Jiang Wangyue felt the warmth radiating from the body pressed against her. Almost instinctively, she recalled the previous night. Her ears flushed red, and she forcibly restrained the urge to pull away. Steeling herself, she assumed the role of a silent protector, lifting her gaze to meet the eyes of each onlooker one by one until they were forced to look away.
Her cold, biting stare made them tremble. Though most quickly diverted their attention, a few tactless busybodies still approached. Among them, a well-dressed female Alpha in a suit drifted toward Pei An, pretending the movement was casual.
Alphas were born with the instinct to claim higher ground—competitive by nature and always ready to engage when challenged. And when faced with an Omega as beautiful and aloof as a high mountain flower, that instinct only sharpened.
Settling beside Pei An, the suited Alpha lifted her wrist to check the time while stealing subtle glances at the cool-faced Alpha seated next to the Omega. To her surprise, the Alpha seemed almost uncomfortable with the closeness, her posture stiff.
Sensing an opportunity, the suited Alpha tested the waters. She released a faint, aggressive pulse of pheromones—just enough to attract an Omega but not enough to provoke an immediate heat. Pei An seemed to detect it instantly and leaned in even closer.
“Wangyue…” she whispered.
Jiang Wangyue never went out of her way to provoke trouble. The last time she fought back had been only because someone had accused her of acting self-righteous. Now, hearing the slight tremor in Pei An’s voice, her eyes darkened. Did Pei An truly not understand the consequences of an Omega going into heat in public?
An S-rank Alpha’s pressure was overwhelming. Jiang Wangyue focused it directly on the suited Alpha. The woman jolted as if pinned in place, immediately realizing she had provoked the wrong person. She withdrew her pheromones at once and forced a polite smile.
“Sorry,” she said, preparing to rise.
But Jiang Wangyue spoke first.
“You shouldn’t be apologizing to me.”
The suited Alpha blinked. “What?”
Jiang Wangyue lifted her gaze, her gray-brown eyes icy as she repeated, “You shouldn’t be apologizing to me.”
Only when the suited Alpha’s gaze shifted to the Omega beside Jiang Wangyue did understanding dawn.
Suppressing the flicker of desire in her eyes, she offered Pei An a polite bow. “Sorry.” Then she quickly stepped away.
With that brief exchange, the confrontation ended as quickly as it began. The first bold challenger retreating in defeat was enough to smother the curiosity of the others. An Omega might be enticing, but self-preservation came first.
As the cabin fell silent again, Pei An studied Jiang Wangyue’s profile—the long lashes, the calm gray-brown eyes, and the quiet steadiness that made the coldness from moments before seem like an illusion.
The young Alpha’s ears were still flushed, but her voice remained icily steady.
“Can you stop leaning on me now?”
Pei An looked at her with a bright, teasing smile. “Then when can I lean on you?”
Jiang Wangyue pressed her lips together, her instinct to say never. But just then, the air rail arrived at the Third Military and Political Academy. She stood up without answering, stepping out. Pei An hopped off right after her.
“Wait for me!”
Jiang Wangyue paused for half a second, only continuing once Pei An caught up. Side by side, they entered the campus.
The Third Military and Political Academy was one of the most prestigious institutions in the country. Even in an era where political factions quietly simmered beneath the surface, the academy continued to supply top talents to national military agencies.
Unlike other academies with rigid routines, this one emphasized both combat and research. Its master’s and doctoral programs were well funded and staffed by leading experts.
It was Jiang Wangyue’s dream to enter that research base.
As they walked, groups of students streamed across the grounds. Betas from the Joint Services Academy were already training, their black combat uniforms soaked with sweat under the morning sun.
“Have you decided on a major?” Pei An asked, squinting slightly at the brightness.
Since they were still first-year students, everyone was grouped into basic classes for foundational study and physical training. By eighteen, most had already completed their secondary gender differentiation, and from here on, majors would be assigned—or chosen—based on evaluations.
Pei An’s own goal had always been Military Command in the Joint Operations Academy—a major no Omega had ever taken before.
Jiang Wangyue answered calmly, “Biological Sciences—Genomics and Immunology.”
