Fu Yuan abruptly stood up.
The chair slid backward with a sharp, grating sound.
He turned his back, one hand braced against the windowsill, the other clenched into a fist.
His back was rigid, the line of his shoulders stiff as stone, muscles faintly tensing beneath his clothes.
In the air, his pheromones began to spill out.
Cedar, gunpowder smoke.
Cold and oppressive, like the suffocating stillness before a blizzard.
He was restraining himself.
A top-tier Alpha’s instinct was to possess.
An Omega releasing pheromones in front of him was an invitation to mark, to claim, to make them his own.
But Fu Yuan didn’t move. He just stood there, his back to Sikong Nian, silent.
Sikong Sui saw the corner of Sikong Nian’s mouth curve slightly upward.
It was extremely faint, extremely quick—something she wouldn’t have noticed if she hadn’t been watching closely.
Then that faint curve vanished.
Sikong Nian’s expression returned to one of innocent softness, as if he didn’t know he had done anything wrong.
“Fu… Teacher Fu?”
His voice was soft, trembling slightly. “Did I… do something wrong?”
Fu Yuan didn’t turn around.
His voice, squeezed through gritted teeth, was hoarse and unlike his own: “…No.”
“Then you…”
“The test is over.” Fu Yuan cut him off, turning his head back. His voice regained its businesslike coldness. “The data is normal. You may leave.”
Sikong Nian lowered his head and slowly peeled off the patch on the back of his neck.
His movements were slow, so slow it seemed deliberate, as if he were stalling for time.
The skin on the back of his neck flushed slightly from the patch being removed, and the small exposed gland trembled faintly in the air.
Fu Yuan’s fist clenched tighter.
Sikong Sui saw that his knuckles had turned white, the veins on the back of his hand bulging as if about to burst.
Sikong Nian stood up and walked to the door.
As he pulled it open, he came face to face with Sikong Sui.
Their eyes met.
…
Sikong Sui stood outside the door, holding a teacup, her expression subtle.
Sikong Nian was momentarily taken aback, then curved his lips into a gentle, soft smile. “Suisui? What are you doing here?”
His expression was perfectly natural, as if the person who had just been inside releasing pheromones to seduce Fu Yuan wasn’t him.
As if he really were an innocent, clueless Omega.
Oh my god, what a scheming “Omega.”
Sikong Sui looked at him, thinking only one thing: This person really knows how to put on an act.
“I brought you tea.” Sikong Sui handed the teacup over without changing her expression. “Brother, your favorite.”
Sikong Nian took the teacup, glanced down at it, and smiled even more gently. “Thank you, Suisui.”
He took the tea and left in a somewhat flustered hurry.
Sikong Nian had already walked far away, but Sikong Sui remained standing outside the door, not entering.
Inside the office, Fu Yuan stood with his back to the door, one hand braced against the windowsill, his breathing heavy and restrained.
His pheromones in the air hadn’t fully receded yet—the scent of cedar and gunpowder smoke was so thick it was almost suffocating.
“Teacher Fu.” Sikong Sui spoke.
Fu Yuan’s shoulders twitched slightly.
“My brother has already left,” Sikong Sui’s tone was calm. “You can turn around now.”
A few seconds of silence passed.
Fu Yuan slowly turned around. His face was still the same cold, hard face, brows furrowed, thin lips pressed tightly together—no different from usual.
But Sikong Sui noticed the tips of his ears were red.
That hint of red stood out starkly against his cool, pale skin.
“What are you doing here?” Fu Yuan’s voice returned to its usual coldness.
Sikong Sui waved the other teacup in her hand.
“I brought you a cup too.”
Fu Yuan looked at her, his gaze heavy, as if scrutinizing, as if confirming something.
Sikong Sui didn’t avoid it, meeting his gaze as she placed the teacup on the office desk.
“Teacher Fu, my brother… he may seem soft, but he actually has a strong will of his own. If you’re interested in him, just say it. He might not refuse.”
Fu Yuan’s eyes suddenly turned cold. “What nonsense are you talking?”
Sikong Sui shrugged. “Consider it nonsense then.”
