TIMO - Chapter 53
Chapter 53
The registration Kong Weiyan mentioned referred to the gender on Fu Zhao’s identity certificate. Four years after her eighteenth birthday, her gender needed to be officially changed from Beta to Alpha.
As for why Kong Weiyan said she would take both of them to register, it was purely to scare Fu Zhao.
Fu Zhao wasn’t frightened by such a childish joke. Her heart had only skipped a beat for a second when she heard it, but she showed no other reaction that would suggest she was scared.
She walked in calmly, as if nothing had happened.
But when she came out, she was a bit dazed. To personally witness the gender-related sections on all her identity documents change from female Beta to female Alpha in an instant still felt a little strange.
“Aren’t you going to get your pheromone level tested?”
Only when Shi Nan, who was standing beside her, spoke did Fu Zhao snap back to reality. She met Shi Nan’s curious gaze, a faint smile on her lips as she gently shook her head. “No.”
It was the answer she had expected.
Shi Nan truly didn’t understand why, after people were divided into the three genders of Alpha, Omega, and Beta, they still had to be classified into various levels based on the strength of their pheromones. It seemed as if society could only continue to function by clearly assigning everyone to a specific tier of the pyramid.
But facts proved that society could run just fine even without classifying pheromone levels.
Nanke Island was a prime example.
Since arriving on the island, she had rarely heard anyone introduce themselves as an S-class or A-class Alpha or Omega, whereas on other planets outside of Nanke Island, these prefixes seemed to be held in particularly high regard.
“We don’t have so many formalities here. Level testing isn’t mandatory, because even among the same gender, randomly releasing pheromones to suppress each other can cause chaos. Therefore, it’s a violation of the rules. In serious cases, you might even be invited to the control center for a cup of tea.”
“So, getting your pheromone level tested on the island and knowing your rank is just a pointless exercise.”
Kong Weiyan walked at the very front, stepping backward as she spoke. The smile on her lips was a little smug, and she talked nonstop like an open floodgate, fulfilling her duties as the head of Nanke Island’s Literature and Art Propaganda Department.
Fu Zhao’s gaze rested on Kong Weiyan for a moment before turning back to Shi Nan. She glanced sideways at her and continued where Kong Weiyan left off, “Because the island doesn’t judge people as superior or inferior based on their pheromone levels, and with the gender education promoted by the Propaganda Department over the years, basically no islanders go for level testing anymore.”
“Of course, those who are curious about their pheromone level can get tested voluntarily.”
“But Nanke Island did originally have pheromone level testing…” Fu Zhao paused here, closing her eyes for a moment. When she opened them again, there was a hint of regret and sorrow in her gaze. “But some things happened on the island before. You know, before differentiation at eighteen, everyone was on the same level. But the levels assigned after differentiation divided people into different social strata. This led some teenagers who couldn’t handle the disparity in rank to commit suicide. There were also various bullying incidents between different levels and genders, which had very serious consequences…”
“So later… pheromone level testing on Nanke Island was no longer a necessary thing.”
Shi Nan listened quietly as Fu Zhao explained the origins of these regulations. Seeing the slight tremble in Fu Zhao’s eyes, she softened her voice, “So that’s how it was…”
“The revision of many rules is accompanied by blood or a price.” Kong Weiyan walked over and patted Fu Zhao’s shoulder, intentionally trying to liven up the atmosphere. “But actually, the two best times to change a bad situation are ten years ago, and right now.”
“We’re already working hard,” she added earnestly. “Don’t regret what happened before. At least we’re changing the present.”
Fu Zhao let out a soft “mhm.” Her gaze shifted between Kong Weiyan and Shi Nan, and her tone lightened. “I know. Being able to start changing things now is already the best possible outcome.”
Shi Nan and Kong Weiyan exchanged a look, their eyes finally settling on Fu Zhao’s beautiful profile, which was softened by the setting sun. She smiled, her lips curving upwards. “The Little Island Master should be proud, because the current state of Nanke Island already seems so… out of the ordinary.”
After much thought, she could only find the phrase “out of the ordinary” to describe it.
This was the longest Shi Nan had ever stayed on Nanke Island. The longer she stayed, the more she came to appreciate its uniqueness—the education on AO gender equality, the control of pheromones, the promotion of the idea that “pheromone level testing is useless”… these were all things she had never seen elsewhere.