Pei An raised a brow. Though biochemical studies had long been national weak points, years of development had pushed them to the forefront of technological innovation. Breakthroughs would be difficult—but if anyone could do it, she believed Jiang Wangyue could.
The last time they left campus together, they had already become a hot topic on the school forum. Gossip always spread quickly, especially when nothing else exciting was happening.
Since neither responded to the rumors—Pei An simply didn’t care, and Jiang Wangyue didn’t even know they existed—the speculation only grew.
Many wondered whether the two were already together. And now, seeing them arrive at school again side by side, the discussions flared once more.
Thread Topic: About Pei An and Jiang Wangyue — does anyone know the inside story?
1st Floor: Does anyone know??? I want gossip!!
2nd Floor: Isn’t it obvious?
3rd Floor: No way. If you were Pei An, would you like Jiang Wangyue?
4th Floor: Why not?! Jiang Wangyue isn’t bad at all. Quiet, loyal—she looks reliable and devoted.
5th Floor: She’s just prettier than average. Not worthy of Pei An.
6th Floor: Who cares about “worthy”? What if that’s exactly what Pei An likes?
7th Floor: Cold, loyal Alpha × elegant, noble Omega—I’m shipping it already!
8th Floor: Exciting, but… unlikely?
9th Floor: You guys don’t know? They’ve done it.
10/11/12/13th Floor: Holy crap, Floor 9—DETAILS!!!
Because of Floor 9’s comment, the thread exploded. Replies piled up until Floor 9 finally returned:
Floor 9: I went to differentiation room the day Jiang Wangyue differentiated. You know that smell. A lot of Omegas didn’t have class that day, but after checking who was absent… Pei An just so happened to be missing during that exact timeframe.
542nd Floor: That’s it? Seriously?
543rd Floor: Since when can Alphas only do it with Omegas? Did you check the Betas? Also—A×A or O×A can’t happen?
544th Floor: I wasn’t in class either. Why isn’t anyone accusing me of being with Jiang Wangyue?!
After a pause, Floor 9 posted again: This chapter was taken from g.com without permission.
Floor 9: Here’s the important part—Pei An was the one who sent Jiang Wangyue to the differentiation room.
546th Floor: C…
547th Floor: No way. I refuse.
548th Floor: Unless they admit it, I’m not approving anything.
549th Floor: They’re perfect—talented woman, beautiful woman—who are you, some gremlin, to object?
550th Floor: Wait. You said they did it in the differentiation room and left a smell. Can you prove it was them? If you can, I’ll believe it.
551st Floor: @549—do you watch old movies? Modern ones are trash; the classics last forever.
552nd Floor: Right. There’s no proof. What if it was just some other lovesick couple?
The discussion grew more heated, only to be suddenly smothered when the thread was flooded with:
“PEI AN WOULD NEVER LIKE JIANG WANGYUE!!!”
The spam poured in so fast that everyone browsing lagged. And then—
The entire thread vanished.
Meanwhile, in class, Pei An listened half-heartedly to the military politics professor’s rigid lecture, while beside her, Jiang Wangyue focused attentively, her side profile serene and composed.
A small smile tugged at Pei An’s lips. She leaned back lazily, and when no one was looking, her hand wandered somewhere it absolutely shouldn’t have.
Jiang Wangyue’s thoughts were abruptly interrupted. That touch—now strangely familiar—pressed against her, while Pei An pretended nothing was happening.
When had she started thinking of it as familiar?
Pressing her lips together, Jiang Wangyue gently took Pei An’s slender wrist and moved her hand back.
“Focus.”
Pei An whispered, “It’s too boring. I already know all this.”
As the youngest child of the Pei family, she had always received elite education. Basic discipline and loyalty were ingrained in her. What truly fascinated her were strategies—motives, methods, cost–benefit analysis. Her mother had always said that for an Omega, her desire for conquest and control was too strong and needed correction.
But why should she correct it?
Why couldn’t an Omega be powerful?
Pei An was clever. She knew exactly how to play the role that benefited her most. To others, she was always gentle, polite, irresistibly charming—while hiding her true desires where no one could see them.
And Jiang Wangyue… happened to be exactly where she hid them.