75

Actually, Yu Zhiwan's "didn't sleep well" wasn't meant the way Zhao Manlin had taken it. It was only after seeing Zhao Manlin's reaction that she realized the misunderstanding, making her feel both amused and exasperated.

However, Zhao Manlin didn't dwell on the topic for long.

As old friends, Zhao Manlin wasn't the type to say "I missed you." Instead, she asked about Yu Zhiwan's current situation with Pei Yujang. When Yu Zhiwan mentioned that Liu Huanran might be in prison for a long time, Zhao Manlin couldn't help but laugh harshly:

"People like that, who only bully those weaker than them and target Omegas, should've been locked up long ago. And to think she even dared to kidnap you—does she really think the law doesn't exist?"

"By the way, if you and Pei Yujang are going to be together for the long haul…"

Zhao Manlin hesitated, seeming to have something on her mind. Yu Zhiwan noticed and urged her to speak freely.

"Well, since Pei Yujang is a Beta and a woman, it's probably safe, so there's nothing to worry about."

Zhao Manlin looked at Yu Zhiwan for a moment, her gaze lingering on her friend's glossy black hair and beautiful face. Yu Zhiwan reminded her of something, causing a pang in her heart. Perceptive as ever, Yu Zhiwan picked up on Zhao Manlin's unease and asked directly:

"Are you thinking about her again?"

Zhao Manlin sighed softly in response.

Back in their university days, Zhao Manlin had dated a female Alpha.

Although Zhao Manlin was a career-driven Omega, she couldn't resist the Alpha's charms, and they'd had a sweet relationship for a while. During that time, Zhao Manlin spent more time with the Alpha, mostly because Yu Zhiwan wasn't fond of social activities, so the two often went out together.

One evening, her girlfriend suggested that she stay over instead of going home. With two adults in a passionate relationship, it was clear what might happen.

Zhao Manlin wasn't particularly conservative, but for safety, she suggested they both get health check-ups before doing anything, arguing that they needed to be responsible for each other's health.

Her girlfriend was upset, feeling that Zhao Manlin didn't trust her, and after some coaxing, they ended up having an argument and giving each other the cold shoulder. During their silent treatment, her girlfriend's ex showed up at their dorm, accusing Zhao Manlin of being a homewrecker.

The incident caused quite a stir, even involving the school's administration. The ex made a big scene, loudly accusing Zhao Manlin of seducing the Alpha. A few days later, intimate photos of Zhao Manlin and her girlfriend were leaked online.

Although nothing explicit had happened between them, the photos were enough to disgust her. The Alpha remained silent, leading Zhao Manlin to end the relationship with a slap and a breakup.

Later, she found out that the ex was pregnant—timing it exactly to when she and her girlfriend had been on bad terms. Zhao Manlin felt so sickened that she almost threw up and, from then on, harbored a deep distrust of Alphas, including Liu Huanran and, initially, Pei Yujang, who had been pretending to be an Alpha.

Her skepticism about Pei Yujang being with Yu Zhiwan had only gradually faded over time.

Not lingering on past emotions, Zhao Manlin explained what had stirred up these memories:

"While you were away, Jia Jia resigned."

It took Yu Zhiwan a moment to remember who she was referring to:

"Chen Tingjia? Minister Chen?"

"Yes, she resigned suddenly, saying she wanted to prepare for pregnancy. But she only got married last month."

Zhao Manlin was the deputy minister of the planning department, and Chen Tingjia, a level above her, was the minister. They had a close relationship. Chen Tingjia was cheerful, kind to her colleagues, and never put on airs. Despite being young and holding a significant position, she remained humble and hardworking, earning the admiration of their boss, Pei Junhuai, who had planned to give her a raise after Yuetong went public.

But despite her promising career, Chen Tingjia had resigned without warning.

Chen Tingjia was an Omega, and it was easy for Omegas to get pregnant. All it took was a deep mark from an Alpha during their heat, and soon enough, there would be a baby. She was healthy, didn't need medical assistance to conceive, and at twenty-seven or twenty-eight, wasn't considered a high-risk mother.

