After Teasing the aloof Arch-Nemesis Omega - Chapter 7

The driver sent by the Fang family arrived punctually at the entrance of Elite Academy on Friday afternoon.

Among the rows of luxury cars at the entrance, a black minivan with a low-key and steady appearance was parked at the very front. Beside it, the driver was already waiting.

After seeing Fang Zhijin come out, the driver bent slightly at the waist.

“Zhijin, it looks like your family’s driver is here to pick you up.” The girls beside her were still somewhat reluctant to part.

After these past few days, they had come to like Fang Zhijin extremely much. They wished they could spend a little more time with her.

Fang Zhijin glanced over and said, “Yes, I have to go back.”

She got into the car and waved at them with a faint smile. “Then I’ll see you next week.”

“Mm-hm!”

“See you next week!”

The car slowly started moving. When it was about to leave the school gate, Fang Zhijin’s gaze casually swept across the crowd. She seemed to see a familiar, aloof figure appear just then, walking toward the laboratory building.

It was Yu Yunlan.

No one in the car would stare at her, so Fang Zhijin withdrew her smile, thoughtful.

Although she knew from the dream that this world was a novel, those dreams could only proceed from her own perspective, so the information she obtained was very limited.

At the very least, she did not know what the protagonist would be doing during this period.

…

Because the Fang family’s main residence occupied a large area, it was not located in the most prosperous center. Driving there from Elite Academy took about an hour.

The car drove into the area of the main residence. The huge iron gates on the outer perimeter opened, and the car entered, passing the nearby lawn and fountain garden before finally stopping in front of the large villa at the center.

The weather still had not cleared during this period. When she arrived, a fine drizzle had begun to fall from the sky.

After the car stopped steadily, someone came over holding an umbrella and opened the door for Fang Zhijin.

“Miss, you’re back.”

Fang Zhijin nodded casually. “Where is Mother?”

That person held the umbrella over Fang Zhijin’s head. “The family head is waiting for you in the first-floor hall.”

“All right, I know. Take me over.”

The two of them walked into the villa.

Ever since Fang Zhijin came of age, she had moved out of this place. It had probably been a month since she last returned.

In the first-floor living room, a huge chandelier lit up every corner, forming a complete extreme with the gloomy weather outside.

Her mother, Fang Fuyi, was sitting on the sofa. She was an Alpha who looked very unapproachable. She wore a light blue outfit that leaned toward formal attire; she had probably just returned from the company not long ago.

After seeing Fang Zhijin come in, she nodded and only said simply, “You’re back?”

After saying that, she continued checking the company’s business matters.

Fang Zhijin called out, “Mother,” and sat on the other side of the sofa.

After these two sentences, the two of them did not continue chatting. The air was very quiet.

The housekeepers around them each performed their duties, not making the slightest sound.

No one spoke.

There were clearly many people present, yet it gave off a cold and empty feeling.

After Fang Fuyi finished handling the last bit of work, she finally raised her head and asked, “How does Elite Academy feel?”

Fang Zhijin said, “Pretty good.”

Fang Fuyi nodded and said, “I heard you’re very popular at school, and the instructors all like you very much too.”

Fang Zhijin smiled. “That’s because Mother taught me well.”

Fang Fuyi said, “Not bad. You must know that the family has very high expectations of you. Only if you are rational enough and calm enough can you become a qualified heir, and only then can you better take over the family’s businesses in the future.”

“Mm. I keep all of that in mind, Mother.” The Alpha lowered her eyes, and her long, thick lashes fell with them. This appearance made her look extremely docile and obedient.

A trace of satisfaction flashed through Fang Fuyi’s eyes. She turned her head and said to the housekeeper beside her, “Since she’s already back, you can serve the dishes.”

Several housekeepers bent slightly at the waist and went to the kitchen to bring out the food as instructed, while a few others went to arrange the bowls and chopsticks.

Ten minutes later, all the dishes had been served, and the two of them had taken their seats.

The Fang family had the habit of not speaking while eating or sleeping. Throughout the entire meal, there was barely any sound of conversation. There was basically not even the sound of bowls and chopsticks clinking. The suffocating silence had reached a terrifying degree.

Fang Zhijin ate very slowly. By the time the meal ended, she had not eaten much.

A housekeeper came forward and handed her a tissue to wipe her mouth.

Before she could take it, she heard her mother say, “No appetite?”

Fang Zhijin shook her head. “I’m just not very hungry tonight.”

“It isn’t easy for you to come back, so you should still keep up with your nutrition.” Fang Fuyi said this lightly, then glanced at the person beside her.

