The timing of Qin Shuangjing’s accident was far too coincidental. Ever since her mother’s passing, both the direct and collateral branches of the Qin family had been eyeing the family estate like hawks. Qin Yu had two daughters: the elder was a Beta, while the younger was an Omega. Rumor had it that the younger daughter had been swindled out of her feelings and had given birth to a child out of wedlock. After being brought back home by Qin Yu, she lost her mind and committed suicide shortly after. The elder daughter then died in a plane crash, leaving behind Qin Shuangjing as the only grandchild. Qin Yu placed high hopes on her, even though Qin Shuangjing was merely a Beta.
A vast empire like Dongqin Airlines provided for a massive family tree, which meant no shortage of relatives harboring covert ambitions to replace her. According to the article’s analysis, the likelihood of the car crash being a mere accident was extremely low. It was a pity that this top-tier, wealthy beauty had become a sacrificial lamb in her family’s internal warfare.
At the very bottom of the article was a blurred photograph. Taken five years ago, it showed Qin Shuangjing lying on a stretcher, surrounded by a chaotic scene, with a large streak of blood staining the side of her face.
The night of early spring remained cold. By the time the chill soaked through Jiang Wuyue, she realized she had been standing in place for a long time.
What’s with lately? Every person I run into seems to be rich or powerful. Jiang Wuyue shook her head and slowly sauntered back into the bar. Young girls’ laughter echoed from the pitch-black inner hallway. Jiang Wuyue switched on the lights, leaving several girls with nowhere to hide, exposed under the sudden illumination.
As the lights brightened, a citrus-scented pheromone spread through the air. Sniffing it made Jiang Wuyue feel thoroughly uncomfortable. She turned her gaze toward the girl who was emitting the pheromone. Young in age, she was leaning against the wall with her knees slightly bent—the posture of someone who was suffering from pheromone distress, desperately trying to protect herself while simultaneously being forced to open her body.
Jiang Wuyue wondered if she herself had looked just as disheveled when she was lured by a stranger’s pheromones earlier.
Her eyes swept over the group. The girls were all wearing clothes with prominent logos—a bunch of rich second-generation kids looking for a thrill.
She said flatly, “Don’t play around here. Pheromones can trigger a riot.”
Jiang Wuyue was wearing the bar’s standard uniform, which they recognized. One of the girls said disdainfully, “Who do you think you are to order us around?”
Jiang Wuyue leaned her shoulder loosely against the wall, pulled out her phone, and made a gesture as if dialing a number. “Let me think… how many years in prison do you get for intentionally releasing pheromones in a public place?”
“Your parents had better be powerful enough to scoop you out of jail.”
“Psychopath!” Seeing that Jiang Wuyue meant business, several of the girls glared at her furiously, turned, and walked away, abandoning the Alpha who was still emitting pheromones.
“Hey!” the Alpha called out in distress.
Through her blurred vision, she felt someone approach her and apply an inhibitor patch to the back of her neck.
The overwhelming discomfort surging through her body subsided immediately. By the time her vision cleared, there was only a woman in a thin, bright outfit looking down at her.
“Where are they?”
Jiang Wuyue said, “They left.”
Even though Jiang Wuyue was good-looking, the Alpha was filled with irritation and in no mood to appreciate it. “Why are you meddling in other people’s business?!”
“My money just flew out the window!”
Jiang Wuyue raised her hand and gripped the girl’s shoulder firmly. “You’re disturbing public order and you dare accuse me of meddling?”
“None of the others have gone through a second differentiation—only you have. If the police come to make arrests, you’re the only one they’re taking away.” If it weren’t for their young age, Jiang Wuyue wouldn’t have bothered to care.
“Of course I know I’m the only one with pheromones.” The Alpha zipped up her jacket, muttering, “Unlucky.”
“Do you know how much money they were going to give me?” The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. She reached out toward Jiang Wuyue. “Give it back to me.”
“No money.” Unwilling to entangle herself further, Jiang Wuyue spat out those two words and walked away.
As if finding a valid reason to make up for her loss, the Alpha followed behind Jiang Wuyue. “You work in a bar, how could you have no money?”
