The chaotic breathing sounded somewhat loud in the quiet atmosphere. Jiang Qiu frowned slightly as she stopped in front of Yu Sheng’s bedroom door, only to realize it wasn’t shut tight, leaving a narrow crack. From that tiny gap, the scent of rosewood was diffusing outward. It was a faint scent, but because the concentration was so high, it felt almost tangible.
Jiang Qiu could not help but feel a surge of irritability. She raised her hand and pushed the door open, nearly losing control under the guidance of the Omega’s pheromones.
There was still no sound inside the room. Jiang Qiu paused at the doorway, not approaching any further. She had initially thought Yu Sheng had brought an Omega back, but as her gaze swept across the room, she saw only one person inside.
Yu Sheng was curled up in the corner of the bed, burying her entire body beneath the duvet. One could faintly hear the muffled, deliberate, and blurry sound of weeping coming from within.
Jiang Qiu wasn’t entirely sure if that person was Yu Sheng, so she spoke up:
“Is that you, Yu Sheng?”
The Alpha’s voice sounded remarkably clear in that instant, yet there was a slight tremor in Jiang Qiu’s words, a forced restraint used to suppress the effects of the Omega pheromones. The hazy weeping stopped the moment her voice fell. Following that, a rustling sound came from beneath the duvet, and the person inside finally showed her face.
It really was Yu Sheng.
And the Omega pheromones currently flooding the entire apartment were coming from the person right in front of her.
The Alpha’s emotions were left with nothing but bewilderment, which couldn’t even be considered joy. Because just a few days ago, she was still wondering if Yu Sheng differentiated into an Alpha, whether their pheromones would clash too intensely.
Yet now, Yu Sheng’s rosewood scent carried an unparalleled temptation, guiding Jiang Qiu to approach step by step. The desire to lightly bite the gland on the back of the Omega’s neck for a temporary mark clamored violently within her.
The scent was subtle, yet inexplicably sweet.
This surpassed the Alpha’s expectations, leaving her mind completely blank for the first time in history.
Jiang Qiu didn’t know how to describe her current feelings, she only knew that her eyes held nothing but Yu Sheng’s figure. Time seemed to freeze. She saw Yu Sheng’s reddened eyes, the tears falling from the corners of her eyes, and the delicate helplessness within her gaze.
The Alpha’s protective instinct surged like never before.
Yu Sheng’s face no longer held its usual pride and cold detachment; there was only vulnerability and helplessness as she looked at her.
Those eyes, capable of making her lose her sanity, were brimming with tears. At this moment, Jiang Qiu’s primal desires as an Alpha were replaced by a delayed wave of sheer delight.
She wouldn’t have to deal with some difficult, clashing Alpha-Alpha relationship with Yu Sheng anymore.
For Yu Sheng, however, this joy was an unforeseen burden. Originally, she had been firmly convinced that she would differentiate into an Alpha, so she wouldn’t have to live in fear and trepidation in the future.
Yet, by a cruel twist of fate, she became an Omega.
All her imaginations of the future were ruthlessly shattered. Carrying the identity of an Omega, letting alone avenging the grievances she had suffered before, the moment she encountered the crowd that used to bully her, they could now easily suppress her using Alpha pheromones.
Thinking of this, Yu Sheng could no longer maintain her usual facade. She was disappointed in herself.
The tears flowing down were real. Becoming an Omega was already a fixed reality that she had no way of changing, so she could only vent like this. The gland on the back of her neck was also flushed red, bearing the marks left by her own forceful fingertips. Although she didn’t want her pheromones to keep spreading, she truly had no idea how to restrain them.
Perhaps because it was her initial differentiation coupled with her heat cycle, Yu Sheng felt utterly powerless.
She felt herself becoming fragile. In the depths of her heart, she actually craved an Alpha’s comfort and yearned for an Alpha’s marking.
For the first time ever, Yu Sheng wanted to depend on someone else.
Yu Sheng thought to herself that if she continued to reject the approach of others like before, her life would probably become even more difficult.
She had to think of a way to protect herself.
Just then, Jiang Qiu pushed the door open, stepped inside, and called her name.
In that split second, Yu Sheng recalled Jiang Qiu’s special treatment toward her, remembered this Alpha’s status and power… and thought back to the burning gaze Jiang Qiu gave her at the dormitory entrance, hinting that she could become her backer.
She had originally disdained being someone who relied on others to flaunt power, but now, this seemed to be her best path forward.
Or perhaps, it was because the Alpha’s invitation back then had been very sincere. Besides, taking the easier path meant she, an Omega, wouldn’t have to rack her brains for solutions or live such an exhausting life anymore.
She wanted to rest. She didn’t know if this psychological fatigue was brought on by the heat cycle.
Thus, Yu Sheng deliberately made herself look even more pitiable, begging in a softened, pathetic tone:
“I don’t know how to restrain my pheromones. Can you help me?”
Jiang Qiu’s brain instantly went into a buzz.
At that moment, the Alpha had only one thought…
If Yu Sheng asked for the Dominion Winery right now, she would hand it over with both hands without a shred of hesitation.
Her heartbeat thudded wildly in her ears, like a drum beating against her eardrums. Jiang Qiu actually felt a wave of nervousness. She slowly shifted half a step forward, barely able to hear her own voice:
“What do you need me to do?”
Her breathing grew light. Only after speaking did Jiang Qiu sluggishly react, “Oh, you want me to help you.”
