The Omega Who Canceled the Engagement Ended Up Falling for Me - Chapter 9

“I’m not very familiar with this area. Please pick a restaurant; it’s my treat,” Fu Shuang said politely as she walked slowly ahead.

Xu Qing looked at her heavy, awkward gait caused by her injury and couldn’t imagine how such a frail girl had managed to carry all those large bags on the subway. She never wanted to experience the rush hour congestion again in her life, let alone while carrying so much luggage.

In that moment, heartache took precedence, and Xu Qing couldn’t be bothered to argue about the girl suddenly bringing a cat along. She chose a “hole-in-the-wall” eatery she had never visited before and ordered the cheapest bowl of noodles.

“Are you sure this is all you want?” Fu Shuang frowned at the menu, wondering if an eight-yuan bowl of vegetable noodles was even edible. The place looked unhygienic; the greasy table made it impossible for her to find an appetite.

Today was the first day of her internship, the first day of her new life. She had returned on the subway tired, sleepy, and hungry. After a hard day’s work, shouldn’t she at least have a decent meal?

“A bowl of noodles is enough for me,” Xu Qing said. “It’s not easy for you to earn money; you should save where you can.”

Fu Shuang looked at the menu gloomily and followed suit, ordering the cheapest bowl of noodles.

Despite being faint with hunger, Fu Shuang had no interest in the noodles served to her and finished after only two bites. She had never eaten anything so unpalatable in her life. If this was to be her “new normal,” she found it truly difficult to accept.

An internship earned 120 yuan a day—would it really be too much to spend 20 yuan on a bowl of noodles with meat?

The more she thought about it, the sadder she became. Her eyes grew red, and a tear dropped “splat” into the bland broth.

Xu Qing, who was slurping her noodles, was startled by the sight. She dropped her chopsticks, wanting to hand her a napkin, only to realize the small restaurant didn’t even provide them. She got up to ask the owner, who tore off a piece of oil-stained paper from a roll of low-quality toilet paper.

Xu Qing stood speechless for a moment. She didn’t have the heart to hand over a dirty piece of paper, so she said to Fu Shuang, “Wait for me, I’ll go buy some tissues next door.”

“I have tissues in my bag, I’ll get them myself,” Fu Shuang hurriedly reached for her handbag and wiped her tears. “I’m sorry, I’ve ruined your mood. I’m really sorry.”

“I’m the one who’s sorry… I picked the wrong place. Let’s stop eating and go. I’ll take you somewhere else,” Xu Qing suggested.

Knowing the Omega sister was struggling financially, she had intentionally chosen a cheap restaurant to save her money, but she hadn’t expected to hit such a nerve.

“It’s okay, let’s just go back. Koala has been in the bag for a long time and needs to come out for some air.” Through the small glass window of the cat carrier, Fu Shuang teased the little animal inside.

Seeing her mood improve, Xu Qing felt relieved and chuckled, “Koala? You named the cat Koala?”

Fu Shuang: “There’s also a younger sister named Panda, but unfortunately, I couldn’t bring her out.”

“That’s interesting. Is Panda a cow cat?” Xu Qing smiled at her as they walked.

“How did you know?” Fu Shuang laughed out loud. “You must watch a lot of cat videos.”

Xu Qing: “Yeah, I watch them when I’m bored. Cow cats always look a bit strange. Does yours look like a panda?”

“Exactly like one.” When Fu Shuang smiled, the corners of her mouth turned up only slightly, looking reserved and sweet, her eyes like gems. She walked very slowly, so Xu Qing wore the cat carrier on her front and walked backward to face her while they talked.

“Did you go back to pack today? Were you caught?” Xu Qing asked.

“These were things I left at a friend’s house, just some temporary daily necessities,” Fu Shuang smiled shyly. “I stay at her place sometimes, but she lives with her family, so it’s not very convenient.”

Xu Qing nodded in understanding.

Fu Shuang looked her over and asked, “Sister, why aren’t you riding your motorcycle today?”

Xu Qing: “Work. It’s not very convenient to ride.”

Fu Shuang frowned, probing further, “Why isn’t it convenient?”

Xu Qing said expressionlessly, “It’s dangerous, I can’t carry passengers, and I’ll get caught by the traffic police.”

Fu Shuang said, “I hate traffic police.”

Xu Qing: “That’s just their job.”

Fu Shuang didn’t discuss it further but gave Xu Qing a meaningful look and asked, “Sister, what time did you leave last night? Where did you stay?”

Just as Xu Qing was wondering how to answer, Ms. Min’s call buzzed in. This was the fourth time she had called within an hour. Xu Qing used one hand to hit mute on her watch.

As they entered the elevator, the phone rang again. Xu Qing simply took it out and turned it off.

Fu Shuang said softly, “You can take the call, don’t worry about me.”

Xu Qing smiled, “Who answers the boss’s call after work?”

Fu Shuang’s expression stiffened slightly, and she was instantly filled with respect for Xu Qing. That’s right, this is how an adult should be. Why answer the boss after work?

Fu Shuang secretly resolved to be like that in the future.

