The Reborn Scummy A and the Sickly O Got Together - Chapter 49

Luo Mingyue occasionally recalled fragments of her past life concerning Feng Baiming fleeting, trivial pieces that flashed through her dreams in the quiet of the night.

In the dream, the person’s profile was astonishingly beautiful, delicate as a porcelain doll.

Gazing at that face, she learned that Feng Baiming had never been with anyone before, prompting her to ask, for the first time, about her private affairs: “Many people pursue you, Miss Feng. Have none of them caught your interest?”

The dream faithfully recreated the scene from her past life. The beautiful yet aloof omega replied indifferently, “If every encounter is met with coldness and distance, few can persist beyond three attempts.”

Luo Mingyue understood. She said, “Then, if you ever meet someone you truly like, would you still be this distant?”

Without waiting for Feng Baiming’s answer, she curved her eyes into a smile and added, “But if someone really liked you, they wouldn’t mind your coldness either.”

The fragment abruptly ended there. Upon waking, she still remembered how, in her past life, she had secretly rejoiced upon learning that Feng Baiming had never been in a relationship. She had been glad thankful, even that the young lady was so unapproachable. After all, those capable of persistently pursuing someone to such lengths were one in a million.

Most people, realizing their efforts were futile and that a romantic relationship was impossible, would simply shift their focus elsewhere. Giving up early was human nature.

It wasn’t wrong, per se. Viewed this way, so-called affection seemed shallow. Yet, clinging to feelings for someone hopeless was equally laughable.

But back then, Luo Mingyue had been secretly pleased because Feng Baiming was like this, she had remained single.

No one could endure the relentless pursuit of someone as cold as Feng Baiming. Luo Mingyue had felt fortunate, even happy, about it.

In the dead of night, she covered her face, confronting her own wretched, cowardly thoughts.

Yet, it wasn’t until Zhang Zhuoran appeared that she truly acknowledged her possessiveness toward Feng Baiming her unwillingness to see anyone else by her side.

Unlike Feng Baiming, who barely remembered the man, Luo Mingyue recognized him at a glance that day on the lawn, spotting him leaving with Lu Ping. He was Zhang Zhuoran, the supposed center of attention at that dinner gathering.

For a rare moment, her mind tensed. Why was he at the Lu residence? But she quickly reasoned that since he was with Lu Ping, he must be one of Lu Ping’s dubious friends.

It should have had nothing to do with Feng Baiming otherwise, he wouldn’t have disappeared for two months afterward.

That should have been the case.

Until Zhang Zhuoran showed up at the door with a bouquet of gardenias, even when Lu Ping wasn’t home. Only then did Luo Mingyue feel an overwhelming displeasure.

After the semester began, Feng Baiming continued her graduate studies. Like Luo Mingyue, a freshman, she should have lived on campus. But with limited dormitory space for graduate students, she preferred the comfort and convenience of staying at the Lu residence.

Luo Mingyue, however, found herself spending less and less time with her. Even though her coursework wasn’t heavy, and she often returned home daily, only heading back to the dormitory around eight or nine, she couldn’t deny that as the summer in Shangjing faded, the two of them seemed like two straight lines that had briefly intersected.

If things continued this way, they would each move toward futures where their paths would never cross again.

On the surface, they were just friends. But in reality, once one of them left, it became clear there had never been any real intersection in their lives. As time spent together dwindled, the realization that they were merely friends made this relationship far more fragile than imagined.

Neither of them was outgoing or talkative, nor were they keen on spending time chatting online.

Both believed it was more important to focus on meaningful pursuits in real life, Feng Baiming dedicated herself to her research projects, while Luo Mingyue devoted herself to studying the new major she had chosen in this lifetime.

And so, without realizing it, the days when they had grown accustomed to each other’s presence faded into memories, vanishing like the passing of summer.

Between people, becoming strangers and losing connection is all too easy.

That day, as Luo Mingyue approached her doorstep, she saw the robust young master of the Zhang family standing there, holding a bouquet of white gardenias wrapped in a fresh, artistic package. It was hard for her to muster a warm, friendly expression.

