The Reborn Scummy A and the Sickly O Got Together - Chapter 19

A butterfly flapped its wings, triggering a storm in the Amazon rainforest across the ocean.

An offhand remark about a recent infectious disease outbreak at the dinner table was overheard by the maid. Coinciding with the damp seasonal transition of summer, Bai Feng developed eczema. All these factors combined into this rather absurd misunderstanding.

And then there was Luo Mingyue, who, having been reborn, would never allow Miss Feng to remain ill without intervention.

When coincidences link together one after another like this, it almost forces one to believe that fate truly exists.

Luo Mingyue understood clearly had this misunderstanding occurred in her previous life, rather than considering Miss Feng’s discomfort and need for bed rest, she would have chosen to call an ambulance to send Miss Feng to the hospital.

In her past life, she would have prioritized the risk of her relatives being infected over Miss Feng’s feelings.

What she didn’t expect was that the conclusion of this misunderstanding was far from over, and the subsequent events it triggered were even more troublesome than she had imagined.

First, her grandmother learned of the incident.

No matter how trivial the matter at home, even just arguing with Lu Ping once: “You should read more books and learn to respect every gender. The differences between individuals are greater than those between genders.”

Everything would be reported to the head of the Lu family.

By now, dusk was approaching. The fading light of the setting sun struggled through the window behind the aging female alpha.

The room was unlit. When Luo Mingyue entered the study, her grandmother’s stern face, no longer youthful, was half-illuminated in the twilight at the boundary of light and shadow.

The passage of time had not softened her grandmother with any elderly gentleness, every wrinkle on her face was etched with severity and dominance.

Luo Mingyue turned on the light and stood before her grandmother with lowered eyes.

“What books have you been reading lately?” her grandmother asked casually, like any ordinary elder concerned about their descendant.

Naturally, Luo Mingyue couldn’t remember what she had been reading at that age, how could she recall such details from eight years ago?

Her grandmother continued, “Reading about gender equality among the three sexes? Mainstream ideology advocates for gender equality, and I agree with that.”

“For instance, your criticism of Lu Ping, I also think some of his words were inappropriate and could be used against him.”

Luo Mingyue realized that her words had all been reported to her grandmother. There had been no servants present at the time, so who could it have been?

It was likely Lu Jia. Upon reflection, someone so adept at pretense and social climbing wouldn’t pass up the chance to ingratiate herself with the Lu family’s matriarch.

But she wouldn’t be surprised if Lu Ping, that fool, had tattled himself.

“However, mainstream ideology is just that, mainstream,” the female alpha said leisurely. “Mingyue, as an alpha, I hope you understand clearly. Pay lip service to the right things, maintain the correct general direction.”

“But in your heart, you must know that alphas, betas, and omegas are fundamentally different. We are born to lead them.”

“And don’t let such arguments damage familial bonds.”

Praise first, then point out your mistakes, this classic tactic of building up before tearing down had become her grandmother’s standard approach every time.

Every time she thought she might finally receive praise, what she got in the end was instruction laced with criticism.

Looking back on her past life, she truly couldn’t recall a single instance of pure praise, it was always, “You did well in this aspect,” followed inevitably by the word “but,” shifting the tone back to criticism and lecturing.

She had heard that leaders should know how to balance discipline with rewards when dealing with subordinates. But her grandmother did the opposite, first offering a sweet date, then delivering a slap.

“It was just a casual conversation. I didn’t mean to argue with Eldest Brother,” she replied to her grandmother in a tone tinged with frustration. “Who has nothing better to do than report such trivial matters to you?”

She raised her head, her gaze as gentle and harmless as ever, while the older woman across the desk studied her intently.

Her grandmother didn’t reveal who had been so meddlesome, decisively changing the subject instead: “This time, taking care of Bai Ming and stopping Lu Ping and the others from sending her to the hospital, you did very well. It was the right call.”

“Miss Bai is our family’s guest. It was only natural to take good care of her. Besides, I’ve had eczema before, so I recognized it easily.”

“So, it was just what anyone would have done.”

“I always reward and punish fairly. You handled this situation excellently, so I’ve had my secretary transfer some money to your bank account as spending money.” Under the bright lights, the stern older woman finally offered a smile that bordered on warmth.

At that moment, Luo Mingyue found it hard to describe her feelings. So, her grandmother was capable of praising her purely, without undermining her confidence and dignity.

Yet, in that same instant, she couldn’t help but feel that the alpha woman’s smile was no different from tossing a couple of bones to a dog at her feet, just a casual gesture when in a good mood.

“Thank you, Grandmother, but I shouldn’t accept this money. I was only doing what anyone would do.”

She needed the money, of course, but she couldn’t openly show delight and accept it as easily as Lu Ping and the others would have.

“Good child, when it’s given to you, you take it. You should know better than to refuse an elder’s gift.” The woman scrutinized her from head to toe.

It seemed she had noticed that Luo Mingyue was now eighteen, grown into a product with undeniably commendable packaging.

“Besides, in the future, you should spend more time with Bai Ming. As an alpha, you can’t let an omega lady pay when you’re out together, can you?”

“But Miss Bai and I aren’t close. At most, we just… spent one night together because of the situation. Our personalities don’t really mesh either.”

A wave of nausea rose in Luo Mingyue’s stomach. So, this was the real goal all along. How strange in her past life, she hadn’t seen any issue with her grandmother pushing Lu Ping to pursue Miss Bai.

