As a Scummy Omega, I Ran Away with the Baby - Chapter 23

“Alright.”

Bei Nanyan didn’t hesitate. She immediately picked up her phone and sent a photo over WeChat—decisive, sharp, and clean-cut.

Gu Yining lowered her eyes to the slightly blurry old photo. Two young girls stood with their arms around each other, faces still carrying a trace of youthful greenness. On the left was Bei Nanyan with her shoulder-length hair; on the right, smiling shyly with flushed cheeks, was Bai Qingqiu.

If it wasn’t for Bai Qingqiu’s strikingly distinctive features, Gu Yining might not have recognized her at all.

After all, the Bai Qingqiu she knew had never smiled like that.

Gu Yining long-pressed to save the photo—her so-called evidence. She hadn’t asked Bei Nanyan for the picture to reminisce about the sweet past between her and Bai Qingqiu. It was only for one purpose: to have proof ready when the time came to confront Bai Qingqiu.

An ex and a “current” looking this similar… wasn’t that a little too much for mere “shared taste in aesthetics” to explain?

“May I ask… why did you want this photo?” Bei Nanyan said.

“Because I live with Bai Qingqiu now.” Gu Yining replied.

She chose live with—not be with. Very precise.

“……”

The other end was silent for a long while.

“I think I understand why you wanted to join our company now.” Bei Nanyan’s expression twisted oddly, her gaze carrying the lofty pity of someone looking down from above.

The words stabbed at Gu Yining’s heart, but in the next moment she was composed again. She pulled down her mask and gave Bei Nanyan a faint smile, neither confirming nor denying.

“Instead of continuing to talk about her, why don’t we discuss how to terminate my contract?”

________________________________________

“It’s simple. Just aim for the weak spot—cause some trouble for Bai Qingqiu’s company. Shift yourself from the ‘betrayer’ who asked for termination into the ‘victim’ who was oppressed and exploited. That way, you win both reputation and sympathy. Otherwise, why do you think every time an artist parts ways with a company, there’s always some scandal exposed? Public opinion always sides with the artist who looks isolated and defenseless.”

Recalling Gu Yining’s expression after she’d said those words, Bei Nanyan now sat at her desk, spinning idly in her chair, amused. She thought she had seen straight through this seemingly innocent girl’s little schemes.

Still too young. Still too soft when it came to Bai Qingqiu.

Such a flimsy bit of strategy—and Bei Nanyan held it firmly in her grasp.

But what she hadn’t expected was… Bai Qingqiu loved her this much? To go out and find a girl who looked so much like her?

Bai Qingqiu—the cold, empathy-less monster. What good was a face that resembled hers?

Once you miss a Bei Nanyan, you’ll never find another again.

Besides, she herself had never been as naïve, as foolish, as Gu Yining.

“Ring—”

The ringtone of her phone on the desk cut through her thoughts. Bei Nanyan leaned forward, picked it up, and when she saw the number on the screen, she couldn’t help but let out a laugh.

“Hello?”

Lounging lazily in her office chair, she answered with a careless air, her voice laced with the smug amusement of a victor.

“Bei Nanyan.”

“Mhm.”

She arched a brow, curling her fingers as she inspected her well-kept nails.

“You met with Gu Yining today.”

“Yes.”

No point in hiding it. Bei Nanyan’s response was calm and candid. Just imagining the look on Bai Qingqiu’s face right now gave her the exhilarating satisfaction of downing a cold cola on a hot day.

“What do you want? As long as it’s not too outrageous, I can agree to anything.”

“You want me to keep my past with you a secret from Gu Yining? Impossible.”

She cut Bai Qingqiu off ruthlessly before she could finish.

No one knew Bai Qingqiu better than she did—always thinking a little money could buy control over everyone, that people would meekly follow her will.

As if Bei Nanyan would stoop to such scraps.

Gu Yining wasn’t just some random rookie; with the right resources, she was clearly destined to rise. Signing her would guarantee visible, tangible returns.

Unless Bai Qingqiu handed over the entire company to her—she wasn’t interested.

“How much do you hate me? Are you really just trying to disgust me on purpose?”

On the other end, Bai Qingqiu’s voice trembled with anger.

Even now, she still didn’t get it? Didn’t understand why Gu Yining wanted to leave her? The thought made Bei Nanyan want to laugh, though at the same time, there was something almost pitiful about someone so blinded by her own arrogance.

“Did it ever occur to you that maybe Gu Yining’s leaving has nothing to do with anyone else? That maybe it’s just you? Why is it that you never treat people like people? Me, Gu Yining—why does it always have to end in such ugliness?

Doesn’t any of it ever come back to you?”

The words left her feeling gloriously unburdened. Even after all these years, striking at Bai Qingqiu with the upper hand of reason still felt vindicating.

“And Bai Qingqiu, do you really love me that much? Do you need me to be touched by that, even a little?”

She chuckled softly into the receiver.

“This time… it’s different…”

Bai Qingqiu’s words came brokenly, tinged with what sounded like the faintest sob. Bei Nanyan couldn’t catch it clearly. Just as a flicker of softness stirred in her, the line went dead.

“Beep—”

Of course. She must have misheard. Someone like Bai Qingqiu wouldn’t cry.

