As a Scummy Omega, I Ran Away with the Baby - Chapter 21

“……”

Gu Yining froze, unable for a moment to adapt to this unfamiliar side of Bai Qingqiu. She stood stiffly in place, not knowing where to put her hands or feet.

Seeing her hesitate, Bai Qingqiu, slumped against the sofa, frowned in irritation.

“Still not coming over?!” Her tone carried that same unquestionable authority as always.

Even drunk, she was still Bai Qingqiu—such a familiar tone.

With a resigned sigh, Gu Yining walked over and lifted her up in a bridal carry. Normally, Bai Qingqiu sat straighter than anyone else, but now her body was limp, her head nestled against Gu Yining’s shoulder, cheek brushing softly against hers.

“No credibility,” Bai Qingqiu muttered against her shoulder.

“How am I not credible?” Gu Yining carefully kept an eye on the steps ahead as she carried her upstairs.

“You promised to always listen to me. But I had to call you so many times before you came to carry me.”

With that, ignoring the fact that Gu Yining was struggling up the stairs, Bai Qingqiu squirmed in her arms and bit down on her shoulder.

“Hiss—! Ow, ow, ow—” Gu Yining sucked in a sharp breath and, for her own safety, quickly softened her tone to coax her.

“Alright, alright. Whatever you call me for next time, I’ll come the very first moment, okay?”

“You’d better.”

“Pinky swear?”

“No. That’s way too childish.”

Gu Yining braced herself for more drunken antics, ready to deal with them. But after that last line, Bai Qingqiu grew unexpectedly quiet, curling up against her without another word, nothing like the unruly mess from moments ago.

Clearly, with drinking hitting her this hard, it was better she didn’t touch alcohol at all.

When Gu Yining bent down to lay her on the bed, Bai Qingqiu clung tightly to her and refused to let go.

Gu Yining: ?

Before she could react, the air in the room was suddenly saturated with the thick fragrance of magnolia. As an Alpha, Gu Yining instinctively felt a wave of restless heat rise in her body.

She forced herself to endure the itch crawling through her veins, using all her strength to pry Bai Qingqiu from her and lower her onto the bed. Then she quickly crouched beside her to check.

Bai Qingqiu’s neatly braided hair had come completely undone. Her face was flushed, her body limp as she lay there, silent tears streaming down her cheeks.

Gu Yining had never seen Bai Qingqiu cry.

Her mind exploded in shock. The sight of the tears glistening on Bai Qingqiu’s lashes pierced straight into her chest.

“What’s wrong? Is it your heat cycle? But isn’t that still months away? What’s happening to you?” Her voice carried an urgency she didn’t even realize herself, questions tumbling out one after another.

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“I’m not.”

Bai Qingqiu raised her eyes to Gu Yining’s stricken face. Alcohol had dulled her senses, but in that moment, a shred of clarity returned. Her first instinct was to turn her head away, hiding her tears from Gu Yining.

Yet her trembling hands on the blanket betrayed her.

“What’s going on? I’m really worried about you.”

Bai Qingqiu didn’t look back, but she felt the warmth of Gu Yining’s hands covering hers. Her own hands, chilled from repeated vomiting and stomach pain, were wrapped in that steady warmth, heat passing into her body through their joined palms.

But it wasn’t enough to chase away the cold that had seeped into her very bones.

She had thought she was ready. She had resolved herself. When Director Qian’s glasses of liquor kept coming, she had downed them all without hesitation. Yet at some point, as the icy liquid slid down her throat, her abdomen suddenly clenched with a fiery, burning pain.

She forced herself to endure, refusing to let Director Qian see any weakness. The dinner wrapped up smoothly, and she even managed a polished smile as she walked her to the door. But once she was gone, dizziness from the alcohol overwhelmed her, and the roiling in her stomach could no longer be contained. She barely made it a few steps before vomiting everything onto the floor.

Only after she had emptied her stomach, bitterness coating her mouth, was she able to be helped into a car and sent home.

The drunken haze was secondary. It was in that moment, slumped in the seat, that she finally understood the panic that had gripped her since the night before.

She wasn’t as strong or decisive as she had convinced herself. She couldn’t just calmly accept the fact that she was carrying a child. The thought that this banquet might have harmed that fragile life inside her chilled her to the marrow, leaving her trembling uncontrollably.

She might have doomed her own child—her and Gu Yining’s child.

And if the child survived, if she really gave birth to a little girl who would one day call her “Mama,” then she would have to shoulder the responsibility of being a mother. But the thought alone left her unable to breathe.

Mothers were supposed to be great, selfless, overflowing with love. But she was not that kind of person.

Even knowing how deeply Gu Yining loved her, how much she cared, she had lied to her without hesitation—allowing her to mistake her for Bei Nanyan’s shadow, never once considering Gu Yining’s feelings.

She did not love Gu Yining, not one bit. Yet she greedily basked in the affection Gu Yining lavished on her.

