The Reborn Scummy A and the Sickly O Got Together - Chapter 55

As she was pulled away by the wrist, the gazes from either side were perhaps curious, perhaps excited at the very least, everyone now had fresh material for their after-dinner gossip.

Luo Mingyue disliked being stared at, disliked being the center of attention. Her personality had been suppressed since childhood, and if given the choice, she would probably prefer to be moss in a corner.

But for the first time, she realized that if her eyes were fixed solely on that one person, if all her thoughts were focused on them alone, suddenly she didn’t mind being the subject of discussion.

If given the chance to do it all over again, she thought she would still choose to step forward without hesitation.

Feng Baiming, on the other hand, merely disliked noise. Having been accustomed to being the center of attention since childhood, she paid no mind to the stares of others.

After dragging the much taller female alpha out of the library, she turned and asked, “Do you have anything else to do?”

The other woman bent slightly at the waist, her mesmerizing eyes once again veiled in a misty haze, looking as bewildered as a child as she replied, “Nothing to do.”

“Do you have classes this afternoon or evening?”

“No.”

“Any plans for the rest of the day?”

“None.”

Only then did Feng Baiming notice how the other woman was slightly stooping to accommodate her height. She let go of her wrist, about to laugh, but instead sighed.

Luo Mingyue was instantly flustered. “Did I not handle this situation properly?”

“How much more properly could you have handled it? The other party was no gentleman, what you did was more than appropriate.”

Feng Baiming turned and started walking. “I’m inviting you to dinner. Will you honor me with your presence?”

Luo Mingyue suddenly remembered how she had been avoiding Feng Baiming for days. Watching the other woman’s retreating back, clearly not waiting for an answer, she hesitated for only a moment before quickening her steps to follow.

The restaurant was just beside the campus, but its prices far exceeded the average student’s budget. They were seated by the window, the tables spaced generously apart. A slender-necked white porcelain vase on the tablecloth held a single red rose.

The waiter soon brought the appetizers, momentarily stunned by the beauty of the two women at the table. He guessed they must be an AO couple from afar, they already looked perfectly matched, but up close, their striking looks made them an even more breathtaking pair.

Except, the beautiful lady who appeared to be the alpha seemed somewhat timid and uneasy, while the omega lady carried an air of accumulated aloofness. The female alpha was the one chattering away about amusing campus anecdotes.

The omega lady merely watched her with detached calm.

Once the appetizers were served, Luo Mingyue finally relaxed. She made a show of being ravenous, picking up her knife and fork to focus on eating.

Feng Baiming, who had been largely silent, suddenly spoke. “I’d like to discuss some relationship issues with you.”

Luo Mingyue nearly choked on her salad, hastily grabbing her napkin to cover her mouth as tears welled in her eyes. The pitiable sight reminded Feng Baiming of a certain large breed of dog that had been bullied.

Muffled by the napkin, Luo Mingyue stammered, “I—no, whose relationship issues?”

“A friend’s,” Feng Baiming replied coolly.

Luo Mingyue thought about it and answered even more pitifully, “But I’ve never been in a relationship. I don’t understand these things.”

To her surprise, the other woman smiled. “And yet, I think you might know the answer.”

Without waiting for a response, Feng Baiming continued, “Suppose someone is absolutely certain the other person likes them deeply, that the other person was the one who initiated contact, and that their last meeting ended on a perfectly good note yet afterward, the other person vanishes without warning. What do you think they’re doing?”

Luo Mingyue broke out in a cold sweat.

Feng Baiming deliberately continued, “Online theories suggest it’s either an innocent omega encountering a player who’s a fishing expert, disappearing abruptly because they got caught by the main partner or found a new target, there’s only one conclusion.”

“You thought they liked you, but in reality, you’re just another unremarkable fish in their pond.”

Luo Mingyue almost blurted out defensively, “There are always exceptions. Not everything fits the ‘player’ stereotype.”

Feng Baiming nodded. “Netizens also say, to look on the bright side, maybe the sudden disappearance means the person had an accident and died?”

Luo Mingyue: “…”

She felt as if an arrow had struck her knee.

Her lips trembled slightly before she lowered her head to focus on cutting her steak as the server brought their main course. Feng Baiming, seemingly without appetite, swapped her own neatly cut steak with Luo Mingyue’s plate.

Gazing at the other woman’s bowed head under the chandelier, Feng Baiming thought how ethereally beautiful she looked, like a painting. A fleeting thought crossed her mind, if she let this alpha slip away, where would she ever find someone like her again?

Her younger sister, Feng Shaoyang, had once described Luo Mingyue: peerless in looks but overly gentle to the point of seeming weak. Kind and helpful, yet like central heating, warming everyone, not just you alone.

Think she’s tender and affectionate?

But since she treats everyone the same, it ultimately means nothing.

Feng Baiming didn’t entirely disagree with her sister’s assessment, yet she couldn’t help tapping her knife lightly against the porcelain plate.

The soft clink drew Luo Mingyue’s attention. Feng Baiming murmured, “I was thinking, maybe old tricks still work if they’re effective.”

Puzzled, Luo Mingyue met her gaze. Feng Baiming added, “I’ll wait for your answer someday. But first, business: the Literature Department’s field research trip has an assistant slot I can assign. Your name would be added to the paper. If you decline, my advisor will fill it.”

Luo Mingyue clenched her fingers, avoiding eye contact. “I’m only a freshman, and I likely won’t pursue grad studies.”

Feng Baiming countered, “It’ll benefit you regardless. But the real reason I’m asking, if my advisor handles it, she plans to play matchmaker by assigning a senior under the guise of assistance, pushing him as a ‘protector’ to spark a romance.”

The screech of a knife against porcelain briefly drowned out the violin’s melody.