Zhang Zhuoran ran a hand through his hair. After returning from abroad, he had grown out his buzz cut and recently styled it into a trendy, layered short cut. However, his square jawline made the idol-group-inspired hairstyle only accentuate the rigid angles of his face.

He had used styling product, likely dissatisfied with the new look, and was trying to slick back the stubborn bangs that even the wind couldn’t budge.

Just then, a tall, slender shadow fell beside him. He turned and saw the girl with her backpack. Even with her scent suppressant patch, the innate rivalry between alphas made his nose twitch slightly, as if catching a whiff of pheromones that made him want to banish her from his vicinity.

Some scholars had long argued that betas were better suited for civilized society, while alphas and omegas were more like evolutionary throwbacks. These two genders retained the instincts of wild animals, triggering mating cycles and territorial aggression based on scent.

It was utterly uncivilized.

Deep down, Zhang Zhuoran had to admit that Luo Mingyue was stunningly beautiful. If she were an omega, he wouldn’t even mind her height.

But the repulsion between alphas far outweighed superficial attraction. Had she been the opposite gender, he might have been infatuated with her. But because they were the same, all he felt was an overwhelming sense of competition.

She was an alpha too, how revolting. He didn’t want to lose to this girl, this alpha. He wanted to defeat her.

That was the entirety of Zhang Zhuoran’s thoughts as he faced Luo Mingyue.

Had their mutual disgust been visible, he would have seen hers burning far more intensely than his.

Suppressing her irritation, Luo Mingyue forced herself to remain polite, though her tone was icy. “Young Master Zhang, long time no see.”

Zhang Zhuoran stopped fussing with his hair, holding the bouquet in one hand while the other slipped into his pocket. He grinned, unfazed. “Miss Luo, just getting home from school? Anyone would mistake you for a high schooler.”

Clenching her jaw, Luo Mingyue asked as calmly as she could, “Bringing flowers, who’s the lucky girl this time?”

Out of all possible answers, she heard the one she least wanted.

Zhang Zhuoran didn’t bother hiding his provocation. “These are specially for Miss Feng.”

After giving Luo Mingyue another once-over, he curled his lips and said, “Little Mingyue is still carrying a schoolbag. Well, you are still a student after all. You should focus on your studies and put your energy into proper matters.”

“Some things are better not overthought,” Zhang Zhuoran said bluntly, showing no courtesy to Luo Mingyue. “You’re not at the right age.”

Not a single word mentioned Feng Baiming, yet every sentence was crystal clear to Luo Mingyue.

She didn’t back down at all, even forgetting the upbringing she had received. Now, Luo Mingyue only let out an icy laugh: “Youth might be an advantage. Don’t forget, people always prefer the young and vibrant.”

Zhang Zhuoran refused to yield either. With the absolute arrogance and confidence he possessed, he simply retorted: “But people prefer supreme wealth and power even more.”

He said in English, “You are young but you have nothing.”

A very simple sentence, spoken in flawless American accent. Even without having been in a foreign language environment, Luo Mingyue heard it clearly.

For a moment, she found herself unable to counter. Zhang Zhuoran’s shallowness and stupidity seemed only evident in matters of gender. In fact, when it came to other topics like Luo Mingyue’s identity, he could strike right at the heart of the matter with precision.

When the house servant opened the door, he saw two alphas, clearly five or six years apart in age, both turning their heads away with unfriendly expressions. One of them was Luo Mingyue, which made him even more astonished, nearly doubting his own eyes.

Zhang Zhuoran had already strode into the house. The servant, unsettled, shifted his gaze from Luo Mingyue’s face to the young master Zhang and hurriedly said, “Young Master Lu Ping isn’t home.”

Zhang Zhuoran replied, “I’m not here for Lu Ping. Who would bring a bouquet of flowers for that guy?”

He said bluntly, “Take me to Miss Feng. She must be home, right?”

Though not present, Feng Baiming was undoubtedly the indispensable leading lady of this drama. She was sitting on the spacious terrace of the first-floor master bedroom, perfect for sunbathing and enjoying the view, listening to an audiobook.