The housekeeper seemed to receive some kind of instruction and turned toward the kitchen.

When she came out again, she was holding a small soup bowl.

When it was placed on the table, Fang Zhijin saw it clearly. It was a small bowl of squab soup. The milky-white broth was paired with tender pigeon meat, and there were also some goji berries and ginseng slices inside. It looked delicious.

Fang Zhijin was silent for a moment. She lowered her eyes to the bowl of pigeon soup and said, “Mother, I’ve already grown up. I don’t like drinking squab soup anymore.”

“I’ll just eat a little more of the other dishes.”

Fang Fuyi sat there. Her expression did not change much, but her gaze was cold, faintly hiding scrutiny. “This is soup the housekeeper spent a long time stewing. Drinking it is good for your body. It’s far more nutritious than the dishes on the table.”

As she spoke, she had the housekeeper push the squab soup in front of Fang Zhijin.

Fang Zhijin watched the bowl of soup get closer and closer to her.

One second, two seconds, three seconds…

Finally, looking at the soup bowl that had already reached her, Fang Zhijin raised the corners of her lips into a perfect arc. “All right. Then thank you, Mother. And thank you for the trouble too.”

Fang Fuyi said, “That’s more like it.”

She watched as Fang Zhijin picked up the bowl of soup and drank it one mouthful at a time.

Then she looked at the empty bowl. “Did it taste good?”

Fang Zhijin wiped her mouth with a tissue. Her eyes curved slightly, and not the slightest abnormality could be seen on her face. She said, “It was good.”

“I told you that you would still like it.” Fang Fuyi examined her for a moment, as if finally satisfied. “I remember there was a period when you hated pigeon soup the most as a child. Fortunately, you became sensible later.”

Then she said, “I had some sent to the villa you often stay in. Remember to supplement your nutrition often.”

“All right. Thank you, Mother.”

After the housekeepers cleared everything from the dining table, Fang Zhijin glanced at the time and said, “Mother, then you should rest early. I won’t disturb you here.”

“You’re not staying at home tonight?” Fang Fuyi asked.

“I won’t.” Fang Zhijin stood from the sofa, her brows and eyes lowered. “I still have a few things I haven’t finished.”

“All right. Then go back.” Fang Fuyi nodded slightly, looking very much like a mother who respected her child’s choices.

Heh. As if.

Fang Zhijin hid the dark gleam in her eyes, turned around, and left.

A wave of nausea was churning in her stomach, but she forced it back down.

After leaving the Fang residence, the rain outside had grown heavier. Dampness and chill rushed toward her face.

Someone ran over, opened an umbrella for her, and led her outside.

Her personal driver was already waiting. After seeing Fang Zhijin come out, he quickly helped her open the car door.

“Go back to my resi…” Fang Zhijin stopped halfway through. Thinking of the pigeons that had probably already been delivered to her villa, her stomach seemed to curl in on itself again, bringing a psychological urge to retch. She covered her stomach, though nothing could be seen on her face, and changed her words. “Go back to the dormitory at Elite Academy.”

After saying that, she raised the partition inside the car, forming a sealed little space in the back seat.

The car started. The scenery outside the window continuously receded. Fine raindrops fell onto the window, and as the car moved forward, they dragged out winding trails of water. The trails intertwined like dense spiderwebs, giving off a suffocating feeling of being tangled up.

Fang Zhijin looked away. Her entire face was hidden in the shadows, making it impossible to see her exact expression. One could only sense the heavy pressure surrounding her, yet it was not only that.

It was as if something had been tightly suppressed inside her body, but was urgently trying to break free.

Her chest felt suffocating to the extreme. Waves of nausea came from her stomach, nearly making her vomit.

Every part of her body was clamoring to vent something, to break free from something.

Fang Zhijin’s fingertips tightened slightly. Finally, she opened her communicator and sent a message to someone.

: Reserve a spot for me at Liberty Racetrack. I’ll come over tomorrow night.

She quickly received an affirmative reply from the other side.

After returning to the dormitory, there was no one in the shared living room. Fang Zhijin quickened her steps and entered the washroom in her own bedroom.

She leaned in front of the sink, gathered her hair behind her head, and used one hand to dig at her own throat.

The nausea in her stomach and the nausea deep in her throat surged up together, making her vomit out the bowl of pigeon soup she had drunk.

She had not eaten much that night to begin with. Now her stomach was even emptier.

Disgusting… truly disgusting…

After she had vomited almost everything, Fang Zhijin tidied herself up before raising her head and looking at the mirror.

