The Reborn Scummy A and the Sickly O Got Together - Chapter 10

Even as they entered the Lu residence and were ushered in by the servants, Feng Shaoyang couldn’t resist gossiping in a hushed tone, “Sis, Luo Mingyue is infamous at our school as a scumbag Alpha. That woman is practically a human central air conditioner her personality is flawless, always maintaining that ‘eternally good temper’ reputation. But here’s the thing: she might be gentle and attentive to you today, then turn around and treat another omega the exact same way tomorrow. She’s broken so many young omegas’ hearts!”

Feng Baiming offered a more objective view, “I wouldn’t necessarily call that being a scumbag. It’s more like…”

She recalled the term her sister had used on their way here, “She’s just… overly philanthropic.”

Feng Shaoyang scoffed, “Philanthropic my ass! That woman is pure trash. Countless omegas have had their hearts shattered by her. And what does she do? Just pats them on the back, drops a ‘It’s all my fault,’ and walks away. Isn’t that textbook scumbag Alpha behavior?”

Feng Baiming had little interest in the dramatic love affairs of teenagers. She was tempted to ask her sister if her vehement hatred stemmed from personal experience had Luo Mingyue played her too?

But they had already stepped through the Lu family’s gates. The adults from both families were occupied during the day, so only the younger generation was present for this initial meeting.

Leading the group was the Lu family’s eldest son, easily identifiable as the sole male alpha present. The remaining three girls each had their own distinct charm. Feng Baiming’s gaze swept over them, recognizing Lu Xi, Lu Le, and that distant relative’s illegitimate daughter, Lu Jia.

Knowing her sister’s aversion to socializing, Feng Shaoyang intercepted Lu Ping, who was approaching with starry-eyed enthusiasm. She threw an arm around his shoulders with exaggerated warmth, declaring, “Bro! I’ve heard so much about you, it’s an honor!”

Lu Ping looked puzzled, “What reputation do I have?”

Feng Shaoyang grinned, “Everyone in the capital knows how dashing and charismatic you are, Brother Lu! If our age gap weren’t so big, I’d have befriended you ages ago.”

Flattered beyond reason, Lu Ping forgot that Feng Shaoyang was six years his junior her words carried all the credibility of her tender age.

Meanwhile, Lu Xi and Lu Le moved to link arms with Miss Feng from either side.

But Feng Baiming’s formidable reputation preceded her.

Her perpetually icy demeanor, cultivated over years of restraint, made people wonder if she’d been born with that frosty expression. Her gaze swept over the approaching Lu sisters with their bright smiles, carrying a chill that could freeze flames.

The two sisters hesitated mid-step. Seizing the moment, Feng Baiming crossed her arms and gracefully followed behind Feng Shaoyang, who had already taken charge and ushered Lu Ping inside.

Lu Xi and Lu Le, being pampered young ladies themselves, recognized the lack of reciprocal interest. Exchanging a glance, they linked arms with each other instead, watching coldly as Lu Jia approached Feng Baiming.

Lu Jia spoke earnestly, wearing a perfectly harmless and amiable smile neither subservient nor arrogant. Feng Baiming remained impassive, not refusing conversation but offering only detached responses.

Upon entering the first-floor living room, they found it decorated with streamers and balloons. Gold foil lettering on the white wall spelled out “Welcome, Miss Feng.”

Regardless of the questionable aesthetic, Feng Baiming politely acknowledged the gesture. When Lu Ping approached again, she said courteously, “I’ll be imposing on your hospitality for some time.”

Truth be told, the fortune-teller who had orchestrated this arrangement did possess genuine skill.

In her childhood, Feng Baiming had once suffered a persistent high fever accompanied by convulsions. Hospitals couldn’t determine the cause, and no treatment could reduce her temperature.

The doctors were at their wits’ end when a senior monk visiting with his young acolyte approached them that day.

The monk spoke courteously and humbly, “Perhaps I can help. The young one has disturbed a passing spirit. Reciting the Rebirth Mantra to guide them onward should cure the illness.”

Her parents were speechless: “What nonsense is this? In this day and age, performing superstitious rituals in a hospital?”

