The Scumbag Omega Chases After Platonic Love - Chapter 11

Another busy day stretched into the late hours. Nai Bing had developed a habit of saving the milk cartons delivered by the courier, bringing them home after drinking the contents each day.

She strolled leisurely back to her neighborhood, entering the password 666888 at the gate. This was the code she and Yi Zhanying had carefully chosen together, both practical and auspicious.

Not expecting anyone to greet her, she often lived alone now. She fumbled for the light switch. The sudden bright glow startled her. Yingying was sprawled asleep on the coffee table, her bag carelessly dropped beside her.

A faint scent of alcohol lingered in the air. Nai Bing approached and gently reminded her, “Yingying? If you’re tired, you should go to the bedroom and sleep.”

No response. She reached around Yingying’s shoulders and gently shook her. “Go inside and sleep, it’s more comfortable.”

After a long pause, Yingying stirred lazily and opened her hazy eyes. Noticing the slightly unfamiliar surroundings and the sweetly adorable figure beside her, she smiled and said, “Welcome home.”

“Did you drink too much at a social gathering? Let me get you some water.” Nai Bing hurried to turn on the water heater, found a clean cup, and filled it halfway. Fortunately, the hot water came quickly, and she tasted it first to check the temperature.

“It’s just right,” she said, handing it over.

Yi Zhanying looked thoughtful as she took the cup with both hands and thanked her. Softly, she asked, “Bingdog, tell me… am I a terrible person?”

Nai Bing was so startled she nearly choked on her saliva. What’s wrong? You, the narcissist, actually doubting yourself?

She countered, “What do you think?”

“I’m great—super great.”

“Hahaha! Then why did you ask me? It doesn’t matter what others think anyway.”

“Do you want to sleep with me?” Yi Zhanying suddenly blurted out.

Nai Bing’s face flushed crimson. After a moment to compose herself, she replied bluntly, “No.”

Yi Zhanying was genuinely baffled. If refusing at the start due to distance was understandable, what was she still worried about now? Sleeping together didn’t mean a relationship; it was just mutual satisfaction. Was she really that detached?

“Why not? I’m not asking you to love me right now, just… from a purely physical desire standpoint, aren’t you even a little interested?” Yi Zhanying felt she was becoming increasingly ridiculous, practically begging someone to touch her. Ever since developing feelings for Nai Bing, she had been voluntarily using suppressants during her estrus periods.

She’d changed so much in secret…

Nai Bing was deeply conflicted. After much deliberation, she finally spoke, “I’m not playing hard to get. I really…”

“I’m not interested in you,” Yi Zhanying finished for her.

Nai Bing pressed a hand to her forehead. The words were harsh, but undeniably true. She felt no sexual desire. Logically speaking, if she didn’t experience that kind of longing for someone of the opposite sex, no matter how much emotional attachment or fondness she harbored, it couldn’t be the kind of love she’d hoped for.

“Probably…” she settled on a gentler word.

Yi Zhanying remained expressionless. Though the words felt like thorns piercing her heart, they were within her expectations. She stood up and returned to her bedroom, slamming the door shut behind her.

What’s wrong? Are you angry? Nai Bing couldn’t help but approach the door, hesitating to knock. Maybe she’s tired and resting in there, doesn’t want to be disturbed.

The door suddenly swung open. Yi Zhanying stood there, her hands clasped behind her back, hiding something. She averted her gaze, a hint of bashful pride in her voice. “How about I read you a bedtime story before I go? Want to hear it?”

Nai Bing was taken aback. Wasn’t she angry? And now she wants to read me a bedtime story? How gentle of her.

“Yes,” she nodded.

After their nightly routine, Nai Bing lay on her side, snuggled under the covers, gazing tenderly at the woman beside her. Yi Zhanying held a copy of Grimm’s Fairy Tales. After flipping through a few pages, she began in a soothing voice:

“Beauty and the Beast. Once upon a time, there was a prince who was proud and unkind, unable to love or be loved. A sorceress cursed him, transforming him into a beast. If he didn’t learn to love and be loved before the rose wilted…”

The story was enchanting, the storyteller’s voice as melodious as wind chimes. But Nai Bing’s attention wasn’t on the tale itself, but on Yi Zhanying’s subtle expressions; her smiles, her frowns, the shifting emotions that played across her face.

“The story’s finished. I should go now,” Yi Zhanying said, closing the book.

Nai Bing glanced at the clock—it was nearly eleven. “Must you really leave so late?”

The woman smiled gently. “If you ask me to stay, I won’t leave.”

******

It’s quite funny, really. As an intern at a psychology clinic, I spend my days giving relationship advice to others, yet I don’t understand the first thing about romance myself. I just spout off all those professional-sounding buzzwords to bluff my way through.

Knowing that Yi Zhanying is right next door, possibly sulking after my rejection, how can I possibly feel okay about pretending ignorance just because she hasn’t openly shown her displeasure? How selfish would that be?

I pull out my phone and text, “Are you asleep yet?”

“Not yet. What’s up?” Another instant reply.

This time, there are no cute emoticons. Nai Bing guesses she must be upset. How can I comfort her without being too ambiguous?

“Actually… I think you have a great figure…”

In the next room, Yi Zhanying was listening to music to help her sleep when she saw this message. Surprised, she replies, “What do you mean by ‘great’?”

“In terms of proportions, the division between your upper body and legs is perfect, and your waist is incredibly slim. You look good in anything you wear.”

Reading these words, Yi Zhanying feels a pang of frustration. She realizes that Bing Bing is truly terrible at complimenting women. Even through the screen, she can imagine Nai Bing’s earnest yet clumsy word choice, as if she’d suddenly had an epiphany and wanted to do something romantic. What a false alarm…

Ah, my body’s drying up.

