The Eldest Lady always wants to have a double O Relationship with her old enemy - Chapter 49

It was the winter solstice again.

In just ten days, Zhaozhao would come of age.

Shen Xianzhi stood in the courtyard, bundled in a thick down jacket. Snowflakes flew chaotically in the wind, landing on her jet-black lashes, and fell off with every blink.

This year, the snow in Rong City seemed lighter than last year, but the temperature was still low. Even dressed in so many layers, Shen Xianzhi could feel the cold deep in her bones.

The frequency of messages from the pinned contact on her phone had been gradually decreasing—from several messages a day at first to one every few days now, sometimes without any reply at all.

For most people, this kind of interaction would likely have caused them to give up, as indifference is a form of unspoken boundary in relationships.

But Shen Xianzhi, in this lifetime, still felt her heart burning with thoughts of her.

Suddenly, her phone vibrated. She quickly opened it, expecting a message from Tang Yanzhao, but it was Jiang Lan calling instead. She clicked to answer, and immediately heard Jiang Lan sobbing on the other end.

Jiang Lan, who wouldn’t even cry over a broken bone, was now inconsolable—something serious had happened.

Shen Xianzhi instinctively furrowed her brows. “What’s wrong?”

“Xingxing… she…” Jiang Lan’s words were choked by sobs.

Seeing this, Shen Xianzhi immediately sprang into action, signaling the driver and heading out.

“Take your time, tell me slowly—what happened?”

“She was taken to the hospital.”

“I’m coming right away.”

After receiving the hospital address, Shen Xianzhi hurried over and happened to meet Ye Tao at the entrance.

They didn’t exchange many words, only acknowledging each other before taking the elevator straight to the emergency room.

At that moment, Jiang Lan was curled up alone in a corner, holding her head in her hands, shoulders trembling under the harsh light, her quiet sobs echoing down the hallway.

The sound of their footsteps caught her attention. Jiang Lan looked up, her eyes red and swollen from crying for some time.

In times like this, appearances didn’t matter. Shen Xianzhi and Ye Tao squatted in front of her and asked in serious tones, “What happened?”

Jiang Lan, still sobbing, said, “I planned to go to the lantern market with Xingxing today, but just a short way from home, she suddenly collapsed—her breathing failed. They rushed her to the hospital, and she hasn’t come out yet.”

“Have her parents been notified?” Ye Tao asked.

“They’ve been contacted. They should be on their way.”

Shen Xianzhi and Ye Tao were about to help Jiang Lan up when a side door suddenly opened. Jiang Lan immediately sprang up but, having been squatting too long, wobbled and had to brace herself against the wall. Shen Xianzhi and Ye Tao helped her reach the doctor.

Jiang Lan, her voice hoarse and urgent, asked, “How is she?”

The doctor, wearing a mask and holding an A4 sheet, had the words “Critical Condition Notice” boldly written at the top.

“Her family? The patient is in critical condition. We need a family member to sign.”

“They’re… on their way,” Jiang Lan said, her chest rising and falling rapidly, unable to speak clearly.

Shen Xianzhi asked, “What happened to Fang Xing?”

“The patient has glandular lesions that have metastasized throughout the body. Her condition is severe—get her family here quickly,” the doctor said, unwilling to provide further explanation at this stage.

Jiang Lan trembled as she tried to reach for her phone. Ye Tao, seeing this, felt a sharp pain in her chest.

About a minute later, Fang Xing’s parents rushed in. After verifying their identities, the doctor had them sign the necessary documents.

Shen Xianzhi noticed the couple was well-dressed, obviously wealthy, yet their expressions were tense.

Jiang Lan’s body weakened; her breathing was labored. Shen Xianzhi focused her attention, helping Ye Tao settle Jiang Lan into a nearby chair.

“Xianzhi, Taozi, she’s going to be okay, right?”

“She’ll be fine, don’t worry,” Shen Xianzhi said, comforting her.

Ye Tao wiped the sweat and tears from Jiang Lan’s face.

“Jiang Lan, what exactly happened?”

Shen Xianzhi noticed the tone in Fang Xing’s mother’s voice and felt a surge of disgust but controlled herself out of politeness.

Jiang Lan recounted the same story to them.

Fang Xing’s mother snorted dismissively. “Impossible. Our Xingxing has always been healthy. How could she suddenly collapse and now be in critical condition? What did you do to her?”

Jiang Lan quickly shook her head. “I didn’t, I really didn’t!”

Fang Xing’s father joined in, berating her, “Don’t think just because you have the Jiang family behind you, we can’t deal with you. If you hadn’t tricked Xingxing and caused a rift, she wouldn’t have ended up like this!”

Overwhelmed, Jiang Lan’s limbs went numb, unable to respond.

“She hasn’t done anything yet, but her parents have already cursed her. Are you hoping she won’t make it?” Shen Xianzhi snapped, unable to tolerate her friend being berated.

“She’s our daughter! How could we curse her? Stop making things up!” Fang Xing’s father shouted.

“Then shut your mouth,” Shen Xianzhi said, face full of impatience.

“You…” Fang Xing’s father started, but Fang Xing’s mother pulled him aside and whispered something. The couple then moved to the chairs opposite.

Ye Tao sat next to Jiang Lan, supporting her, while Shen Xianzhi stayed by her other side, watching the emergency room lights flicker, then took out her phone. A message from Tang Yanzhao appeared at the top.

