Chapter 100: Epilogue
Pei Yujang smirked to herself as she noticed that Yu Zhiwan's breathing wasn't quite even.
Who did Yu Zhiwan think she was dealing with?
Pei Yujang had been famously difficult to handle during the apocalypse, earning the nickname "General Pei." There had even been bandits who had handpicked and gathered a dozen beautiful, high-class Omegas with enticing pheromones to seduce her, offering a hefty reward. Yet, none of them had succeeded.
Back then, Pei Yujang was an Alpha, naturally prone to the effects of pheromones. It was only now, as a Beta, that she found it a bit easier to remain as composed as a rock, even when under the influence of a high-class Omega. But it still required immense self-control.
Pei Yujang turned over in bed, catching the faint, deliberate whiff of pheromones that Yu Zhiwan was releasing. She adjusted her breathing, turned her back to Yu Zhiwan, and prepared to sleep.
It wasn't long before one of Yu Zhiwan's legs found its way onto her.
Pei Yujang barely held back a laugh.
Yu Zhiwan's legs were smooth and slender, with defined lines from regular exercise after her recovery. Her delicate ankles felt just right in Pei Yujang's hand, something she had come to appreciate. But now, she simply yawned and nonchalantly pushed the leg that had crossed into her space back.
"Zhimaru," Pei Yujang decided to preempt any further "disturbances" from Yu Zhiwan. "Are you still awake?"
The response was a more even breathing pattern.
The leg that had been on her was quickly retracted, and Yu Zhiwan laid down properly, not willing to show any weakness despite the heat simmering inside her. Pei Yujang, suppressing her own excitement, had initially planned to wait for Yu Zhiwan to make another move before responding. But she couldn't hold out and eventually fell asleep first.
They both slept soundly until the next morning. The hotel's breakfast buffet ran from 6:30 until 10:00. They woke up an hour early, freshened up, and headed downstairs to eat.
There weren't many people having breakfast at this time, mostly young couples. Pei Yujang ordered two small bowls of wonton noodles from the chef. While they were waiting, she overheard two girls at the next table gossiping:
"Do you know the streamer Caviar?"
"Who doesn't? She's more popular than any A-list star right now!"
Pei Yujang wasn't used to being talked about and was even less comfortable being the center of attention. Hearing this, she quickly turned her head away.
Thankfully, she was in a natural state today, her hair still a bit messy since she hadn't bothered to tidy up because they'd be heading home soon. In this state, it wasn't easy for someone to recognize her at first glance. Besides, her height wasn't that remarkable among female Alphas. These two girls seemed to be an Alpha and an Omega.
The Omega girl gestured for her girlfriend to lean in, signaling her to listen to some gossip:
"I heard Caviar and Zhimaru broke up!"
"What?"
The tall Alpha girl was surprised, her voice rising a bit:
"But weren't they really in love?"
Pei Yujang was startled and pricked up her ears, wondering how on earth she and Yu Zhiwan had "broken up." Could it be that last night, while she was sleeping, Yu Zhiwan had snuck online and posted a breakup message to punish her?
"There's an insider blogger who said so. She's into tarot cards, and I think she's pretty accurate. She predicted that Yangyang and Yueqi would break up, and didn't they?"
The Omega shook her head:
"I really liked them as a couple, but I heard Caviar's family is hard to deal with. She's been living away from them for years now."
The original Pei Yujang didn't get along with her family. After Pei Yujang took over, due to privacy concerns and the awkwardness of facing Pei Jinhuai's concern, she had rented her own place rather than living at home.
Later, she didn't move back, partly to give Pei Jinhuai and Fan Zhaozhao some private space, and partly because she had gotten used to living independently. She and Yu Zhiwan were doing well this way.
Whenever she didn't go home, she enjoyed the freedom. If she wanted to visit, she could stay a few days. After all, young people generally prefer to have their own private space rather than live with their parents.
She couldn't understand how this had turned into rumors of her being at odds with her family and on the verge of breaking up with Yu Zhiwan.
Hearing such rumors early in the morning left Pei Yujang feeling a bit unhappy. Then she heard the Omega say:
"Didn't I tell you before that I shipped them for a while? I even paid to ask that tarot blogger. The blogger said they might not have it easy because their backgrounds are completely different. Something about reversed stars and time-space distortion—a bunch of technical terms I didn't quite get. But basically, she said they won't have an easy time getting to the end, and they'll probably have a long relationship before they get married."
The Omega sighed as she finished, but Pei Yujang didn't catch most of what she said, only focusing on the phrase "time-space distortion."
Although Pei Yujang didn't put much stock in tarot, astrology, or even the popular MBTI personality tests—she wouldn't judge someone based on their sign or "personality type"—hearing this kind of spooky prediction still made her a bit nervous.
