The Crematorium of the Top Omega Chasing After Alpha - Chapter 29.1

Since the unpleasant disagreement that night, the relationship between Ming Yu and Song Qingpei had frozen over.

Although Ming Yu felt remorseful inside, her strong sense of pride made it impossible for her to continue bowing her head in apology under Song Qingpei’s humiliation.

Song Qingpei, on the other hand, grew even more aloof, as if mechanically carrying out her duties. Each time she finished comforting Ming Yu, she would leave without hesitation, not even sparing her an extra glance.

Song Qingpei’s indifference left Ming Yu feeling an unprecedented sense of defeat. She couldn’t help but wonder if she was truly so unworthy that Song Qingpei wouldn’t grant her even a trace of warmth.

Amid this torment, Ming Yu found herself paying even more attention to Song Qingpei. A voice in her heart began to whisper, perhaps she should take the initiative after all, she was the one who had hurt Song Qingpei first.

Another morning arrived, sunlight streaming through the gaps in the curtains into the room.

Ming Yu descended the stairs, dressed in a crisp black military uniform with gold trim. Her waist was slender, her legs long, and her expression stern, though a hint of weariness lingered in her eyes.

Song Qingpei was already seated at the dining table with Song Song, breakfast laid out before them.

Ming Yu glanced at Song Qingpei, her lips twitching slightly as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, she sat down in silence.

The two sat facing each other, neither speaking a word.

The only sound at the table was the crisp clinking of cutlery, the atmosphere so stifling it was suffocating.

Song Song picked up her spoon, ready to eat, but soon sensed something amiss today, her mom and mama weren’t talking again.

She scrunched up her little face, her gaze shifting back and forth between the two, and finally couldn’t resist asking, “Mom, Mama, are you two fighting?”

Song Qingpei and Ming Yu both froze for a moment before simultaneously denying it: “No.”

Song Song clearly didn’t believe them. She pouted, displeased, and said, “You’re lying! You’re not talking at all, you must be fighting!”

Song Qingpei set down her chopsticks, gently ruffled Song Song’s hair, and said softly, “Song Song, don’t overthink it. Mom and Mama aren’t fighting. We’re just a bit busy today, so we haven’t talked much.”

Ming Yu forced a faint smile but remained silent.

Song Song looked at Song Qingpei, then at Ming Yu, her little face filled with confusion and dissatisfaction.

She muttered, “You’re so childish, fighting and not even admitting it.”

Song Qingpei was left speechless by her daughter’s words, unsure how to respond.

She sighed helplessly and urged, “Alright, Song Song, hurry up and eat. Mom will take you to school in a bit.”

Though still somewhat reluctant, Song Song obediently lowered her head and began to eat.

As she ate, she occasionally glanced up at Song Qingpei and Ming Yu. So annoying, how can I get Mom and Mama to make up?

At the table, Ming Yu tried several times to apologize.

But each time her gaze met Song Qingpei’s, Song Qingpei would subtly look away, as if deliberately avoiding her. A sense of indescribable defeat welled up in Ming Yu’s heart.

Gritting her teeth, she swallowed the words that had reached the tip of her tongue.

And so, breakfast ended once again in silence.

Song Qingpei stood up, picked up Song Song’s backpack, and said softly, “Song Song, let’s go. Mom will take you to school.”

Song Song nodded, hopped down from the chair, and ran to Ming Yu’s side. Tilting her little face upward, she said, “Mommy, I’m leaving now. You have to be good, okay? Don’t argue with Mama anymore.”

Ming Yu crouched down and gently hugged Song Song, her voice slightly hoarse. “Alright, Song Song, you have to be good too. Listen to your teacher.”

Song Song nodded vigorously, then let go and ran to Song Qingpei’s side. Taking her hand, she followed her out of the house.

Ming Yu watched as Song Qingpei and Song Song’s figures gradually disappeared from view, and a sudden wave of irritation washed over her.

She abruptly stood up, grabbed her coat, and strode out of the house.

She hadn’t finished her breakfast, nor had she even taken a sip of water. Filled with anger, she drove straight to the military headquarters.

Along the way, images of Song Qingpei’s cold gaze, mocking tone, and resolute departure flashed through Ming Yu’s mind like sharp thorns, piercing deeply into her heart.

She wanted to apologize, to explain, but every time she faced Song Qingpei’s indifference, she found herself at a loss for words.

Upon arriving at the military headquarters, Ming Yu headed directly to her office.

Her expression was stern, her eyes carrying a suppressed fury. Those around her, seeing her in such a state, quickly stepped aside, afraid to provoke her.

Ming Yu sat at her desk, picked up a document, and tried to focus on her work.

Yet, Song Qingpei’s image kept resurfacing in her mind, and her inner turmoil only grew stronger.

She slammed the document onto the desk, stood up, and walked to the window, taking a deep breath.

“Calm down!” Ming Yu muttered to herself, pressing her fingers against her temples as if trying to force the chaotic thoughts from her mind.

She knew this was not the time to be distracted by personal matters. The preparations for the advanced military academy had reached a critical stage, and any negligence could undo all their progress.