As they chatted, they ended up playing a game of Landlord until past two in the morning, finally falling asleep from exhaustion.

The next morning, Nai Bing set an alarm for seven. Since she now lived close to work and didn’t usually wear makeup, she could easily make breakfast and get to work on time.

After preparing two bowls of sour soup noodles and egg pancakes, Nai Bing went to the master bedroom to wake her roommate. “Yingying, it’s time to get up and eat breakfast.”

Yingying remained motionless under the covers. Nai Bing glanced at the clock—7:30—and decided to pull the covers off and shout, “Wake up!”

Damn it! I forgot she sleeps naked! How could I make the same mistake twice?! Nai Bing quickly re-covered her roommate, pretending nothing had happened, blushing furiously.

At the dining table, Yi Zhanying sat drowsy and listless. She hadn’t slept a wink the previous night, vaguely recalling checking her phone at 6:15 AM.

“Do you have any plans besides work today?” she asked.

“Not really,” Nai Bing replied casually, then suddenly remembered her appointment with Li Qianxi. “Oh, I’m meeting a friend to go to the park.”

“Your friend, the actress?”

“Yes,” she nodded.

Yi Zhanying sighed silently. She wasn’t the only one on this track.

“The person you mentioned before, the one who confessed to you, it’s her, isn’t it?”

Nai Bing’s hand, holding her chopsticks, paused. “That was just childhood mischief,” she said innocently. “I never took it seriously, and after all these years, she’s probably forgotten about it. How could that be true?”

Yi Zhanying’s lips curved into a smile. “You’re always so humble, assuming no one is interested in you.”

“It’s true, Yingying, I’m not lying…” Nai Bing hurried to explain, her panic rising at the mere mention of this topic by Yi Zhanying. She seemed terrified of being misunderstood, the thought alone causing her distress.

“It’s good to interact with her more. You might even grow to like her.”

“It’s really not like that!” Nai Bing set down her chopsticks, her expression solemn as if taking an oath. “My feelings for her are purely platonic. There’s nothing else, and there never will be—past, present, or future.”

Yi Zhanying nodded. “Don’t get flustered. I was just mentioning it casually.” I’m doing this for Xiao Bing’s own good, she thought. She needs to interact with others. She’s still young, and her views on romance haven’t solidified yet. Only through experience can she truly learn.

Psychological Counseling Center.

The reception area was abuzz with excitement today, having welcomed a special guest. As if stepping straight off the movie screen, she materialized here in a miraculous appearance, drawing a crowd of eager onlookers.

“Excuse me, are you Li Qianxi?”

“Holy shit, it’s really her!”

“Are you here for counseling? Who are you looking for?”

“Can we get your autograph…?”

After politely greeting everyone and signing autographs, she asked, “I’m here to see Nai Bing. Is she available?”

“Yes, yes, she’s available!”

She was escorted to the VIP reception room, where Nai Bing greeted her with a bewildered expression. “Why didn’t you notify me beforehand? What brings you here?”

“Haha, we’re so close, why bother with formalities? I wanted to surprise you!” Li Qianxi revealed her vivacious personality, especially around Nai Bing. “How’s work been? Are you overwhelmed?”

“Not at all,” Nai Bing replied, pouring her tea. “Are we discussing what we talked about last time? How have you been feeling lately?”

“Great,” she answered with a smile. After a moment’s hesitation, she continued, “Actually, my mother committed suicide later. My father couldn’t handle the shock and turned to alcoholism. It was only when he stopped caring about me that I finally gained my freedom.”

“Why did your mother commit suicide?” Nai Bing asked, her grip tightening on her teacup as she received this startling revelation. She couldn’t fathom how Qianxi had endured such darkness over the years. How had she managed to survive?

“She was a perfectionist driven to madness,” Li Qianxi explained, shrugging nonchalantly. “If my father and I couldn’t meet her expectations, she would lose her mind. Unable to change us, she could only change herself, so…” She trailed off, shaking her head with a resigned shrug.

“Her death must have stirred a complex mix of emotions for you,” Nai Bing observed.

“Mm,” Li Qianxi acknowledged. “I felt both grief and immense relief.”

“Your entire life was once completely controlled by her.”

“Exactly,” she confirmed.

“What other regrets do you have?” Nai Bing asked.

“The night before she died, she wanted to embrace me, but I refused because I was angry with her. If I’d known she’d already decided to leave this world, I would have…” Li Qianxi’s vision blurred. “If I’d known… I would have definitely hugged her…”

Maintaining professional composure, Nai Bing waited a moment before placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. “You’re blaming yourself for not letting her know how much you loved her before she passed.”

“Mm… I really did love her…”

“If time could be reversed to that day, what would you most want to tell her?”

“Don’t drink so much, don’t work so hard, don’t worry so much. Even if you didn’t focus all your attention on me, I would still strive my hardest…”

She choked out these long-suppressed words, fragments of a past she had kept buried for years. Now, they were directed at a living audience who couldn’t understand, and a departed one who could no longer hear. All she sought was a sliver of psychological comfort.

*****

After their session, the two women left the therapy room and strolled casually through the city’s central park, not far from the clinic.

“I looked into it,” Li Qianxi said. “The woman renting you the house is a real estate manager. Even with staff discounts, she paid a high price to expedite the transfer.”

Nai Bing paused, momentarily stunned. Her mind wasn’t on her friend’s words, but rather why Qianxi had investigated at all.

“Her background isn’t as simple as you might think.”

“Qianxi, why did you investigate Yingying?”

Li Qianxi turned with a radiant smile. “I was worried about you. Since you’re living in her home, of course I had to look into her.”

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