What if that tarot blogger was onto something?
It's like how many people don't believe in ghosts or religion but still choose to respect them. Even though Pei Yujang didn't care much about these things, hearing something that sounded a bit mystical made her feel a bit uneasy.
How long had she and Yu Zhiwan been together? Pei Yujang thought back.
They'd known each other for about a year and had been dating for only half of that time.
Over the past six months, they had spent more time together than apart, and their relationship had been relatively smooth, though getting together had been a bit of a challenge.
Wait, if that blogger said they'd have a long relationship before getting married and that the relationship would be rough, couldn't they just get married earlier to break that prediction?
Since things were already going differently than predicted, with this new variable, Pei Yujang didn't believe the "rocky relationship" line would still apply to them.
Better safe than sorry, right? Besides, they were already old enough to get married. Pei Yujang was confident that once she brought it up, the parents would be fully supportive.
As Pei Yujang returned home, she smiled at Yu Zhiwan, the thought in her mind.
After the city chief's passing, the state arranged for a new candidate to take over. It took some time for the body to be recovered and preserved, and the funeral was finally held after a while. On the day of the funeral, the streets of Xiang City were packed with people. Bells tolled, and all vehicles on the road stopped in silent tribute.
If it weren't for her indulgence of Chen Shuyang, the city chief could have been considered a good and honest official. During her tenure, she rooted out countless corrupt officials and later coordinated efforts across several cities to make significant contributions to the eradication of the A Organization.
Even though Pei Yujang had memories of a past life, without the city chief's efforts, things would have taken her much longer, and it's uncertain whether she could have avoided repeating past mistakes. After all, in this life, she wasn't part of that circle and couldn't control the overall situation. Besides, her strengths were in military strategy, not political maneuvering.
The truth about Liu Yifang's death by suicide out of love for Chen Shuyang was also covered up. Even the existence of Chen Shuyang was barely known, with all information tightly sealed to avoid impacting the city chief's posthumous affairs.
Dressed in black, Pei Yujang bowed deeply before the city chief's memorial tablet. The flowers she offered were not the usual chrysanthemums for funerals but a bright bouquet of daffodils and lilies.
In the few interactions she had with Chen Shuyang, she had once seen a small tattoo on Chen Shuyang's wrist while they were at a KTV. Out of curiosity, she had stared at it a little longer, and Chen Shuyang didn't seem offended. Instead, she had smiled and proudly shown it off:
"Look," she had said loudly. "Isn't it nice? My wife and I got it together. It hurt like hell, though, haha!"
The plain-looking woman had spoken of her wife with a gentle smile, her eyes filled with warmth as she boasted about their matching tattoos. The pain had accompanied their vows, adding a thrill to their commitment.
Pei Yujang had simply smiled without saying anything.
Liu Yifang and Chen Shuyang might have had many tender, untold stories, which might explain why the usually just city chief had shown mercy to her wife so many times, ultimately making the painful decision to part ways. In the end, she had ended her life, along with her thoughts of her wife.
Pei Yujang couldn't fully understand their feelings, but the deceased had passed, and the living had to carry on. There was no point in dwelling on past actions now.
"May they find peace in a more stable world in their next life."
Yu Zhiwan, standing beside her, squeezed her hand as if trying to convey strength through the warmth of their touch. Pei Yujang turned to look at Yu Zhiwan, nodded, and sighed.
They didn't stay long at the funeral. Hearing the cries of Liu Yifang's family brought a sting to Pei Yujang's heart. Afterward, all non-family members and politicians had to leave, as the rest of the ceremony had to follow the state's complex but mandatory rituals.
Yu Zhiwan and Pei Yujang remained in their black clothes and made their way to another cemetery—this one holding the cenotaph that Yu Zhiwan had purchased for her parents.
The marble tombstone bore two names: Yan Weixin and Jiang Yiguang.
Pei Yujang was a bit surprised when she saw the tombstone. Yu Zhiwan noticed her surprise and smiled:
"I didn't take my parents' surname. They named me themselves. They were initially together for a mission, and even when my mother was pregnant, my father suggested using her surname, but she refused."
"They believed I should be free, so they chose a name for me that didn't include any part of their names. After a lifetime as scientists, they still consulted a 'master' for my name, believing it would bring me good luck."
The weather in Xiang City was clear, with a gentle breeze. Pei Yujang knelt before the stone, listening to Yu Zhiwan talk about her parents. She described how they had treated each other with the utmost respect, like two polite colleagues, but hints of affection could be seen in their subtle interactions. As she spoke about their approach to parenting, Pei Yujang began to picture what her parents might have been like.