Alphas and omegas were, after all, the genders meant for romance and marriage. But now, reborn, she realized that someone as remarkable as Miss Bai shouldn’t be pursued just because the other party was an alpha.

Lu Ping wasn’t worthy and neither was she, a weak alpha like herself.

Putting on a look of unease, she lowered her voice anxiously. “Besides, Miss Bai isn’t like other omegas. I always feel… uncomfortable around her.”

“You’re an alpha,” the female alpha’s tone turned stern. “Don’t speak like this. Even if your personality is too gentle and weak, you still stand above omegas.”

“Remember my words.” The elder rubbed her head and chuckled. “Go get along well with Feng Baiming. Don’t hesitate to spend that 100,000 yuan, we don’t want outsiders thinking the Lu family is poor.”

At this point, there was no room for negotiation. The older female alpha’s tone wasn’t just impatient, it was an indisputable command.

Luo Mingyue had no choice but to comply obediently: “If Miss Feng needs me, I’ll certainly get along well with her.”

“As an alpha, you should take the initiative yourself,” the female alpha said, displeased. Only after the young girl left the study did she wearily massage her temples…

If only Lu Ping had been more capable, she wouldn’t have had to place her hopes on such an incompetent, cowardly granddaughter.

At dinner, everyone gathered together. Feng Baiming’s parents, who were out of town, called via video after learning their daughter had developed a fever and eczema. They first thanked every member of the Lu family in turn.

Then they directed the phone toward Luo Mingyue, and this time, the two adults’ gratitude was far more sincere and earnest.

After hanging up, Feng Baiming dressed in a long-sleeved shirt, spoke indifferently, merely repeating a polite “thank you” to Luo Mingyue.

Lu Ping and the others didn’t tease them, but Lu Jia spoke up: “Mingyue-jie is always this kind to everyone. When I was sick as a child, she took care of me all night too.”

Only then did Feng Baiming spare another glance at the delicate-looking female omega. Her tone was neutral, betraying no emotion: “Oh, really? Your sister sounds like a very kind person.”

The grandmother shot Lu Jia a subtle look. “Our Mingyue is indeed the most dutiful sister to her younger cousins. She always cares deeply for family, but it’s rare for her to be this good to outsiders.”

“What happened between you two is fate. From now on, you’ll have one more friend,” the elder female alpha said smoothly, smiling. “Besides, you’re close in age, you should cherish this bond.”

Feng Baiming looked at Luo Mingyue. “Yes, we’ll be friends from now on. My mother also said we should properly thank Miss Luo.”

This made the elder female alpha’s smile grow even more genuine. After dinner, before the Lu matriarch could say anything else, Feng Baiming extended an invitation: “Miss Luo, your handwriting is beautiful. I’d like to ask a small favor.”

Under her grandmother’s gaze, Luo Mingyue had no choice but to agree. She didn’t yet have the ability to break away from the Lu family, nor could she defy her grandmother’s decisions.

Back in the first-floor master bedroom, Feng Baiming pulled out a chair at the desk for her to sit and handed her a fountain pen:

“Could you transcribe this English passage into Chinese for me? The slender gold script on your bookmark was lovely, but standard script would be better for this text.”

Luo Mingyue just wanted to end this interaction with Feng Baiming as quickly as possible. After caring for her all night, she had already decided in her heart that this would be the last time they’d ever be so intimate.

She had unilaterally drawn a conclusion to whatever future possibilities might exist between them.

Feng Baiming then opened her phone, pulled up a note, and showed Luo Mingyue the Chinese version of the English passage.

The man had already written down that most classic Chinese translation version on the horizontal lines of her graduation project draft, faithfully following the English original:

What can I offer you to keep you?

I give you desolate streets, desperate sunsets, the moon of barren suburbs.
I give you the sorrow of a man who has gazed too long at the lonely moon.

I give you the loyalty of one who’s never had faith.

I give you the memory of a yellow rose seen on an evening many years before your birth.

The strokes were firm and elegant, yet the neat regular script seemed tinged with the same pale melancholy as these words.

As the final stroke landed, Feng Baiming froze: “You’ve read this before?”

Luo Mingyue nodded: “I’ve read many of Borges’ poems and essays. Personally, I consider him the most talented poet of the past century.”

“Do you read anyone else’s poetry?” Feng Baiming grew interested. “Ancient or modern, Chinese or foreign, do you have any recommended collections?”

Luo Mingyue couldn’t help but mention several modern poets. This is how people are when someone shows genuine interest in your passions, the floodgates of conversation open.

She spoke of Haizi, but added: “Sensitivity is an innate curse. Without such a sensitive, melancholic temperament, he wouldn’t have taken his own life. Yet without that natural sensitivity, he couldn’t have written such poetry.”

“Every great poet carries humanity’s deepest emotions and most profound sorrows.”

Luo Mingyue sighed: “‘Facing the sea, with spring blossoms…’ Those with hearts too tender always get wounded by this world.”

“I’m sorry, I’ve been rambling nonsense.”

Luo Mingyue suddenly clamped her mouth shut, only to find Miss Feng quietly watching her with rapt attention throughout her enthusiastic monologue.

Not a trace of impatience showed in her expression. The night breeze drifted through the screen window, and those dark eyes seemed to soften with a maiden’s tenderness.

Feng Baiming suddenly looked away awkwardly, but spoke with earnest sincerity:

“Your words show remarkable insight, so don’t disparage yourself like that. If what you said was nonsense, then your so-called cousin should feel ashamed of every word he’s ever uttered.”

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