The Reborn Scummy A and the Sickly O Got Together - Chapter 12

The Lu family had put considerable thought into welcoming Feng Baiming and her family of four for dinner. Rather than going overboard with extravagant dishes like whole roasted suckling pigs or an entire spread of chicken, duck, fish, and lamb which the head of the Lu family deemed lacking in refinement, the evening’s meal leaned toward a Western style.

Herb-crusted lamb chops, their bone ends wrapped in foil, were served alongside pre-cut steak and potato wedges, accompanied by seasonal roasted vegetables. Between every two dishes, small baskets of freshly baked buttered bread were placed.

As Luo Mingyue took her seat, a servant brought her a bowl of mushroom soup sprinkled with premium matsutake flakes.

Feng Baiming’s parents were both striking in appearance. The middle-aged couple smiled warmly at her, their expressions kind and amiable.

Mingyue gathered her composure, these were Miss Feng’s parents, after all and her smile carried a touch more sincerity.

Madame Feng immediately studied her a moment longer, her eyes brightening with delight, her expression tinged with pleasant surprise. “What a lovely child. How old are you this year?”

Just as Mingyue was about to answer obediently, a cool voice interjected, “She’s a year younger than Shaoyang, just eighteen, still a child.”

Madame Feng glanced at her eldest daughter, surprise flickering across her face.

Mingyue didn’t miss the reaction. Soon after, Madame Feng looked between her daughter and Mingyue, remarking, “You two seem quite close. Mingyue, A-Ming has a reserved personality, please be patient with this older sister of yours.”

Mingyue was baffled. Since when were she and Feng Baiming close?

She could only reply, “Of course. Besides, Miss Feng has a wonderful personality. Auntie Feng,  Miss Feng truly is a remarkable person.”

She spoke with absolute earnestness, her sincerity so palpable that those listening nearby each formed their own interpretations.

Naturally, a mother loved hearing praise for her child. Madame Feng immediately beamed, nudging her husband. “This child really knows how to speak. A-Ming has never made friends so quickly before.”

Feng’s father was a handsome, scholarly-looking middle-aged man. He and his wife had married and had children relatively late both were already in their thirties when their first child arrived.

And with their daughter being an omega, she was cherished all the more. By the time they worried whether they might have spoiled her too much, they saw that Feng Baiming had grown into a composed young woman, free of any spoiled or frivolous tendencies.

Coupled with her frequent minor health issues, they had always indulged her in every way.

Feng’s father not only adored but deeply admired his eldest daughter’s steady, unflappable nature.

With pride, he replied, “That’s no mere flattery, this young lady isn’t just being polite. She’s seeing right through to the essence.”

He then went on to recount how Feng Baiming had rescued small animals, mentioning the myna bird she had nursed back to health. He explained how, knowing the yellow-beaked bird’s unpleasant calls would make it unwelcome elsewhere, she had decided to keep it herself.

Instantly, regardless of their private thoughts, the Lu children at the table played along graciously, all praising Feng Baiming for her beauty and kindness.

The third Lu daughter chimed in with a smile, “Mingyue is my only child, I’ve often wished for another daughter like Baiming. After all, omegas are the sweetest, the true comforters of their parents.”

Old Madam Lu added weight to the cheerful atmosphere, smiling at the two Feng family adults: “Our family may not have much, but we’ve raised quite a few children. Yet someone as endearing as Bai Ming is truly the first. Looking at her makes me wish for such an outstanding granddaughter myself.”

Madam Feng and her husband quickly agreed, as Old Madam Lu was the elder after all.

The other children at the table seized every opportunity to chime in with compliments. Even Lu Jia, who had been keeping a low profile, found chances to say something nice.

Luo Mingyue lowered her head, while her mother shot her several glances, those disappointed glares sharp as knives. If not for the seating arrangement separating them, Third Miss Lu would have pinched her daughter’s waist to make her learn from Lu Ping’s example.

What Third Miss Lu didn’t know was that while Luo Mingyue appeared focused on her meal, her peripheral vision never left Feng Bai Ming. Thus she didn’t miss a single moment of Lu Ping preening like a peacock, his mouth running nonstop.

Lu Ping would take one bite then pause for ages, telling Miss Feng about his skydiving abroad and diving exploits in Sanya.

Though seven years younger than her cousin, Luo Mingyue understood Lu Ping perfectly, the man was utterly shallow. Thirty minutes of conversation revealed his empty-headed nature and lack of substance, with his greatest joy being ostentatious displays.

Having neither read nor contemplated anything meaningful, he could only boast about money and frivolous pleasures.

With ordinary omega or beta backgrounds, Lu Ping had no shortage of conquests. After boasting about extravagant experiences, he’d add: “Are you free next weekend? I’ll take you along.” Eight out of ten would shyly agree, and after gifting two luxury bags, he’d typically secure another girlfriend his two-digit count achieved through such tactics.

Truly, Lu Ping’s brain could only hold a handbag’s worth of thought and a small one at that.

