The Scumbag Omega Chases After Platonic Love - Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Another thunderstorm day, dark clouds pressing against the window as if within reach.

Nai Bing stayed alone in the consultation room to organize files. Since that day, Yi Zhanying hadn’t disturbed her again. Even the most oblivious person would understand the unspoken rule: as a straight-A student, romantic involvement was prohibited.

By nine o’clock, she finished tidying up and headed home. Without an umbrella, she had to sprint through the rain to the station. By the time she reached home, the rain had finally stopped.

As soon as she entered, the sweet, cloying aroma of silver ear soup wafted through the air. Her roommate was simmering the soup, leaving the kitchen in disarray.

“Xiao Bing, you got rained on? Didn’t that older sister take you home?” her roommate asked, ladling the soup.

“There’s nothing between us. Why would she take me home?”

“Heh, what’s wrong with a little romance?” her roommate teased, removing her apron and carrying the soup to the living room to enjoy it.

Nai Bing silently stayed in the kitchen to clean up. She picked up the scattered debris, wiped down the stove, and lifted the pot lid, frowning at the leftover soup. Silver ear soup couldn’t be kept overnight; it would go to waste again.

By the time she finished the chores, it was almost eleven o’clock. After a quick wash, she climbed into bed, sneezing repeatedly for no apparent reason. She quickly pulled the covers tight around herself.

The next day, as expected, she woke up with a fever and a cold. When she awoke, it was already 8:50! Startled, she leaped out of bed, surprised she hadn’t even heard her alarm.

Her head felt heavy and lethargic. It was only Wednesday. Could she really afford to be so reckless and late during her probationary period?

Losing her job would make it difficult to even get hired permanently. In this fiercely competitive job market, losing her job meant losing her livelihood. Fresh out of school with no savings, she relied entirely on her salary to survive.

She had no choice but to call in sick. Trembling, she opened her phone contacts, ready to confess, when she saw an announcement in the studio WeChat group: “Due to schedule changes, today is a day off. We’ll make up the hours on Saturday.”

She was pleasantly surprised and quickly replied with a confirmation.

Meanwhile, Yi Zhanying sat in her office reviewing the marketing proposal submitted by her subordinate; a new strategy involving heavy upfront investment in online advertising to build brand awareness before recouping costs.

“Think it over and refine it,” she instructed, handing it back to the marketing specialist.

“Understood, Director.”

Just then, she received a screenshot from Xiao Qi—a chat between her younger sister and Nai Bing. The message read: “That kid’s running a fever and has no one to look after her. What are you waiting for?”

Sick alert! Without hesitation, she rushed out of the office, grabbed some common cold medicine, and drove over. As she arrived, she bumped into Nai Bing, who was just coming down to throw away the trash. The sick girl, clad in a hooded nightgown, looked surprisingly small and vulnerable from a distance.

Nai Bing stood frozen, hesitating whether to greet her. For a moment, she wanted to hide, but her legs refused to move. She remained rooted to the spot as Yi Zhanying approached.

Yi Zhanying held up the plastic bag in her hand, her concern evident as she observed Nai Bing’s flushed cheeks. “Don’t just stand there like a fool. Hurry back inside and lie down. It’s cold out here.”

The two retreated to the room. This time, it was just the two of them. Nai Bing was instructed to lie down obediently on the bed. From the living room and kitchen came occasional clattering sounds, leaving her wondering what Yi Zhanying was busy with.

After a long while, Yi Zhanying returned with a glass of water and cold medicine. She sat at the bedside and gently said, “Take your morning medicine first.”

Nai Bing blinked, clutching the blanket with embarrassed hands. She recalled how Yingying had been publicly criticized and how crestfallen she’d looked. How could she not be upset now?

“What are you thinking?” Yi Zhanying asked again.

“Aren’t you upset? I said such hurtful things to you…”

“Upset?” Yi Zhanying countered, shaking her head. “Why would I be? I don’t take such things to heart.”

Hearing this, Nai Bing finally breathed a sigh of relief, truly appreciating her sister’s remarkable composure for the first time.

She took the medicine and water from Yi Zhanying, intending to swallow them. But her throat refused to open, and she ended up spitting the bitter liquid back into her hand.