Yet it was the doctor who persuaded them, “This is Master Kongming. There’s no harm in trying. Confucius taught us not to speak of supernatural forces, but some things deserve reverence even if we don’t believe.”

Out of respect for the doctor, her parents relented. The monk sat by her bedside, murmuring sutras as his fingers moved over prayer beads. His voice, warm and steady at first, suddenly grew ancient and distant…

By the time Feng Baiming’s convulsions ceased, the little girl’s complexion had visibly improved.

Her parents later touched their faces, realizing tears had welled up without their notice.

When they recounted this to Feng Baiming’s grandparents, the whole family became convinced: this monk was truly extraordinary.

Thus, when Kongming unexpectedly performed a divination during Feng Baiming’s annual mountain retreat, claiming this location’s excellent feng shui could alter her fortune and improve her constitution her grandparents and parents took it to heart. Without hesitation, they contacted the Lu family head and promptly shipped her off for this “fortune adjustment.”

“Utter superstition,” Feng Baiming silently remarked on the matter.

Lu Ping led his string of sisters forward one by one to present gifts.

In their Beijing social circle, gifts were always opened immediately. Feng Shaoyang, acting for his sister, found nothing unusual in the seasonal luxury items, three jewelry pieces and that season’s trendy C-brand bucket bag.

The Feng family nanny following behind Feng Baiming presented their prepared gifts: pure gold Buddhist amulets engraved with each recipient’s birthdate and the characters for “Long Life.” To avoid favoritism, every amulet was identical except for the dates.

The Lu children were visibly surprised by these welcoming gifts. Lu Ping commented frankly, “I’ve received gold gifts before, but never Buddhist amulets.”

Lu Xi and Lu Le also showed interest, with Xi tracing the engraved characters: “The meaning is quite lovely. Thank you, Baiming. This was very thoughtful.”

Feng Baiming maintained her perfunctory attitude: “As long as you like them.”

The nanny spoke up: “There should be one more young lady, no?”

Lu Ping explained, “Our youngest sister has a high fever and is resting indoors. You can give hers to me to deliver.”

“Sister Mingyue’s fever has broken,” came a soft, sweet voice right after Lu Ping’s words.

All eyes turned to Lu Jia. Among the gathered girls, this delicate-looking omega seemed to shrink slightly, realizing she’d spoken out of turn.

Feng Shaoyang smiled. “Speaking of Luo Mingyue, she was my junior in high school, one year below me. We didn’t interact much, just exchanged a few words. I was actually looking forward to seeing her.”

Feng Baiming shot her sister a sidelong glance.

Looking forward to what? Her pretty face?

The thought crossed her mind, the girl did have striking eyes. She wondered if the real person matched her photos.

Lu Jia glanced at Feng Shaoyang with a shy smile: “When I went to see Mingyue earlier, she was already out of bed, but for some reason didn’t want to come down to meet Miss Feng.”

“Just recovering from illness requires rest,” Feng Shaoyang said understandingly. “We’re not such important figures that she needs to come greet us.”

Lu Ping also spoke up, his words carrying hidden meaning: “Lu Jia, Mingyue has just gotten over her fever. Don’t make things difficult for her.”

Everyone present was sharp-witted, no true fools among them. Lu Ping’s words might as well have been a double entendre.

Lu Jia realized her intention to pressure Luo Mingyue had been too obvious, but when she cast pleading glances around, no one acknowledged her awkward distress.

Lu Xi led the way to show Feng Baiming the prepared room, the master bedroom on the first floor. As they reached the stairway landing, footsteps sounded above.

Feng Baiming happened to be at the stairwell when she heard the noise. Looking up, this would be her first lifetime encounter with Luo Mingyue. Had she retained memories, she’d have known,

This version bore no resemblance to the “prim and proper” woman from before.

In their previous life, their first meeting had also been today. But back then, Luo Mingyue had worn impeccable clothes, her long hair cascading over shoulders, offering a gentle smile with slightly lowered eyelids that obscured half the expression in her peach-blossom eyes.

Thus during that initial meeting, Feng Baiming hadn’t noticed she possessed such beautiful eyes.

Yet she’d agreed with her sister’s assessment, this alpha was far too much of a “central air conditioner.” Warming only one person could be called devotion; warming everyone simply invited disdain.

