The Crematorium of the Top Omega Chasing After Alpha - Chapter 35.1

Song Qingpei was truly at her wit’s end. Fuming, she turned and went back into the villa.

Song Song was sitting on the living room sofa. Seeing her mother storm in, she asked with concern, “Mom, what’s wrong?”

Song Qingpei walked over, sat down beside her daughter, and gently picked her up. The faint milky scent on Song Song’s body calmed her slightly. She forced a smile and said, “It’s nothing. Mom is just a little angry.”

“Mom, did you and Mommy have another fight?” Song Song looked up with her little face and asked.

Song Qingpei was taken aback. “How did you know?”

“Because Mommy looked really upset when she left this morning,” Song Song whispered. “She also told me to keep an eye on you and not let you go out. She said it’s dangerous outside.”

Hearing this from her daughter, Song Qingpei grew even angrier.

What danger outside? She’s even lying to a child now. Ming Yu really has no shame left.

Song Qingpei was so furious she cursed Ming Yu a hundred times in her heart.

Just then, the doorbell suddenly rang.

Song Qingpei got up to answer the door and was stunned to see who it was.

“Ming Rui, what brings you here?” Song Qingpei asked in surprise.

Ming Rui peeked into the room and lowered her voice. “I heard Cousin won’t let you go out, so I came to check on you.”

Song Qingpei let out a bitter laugh. “You’re quite well-informed.”

Ming Rui chuckled awkwardly and went over to chat with Song Song, occasionally glancing at Song Qingpei with a hesitant expression.

Seeing this, Song Qingpei thought Ming Rui had been sent by Ming Yu to persuade her. Deciding to strike first, she vented about all the unscrupulous things Ming Yu had done and finally retorted, “Don’t you think it’s too much for a general to do something like this?”

Pulling her aside, Ming Rui whispered, “Cousin really went too far this time. But don’t be too angry, she just cares about you too much.”

“Cares about me?” Song Qingpei sneered. “Is this what you call caring? It’s clearly just control issues!”

“Ah, Cousin was raised very strictly by our grandmother since she was young. She doesn’t really know how to express her feelings.”

Ming Rui sighed. “Cousin wasn’t like this before. When she was little, she was soft, cute, and especially clingy with me. She cried so easily, always asking through her tears if I didn’t like her anymore. She was such a pitiful little thing.”

“But after our eldest cousin passed away in an accident, Cousin became the Ming family heir. Grandmother started disciplining her harshly, particularly disliking her gentle nature. She couldn’t stand to see her cry and even hired professionals to create a strict training plan for her. From then on, Cousin slowly changed into the cold, aloof General Ming Yu she is today. It’s such a pity, I still prefer the Cousin she used to be.”

Listening to Ming Rui’s words, Song Qingpei felt the description sounded more and more like the ‘Mengmeng’ she remembered.

Surprised, she exclaimed, “The Ming Yu you’re describing sounds exactly like Mengmeng.”

“Mengmeng?” Ming Rui looked puzzled.

Only then did Song Qingpei realize Ming Rui didn’t know about Mengmeng. She quickly explained, “Sorry, Mengmeng was the name Ming Yu used when she lost her memory.”

Hearing Song Qingpei mention Ming Yu’s amnesiac period, Ming Rui immediately grew curious and pressed for more details.

Song Qingpei didn’t think much of it and described “Mengmeng” as she remembered innocent, gentle, seemingly insecure, and particularly clingy toward her.

This was a stark contrast to the current Ming Yu, so much so that it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say she had become a completely different person.

The more Ming Rui listened, the more she felt something was off. The “Mengmeng” Song Qingpei described sounded exactly like the personality her cousin should have originally had. She couldn’t help but ask, “Don’t you think Cousin has been acting differently since she returned yesterday?”

Song Qingpei couldn’t resist complaining, “She’s definitely not the same, she’s downright unreasonable now.”

“Do you think it’s possible.” Ming Rui paused thoughtfully before tentatively suggesting, “that the way Cousin behaved after losing her memory is actually her true personality?”