The door opened, and the apartment looked exactly as it had the night before. Xu Qing set down her bag and opened the carrier to let Koala out. It was an adult British Shorthair blue cat, solid grey, with a somewhat silly look that did indeed bear a resemblance to a koala hanging in a tree.

“You won’t be angry with me for bringing a cat without permission, will you?” Fu Shuang bit her lip, looking apologetic. “Koala is like family to me. I couldn’t abandon him.”

Xu Qing remained silent, contemplating. At first, she had indeed been quite repelled by Lu Lu’s actions, feeling she was taking things a bit too far. Bringing a cat home today—would she bring a boyfriend home tomorrow? Xu Qing knew nothing of her circumstances. What if she wasn’t a “proper” girl and was just using her?

After a long silence, Xu Qing spoke, “Indeed, you should have told me earlier so I could be mentally prepared. Isn’t raising a cat a lot of trouble? You have to prepare this and that. Can you manage?”

Fu Shuang smiled sweetly, “I have plenty of experience!”

Seeing such a sweet smile, Xu Qing couldn’t bring herself to say anything reproachful. She simply asked, “Cat litter and things—have you prepared them?”

“I haven’t had time yet… today was so busy,” Fu Shuang looked down. “I’m really sorry I couldn’t notify you during the day.”

Xu Qing said, “It’s okay, these are small things.”

Fu Shuang let out a huge sigh of relief. Just as she was about to sit down and rest, she saw Koala crawl under the sofa.

Xu Qing crouched down to look at the cat. Seeing the little guy huddling in the corner without moving, she asked Fu Shuang, “Why won’t he come out? Should we leave him alone?”

“Leave him be. He’s in a new environment and needs time to adjust,” Fu Shuang said, rubbing her aching foot.

Xu Qing said, “There’s medicine for bruises and sprains in the first-aid kit. I’ll get it for you.”

“Thank you, sister. You’ve really helped me a lot.”

Fu Shuang’s smile was like brilliant ice crystals—so fragile they seemed like they would shatter at a touch. But ice crystals could also be weapons; if someone crossed her, she would make them pay even if she broke herself in the process.

Xu Qing handed her the spray. She watched as Fu Shuang removed her shoes and socks, revealing a patch of bruising and swelling on her right instep.

“I found a job. It’s very far from here and the pay is low, but I don’t have a degree right now, so I can only do that kind of work,” Fu Shuang said as she applied the medicine, narrating her story with a mix of truth and lies. “Once my work stabilizes and my stepfather stops harassing me, I’ll move out and won’t trouble you anymore.”

Xu Qing froze for a moment before saying, “Isn’t it good living here?”

“Of course it’s good, but this is your house after all, and I can’t afford such expensive rent,” Fu Shuang bit her lip and looked shyly at Xu Qing. “I’ll handle my affairs as quickly as possible and won’t be a burden to you.”

“There’s no need,” Xu Qing said. “You can stay here as long as you want. No one knows you’re here, and no one will kick you out. I don’t mind you having a cat, or even a dog, as long as you don’t bring people over.”

Fu Shuang reacted with exaggerated panic, waving her hands and whispering, “I won’t bring anyone… I don’t have friends like that…”

Finally, Xu Qing had obtained the important information she wanted. Satisfied, she gestured to the door. “Come here, let me record your fingerprint.”

Fu Shuang followed and recorded her print according to the instructions. The skin on the back of her hand was fair and delicate, her fingers long and symmetrical, her nails clean and coated with a thin layer of reflective protective polish. It was clear she usually took great care of herself, though she couldn’t avoid the nicks and scrapes of labor; there were small cuts at the webbing of her thumb and on her ring finger.

A pitiful, delicate Omega. To this day, Xu Qing harbored an incomprehensible fascination for this species.

“I’ll be leaving after I grab some things. Will you be okay living here alone?”

Xu Qing stood with her hands crossed in front of her, looking at her steadily.

Fu Shuang kept her head down, her lips moving as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.

Xu Qing said, “Tell me if there’s anything else you’re unclear on. I won’t disturb you while you’re living here.”

Xu Qing had lived alone for years abroad and was used to her own company. Having another person in the room made her quite uncomfortable. Putting herself in the other’s shoes, she assumed a young Omega wouldn’t want to live with her and would constantly be on guard—how distressing that would be.

Fu Shuang was, of course, happy to live alone.

But after these two days of observation, she had also seen the character of this Alpha sister. If she had bad intentions, last night would have been the perfect opportunity; she could have made a move while Fu Shuang was asleep, and Fu Shuang wouldn’t have had a chance to resist. But she hadn’t. Instead, she had thoughtfully covered her with a blanket and left her number.

Therefore, this was a kind, generous Alpha of excellent character—someone Fu Shuang could temporarily rely on.

She could help Fu Shuang move things, accompany her to meals, fix things when they broke, and take care of her if she got sick. In short… she was a rare “Tool Alpha,” and Fu Shuang had no intention of letting her go.

Take the cat incident—Fu Shuang had intended to test her reaction. She hadn’t expected the Alpha sister to be so indifferent, without even a word of scolding.

