My Omega Rival in Love [Interstellar] - Chapter 18

“Gu Jin, take your pick. Will you end your own life, or shall I send you on your way?” Rubbing his throbbing temples, Gu Ting felt that his original decision to send Gu Jin to Planet Rota had been the right one. Otherwise, he would likely be in a grave by now. He thanked Planet Rota for allowing him to live ten years longer.

Facing the furious Gu Ting, Gu Jin remained entirely unrepentant. “Then I choose to be stuffed to death. Bring on the food; I am not eating nutritional paste.”

Gu Ting was speechless.

“Go squat in the Capital Planet prison for a while first. Do not let me see you yet. Give your brother’s old life a break.” Waving his hand feebly, Gu Ting felt it was best not to look at Gu Jin right now.

Gu Jin, who had been largely indifferent, sat up straight. A soldier could be killed but not insulted. If word got out that she was thrown into prison the moment she returned to the Capital, it would sound far too disgraceful.

“Wait, brother. Do you not think it is a bit absurd to throw a newly appointed Border Grand Marshal into prison over a trivial matter of romantic sentiment? Besides, you will not be able to explain it to the citizens.”

Gu Ting slapped his forehead. Gu Jin had reminded him. “I recall that your previous incident, using a mecha in a non-mecha zone on the Capital Planet, has not been settled yet. Perfect. The punishment is fifteen days of detention. You go and reflect on your actions. When you get out, we will discuss how to handle this with the He family.”

Despite all her calculations, she had not accounted for this. Back when she was frantically looking for He Yu on Culture Street, she had briefly used a portable micro-mecha. She thought she had gotten away with it, but it had tripped her up here.

Crossing her legs, Gu Jin frowned as her clothes shifted back into her previous casual wear. “Actually, I think today’s events are suspicious. Think about it. How did the banquet hall’s light shield suddenly fail? I think someone is framing me.”

Seeing that acting shamelessly was not working, Gu Jin tried a different tactic, ignoring the mecha issue to focus on today’s incident.

“I will investigate it,” Gu Ting replied, his expression turning heavy. “And regarding the mecha issue from the Rota Defense War, I have uncovered something else. It is a grave matter, so we cannot act rashly. A big fish is about to surface.” Led away by Gu Jin’s change of topic, Gu Ting frowned and fell into deep thought.

Gu Jin turned serious. The previous investigation on Rota had pointed to Xiao Qing, a member of a branch of the Xiao family on Planet Philly. He had deceived his superiors, cut corners, embezzled funds, and later bribed the investigation team, causing the case to stall.

Publicly, the He family had already been cleared. Xiao Qing, the investigation team, and other involved parties had been apprehended. Logically, it should have been over.

“What else did you find?” Gu Jin looked at Gu Ting.

“Since the truth came out, the Xiao family has acted shocked, as if they were outsiders who knew nothing. They maintained an extremely apologetic attitude regarding the scandal within their family and immediately severed ties with Xiao Qing.” Gu Ting tapped the air, projecting the results of Gu Jin’s previous investigation. “It convinced us at first. After all, they are pillars of the Weize Empire. We only gave them a minor punishment. But the more I thought about it, the more I felt it was not that simple. I sent people to use some less than honorable methods to investigate secretly. It turns out there really is a problem.”

With a flick of his hand, the results transformed into a timeline. “The methods were shady, but the results are real. Look here. Xiao Qing’s contact with the Xiao family has always been clandestine. Furthermore, right before Xiao Qing was arrested, the two parties met once, though only briefly.”

“So I have been thinking. How could a mere mecha component manufacturing consultant have the power to swallow so much? It seems the Xiao family is inextricably linked to this.”

After listening to Gu Ting, Gu Jin scrutinized the timeline. Her face was uncharacteristically expressionless, and her eyes were half-lidded as the atmosphere around her grew oppressive.

Her lips tightened into a thin line as she leaned back in her chair. “The Xiao family.”

Regardless of the situation between Gu Jin and Gu Ting, He Yu was driving her aircraft toward her home at a normal speed. Her fingers gripped the control lever so tightly that her knuckles were white.