She turned and walked out. When she reached the door, she suddenly stopped and, without looking back, said, “Oh, by the way, Teacher Fu, next time you do a check, remember to open the window.”
“My brother’s pheromones are too sweet. Sweet enough to be cloying.”
She left.
Behind her, Fu Yuan stood by the office desk, looking at the cup of tea still steaming and Sikong Sui’s gradually receding figure outside the window.
The tips of his ears grew even redder.
[System Notification: Fu Yuan’s Affection +10. Current Affection: 15.]
Sikong Sui paused mid-step on the corridor.
“This works? I just delivered some tea and said a few good words for my brother, and it increased by 10 points?”
[Detected that the Host has had an effective influence on the Affection Quest target Fu Yuan: Exposing his hidden feelings, triggering emotional fluctuations. It is recommended to continue.]
A slight smile lifted the corner of Sikong Sui’s mouth. “System, what about the others? If I matchmake my brother and Fu Yuan like this, will the others’ affection for me increase?”
[What are you thinking? No. Only Fu Yuan is an exception. Because Fu Yuan and Sikong Nian are the official couple in the original book.]
Sikong Sui sighed. “Alright.”
Then, humming a tuneless little song, she headed toward her own residence.
And then the sky fell.
When Sikong Sui pushed open the door to the small building where she lived, she found two unfamiliar suitcases in the living room.
Black, leather, without any markings, but clearly not cheap.
Beside the suitcases stood a black long umbrella, with the character “Xie” engraved on the handle.
Sikong Sui froze in place.
“Whose are these…?”
The housekeeper came down the stairs, holding a new quilt in his arms. Seeing Sikong Sui, he smiled and approached.
“You’re back, Miss.”
“Whose luggage is this?”
“Young Master Xie’s.”
The housekeeper placed the quilt on the sofa. “Arranged by Teacher Fu. He said Young Master Xie’s Rut Period has been unstable lately, and there are a few newly differentiated Omegas in the dormitory area, so it’s not very convenient. He’s been temporarily transferred to stay here with you.”
Sikong Sui’s mind buzzed.
“Wait!” She raised her hand to stop the housekeeper. “Transferred… to my place?”
“Yes.” The housekeeper nodded. “Your building is a separate villa with many rooms and good conditions. Teacher Fu said that since you haven’t differentiated yet, your pheromones won’t interfere with Young Master Xie. You’re the most suitable choice.”
Sikong Sui opened her mouth, but the words died on her lips.
“No.” Sikong Sui put on a stern face. “I don’t agree. Let him stay somewhere else.”
According to the original book’s setting, an Alpha in Rut Period going crazy is no less than a beast, especially someone like Xie Ren—a robust, top-tier assassin Alpha.
Her small frame couldn’t handle it—she might end up dead before even completing her mission.
The butler paused for a moment, then smiled, his expression carrying the tolerant amusement of an elder watching a younger person throw a tantrum.
“You’re joking, Miss.”
He organized the luggage unhurriedly as he spoke, “You are the heir of the Sikong family, destined to differentiate into a top-tier Alpha in the future. With such a regal demeanor, you naturally have nothing to fear from the heir of the Xie family. Besides, this is for the young master’s own good.”
Sikong Sui frowned. “For my brother’s good?”
“Exactly.”
The butler sighed. “The young master is an Omega, and that villa already houses four top-tier Alphas—it’s overwhelming enough as it is.”
“Now, with Young Master Xie’s rut period being unstable, his pheromones could go out of control at any moment. What if he harms the young master? Your situation is different. You haven’t differentiated yet, so you won’t be affected. Plus, your place is spacious enough for two people to live comfortably.”
Sikong Sui: “…”
As she listened to the butler’s words, her mind raced.
The butler’s logic was: She was a future Alpha → She wouldn’t be affected by an Alpha in rut → Therefore, she could live with Xie Ren.
But the truth was: She would differentiate into an Omega → And how dangerous an Alpha in rut could be to an Omega was obvious even to a fool → So she would be dead.
She couldn’t very well tell the butler, “Actually, I’m an Omega,” could she?