This lifetime’s first encounter featured a clearly unsteady girl bracing against the wall…

The uneven, shoulder-length black hair that looked like it had been chewed by a dog immediately drew attention.

Was this some new fashion trend?

The thought flashed through Feng Baiming’s mind before she dismissed it, suspecting Luo Mingyue had cut it herself.

Even quicker was the way this disheveled alpha girl hastened her steps, closing the distance between them in moments.

Displeasure rose in Feng Baiming.

The girl already stood half a head taller. Now paused on the higher step, she looked down at Feng Baiming in a blatantly superior stance.

Feng Baiming moved to leave, but meeting that pale, exquisite face, she realized photos couldn’t capture the real person’s captivating gaze.

These were peach-blossom eyes brimming with unspoken emotion.

As Luo Mingyute looked at her now, misty tears welling, a line Feng Baiming had once read surfaced in her mind:

When we meet again, how shall I greet thee?

With silence, or with tears.

“You…” Feng Baiming bit her tongue.

Are you about to cry? She barely swallowed the question.

“Miss Feng.” The pale, beautiful alpha girl addressed her.

Feng Baiming wasn’t surprised this Luo Mingyue recognized her. Nodding primly, she was about to politely inquire, “What happened to you? Hasn’t the fever broken yet?”

Then she noticed the bare feet on the floor. Feng Baiming frowned, but the girl seemed oblivious as she extended a bookmark tied with a red string.

This only deepened Feng Baiming’s confusion as she examined the palm-length, gilt-edged cardstock bookmark.

“I made this bookmark myself. The calligraphy is also mine,” the girl said softly. “It’s a gift for you.”

Feng Baiming was genuinely stunned.

She had never received such a shabby gift in her life. Or rather, could this even be called a gift?

The two alphas, Feng Shaoyang and Lu Ping, leaned in. Lu Ping spoke first: “Why did you come down? Your face is so pale, you should go back and rest.”

Feng Shaoyang nudged her with his shoulder: “A handmade gift, so thoughtful. I love things made with one’s own hands.”

Feng Baiming finally processed it. Just as she was about to say thank you, her hand reaching for the bookmark brushed against the girl’s fingers as their eyes met.

Feng Baiming thought: So cold. This person really doesn’t take care of herself.

Taking the bookmark, she found herself drawn to the girl’s eyes again, as if they held some kind of magic. Beauty is appreciated by all, she mused.

The girl was beautiful, with eyes more striking than any she had ever seen on another person.

Then suddenly, the girl looked down at her own feet and spoke haltingly: “Miss Feng, I… I was in such a hurry to see you that I forgot to wear shoes. How embarrassing…”

Feng Baiming shook her head. “It’s nothing. Be careful not to catch a cold.”

With that, the girl turned and fled, leaving behind only a flustered retreating figure.

Do I look like I’m going to eat her or something?

Feng Baiming was utterly baffled. For a fleeting moment, she thought of the cheesy urban dramas she occasionally glimpsed.

Only this time, she was cast as the domineering alpha, while Luo Mingyue, flustered and helpless before her played the pitiable omega.

Feng Shaoyang remarked, “This isn’t right. This isn’t the Luo Mingyue I know. Could she have a twin?”

Lu Ping was equally stunned. “Why would she cut her hair just because of a fever? There’s only one Luo Mingyue in our family, she doesn’t have a twin sister.”

Feng Baiming had initially found both the people and the gifts at the Lu family home today rather dull. Now, however, she marveled at the thought that life was full of surprises.

Running her fingers over the bookmark, she lowered her gaze to the words written on it. The calligraphy was in a slender gold style, executed with a fountain pen, its strokes already bearing a distinctive grace. In terms of artistry alone, it held more depth than any luxury item.

The other members of the Lu family gathered around.

Lu Jia quickly spoke up to salvage her image: “Mingyue-jie studied calligraphy under Master Chen Sheng and won first prize in a national competition.”

But few paid her any attention. Everyone followed Feng Baiming’s gaze and saw the three lines of vertical script clearly:

You are a jade figure descended from the highest heavens.

Untouched by the winds and dust of this world.

2012, Summer Solstice, For Miss Feng

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