Although Shi Wei Yue had lowered her voice, the car wasn’t that spacious to begin with. With no one else around and only the quiet evening breeze whispering outside, even her hushed conversation with Wen Ruxing wasn’t completely inaudible certainly not to the driver up front.
The driver clicked his tongue inwardly.
Young people, newly married, still in that affectionate phase, no surprise they enjoyed flirting like this.
The driver found himself reminiscing about the sweet early days with his own wife. Though, he mused, two women probably tended to be even more clingy. Even during their most passionate moments, he and his wife had never exchanged such sickeningly sweet words. The Second Miss Shi really had a way with them.
Given time, the rumors about Shi Wei Yue and Wen Ruxing’s discord would surely fade on their own.
What the driver thought didn’t concern Shi Wei Yue. As she closed the door for Wen Ruxing, she tilted her head slightly and met the woman’s gaze, only to find unmistakable disdain in those eyes.
An Alpha being subjected to such “sweet talk” from another Alpha probably wasn’t the most pleasant experience. Though Shi Wei Yue had mentally prepared herself for Wen Ruxing’s rejection, she couldn’t help feeling a little aggrieved.
If she could live peacefully, she would stay as far away from this major antagonist as possible. But the reality was that she and Wen Ruxing were tied together like grasshoppers on a string. Leaving Wen Ruxing before their contract expired would only hasten her downfall.
What could she do? She was utterly desperate!
Her determination to focus on her career reached its peak at that moment. Money was power, Shi Wei Yue thought. Right now, everyone addressed her as “Second Miss Shi,” but it was all just for show, she still relied entirely on her family’s wealth. The world of the wealthy was treacherous, and if she ever lost the Shi family’s backing, she’d be at the mercy of others.
Amidst these tangled thoughts, Shi Wei Yue failed to notice the faint flush that had crept up Wen Ruxing’s ears from their proximity.
Once in the car, Shi Wei Yue felt an itch on the back of her neck and instinctively scratched it.
But she wasn’t a native of this world. While she had the original host’s memories, some finer details required deliberate effort to recall. She knew she had to apply a Suppressant patch over her gland before going out, but the fact that it needed replacement every three hours, something taught in high school biology wasn’t something she was entirely clear on.
All she knew was that today, her gland felt unusually itchy, and the sensation only intensified after scratching.
As the Suppressant patch’s effects weakened, the faint, fragrant scent of pear blossom wine pheromones began to permeate the air. The aroma was subtle, like a Beta’s perfume only noticeable with movement and far from overpowering.
The driver, a Beta, normally couldn’t detect pheromones. Even if the scent grew strong enough for him to notice, he’d simply assume it was perfume and think nothing of it.
In this world, Betas made up the majority, with Alphas and Omegas being the minority. The latter two had far more sensitive noses compared to Betas. While the driver remained oblivious and Shi Wei Yue felt nothing, Wen Ruxing was the one who suffered.
Gripping the armrest beside her, Wen Ruxing subtly shifted away from Shi Wei Yue.
But the car’s interior was limited in space. No matter how much she tried to distance herself, the scent of Shi Wei Yue’s pheromones followed her relentlessly.
If it were before, she would have straightforwardly asked Shi Wei Yue to properly apply the Suppressant patch. But ever since Shi Wei Yue’s pheromones had subtly changed, that fragrance became like a spell, lingering in her heart, making the Omega feel endless tenderness and attachment.
The faint scent of pear blossoms was now mixed with the rich aroma of alcohol, leaving a lingering aftertaste that involuntarily reminded her of that gentle night. Yet, before she could even take a sip of this sweetness for the first time, Wen Ruxing sensed its lethal allure and forced herself to cut it off.
Under the assault of the Alpha’s pheromones, Wen Ruxing felt somewhat dizzy and had to grip the armrest for support, trying not to sink too deeply into the sensation. Just then, Shi Wei Yue caught sight of her from the side and asked with concern:
“Are you sleepy, wifey?”
She even offered her shoulder, signaling that Wen Ruxing could rest her head there if she couldn’t hold on any longer.
Wen Ruxing had indeed been a little tired not long ago, the afternoon’s high-intensity stress had worn her out but at this moment, any drowsiness had long since vanished.
Forced to straighten her spine, she resumed her usual elegant posture and replied curtly to Shi Wei Yue, afraid that opening her mouth would only draw in more pheromones:
“No.”
**
She had thought this torturous ordeal would end once they got home, but her high heels nearly made her stumble.
It wasn’t the shoes’ fault her legs had simply gone weak. Frustrated, Wen Ruxing yanked them off with extra force, tossing them aside carelessly.
The big villain was throwing a tantrum.
Shi Wei Yue had always been observant. She had taken psychology as an elective in college and, though no expert, could still tell that Wen Ruxing was in a foul mood.
The big villain usually hid her emotions well. Only when she couldn’t contain them did they spill out so intensely.
Shi Wei Yue thought she should have been a little afraid of her.
But without her heels, the woman seemed smaller, her lightly made-up features softened by the indoor lighting. The slight upward tilt of her narrow eyes made her look more like a temperamental cat, claws out, her bad mood brewing bit by bit.
Barefoot, Wen Ruxing padded across the floor and hurried into the room. Shi Wei Yue initially assumed she was heading to the bathroom, but moments later, a faint, muffled whimper came from the open doorway.
The woman who had been so fierce in front of others now buried herself entirely under the blankets, crumpling them into a messy heap. Puzzled by the sight when she reached the door, Shi Wei Yue hesitated to leave, but another soft, muffled sound barely audible through the quilt, stopped her in her tracks.
Was she crying?
After a moment’s thought, Shi Wei Yue couldn’t bring herself to abandon someone in the midst of an emotional breakdown. Unsure what had happened to Wen Ruxing that afternoon, she took a couple of steps forward, maintaining a polite distance, and tentatively asked:
“What’s wrong?”
This time, she didn’t call her “wifey,” but Wen Ruxing’s reply came swiftly:
“Get lost!”
The voice wasn’t particularly strong, but Shi Wei Yue was amused by her anger. Perhaps it was because the antagonist didn’t seem as sharp now, giving Shi Wei Yue more courage to retaliate:
“Wen Ruxing,” Shi Wei Yue called her name, “you married me to save the Wen family. You’re the one asking for a favor. Is this how you treat someone you’re asking for help?”
Wen Ruxing: “…”
Her hands, hidden beneath the blanket and gripping the sheets tightly, trembled slightly. For the first time ever, Wen Ruxing changed her tone. As she caught another whiff of that pheromone, she feared she might not be able to hold on much longer:
“Then may I ask, could you please leave?”