Zhao Manlin was shocked, initially thinking Chen Tingjia was joking. Her colleagues in HR had tried to persuade her to stay, even Pei Junhuai had personally spoken with her, but to no avail.

With Chen Tingjia gone, Pei Junhuai had promoted Zhao Manlin to minister, but the promotion didn't bring her much joy—she couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

Yu Zhiwan knew of Zhao Manlin's close relationship with Chen Tingjia and asked:

"Have you been in touch with her since?"

"I have, but she's been distant, saying she's trying to avoid screens. But Jia Jia is a very independent person. Even if her partner wanted to have children quickly, she wouldn't have given up her career during a crucial period."

After all, a child can be born whenever one has the ability, but missing out on a career peak could mean losing something that might never be regained.

Yu Zhiwan's heart skipped a beat, a sense of foreboding creeping in. If it wasn't something serious, Zhao Manlin wouldn't have brought it up so urgently:

"Are you suggesting…"

Zhao Manlin's expression turned grave as she made a startling statement:

"I'm worried she might be under some sort of control."

Yu Zhiwan stared at her.

She didn't ask a foolish question like "Who would be controlled in a lawful society?" nor did she make other guesses. Yu Zhiwan wasn't naive, and combined with recent suspicions she and Pei Yujang had, her mood grew heavy.

After asking Zhao Manlin a few key questions, Yu Zhiwan immediately went to find Pei Yujang.

She found Pei Yujang taking photos of the office—detailed shots from various angles, including panoramic views—and chatting with someone on her phone.

Seeing Pei Yujang's radiant smile, Yu Zhiwan couldn't help but be infected by her good mood. She wheeled herself over and playfully patted Pei Yujang's waist.

Pei Yujang's proportions were exceptional—standing at nearly 1.7 meters, her long legs were a given, and her waist was slim, with a hint of defined abs beneath the surface. When she engaged her core, her abdomen felt firm, but her skin remained smooth and soft, giving it a wonderful texture.

The unexpected touch made Pei Yujang shiver. She turned around and showed Yu Zhiwan her phone:

"I'm talking to a renovation company. What do you think of this plan?"

She had taken a picture of her office, marked it up, crossed out one section, and circled a small area, roughly ten square meters. Pei Yujang's office was spacious, a special preparation by Pei Junhuai, with that particular area originally intended as a dressing room.

Yu Zhiwan squinted, studying the plan for a few seconds before asking, "What are you planning to turn the dressing room into?"

"A small, private room," Pei Yujang explained confidently. "I've read about it in novels."

The dressing room was semi-open, with a curtain for privacy while changing clothes. Pei Yujang now planned to install a door, making it a more private space.

Yu Zhiwan opened her phone's reading app and saw the title of the novel, "The Tyrant's Wife: Sweet Love, Where Can My Subordinate Wife Escape?" She glanced at Pei Yujang before deleting the app.

Unaware that her app had been deleted, Pei Yujang took back her phone, still in a good mood, and asked Yu Zhiwan if something was on her mind.

Their offices weren't located together, and part of Pei Yujang's reason for the renovation was to bring Yu Zhiwan into her office so they could work and eat together, making everything more convenient.

Not wanting to spoil her good mood, Yu Zhiwan chatted casually with her for a while longer. Once inside the office, Pei Yujang made coffee with her new coffee machine, filling the air with the rich aroma of coffee and a hint of milk.

Knowing that Yu Zhiwan preferred pure coffee, Pei Yujang added only a little milk. After taking a sip herself, she wrinkled her nose:

"It's so bitter."

Yu Zhiwan could drink iced Americanos without flinching, but the smell alone was too much for Pei Yujang, who could only handle lattes with plenty of sugar and milk.

However, the light-hearted atmosphere didn't last long. After a sip of her coffee, Yu Zhiwan brought up the serious matter:

"Fish Sauce, something might be wrong in Yi City."

Pei Yujang paused in the middle of making her latte.

Yu Zhiwan briefly summarized what Zhao Manlin had told her, without exaggeration or omission. As Pei Yujang listened, her brow furrowed deeper and deeper.