Sikong Sui took a deep breath, preparing to make one last attempt.
“I don’t agree. Tell him—”
Before she could finish, the door opened.
Xie Ren walked in.
Sikong Sui’s voice caught in her throat.
Xie Ren was, without a doubt, an excessively handsome Alpha youth.
His features were so delicate they blurred the lines between masculine and feminine, his gaze was dark and brooding, and the corners of his mouth often held a faint, ambiguous smile.
To make matters worse, he wore a black shirt with the collar slightly open, revealing a glimpse of his collarbone.
His hair was slicked back, exposing his smooth forehead and sharp brow bones.
This was the epitome of both purity and allure.
This hairstyle laid bare all his features without a hint of concealment, making him look almost unrealistically beautiful.
But his expression was cold—a nearly indifferent chill.
His pheromones weren’t fully restrained, and a faint scent of Bloody Mary lingered in the air.
Sweet yet dangerous, tinged with a rusty, metallic tang.
An Alpha’s pheromones during rut were naturally more intense and aggressive than usual.
But Xie Ren didn’t seem the least bit unstable during his rut period.
His gaze was clear, and he even wore a faint, elusive smile at the corner of his mouth—though it held no warmth.
Did he really need to move out?
Who was he trying to fool?
He didn’t look like someone in rut at all.
The real reason Fu Yuan had transferred him here was likely only one.
Sikong Sui recalled the original novel’s setting: Fu Yuan and Xie Ren were, in some ways, quite similar.
Both were stoic, reserved, and the type to bury their emotions deep.
Both were top-tier Alphas.
Even their pheromones had similarities: Fu Yuan’s was cedar mixed with gunpowder, cold yet aggressive.
Xie Ren’s was Bloody Mary, sweet yet dangerous.
In simpler terms, both were secretly intense.
Transferring Xie Ren away, Fu Yuan must have had some ulterior motives.
Sikong Sui sneered inwardly.
Fu Yuan, oh Fu Yuan, so you’ve come to this.
However, come to think of it, Xie Ren moving in might not necessarily be a bad thing for her.
Xie Ren was one of her Affection Quest targets.
With an initial affection level of -10, he was the most difficult among the four.
If she could take advantage of the opportunity of living together to raise his affection level, it might just achieve twice the result with half the effort.
As for the danger of an Alpha and an Omega living together during the Rut Period… Sikong Sui gritted her teeth.
After all, in the original story, her differentiation was still some time away. Before that, she should still be safe.
She quickly convinced herself.
“Alright then.” Sikong Sui sighed and looked at the butler. “Which room?”
The butler’s eyes lit up, and he quickly pointed to the second floor. “Young Master Xie will stay in the room next to yours. It’s already been prepared.”
Sikong Sui nodded and turned to look at Xie Ren.
Xie Ren was standing at the entrance, one hand in his pocket, the other holding a small black bag.
His gaze had been fixed on Sikong Sui since he entered and hadn’t shifted away.
“Xie Ren,” Sikong Sui spoke first. “Since Teacher Fu arranged it, you can stay. But I have one rule.”
Xie Ren raised an eyebrow slightly. “I’m all ears.”
“My room is off-limits.”
Sikong Sui enunciated each word clearly. “Your room, I won’t enter either. Common areas are shared, but after 10 p.m., don’t leave your room.”
Xie Ren looked at her, the faint, almost mocking curve at the corner of his lips deepening slightly.
“That’s all?” His voice was lower than usual, carrying the hoarseness unique to the Rut Period.
“That’s all.”
“Fine.” Xie Ren picked up his bag and walked past her.
As he passed by, Sikong Sui caught the scent of his Bloody Mary pheromones.
Up close, it was even stronger—cloyingly sweet, so sweet it made her scalp tingle.
But beneath it lay a cold, blade-like chill.
Xie Ren walked up the stairs, took a few steps, and suddenly stopped.
He didn’t turn around, just tilted his head slightly, revealing his profile.
“Sikong Sui.”
“Hmm?”
“You just said,” his voice was very soft, almost as if he were talking to himself, “you haven’t differentiated yet?”