But this also put Jiang Qiu in a bit of a dilemma.
She wasn’t entirely clear whether the way an Omega restrained their pheromones was the same as an Alpha’s.
Finally stopping in front of Yu Sheng, Jiang Qiu couldn’t help but use her fingers to wipe away the tear stains on the Omega’s cheeks. Her heart skipped a violent beat. The Alpha bent over and leaned in close. She didn’t know if she was thoroughly dazed by Yu Sheng’s pheromones, or if it was because Yu Sheng had suddenly changed her demeanor to speak to her like that.
Yu Sheng stared at her, “I feel so uncomfortable.”
Jiang Qiu brushed away the messy, stray hairs before her eyes. The temperature of the Omega’s cheeks was scalding, causing her to snap out of it once more, remembering that Yu Sheng must be in her heat cycle right now.
In that case, the pheromones naturally couldn’t be restrained.
Realizing this, Jiang Qiu’s gaze grew solemn. She opened her mouth to ask, “I will use my pheromones to soothe you first. Don’t reject it too much, okay?”
Yu Sheng nodded.
The scent of jasmine slowly drifted out. The Alpha’s soothing pheromones gave the Omega immense peace of mind, gradually intertwining with the scent of rosewood. The pheromones in the room were quickly taken over by the Alpha’s jasmine fragrance, enveloping Yu Sheng in a gentle aura and easing the discomfort in her gland.
Entering the heat cycle for the first time brought physical changes that any Omega would find hard to adapt to. Jiang Qiu lightly wiped the thin sweat from Yu Sheng’s forehead. Her fingertips were still cool, whereas Yu Sheng’s body temperature was scalding. Subconsciously, Yu Sheng wanted to draw closer to this source of coolness.
Her hand was caught by Yu Sheng, and Jiang Qiu was then tugged toward the Omega by a small amount of force.
Her body swayed slightly. The Alpha bent down a few inches deeper, their breaths almost mingling.
“You are interested in me, aren’t you?” Yu Sheng’s voice echoed beside her ear, her warm breath brushing against her earlobe. Jiang Qiu’s breathing hitched.
Their pheromones had already completely fused together, impossible to separate.
Yet, the Alpha suppressed all of her impulses, merely lowering her gaze and speaking in a low voice.
“Yu Sheng, you’re in heat. Do you have any backup suppressants?”
Hearing the Alpha’s slightly raspy voice, Yu Sheng spoke again:
“Can I choose not to use suppressants?”
Jiang Qiu asked, “Then how should I help you?”
“Give me a temporary mark.” The Omega’s words were striking, leaving Jiang Qiu stunned for a long while.
An ambiguous atmosphere makes it easiest for one to lose their judgment, yet Jiang Qiu still withdrew her hand. Looking at her, she said, “You aren’t clear headed right now, so it’s not a good time to make this decision. Whether I have the qualification to mark you is something you must tell me when you regain your rationality.”
Jiang Qiu draped her coat over Yu Sheng’s shoulders. Then, she reached out and lifted the injured Yu Sheng in a bridal carry.
Yu Sheng’s pheromones had already been blocked by a scent blocking patch. Only the scent released earlier still lingered, but fortunately, it wasn’t particularly strong anymore.
When the Alpha carried her out, Wen Yan happened to arrive with the staff members she had found. Stopping her jogged pace, Wen Yan approached while panting slightly. Although the scent of rosewood was minimal now, it still made her feel uncomfortable.
After stepping back a few paces, Wen Yan said to Jiang Qiu, “Drive Miss Yu to the hospital. It won’t be convenient for me to follow you.”
Jiang Qiu nodded. In her arms, Yu Sheng quietly wiped away the tear stains on her face. Her movements were very small, and her nerves were somewhat taut, deeply afraid that the Alpha might let go of her in the next second.
She deeply craved the warmth of Jiang Qiu’s embrace, as well as this close proximity.
Jiang Qiu’s arms were very strong, steadily carrying Yu Sheng away from the scene. With the faint traces of pheromones still lingering at the tip of her nose, Jiang Qiu didn’t dare to look down at the Omega even once, though she was suffering quite a bit of torment.
Her primal instinct to mark was currently occupying the better part of her thoughts.
It wasn’t until she placed Yu Sheng in the back seat of the car and shut the door that Jiang Qiu stood outside in the cold wind for a few seconds to calm her emotions.
Getting into the driver’s seat, she found Yu Sheng sitting quietly in the back without a word. Jiang Qiu handed over a thin blanket, gesturing for her to wrap herself in it. Although its effect in blocking an Omega’s pheromones was negligible, it was better than nothing.
She took her straight to a familiar private hospital. Since Yu Sheng’s lower leg had been cut open, Jiang Qiu didn’t feel reassured with just a simple treatment and directly checked the Omega into the hospital. Aside from the wound, the Alpha also added several examinations for her gland, after all, an overflow of pheromones outside of a normal heat cycle required serious attention.
Yu Sheng raised no objections whatsoever. She remained obedient from start to finish, watching Jiang Qiu run around the hospital on her behalf, her rims turning red once more.
Lying on the hospital bed, the Omega wrapped herself tightly in the Alpha’s coat, reminiscing about the residual warmth left from when the Alpha held her.
Jiang Qiu returned to stand before her again. “Can you find someone to stay with you tonight?”
Yu Sheng’s fingers curled slightly. Her voice was very low.
“I don’t have… any friends.”