The Reborn Scummy A and the Sickly O Got Together - Chapter 22

Feng Baiming remained silent for a long moment before speaking hesitantly, “But she doesn’t seem like that kind of person.”

“What kind of person do you think she is?” her younger sister questioned sharply.

Since this was her closest sibling, Feng Baiming voiced her thoughts: “I think she’s a very gentle child, not like an adult. You know how it is in families like ours everyone we meet always looks at us with calculating eyes.”

“This is a child of the Feng family. I should befriend them, build connections. What benefits can this bring me? What advantages can I gain from this relationship in the future?”

Feng Shaoyang scratched her head over the phone. “Sis, you think too much about human nature. I don’t see anything wrong with it. Isn’t that just how people are? Beautiful people get preferential treatment, the wealthy easily obtain what they want. Human nature is like that, isn’t it some kind of social Darwinism? Admiring strength is human instinct, isn’t it?”

Feng Baiming: “That’s why I said Luo Mingyue seems like a child. You don’t see calculation in her eyes. She has a pure gaze.”

Feng Shaoyang sighed. “She’s no child. Don’t underestimate her. All alphas have instincts of aggression and possession. Sis, I advise you not to think she’s special.”

Feng Baiming pondered. “You might be right. Maybe it’s just because she hasn’t presented yet, so she hasn’t developed the bad habits typical of alphas.”

“Hey, I’m an alpha too, no need to be so blunt!”

After some playful banter, the sisters hung up. Only then did Feng Shaoyang remember what she had meant to say.

On second thought, she decided it probably wasn’t worth worrying about. When it came to her sister Feng Baiming, the kinder descriptions painted her as an unattainable flower on a high peak, untouched by worldly concerns naturally, she wouldn’t fall for ordinary mortals.

The less flattering assessments, however, suggested her sister was simply arrogant. As an omega, she disregarded society’s expectations for her secondary gender.

She didn’t care about others’ opinions, nor the countless voices around her trying to melt her down and pour her into the mold of what an omega “should” be.

Feng Shaoyang had once heard someone joke about her sister: “Your sister isn’t just an ice queen, as an omega, she’s downright bizarre. She actually says things like ‘Not marrying or having children in this lifetime is fine.’ Might as well focus on her career and contribute value to society.”

“What omega would say such things? She’s still young. When she needs a compatible alpha to get through her heats, she’ll understand that being a good wife and qualified mother is an omega’s greatest value to society.”

“As for work? Pursuing a career? Those are things alphas should do.”

Had the subject not been Feng Baiming, Feng Shaoyang might have brushed it off not agreeing, but not disagreeing either.

But when it came to her sister, she knew all too well about Feng Baiming’s academic excellence, her integrity, her decisiveness.

It was only then that Feng Shaoyang truly understood, one should never judge a person based on gender. She also realized that no matter how outstanding someone was, if they were an omega, most people would only see their gender.

Being an omega was a shackle; gender had alienated their very personhood.

Feng Baiming had once said something like this to her. Feng Shaoyang sighed, which was why she had forgotten to mention it over the phone:

Luo Mingyue was indeed a rare person who didn’t seem warped by gender expectations. But when you thought someone was different from others and in a positive way wasn’t that exactly how the beginning of affection took root?

Lu Le and Lu Xi were still arguing with Lu Ping. It was unclear why the three of them would quarrel over something like this.

But then again, they were spoiled heirs whose lives revolved around indulgence, what else would they argue about if not trivial matters? It wasn’t as if they’d ever fight over getting a math problem wrong.

Luo Mingyue lowered her eyelids. Now that would be the day the sun rose from the west after all, all three of them had hired exam proxies before.

For instance, their grandmother had originally planned to send them abroad for studies, since their grades in the country would only get them into mediocre universities. The proud matriarch of the Lu family was far from satisfied with such results.

Lu Ping had hired tutors to prepare for the IELTS since graduating high school. He’d gone through three teachers, even dating one of them, yet his best score so far was a measly 4.

Lu Xi and Lu Le had directly hired proxies. Unfortunately, they couldn’t keep their mouths shut, and soon their little social circle in the capital was buzzing with rumors about their cheating.

This wasn’t exactly “shameful” by their standards, wealthy kids hiring proxies for overseas exams wasn’t uncommon.

The problem was, the overseas proxy had taken their money and vanished. With the middleman safely abroad, Lu Xi and Lu Le had no way to track him down.

Right now, he was probably sitting at home counting his easy money, thinking how gullible and rich these Chinese kids were.

Feng Baiming and Luo Mingyue were separated by Lu Jia, who stood two steps away from Luo Mingyue.

She raised her phone toward Luo Mingyue.

The girl had already lowered her head. Her hair, much like her still-growing frame, had lengthened noticeably in just half a month her bangs nearly covered her eyes now, and the once-short strands had grown past her shoulders.

Dark, silky locks cascaded down, obscuring her delicate brows and soft cheeks, making her expression unreadable.

She sat there, looking like a child who was only half-listening to her siblings’ squabble, absorbed in her own world while their voices served as background noise.

Lu Jia had been waiting for the right moment to interject, but Lu Ping and the Lu sisters were too heated, leaving no opening.

“Send me Luo Mingyue’s contact.”

The voice, cool and distinctive, cut through the air. Though Lu Jia had always admired Feng Baiming’s voice and sought her favor, the request still made her heart skip a beat.

Seeing the stunned look on the girl beside her, Feng Baiming added, “Please. Thank you.”

But the other girl didn’t move, just stared at her blankly.