Unable to hold on any longer, He Yu switched to autopilot and moved her seat back. She covered her stomach with her hand, frowning deeply. She wondered what was going on. Her body had never failed her before, so why had she lost control twice in one night?

Engaging full speed, He Yu arrived at her doorstep a moment later. Without even putting away the aircraft, she rushed into the bathroom. Leaning against the sink, she began to retch uncontrollably.

After an unknown amount of time, He Yu looked up at her reflection. She was pale, and her eyes were red-rimmed and tearing up. She looked utterly haggard.

She splashed her face with water. At her gesture, the smart butler delivered a towel. Burying her face in the fabric, He Yu felt her strength leave her and slumped against the wall.

“Sister, are you back?” He Yi’s voice came from outside. He Yu hurriedly wiped her face, used the wall for support to stand up, draped the towel back on the robot, and walked out.

Forcing herself to stand straight, He Yu opened the door. He Yi was dressed in light green sportswear. He had clearly just returned from a workout, as he was still lightly sweating.

He Yi had returned to the Capital Planet a day ago. After finishing his handover procedures, he had been resting at home. He Yu now knew that her brother and the second Miss Tao had not seen each other since graduation. Those rumors about an engagement were complete nonsense.

He Yi did not like royal banquets, so he had stayed home. Seeing He Yu return, he came out from the adjacent practice room.

“Yes,” He Yu replied, nodding, though she still looked drained. She glanced at him. “Are Mom and Dad not back yet?”

“Not yet. Hey Sister, is that aircraft outside yours? I have been begging Mom and Dad for that model for ages and they would not give in. Sister, let me play with it for a bit?” Wearing a sincere smile, He Yi’s deep dimples made him look harmless as he leaned toward her to act cute.

However, before he could touch her, He Yu dodged to the side. She frowned, covering her nose. “Stay away from me. What is that stench?”

He Yi felt his self-esteem was wounded. He sniffed his arms. “Where do I smell? It is just a little sweat.”

“It is unbearable. Stay away, or I will throw up again.” He Yu retreated quickly, looking at the stunned He Yi. “Is it the smell of your pheromones? You just exercised vigorously, so it is probably diffusing with your sweat. Is your pheromone durian-scented? Why is it so foul?”

He Yi felt a heavy blow to his ego. “Sister, my pheromone is Sandalwood. It is one of the best-smelling, most gentle scents there is. You are calling it foul? Our sibling bond is officially broken.” He Yi sniffed the air, catching the faint, elegant scent of sandalwood. He could not understand how this could be unpleasant.

He Yu hesitated, lowering her hand to sniff tentatively. She immediately covered her nose again. “That is the smell. It is not that it is bad, but the moment I smell it, I want to vomit. He Yi, go wash that scent off right now and clean up this area. I am going to my room.”

The sound of the door slamming overlapped with her last word, leaving He Yi standing alone, questioning his entire existence.

Back in her room, He Yu collapsed onto her bed and let out a long breath, feeling slightly better. She wondered why she had this reaction. She had encountered sandalwood pheromones before and never had a negative reaction.

Clutching a pillow, her hand drifted unconsciously to her stomach, which still felt uncomfortable. She questioned if this was related to her sudden illness today.

Though she felt her health should not be an issue, she could not stop her mind from racing. Finally, she resignedly opened her terminal and booked a physical exam for half an hour later. Whatever it was, the exam would reveal it.

Sprawled uncharacteristically on the bed, He Yu began to replay the day’s events. Specifically, she thought of Gu Jin’s words: “I just like He Yu, is that a problem?”

She rolled over, biting her lip. Her heart was a mess, and even her pulse felt irregular.

“Impossible. Gu Jin must be messing around again.” Sitting up, He Yu tried to convince herself. They had been rivals for so many years; Gu Jin could like anyone else in the world, but not her.