Light refracted around them, making Luo Mingyue feel center-stage.

Countless faces flashed through her mind, unanswered messages from her past life, the actor by Feng Baiming’s side at that banquet, unfulfilled hopes, and that abrupt disappearance.

A sudden disorientation gripped her. Who had retreated first?

She bowed her head, afraid her jealousy might show, and heard herself say, “That’s highly unprofessional for a teacher. When is it? If there are classes.”

She wanted to add she could skip them, but that would seem desperate.

Feng Baiming rested her chin on her hand, smiling, ice melting, joy flickering in her eyes like refracted light.

“It won’t conflict. Next month’s weekend.”

From that dinner onward, Luo Mingyue stopped avoiding Feng Baiming. Life was like that, someone could vanish abruptly, yet if one person took a step forward, they could slip back into camaraderie as if nothing had happened.

Soon in the Lu family residence, Feng Baiming and Luo Mingyue became nearly inseparable again. Lu Ping had just ended a relationship, only to return home and find both his younger sisters dating, Lu Jia was also getting increasingly intimate with Zhang Zhuoran, coming home later each day while updating her luxury collection faster than new product releases.

Wanting to stand up for Luo Mingyue, he sought her out, only to find her doing homework with Feng Baiming.

Lu Ping wondered why literature majors still needed to study so hard in college, until he overheard them discussing everything from “Waterloo Bridge” to Agatha Christie. Thanks to his past efforts to impress artsy girls, he thought to himself, how pretentious!

Then he saw the two girls, shoulders touching, share a knowing smile when their eyes met over some unspoken understanding.

Silently retreating, Lu Ping realized: You think they’re discussing literature?

It’s just the cloying stench of young love.

Time alone always felt lonely, but with companionship, there seemed endless conversations and shared paths.

Even their nightly “goodnights” left hearts brimming with joy. When someone occupies your heart, “tomorrow” becomes synonymous with anticipation.

Their rekindled friendship pleased Third Miss Lu greatly, who saw it as her daughter finally opening her stubborn heart.

Old Madam Lu, busier than ever with social engagements, refused to relinquish control despite retirement age. Having severed sibling ties for power in youth, she’d now become power’s slave in old age.

Among her children, the once-disdained Third Daughter that shallow fool who only knew indulgence had paradoxically become her favorite.

Because Third Daughter clearly lacked the cunning for power grabs.

Privately summoning Luo Mingyue for admonishment, the matriarch noted subtle changes in her granddaughter, the same appearance, yet with new undercurrents of self-assurance.

“I’ve deposited more funds,” she declared. “An omega should never pay when going out.”

Then pointedly added: “Don’t say I neglect you. I verified something that Feng girl has never dated. You two seem well-matched. First loves, whether lasting or not, always remain life’s most touching memories.”

Luo Mingyue stopped correcting their assumption about being just friends, the household already treated them as practically engaged, awaiting only formal acknowledgment.

She deliberately shifted topics: “Mother mentioned you’re sending Lu Jia abroad?”

The matriarch’s gaze sharpened. “Why this sudden concern?”

With studied indifference, Luo Mingyue replied: “Merely appreciating the strategy. Better gilded exile than becoming capital gossip. In three years, no one will remember.”

Suspicion lingered in the old woman’s eyes. “Truly? Remember, grasp at everything, and you’ll lose it all.”

Deciding to provoke, Luo Mingyue feigned hesitation. Immediately, the matriarch warned sternly: “You think life offers many choices? Don’t end up like your mother, realizing there was ever only one path.”

“No,” Luo Mingyue quickly feigned a flustered expression. “It’s just that Jiajia mentioned recently she’s been dating Zhang Zhuoran.”

Old Madam Lu remained noncommittal. “So what?”

Luo Mingyue continued, “Shouldn’t we consider the Zhang family’s reputation? If we send Lujia abroad for preparatory studies this year, we’d be forcibly separating the young couple. Lujia wouldn’t agree, and Zhang Zhuoran certainly wouldn’t either.”

Old Madam Lu suddenly snorted, her disdain completely unconcealed. “Let me tell you something then. Since returning to Beijing, Zhang Zhuoran has attended no fewer than two matchmaking sessions every month, a practice that continues to this day. I hear his mother is quite anxious for grandchildren.”

With naive optimism, Luo Mingyue replied, “If Jiajia could get engaged to Zhang Zhuoran, it would be mutually beneficial for both families.”

Old Madam Lu nearly called her an idiot outright. Her smile vanished as she coldly stated, “Married couples can divorce, engagements can be broken, what significance does being ‘boyfriend and girlfriend’ hold? I say it’s just an excuse to play around openly. Even if we had Luxi and Lule throw themselves at the Zhang family’s eldest grandson, he wouldn’t give them a second glance. What makes you think Lujia is any different?”

She delivered her verdict decisively: “She’s nothing but a self-important fool.”

Luo Mingyue pressed, “But she’s supposed to go abroad for preparatory studies at year’s end. What should we tell Zhang Zhuoran?”

Having exhausted her patience with her simple-minded granddaughter, Old Madam Lu waved her away. “If Zhang Zhuoran truly speaks up for Lujia, then I might reconsider letting her stay.”

No sooner had Old Madam Lu spoken these words than Luo Mingyue relayed them verbatim to Lujia via message.

Lujia was already fuming. Despite her repeated insistence on being conservative and abstaining from premarital sex, Zhang Zhuoran had been growing increasingly impatient. Lately, he’d even begun openly flirting with curvaceous omegas right in front of her.

She was coming to realize that the label of “boyfriend and girlfriend” carried no weight with Zhang Zhuoran whatsoever, it couldn’t restrain him in the slightest.

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