A scholarly father, a gentle mother—only such people could raise a child like Yu Zhiwan. If they had met in peaceful times, perhaps Yu Zhiwan could have had a happy, stable family instead of the turbulence she experienced.
"I used to wonder if there was such a thing as reincarnation, but I didn't believe it. But now, seeing you, I think that if you could come into my life, maybe those who have gone astray could also meet again in another world."
Pei Yujang couldn't guarantee her that it would "definitely happen," but she earnestly hoped that the world was as kind as Yu Zhiwan imagined and that those who had been separated would find each other again, like stars gathering in the Milky Way, meeting again after being scattered.
She rested her forehead against Yu Zhiwan's, then took Omega's hand and solemnly bowed three times before her parents' cenotaph. Then, she knelt on one knee, head bowed, and raised Yu Zhiwan's hand in both of hers.
This was the traditional posture for proposing to an Omega—kneeling with one knee down and holding the other's hands, signifying the promise not to harm the delicate Omega. For centuries, Omegas had been subordinate due to their reproductive abilities and physical limitations, putting them at a disadvantage.
Even with vows of love, many Alphas would abandon their Omegas after marking them. If they later cheated, the punishment was often just a few years in prison or a fine. For Omegas, the process of removing a mark was incredibly painful.
This wedding vow was meant to be taken seriously, witnessed by all. Bowing the head and kneeling signified a lowering of one's status. Pei Yujang swore her vow before Yu Zhiwan's parents, but the Omega didn't immediately respond.
"Yu Zhiwan, will you marry me?"
As soon as the words left her mouth, Yu Zhiwan pulled her up.
Yu Zhiwan was firm, and Pei Yujang had no choice but to stand up with her. The Omega's slender fingers hooked around her pinky, shaking it firmly in a gesture of unity:
"Pei Yujang, will you marry me?"
She didn't say "will you marry me" as a question of taking a husband or wife but simply asked to marry as equals. It wasn't because Pei Yujang was a Beta. No matter their ABO status, Yu Zhiwan had always seen Pei Yujang as an equal.
They had come this far together, trusting and respecting each other. Yu Zhiwan loved Pei Yujang for her honesty and warmth.
"I will." Pei Yujang held her wrist tightly. "I've wanted to for a long time."
During the summer break, Pei Yujang resigned as head of marketing at Banyan Tree, and Yu Zhiwan also submitted her resignation.
Although Pei Yujang had gotten used to streaming, she didn't like living like a celebrity, where people stared at her everywhere she went. She often found people recognizing her on the street.
Another reason was the psychological shadows left by some previous encounters with "fans"—one from a leaked photo and another from Yu Zhiwan being kidnapped.
For these reasons, Pei Yujang wasn't fond of this lifestyle. After thinking it over, she decided to open a store with Yu Zhiwan.
Finding a normal job wasn't an option now. With her fame, it would be impossible to live quietly for the next few years, and Yu Zhiwan was in the same situation. Pei Yujang wasn't the type to enjoy being a landlord, though she could have easily retired early. So, she decided to open a boxing gym where she would be the coach. Yu Zhiwan had money, so she opened a small tea shop right next door.
"After boxing, you can come for some tea, read a book, and cultivate your mind," Yu Zhiwan had thought. They quickly put their plan into action.
The renovations for their wedding house and both shops were progressing smoothly. Yu Zhiwan also agreed to provide ideas for Banyan Tree whenever she felt inspired. Pei Jinhuai was thrilled and kept urging Pei Yujang to finalize the wedding so his daughter-in-law could officially join the family.
Their wedding was scheduled for the following spring, in March—a date chosen for its good fortune. Before that, the boxing gym and tea library both opened. Within a month, the things Pei Yujang had feared began to happen, but not quite in the way she had expected.
She had worried that she and Yu Zhiwan would become internet sensations again, making life difficult. And indeed, they did become popular online, with a constant stream of visitors.
But strangely, no one paid too much attention to the shop owners themselves.
Pei Yujang still had many online followers, especially after they had recently shared their wedding photos, quashing rumors of a breakup. Though they announced their retirement from social media, their couple-themed fan base remained strong.
However, the fans showed remarkable restraint, agreeing that since the couple had returned to private life, they shouldn't be disturbed. Instead, they wished the couple a peaceful and comfortable life.
In Xiang City, which wasn't particularly bustling, life had returned to normal, and the flow of people was modest.
Pei Yujang's gym was the first to gain popularity, partly due to the lingering "celebrity effect," as some people still wanted to visit and take photos. Another reason was her exceptional looks—many people signed up for classes just because the coach was attractive.
But after the trial classes, most were reluctant to return.