The female narrator was reading in a slow, gentle voice: “What can I use to keep you here in the eternal memory of sunset and dusk…”

She tucked away the strands of hair blown onto her cheeks by the wind. The voice bore a fifty or sixty percent resemblance to Luo Mingyue’s, but the narrator, professionally trained, enunciated clearly with a rhythmic cadence.

And so, it wasn’t quite the same. In her memory, that child’s voice while reading was softer, with swallowed syllables and breathy tones. Yet to her, it was the more real and down-to-earth presence that had once accompanied her.

Amid the soothing narration, Feng Baiming gradually felt a trace of restlessness, stemming from the growing distance between her and Luo Mingyue.

Occasionally, in moments of leisure, she would suddenly notice a void around her. It wasn’t an unfamiliar feeling. Like when her parents first went on a long trip, she missed them terribly, feeling as if the vast house had lost their presence, leaving a gaping hole in those days.

Or when her younger sister, Feng Shaoyang, went abroad for a summer study program during middle school. Whenever she came across an interesting story and wanted to share it with Shaoyang, only to realize she was overseas and no longer by her side, a sense of loss would well up inside her.

But this time, the subject was Luo Mingyue not a blood relative who had always been by her side which made it quite intriguing.

Over the phone, she openly admitted that she felt unaccustomed to Luo Mingyue going to school.

Feng Shaoyang asked her, “How so? Do you feel like you have no one to play with anymore?”

She replied, “You could say that.”

Feng Shaoyang said, “If all you want is a playmate by your side, I’d suggest you make a few omega friends instead. Otherwise, it’d be too cruel to Luo Mingyue.”

She understood the implication in Feng Shaoyang’s words but still defended herself, “I don’t just see Luo Mingyue as a playmate.”

“More important than a playmate?” Feng Shaoyang chuckled before turning serious. “Elder sister, you need to recognize your own feelings.”

If it were just about having a playmate, then I wouldn’t need Luo Mingyue. That was what Feng Baiming thought to herself. It was just that she had once again felt that sense of “emptiness.”

Once more, she felt like something was missing in her life not just the kind of emptiness where she wanted to share an amusing story.

She didn’t need that person to always be there to chat, play, or study with her. It was just that when she turned her head and saw nothing but empty air beside her, she suddenly felt that Luo Mingyue should be there.

Was it because she had grown used to her presence and now felt lost without her?

No, Feng Baiming thought. She felt that just seeing that person would be enough, just seeing her would bring her peace…

Even Feng Baiming herself found it strange.

It was almost as if she had lost Luo Mingyue before.

Luo Mingyue and Zhang Zhuoran were led by a servant to the master bedroom on the first floor, accompanied by the soothing voice of a female narrator.

The beta servant, slender and petite, responsible only for household cleaning, was somewhat intimidated by these two alphas. Though insensitive to pheromones, his instincts made his hair stand on end.

He was also surprised to see Luo Mingyue, usually so good-natured, wearing an icy expression and glaring at the Zhang family’s young master. He even wondered if Zhang Zhuoran had done something unforgivable to Luo Mingyue.

Though Young Master Zhang wore a broad smile, the look he cast at Luo Mingyue was full of disdain.

Hesitantly, the servant knocked on the master bedroom door. From inside, Miss Feng’s voice responded, “Come in.”

His presence was no longer needed, so he quickly fled the oppressive aura of the two alphas. Knowing that Young Master Zhang’s true intentions lay with Miss Feng, he finally understood was this why Luo Mingyue couldn’t maintain her usual gentle demeanor?

The moment the door opened, the crisp autumn air filled the room, the temperature and sunlight perfectly balanced.

A breeze drifted in through the open floor-to-ceiling windows, carrying with it a glance from the person on the terrace who turned her head. She hadn’t turned off the audio player, and the woman’s voice continued softly, “What can I use to keep you? So you see, life is bitter as a song.”

With that, the audiobook came to an end.