If it weren't for the A Organization's activities and the knowledge of their cruel methods for extracting and altering human genes, Pei Yujang might have dismissed this as an accident or just a case of Chen Tingjia getting caught up in her new relationship.

But with the A Organization's inhumane experiments now glaringly evident, Pei Yujang couldn't help but wonder if Chen Tingjia had already been taken to that place.

With a serious expression, Pei Yujang asked Yu Zhiwan:

"Can you ask Zhao Manlin to video call Minister Chen? If we can confirm she's okay, that's one thing. But if we can't… then it's highly likely we're right."

Yu Zhiwan quickly relayed the request to Zhao Manlin, who soon dialed Chen Tingjia's number.

The call wasn't answered immediately. After a long wait, a text message arrived, asking what she needed.

Pei Yujang took the phone and replied directly:

"I have some work questions I need your help with. Could you take a look at this proposal? It's due tomorrow, but President Pei keeps saying it's not up to par."

According to Zhao Manlin, Chen Tingjia was a workaholic who was kind to everyone. Under normal circumstances, she wouldn't outright refuse a request like this, even if she was preparing for pregnancy. Preparing for pregnancy didn't mean she was incapacitated.

When there was no response for a while, their suspicions grew. Finally, a video call came through, and Pei Yujang handed the phone back to Zhao Manlin, retreating to the corner with Yu Zhiwan.

When the call connected, Zhao Manlin saw Chen Tingjia sitting in a plain room, wrapped in a blanket, looking unwell, as if she had a cold.

Zhao Manlin scrutinized her, taking in the surroundings. She noticed faint dark circles under Chen Tingjia's eyes. Even after late-night work, Chen Tingjia had always maintained a vibrant appearance, thanks in part to her youth and love of skincare.

Seeing her once-energetic friend in this state was shocking. Could someone preparing for pregnancy really be this drained? Could she even give birth to a healthy baby like this?

Zhao Manlin's suspicions deepened.

Moreover, she had been to Chen Tingjia's home, and it didn't look like this. Although Chen Tingjia explained that she was at her husband's place, Zhao Manlin still found it odd.

Despite her growing doubts, Zhao Manlin didn't press her friend with unnecessary questions. She simply inquired about work matters and asked why they hadn't been in touch much, to which Chen Tingjia gave brief, unenthusiastic answers.

Feigning obliviousness to the brush-off, Zhao Manlin joked:

"How about I visit you? Preparing for pregnancy doesn't mean you're pregnant yet. Even if you were, you'd still need to get some sunshine. Aren't you worried you'll raise a lazy child at this rate?"

Though her tone was light, Chen Tingjia's expression subtly shifted at the mention of a visit, though she quickly composed herself.

"I've just been feeling lazy and not up for seeing anyone. If you need anything, just chat with me on Talk. I'm off to eat now, so I'll hang up."

With a wave, Chen Tingjia ended the call.

Zhao Manlin stood frozen for a moment, her expression dark.

On the surface, it didn't seem like Chen Tingjia was being held against her will, but Zhao Manlin noticed the slight tremor in her friend's hand, causing the camera to wobble.

She could sense that something was off with Chen Tingjia. In just a short time, the vibrant, joking Minister Chen had become a shadow of her former self. The exhaustion emanating from her was not normal.

Seeing Zhao Manlin's reaction, Pei Yujang was already drawing conclusions. She stepped forward and asked:

"When did you last see her? And when did you last chat?"

Zhao Manlin had recorded the video call, and now she handed her phone to Pei Yujang.

As Pei Yujang reviewed the footage, Yu Zhiwan leaned in to watch. After going through the chat history, they were convinced that something was wrong with Minister Chen. Zhao Manlin had checked on her several times before, but Chen Tingjia had always brushed her off, sometimes with a hint of impatience.

Initially, Zhao Manlin hadn't thought much of it, attributing it to a growing distance in their friendship, which had left her feeling a bit hurt.

Now, with Yu Zhiwan and Pei Yujang's insights, her heart pounded with anxiety, and she began to worry:

"Could something be wrong with her? Should we call the police—"

But without concrete evidence, the police wouldn't respond. They couldn't start an investigation just because a friend had become distant. Usually composed, Zhao Manlin was now visibly agitated, even berating herself for not noticing the signs sooner.