Because she had just rinsed her mouth, a few drops of water still remained on the Alpha’s face in the mirror. The loose hair by her ears was wet and was dripping water.

Her appearance was extremely refined and gentle, and she still wore makeup. When she was not smiling, the sharpness between her brows and eyes finally showed itself. The look in her eyes was dark and deep, as if endless ink were surging inside, like a spirit that had just emerged from the water.

This disheveled and eerie appearance was herself.

…

In order to complete the task “ovo” had arranged for her, Yu Yunlan had deliberately found an inconspicuous laboratory today to break down a drug.

Elite Academy had one benefit for her: students could freely use some of the school’s resources, such as various kinds of equipment.

By the time she had almost finished breaking down the components of the drug, it was nearly eleven when she returned to the dormitory.

Today was the weekend. People from Domain A usually chose to go home on weekends. She had thought there would be no one in the dormitory, but after opening the door with her sensor card, Yu Yunlan found that the lights in the living room were on.

Her footsteps paused. She realized someone had returned.

She looked toward the bedroom opposite hers and saw that the door was half-open, not fully shut. Through that half-open gap, she could see the layout inside the room.

Unlike her own simple bedroom, it was clear that the owner of that room cared a lot about quality of life. However, the overall decoration was actually light gray.

She did not see Fang Zhijin inside.

Was she not there?

But even if she was not there, it had nothing to do with Yu Yunlan. Yu Yunlan should simply return to her own room and, ideally, avoid running into that Alpha.

Although she thought this in her mind, for a moment, she could not move her feet. Only after quite a while did she plan to return to her room.

But at this moment, Fang Zhijin just happened to walk out of the washroom.

The half-open gap was enough for the two of them to see each other.

Yu Yunlan noticed that the Alpha’s complexion did not seem good. Although she wore makeup, she looked pale and sickly. Yu Yunlan also noticed that the other girl’s hand was resting on her own stomach.

Fang Zhijin looked… as if her stomach was uncomfortable.

Her steps paused again, stopping in place.

And Fang Zhijin, looking at the person outside, had not expected things to be such a coincidence either. She had just come out of the washroom and had immediately run into her.

Her mood tonight was terrible. Seeing that face that naturally carried a cold and indifferent feeling, she felt an urgent impulse to tear that expression apart.

She braced one hand against the washroom door as if she could not stand steadily and said, “Classmate Yu, can you come over and help me?”

Yu Yunlan’s fingertips at her side moved slightly, but she quickly stopped them.

“Why should I help you?” It was not even phrased like a question.

Fang Zhijin laughed softly twice. “How heartless. I thought we were already friends… My stomach really hurts. I can’t walk.”

Yu Yunlan looked at her, her lips pressed straight. She did not really believe Fang Zhijin’s words. Fang Zhijin’s condition looked far from that terrible, and this Alpha was the best at bewitching people. Who knew which of her words were true?

She restrained herself, no longer paid attention to her, and turned to go back to her room.

In the next second, she heard the sound of a body falling to the floor.

Fang Zhijin seemed unable to support herself anymore. Her entire body was already lying on the ground.

Yu Yunlan’s breath caught. Without any hesitation, she ran into Fang Zhijin’s room.

“Are you all right? Does your stomach really hurt? Where does it hurt? Can you still stand? Can you talk?” For the first time, she said so many words in a row and asked so many questions.

Her calm, unruffled voice spread through this space. It was unknown whether it was an illusion, but there seemed to be a trace of panicked concern hidden inside.

Fang Zhijin lay on the ground and looked at the other girl’s reaction. Her malicious mood seemed to have obtained some kind of nourishment, instantly growing like vines and emerging bit by bit from the depths.

She raised her weak face and said, “Yes. My stomach feels very uncomfortable.”

She stretched out her hand toward Yu Yunlan. “Can you pull me up?”

Her complexion already looked somewhat pale, and now her hair was still dripping water. This appearance easily made one’s heart soften.

Sure enough, Yu Yunlan reached out and took her hand.

She really was easy to deceive. The corners of Fang Zhijin’s lips tugged into a faint arc.

Then, when the other girl pulled her up, she pretended to have no strength and followed the force, throwing her entire body against Yu Yunlan.

She could clearly feel the body beneath her instantly stiffen.

Fang Zhijin pretended not to know. She turned her face slightly and said, “Good thing you’re here, Classmate Yu. My body has no strength.”

Yu Yunlan turned her face to the other side, avoiding the other girl’s breath. Her face was stiff. “Don’t speak to me like that.”

“All right. Thank you.”

Her tone was very light, and the ending even lifted upward, like a hook slowly tempting an ignorant prey closer.

