On the way back to school from the hospital, Chen Lan’s mind remained foggy and dazed. She didn’t even notice when the teacher called on her to answer a question in class.
Fortunately, she was already known as a troublemaker—just showing up to class on time was impressive enough.
The teacher was used to her zoning out and simply shot her a sharp glare as a warning before continuing the lesson.
Chen Lan was still spaced out, lost in her thoughts.
A girl sitting behind her, who was on friendly terms with her, noticed her unusual state and gently poked her back.
Sensing the touch, Chen Lan stiffened slightly, frowning as she turned around.
“What?”
“Shouldn’t I be the one asking you that? What’s up with you? You’ve been spaced out ever since you got back.”
“Did Bai Long not wake up yet? Or… did she really get brain damage from that hit?”
She also knew that Chen Lan had been rushing to the hospital during lunch breaks these past few days and was aware of Bai Long being hospitalized after getting hit by a ball.
To be honest, almost everyone in their class knew Bai Long had a weak constitution. But it was still a bit hard to believe that a single volleyball hit—one she even messed up catching herself—could lead to a three-day coma.
“Tsk, what a fragile doll. She just got hit by a ball—and it was her own mistake, too. Three days out cold? For an Alpha, she lives more delicately than an Omega.”
She didn’t mean it maliciously—it was more of an offhand remark.
If it were any other time, Chen Lan might have instinctively snapped back at the girl for talking about Bai Long like that—but this time, she didn’t.
Memories from the hospital flooded back: Bai Long’s chillingly cold pheromones, so oppressive that even a faint trace had left her breathless.
Chen Lan stayed quiet.
After a long pause, just as the girl assumed Chen Lan was in a bad mood and didn’t want to talk, Chen Lan suddenly spoke up.
“Bai Long woke up.”
The red-haired girl lowered her voice slightly, her tone tinged with an odd sense of mystery.
“And not only is her brain perfectly fine…”
Chen Lan paused here, remembering Bai Long’s… impressive proportions, and sighed with a mix of envy and awe before continuing.
Chen Lan paused, recalling Bai Long’s rather enviable proportions, and continued with a mix of awe and wonder.
“She’s transformed into a ridiculously powerful Alpha with an… impressive package.”
“…Huh?”
…What?
Did she just call someone who got knocked out for three days by a volleyball a “powerful Alpha”? And “impressive package” to boot?
…
Meanwhile, the newly upgraded, “powerfully impressive” Alpha Bai Long had just woken from a nap. As she opened her eyes, she saw a man in a white coat push the door open and walk in.
“Oh, you’re awake. Any discomfort anywhere?”
The newcomer was a doctor in his mid-twenties, with refined and pleasant features.
“I’m feeling much better. Aside from a bit of dizziness, there’s no real discomfort anywhere else.”
As she spoke, Bai Long sat up in bed. Her long, dark hair cascaded down her shoulders like silk.
Her skin was already fair, and now it seemed even paler, almost snow-like in contrast.
When she got up, Bai Long instinctively glanced behind him.
“May I ask about the previous doctor? I thought he was the one assigned to me. Is he tied up with something else?”
“He’s fine. It’s just that, given your situation, it’s safer to have an Alpha handle it.”
His voice was somewhat deep, and when he spoke, his eyes carried a gentle warmth that naturally put people at ease.
“Don’t misunderstand—I don’t mean to imply you’re a dangerous individual. It’s just that genetic mutations after coming of age are quite rare, and pheromones can become extremely unstable during this period. I’m the head physician here, and I have far more experience than those interns. I’m the most suitable one to handle your check-up.”
“Oh, by the way, my surname is Liang—Liang Shen.”
“Alright, thank you, Dr. Liang.”
Since Bai Long’s pheromones hadn’t stabilized yet, many tests couldn’t be conducted accurately.
The man performed a general assessment and analyzed the data to gauge Bai Long’s current condition. After confirming that aside from heightened pheromone levels and improved physical metrics, there were no major issues, he finally relaxed.
“Mm, it seems you’ve just undergone genetic mutation-induced enhancement, with prolonged unconsciousness likely due to pheromonal instability. Nothing serious—if all goes well, you should be able to be discharged tomorrow.”
As he spoke, he recorded the measured data. Since it wasn’t a precise test, he could only estimate that her rank was likely no lower than B.