“You don’t have Luo Mingyue’s contact?” Feng Baiming was genuinely surprised.

Lu Jia unconsciously twisted her hands together: “Of course there is, Miss Feng. You want Mingyue’s contact info? Didn’t you two exchange contacts before?”

Feng Baiming replied, “I forgot. Only recently did I remember we should connect.”

“You could just scan her QR code in person,” Lu Jia suggested with a careful smile. “Almost all the omegas at our school have Mingyue’s contact info, she never refuses anyone. Even many betas adore her and have added her as a friend.”

“If I were sitting right next to her now,” Feng Baiming frowned involuntarily, “and she wasn’t looking down at her phone, I wouldn’t need to ask you for a referral.”

Feng Baiming was no fool. Since childhood, she’d encountered all sorts of flattery and the kind of assessing gazes that made her feel like a piece of meat. After genetic testing confirmed she was an omega and she underwent differentiation, she became even more aware of humanity’s darker aspects.

Lu Jia was too naive, Feng Baiming thought. Did she dislike Luo Mingyue? Or was she actually fond of her?

“If you’re unwilling, then forget it,” Feng Baiming answered sincerely. Young girls’ feelings were always poetic, it really wasn’t appropriate for her to get Mingyue’s contact through Lu Jia, as the girl might overthink it.

“I’ll send it to you,” Lu Jia said weakly, pulling out her phone to share Luo Mingyue’s contact card with Feng Baiming.

“Thank you. I appreciate it.”

“No need to thank me.” Lu Jia smiled amiably, but her slender fingers gripping the phone tightened unconsciously.

Meanwhile, Luo Mingyue was still contemplating the key figures who would appear at the upcoming banquet when Lu Ping suddenly declared, “What theme should this banquet have? Surely you’re not planning it without consulting Miss Feng?”

Mingyue immediately snapped out of her thoughts, instinctively looking toward the alpha male who’d spoken. The three siblings finally remembered their guest of honor was still sitting right there.

Belatedly realizing their oversight, they grew slightly awkward. Lu Ping flashed what Mingyue recognized as his standard, self-satisfied pickup grin: “Let’s have our guest of honor, Miss Feng, decide the theme.”

Lu Xi and Lu Le promptly flanked Feng Baiming, with Xi unceremoniously shoving Lu Jia aside as the twins claimed the seats next to their prized guest.

Watching the delicate girl get pushed aside, Mingyue discreetly pretended to stretch as she stood up. Rubbing her shoulder gently, she said, “I just remembered something I need to attend to. I’ll head back to my room now.”

Feng Baiming listened indifferently as the twins enthusiastically suggested, “A pool party would be perfect for young people! You’d love it, Sister Baiming. We can go shopping for swimsuits later.”

Halfway out the door, Mingyue found herself picturing Feng Baiming in a bikini, the pale-skinned young woman who clearly avoided the sun. Her complexion was almost translucently fair from health reasons. Though composed and restrained, her exposed hands and feet revealed soft, delicate skin. The image of her in just a bikini.

“Miss Feng has only recently recovered from illness,” Mingyue said firmly, turning back to address the twins. “I think a pool party would be highly inappropriate.”

Lu Le retorted, “What’s inappropriate about it? It’s midsummer, and the capital’s sweltering.”

Luo Mingyue’s gaze pierced through her slightly long bangs as she raised her voice again, “Please consider Miss Feng’s situation more carefully. Don’t forget it’s only because of Miss Feng that Grandmother allowed this banquet to be held at our home.”

Lu Le instinctively avoided Luo Mingyue’s direct stare, suddenly becoming aware of the subtle pressure an alpha exerts on an omega. Only then did it occur to her that Luo Mingyue was indeed an alpha.

But her anger quickly flared up again, “What exactly do you mean by that?”

Luo Mingyue turned to Feng Baiming, softening her tone, “An indoor venue would be more appropriate. It’s too hot outside, and a pool party might risk catching a chill.”

Lu Xi hurriedly chimed in, “Sister, Mingyue has a point. Besides, there’ll be plenty of pool parties in the capital these coming months. There’s no need to insist on hosting one at our own home.”

“How could it be the same?” Lu Le still refused to concede.

“Don’t forget Grandmother dislikes anything too unconventional,” Lu Ping interjected coolly. “If she asks whose idea this was, I won’t hesitate to name you both.”

In the end, the lingering authority of the Lu family matriarch prevailed. Though absent, her formidable reputation alone was enough to make Lu Le back down.

The banquet was ultimately settled as an indoor classical theme, with the venue decorated in an antique style. A long table would be set up in the living room, with floor-to-ceiling windows opening onto the expansive lawn outside.

Throughout the discussion, Feng Baiming remained silent, only offering Luo Mingyue a quiet “thank you” at the end.

But with Lu Le and the others making such a commotion, Feng assumed her gratitude had gone unheard amidst the noise. It wasn’t until the young alpha, who seemed to have grown taller again, left the living room that Feng turned to gaze at Miss Feng sitting in the distance.

In her heart, Luo Mingyue responded, “It’s my duty.” She repeatedly reminded herself not to pay too much attention to Feng Baiming, nor to extend those kindnesses that always seemed to be misinterpreted.

Because she still didn’t know, what had she done or said in her past life? Which words or actions had made Feng Baiming develop feelings for her?

So this time around, she resolved not to do anything for Miss Feng’s sake, not to say anything that might show concern for her.

To eliminate all possibilities by cutting them off at the root through distance, this, she believed, was the best thing she could do for Miss Feng.

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