Chapter 46
"Major General Gu, I'm being transferred from A17 Division, I'm about to become your new adjutant. My name is Bai Wei. You can also call me by my code name, 1753."
"Mm. Report directly to the military base tomorrow for the handover. You can find my other adjutant, Shan Ni'er, for your induction procedures."
"Yes, Major General. Understood."
After Bai Wei finished speaking, she fell silent, waiting for Gu Sijiu to hang up. Noticing Bai Wei's steady gaze, Gu Sijiu felt inexplicably awkward. She disconnected the communicator, glanced at the clock pointing to nine, then looked at the cold, untouched dinner on the table, hesitating over whether she should call Song Jinzhi.
Gu Sijiu held the communicator, scrolled to Song Jinzhi's contact, but just before making the call, she shut off the screen. In the reflection, Gu Sijiu saw her own conflicted face staring back, and she tossed the communicator aside in irritation. Just then, the front door opened. Gu Sijiu looked up to see Song Jinzhi standing in the doorway, clutching a stack of documents, utterly exhausted.
Song Jinzhi was someone who cared deeply about appearances and etiquette, a trait heavily influenced by her upbringing and family background. Gu Sijiu had rarely seen Song Jinzhi lose her composure. Her clothes were always immaculate, she carried a subtle, elegant fragrance that matched her temperament, and her hair was, as ever, perfectly neat.
Lately, Gu Sijiu had noticed Song Jinzhi was clearly troubled, most likely with work. The continuous overtime had left dark circles under her eyes that even makeup couldn't conceal. Gu Sijiu had woken up in the early hours more than once to find the study light still on. During breakfast, Song Jinzhi's expression was perpetually grim, and she hadn't been home for dinner in days.
Gu Sijiu admitted she was worried about Song Jinzhi's current state. From what she knew, the woman hadn't rested properly in about a week, sleeping only a few hours a night, skipping proper meals, surviving on nutrient supplements and coffee. Gu Sijiu recalled overhearing Song Jinzhi's communicator conversation with her so called second uncle yesterday. It seemed a major problem had arisen with one of Song Corporation's recent projects, and the blame had fallen squarely on Song Jinzhi.
Gu Sijiu had once been a company manager herself. She knew how difficult it was for a woman to gain a firm foothold in a corporation, and the immense malice the world could direct at women. If it was that way in her own world, it was probably far worse in this place, with its stark divisions between Alphas and Omegas. Watching Song Jinzhi so drained each day, Gu Sijiu felt a sharp pang of worry and concern. It gnawed at her, a persistent ache that had appeared without reason.
This feeling hadn't just started recently. After her heat, Gu Sijiu found her gaze constantly drifting toward Song Jinzhi. She paid unconscious attention to her actions and subtle moods, contrasting her usual cold expression with the passionate one she wore in bed. She even started making dishes she knew Song Jinzhi liked, placing them in front of her without a word, as if she didn't know.
Gu Sijiu knew her own thoughts were dangerous. In the language of her old world, she was "turning gay."
She found it rather remarkable that after twenty eight years as a thoroughly straight woman, here, in just half a year, she was visibly spiraling toward the other side at an alarming rate.
Gu Sijiu laughed bitterly at the absurdity. She didn't plan to control this emotion, nor to suppress it. Since she wasn't sure yet if what she felt for Song Jinzhi was real affection, she might as well just let it run its course.
"You're back? Want something to eat?" Gu Sijiu noticed Song Jinzhi's hair was slightly disheveled, and she was so exhausted that even her posture was slumping. Song Jinzhi rarely let anyone see her looking so undone. She must be completely worn out.
"No, thank you." Song Jinzhi didn't want to talk. She walked past Gu Sijiu, went straight to the kitchen, grabbed a coffee and two nutrient supplements, and headed upstairs. Gu Sijiu opened her mouth to speak, but seeing Song Jinzhi's expressionless profile, she had to swallow her words. Well, so much for shaking off that "Wooden Face" label these past weeks. She'd been upgraded straight to "Ice Cube Face" now.
