The Scumbag Omega Chases After Platonic Love - Chapter 17

“I bought two donuts from that place near Houde, the one we went to last time,” Yi Zhanying said, gesturing toward the shop.

“What did you do today?” Nai Bing asked, wanting to learn more about her girlfriend’s life.

“Mostly meetings, revising proposals, and doing research.” Yi Zhanying picked up a donut and held it to Nai Bing’s mouth.

Nai Bing took a bite, chewed slowly, and swallowed before asking, “So… you didn’t hide our relationship from your colleagues. What did they say?”

“They were totally shocked! There hadn’t been any rumors before, and they all thought I was dating some chaebol heir. It’s hilarious.” Yi Zhanying leaned closer, captivated by her lover’s beauty. “Ice Dog, I feel like you’ve changed a bit.”

“How…?” Nai Bing felt a strange unease under her gaze.

“You’re suddenly so attentive to my feelings. It’s almost overwhelming.”

Nai Bing wanted to say, “I’ve always cared about you,” but she hadn’t realized those feelings were romantic until recently.

“What’s wrong with Little Brother?” she changed the subject.

“Oh, him? He’s such a fool. He got tricked into signing a contract by those scammers recruiting amateur models on the street. I’m going to settle the score with them tomorrow. They’re demanding 20,000 yuan to terminate the contract—ridiculous.”

“It’s normal for a high schooler fresh in the city to get scammed,” Yi Zhanying reassured her, moving closer. When you like someone, you always want to be near them, seeking comfort.

Nai Bing had noticed this too. No matter the time or place, whenever she was around, Yi Zhanying would naturally cling to her like a charm, often entwining themselves before Nai Bing even realized it.

“Do you have a physical dependency?” Nai Bing asked.

“Yes, a very severe one.” Yi Zhanying pressed her forehead against Nai Bing’s neck. True to her name, Nai Bing’s body temperature seemed slightly lower than normal, cool and soothing.

Perhaps it was the affection that drew her close, triggering a rush of dopamine that brought pleasure and became addictive.

“You’re like a little animal,” Nai Bing said, reaching out to stroke her.

“I’m your little animal.”

*******

The next day, she took a half-day off to deal with Nai Bo’s situation. She tracked down the Scam Company and found a front desk flyer advertising part-time modeling jobs for Taobao, with weekly pay starting at 500 yuan per shoot. The offer was tempting for a student, and Nai Bo, unfamiliar with such scams, had fallen for it.

“Sis, are you really mad?” Nai Bo asked cautiously.

“I’m mad because you didn’t discuss this with me beforehand. Why were you so confident?” she retorted.

“They were so persuasive! I kept saying no, but they wouldn’t let up. They said signing wouldn’t hurt anything, just think of it as doing a good deed,” he said, embarrassed.

“You’re just like Dad; too soft-hearted. You can’t say no when people keep pressuring you,” Nai Bing sighed, shaking her head.

“Yeah…”

The siblings confronted the saleswoman, a bespectacled Alpha in her thirties. “We’re here to terminate his contract and get his 1,000 yuan deposit back,” Nai Bing demanded.

“Deposits are non-refundable, and contract termination requires a 20,000 yuan penalty,” the saleswoman replied, clearly used to handling such disputes. She produced a thick stack of contracts and said flatly, “He signed this himself, and we have video proof. What’s there to discuss?”

Nai Bing took the discarded contract pages and examined them closely. After careful consideration, she pointed to several clauses in the later sections. “These clauses, unlawful penalty fees, mandatory compliance with arbitrary job reassignments, and vague wage deduction terms. would be thrown out by labor arbitration in a heartbeat. Want to test that?”

*******

In the end, they grudgingly agreed to terminate the contracts. Several exploitative agreements were torn up on the spot. Some people just love to bully the weak, squeezing every last drop they can get away with.