It was above the average for Alphas—a significant improvement compared to her previous C rank.
“Also, please fill out this form first. The rest can wait until your pheromones stabilize in about a month. We’ll schedule a follow-up then and rerun the genetic rank assessment.”
Bai Long took the form and scanned it, her amber eyes clear and translucent, pure and free of any impurities.
The form covered the usual categories: physical stamina, mental energy, pheromones, and so on.
She had filled out similar forms countless times during past hospital visits.
Except for the last item.
Bai Long rested the pen against the paper, staring at the line that read, “Have you ever been marked or given a mark?” for a long moment.
Finally, with pursed lips and slightly reddened ears, she wrote “No.”
They weren’t far apart—from such a close distance, the man only had to glance down to see what Bai Long had written.
Ever since her enhancement, Bai Long’s senses had grown sharp. She noticed the moment he looked over.
Her eyelashes fluttered slightly, and she instinctively lifted her gaze to meet his.
When their eyes met, Liang Shen was momentarily caught off guard, but he didn’t look away. Instead, a gentle smile curved his lips.
“My apologies, I didn’t mean to pry.”
“But I must admit, it’s a bit surprising. An Alpha as striking as you would usually be quite popular among Omegas. How is it that you’ve never given or received a mark?”
Bai Long knew his comment was meant in good humor, but being mistaken for some kind of playboy still left her feeling uncomfortable.
“You’ve got the wrong idea. I’m not really popular at school.”
Whether it was because of that earlier joke or some innate tension between Alphas, a faint, involuntary sense of defensiveness stirred within her.
Bai Long handed the completed form to the man. As he reached out to take it, she couldn’t help adding another remark.
“Not like Dr. Liang, who clearly has an Omega with such a pleasant pheromone scent.”
The man froze for a moment, and by the time he processed what she had said, Bai Long’s hand had already let go.
He took the form, his thumb lightly brushing over the surface of the paper. Under his long eyelashes, his eyes flickered with an unreadable emotion.
“You… can smell the pheromones on me?”
Bai Long wasn’t sure if it was her imagination, but Liang Shen’s voice seemed deeper now, his expression slightly shadowed.
She opened her mouth to reply but then realized—perhaps belatedly—that in this world, Alphas were fiercely possessive of their mates. Her comment might have crossed a line.
“……Sorry, just pretend I didn’t say anything.”
“No need to be so tense. He’s not my Omega—just a patient, much like you, with somewhat unstable pheromones and a tendency to be… less than compliant.”
As he spoke, Liang Shen sat down beside Bai Long with an ease that felt completely natural, his eyes curved into a gentle smile. There was no trace of the earlier subtle tension.
“But honestly… do you really think those pheromones smell good?”
He interlaced his fingers and rested them on his lap, his eyes fixed intently on the young woman before him.
After making absolutely sure he wasn’t upset, Bai Long hesitated for a moment, then nodded slightly.
Unconsciously, she replayed the memory of that faint, wispy scent in her mind. For some reason, her mouth felt a little dry.
Bai Long couldn’t quite describe the exact scent. It felt damp and crisp, like a misty forest at dawn—cool and sharp, yet with a faint, lingering bitterness that trailed into something subtly sweet.
“First of all, I’m glad you like my friend’s pheromones so much. But secondly…”
Liang Shen’s lips curled into a faint, elusive smile.
“…if he found out, he’d probably break your legs.”
The first part was fine, but hearing the latter half, Bai Long’s eyes widened in shock.
“Wait, I don’t think I said anything offensive. I was just complimenting how pleasant his pheromones are.”
“Kid, it seems you’re not only lacking in experience but also severely lacking in common sense.”
The man’s lips parted slightly as he crossed his arms, lifting his gaze to meet hers.
His eyes were light, almost indifferent, carrying little emotion.
“You two don’t know each other. For an Alpha to say they like an Omega’s pheromones… that’s practically no different from sexual harassment.”
Bai Long was left speechless. She hadn’t been in this world for long, and there were indeed many things she didn’t fully grasp yet.
Still, she felt a bit aggrieved and couldn’t help but argue back.
“…From the way you put it, it’s as if knowing each other somehow makes it not harassment anymore.”
“Oh, in that case, it’d just be a sexual advance(flirting).”
“…”