Yu Yunlan was clearly very unaccustomed to touching others like this. Over all these years, the few instances of intimate contact she had experienced had all been with this Alpha.

She half-supported, half-carried the other girl to the sofa. “Is there stomach medicine here? If not, order some online. Buy something light to eat too. I’ll prepare hot water for you.”

Fang Zhijin gave an “Mm.”

She watched the other girl go to the living room to boil hot water for her. To be honest, she had lived here for several days now, yet this was the first time she knew there was actually a place in the living room where one could boil hot water.

Looking at the other girl’s back, Fang Zhijin did not buy stomach medicine. Whether there was anything wrong with her stomach, she knew that herself.

As for food, she did not buy any either. She knew that she definitely would not be able to eat tonight.

The nausea in her stomach still faintly came through. Fang Zhijin’s fingers kept tightening, leaving layer upon layer of wrinkles on her clothes.

When Yu Yunlan brought the hot water over, Fang Zhijin was curled up on the sofa. She raised her eyes, her tone weak. “Classmate Yu, I still don’t seem to have much strength. Can you feed me?”

She watched Yu Yunlan hesitate for a moment, as if undergoing some kind of internal struggle. In the end, Yu Yunlan still picked up the cup and brought the rim to her lips.

The water temperature was just right. This action inevitably brought the distance between the two of them closer.

Yu Yunlan could see the other girl’s lips being moistened by the water little by little. She could see her lips part slightly as she took a mouthful of water in, then swallowed it.

She felt that her heart was a little strange. Its beating was a little too fast.

Fang Zhijin drank a mouthful of water, but she did not hurry to pull away. Instead, she suddenly grabbed the other girl’s clothes and slowly raised her eyes.

“Classmate Yu, has anyone ever told you that you’re very beautiful?”

In this kind of atmosphere, these words sounded genuinely a little ambiguous.

Yu Yunlan’s fingertips paused slightly. Ignoring the strangeness in her heart, her clear and cold brows and eyes swept downward, and she said, “You’re very boring. If your stomach doesn’t hurt anymore, I’m leaving.”

After saying that, she tried to move away.

But Fang Zhijin suddenly grabbed her wrist and forcefully pulled her body down. There was no trace of the weakness from earlier anymore.

The distance between the two of them became even closer than before. The water in the cup spilled out in a large amount due to inertia, wetting both of their clothes.

The soft sofa bore the weight of two people. Because its quality was very good, it did not even make the slightest unnecessary sound.

Yu Yunlan frowned. “What are you doing!”

Fang Zhijin examined her features, her voice very light. “Actually, I’ve always wanted to keep a pet…”

The topic changed far too abruptly. Yu Yunlan did not understand why this person had suddenly said such a thing.

Fang Zhijin had already looked at the black mole between Yu Yunlan’s fingers, then her gaze moved up bit by bit, passing over the other girl’s now-messy clothes.

She no longer pretended.

Under the light, she slowly revealed a smile. Yet it was not that gentle. Instead, it carried the wickedness she usually did not reveal before others, as if a crack had finally appeared in her gentle skin.

“You’re very much like a puppy,” she said, almost in a breathy voice.

Wanted to keep a pet… very much like a puppy…

Was she treating her like a pet? Was Fang Zhijin playing with her?

The expression on Yu Yunlan’s face completely froze over. At that moment, she felt that she was very stupid.

She never should have softened her heart!

She had clearly heard words even more excessive and more direct than this before, but Yu Yunlan’s emotions had never surged so violently.

Carrying a heavy anger even she could not clearly explain, she stood up. When Fang Zhijin tried to reach over and pull her again, Yu Yunlan slapped her hand away hard.

Because the force was too heavy, her fingertips scraped harshly across the back of Fang Zhijin’s hand, leaving a long scratch there.

Yu Yunlan turned her head away, making herself not look at that mark. Her voice was like it contained ice. “Someone like you really is very detestable.”

After saying that, she walked into her own room without looking back.

After closing the bedroom door, Yu Yunlan leaned against it and did not move for a long time.

It was not until her communicator vibrated once, indicating that someone had sent her a message, that she seemed to come back to herself.

She opened her communicator. It was a message from “ovo.”

ovo: I asked around about the drug resistance issue for you. I’ll come to Domain A tomorrow. Let’s meet tomorrow night. I also happen to have some things to give you.

Yu Yunlan told herself not to think about that hateful Alpha anymore. She replied: Okay.

Almost the instant she agreed, the other party sent an address. Yu Yunlan glanced at it, and her brows furrowed slightly.

The meeting place was a racetrack?