Forcing herself to sit back down, she opened the document on her desk. Her eyes fell on the newly approved list of candidates, where the names “Lin Qi” and “Jiang Ze” stood out prominently.

A faint, satisfied smile tugged at the corners of Ming Yu’s lips. These two were Zhan Hansheng’s right-hand men, and she was certain this would infuriate her. But she didn’t care.

In this game of power, she had to win.

Just as her anger began to subside slightly, the office door was suddenly flung open with a loud bang.

Ming Yu looked up to see Zhan Hansheng storming in, her face livid and eyes blazing with fury.

“Ming Yu! How dare you actually transfer Lin Qi and Jiang Ze?!” Zhan Hansheng snapped, her voice trembling with rage.

Ming Yu, however, remained unusually calm. She slowly closed the document in her hands, lifted her head, and met Zhan Hansheng’s gaze with a cold, detached tone. “General Zhan, this is an official military appointment. Do you have any objections?”

Zhan Hansheng, further provoked by her indifferent attitude, ground out through clenched teeth, “Ming Yu, don’t think I don’t know what you’re up to! Lin Qi and Jiang Ze are my people. By what right are you transferring them?!”

Ming Yu raised a delicate eyebrow, a mocking smile curling at the corner of her lips. “General Zhan, military appointments are made based on capability and necessity, not personal connections. Lin Qi and Jiang Ze possess indispensable skills for the preparatory work at the Advanced Military Academy. Their reassignment is for the greater good.”

“The greater good?” Zhan Hansheng sneered, her eyes filled with scorn. “Ming Yu, spare me the sanctimonious talk! Do you think I don’t know you’re trying to weaken my influence? This is nothing but a personal vendetta disguised as official business!”

Ming Yu’s expression remained unperturbed. She rose slowly, placing her hands on the desk as she met Zhan Hansheng’s gaze, her tone firm and unwavering. “General Zhan, if you have objections to the appointments, you may file a complaint with Marshal Lin. Until then, I expect you to respect the military’s decision.”

Zhan Hansheng was momentarily silenced, her face darkening further. She gritted her teeth, struggling to suppress her fury, and spoke in a slightly softer tone. “Ming Yu, there’s no need for us to escalate this conflict. You can have Lin Qi, but you must leave Jiang Ze with me.”

Ming Yu shook her head. “The appointments have already been issued and cannot be altered. If you have grievances, take them up with Marshal Lin.”

Zhan Hansheng’s face turned ashen. She slammed her hand on the desk, her voice sharp with rage. “Ming Yu, don’t push your luck! Do you think just because you have the marshal’s backing, you can do as you please? Mark my words, this isn’t over!”

Ming Yu remained entirely unmoved by her outburst. Seated calmly in her chair, she replied indifferently, “General Zhan, if there’s nothing else, please leave. I have work to attend to.”

Infuriated by Ming Yu’s unyielding attitude, Zhan Hansheng spun around and stormed toward the door. Before exiting, she spat out a final threat, “Just you wait, Ming Yu!”

As the office door slammed shut, Ming Yu’s expression remained as placid as still water. Leaning back in her chair, she absently tapped her fingers on the desk, her mind drifting once again to the image of Song Qingpei.

For some inexplicable reason, even in the face of Zhan Hansheng’s provocations, she could remain perfectly composed. Yet, every time she encountered Song Qingpei, she lost her rationality, becoming someone she no longer recognized.

Ming Yu let out a deep sigh and murmured under her breath, “Song Qingpei.”

She shook her head, trying to banish the chaotic thoughts from her mind and refocus on her work. But no matter how hard she tried, Song Qingpei’s presence lingered stubbornly. To make matters worse, the familiar, restless heat began to stir within her once more.

Her heat cycle had returned.

Though she was accustomed to this periodic torment, each episode remained unbearable. Ming Yu’s body trembled slightly, a fine sheen of sweat forming on her forehead. Her grip on the pen tightened until her hand shook from the strain. Without hesitation, she retrieved a blood-based suppressant from her drawer and injected it directly into her gland.

As the liquid entered her system, the scorching sensation gradually subsided, and her breathing steadied. Ming Yu closed her eyes, leaning back in her chair as she felt the inner turmoil slowly recede.

She knew this was only a temporary relief, the torment of her heat cycle would persist for several more days. But she had no time to dwell on it now.

The establishment of the advanced military academy was imminent, and the military department’s workload had piled up like a mountain. She needed to handle these matters as quickly as possible.

Ming Yu straightened her posture once more, tossing the blood reagent aside and diving back into her work.

At noon, the office door was gently knocked.

Ming Yu looked up and said, “Come in.”

Song Xihan pushed the door open, her face wearing its usual gentle smile.

She casually closed the door, walked over to Ming Yu’s desk, placed her hands on the surface, and leaned forward slightly, her tone carrying a hint of teasing. “I saw Zhan Nansheng storming off earlier, her face so dark it looked like she was ready to kill. What did you do to her this time?”

Ming Yu lifted her gaze, her expression still calm, though a faint trace of fatigue lingered in her eyes.