[Not sure]

This was in response to Shen Xianzhi’s message from yesterday: [Zhaozhao, when will you be back? I miss you.]

Shen Xianzhi typed: [Zhaozhao, are you free? I want to call you.]

[Okay]

Shen Xianzhi glanced at Jiang Lan and, passing her phone over Ye Tao, signaled she would step out to call. Ye Tao blinked in acknowledgment.

She moved to the end of the hallway, opened a window, and let the cold night wind blow through, clearing her anxious thoughts somewhat. She dialed, and the call connected immediately.

“Zhaozhao,” Shen Xianzhi said, voice muffled.

Tang Yanzhao instantly sensed her unease; their previous calls had always been joyful, so the contrast was stark.

“What happened?”

“Fang Xing was taken to the hospital. The doctor issued a critical condition notice. She hasn’t come out yet.”

“Why so sudden?”

Shen Xianzhi looked at the full moon through the clouds, which now partially hid its light, the world dimming slightly.

“Glandular lesions, metastasized throughout the body.”

“Lesions? Cancer?”

Shen Xianzhi shook her head silently.

“Her parents? Any history of illness? Family inheritance?”

“They immediately blamed Jiang Lan, saying she instigated Fang Xing to leave, causing conflict, and that Jiang Lan caused the glandular problem.”

“Fang Xing’s relationship with her parents has always been poor. And Jiang Lan mentioned her health wasn’t good as a child. Could it be related to past trauma? Or her injuries in Aus City?”

“Doctor hasn’t said yet.”

“Don’t worry,” Tang Yanzhao tried to comfort, but her words sounded weak.

Shen Xianzhi said nothing further.

Both fell silent, only their breaths mixing with the wind around the phone.

“Zhaozhao, I miss you,” Shen Xianzhi sighed and repeated what she had typed earlier.

Zhaozhao softly responded, “Mm.”

Though silent, they both knew the other was waiting by the phone.

The hallway echoed. Shen Xianzhi saw the doctor walk out, saying something to them. Jiang Lan clutched the doctor’s hand, nearly kneeling, begging, “Please, save her!”

Shen Xianzhi gripped her phone and ran forward, Ye Tao holding Jiang Lan in her arms.

“I’m sorry, we did our best,” the doctor said.

Hearing this, Shen Xianzhi felt her heart drop. “What exactly happened?”

The doctor’s gaze sharpened on the couple standing nearby.

Fang Xing’s parents denied everything: “What do you mean? How could we harm her? She’s our daughter!”

“Is that so? You know the truth,” the doctor said.

“Do you dare accuse us of murder?!” Fang Xing’s father shouted.

The doctor ignored them, turning to Shen Xianzhi and the others: “The patient’s glands are non-standard. Outwardly she appears as an alpha, but in fact, she is an omega.”

“What! Omega?” Jiang Lan asked, voice hoarse from crying.

“Yes, she’s an omega. But her sex was forcibly altered from a young age using sex-change genetic drugs. These drugs can alter the glands, making them appear alpha outwardly, with alpha pheromones, but without the full alpha function. Omegas cannot be soothed, heat cycles cannot be properly released, the body is repeatedly damaged until collapse. Side effects also damage internal organs, turning every day into a countdown for health.”

Jiang Lan’s eyes filled with blood. “It’s you!”

“No! We would never do this,” Fang Xing’s father’s eyes darted.

The doctor continued: “These drugs only work if given during the patient’s growth stage, typically ages 7 to 9.”

“So those two years she took off school were when this happened.”

“We did not! You’re framing us with the Jiang family!”

“Losing a child, and now accused of murder—what justice is left?”

The parents’ quarrel made everyone impatient.

They followed the doctor in to see Fang Xing one last time. Shen Xianzhi’s phone still on, she returned to the call.

“Zhaozhao, did you hear that?”

“Mm, I heard.”

“She’s their daughter! How could they do this?” Shen Xianzhi pounded the wall in anger.

“Alpha over Omega,” Tang Yanzhao calmly said four words.

Shen Xianzhi twitched her brows. “Why so calm? Do you know something?”

“Fang Xing’s childhood was frail. She took a two-year break in elementary school, consistent with what the doctor said. A few years later, they had a son, an Alpha, and Fang Xing received little attention. Even her two injuries were ignored. She was placed in the omega ward, not allowed to mix with alphas—if exposed, consequences could be catastrophic.”

“So you knew from the start?” Shen Xianzhi asked, eyes dark, voice low.

“No, until your call. I got a message from Hua yan during the last Aus City incident. When Fang Xing was injured at the nape, Hua yan detected abnormalities. Fang Xing, knowing she had no cure, asked Hua yan to keep it secret. It wasn’t revealed until now when you went to the hospital. The doctor’s words connected everything.”

Shen Xianzhi’s teeth clenched in fury. “How can parents be like this!”

“People are varied; so are parents,” Tang Yanzhao said calmly.

She then added, “Rest tonight, try not to think too much.”

“Okay.”

Though she said it, doing so was difficult.

A life that was vibrant yesterday now lay on a cold hospital bed, the heart no longer beating.

Life is unpredictable—tomorrow and accident, who knows which comes first.

Shen Xianzhi said for the third time, “Zhaozhao, I miss you.”

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