"It's okay," Pei Yujang reassured her. "If something had happened, she wouldn't be able to send you messages."

She recalled Yu Zhiwan telling her that those people sought out Alphas and Omegas with specific genes, either for direct experimentation or to have them produce offspring for further research.

Her parents, who had worked for the organization, were essentially in an arranged marriage. Luckily, they had developed genuine feelings for each other after marriage and had eventually shown mercy, allowing her to escape.

The A Organization's reach was even more pervasive than she had imagined, especially in Yi City, which was practically their stronghold. This was exactly why Pei Yujang had returned.

Minister Chen was likely not yet involved in the experiments, but time was of the essence. Pei Yujang immediately began planning their next steps.

First, they needed to find out where Minister Chen was. After some thought, Pei Yujang realized the most capable person for the job was Jiang Wenxiu.

With urgency pressing, Pei Yujang couldn't think of anyone better suited for the task. She quickly decided to involve Jiang Wenxiu and, that evening, bought a bunch of snacks and brought Yu Zhiwan along to visit.

Jiang Wenxiu, currently under strict supervision from Fan Zhaozhao, was holed up in her room, working on homework. When she heard the door open, she immediately bolted out.

Fan Zhaozhao was watching TV in the living room. After a brief greeting, Pei Yujang said:

"Aunt Fan, my mom asked me to remind you about the dinner at the Xiao Building at 6:30. Has Wenxiu eaten yet? If not, we can take her out for dinner later."

Fan Zhaozhao, noticing the time, quickly got up to get ready, leaving the kids to themselves. Pei Yujang gave Jiang Wenxiu a knowing look, and they slipped into her room with Yu Zhiwan.

After hearing what Pei Yujang wanted, Jiang Wenxiu agreed easily, but she also demanded a favor in return.

Pei Yujang eyed her warily: "If you're asking for a game console, an excuse for a long vacation, or a trip to a bar, forget it. I can find someone else."

Jiang Wenxiu stammered, "No, no… it's just… if you could, maybe help me out with something at school, like a parent-teacher conference or something. Nothing illegal."

Pei Yujang relented: "Okay, deal."

The task she had given Jiang Wenxiu was relatively simple—finding a location. It didn't require hacking into any dark web or bypassing major security systems, just a bit of clever searching. So Pei Yujang wasn't worried.

While Jiang Wenxiu tapped away on her keyboard, Pei Yujang, feeling restless, took Yu Zhiwan out to the balcony. The gentle summer evening breeze didn't cool her agitation. She leaned on the railing, feeling the cool tiles under her hands, when Yu Zhiwan's calm voice broke the silence:

"You're in such a rush because you plan to go there alone once you find the place, don't you?"

Just like she had with the water plant.

Pei Yujang hadn't mentioned her plan to anyone, but Yu Zhiwan had seen right through her. Startled by the accurate guess, she quickly tried to explain:

"No, I…"

But before she could finish, Yu Zhiwan grabbed her collar, pulling her down and pressing her hand over Pei Yujang's lips, silencing her.

"If you think you can handle everything on your own, then why do you need me?"

Yu Zhiwan's tone was calm, as if they were having a normal conversation. But when her clear eyes met Pei Yujang's, her gaze unyielding, Pei Yujang knew Yu Zhiwan was angry.

The Omega held her collar tightly, not with much force, but close enough for Pei Yujang to catch a whiff of her delicate scent. Yu Zhiwan, her voice laced with a dangerous gentleness, leaned in and asked softly, "Well?"

Just as Pei Yujang was steeling herself to respond, the awkward moment was interrupted by the sound of approaching footsteps. Before she could straighten up, Jiang Wenxiu burst in.

"I found—"

She froze mid-sentence, taking in the intimate scene between the two. She muttered something under her breath, which Pei Yujang didn't catch, but it sounded like "hearts."

Pei Yujang turned to Jiang Wenxiu, who quickly corrected herself:

"I said I want stir-fried goose heart next time. You should get some."