Song Qingpei was taken aback but shook her head. “That can’t be, right? Amnesia is temporary. How could her post-amnesia self be her true nature?”

“No, I think there’s something wrong,” Ming Rui insisted, her tone firm. “I’ve felt this way since I was a child. Every time Cousin visited Dr. Gong, she’d come back like a different person. I didn’t understand it back then, but thinking about it now, Dr. Gong must be involved in some way.”

Hearing this, Song Qingpei’s mind churned with unease. She had never considered that Ming Yu’s personality changes might hide a deeper secret. After a moment of silence, she asked, “Then what do you think Dr. Gong did to Ming Yu?”

Ming Rui shook her head. “I’m not sure, but I suspect Dr. Gong might have subjected Cousin to some form of psychological intervention or even personality modification.”

“Personality modification?” Song Qingpei’s eyes widened in disbelief.

She had never imagined that Ming Yu’s coldness and dominance could be the result of human interference.

Seeing Song Qingpei’s shocked expression, Ming Rui’s tone grew serious. “That’s why I need your help. Let’s investigate this together and uncover the truth.”

Song Qingpei hesitated. “What can I do? Ming Yu doesn’t trust me.”

“You’re mistaken about that,” Ming Rui said with a confident smile. “Right now, you’re the person Cousin trusts the most at least during the time she lost her memory, she was completely open with you. You could try to gather some information from her, like what exactly happened during her visits to Dr. Gong.”

Song Qingpei frowned, her heart conflicted.

She genuinely wanted to know the truth, but her current relationship with Ming Yu was strained, to the point where they were practically in a cold war.

She sighed helplessly. “Ming Yu and I are in the middle of an argument right now. How could I possibly ask her such a personal question?”

Ming Rui fell silent for a moment before clenching her jaw, as if making a firm decision.

She explained, “Actually, Cousin asking you to resign was truly for your own good.”

Song Qingpei was taken aback and looked up at Ming Rui. “What do you mean?”

Ming Rui took a deep breath, her tone turning grave. “The truth is, Murong Ruixue is a member of the Black Iris rebel organization. She approached you with ulterior motives.”

“What?” Song Qingpei’s face instantly turned pale.

She couldn’t believe that the friend she had trusted all along was actually part of a rebel group.

Ming Rui pulled up a document on her light-brain and pointed it out to Song Qingpei. “This is the investigation warrant from the Bureau. See for yourself.”

As Song Qingpei read, her hands began to tremble.

Her heart sank to the pit of her stomach as she saw Murong Ruixue’s name clearly written on the investigation order, along with details of her background. It felt as if all her strength had been drained from her in an instant.

“How is this possible?” she murmured, her voice trembling.

Ming Rui sighed, a note of helplessness in her tone. “I know it’s hard to accept, but this is the truth. My cousin didn’t tell you because she’s too principled she didn’t want to leak any secrets. And she’s not very good at expressing herself either.”

Song Qingpei fell silent for a moment, her anger gradually fading, replaced by a deep sense of disappointment and powerlessness. She never imagined she had been kept in the dark all along, and had even ended up in a fierce conflict with Ming Yu over it.

“Why didn’t she tell me earlier?” Song Qingpei’s voice carried a trace of confusion.

Ming Rui shook her head. “That’s just how my cousin is. She always shoulders the responsibility herself and doesn’t want others to worry. She really asked you to resign to protect you.”

Song Qingpei took a deep breath, trying to calm her emotions.

She knew she had misunderstood Ming Yu, but she still found it difficult to accept such a forceful approach.

After a moment of silence, she said quietly, “I understand. I’ll try to get some information from Ming Yu.”

“Thank you,” Ming Rui nodded, then added cautiously, “But you must keep both matters confidential. Don’t tell anyone. I’m taking a risk by telling you this.”

Song Qingpei nodded, her heart heavy. She hadn’t expected to be dragged into such a complicated situation.

She looked at Ming Rui and asked softly, “So how do you plan to investigate Dr. Gong?”

Ming Rui smiled. “I already have some leads, but I need more evidence. Just help me get some key information from my cousin, and I’ll handle the rest.”