“Sis, you were so fierce just now, taking on all those people by yourself,” Nai Bo marveled. He was still young; in a few years, with more experience, he’d be able to handle things on his own.

“Honestly, I don’t really understand it either, but labor arbitration is always a safe bet.”

The siblings took the subway back the way they came. “How did you find your part-time job?” she asked. “Three whole months of summer vacation. it’s good to get some real-world experience. Have you checked your college entrance exam scores yet?”

“I just searched on job apps and asked around at places with ‘Help Wanted’ signs,” Nai Bo replied, scratching his head. “Scammers are everywhere. The scores are out, and I still only made it into a second-tier university.”

“What did Mom and Dad say?”

“They yelled at me, of course. Now I’m stressing about which major to apply for.”

“Didn’t you always love playing with robots and building your own? Computer science seems like the perfect fit for you.”

“Ha ha ha, but Mom and Dad want me to study accounting.”

Actually, finding a part-time job through her connections would have been much easier. As Nai Bing headed back to work that afternoon, she thought her younger brother had gained enough experience. She decided to introduce him to a training camp she knew about.

During work, Nai Bing received a WeChat message from Li Qianxi. She paused, and her friend asked, “Did you see my note?”

Note? Nai Bing glanced around, remembering the sticky note on the coffee table last night. It read, “Keep smiling and be happy!”

Actually, it was a message from the donut shop where Yi Zhanying had bought the treats.

“I saw it! So it was from you? Thanks!”

“Do you like it?” Li Qianxi asked again.

“I love it!” Nai Bing replied quickly.

Suddenly, several cute and lively emojis with hearts popped up on the screen. Nai Bing was almost startled by the enthusiasm. Without giving it much thought, she turned back to her work.

She finished smoothly before seven o’clock today as well. After her feedback the other day, Yi Zhanying had indeed returned to her lightning-fast reply mode. The woman’s survival instincts were remarkably strong. In truth, the matter wasn’t particularly important, but the sudden shift in behavior was puzzling.

From a psychological perspective, it was a classic case of what her clients often asked her: Now that he’s won me over, is he losing interest? The thought left a bitter taste in her mouth.

Yingying was still working overtime, so Nai Bing decided to visit her company today. Mingyue, a leading real estate giant in China, boasted a market capitalization of several hundred billion yuan.

She walked through the revolving doors and approached the reception desk. “Hello, I’m looking for Yi Zhanying, the Planning Department Manager.”

The receptionist glanced at her, her eyes suddenly lighting up. “Oh, you’re the… the Director’s little Alpha girlfriend! Wow, you’re even more radiant in person than in your photos!”

Nai Bing stood there, smiling blankly. Was this really such a big deal? How could news of their relationship have spread to every corner of the headquarters, which housed thousands of employees? It was absurd.

“Manager Yi is famous throughout the company,” the receptionist explained, noticing Nai Bing’s confusion. “Everyone’s secretly watching her, so her relationship has become a hot topic, like celebrity gossip.”

“Haha, can I go see her now?”

“Go ahead. I’m about to clock out anyway; I should have left ages ago.” She quickly tidied up her desk, adding, “Sixteenth floor!”

“Thank you!”

Without an elevator card, a kind stranger swiped theirs for her, granting her access to the sixteenth floor. The hallway was eerily quiet, yet the lights were still on everywhere, indicating that work hadn’t ended. Was the real estate industry also caught up in the relentless competition?

The Planning Department was here, but the door was tightly shut. Even pressing her ear against it, she couldn’t hear a sound. The soundproofing was remarkably effective.

She sent Yingying a message: “I’m at your office. I came to pick you up after work.”

“A surprise? I’m so happy! I’m in a meeting right now. Wait a bit, darling. Go to the break area. There are free snacks. If anyone’s at the café, ask them to make you a coffee and tell them it’s on me.”

Nai Bing followed the corridor to the end, where she found a spacious balcony and break area. To her right was the employee café.