Gu Sijiu knew it was best not to bother Song Jinzhi at a time like this, but she couldn't help her own concern. Before going to bed, Gu Sijiu looked at the study, its light still on. She paced outside the door several times, her hand poised to knock, only to pull it back again and again. Finally, she let out a sigh and went back to lie down. While Song Jinzhi didn't sleep, she found herself unable to sleep either.
The next morning, Gu Sijiu got up early, wanting to speak with Song Jinzhi, only to find Song Jinzhi's bedroom door already open. She glanced inside and saw the bed hadn't been slept in.
Song Jinzhi had clearly stayed up all night and left early in the morning. Indeed, Song Jinzhi hadn't closed her eyes all night. Even if she weren't working, lying in bed with all those issues piling up would have kept her awake anyway. She figured she might as well devote the time to work. Stepping out of the car, the prolonged lack of rest hit her with a wave of dizziness, her head heavy, her legs weak, and a burning discomfort gnawed at her stomach.
She forced herself to stay alert, nodding at passing employees as she walked directly to her office. Staf was standing at the door. Seeing her, she whispered that the Chairman was inside. Song Jinzhi wasn't surprised that her father would pay an unexpected visit. The mistake she'd made this time was not insignificant, and Song Jinzhi had braced herself for a reprimand before entering.
"Dad, you're here." Song Jinzhi pushed open the door and saw Father Song sitting on the sofa, greeting him softly. Father Song, looking at Song Jinzhi's haggard face, frowned with concern. "Xiao Jin, you probably already know why I'm here today." Father Song spoke gently, no real rebuke in his words, but that only made the ever excellent Song Jinzhi feel more ashamed.
The whole bidding error this time was completely her own fault. She hadn't investigated the issues with that specific area beforehand, leading to an erroneous estimate after the bid, which in turn caused a cash flow problem for the company. Song Jinzhi's face was pale. This was the biggest blow ever dealt to her, someone used to excelling at everything. Father Song had come with no intention of blaming her, but seeing his daughter's guilt stricken face, his heart ached for her. This was their family's princess. When had she ever had to endure such a grievance?
"Xiao Jin, I definitely didn't come here to blame you today," Father Song said. "And besides, Song Corporation isn't so weak that a single bidding project will cripple us. I just think, isn't this job a bit too hard on you? After just a few days, you've already lost so much weight. Your constitution isn't as strong as an Alpha's to begin with. Your second uncle told me you've been buried in work lately. What will we do if you get sick from exhaustion?"
Father Song spoke with heartfelt concern, but Song Jinzhi found no comfort in his words. She understood the implication. Her father didn't blame her, but that lack of blame stemmed from her being an Omega. Incidents like this had happened many times since childhood. Every time she achieved good results, people always lavished praise on her. When Song Jinzhi herself thought it was simply a normal accomplishment, others would exaggerate it as something extraordinary. All of it, just because she was an Omega. Omegas were placed in a weaker position, so any achievement she made was amplified out of proportion. If her younger sister had caused this failure, her father would have scolded her fiercely. But with her, it was...
"Dad, the fault for this mistake is entirely mine. As the company's General Manager, I naturally take full responsibility. I will revise the proposal and recoup Song Corporation's losses. If I can't do that, I'm willing to resign from the General Manager position and start over from another department." Song Jinzhi spoke with absolute seriousness, but Father Song just shook his head repeatedly.
"Xiao Jin, you're just too stubborn. I don't know where you get that temper. I think your second uncle has a point. You're an Omega. Don't push yourself too hard in anything. If the work is too tiring, give yourself more time to rest. Our Song family doesn't lack the money from this one project. I don't want to see you so worn out."
Father Song spoke what he believed were considerate words. Song Jinzhi listened with her head bowed, her eyes faintly reddening at the rims. She knew her father was worried about her, but such words completely negated all her years of effort. Song Jinzhi felt a wave of disappointment. Perhaps others would think she was being greedy, having such loving parents yet wanting to walk a path unsuited to an Omega. She only wanted to do what she was capable of, not live a life mapped out step by step. Was that desire so greedy?