“They were curious about pheromone reactions. I’m the only one in our class who has undergone a second differentiation so far. They paid to see my reactions. It’s all your fault for ruining our good time.”
Are students nowadays really this open-minded?
Jiang Wuyue looked at her with an indescribable expression. The Alpha was quite attractive. Although she had differentiated, her face was still full of childish innocence. This was the first time Jiang Wuyue had ever heard of someone selling their pheromones.
The Alpha read the meaning behind Jiang Wuyue’s look. Her shame lasted for a mere three seconds before she grew righteous again. “Don’t look at me like that. If someone offered you money, wouldn’t you take it?”
That actually made sense; Jiang Wuyue was a practical person too.
Standing a single door away from the noisy atmosphere of the bar, Jiang Wuyue said, “Don’t cling to me. I really don’t have money. If I had money, who would come here to work?”
The Alpha had never actually been inside a bar before, having heard that stepping inside meant spending money. Now that her “sponsors” were gone, her pockets were empty as well. Yet, she didn’t want to let Jiang Wuyue off so easily. Sinking her face, she said, “How about this—let’s exchange phone numbers.”
Young as she was, she was even more obsessed with money than Jiang Wuyue.
After exchanging numbers, Jiang Wuyue learned the Alpha’s name was Sun Tingyu. She saved the contact and showed it to her. “Satisfied?”
Sun Tingyu hadn’t expected Jiang Wuyue to cooperate so easily. She blinked her eyes and spat out sullenly, “I’ll look for you.”
Jiang Wuyue smiled, coaxing her like a child. “Alright, I’ll be waiting.”
With other matters on her mind, Jiang Wuyue went to the security room to pull up the surveillance footage. The woman was meticulous; all the hallway cameras had been disabled. Jiang Wuyue didn’t believe she had offended anyone.
To be able to obtain the pheromones of three Omegas…
Jiang Wuyue opened her phone and sent a message to the administrator: I agree to the meeting. Please arrange it for me.
What she got in reply was a string of exclamation marks.
Jiang Wuyue curled her lips and let out a sigh.
The administrator personally wanted to arrange a meeting for her with the popular movie star, Xiao Sui, first. However, things weren’t going smoothly on Xiao Sui’s side. From the administrator’s helpless tone, Jiang Wuyue gathered that Xiao Sui was unwilling.
It made sense. How could a celebrity living in the spotlight bear being bound by pheromones to someone of ordinary status who was even burdened with debt?
Jiang Wuyue had suggested that if Xiao Sui was unwilling, they could switch to someone else.
Her suggestion wasn’t taken. A day later, the administrator proudly informed her that Xiao Sui had agreed.
Xiao Sui had already fainted on set due to hormonal instability; unless she disregarded her health entirely, she couldn’t afford to refuse this meeting.
Given Xiao Sui’s status, the meeting location was arranged at a private club near her filming site. Jiang Wuyue requested the afternoon off and rushed over, entering the designated private room beforehand to wait based on the room number provided by the administrator.
The agreed time was 6:00 PM. Up until 7:00 PM, the door to the room had not opened again.
Jiang Wuyue had drunk a belly full of tea. Thinking back to the strawberry milk-scented pheromone she had smelled at the Bureau that day, she sighed to herself, “If she doesn’t come by eight, I’m leaving and buying a box of strawberry milk at the supermarket to drink.”
The door to the private room was knocked on. Jiang Wuyue reflexively straightened her back. The door swung open, and a slightly short figure slipped in to hold the door. Wearing a mask and hat, Xiao Sui’s high heels made a muffled thudding sound on the soft carpet.
The woman who arrived with Xiao Sui cautiously poked her head out from the doorway to inspect the hallway outside. After confirming that no paparazzi were tailing them, she quickly shut the door tight.
Xiao Sui pulled off her hat and mask. Her cascading hair was slightly messy, and her beautiful face carried a subtle look of impatience. She sat opposite Jiang Wuyue, crossed her arms over her chest, and stared straight at her.
She clearly came with ill intentions.
Jiang Wuyue offered a polite, well-mannered smile.