She closed the file in her hand and replied indifferently, “Nothing much. I just transferred her right-hand men over.”

Song Xihan raised an eyebrow, a flicker of surprise in her eyes before she chuckled. “You really are ruthless. Lin Qi and Jiang Ze are her most capable aides. With one move, you’ve stripped her of her strongest supporters, no wonder she was fuming.”

Ming Yu didn’t respond, merely curling the corners of her lips into a faint smile.

Her gaze drifted to the documents on the desk, seemingly distracted.

Noticing her unusual demeanor, Song Xihan softened her smile and walked closer, asking softly, “What’s wrong? You seem preoccupied.”

Ming Yu remained silent for a moment, her fingers unconsciously tapping the desk as if weighing her words.

After a long pause, she looked up, a hint of hesitation in her eyes. “Xihan, how is your relationship with Murong Ruixue?”

Song Xihan was taken aback, clearly not expecting Ming Yu to bring up Murong Ruixue so suddenly.

She blinked, a little puzzled. “Why are you suddenly interested in Murong Ruixue?”

Ming Yu’s expression turned slightly awkward. She lowered her head, her fingers lightly tracing the edge of the file on the desk, her voice dropping a little. “It’s nothing, just a casual question.”

Song Xihan studied her for a few seconds before her eyes lit up with understanding, a meaningful smile curling her lips. “Oh, I see. This is about Song Qingpei, isn’t it?”

Ming Yu stiffened slightly, instinctively raising a hand to touch the corner of her lips, as if trying to hide her discomfort.

However, the gesture only drew Song Xihan’s attention to the faint bite mark near her mouth.

Song Xihan’s eyes instantly sparkled, as if she had stumbled upon something amusing, her tone laced with teasing. “Tsk, tsk, looks like things got pretty intense last night? Even left a mark.”

Ming Yu’s brow furrowed, a trace of irritation in her voice. “Xihan, stop talking nonsense!”

Unfazed, Song Xihan only smiled more meaningfully. “Nonsense? Then how do you explain that bite mark? Don’t tell me you accidentally bit yourself.”

Ming Yu’s expression darkened further. “It’s none of your business.”

Seeing this, Song Xihan quickly reined in her smile. “Alright, I’ll stop teasing you. But what exactly is going on between you and Song Qingpei?”

Ming Yu fell silent for a moment before murmuring softly, “She doesn’t like me, and she’s even less willing to mark me.”

Hearing this, Song Xihan was momentarily stunned.

She had always assumed that Ming Yu looked down on Song Qingpei, which was why only Song Song was acknowledged by the Ming family, while Song Qingpei was denied even a formal status. Little did she know, that wasn’t the case at all.

Instantly intrigued, she feigned concern and probed with gossipy curiosity, “How could that be? You two even have a child together. How could she refuse to mark you?”

Ming Yu let out a bitter laugh, her voice tinged with self-mockery. “What does having a child matter? I mean nothing to her. She feels nothing but disgust for me, no affection at all.”

Seeing her friend so tormented by love, Song Xihan was utterly stunned. In her memory, her friend had always been reserved and stoic, a ruthless force to be reckoned with never had she displayed such sentimental vulnerability. Her curiosity grew even stronger. Just who was this Song Qingpei? She made a mental note to get to know her properly someday.

Secretly amused by her friend’s predicament, Song Xihan outwardly expressed concern and pressed for details.

As she gradually pieced together the full story, she felt a wave of discomfort wash over her. Suddenly, she began to understand Song Qingpei’s perspective. This wasn’t a matter of the other party being formidable, it was Ming Yu who had acted inhumanely. If she had been subjected to such humiliation not retaliating would only be out of sheer restraint.

Yet, her friend had charged ahead recklessly. If she truly didn’t care, that would be one thing, but to later realize she still had feelings? What was that if not self-sabotage?

Song Xihan fell silent for a moment before sighing softly. “So, what are you planning to do? Just let things stay like this indefinitely?”

Ming Yu shook her head, her voice laced with helplessness. “I don’t know. I want her to mark me willingly, but I don’t know how to make her want to.”

Song Xihan looked at her, silently lighting a metaphorical candle of sympathy.

“If it’s just about getting her to mark you willingly,” she mused, a mischievous grin suddenly spreading across her face. “Actually, I have a distant cousin who’s quite skilled at handling these kinds of situations.”

Ming Yu turned to her, a hint of skepticism in her eyes. “Your cousin?”

Song Xihan blinked, her smile growing even more mysterious. “Once we’re done here, I’ll take you to meet her. She’s an ‘expert’ in this field.”

Ming Yu frowned, clearly only half-convinced. “What are you talking about?”

But Song Xihan offered no further explanation, simply patting her shoulder and saying with a laugh, “You’ll see when the time comes. For now, let’s focus on the military academy matters.”

Though still puzzled, Ming Yu didn’t press further since Song Xihan seemed unwilling to elaborate.

She settled back into her chair, picked up the documents on the desk, and redirected her attention to work. Song Xihan sat on the nearby sofa, flipping through her own files and occasionally looking up to exchange a few words with Ming Yu.

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