Song Jinzhi gave a self deprecating laugh. She stood where she was, then suddenly bowed deeply to Father Song. "Chairman, I will handle this mistake. If there's nothing else, I need to get to work." Song Jinzhi lifted her head defiantly. Father Song looked at her, started to say something, then stopped. In the end, he could only pat her shoulder and leave the office.
Song Jinzhi sat at her desk, spreading out the piled up documents one by one. At some point, Staf came in. Seeing Song Jinzhi's reddened eyes, she brought her some eye drops. Song Jinzhi had thought she was strong enough, but the entire afternoon, she couldn't focus on work at all. She realized she needed to rest for a while. If she didn't stop now, she might collapse completely.
"Staf, leave everything else for tomorrow. I'm heading out early." Song Jinzhi took a few important documents home. Sitting in the car, she set it to autopilot. In her hand was the bottle of eye drops Staf had given her. It was just an unremarkable little bottle, but looking at it, Song Jinzhi suddenly felt a painful sting in her nose.
She could put on a strong front in front of her colleagues and her own father, but now, with no one to see, no one to witness, to just be fragile for a little while, no one would mock her. Song Jinzhi clutched the eye drops, curling her body up in the seat. She was normally so tall and poised, yet now she looked utterly vulnerable and fragile.
Song Jinzhi stayed in the car for half an hour, only getting out once her emotions had settled somewhat. She wiped away the lingering traces of moisture from the corners of her eyes with her hand, and as she pushed open the door, she found Gu Sijiu sitting on the sofa. Their eyes met. Gu Sijiu saw Song Jinzhi's red, swollen eyes and could tell she had just been crying and was trying to hide it.
Gu Sijiu averted her gaze after a single glance, walking to the other side of the room as if nothing was amiss. Throughout the evening, Song Jinzhi didn't come downstairs again.
When Gu Sijiu made dinner and called her down, she received no reply. Gu Sijiu thought for a moment, then went upstairs to the study and pushed the door open.
"Song Jinzhi, are you in some kind of trouble?" The fact that Gu Sijiu had suddenly come in was already disruptive enough. Now, hearing this question, Song Jinzhi felt a flash of irritation.
"Gu Sijiu, I'm busy. If you don't have anything important, please don't disturb me." Song Jinzhi's voice was icy, just like it was when they first started living together. Gu Sijiu knew she was frustrated. Normally, she would have gotten angry and ignored this impossible woman, Song Jinzhi, for the rest of the day. But in this situation, Gu Sijiu could see Song Jinzhi was on the verge of breaking down. How could she take her harsh words seriously now?
"Hey, I want to help. If I didn't see you so exhausted, I wouldn't bother. I actually know a thing or two about the business world. Otherwise, I..."
"Gu Sijiu, I said I'm busy. I don't want to waste time talking to you about anything. Can't you just be a little more considerate and not bother me right now? Can you just let me have some quiet?"
Song Jinzhi suddenly raised her voice. She knew her thoughts were a tangled mess, and she was fully aware that she was simply taking it out on Gu Sijiu. The moment the words left her mouth, she started to regret it, especially seeing that Gu Sijiu hadn't gotten angry. That only magnified Song Jinzhi's guilt. Her eyes rimmed red, the whites threaded with a web of blood vessels from days of sleeplessness.
"Sorry, Gu Sijiu. I... I didn't mean to snap at you. I just... I just... don't know what to do anymore. I'm sorry."
Song Jinzhi spoke wearily. She covered her face with her hands, as if that could hide all her vulnerability. Her Omega pheromones drifted over, laced with helplessness and despair, like sinking into the deep ocean, the pressure so suffocating it was hard to breathe.
Gu Sijiu sensed that Song Jinzhi was reaching out for help, waiting for someone to help her, even just a little. This version of Song Jinzhi made it impossible to blame her for losing control. It only left room for tenderness.
Gu Sijiu walked over and, from behind the chair, wrapped her arms around her.
"Wooden Face, what are you throwing a fit for? You're already ugly, and when you throw a fit, you're even uglier. I said I want to help. Whatever problem you have, you can tell me."
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