Bei Nanyan shrugged indifferently, pulled the phone from her ear, and opened her WeChat with Gu Yining. With a few taps, she selected a video from her gallery and sent it over.

A final gift—from one victim to another.

________________________________________

“President Bai.”

A cautious knock and a secretary’s tentative call came from outside the office door. Bai Qingqiu furrowed her brows, fighting down the sharp wave of nausea rising in her chest. She plucked a slice of pickled lemon from the bag on her desk and tucked it into her mouth, forcing the sour bile back into her stomach before finally speaking, her voice cool.

“Come in.”

“The documents you requested have been compiled. I’ve placed them on your desk.”

As the secretary pushed open the door, she couldn’t help glancing at Bai Qingqiu’s face. Only after confirming there was nothing visibly wrong did she relax, lowering her gaze as she set the folder down.

“Mm. I know. You can go.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

The secretary nodded and left.

Once the door clicked shut and she was certain the secretary wouldn’t return, Bai Qingqiu let out a quiet breath. She leaned her elbow on the edge of her desk and pressed her fingertips into her temples, massaging them hard.

The morning sickness was far worse than she had anticipated—growing more severe with each passing day.

And it wasn’t just her pregnancy wreaking havoc on her body. On Gu Yining’s side, matters were unraveling too…

She picked up the folder and flipped through a few pages, eyes lowered. Inside was carefully compiled records of Hong Xia’s years of corruption and bribes. With this evidence, unless Hong Xia was foolish enough to want a stint in prison, she would have no choice but to surrender her shares and let Bai Qingqiu buy them back.

Her plan had been to reclaim the shares first and then present it to Gu Yining as a surprise. But now… it was too late.

She knew Bei Nanyan would reveal the past to Gu Yining—probably embellishing it with even more detail.

Bei Nanyan had always been someone who kept her word.

Bai Qingqiu closed the folder just as her phone chimed with a new message.

【Ning】: Are you able to come home now? There’s something I want to talk to you about.

She stared at the single plain line of text for a long time, dazed. A bitter taste welled up unbidden in her chest. So the day had come after all. The truth could never stay buried forever. Even if it wasn’t Bei Nanyan this time, Gu Yining would have learned it eventually.

But why did it have to be now—when she was carrying Gu Yining’s child?
________________________________________

The front door creaked open.

From the sofa, Gu Yining opened her eyes and looked toward the entryway. As expected, it was Bai Qingqiu.

The warm yellow light inside the house fell over her, making her seem even thinner than she already was. In recent days, Bai Qingqiu’s stomach troubles had left her visibly frail.

Before Gu Yining could let herself soften, the image from Bei Nanyan’s video surged up in her mind: Bai Qingqiu, smiling sweetly and bashfully in an apron, cooking for Bei Nanyan.

【“Bei Nanyan!”】

That voice—both familiar and unfamiliar—echoed in the shaky, low-quality video. The tone was playful, coquettish, brimming with the sugary delight of someone in love.

It was a side of Bai Qingqiu she had never seen before—and never would, not with her.

The thought forced a heavy breath from Gu Yining, her calm façade close to breaking.

“You’re back?”

Her words sounded the same as on countless nights when she had sat waiting in the living room for her to return.

“Mm.”

Bai Qingqiu nodded. Her face was pale, her steps unsteady as she came closer. Gu Yining forced herself to look away, fixing her gaze on the vase of fresh flowers on the table instead.

The sofa dipped beside her—Bai Qingqiu had sat down. A faint, elegant scent of magnolia drifted toward her.

Her Alpha body responded instinctively, warmth rising within her.

Gu Yining closed her eyes in pain, clenching her fists tight.

She hated this involuntary reaction.

“The ex you dated back in college—it was Bei Nanyan, wasn’t it?” she asked.

“…Yes.”

Bai Qingqiu’s voice was soft. She reached over, covering Gu Yining’s hand with her own, her grip light and tentative.

Her hand was shockingly cold.

Gu Yining turned to look at her—and froze. Bai Qingqiu’s eyes were wet, shimmering with unshed tears. She stared in disbelief.

Was this really Bai Qingqiu—the woman who only ever showed weakness when drunk?

Suddenly, Gu Yining no longer wanted to hear the answer.

Even now, she couldn’t resist her. The racing of her own heart betrayed everything—she was still, irreparably, tied to Bai Qingqiu.

She pulled her hand free, searching those tear-bright eyes as if trying to see straight through her.

“I don’t care how many relationships you had before me. That’s the past. I just need to know one thing.” Her voice trembled despite her best efforts to hold steady. “Am I just a stand-in? A substitute for Bei Nanyan?”

“…”

Bai Qingqiu’s silence landed like a hammer, striking Gu Yining’s heart with brutal force. Her throat tightened; her eyes grew red.

“You told me you wouldn’t lie to me,” she rasped, pushing further.

If Bai Qingqiu lied this time, maybe she could still lie to herself a little longer—at least until Bai Qingqiu’s illness eased, until she could calm down and cleanly sever herself from this love.

No matter what, with Bai Qingqiu’s health as fragile as it was, she knew she would be left with guilt she could never quite shake.

Gu Yining said nothing more, holding her breath as she waited for an answer.

At last, Bai Qingqiu spoke—softly, cruelly, tearing away the last shred of dignity between them, mocking her helpless hope.

“Yes. You’re very much like her.”

The final blow.