A voice call came through. Nai Bing answered, “Aren’t you in a meeting?”

“I didn’t want you to feel lonely. I wanted you to hear my voice.”

Huh? That’s a surprisingly sweet gesture, Nai Bing thought, a smile tugging at her lips. She plugged her earphones into the receiver and listened carefully to their conversation, feeling like an unofficial observer eavesdropping on the meeting.

“Qintong’s newly revised Phase Three project is designed to counter us and disrupt our cash flow.”

“They’ve suddenly shifted their focus to smaller cities, trying to seize market share.”

“But building without approval is illegal! How dare they?”

“They’re confident they can smooth things over.”

******

Nai Bing noticed that Yingying’s voice was particularly cold during work calls, and she imagined what Yingying must be like in meetings; serious, unsmiling, perhaps even intimidating.

“Ice Dog, are you still there?” the person’s raspy voice came through the line.

“Still here~”

“Almost done.”

Soon, people began filing out of the conference room. Catching a glimpse from afar, Nai Bing waited until the crowd thinned before approaching. Just then, someone darted up from behind her.

“Senior, wait! I have a question for you.”

Like a gust of wind, Yi Zhanying turned around only to be bumped by a female employee carrying files. Both women stumbled.

“Ah, I’m so sorry!” the employee exclaimed, regaining her balance. She then launched into a rapid-fire explanation of her question, chatting for two minutes before finally leaving.

After the crowd dispersed, they returned to the office. Yi Zhanying dabbed at her clothes with a tissue, having been splashed with water during the collision.

“Did you resolve your brother’s situation?” she asked.

“All settled. I found him a more reliable part-time job elsewhere.”

“You’re very reliable,” Yi Zhanying remarked.

Nai Bing noticed that Yi Zhanying’s office was filled with adorable trinkets: succulents, a miniature figurine pen holder, a stress-relief plastic ball, and even a large bottle filled with paper cranes.

“Are all these…?” Nai Bing picked up a stress ball, clearly wondering if Yi Zhanying had bought them herself.

“They’re gifts from colleagues,” Yi Zhanying explained. “The person who bumped into me earlier. I already refused them.”

Nai Bing leaned over her shoulder to glance at the laptop screen. A vast landscape wallpaper filled the display, and several densely packed electronic documents covered the screen. Yet Yi Zhanying unconsciously squeezed the stress ball.

Why don’t you just throw it away? Nai Bing wanted to ask, but she worried it would make her seem petty.

After working late into the night, they found all the street food stalls closed. They ended up ordering takeout and settling down on cushions to enjoy seafood porridge—the only easily digestible and palatable option they could think of.

“Hey, it’s your friend!” The TV was tuned to an entertainment channel, and a segment featuring Li Qianxi as a guest star was playing.

The host boldly asked a shocking question: “I heard you started watching adult films at a very young age, making you precocious. Are you still a virgin?”

“That host is so vulgar!” Nai Bing immediately bristled.

“He made a name for himself early on with his raunchy stand-up routines,” Yi Zhanying said. “He’s notorious.”

Speaking of watching movies, Nai Bing grew curious. “Yingying, what about you?” she asked.

“Me…?” A chill ran down Yingying’s spine. On the TV screen, Li Qianxi was awkwardly answering questions. Just moments ago, Yingying had been about to mock her rival, but now the tables had turned.

“Never mind. Looking at you, you’re probably way too precocious. You’ve probably explored all sorts of extreme genres. I won’t ask,” Nai Bing said, clicking her tongue twice to show she wasn’t serious.

Yi Zhanying was puzzled. “So, what level do you think I’m at?”

“Definitely the type who… like, you’d watch anything such group stuff, all orientations, even beastiality and find it thrilling, right?” Nai Bing answered with a straight face. Her serious tone made the answer even more absurdly funny.

“Ah?” Yi Zhanying thought, So that’s what you really think of me.

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