Gu Yining was so pure, so steadfast in her love. If she ever discovered she was just a substitute for Bei Nanyan, she would never accept it. Bai Qingqiu knew this well. That was why she never mentioned Bei Nanyan, why she ordered those

around her to stay silent—so that she could bind Gu Yining tightly to her side.

As long as Gu Yining remained in the dark, as long as she loved her, she would never leave.

Bai Qingqiu could accept being the one to propose a breakup if she didn’t love someone. But she could never endure it if someone she cared for chose to leave her.

How could someone this selfish ever be a mother? Weren’t mothers supposed to be selfless, noble, and full of love?

She was a wreck, and she knew it.

Bai Qingqiu’s whole body was ice-cold, as if she was sinking into a lightless, bone-chilling sea. The only warmth, the only light, was right beside her.

A drowning person will cling to a life buoy with all their strength, never pausing to wonder if they might crush it with their grip.

Her tear-blurred eyes never strayed from Gu Yining, who stood there frowning, clearly struggling to endure something. Bai Qingqiu’s fingers dug into the soft skin of her arm, desperate and unthinking.

“Hold me, Gu Yining… please, just hold me.” Her voice was almost a plea.

Gu Yining froze, as if she hadn’t understood. After a long silence, she finally answered softly:

“Alright.”

And just like that, Bai Qingqiu was folded into Gu Yining’s warm, dry embrace, carrying the faint scent of roses. She clung to her tightly, wishing she could melt into her entirely.

“I’ll ask Aunt Han to come in and help wipe you down, then we’ll sleep, okay?” Gu Yining coaxed, voice gentle as if speaking to a child.

“I only want you.”

Bai Qingqiu shook her head, drinking in that rose-scented comfort.

“…Then wait here a moment. I’ll fetch a towel and some water.”

The moment Gu Yining’s arms left her, she plunged back into that cold, dark sea. Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around herself, trying in vain to hold onto the warmth that had slipped away.

“I’ll be right back.”

Gu Yining turned and left in a hurry.

________________________________________

Gu Yining didn’t even know what she was running from.

Bai Qingqiu was just drunk and uncomfortable, nothing more. Once she was wiped clean and put to bed, tomorrow she would go back to being that detached, aloof Bai Qingqiu.

And yet, that fragile, helpless expression from moments ago had carved itself deep into Gu Yining’s mind, utterly unwilling to fade.

She filled a basin with water, took out the plain white towel Bai Qingqiu always used, soaked it through, and wrung it dry.

When she lifted her head, she caught sight of her own flushed face in the mirror and let out a soft, self-mocking laugh.

Just this once, she told herself. Just this once, she would take care of Bai Qingqiu—as repayment for the care Bai Qingqiu had shown her in the past four years.

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When Gu Yining returned with the basin and towel, Bai Qingqiu was already sitting quietly on a small stool, head bowed. Her messy braid had completely unraveled, long black hair falling loose in soft, uneven waves, hiding her face.

If the people at the company ever learned that their impeccably dressed President Bai could also look like this—drunk and sulking—who knew what they would think. The thought made Gu Yining smile a little wickedly.

“I’m back.”

She stopped in front of her and called softly.

“Mm.”

Bai Qingqiu barely moved, her voice faint and listless.

“Do you want me to wipe your hands and feet first, or your face?”

“Whichever. It doesn’t matter.”

“Then I’ll start with your face.”

________________________________________

Gu Yining reached toward her, and Bai Qingqiu didn’t flinch—just looked up quietly at her.

Her fingertips brushed her forehead, gently tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear before picking up the towel to wipe away the traces left on her face.

The towel moved lightly, so light it was barely noticeable. Lowering her gaze, Bai Qingqiu watched Gu Yining’s face—so focused, as if performing some delicate, precise task. Beads of sweat were gathering at the bridge of her nose.

Of course. Her pheromones were slipping out of control again. It must have been unbearable for Gu Yining.

“…Why don’t you let Aunt Han do this instead?”

“It’s fine. I can handle it.” Gu Yining shook her head, carefully checking if her face was now clean.

“It’s clean enough.”

Bai Qingqiu let out a breath, aching with guilt, and tugged lightly at the hem of her nightdress.

“Alright then. I’ll go change the water—and grab a suppressant while I’m at it.”

Gu Yining nodded as if it was nothing, picked up the basin, and walked out. But Bai Qingqiu didn’t miss the stiff line of her back, nor the strained, uneven rhythm of her breathing.

Gu Yining…

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Before long, Gu Yining reappeared with fresh water and a towel. Her complexion was normal again, her breathing steady, her expression composed.

A sharp ache pricked at Bai Qingqiu’s nose. She rushed forward and wrapped her arms around her.

The basin clattered to the ground.

Bang—

“Gu Yining, don’t leave me…”

Two voices overlapped at once.

“What did you just say?” Gu Yining asked, puzzled, close to her ear.

“…Nothing.”

Tears streamed down Bai Qingqiu’s cheeks as she held her tighter, refusing to let go.