Fu Shuang wanted to cling to her for warmth. Despite her calculated thoughts, she didn’t let any of it show on her face. She kept her head down, looking dejected.

The more Xu Qing looked at her, the more pity she felt. She couldn’t help but pat her shoulder. “Well? Say something.”

Fu Shuang’s emotions suddenly surged. She grabbed Xu Qing’s arm before she could pull it away, clutching it to her chest, and said pitifully, “Sister, don’t go. I’m… I’m scared to be alone…”

Xu Qing’s breath hitched.

The other girl was too close; her chest was pressed against Xu Qing’s arm. That warmth enveloped Xu Qing, making her involuntarily recall the sight she had glimpsed last night.

Omegas had unique constitutions; regardless of gender, they were naturally sensual and charming. Though sensitive and fragile, they possessed the ideal constitution for pregnancy and were an indispensable part of social progression. It was precisely because their reproductive value far exceeded the labor value they could create for society that, as society evolved, the vast majority of Omegas were fully protected throughout their upbringing. They couldn’t attend boarding schools or work in certain industries. Social values guided them toward becoming homemakers, encouraging them to sacrifice their own value for the sake of family and society.

Xu Qing hadn’t had much contact with Omegas growing up. She couldn’t imagine how a girl with such a thin waist could have a chest that looked larger than her hips. She couldn’t imagine what it would feel like to touch.

Xu Qing struggled to banish the indecent thoughts from her mind. Seeing the girl holding her hand and refusing to let go, with a pool of crystal tears in her eyes looking utterly miserable, she asked, her mind in a daze, “…What are you scared of?”

“I’m scared of ghosts, scared of the dark, I’m so scared to be alone,” Fu Shuang lowered her head and wiped her tears on Xu Qing’s sleeve. “Sister, don’t go. Stay and live here with me, okay?”

Even Xu Qing got scared sometimes living alone. In the dead of night, she would worry about something jumping out of the corners. If even an Alpha like her felt fear, how could a fragile Omega not be terrified?

Xu Qing wavered.

Before she could speak, the Omega sister hugged her and said, “Sister, I don’t dare live alone… what if my stepfather comes looking for me? He’ll kill Koala… he’ll throw him out the window…”

As she spoke, she began to cry passionately, making Xu Qing suspect that the scene she described had actually happened before.

“Nothing like that will happen,” Xu Qing swallowed, afraid the Omega would hear her frantic heartbeat. She pushed her away with difficulty. “Don’t worry. At most, I’ll stay with you for a few days until you’ve adjusted.”

“No, sister, this is your house. Don’t move out; stay and live here with me,” Fu Shuang resorted to acting spoiled. “I’m lonely by myself, I want someone to talk to. I’ll listen to you and won’t cause any trouble…”

Xu Qing simply couldn’t find a way to refuse her. She bit her lip and said, “Are all you Omegas like this?”

Fu Shuang blinked away her tears innocently, “What’s wrong with us?”

“Nothing.”

Xu Qing cleared her throat, thinking to herself: She’s simply too taxing.

Fu Shuang looked bewildered. Xu Qing patted her shoulder, “Let’s go. Let’s head downstairs and eat first. We didn’t eat well just now; we’ll find a good place now.”

Fu Shuang wrinkled her face and pleaded, “Sister! Promise me first.”

Xu Qing said gently, “I promise.”

Fu Shuang turned from sorrow to joy, hugging Xu Qing’s arm and practically jumping. “That’s great!”

Xu Qing pushed her away again and closed the door, leading the way. Thinking about living with an Omega she had just met, she felt truly apprehensive.

She didn’t have the heart to speak along the way, expressionlessly considering the precautions of living with an Omega. Fu Shuang, on the other hand, opened up quite a bit, proactively asking about her preferences. During dinner, she even put food on Xu Qing’s plate and suggested they cook at home in the future.

Cooking at home?

Xu Qing did have a few signature dishes, but because the food at her workplace was so good, she was usually too lazy to cook for herself. But if she had a roommate, she would be happy to cook. Watching the beautiful girl talk animatedly about how good she was at cooking, Xu Qing followed along with a few compliments, silently noting the girl’s preferences.

When it came time to pay, Xu Qing finally turned on her phone. Seeing the overwhelming amount of messages, her heart suddenly chilled, and her face turned pale.

“What’s wrong? What happened?” Fu Shuang noticed her change in expression and asked with concern.

“Something happened at home, I have to go back,” Xu Qing looked at the Omega girl with difficulty. “You’ll have to manage on your own tonight. Go back and lock the door. If anything happens, call me; I’ll get back to you as soon as I see it.”

She spoke very quickly; clearly, the matter at home was urgent. Fu Shuang murmured, “Sister… you just promised me.”

Xu Qing bit her lip, “I’m sorry…”

“It’s okay,” Fu Shuang gave a playful smile. “I was just joking. Since there’s an emergency at home, go quickly. I’ll wait for you to come back.”

Xu Qing gave her a serious look from top to bottom before finally saying only one thing: “Remember to call me.”

Fu Shuang nodded vigorously in agreement.