important Alphas who thought being Alpha while she was Omega meant they could easily dominate her.

But Gu Yining wasn’t like that.

Yining had never once disregarded her wishes; in fact, it was almost always Qingqiu who took the lead when they grew close. Even tonight, she hadn’t felt violated. Yining might have been a little willful, but her eyes had been full of nothing but Qingqiu.

She was needed.

If this sudden strangeness came only from something Hong Xia had said today—words that had planted insecurity in Yining’s heart and made her overthink things—then…

Qingqiu’s eyes narrowed, a cold smile touching her lips.

Not unwilling—only waiting for the right moment.

She was still turning over how to deal with Hong Xia when a warm body suddenly burrowed into her arms. A soft head of hair nestled directly against her thighs.

“Why aren’t you asleep yet?”

Yining’s muffled voice came from below, her head turned away, offering only the back of her head. Her tone was thick with drowsiness, the sound of someone on the edge of collapse.

“If you’re tired, then sleep first.”

Qingqiu’s hand drifted lazily over her hair, stroking it like one would pet a dog.

Yining gave a soft hum and rolled over onto her lap, clearly intending to use her as a pillow. Her black hair, like a spill of seaweed, slid loose across her face, covering most of it and leaving only a small ear peeking through.

Her ears, like the rest of her, were exquisite—delicate, pale as peeled eggs. Mischief sparking, Qingqiu flicked at it with her finger.

Yining immediately frowned, let out a disgruntled hum, and lifted a hand to swat her away.

Qingqiu stopped as she wished, but the unease lingering in her heart didn’t dissipate. That sharp, unsettling gaze from earlier still haunted her.

Yining shouldn’t be like that.

Perhaps it was the pregnancy—the hormonal shifts making her more insecure—or perhaps it was her own ingrained need for control. Either way, Qingqiu found she didn’t want to let Yining drift off so easily.

“Gu Yining,” Qingqiu called softly.

“Mm.”

The fluffy head didn’t budge, only a muffled nasal response.

“Gu Yining.” She pinched her bare arm where the blanket didn’t reach.

“Mm.”

Exactly the same sound again.

“Gu Yining.” This time Qingqiu bent down, lips brushing lightly over the delicate curve of her ear as she whispered.

“…Mm.”

The reply came only after a long pause—long enough that Qingqiu had thought she’d already fallen asleep.

Seeing this, Qingqiu gave up on disturbing her further. She carefully lifted her head back onto the pillow, tucked the blanket snugly around her, and slipped in beside her, looping an arm around her waist from behind.

“Good night.”

Resting her face against Yining’s back, she listened to the steady rhythm of her heartbeat until her eyes drifted shut.

“…”

Yining didn’t reply.

She must really be asleep. Qingqiu tightened her embrace, then couldn’t resist opening her eyes again to look at her.

“Gu Yining, you won’t leave me. You’ll always listen to me, won’t you?”

“Not answering means you agree.”

She nuzzled closer, clutching her even tighter—like a miser clutching her most precious treasure. Qingqiu had no one else, needed no one else. She only had Gu Yining.

And that was enough.

________________________________________

All night, there had been some faint, broken murmur in her ear, leaving Yining restless and unable to sleep well.

She vaguely remembered that after their intimacy, she had rushed through a five-minute shower while Qingqiu washed up, then dove into bed and knocked out instantly.

Everything else was a blur. She had no idea what the sound had been—it couldn’t have been construction in the villa district in the middle of the night.

Sunlight filtered in through the slits of the curtains. Yining yawned, stretching as she pushed herself upright, only to notice the empty space beside her.

Her groggy brain needed several beats before she recalled that Aunt Han had mentioned last night: Qingqiu would be out entertaining all day and had told her to stay home. Though her susceptibility period was nearly over, there was still a chance she might lose control of her pheromones.

She hadn’t planned to go out anyway.

As she slowly pieced together fragments of yesterday, the memory of Qingqiu’s lips—soft, carrying that magnolia fragrance—flashed unbidden in her mind.

Not first thing in the morning! Way too stimulating.

She scolded herself, blaming her restless susceptibility period.

But… Qingqiu hadn’t been angry last night? Not even a reprimand, not a single sharp word. How was she supposed to face her now? Even if that gentleness wasn’t truly for her, who could strike out against such kindness? Yining groaned, knocking her knuckles lightly against her forehead.

She shouldn’t have lost control like that. She knew perfectly well that Qingqiu loved Bei Nanyan so deeply she had taken her—Yining—as a substitute, a stand-in. Until someone even more similar appeared, of course Qingqiu wouldn’t cast her aside, let alone reject or scold her.

What she needed to do now was keep playing her part—act like the old Gu Yining—and in the meantime, finalize her contract with one of the three major agencies and make her exit. Otherwise, if she lingered, guilt and reluctant attachment might root her here for good.

Yes. First, she’d get some more sleep.

________________________________________

“Miss Gu? Miss Gu?”

A woman’s voice roused her.

“…Aunt Han? What is it?”

Rubbing her eyes, Yining blinked at the middle-aged woman standing beside the bed, her face lined with hesitation.

“Sorry to wake you. Miss Bai’s back… she had a lot to drink. She won’t let me help her upstairs no matter what. Could you—” Aunt Han twisted at her apron, her voice tentative.

Ordinarily, something like this should have been handled by Aunt Han. Waking her for it was a bit much. There was no need for her to look so apologetic—

Wait.

Qingqiu… drunk?

But she never drank. Ever.

Forgetting her disheveled clothes, Yining scrambled out of bed, shoved her feet into slippers, and hurried after Aunt Han downstairs.

________________________________________

Even before reaching the living room, the sharp tang of alcohol hit her nose, making Yining frown.

This wasn’t drinking—this was bathing in liquor.

“Bai Qingqiu?” she called, quickening her steps.

The sight that met her eyes stopped her short.

The always-composed Bai Qingqiu, usually immaculate, was flushed scarlet and tear-eyed. Her braid had half come undone, stray strands frizzing everywhere. She was slumped against the sofa, one high heel dangling, the other already kicked off.

This… this wasn’t the unflappable President Bai, the woman who buttoned every shirt to the very top.

Now Yining understood why Qingqiu never touched alcohol.

“Gu Yining? You’re here? Come—carry me upstairs.”

Qingqiu tilted her head, smiling drowsily as her eyes curved into crescents.