The Scumbag Omega Chases After Platonic Love - Chapter 9

The psychology consultation room.Yi Zhanying secretly brought a small rose to the appointment today. She checked in at the front desk, “Hello, I have a prior appointment with Nai Bing.”

“Right, got it,” the receptionist replied. Having seen Yi Zhanying several times before, her striking appearance left a deep impression. Noticing the flower bud between her fingers, the receptionist asked with a smile, “Are you the one who keeps sending Xiao Bing milk? The mysterious suitor?”

“Not mysterious at all,” Yi Zhanying replied with a laugh, making no attempt to conceal it.

“Hahaha, Bing’s pretty tough, isn’t she? You’re doing the right thing, beautiful. With ice sculptures like her, you need to be aggressive. Even the hardest ice will eventually melt.”

Nai Bing received the notification and went to the private consultation room, where she indeed saw Yi Zhanying. Yingying was currently her only client who specifically requested to see her alone.

“Is work tiring?” Yi Zhanying asked, gently swaying the flower bud in her hand.

“Not too bad,” Nai Bing replied, glancing at the vibrant rose. She turned to pour tea for her guest and offered, “Please sit down and we can talk.”

They sat facing each other as usual. Yi Zhanying casually placed the flower bud beside her hand and said softly, “This is to remind you that I don’t just want to be your friend. I don’t want you to mistake me for a confidante.”

“Ahem…” Nai Bing felt a twinge of guilt at Yi Zhanying’s words and quickly changed the subject. “What do you want to talk about today?”

“How about you? I’d like to get to know you better,” Yi Zhanying said gently, her posture graceful and composed.

This put Nai Bing in a difficult position. She was, at heart, quite unremarkable. Her life revolved around studying and work, with little else. What was there to talk about? She feared she might even put Yi Zhanying to sleep.

“What do you want to know?” Nai Bing asked directly.

“Tell me about your relationships with your family and friends. Share some memorable everyday moments—childhood memories, like when your mother made delicious dumplings, your father helped you with your homework, the family farm had a good harvest, or when you came home from school to take care of your younger brother.”

Is that what she wants to hear? Nai Bing pondered for a moment before beginning. “When I was little, I loved my mother’s dumplings. We couldn’t afford meat, so we only got to eat them a few times a year. But one day, when I came home, I found she’d only made them for my younger brother, saying there wasn’t enough meat.”

“Did that feel unfair? Did you feel wronged?”

“I was a little sad at the time, but I eventually understood. Our family was poor, and there was nothing we could do. It’s inevitable that some things won’t be shared equally.”

Yi Zhanying’s heart ached. Her suspicions had been confirmed: Xiao Bing was the neglected child in her family. “Has this happened often?”

Nai Bing nodded. “Because I’m the older sister, I always step back in such situations. I never thought our parents were deliberately favoring my brother. After all, both my brother and I are Alphas. Why should they treat us differently?”

Nai Bing’s frank explanation left Yi Zhanying speechless. She understood what Yi Zhanying was trying to imply and clarified her stance to prevent misunderstandings.

“By the way, there’s something I wanted to discuss with you,” Yi Zhanying said, shifting the conversation away from probing questions. “I recently bought a house in the neighborhood. Since I usually stay with Xiao Qi at home, the new place is empty most of the time. Would you like to move in?”

Nai Bing froze, her mind racing. She was trying to decipher Yi Zhanying’s motives. Could it be that Yi Zhanying had specifically bought the house to hide her away, like a precious treasure?

“Exactly! I bought the house specifically for you, to make your commute to work easier. What do you say?” Yi Zhanying cut straight to the point, leaving no room for ambiguity.

“Do you really think I’d agree to that?” Nai Bing’s eyebrows slumped into a V-shape. “What would happen if I moved into your place? I’d be indebted to you, unable to refuse anything without feeling guilty. Even jumping into the Yellow River couldn’t wash away that stain.”

“You could pay rent. It’s a fair deal,” Yi Zhanying suggested, holding up a hand with five fingers. “A single room for 500 yuan per month, no deposit required. Utilities and common areas are included.”

Only 500 yuan per month, and no deposit…

It was hard not to be tempted. Nai Bing’s current rent was over a thousand yuan a month, and her roommates often left the place a mess for her to clean up, practically making her their free maid.

“Besides, I hardly ever go there anyway.”

“Fine, I’ll rent it,” Nai Bing relented. Why wait for such a good deal?

“Great. Let’s just agree verbally. No need for a formal contract.”