Listening to what Fu Zhao had just said, she couldn’t help but think of the many things she had encountered during her school days. RT Planet had always been a place with a very rigid class structure. Even before the official differentiation at eighteen, schools would organize pre-differentiation predictions for everyone.
From that point on, students who had originally gathered together because of their studies were, in addition to their family backgrounds, also divided into different social strata based on their physiological makeup.
A school was a miniature society.
Shi Nan was very lucky. In a society with a strict hierarchy, she had a family background that placed her at the top of the pyramid, as well as the innate condition of being designated an S-class Omega after the pre-differentiation prediction.
The various bullying incidents that arose from differences in pheromone levels did not happen to her.
But they happened right before her very eyes.
As an Omega, even an S-class one, she would be looked down upon by other powerful Alphas. So, she naturally couldn’t stand these instances of class-based bullying and would always offer a helping hand when she encountered them. She originally thought this was helping, but she later learned that the help she provided under the identity of Shi Nan would bring even heavier blows to the victims.
For example, the female Omega who hysterically jumped from the top floor on the day of her university graduation ceremony had been targeted by other high-level individuals and subjected to even more severe torment precisely because of a chance intervention from her.
So later, she chose to abandon the identity of “Shi Nan,” joined the Omega Rescue Center, and went to other remote planets, participating time and again in genuine rescue and aid efforts, as well as all the major and minor matters that followed.
After only two years, she was notified that she had an engagement and had only returned to break it off.
After seeing so much class discrimination and so much gender discrimination, she found it hard to believe that a place like Nanke Island could exist in this world. So she was very fortunate to have come to Nanke Island and met a different Fu Zhao again.
Fu Zhao had done a lot to change Nanke Island and was still working hard to do so.
Suddenly, Shi Nan realized she might have been wrong. Perhaps she shouldn’t have abandoned her original identity and status to do this. Just as Fu Zhao was the Little Island Master of Nanke Island, she, as the heir to the Shi Corporation, could have originally possessed greater power to change the status quo.
Even if she would encounter difficulties of the same magnitude, she shouldn’t have given up.
After waking up this time, she remembered many things she had previously cast aside, such as her Beta mother’s teachings and the status quo she had wanted to change since she was a child.
She also began to feel regret for having thrown all of this to the back of her mind during this period.
Even Ye Er, as a high school student, could work hard to develop products to change the current situation; Kong Weiyan and Fu Zhao were both working hard to promote gender education, and Nanke Island was still progressing.
But what about other places…
And what about her…
She couldn’t possibly stay on Nanke Island forever.
Shi Nan pulled her thoughts back. A quick glance revealed the two people who were already in the car, waiting for her.
The setting sun slanted in the west, and flames seemed to burn and leap across the horizon.
Kong Weiyan, sitting in the driver’s seat, poked her head out. Her sunglasses were pushed up on her forehead as she looked at her sideways.
Fu Zhao, dressed in a white shirt, had opened the car door and was standing obediently to the side.
A gentle breeze rose. Both of their gazes were fixed on her, their hair lifted by the wind in a similar arc, cast in a hazy golden glow by the sunset. They spoke in unison,
“Shi Nan~~”
Perhaps the voice that drew out the last syllable was Kong Weiyan’s, because Fu Zhao always softened the end of her name when she said it, like a soft whisper.
“Coming~~”
Shi Nan answered. The warm yellow sunset falling on her seemed exceptionally gentle. The scene before her dazzled her for a moment. When she came to her senses, she curved her eyes into a soft smile and slowly walked over.
Everything on Nanke Island was beautiful.
So beautiful that she could hardly bear to leave this place.
Many people came to the evening banquet. The empty spaces in the streets and alleys were filled with tables. The few families they were more familiar with gathered in one place. Amidst the teasing of the two matriarchs, Fu Wanqing and Shi Xinglan, the back-and-forth banter of Kong Weiyan and Jiang Wenqing, and Fu Zhao’s periodically flushing face, they finished the meal in a lively atmosphere.
After the meal, as the liveliness dissipated, Shi Nan was called aside by Shi Xinglan.