“Don’t rush…” Yi Zhanying quickly grabbed tissues to wipe the spill. Fortunately, the water hadn’t soaked the quilt. She turned to pour a new cup, this time carefully crushing the tablets into several small portions. “Take your time,” she said. “It’s alright.”

Nai Bing was suddenly touched, remembering how her mother used to do the same when she was little. She forced back the tears welling up in her eyes, afraid the person before her would see.

“Thank you,” she mumbled, nodding. “It’s just a minor cold. You didn’t need to come and keep me company.”

Yi Zhanying’s heart ached at the sight. “Xiao Bing, you’re so easily touched. How can you be so sweet? I can’t believe anyone else has ever pursued you besides me.” She shook her head slightly, feeling deeply fortunate.

If someone had confessed first, Xiao Bing might have been taken away. How could I ever have a chance? She was immensely relieved.

“Actually, someone else did confess to me once,” Nai Bing said bluntly.

Yi Zhanying’s expression shifted instantly, her heart sinking. Her worst fear had come true, and she’d been slapped in the face.

“Who was it? What’s their name?” she demanded.

“It was a long time ago. I’ve forgotten,” Nai Bing replied, noticing Yi Zhanying’s obvious dejection. Is she jealous? she wondered cautiously. “Never mind, just pretend I never said anything.”

“Love, you can only belong to me alone…” The words carried a deep sadness.

Yi Zhanying wandered back to the kitchen, staring at the chicken soup she had just put on to simmer. The ingredients had been taken straight from the fridge, and she planned to go downstairs to the supermarket later to buy another chicken.

About an hour later, having calmed her emotions, she carried the fragrant chicken soup to Nai Bing. The surface of the soup floated with red dates and yams, their aroma filling the air.

Faced with such attentive care, Nai Bing found it hard to take it for granted. She couldn’t help but ask, “But… what do you even see in me?”

Yi Zhanying paused mid-spoonful, pondering. “I think it started when you called me disgusting. Suddenly, I felt a strange mix of infatuation and admiration.”

“Huh?” Nai Bing didn’t understand. Does a single insult really make you fall for someone? Is that some kind of masochistic thing? A kink for being insulted?

It sounded bizarre and rather impulsive.

“Your personality is also incredibly endearing. Being around you feels like going back to school; so simple and pure.”

“Is that all?” Nai Bing pressed.

Yi Zhanying fell silent, then said after a long pause, “Actually, you don’t need a long list of reasons to fall for someone. It’s just that the person who makes me feel this way happens to be you—and only you.”

Is that true? Nai Bing had never been in a relationship and didn’t fully grasp the depth of such feelings. Human emotions were inherently complex.

By noon, Nai Bing was treated to a home-cooked meal: simple dishes like shredded pork with green peppers, corn and ham with carrots, and tomato and egg soup. Her heart felt wrapped in fluffy clouds, warm and melting.

After saying grace, Nai Bing picked up her chopsticks and savored the delicious food. Across from her, Yi Zhanying sat motionless, as if lost in thought.

“What’s wrong?” Nai Bing asked curiously.

“Do you feel like you’re married now? Just the two of us in a house, dealing with the everyday things like food and household chores?” Yi Zhanying asked earnestly, her mind already running wild with scenarios.

“Ahem…” Nai Bing couldn’t suppress a cough as she served more food onto Yi Zhanying’s plate. “Sister, you’ve worked hard, cooking for me. Yingying, please eat more.”

Yi Zhanying froze. “Bing-dog, what did you just call me?”

“Yingying?”

“The word before that.”

“Uh, Sister?” Nai Bing repeated.

“Mm-hmm.” Yi Zhanying nodded contentedly. “Let’s use that from now on.”

“……” Nai Bing was seriously beginning to suspect that this woman was a sister complex case. Xiao Qi had mentioned that at home, Yi Zhanying was also unusually attentive and caring towards her younger sister.

After the meal, Yi Zhanying insisted on washing the dishes herself. After confirming that her fever had subsided, Nai Bing reluctantly agreed. Feeling a little tired, Yi Zhanying lay down on the sofa for a short nap.

When Nai Bing finished her chores and returned, she found the woman already asleep, the room faintly permeated with the scent of pheromones. Suddenly, she recalled the last time she visited Yi’s house and witnessed her fully exposed body. It was undeniably tempting. What am I thinking?