Feng Baiming thought it might be muscle memory, the way her lips instinctively curved into a smile the moment she saw Luo Mingyue. But Zhang Zhuoran strode forward first, flowers in hand. Perhaps influenced by his time abroad among fitness-obsessed Westerners, his broad frame instantly eclipsed Luo Mingyue’s slender figure.

However, this person was careless enough to completely miss the moment Feng Baiming’s smile vanished. Without allowing any refusal, he shoved the flowers into Feng Baiming’s arms. With a grin showing all eight teeth, the epitome of standard American social charm, he said cheerfully, “The florist I frequent got fresh gardenias in stock. The moment I saw them, I thought of you, so I had the shop assistant wrap up a bouquet.”

Feng Baiming placed the bouquet directly on the small table beside her.

She replied coldly, “Thank you.”

Zhang Zhuoran looked at her. She maintained this aloofness, refusing to utter another word to avoid giving this alpha any mistaken notions.

Yet Zhang Zhuoran didn’t seem bothered. Instead, as if encouraged, he leaned in even closer, undeterred. “I picked the ribbon and wrapping paper myself. The first time I saw you, I thought white suited you best. At that very moment, I knew, no girl embodies purity better than you.”

The imposing shadow of the alpha loomed over her, his movement freezing mid-action. Just as Feng Baiming’s irritation with Zhang Zhuoran’s advances reached its peak, an arm suddenly blocked his chest.

Zhang Zhuoran straightened up with a frown. “What are you doing?”

Luo Mingyue withdrew her arm, which had stopped Zhang Zhuoran from leaning in. Feng Baiming turned to look at her, this girl with her hair tied in a short, low ponytail, dressed in a powder-blue tracksuit, a canvas bag slung over one shoulder, exuding boundless youthful energy.

Despite her lively, sporty appearance, Luo Mingyue’s expression was stern as she warned Zhang Zhuoran, “Alphas and omegas should maintain distance. Overseas, your behavior could be considered harassment.”

Zhang Zhuoran scoffed in amusement. “Watch your tone, kid. I just wanted to speak a little closer.”

Feng Baiming detected the undisguised provocation in his words. Before she could process the oddity of Zhang Zhuoran’s sudden advances, acting like some smooth-talking alpha from a cheesy romance film, she found herself more intrigued by Luo Mingyue’s reaction.

It was strange enough that Zhang Zhuoran had suddenly gone off the rails, showering her with flowery words as if they were anything more than strangers.

But what fascinated her more was the hostility Zhang Zhuoran directed at Luo Mingyue. The faint pheromones seeping from his inhibitor patch made it clear that, given the chance, he’d tear Luo Mingyue apart.

Yet Luo Mingyue didn’t back down.

Her response was unwavering. As a young, barely differentiated alpha, her pheromones were still faint compared to Zhang Zhuoran’s fully matured ones. Unlike an omega, she wasn’t dulled to the pressure of another alpha’s scent.

The biological alertness and tension from the pheromonal clash were evident in her tightly pressed lips and pale face. Zhang Zhuoran smirked smugly at her visible discomfort.

But she didn’t retreat. Instead, she stepped forward, shielding Feng Baiming behind her, and said in a low, strained voice, “If it were just me here, you could release your pheromones all you want.”

“But since Miss Feng is present, you should at least show basic respect.” Luo Mingyue’s dark, bright eyes locked onto Zhang Zhuoran, her tone so serious and firm that it left him frustrated.

He reined in his pheromones and played the victim, spreading his hands. “If you hadn’t been so hostile toward me, my body wouldn’t have reacted like this.”

He said to the girl peeking out from behind Luo Mingyue, “I’m usually quite the gentleman. Today, I meant nothing by it, I just wanted to give you some flowers.”

In truth, Luo Mingyue’s words had made him realize that, rather than focusing on winning Feng Baiming’s affection, he’d been too caught up in competing with Luo Mingyue so much so that he’d even released aggressive pheromones in front of an omega.

Zhang Zhuoran thought to himself, Luo Mingyue really is a scheming alpha.

Putting on a carefree front, he waved goodbye. “I’ll come see you another time, Feng Baiming.”

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