She flopped back down. Despite her denial, she could not help but remember other things. She remembered the coat Gu Jin draped over her, that forceful yet warm embrace, the way Gu Jin had immediately swapped cold water for warm despite her annoyance, her later tolerance, her rare display of weakness, and that clear, steady heartbeat.

Finally, her thoughts settled on Gu Jin’s back as she stepped forward to take all the blame. Even though He Yu was the one who had vomited on her, Gu Jin claimed she had dragged He Yu into it. Faced with Diwu Lingmei’s aggression, Gu Jin had pinned every negative consequence on herself. Even at the end, she had not forgotten to send He Yu away first or keep her promise.

Feeling her heartbeat spinning out of control, He Yu stood up and paced the room, but it did not help. The temperature of her face was rising. Frustrated and embarrassed, she went into her private bathroom to wash her face.

Shaking the droplets from her skin, He Yu stared at the reflection of her flushed cheeks. Where was the cold, distant woman she usually was?

Cupping her face, she frowned in confusion. “Do I have a fever?”

Unable to look at herself, she turned off the mirror function, leaving only a blank wall, which made her feel slightly better.

Leaning against the wall in the narrow space, she inevitably thought of the time she spent with Gu Jin in that temporary bathroom. The warm water had filled the space with mist, and the stream of water flowed over them both before disappearing beneath their feet.

Gu Jin’s custom dark green military dress had clung to her body. Water flowed down her silver-white hair and over her delicate collarbones, darkening the fabric further. Droplets landed on her smooth forehead, slid past her silver-gray eyes, and dripped from the tip of her straight nose. Below that nose were her thin lips, reddened by the steam.

“He Yu, what are you thinking?” As her thoughts spiraled, she growled at herself. She clenched her fist and slammed it onto the sink. The brief pain finally blocked the imagery from her mind.

She grabbed a towel and wiped her face, her eyes blinking in panic. “I must be sick. Yes, I am definitely sick.”

Calming her emotions, she composed herself and checked the time. Her appointment was approaching.

After changing her clothes, He Yu went downstairs. He Yi was still holding a mop, looking as if he were questioning his life choices while obediently following his sister’s orders to clean.

“Sister,” He Yi said with a grievance, looking like a pitiful person.

Sensing that the air was fresh again, He Yu nodded in satisfaction. “I am going out. Do a good job cleaning.”

She knew He Yi was just acting miserable. There was nothing a smart butler could not handle, yet he was mopping by hand. She did not call him out and simply headed for the door.

Hearing she was leaving, He Yi’s eyes lit up. He threw the mop aside and ran to her side. “Sister, you are going out? Do you need a driver?”

He Yu saw the aircraft still parked outside and then looked at He Yi. She understood immediately.

“You can be the driver, but get your own aircraft out. This one is not mine; you cannot play with it.” She put the aircraft away into its storage ring and looked at her brother. She did not really want to use Gu Jin’s aircraft anyway, and a free driver was a bonus.

“What?” He Yi froze, then looked longingly at the ring in He Yu’s hand. “Sister, just let me try it. My aircraft has a license plate restriction today.”

“Restriction? Do not give me that. Hurry up, I am almost late for my appointment.” He Yu checked her terminal. Time was indeed tight.

“Hospital? Sister, what is wrong?” Hearing the destination, He Yi grew nervous. Indeed, her complexion had not looked great earlier.

He Yu did not want to worry the family. “It is nothing, just a routine check-up. You have three minutes. Hurry.”

“Oh, a check-up,” He Yi relaxed. “My aircraft will not make it there in three minutes. Sister, it is up to you.”

He Yu looked at the time and handed the ring to him. “This really is not mine. Be careful with it.”

“Got it! Just you watch, dear Sister!” He Yi caught the ring, tossed the aircraft into the air, and helped He Yu board.

Young men always seemed to have a special bond with machinery. Although He Yi had several aircraft of his own, he had no resistance to the latest models. He had nearly killed himself trying to buy one and failed.

Sitting excitedly in the pilot’s seat, He Yi started the engine. He noticed an extra black-and-gold button on the console. “Sister, this is not a royal aircraft, is it? This is the button to open the Royal Priority Lane!”