Xiao Sui sneered, not even bothering to speak.
The other woman had a rather round face. Sitting beside Jiang Wuyue, she politely extended her hand. Jiang Wuyue shook it briefly. The woman smiled and said, “I’m Xiao Sui’s manager. Just call me Coco.”
“Jiang Wuyue.”
“I know. The Bureau has already given me all of your information.” Coco’s eyes subtly scanned Jiang Wuyue up and down.
“Miss Jiang’s appearance is quite impressive.” Coco casually confiscated the red wine glass in front of Xiao Sui, forbidding her from drinking.
She whispered to Xiao Sui, “You have a scene tomorrow morning.”
“You’re here for a blind date today, be serious.”
Suddenly catching the words “blind date,” Jiang Wuyue rubbed her earlobes and lowered her eyes, staring at the tea leaves floating in her cup.
Xiao Sui clicked her tongue. “What blind date? Didn’t you force me to come here?”
Coco said helplessly, “How many more times do you want to faint and hit the news headlines?”
“You’ve been relying heavily on hospital-supplied pheromones, and your body is already severely overloaded. No matter how much you like her, it’s useless—she can’t give you the pheromones and marking you need.”
The conversation between the two drifted into Jiang Wuyue’s ears. From Coco’s words, it seemed Xiao Sui already had someone she liked.
Xiao Sui seemed deeply dissatisfied with Coco bringing up the person she liked. “So being together with this bar dancer who is head over heels in debt, just because of pheromones, is the best solution?”
Jiang Wuyue remained silent, thinking to herself that the information provided by the Bureau was detailed indeed.
“Xiao Sui, I’m doing this for your own good. With such a high compatibility rate, she can immediately relieve your physical condition. Why suffer and wait for an impossible person?”
So devoted, Jiang Wuyue thought silently to herself.
Xiao Sui stared at Coco and suddenly let out a cold laugh. She turned her gaze onto Jiang Wuyue. “Have you ever had sex with an Omega?”
Jiang Wuyue shook her head.
As an actress, Xiao Sui’s eyes were clear, and her expressions were particularly vivid. Though she was impatient with Jiang Wuyue, she said, “Try it with me tonight. I want to see if your pheromones are really that amazing.”
Coco gasped. “Xiao Sui, stop making trouble, will you!”
“How am I supposed to explain this to President Xiao?” Coco rubbed her forehead and said to Jiang Wuyue, “I’m so sorry. She always likes to joke. She’s actually not that casual of a person.”
Jiang Wuyue took a sip of tea to show her understanding. “I won’t talk.”
“Since Miss Xiao is dissatisfied with me, let’s end it here. I’ll take my leave first.”
Coco clearly didn’t want Xiao Sui to miss out on Jiang Wuyue, a high-compatibility match. She stopped Jiang Wuyue, who had just stood up. “Wait a moment, Miss Jiang. It’s still early, and Xiao Sui isn’t dissatisfied. We can get to know each other more.”
Xiao Sui said haughtily, “If she wants to leave, let her leave. Why stop her?”
“Without her, am I incapable of surviving?”
Coco practically pleaded, “Xiao Sui, my little ancestor, please hold your tongue!”
Jiang Wuyue smiled, sidestepped Coco’s hand, and walked past her.
With no other choice, Coco sat back down in her chair in defeat, slapping her thigh in frustration at Xiao Sui’s stubbornness.
Jiang Wuyue had originally wanted to tactfully probe Xiao Sui for clues regarding the mysterious woman from that day, but she hadn’t expected Xiao Sui to be so resistant to her.
Xiao Sui was thriving in the film industry. Even if she stopped acting in the future, the Xiao family’s wealth would be enough for her to squander for a lifetime. It was completely normal for such an arrogant person to refuse being forced into a choice by pheromones.
However, the hallway that had felt ordinary upon arrival suddenly made Jiang Wuyue feel refreshed in mind and body. Belatedly, she caught the scent of strawberry milk in the air.
Coco anxiously pushed open the door and came out. Seeing that Jiang Wuyue hadn’t walked far, she called out frantically, “Miss Jiang, please help! Xiao Sui fainted!”