Nai Bing draped a blanket over her, then turned to see the lovely woman subconsciously reaching for her clothes, half-asleep and slightly tipsy, emitting indistinct murmurs from her throat. Was she uncomfortable?

“Yingying?” Nai Bing leaned closer and whispered.

After a long moment, Yi Zhanying’s eyes fluttered open, still hazy with intoxication.

Before Nai Bing knew it, Yi Zhanying’s arms had wrapped around her neck, pulling her close. Nai Bing lost her balance and fell onto the woman, studying her delicate eyelashes, marveling at their beauty, as if they were meticulously crafted works of art.

“Can I hold you a little longer?” Yi Zhanying murmured, her voice husky. “I feel… restless.”

“Restless?”

“&%#…”

Nai Bing thought she heard something.

Startled, Nai Bing sprang back, her heart racing painfully fast. She stood frozen, helplessly staring at Yi Zhanying, avoiding her gaze.

Realizing she had slipped into her usual rude habits, Yi Zhanying slowly sat up, pressing a hand to her forehead and sighing. “I meant… emotional restlessness,” she tried to clarify, pointing to her chest. “Because of you, my heart’s racing. Don’t believe me? Feel for yourself.”

Her attempt at damage control only seemed to make things worse. The remedy had failed.

Later, after fastening her buttons, Yi Zhanying picked up her designer handbag from the side. “I should be going, then.”

“Mm-hmm. Drive safely, Yingying. See you next time…” Nai Bing waved stiffly in farewell.

After her sister left, Nai Bing poured herself a glass of water and took her medicine. The house was quiet, with a faint scent of spring water lingering in the air. Yi Zhanying’s glandular pheromones were the most distinctive Nai Bing had ever encountered; fresh and refined, forming a stark contrast with her personality.

Nai Bing didn’t truly understand her. All she could discern were superficial labels: gentle, accomplished, mature, sensual, and deeply caring. Her perfection was somehow intimidating, making Nai Bing fear getting hurt.

Beep. Nai Bing woke to a phone call. The screen showed “Mom.”

“Hello? Mom.” Nai Bing rubbed her eyes and sat up.

“Sweetie, you sound like you were sleeping. Not at work? Slacking off?” Her mother, a country woman, spoke in a loud, booming voice.

“I have a cold and am resting.”

“Oh no, you’ll lose a day’s pay.” Her mother grumbled, skipping any concern for her daughter’s health. “Your brother’s mid-term exam results are terrible. We’ve talked it over with your father, and we’re signing him up for a college entrance exam cram course for the final month’s push.”

Nai Bing felt a knot in her stomach. “How did he score?”

“Just over four hundred. He can’t even get into second-tier universities.” Her mother’s voice was anxious. “The college entrance exam only comes once in a lifetime. We can’t afford the cost of repeating a year, and the cram course will cost another 20,000 yuan. Business has been slow this year, and we’re short on cash. I was wondering if you could lend me some money. Could you spare 5,000 yuan?”

Nai Bing thought about her meager savings and feared she didn’t have that much. “Can I give you four thousand now? I’ll pay you the rest after I get my next paycheck.”

“Of course, of course. Why worry about such things between family? Mom understands how hard you work alone,” her mother said understandingly.

“Mm-hmm, I’ll transfer it to you later.”

Her family ran a small, low-budget grocery business. After a year of hard work, they barely managed to save a few tens of thousands of yuan to scrape by. She also needed to contribute to her younger brother’s education expenses. She would do her part to support him.

Meanwhile, after returning home, Yi Zhanying had immediately burrowed under her covers, tossing and turning restlessly. The sight of Nai Bing’s frightened expression kept replaying in her mind, mingled with a flicker of regret and shame.

Why did I say such things to an innocent girl? It makes me sound like a pervert…

“You’re back?” Yi Mingqi, who was studying at home, came to greet her. Noticing her sister’s troubled expression, she asked with keen interest, “What happened? Did something go wrong with Bingdog?”

Yi Zhanying shook her head, unwilling to tell her scheming younger sister and risk ridicule.

Yi Mingqi snorted, already guessing most of it. “Sister,” she said coldly, “listen up. If you dare do anything to hurt my friend, I won’t let you off the hook.”

“Xiao Qi, you’re so scary.”

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