After work that afternoon, they arranged to move. A moving company, already waiting in the neighborhood, arrived swiftly. It was all too fast. Nai Bing felt like a duck being forced to climb a ladder, realizing she’d fallen into a trap after all.

“Did the landlord say he’d refund your deposit?” Yi Zhanying asked.

“If you move out early, you won’t get your deposit back,” Nai Bing said while packing her bedroom. She held her sister’s large stuffed dog, wondering how to fit it in. It took up so much space.

“Give me your phone. I’ll talk to her.”

“What’s there to talk about?” Nai Bing asked, bewildered, but obediently handed over her phone.

Before long, the landlord unexpectedly returned the entire deposit, untouched. Nai Bing was astonished. What had Yingying done?

Finally, she left a note for her roommate: “I’ve braised your favorite beef brisket in the kitchen. I’ve also tidied up. I’m moving out now. Good luck finding a new roommate soon!”

In this cold world, even living under the same roof doesn’t necessarily make you friends. Time and distance are usually crucial factors in building relationships. Nai Bing pondered why she and Yingying had grown so close in such a short time. Was it because Yingying was too proactive, while she herself had become increasingly passive?

“We’re here. It’s just ahead.”

The drive took only twenty minutes, and the place was just over a kilometer from her internship at the counseling clinic. Even if she overslept in the morning, she could run to work and still make it on time.

“How much did you pay for this place?” she asked curiously in the elevator.

“The down payment was over three million,” Yi Zhanying said casually.

Nai Bing froze, startled. This ruthless society…

The simple two-bedroom, one-living room apartment, including common area, measured seventy square meters. It was fully furnished and decorated, even catering to Nai Bing’s preference for blue and white accents. The TV wall featured a large expanse of pale blue, complemented by a light gray carpet beneath. A subtle fragrance filled the air, creating an overall ambiance that was simple, elegant, and soothing.

Yi Zhanying turned on the automatic coffee machine, which she had purchased just days earlier. She retrieved a large bottle of milk from the fridge and began frothing it.

“This machine is identical to the one at the office,” Nai Bing remarked, having unpacked most of her suitcase. She came over to watch Yi Zhanying work.

“Just a moment. It’ll be ready soon.” Yi Zhanying waited patiently for the froth to finish. Turning back, she saw Xiao Bing neatly organizing items in the guest room and asked, puzzled, “Aren’t you sleeping in the master bedroom? I even lit some incense for you.”

******

Later, Nai Bing sat upright on the single sofa while Yi Zhanying gracefully settled onto the industrial-style hemispherical swing, located at the junction of the living room and balcony. The design was strikingly stylish.

It was already 11 PM, the atmosphere serene and relaxed. With only the two of them in the room, the mood felt subtly charged.

“Don’t keep fixating on the price. The higher-ups keep changing their policies. Can we really solve every issue by cutting prices? Does anyone else do that? Think about it carefully.” Yi Zhanying answered a work call. “If you’re really stuck, I’ll remind you: adjust the project based on its surroundings.”

“Work not going well?” Nai Bing noticed her colleague’s unusually cold expression.

“My patience is being worn down, bit by bit,” Yi Zhanying replied with a smile, picking up her designer handbag. “I should be going.”

“Already?” Nai Bing blurted out, her words tumbling out before she could think. It was as if her mouth had moved faster than her brain.

“Hmm, you sound reluctant to see me go,” Yi Zhanying said, her voice tinged with anticipation.

“It’s too late now, and this is your home anyway…” Nai Bing trailed off.

“Oh, good! I was worried you weren’t going to ask me to stay,” Yi Zhanying sighed in relief, looking thoroughly pleased.

The master bedroom came with an en-suite bathroom. After washing up separately, they changed into pajamas, exchanged goodnights, and closed the door, ignoring each other.

Tonight felt particularly strange and unfamiliar. Lying on the large bed, clutching the silk quilt, Nai Bing’s mind raced with fantasies. Fear gripped her heart, afraid that one day she would fall victim to the lies of love.

As a therapist, she had seen countless cases of initial sweetness followed by shattered families. The reason older couples remained together for decades was often just settling for what they had. Even her own parents frequently bickered and complained. She had no desire for such a love.

Ping! A WeChat message arrived, sent from the room next door.

[Ying: So happy~ Tonight feels like I’m closest to you ever.]

[Nai Bing: That’s still about two meters away…]

[Ying: Just a wall separates us.]

But Ying seemed genuinely sweet, never forcing anything. She was always considerate and thoughtful. If she weren’t chasing me, but someone else, would they be tempted? Would they fall for her?

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