Luo Mingyue half-rose, pretending to reach for bread while blocking half of Lu Ping’s view of Feng Bai Ming.

Just as Lu Ping mentioned this year’s new A-brand bag and prepared to offer one to Feng Bai Ming, his view obstructed, he had to pause.

Luo Mingyue smiled at Feng Bai Ming: “Miss Feng, could you pass me some bread?”

Having endured a stream of nonsense, Feng Bai Ming felt Lu Ping shared flies’ attributes, she longed to swat him flat with a flyswatter.

The suddenly magnified face and clear, gentle voice felt like celestial music, clearing her mind instantly.

Unlike their afternoon first meeting, those mesmerizing peach-blossom eyes now held misty drizzle, gazing at her tearfully.

That incomprehensible sorrow and grief.

It took Feng Bai Ming a moment before she covered her mouth in silent realization, this matched the eyes on the tombstone from those lengthy black-and-white funeral dreams.

And earlier, this person had spoken with childlike earnestness, stubbornly insisting she was a good person.

Feng Bai Ming thought: This young alpha is truly cunning. Her sister was right winning omegas’ favor must be Luo Mingyue’s habitual practice.

Now the young alpha looked over, eyelids slightly lowered, her still-babyish face with traces of childishness smiling gently.

Admittedly, she straddled that transitional phase between youth and young adulthood.

To Feng Bai Ming’s eyes, she carried a faint hint of youthful immaturity.

It wasn’t childish innocence, but the tender purity of a young girl brimming with collagen.

Feng Baiming’s slender, pale fingers picked up a buttered bread roll and handed it to the pretty little alpha. This time, the other party behaved properly, their fingertips not brushing against each other again.

Without waiting for Lu Ping, the male alpha, to start rambling about women’s handbags, Feng Baiming turned to Luo Mingyue, who had just taken her seat, and asked, “What illness do you have? Your hands were so cold this afternoon.”

Luo Mingyue froze.

Seeing her dumbfounded expression, her wide eyes turning her peach-blossom gaze perfectly round, Feng Baiming was reminded of the little golden retriever she had once rescued.

She couldn’t help but chuckle softly, fitting perfectly with Feng Shaoyang’s assessment of Luo Mingyue.

A central air conditioner, a warm-hearted alpha.

Wasn’t that just like the traits of a golden retriever? Whether it was their owner or a stranger, their temperament was overwhelmingly warm.

Feng Baiming would rather exchange a hundred words with this girl than listen to a single word of the male alpha’s chatter.

Lu Ping promptly picked up the interrupted conversation: “The new limited-edition bag from A-brand, only thirty released worldwide, I had a friend snag one for me.”

Feng Baiming thought to herself, What a tacky, tasteless thing Lu Ping is.

With a pointed tone, she replied, “I really like the gift you gave me. It’s not about the price, but the sentiment behind it. That line you wrote, I looked it up online. Did you come up with it yourself?”

Luo Mingyue shook her head, then nodded. “Not entirely. I’ve read a lot of poetry, so it’s just a patchwork of lines I’ve come across.”

Feng Baiming smiled brightly. “I love it.”

Not only was Luo Mingyue stunned, but even Lu Ping was momentarily dazzled. Feng Baiming was beautiful, yes, but hers was a cold, frost-like beauty not his type.

But this smile, Lu Ping nudged his cousin with his elbow. “This, this, what’s that phrase you bookish types use? Something about dust?”

Luo Mingyue’s face flushed. Feng Baiming had already composed her expression again. Softly, the girl replied, “It’s not ‘a pearl obscured by dust.'”

“Then what is it?” Feng Baiming leisurely scooped a spoonful of soup into her mouth.

Then she saw the girl suddenly look at her, warmth in her eyes, her voice clear and gentle as she said, “It’s ‘a single smile from a beauty brightens the humblest abode, like encountering the radiance of a pearl joy beyond measure.'”

Feng Baiming nodded silently, about to say she was flattered.

But Lu Ping, waggling his eyebrows, slung an arm around Luo Mingyue. “You bookworms really know how to talk! Bro’s gonna need you to write love letters for me when I chase girls later. After all, as they say, ‘keep the good stuff in the family,’ right?”

Luo Mingyue covered her face. Being part of the Lu family, she felt embarrassed by Lu Ping for the first time.

Feng Shaoyang, multitasking, chatting amiably with the elders while keeping an ear on her sister, thought to herself: Hah, bold, aren’t we? ‘Joy beyond measure’? Luo Mingyue even dares to flirt with my sister.

But her sister wasn’t just anyone.

Feng Shaoyang took a moment to glance over and whisper to Feng Baiming, “See? I told you this one’s a playgirl alpha. Countless omegas have fallen for her sweet talk.”

Feng Baiming touched her face, it felt slightly warm. She asked Feng Shaoyang, “Do I look flushed?”

Feng Shaoyang scrutinized her. “No? Your neck’s a little red, but your face is still pale. Are you hot?”

Feng Baiming sighed in relief.

Hot? Is my sister an idiot?

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