The reason was simple: this beautiful coach was incredibly strict. When Pei Yujang got serious, her standards were high. Even though she didn't hold others to the same standards she set for herself, she was undeniably tough. Even male Alphas found it grueling.
Pei Yujang would also help female clients with stretching, but every session left them groaning in pain. Even those who had initially signed up for this service cried out in regret. Over time, her romantic prospects dried up on their own, without Yu Zhiwan having to intervene.
Soon enough, people began to notice that the gym attracted a lot of attractive men and women. Many people found their crushes there. After workouts, some would head to the tea library for a drink or snack, and Yu Zhiwan's shop became quite popular.
Gradually, a routine developed. Some people would regularly come to hang out at the tea library, often Omegas or Beta girls waiting for their favorite Alpha or secret crush.
When Pei Yujang encountered particularly outgoing people, she'd occasionally share stories of how she had pursued Yu Zhiwan, successfully leading others down a similar path.
Later, the two of them even ran into Ji Lingxian.
Ji Lingxian came to Yu Zhiwan's shop and ordered an afternoon tea set.
It wasn't a busy time, and when Yu Zhiwan saw her, she personally brought the tray over. She looked down and saw Ji Lingxian's tired eyes, barely holding back a smirk as she teased:
"What's wrong, Boss Ji?"
Ji Lingxian was usually so lively, practically a social butterfly. But now, she seemed utterly drained. Listlessly, she greeted Yu Zhiwan:
"Just waiting for someone."
"Who?"
"Zhao Manlin."
"Manlin?" Yu Zhiwan was surprised.
Typically, not many Omegas would participate in boxing, but last month, Banyan Tree was looking for someone to take on a long-term assignment abroad, with high commissions for research and product planning. Zhao Manlin had wanted to apply, but Pei Jinhuai refused to let an Omega go.
The small country in question wasn't as safe as the nation, and Pei Jinhuai didn't want an Omega to take the risk. Zhao Manlin, having lost her chance to advance, was determined to sign up for boxing lessons. Ji Lingxian thought self-defense classes might be better for an Omega, but then she heard Zhao Manlin talking about her ex.
She was definitely upset, and a little jealous too, frustrated that she hadn't been there for her. After expressing her thoughts gently, Zhao Manlin had patted her on the shoulder and said:
"That's why I need to get stronger. My ex might have been a jerk, but she was pretty tough. You'd probably get beaten up standing next to her."
With that, she had marched off to sign up for classes with none other than Coach Pei Yujang.
Yu Zhiwan asked, "…So why aren't you training with her?"
She gave Ji Lingxian a look that said, "You're not chickening out, are you?" Ji Lingxian jumped up immediately:
"Of course not! But she's shy!"
Yu Zhiwan could almost taste the dog food in the air and rolled her eyes.
But despite that, on Pei Yujang and Yu Zhiwan's wedding day, when it came time to toss the bouquet, Ji Lingxian was at the front of the crowd. Yu Zhiwan made sure the bouquet, the symbol of passing on happiness, landed right in her arms. Zhao Manlin, standing beside her, seemed oblivious, and Ji Lingxian's face fell for a moment before returning to normal.
"Miss Pei Yujang, do you take Miss Yu Zhiwan as your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, for as long as you both shall live?"
The solemn voice of the priest echoed through the hall, and Pei Yujang answered crisply, "I do." Then, Yu Zhiwan also answered decisively.
Through the layers of wedding veils, they couldn't see each other's faces clearly. Yu Zhiwan lifted the veil to reveal a pair of deep, ocean-blue eyes filled with a smile. Those eyes held a promise to walk with her through all the seasons, to weather the cold and warmth of years, and to grow old together, caught in the whirlpool of time.
Traditionally, it's the parents who hand over the Omega to the partner during the wedding ceremony. But with Yu Zhiwan's parents not there, the priest had to take their place. However, Yu Zhiwan didn't let the priest touch the handover. Instead, she stepped forward herself and tightly grasped Pei Yujang's hand:
"After all, you're my love from across time and space."
This seemingly romantic wedding vow was understood only by the two of them. Even the thunderous applause couldn't drown out the clear chime of the wedding bells. Amidst the shower of confetti falling like rain, Pei Yujang lowered her head, gently pulled a piece of the wedding veil aside, and lightly kissed her bride's lips.
[The End]
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Ov4096
Ov4096 Congratulations to those who have made it this far! This is my first translated novel, and you might have noticed some rough spots in the writing. If you enjoyed it despite that, I appreciate your support. I’ll be posting more ABO novels soon that will offer a better reading experience, if you are interested feel free to heart my profile. Thank you for reading, and I hope everyone has a wonderful day.
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