“You’re not breaking off the engagement, and you’re fine now.” Shi Xinglan looked at Shi Nan, her arms crossed. “When are you planning to go back with me?”
“Returning to RT Planet for the trial is a great opportunity. You can’t stay on Nanke Island forever. You have to go back and manage the company’s affairs eventually. Otherwise, those other directors, who are watching like tigers, won’t let you return so easily in the future.”
Shi Nan listened distractedly, her gaze sweeping over to Fu Zhao in the distant crowd, who was smiling shyly from being teased. Her eyes remained fixed there, and she didn’t say a word.
Shi Xinglan followed Shi Nan’s line of sight and, as expected, saw Fu Zhao. She raised an eyebrow, shifted her body slightly, and blocked Shi Nan’s view. “I remember you once held a knife to your own neck, saying you would rather die than acknowledge this engagement.”
“And now I can’t even call you back?”
With her view blocked by Shi Xinglan, Shi Nan lowered her gaze and spoke softly, “Do I have to go back?”
It was a question for Shi Xinglan, but also for herself.
Since she had woken up, Shi Xinglan had been constantly reminding her of this. She had been through so much that she had temporarily forgotten that, besides Fu Zhao, she had many other things she needed to do.
Besides her family’s business, she, like Fu Zhao, had a status quo and reality she wanted to change.
Now that all the trouble was over, these matters stood before her once again.
No matter how much she didn’t want to, no matter how much she wanted to stay on Nanke Island, she couldn’t just revolve around Fu Zhao. Others would blame her for it, and she would blame herself.
Perhaps even Fu Zhao would blame her after hearing what she had given up.
The world continued to turn. Just because she had a second chance didn’t mean she could ignore everything around her.
Even though she knew Fu Zhao had died to save her in her past life, everything had changed this time. She had no way of knowing if that unknown danger would still come.
Her previous thought of leaving Fu Zhao had been because Fu Zhao’s own thinking had changed.
After being reborn, she was still constantly worried about the future. If the timeline had already been altered, if that event would never happen, then that would be for the best.
But she couldn’t be sure, and she couldn’t predict it.
So, how was she supposed to make this decision that was so incredibly important to her?
Seeing Shi Nan’s gloomy expression, Shi Xinglan sighed softly and spoke again, “I know that you, like Ah Yan, wish you could spend your whole life at that Omega Rescue Center…”
She paused. “You went there right after graduating from university. You know I’ve always been against you doing these things, so you didn’t even discuss it with me, acting first and reporting later.”
“Now that you’ve finally come back, you came to Nanke Island. I originally thought you wouldn’t stay here for long before returning to the company, but I didn’t expect you to stay for two months. Shi Nan, you are my daughter. You can’t just ignore the company’s affairs forever-”
“I know.” Shi Nan interrupted Shi Xinglan. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath to calm herself. “But I still need some time. I need to confirm some things before I can go back…”
“What do you need to confirm? With your personality, shouldn’t realizing your ideals and ambitions be more important than anything else?”
Shi Xinglan looked at Shi Nan and said softly, “The company recently decided to launch a large-scale public welfare project for Omegas. It will span the entire galaxy and will also be a joint effort with the Omega Rescue Center. It’s a major project for the company’s publicity and corporate image. You have experience at the Omega Rescue Center, so I’d be most at ease entrusting this to you. If I give it to someone else, I can’t be sure this project will be properly implemented…”
“Haven’t you always, like your mother, wanted to dedicate yourself to the cause of helping Omegas?”
“This is the best opportunity for you to balance your ideals with your corporate career.”
Shi Nan clenched her fists, her eyelashes drooping. The voice that came out was a little bitter. “I know, but I…”
She couldn’t finish her sentence. Shi Xinglan couldn’t help but ask, “But what? If you have any concerns, you can discuss them with me.”
“Don’t you dare tell me that you want to stay on Nanke Island forever because of Fu Zhao.”
“Although I don’t really approve of you going to the Omega Rescue Center, but…” Shi Xinglan let out a long sigh. “I’m even more unwilling to see my once confident and ambitious daughter turn into an Omega who revolves around one person all day because of love.”
“It doesn’t matter if that person is good or bad, and it doesn’t matter what hidden reasons you have…”
“But in my eyes, this is not a good thing.”