He Yu glanced at it and nodded. Gu Jin had pressed it earlier. “It is Gu Jin’s. Why are you talking so much? I am going to be late.”

“Right! Moving now!” Seeing her nod, He Yi pressed the button without hesitation, opened the Royal Lane, and engaged maximum speed.

Three seconds later, the Capital Planet Hospital appeared before them. “We are here?”

“What are you dazed for? Let us go.”

Putting the aircraft away, He Yu gave He Yi a smack on the back of his head, hopped onto a hover-disc, and headed straight for her appointment.

He Yi, still immersed in the experience of that extreme speed, followed her blankly. Compared to his previous generation aircraft, this was a leap into a new era.

Ignoring him, He Yu sat down across from the doctor right on time. She briefly explained her symptoms, and the doctor ordered specific tests.

Following instructions, He Yu stood inside a blue circle. The moment she stepped in, fluorescent light screens rose around her, and rows of data appeared before the doctor.

The process took only a few seconds. Feeling nothing, He Yu stepped out and looked at the doctor. “Doctor, is everything okay? Lately, I have felt my heart racing and a sensation like a fever.”

Looking at the data and then at He Yu, the doctor’s expression became complex and strange. “Miss He, according to the results, you are in excellent health.”

“Then what is with the symptoms?” He Yu felt relieved.

“As for the symptoms you mentioned, based on the results, they are likely caused by your pregnancy reaction. Ah, such an ancient term. Rarely anyone uses traditional gestation these days. I did not expect to encounter it. You are truly a great mother.” The doctor spoke with total sincerity. He Yu was utterly stunned.

“Wait, you mean I am pregnant?” Looking at the doctor in disbelief, He Yu’s voice trembled.

Beside her, He Yi was also struck dumb. He stared at He Yu. “Sister, who is my brother-in-law?”

He Yu felt like her world was ending. If the doctor had not reached out to support her, she might have collapsed.

“Doctor, are you sure there is no misdiagnosis?” Still unable to believe it, she asked again.

“How could I misdiagnose this? It is written clearly right here. The child is nearly three weeks old. Furthermore, based on your reactions, these are caused by a surge in dopamine secretion. This proves you should be in the honeymoon phase of a relationship.”

A thought flashed in the doctor’s mind. “Could it be that the person making you feel like you are in love is not the same person who fathered the child?”

The doctor scratched his thinning hair. “So, Miss He, do you wish to terminate the pregnancy?”

He Yu did not even hear the second half of the question. She leaned on the desk for support, shaking her head and then nodding. “It is the same person, but how is that possible?”

He Yi was completely lost. “Sister, what is going on?”

He Yu was currently a mess of tangled thoughts and could not answer him. Under the doctor’s worried gaze, she leaned on He Yi and walked out.

As they reached the door, the doctor remembered something important. “If you do not plan to terminate, please register with the child’s other biological relative as soon as possible. Since you have chosen traditional gestation, you will need regular check-ups to ensure the child’s health. Do not forget!”

He Yi helped a shaken He Yu into the aircraft. Seeing his sister in such a state, He Yi felt a pang of sympathy. “Sister, what is really happening? Whose child is it? Why did nobody tell me I have a brother-in-law?”

Pulled back to reality, He Yu took three deep breaths, forcing herself to accept the reality. She looked at He Yi. “Not a word of this to anyone. Not even Mom and Dad. Also, you do not have a brother-in-law. If you leak this, I will come back and dismantle you!”

He Yi was shocked but nodded obediently. However, keeping it a secret would not solve everything.

“Sister, do you not want the baby?” He Yi looked at her still-flat stomach.

He Yu was also pondering that very question. The child was Gu Jin’s; of that, she was absolutely certain. She could accept that an accident had happened, but she was not ready for that accident to last a lifetime.

Moreover, Gu Jin was royalty. If Gu Jin ever found out about this child, the royal family would never allow their bloodline to remain unclaimed.

“No, absolutely not! Gu Jin must never know!”

Support