“Alright, I understand.”

Ming Rui stood up and patted Song Qingpei’s shoulder reassuringly. “Don’t overthink it. My cousin really does have your best interests at heart. Just remember that.”

Song Qingpei forced a faint smile. “I know.”

After Ming Rui left, Song Qingpei sat on the sofa, her emotions in turmoil.

Ming Rui’s words were like a thorn, piercing deep into her heart. She couldn’t believe that Murong Ruixue was actually connected to the Black Iris. How could Murong Ruixue her mentor and friend, who had always cared for her so deeply have deceived her with ulterior motives?

Just as her thoughts were in disarray, her phone suddenly rang.

She glanced down and saw Murong Ruixue’s name displayed on the screen.

Her finger hovered over the answer button for a moment before she finally pressed it.

“Qingpei, why didn’t you come to the company today?” Murong Ruixue’s voice on the other end was as gentle as ever, but with a hint of urgency.

Song Qingpei tightened her grip on the phone, her throat feeling dry. “I had something to take care of. I can’t make it for now.”

“Is something wrong?” Murong Ruixue sensed her unease immediately, her tone growing more concerned. “You don’t sound right. Are you feeling unwell?”

Song Qingpei bit her lip, her heart in turmoil.

She didn’t know what to say or whether she should say anything at all. Ming Rui’s warning echoed in her ears she couldn’t risk alerting anyone. Yet, faced with Murong Ruixue’s genuine concern, she found it impossible to remain completely composed.

“I might need to take a month off.” She finally spoke, her voice slightly hoarse.

“Leave?” Murong Ruixue’s voice noticeably rose. “Why the sudden request? Did something happen? Qingpei, don’t hide it from me. Whatever it is, we can solve it together.”

Song Qingpei took a deep breath, trying to keep her voice calm. “It’s nothing serious, just Ming Yu she’s a bit jealous. She thinks we’ve been getting too close and doesn’t want me to have any more contact with you.”

There was a brief silence on the other end of the line, followed by Murong Ruixue’s slightly resigned voice. “Why would General Ming Yu think that? We’re just ordinary friends. Making decisions for you like this is hardly respectful.”

Though her tone remained gentle, Song Qingpei, in her altered state of mind, detected a hint of probing and encouragement in her words.

She tightened her grip on the phone and said quietly, “I don’t want to clash with her either, so for now, I’ll just go along with her wishes.”

“Qingpei, you can’t give in so easily.” Murong Ruixue’s voice suddenly became urgent. “You’re an independent individual and shouldn’t be controlled by anyone. General Ming Yu’s actions clearly show she doesn’t trust you. You should talk to her properly and stand up for your rights.”

“I’ll think about it.” Song Qingpei replied indifferently. “But lately, I’ve been quite tired and could use some rest.”

“Qingpei, you.” Murong Ruixue seemed to want to say more but ultimately just sighed. “Alright, take some time to rest. If you need anything, feel free to contact me anytime.”

“Mm, thank you.” After saying this, Song Qingpei hung up.

She set down her phone, her heart filled with complexity.

Murong Ruixue’s reaction only confirmed her suspicions Ming Rui’s words were not baseless.

Murong Ruixue did have a problem, and she, it seemed, had already been drawn into a vast conspiracy.

At the same time, Murong Ruixue put down the phone, her expression instantly turning grim.

She quickly dialed another number.

“Li Man, something’s happened.” Her voice was low and hurried.

“What is it?”

“Song Qingpei didn’t come to the company today. She says she wants to take a month off.” Murong Ruixue tightened her grip on the phone, a note of anxiety in her tone. “She said it’s because Ming Yu is jealous and doesn’t want her to have any more contact with me.”

“What?” Li Man’s voice also rose sharply. “Why would she suddenly say that? Does she know something?”

“I don’t know. But her tone today was strange, as if she’s wary of me.”

“This is bad!” Li Man’s voice grew increasingly agitated. “We’re running out of time. If Song Qingpei doesn’t come to the company, our entire plan is ruined!”

“I know.”

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