“And in the eyes of the deceased Ah Yan, it’s not a good thing either.”
Shi Nan listened quietly to these words, meeting Shi Xinglan’s steady gaze. She couldn’t deny that the other woman was right. After being reborn, her heart had been completely filled with one thing: making up for her regrets and ensuring Fu Zhao could live a safe and stable life this time. That was what she cared about most.
But two months had passed, and many things had happened. She never expected to fall in love with Fu Zhao, nor did she expect so many things to be different from her memories.
And now, after waking up this time, she remembered many things from before. The responsibilities she had to bear, the problems she had to face, all came rushing at her.
It was like a fixed timeline. She had been constantly worried about the arrival of a certain node, never thinking about what she had done before that node or what she wanted to do after it.
But now she had returned to a time long before that node, yet she was still worrying about it. She had been worrying for so long that she had forgotten what she wanted to do before all this.
She had also gradually forgotten that she was not just Fu Zhao’s Shi Nan, and Fu Zhao was not just her Fu Zhao.
She didn’t know if that future node would happen, so she was constantly worried and afraid of the node she believed would come.
But perhaps, just as Fu Zhao had said, they might have other options?
Perhaps she had already changed the timeline, and that fork in the road, that node, would never happen?
There were so many maybes.
Shi Nan couldn’t figure out the answer, but she could only keep these questions in her heart. It wasn’t until Shi Xinglan brought them up so directly that she deeply realized these problems could no longer be postponed.
Regardless of whether Fu Zhao could only be safe if she left;
Regardless of whether that future event would happen;
Regardless of what dangers she might encounter around her.
Just as Shi Xinglan said, was she really going to just wait on Nanke Island like this, waiting for all of it to happen, and then abandon everything she originally had to become a Shi Nan who revolved solely around Fu Zhao?
This was not what she hoped for, nor what Fu Zhao would hope for.
“You still have a few days. You can think it over carefully.”
The voice sounded by her ear, and Shi Nan snapped back to her senses. Meeting Shi Xinglan’s slightly expectant gaze, she nodded lightly and lowered her eyes. “I understand. I will… consider it carefully.”
Shi Xinglan said no more, just nodded lightly. Then, as if she had suddenly remembered something, she said casually,
“By the way, that robbery and murder fugitive you asked me to find has been caught. He’s currently being held in the Interstellar Prison.”
“He’s been caught?” Shi Nan was stunned for a few seconds. Realizing what she’d heard, she grabbed Shi Xinglan’s arm, a trace of urgency in her eyes. “Are you sure? Is it really him?”
“Yes.” Shi Xinglan nodded in affirmation, raising an eyebrow thoughtfully. “It’s him. If you’re not reassured, you can go to the prison and see for yourself when we get back to RT Planet.”
“Although I don’t know why you wanted to do this,” she said bluntly, “if this matter is successfully resolved and it allows you to return to RT Planet with peace of mind, then you can rest assured now.”
After speaking, Shi Xinglan looked at Shi Nan, who was still standing there in a daze, sighed, and turned to leave.
Shi Nan stood in place, her mind still in a trance. After a while, someone seemed to walk up and stop in front of her. Straight legs with smooth curves, white socks and sneakers covering the bottom third of her calves.
Carrying the late summer wind, carrying a light, lingering fragrance to her nose.
She looked up. The figure in the white shirt was slender, her long hair tied back, swaying gently with the wind. The light in her amber eyes flickered slightly, and her cheeks were still faintly flushed from drinking. She looked at her with a warm, soft smile curving the corners of her eyes.
“What’s wrong?” Shi Nan asked.
Fu Zhao pointed to the other side, where three people were standing in a row under the night lights, waving at her. She smiled, her eyes gentle and affectionate, her voice warm and mellow.
“There’s going to be a fireworks display on the island again tonight. They said they’re going to the beach to watch.”
“Should we go?”
Shi Nan was momentarily dazzled by Fu Zhao’s smile. When she came back to her senses, she realized Fu Zhao had used the word “we.” She met the light in Fu Zhao’s eyes and smiled back.
“Okay, we’ll go too.”
Perhaps I should be grateful that this moment, right now, belongs to us.
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